Back pain often appears after a sudden movement or lifting heavy loads. If you have constant back pain, it is a symptom of an illness. The cause of back pain is diagnosed and treated by a neurologist. Discomfort is successfully treated by conservative methods.
What you need to know about back pain
Back pain is also called back pain. It periodically bothers every second person. Most often, the pain is localized in the lumbar region. As a rule, this occurs against the background of existing changes in the spine. Depending on the type of illness, the pain may be temporary or permanent. Persistent pain is a sign of a serious illness and, without prompt 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 go away in 2-3 days;
- chronic pain lasts more than a week without improvement;
- pain appears suddenly, for no obvious reason;
- pain occurs regularly after an injury;
- back pain radiates towards the leg, knee, foot.
Consultation with 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 drunkenness;
- the bleeding started.
But even without these symptoms, one should not delay in contacting specialists - some back diseases are completely cured only at an early stage. Your efficiency directly determines the quality of the treatment.
Risk factors are:
- work related to a computer or driving a car, intense 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 contusion of the back muscles;
- damage to spinal ligaments;
- myositis.
Pregnancy and back pain
Another common factor influencing the onset of back pain is pregnancy. As the abdomen grows and the lumbar curvature increases, the load on the spine also increases. The intervertebral discs begin to wear out quickly and sometimes the nerves become pinched. You can prevent back pain and the conditions that cause it if you don't work too much during pregnancy. If necessary, you should wear a support brace and follow the advice of another doctor.
Even if there was no back pain during pregnancy itself, but the spine was subjected to great stress, injuries leading to pain may occur during childbirth.
How to identify a disease by the type of pain
Different illnesses cause different types of back pain. It can be acute, chronic, painful, throbbing, with or without conduction (irradiation).
| Type of pain | What disease causes |
|---|---|
| Acute with conduction (irradiation) and without it. | Osteochondrosis. Shooting pain in the back sometimes radiates down the leg and becomes worse 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, and turning sideways. 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 towards 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 tension, 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 stops after a few days, although it can last two to three weeks. | |
| Displacement of the intervertebral discs. It is caused by osteochondrosis, carrying heavy loads 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 turning the head. |
| Painful | Inflammation of the muscles of the back and lumbar spine. The disease occurs after hypothermia or muscle tension. The pain is not intense and lasts a long time. The muscles in the affected area are dense and painful when tense. |
| Pain with conduction (radiation) to the leg | Inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Herniation of the lumbar spine. Back pain in the lumbar and sacral areas. The 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 this 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 for pain relief at the beginning of treatment.
- UHF resonance wave therapy
- Rehabilitation on the Thera-Band exercise machine
- Blocking of joints and spine
- Medical treatment
- Shock wave therapy
Diagnostic methods
Specialists will accurately determine the cause of back pain using the following diagnostic methods:
First of all, a basic survey of the patient is conducted to determine what exactly preceded the onset of pain, what is the nature of the pain, etc. Next, a visual examination of the patient and physical palpation of the spine are performed. If the pain intensifies when pressing on the spine, this helps 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 of a modern clinic use many non-surgical methods: from gentle massage techniques and laser osteopathy to physiotherapy. To ensure that the treatment is as effective as possible, we offer each patient an individual set of procedures using medications only for pain relief at the beginning of treatment.
Clinics will help you get rid of back pain, 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 develops a personal plan of physical activity of independent exercise aimed at consolidating the results of treatment and preventing diseases.
What to do if you have back pain
If you suffer from severe back pain, our doctors recommend the following:
- Lie down, choose a comfortable position in which the slightest pain is felt and the muscles stop contracting. 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.
Don't forget if you havespinal pain, treatmentcannot 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 a doctor or ambulance to arrive, do the following:
- Lie down on the bed and try to minimize movement and ensure maximum peace. Calm 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 best not to do this. See the next paragraph to find out why.
- It is recommended not to take any food or drink other than plain water, as if emergency surgery is required this may interfere (many procedures can only be carried out on an empty stomach). It is also recommended not to give any medications or heat the problem area, as this will distort the clinical picture and prevent you from correctly diagnosing the problem and, therefore, prescribing the appropriate treatment.
- Applying cold to the sore spot is allowed, even if the cause of the pain is unknown, this will not aggravate any common pathologies.