Back pain is most common in the elderly, however, due to several reasons, it can also occur in young people.Almost all adults are accustomed to periodic pain in the back, which is explained by the special tendency of this part of the body to various types of injuries.Most back pain can be easily treated and prevented, however, sometimes, the cause of back pain can be quite serious, including, for example, osteochondrosis.
Also, back pain can be caused by any disease of the gastrointestinal tract, the presence of kidney stones or other problems with the human urinary system.
Back pain can be either in the lumbar region or between the shoulder blades, and can also give pain in the arms or legs, which depends on the cause of the pain.
Causes of back pain
The main causes of back pain include diseases such as osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis, radiculopathy, scoliosis, intervertebral disc herniation, osteoporosis, myofascial pain and serious disorders of spinal circulation.
In addition, back pain can be caused by excess body weight, heavy physical activity, including those related to heavy lifting, poor posture or some kind of infection.
Factors that contribute to back pain
If the back pain is caused by a disease, but there is no treatment, the pain tends to return and subside depending on the presence of factors that contribute to this.For example, the return of pain in the back can be triggered by hypothermia or heavy lifting, as well as if a person is in an uncomfortable position for a long time.In addition, infection can return pain to the body.
The main symptoms of back pain
A signal to see a doctor and undergo an examination is back pain that does not go away within 3 to 5 days, as well as when the accompanying body temperature exceeds 37.8.
Back pain can be accompanied by frequent and painful urination, vomiting and nausea, numbness of limbs and diarrhea.These are all symptoms that should make you visit your doctor immediately.
If, along with the pain in the back, there are significant difficulties in moving the arms or legs and confusion, it is very important to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Diagnosis of back pain
If there is pain in the back, examination methods such as neurological examinations and x-rays, CT and MRI, and manual diagnostics are used.
Often, during an X-ray examination of the elderly, osteochondrosis is detected.
Immediately after visiting the doctor, an anamnesis is taken, symptoms and complaints are explained in detail, after which additional tests are prescribed.
When compiling the anamnesis, the localization of pain, its radiation, the emotional state of the patient is explained, and the presence of a relationship between the occurrence of pain and the position of the person is revealed.The presence of old back injuries is also important.
To identify the presence of any neoplasms and infections, a somatic examination is performed.
Treatment for back pain
To treat pain of various types, depending on the cause that causes it, treatment methods such as manual, medical and physical therapy, as well as exercise therapy, post-isomeric relaxation, surgery, traction, interspinous and paravertebral blockade are prescribed.Mandatory adherence to an orthopaedically correct regimen is also required.
When treating osteochondrosis, it is necessary to avoid sudden movements and especially bending, and you should also remain mostly at rest.In case of acute osteochondrosis, the patient should not visit a medical facility and undergo treatment at home.In this case, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, muscle relaxants are prescribed, and it is recommended to sleep on a hard bed, using a special shield under the mattress.
When treating intervertebral hernia, surgical intervention is used in cases where the patient experiences compression of the spinal cord, which occurs quite rarely.
Chronic back pain
The presence of chronic back pain often indicates osteochondrosis, the treatment of which takes 5 to 15 sessions, depending on the intensity of the pain.Treatment processes include acupuncture, vacuum therapy, acupressure, moxotherapy, hirudotherapy and stone therapy.
If we talk in more detail about each method listed, we can see the good effectiveness of acupressure, which helps eliminate muscle spasms and excessive tension, and promotes blood circulation.Also, thanks to manual therapy, spinal joint dysfunction is effectively eliminated.And provided the patient follows the doctor's recommendations after completing the course of therapy, the disc will continue to heal on its own.
If there is a herniated disc, the treatment is a rather long process, slowly reducing the hernia itself and relieving the pain from it.A full course of treatment allows you to restore the normal function of the affected disc.