Back pain is most common in the elderly, however, due to a number of reasons, it can also occur in young people.Almost all adults are used to occasionally feeling pain in the back, which is explained by the special predisposition of this part of the body to various types of injuries.The vast majority of back pain can be easily treated and prevented, however, sometimes the causes of back pain can be quite serious, including, for example, osteochondrosis.
Also, back pain can be caused by any disease of the gastrointestinal tract, the presence of kidney stones or other problems with the human urinary system.
Back pain can be in the lumbar region or between the shoulder blades, and it can also be in the arm or leg, depending on the cause of the pain.
Causes of back pain
The main causes of back pain are diseases such as osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis, radiculopathy, scoliosis, intervertebral disc herniation, osteoporosis, myofascial pain and serious disorders of spinal circulation.
In addition, back pain can be caused by excess weight, strenuous physical activities including those associated with heavy lifting, poor posture, or some type of infection.
Factors that contribute to back pain
In the event that back pain is caused by disease and there is no treatment, the pain tends to return and subside depending on the presence of contributing factors.For example, the return of back pain can be caused by hypothermia or lifting heavy loads, as well as if a person is in an uncomfortable position for a long time.In addition, the infection can bring pain back into the body.
Main symptoms of back pain
A signal to go to the doctor and have an examination is back pain that does not go away for 3 to 5 days, as well as when the accompanying body temperature is above 37.8.
Back pain can be accompanied by frequent and painful urination, vomiting and nausea, numbness of the limbs and diarrhea.These are all symptoms for which you should see a doctor immediately.
If back pain is accompanied by noticeable difficulties in moving arms or legs and confusion, it is extremely important to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Diagnosis of back pain
If there is back pain, examination methods such as neurological and X-ray examinations, CT and MRI, and manual diagnostics are used.
Most often, during an X-ray examination of the elderly, osteochondrosis is detected.
Immediately after visiting the doctor, an anamnesis is taken, symptoms and complaints are explained in detail, after which additional tests are prescribed.
When compiling the anamnesis, the localization of the pain, its radiation, the emotional state of the patient are clarified and the connection between the occurrence of pain and the position of the person is revealed.The presence of old back injuries is also important.
In order to determine the presence of any neoplasms and infections, a somatic examination is performed.
Treatment of back pain
Treatment methods such as manual, medical and physical therapy, as well as exercise therapy, postisomer relaxation, surgery, traction, interspinous and paravertebral blocks are prescribed for the treatment of pain of various types, depending on the cause that caused it.It is also necessary to follow an orthopedically correct regimen.
During the treatment of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to avoid sudden movements, especially bending, and to remain mostly at rest.In the case of acute osteochondrosis, the patient must not visit a medical institution and undergo treatment at home.In this case, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, muscle relaxants are prescribed, and it is recommended to sleep on a hard bed, using a special shield under the mattress.
When treating an intervertebral hernia, surgical intervention is used in cases where the patient experiences compression of the spinal cord, which happens quite rarely.
Chronic back pain
The presence of chronic back pain often indicates osteochondrosis, the treatment of which lasts from 5 to 15 sessions, depending on the intensity of the pain.The treatment process includes acupuncture, vacuum therapy, acupressure, moxa therapy, hirudotherapy and table therapy.
If we talk about each of the mentioned methods in more detail, we can notice the good effectiveness of acupressure, which helps to remove muscle spasms and excessive tension and promotes blood circulation.Also, thanks to manual therapy, the dysfunction of the spinal joints is effectively eliminated.And provided the patient follows the doctor's recommendations after the end of therapy, the discs will continue to heal on their own.
If there is a herniated disc, treatment is a rather long-term process, slowly reducing the hernia itself and relieving the pain from it.A full course of treatment allows you to completely restore the normal functioning of the affected disc.