Back pain often appears after sudden movements or heavy lifting. If your back constantly hurts, this is a symptom of a disease. The cause of back pain is diagnosed and treated by a neurologist. The malaise is successfully treated with conservative methods.
What you need to know about back pain
Back pain is also called dorsalgia. Periodically disturbs every second person. Most often, the pain is localized in the lumbar region. As a rule, it occurs against the background of existing changes in the spine. Depending on the type of disease, the pain can be temporary or permanent. Persistent pain is a sign of a serious disease and, without timely treatment, can lead to spinal surgery.
When to go to the doctor
Do not delay a visit to a neurologist if you observe the following symptoms:
- acute back pain does not disappear within 2-3 days;
- chronic pain lasts more than a week without improvement;
- pain appears suddenly, for no obvious reason;
- pain occurs regularly after injury;
- back pain radiates to the leg, knee, foot.
Seeing a doctor should be urgent, immediate, if the pain is accompanied by the following additional symptoms:
- high temperature;
- limited mobility of arms or legs;
- feeling of numbness in the limbs;
- severe changes in blood pressure;
- painkillers do not help relieve pain;
- loss of consciousness occurs;
- there are problems with the functioning of internal organs;
- there are signs of intoxication;
- the bleeding began.
But even without these symptoms, you should not delay contacting specialists: some back diseases are completely curable only in the initial stages. Your efficiency directly determines the quality of the treatment.
The risk factors are:
- computer-related work or driving a car, intense physical activity, stress;
- intensive training in the gym without the supervision of a trainer;
- work in a forced position while sitting or standing;
- overweight.
Why does my back hurt?
The causes of back pain are various. They are caused by the following diseases:
- osteochondrosis, spondylosis, spondyloarthrosis;
- scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis;
- protrusion or herniation of an intervertebral disc;
- radiculitis or low back pain, inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- spinal stenosis;
- spinal instability and fractures;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- overexertion, hypothermia, or bruising of the back muscles;
- damage to spinal ligaments;
- myositis.
Pregnancy and back pain
Another common factor that influences the onset of back pain is pregnancy. As the abdomen grows and the lumbar curve increases, the load on the spine also increases. The intervertebral discs begin to wear out rapidly, and sometimes the nerves become pinched. You can prevent back pain and the conditions that cause it if you don't work too hard during pregnancy. If necessary, you should wear a support bandage and follow the advice of another doctor.
Even if there was no back pain during pregnancy, but the spine was subjected to severe stress, injuries that cause pain can occur during childbirth.
How to identify a disease based on the type of pain
Different diseases cause different types of back pain. It can be acute, chronic, painful, stabbing, with or without conduction (irradiation).
| Kind of pain | What are the causes of the disease |
|---|---|
| Acute with conduction (irradiation) and without it. | Osteochondrosis. Nagging pain in the back sometimes radiates to the leg and intensifies when lifting heavy objects, coughing, or sneezing. Back pain can last several minutes, hours, or days. |
| Intervertebral hernia. The pain occurs when lifting heavy objects, bending over and turning to the side. Then pain and weakness appear in one of the legs. The back hurts when moving, coughing, sneezing. | |
| Radiculitis. The pain is sharp or dull, aching. Usually unilateral, radiating to the leg, buttock, thigh, lower leg. It intensifies with changes in body position and may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, burning, itching, or a "pins and needles" sensation. | |
| Chronic and acute pain | Muscle strain, myositis, prolonged work in an uncomfortable position, heavy lifting, sudden movements, hypothermia. |
| Lumbago. It affects people engaged in heavy physical labor. Severe back pain usually goes away after a few days, although it can last two or three weeks. | |
| Displacement of the intervertebral discs. It is caused by osteochondrosis, heavy lifting and heavy physical work. | |
| Chronic | Spondylosis. Aching pain may be accompanied by numbness and weakness in the legs. Cervical spondylosis causes pain in the back of the head, shoulders, and when you turn your head. |
| In pain | Inflammation of the muscles of the back and lumbar spine. The disease occurs after hypothermia or muscle strain. The pain is not severe and lasts a long time. The muscles in the affected area are dense and hurt when tense. |
| Pain with conduction (radiation) in the leg | Inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Hernia of the lumbar spine. Back pain in the lumbar and sacral area. The pain is felt in the buttocks, back of the thigh, lower leg, or foot. |
Diagnostic methods
Specialists of the clinic will accurately determine the cause of back pain using the following diagnostic methods:
- magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging
- Ultrasound examination (ultrasound)
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Laboratory research
Methods for treating back pain
Doctors of the modern clinic use many non-surgical methods: from gentle massage techniques and osteopathy to laser and physiotherapy. To ensure that the treatment is as effective as possible, we offer each patient a series of individual procedures using drugs only to relieve pain at the beginning of the cycle.
- UHF resonance wave therapy
- Rehabilitation on the Thera-Band exercise machine
- Blockage of joints and spine
- Pharmacological treatment
- Shock wave therapy
Diagnostic methods
Specialists will accurately determine the cause of back pain using the following diagnostic methods:
First, a basic investigation of the patient is conducted to determine what exactly preceded the onset of pain, what is the nature of the pain, and so on. Subsequently, a visual examination of the patient and physical palpation of the spine is carried out. If the pain intensifies when pressing on the spine, this allows you to eliminate diseases of the internal organs. If necessary, the patient may be referred to a cardiologist, gynecologist, orthopedist or other specialized doctor.
Methods for treating back pain
Doctors of a modern clinic use many non-surgical methods: from soft massage techniques and osteopathy to laser and physiotherapy. To ensure that the treatment is as effective as possible, we offer each patient a series of individual procedures using drugs only to relieve pain at the beginning of the cycle.
Clinics will help you get rid of pain in the back area, relieve swelling and inflammation in the affected area, normalize metabolic processes, strengthen the back muscles and restore the normal position of the spine. Freedom of movement will return to you, you will feel a surge of vigor.
As part of rehabilitation, for each patient, the clinic specialist draws up a personal physical activity plan for independent exercise aimed at consolidating the results of treatment and preventing diseases.
What to do for back pain
If you suffer from severe back pain, our doctors recommend the following:
- Lie down, choose a comfortable position where minimal pain is felt and the muscles stop straining. Spend at least 20 minutes in this position until the pain subsides.
- Do not sit forward, carry heavy objects, or play sports until the pain goes away.
- Contact your doctor immediately.
Remember if you have itspinal pain, treatmentit cannot be postponed. There is a risk of a serious worsening of the situation.
If the pain has become unbearable and you need to wait for the doctor or ambulance to arrive, do the following:
- Lie down in bed and try to minimize movements and ensure maximum peace of mind. Quiet is your best friend.
- Place a soft pillow under your back to reduce stress on your spine.
- If you have suitable mild painkillers, you can take a pill to reduce the pain, but it is better not to do this. See the next paragraph for why.
- It is recommended not to take any food or drink other than plain water, because if emergency surgery is needed, this may interfere (many procedures can only be performed on an empty stomach). It is also recommended not to administer medications or heat the problem area, as this would distort the clinical picture and prevent the problem from being correctly diagnosed and, consequently, the correct treatment prescribed.
- It is permissible to apply cold to the sore spot, even if the cause of the pain is unknown, it will not aggravate any of the common pathologies.