Back pain often appears after sudden movement or heavy lifting. If your back hurts constantly, 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. It periodically bothers 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 may be temporary or permanent. Persistent pain is a sign of a serious illness, and without timely treatment, it can lead to spine 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 go away within 2-3 days;
- chronic pain lasts more than a week without improvement;
- pain appears suddenly, without an obvious reason;
- pain regularly occurs after injury;
- back pain radiates to the leg, knee, foot.
Seeing a doctor should be urgent, immediate, if pain is accompanied by the following additional symptoms:
- elevated 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;
- bleeding began.
But even without these symptoms, you should not delay contacting specialists - some back diseases are completely curable only in the early stages. Your efficiency directly determines how quality the treatment will be.
Risk factors are:
- work related to a computer or driving a car, heavy physical activity, stress;
- intensive training in the gym without the supervision of a trainer;
- working in a forced position while sitting or standing;
- overweight.
Why does my back hurt?
The causes of back pain are varied. They are caused by the following diseases:
- osteochondrosis, spondylosis, spondyloarthrosis;
- scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis;
- protrusion or herniation of an intervertebral disc;
- radiculitis or lumbago, inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- spinal stenosis;
- spinal instability and fractures;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- overexertion, hypothermia or bruise of the back muscles;
- damage to spinal ligaments;
- myositis.
Pregnancy and back pain
Another common factor influencing the occurrence 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 nerves become pinched. You can prevent back pain and the pathologies that provoke it if you do not overwork during pregnancy. If necessary, you should wear a supportive bondage and follow other doctor's advice.
Even if there was no back pain during pregnancy itself, but the spine was subjected to serious stress, injuries leading to pain can occur during childbirth.
How to identify a disease by the type of pain
Different diseases cause different types of back pain. It can be acute, chronic, aching, stabbing, with or without conduction (irradiation).
| Type of pain | What disease causes |
|---|---|
| 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 for several minutes, hours or days. |
| Intervertebral hernia. Pain occurs when lifting heavy objects, bending and turning to the side. Then pain and weakness appears in one of the legs. The back hurts when moving, coughing, sneezing. | |
| Radiculitis. The pain is sharp or dull, aching. Usually one-sided, 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 aching | Muscle strain, myositis, long work in an uncomfortable position, heavy lifting, sudden movements, hypothermia. |
| Lumbago. It affects people engaged in heavy physical labor. Severe back pain usually stops after a few days, although it can last for two to three weeks. | |
| Displacement of intervertebral discs. It is caused by osteochondrosis, heavy lifting and heavy physical labor. | |
| 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 turning the head. |
| Aching | 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 (irradiation) to the leg | Inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Hernia of the lumbar spine. Back pain in the lumbar and sacrum areas. Pain is felt in the buttocks, back of the thigh, lower leg or foot. |
Diagnostic methods
The clinic’s specialists will accurately determine the cause of back pain using the following diagnostic methods:
- MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging
- Ultrasound examination (ultrasound)
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Laboratory research
Methods for treating back pain
Doctors at 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 an individual set of procedures using medications only to relieve pain at the beginning of the course.
- Resonance wave UHF therapy
- Rehabilitation on the Thera-Band exercise machine
- Block of joints and spine
- Drug treatment
- Shock wave therapy
Diagnostic methods
Specialists will accurately determine the cause of back pain using the following diagnostic methods:
First, a basic survey of the patient is conducted to determine what exactly preceded the onset of pain, what the nature of the pain is, and so on. Next, a visual examination of the patient and physical palpation of the spine is carried out. If the pain intensifies when pressing on the spinal column, this makes it possible to eliminate diseases of the internal organs. If necessary, the patient can be referred to a cardiologist, gynecologist, orthopedist or other specialized doctor.
Methods for treating back pain
Doctors at 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 an individual set of procedures using medications only to relieve pain at the beginning of the course.
The 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 have severe back pain, our doctors recommend the following:
- Lie down, choose a comfortable position in which the least pain is felt and the muscles stop straining. Spend at least 20 minutes in this position until the pain decreases.
- Do not sit forward, do not carry heavy objects, and do not play sports until the pain subsides.
- Contact your doctor immediately.
Remember if you havespinal pain, treatmentcan't be put off. There is a risk of a serious aggravation of the situation.
If the pain has become unbearable and you need to wait until a doctor or ambulance arrives, do the following:
- Lie down on the bed and try to minimize movements and ensure maximum peace. Stillness 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 give any medications or heat the problem area, because this will distort the clinical picture and prevent you from correctly diagnosing the problem, and, as a result, prescribing the correct treatment.
- Applying cold to the sore spot is allowed, even if the cause of the pain is unknown, it will not aggravate any of the common pathologies.