Back pain. Close acquaintance

1 January 2021

Back pain is one of the most common health problems. We want to introduce you to the causes and teach you what to do when your back hurts.

There is probably no person in the world who has not had a back pain at least once in their life. Back pain can be dull and permanent, and it can be both acute and sudden, which is why you need to measure every movement. It can start abruptly if you fall or lift something too heavy or slowly progresses, making it impossible for you to live a fulfilled life.

Factors that increase the risk of back pain

Not everyone is immune to back pain, but there are some factors that increase the risk of back pain:

Age.Your back hurts more often the older you get. Back pain usually occurs for the first time when you are in your 30s and 40s.
Poor physical condition.Back pain is more common in inactive and inactive people.
Overweight.A diet high in calories and fat can make you gain weight. Being overweight creates more stress on the spine, causing pain.
Heredity.There are hereditary diseases, one of the symptoms of which is back pain, for example, ankylosing spondylitis.
Other diseases.Certain types of arthritis and cancer can also cause back pain.
Your job.If your job constantly requires serious physical effort, lifting heavy loads or if you have to spend a few hours in an awkward position - the result can be back pain. If you work at your desk all day without sitting upright, your back will also hurt.
Smoking.If you smoke, your body cannot get enough of the nutrients your bones need, resulting in a gradual loss of spine strength and reduced flexibility. A smoker's cough can also cause back pain.

What are the reasons?

There are many causes of back pain. Sometimes pain can be caused by mechanical causes such as:

Back muscle spasms.
Contour of the spine.
Muscle stretching.
Digging disks.
Falling from a height.
Spinal fractures.

Back pain can manifest as one of the symptoms of certain diseases and conditions, such as:

Scoliosis of the spine.
Arthritis.
Stenosis.
Kidney stones.
Infections.
Fibromyalgia.

Other possible causes of back pain are infection, swelling or stress.

How to prevent back pain?

Best thing you can do to prevent back pain:

Exercise regularly to strengthen your back muscles.
Maintain a healthy weight or lose weight if you are overweight. To have strong bones, you need to get enough calcium and vitamin D every day.
Maintain proper posture, do not bend or squat.
Avoid lifting heavy loads. If you can’t do without lifting weights, do it right: bend your legs and keep your back straight, place the load in the center of your body, not the side, and press the load against your body and don’t carry it on your outstretched arms. When lowering a heavy object, continue to keep your back straight, squat, and then lower the weight. After these manipulations, you must get up slowly and carefully, because after transferring the weights, the spine is vulnerable.

When to see a doctor?

You should see a doctor if you have:

Numbness or tingling.
Severe pain that progressively worsens and does not respond to any treatment.
Pain appeared after a fall or injury.

Pain is accompanied by one of the following symptoms:

Problems urinating.
Weakness.
Numbness in the legs.
Fever.
Losing weight while on a diet.

What diagnostic methods are used when back pain?

To diagnose back pain, your doctor will ask you in detail about the course and nature of the pain and perform an examination. After the examination, they will order other tests, such as:

Radiography.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Computed tomography (CT).
Blood tests.

Medical tests may not show the cause of your back pain. The cause of back pain very often remains unclear.

What is the difference between acute and chronic back pain?

Acute pain begins quickly and lasts no more than 6 weeks. This is the most common type of back pain. Acute pain can be caused by things like falling while playing football or lifting heavy objects. Chronic pain lasts for more than 3 months and is much less common than acute pain.

How to cure?

The treatment of back pain depends on what kind of pain you have. Acute back pain usually goes away on its own without treatment, but you can take painkillers to relieve it. Exercise and surgery are not common to treat acute back pain.

Here are some treatments for chronic back pain:

Hot or cold compresses (or both)

Warm or cold compresses can soothe pain and relieve tension in the back. Heat can reduce muscle spasms. Cold helps reduce swelling, edema and sensitization. The use of warm or cold compresses can relieve pain, but this treatment will not address the underlying cause of chronic back pain.

Special exercises

Proper exercise can help relieve chronic pain, but should not be used for acute back pain. Your doctor or chiropractor can help you determine which exercises are appropriate for your situation.

Medications

The following are the main medications used for back pain:

Pain medications.
Pain-relieving creams and ointments are rubbed into the skin over the site of pain.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can reduce pain and swelling. NSAIDs include branded drugs. Your doctor may prescribe stronger NSAIDs.
Muscle relaxants and some antidepressants can help with some types of chronic back pain, but this is very individual.

Behavior change

Learn to lift heavy objects properly to reduce the strain on your back. Lifestyle changes: A healthy diet, quitting smoking, buying a quality orthopedic mattress, and going for a bath can help reduce back pain.

Injections

Your doctor may suggest steroid injections or topical pain medications to help relieve pain.

Alternative treatments

Some unconventional treatments can work well. The most common of these methods are:

Manual therapy.Chiropractors have techniques that help alleviate long-term chronic back pain. However, it should be borne in mind that, even if your doctor is a magician and has managed to alleviate the pain in a few sessions, you need to seriously strengthen your back muscles so that these pains do not return.
Acupuncture.Chinese medicine uses fine needles to relieve pain and restore health. Acupuncture can be effective when used as part of a comprehensive low back pain treatment plan.
Acupressure.The therapist applies pressure to certain parts of the body to relieve pain. The effectiveness of acupressure in back pain is not well understood.

Surgical treatment

Most people with chronic back pain do not need surgery. It is usually a last resort and is used if other treatments do not work. Surgery will be required if you have:

Disc herniation.
Spinal stenosis.
Vertebral fractures.
A fracture can be caused by a blow to the back or destruction of bone due to osteoporosis.
Degenerative disc disease.

As we age, intervertebral discs can begin to disintegrate and cause severe pain.

Rarely when back pain is caused by a tumor, infection, or a nerve root problem called cauda equina syndrome, urgent surgery is needed to relieve the pain and prevent new problems.