Back pain is one of the most common health problems. We want to introduce you to the causes of its occurrence and teach you what to do when your back hurts.
There is probably no such person in the world who has never had back pain at least once in his life. Back pain can be dull and persistent, or it can be sharp and sudden, making you measure every movement. It can start abruptly if you fall or lift something too heavy, or it can proceed slowly, making it impossible for you to live a fulfilling life.
Factors that increase the risk of back pain
Anyone is immune to back pain, but there are some factors that increase the risk of back pain:
- Age.With age, your back hurts more. Back pain usually first occurs between the ages of 30 and 40.
- Bad physical condition.Back pain is more common in inactive and sedentary people.
- Overweight.A diet high in calories and fat can make you fat. 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, such as ankylosing spondylitis.
- Other diseases.Some types of arthritis and cancer can also cause back pain.
- Your work.If your job constantly requires serious physical exertion, weight lifting, or you have to spend several hours in an uncomfortable position, the result could be back pain. If you work at your desk all day without sitting upright, your back will also hurt.
- I smoke.If you smoke, your body is unable to get enough of the nutrients it needs for your bones, resulting in a gradual loss of spine strength and reduced flexibility. A smoker's cough can also cause back pain.
What are the reasons?
There are many causes of back pain. Sometimes the pain can be caused by mechanical reasons such as:
- Spasms of the back muscles.
- Spinal contusion.
- Stretching the muscles.
- Ripping discs.
- Falls from above.
- Spinal fractures.
Back pain can manifest itself as one of the symptoms of certain diseases and conditions, such as:
- Scoliosis of the spine.
- Spondylolisthesis.
- Arthritis.
- Stenosis.
- Pregnancy.
- Kidney stones.
- Infections.
- Endometriosis.
- Fibromyalgia.
Other possible causes of back pain are infections, swelling or stress.
How to prevent back pain?
The best thing you can do to prevent back pain:
- Exercise regularly to strengthen your back 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 correct posture, do not bend over or bend over.
- Avoid heavy lifting. If you can't help but lift weights, do it correctly: bend your legs and keep your back straight, place the load in the center of the body and not to the side and press the load against the body and do not carry it on outstretched arms. When lowering a heavy object, continue to keep your back straight, squat, and then put your weight back. It is necessary to get up after these manipulations slowly and carefully, because after transferring the weights, the spine is vulnerable.
When to see a doctor?
You should see a doctor if you have:
- Numbness or tingling.
- Severe pain that gets progressively worse and does not respond to any treatment.
- The pain occurred after a fall or injury.
Pain is accompanied by one of the following symptoms:
- Problems with urination.
- Weakness.
- Numbness in the legs.
- Fever.
- Lose weight without being on a diet.
What diagnostic methods are used when the back hurts?
To diagnose back pain, the doctor will ask you in detail about the course and nature of the pain and will do an examination. After the exam, he will order other tests, such as:
- Radiography.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Computed tomography (CT).
- Blood test.
Medical tests may not show the cause of back pain. Most often, the cause of back pain remains unclear.
What is the difference between acute and chronic back pain?
Acute pain begins rapidly and lasts no more than 6 weeks. This is the most common type of back pain. Sharp pain can be caused by things like falling while playing football or lifting heavy objects. Chronic pain lasts more than 3 months and is much less common than acute pain.
How to heal?
Treatment for back pain depends on the type of pain you have. Acute back pain usually goes away on its own without treatment, but you can take pain relievers to relieve the pain. Exercise and surgery are not commonly used to treat acute back pain.
Below are some of the treatments for chronic back pain:
Hot or cold compresses (or both)
Hot or cold compresses can soothe pain and relieve back tension. Heat can reduce muscle spasms. The cold helps reduce swelling, swelling and sensitivity. Using hot or cold packs can reduce pain, but this treatment won't address the underlying cause of chronic back pain.
Special exercises
Proper exercise can help relieve chronic pain, but should not be used for acute back pain. Your doctor or chiropractor can help you determine which exercises are appropriate for your situation.
Drugs
The following are the main medications used for back pain:
- Pain medications.
- Pain relieving creams and ointments are rubbed into the skin over the pain site.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which can reduce pain and swelling. NSAIDs include brand-name drugs. Your doctor can prescribe stronger NSAIDs.
- Muscle relaxants and some antidepressants can help with some types of chronic back pain, but this is very individual.
Behavior modification
Learn how to properly lift heavy objects to reduce back strain. Lifestyle change: Eating healthy, quitting smoking, buying a quality orthopedic mattress, and going for a swim can help reduce back pain.
Injections
Your doctor may suggest steroid injections or topical pain relievers to relieve pain.
Alternative treatments
Some unconventional treatments can work well. The most common of these methods are:
- Manual therapy.Chiropractors have techniques for relieving chronic long-term back pain. However, it should be remembered that even if your doctor is a wizard and was able to relieve the pain in a couple of sessions, you need to seriously strengthen your back muscles so that these pains do not recur.
- Acupuncture.Chinese medicine uses fine needles to relieve pain and restore health. Acupuncture can be effective when used as part of a comprehensive low back pain treatment plan.
- Acupressure. The therapist applies pressure to specific areas of the body to relieve pain. The effectiveness of acupressure for back pain is not well understood.
Surgical treatment
Most people with chronic back pain don't need surgery. This is usually a last resort and is used if other treatments don't work. This may be required if you have:
- Herniated disc.
- Spinal stenosis.
- Spondylolisthesis.
- Vertebral fractures.
- A fracture can be caused by a blow to the back or bone destruction due to osteoporosis.
- Degenerative disc disease.
As we age, the intervertebral discs can begin to rupture and cause severe pain.
Rarely, when back pain is caused by a tumor, infection or nerve root problem called cauda equina syndrome, surgery is needed immediately to relieve the pain and prevent new problems.