Back pain is one of the most common health problems. We want to explain the causes of its origin and teach you what to do in case of back pain.
Probably, there is no person in the world who has not experienced the pain of pain at least once in their life. Back pain can be dull and constant, or it can be severe and sudden, resulting in every movement being measured. It can start suddenly if you try or lift something too hard, or it progresses slowly, making it impossible for you to live a perfect life.
Factors that increase the risk of back pain
Everyone is immune to back pain, but there are several factors that increase the risk of back pain:
- Age.Your back hurts more often with age. Back pain usually first appears when you are in your 30s and 40s.
- Poor physical condition.Back pain is more common in inactive and sedentary people.
- Excess weight. A high-calorie, high-fat diet can help you gain weight. Too much weight puts more stress on the spine, causing pain.
- Inheritance. There are inherited 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, heavy lifting, or you have to spend hours in an uncomfortable 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 may not be able to get enough of the nutrients your bones need, resulting in a gradual loss of spinal strength and 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:
- Posterior muscle spasms.
- Contusion of the spine.
- Muscle stretching. Remove
- disks.
- falls from a height.
- Spinal fractures.
Back pain can manifest itself as one of the symptoms of certain diseases and conditions, such as:
- Spinal scoliosis.
- spondylolisthesis.
- Arthritis.
- stenosis.
- Pregnancy.
- kidney stones.
- Infections.
- endometriosis.
- Fibromyalgia.
Other possible causes of back pain are infections, swelling or stress.
How to avoid back pain?
The best things you can do to prevent back pain:
- Exercise regularly to strengthen your spinal 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 the correct posture, do not bend and do not move.
- Avoid heavy lifting. If you can not do without weight lifting, do it right: bend your legs and hold your back properly, place the load in the center of the body and not on the side, and press your torso against your body and do not wear it with your arms outstretched. When lowering a heavy object, continue to hold the spine properly, pulling down, and then lower the weight. You need to stand up slowly and carefully after these manipulations because the spine is vulnerable after weight transfer.
When should you see a doctor?
You should consult your doctor if you have:
- nonsense or snoring.
- Severe pain that gradually worsens and does not respond to any treatment.
- Pain dropped or after injury.
Pain is accompanied by one of the following symptoms:
- Urinary problems.
- weakness.
- Stupidity in the legs.
- Fever.
- Weight loss during dieting.
What diagnostic methods are used for 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 test, it will schedule other tests such as:
- Radiography.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Computed tomography (CT).
- Blood tests.
Medical examinations may not show the cause of back pain. Quite often, the cause of back pain remains unclear.
What is the difference between acute and chronic pain?
Acute pain starts quickly and lasts for 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 severe than acute pain.
How to cure?
Treatment for 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 the pain. Exercise and surgical intervention are not usually used to treat acute back pain.
Here are some treatments for chronic back pain:
Hot or cold compresses (or both)
Hot or cold compresses soothe pain and relieve tension in your back. Heat can reduce muscle spasms. Cold helps reduce swelling, edema and tenderness. The use of hot or cold compresses may relieve pain, but this treatment does not address the underlying cause of chronic back pain.
Special Exercises
Proper exercise can help relieve chronic pain, but should not be used for severe back pain. Your doctor or chiropractor can help you determine which exercises are right for your situation.
Medications
Here are some common medications used for back pain:
- Pain medications.
- Pain relieving creams and ointments Apply to the sore spot.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can reduce pain and swelling. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs contain brand-name medications. Your doctor may prescribe more potent anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Muscle relaxants and some antidepressants can help with some types of chronic back pain, but it is very individual.
Behavior change
Learn how to lift heavy objects properly to reduce spinal tension. Lifestyle changes: Eating healthy, quitting smoking, buying a quality orthopedic mattress, and going swimming can help reduce back pain.
injections
Your doctor may suggest injections of steroids or local pain medications to help relieve the pain.
Alternative treatment
Some non-traditional treatments may work well. The most common of these methods are:
- Manual therapy. Chiropractors have techniques that will help with long-term chronic back pain. However, we must remember that even if the doctor is a magician and has been able to relieve pain for several sessions, it is necessary to seriously strengthen the spinal muscles so that this pain does not return.
- Acupuncture.Chinese medicine uses small needles to relieve pain and restore health. Acupuncture can be effective when it is used as a comprehensive treatment plan for low back pain.
- Acupressure.The therapist puts pressure on specific areas 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. This is usually an extreme method and is used if other treatments do not work. Surgery may be needed if you have:
- Herniated disc.
- Spinal stenosis.
- spondylolisthesis.
- Spinal fractures.
- A fracture can be caused by a blow to the spine or the destruction of bones due to osteoporosis.
- Degenerative disc disease.
With age, the intervertebral discs can begin to disintegrate and cause severe pain.
Rarely, when back pain is caused by a tumor, infection, or nerve root problem called cauda equina syndrome, immediate surgery is needed to relieve the pain and prevent new problems.