What to do if your back hurts?

Back pain can make life difficult and can have many causes. Timely prevention and diagnosis of back pain helps to avoid complications. Eliminate back painphysiotherapists and neurologists help.

Back pain is a common phenomenon in today's society. This is due to many factors: people lead a sedentary lifestyle, lack valuable vitamins and minerals in their daily diet, suffer from internal organ diseases, experience increased physical activity, get injured as a result of professional sports activities, and ignore the signs of cancer. etc. All this causes pain in different areas of the back and deprives a person of a full life.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the problem of back pain and present the most effective ways to eliminate it. We hope this material will be useful for you!

Back pain

Back pain is called dorsopathy. Many modern residents suffer from the disease, but the causes of its occurrence can be very diverse. In 80% of cases, the pathology is caused by primary (non-specific) factors, and in 20% of cases, the disease manifests itself against the background of secondary (specific) signs.

Specific pain can be caused by damage to internal organs, in other cases the pathological process progresses due to degenerative-dystrophic processes of the spine.

Among the specific risk factors, the most dangerous are oncological processes involving spinal metastasis. For the purpose of prevention, patients are recommended to undergo regular fluorography and mammography, as well as PSA analysis. This makes it possible to detect the presence of tumors in the initial stage, when malignant cells have not yet had time to move with the blood flow to other organs.

If your back hurts and you don't know what to do and how to treat your disease of unknown origin, first of all make an appointment with an experienced specialist and find out the cause of the discomfort.

You will deal with neurologists, physiotherapists and surgeons. After a thorough diagnosis, they draw an accurate conclusion about your illness and give a clear answer to the question: "What should we do if your back hurts? "".

Causes of back pain

The most frequently asked question in Internet search engines is: "What should I do if my spine hurts in the middle of my back? "". Today, this pain syndrome worries more than 80% of people in the world. The main sources of its occurrence are the following pathologies in the spine region:

• A disease accompanied by the appearance of a purulent-inflammatory process in the bone marrow due to the activity of pathogens;
• The presence of malignant tumors, as evidenced by pain in the lower back;
• Disc herniation;
• Spine injuries (fractures);
• The curvature of the spine;
• Chronic pain in the area of muscle structures;
• Pathological process characterized by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the area of all components of the spinal movement segment;
• Cartilage damage.

In some situations, the manifestations of back pain can be triggered by other causes:

• Inflammatory processes in the joints;
• Cardiovascular diseases;
• Bleeding in the pelvic area;
• Violation of the work of the female reproductive system. At the same time, women note that their back hurts in the lumbar region. Only a competent gynecologist can prepare a treatment plan and clarify what needs to be done in such a situation;
• Intercostal neuralgia. Contributes to breathing difficulties;
• Ulcerative disease characterized by discomfort in the shoulder blade area;
• Kidney dysfunctions;
• Inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by unilateral pain syndrome;
• the presence of malignant tumors in the respiratory organs;
• Acute inflammation of the inner mucosa of the appendix;
• Infectious processes in internal organs.

Types of back pain

In order to identify the cause of the pathology, the nature of the discomfort is taken into account. There are following types of pain:

Shooting back pain

It becomes known when:

• Pathologies of internal organs;
• Physical injury resulting from a fall;
• Pinched nerve roots and spondylolisthesis;
• Curvature of the spine and violation of posture.

If the shooting pain becomes acute, a visit to a medical clinic is a prerequisite for recovery.

A stabbing backache

If the patient asks what to do if the lower back hurts, and the discomfort is of an acute stabbing nature, this indicates such dangerous pathological processes as:

• the presence of malignant tumors;
• Acute inflammation after exposure to thermal factors;
• Spasm of the piriformis muscle.

Sometimes the need to do something disappears by itself if the back hurts a lot, since such discomfort appears in women in the last weeks of pregnancy and is considered normal.

Pulling pain syndrome

Patients often complain: "If my back hurts because I lifted weights and tore my back, what should I do in this situation? ". Of course, excessive physical activity can cause pulling pain, but the following factors most often cause such discomfort:

• Old injuries on the back;
• Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the lumbar spine;
• Staying longer in one position.

Back pain after exercise

It is observed in people who play sports at a professional level. Usually, the pain syndrome occurs against the background of excessive muscle tension. Only a qualified specialist can answer exactly what to do if your back hurts. First of all, you need to give rest and complete relaxation to the body.

Backache due to coronavirus or SARS?

If the back muscles hurt along the spine, then after examining the presence of acute respiratory viral infections, the doctor will answer what should be done in this situation. They often cause severe pain in the area of muscle tissue, aching joints and general weakness, which is a consequence of poisoning the body.

If the back hurts with a simultaneous increase in temperature, then in this case it is obvious what to do. First of all, you should take pain relievers and antipyretics. Only an experienced doctor can prescribe special antiviral drugs and antibiotics after a thorough examination.

It should be noted that in the case of coronavirus infection, the increased back pain occurs due to pleurisy and is also related to the increased tension of the muscle structures, which occurs against the background of the frequent debilitating cough. In addition, lactic acid is formed in the back muscles, causing significant discomfort.

When is it urgent to see a doctor?

If the manifestations of pain do not subside within a few days, but only intensify, a visit to a health care facility is a prerequisite for improving well-being.

An independent visit to the clinic or a call to a home doctor is recommended in the following situations:

• The condition worsens at night;
• A recent back or spine injury;
• The patient does not feel better even if the position of the body changes;
• The patient has a fever;
• The patient is at risk (age group over 55);
• The neurological discomfort increases - the sensitivity of the limbs disappears, the patient feels muscle weakness;
• Alleviation of the condition does not even give non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• The patient complains of pain in the lower leg.

Diagnosis of back pain

If your back starts to hurt and you don't know what to do, first consult a neurologist and do the necessary laboratory and hardware tests. This allows you to accurately diagnose and prescribe effective treatment.

What does the blood test determine?

Thanks to laboratory blood tests, doctors are able to identify infectious processes and determine the important indicator of ESR, which makes it possible to confirm or exclude inflammation. The presence of inflammatory processes can also be assessed with the increased value of leukocytes. In addition, based on the blood test, we can conclude that hemoglobin synthesis is impaired due to iron deficiency and the development of malignant tumors.

hardware research

• Duplex/triplex ultrasound examination of neck and head vessels.It enables the examination of the condition of blood vessels, the assessment of atherosclerotic plaques and blood clot formation, and the study of the quantitative parameters of blood flow. This research method is prescribed for patients who complain of frequent dizziness, increased blood pressure, headaches and acute cerebrovascular accidents;
• CT scan.It makes it possible to determine the nature of the spinal fracture, as well as to detect the smallest parts. Based on the results of the examination, it is possible to reconstruct the damaged area in a spatial format. CT is more informative than X-ray;
• Magnetic resonance imaging.The most accurate research method. It enables the examination of malignant tumors of the vertebrae, pinching of nerve roots, intervertebral hernia, reduction of the lumen of the spinal opening, and inflammatory processes caused by the injury. Performing an MRI is a prerequisite before surgery and during the rehabilitation period that follows;
• Radiography.It enables a detailed study of the state of the bone tissue. It is performed in cases of scoliosis, arthritis, fractures, and displacement of vertebrae. It is often performed in conjunction with functional diagnostics, when the patient is asked to bend and straighten the spine. Their strength is judged based on the indicators of the staining of the vertebrae;
• Electromyography.It enables the assessment of the condition of the nerve tissue. During the test, the electrical impulses generated by the nerve structures and the response of the muscle tissue are examined. Thanks to the EMG, a pinched nerve can be detected, which occurred against the background of intervertebral disc herniation and spinal cord stenosis;
• Bone scintigraphy.It is considered a mandatory method in case of suspected compression fractures or oncological processes.

back pain treatment

The main goal of therapeutic measures is to relieve pain and prevent the development of chronic pathologies. That is why the treatment includes eliminating the signs of the underlying disease, as well as the use of drugs to relieve acute pain and the use of non-pharmacological methods to restore the body.

Algorithm to relieve acute pain syndrome:

• Bed rest for the first 3-5 days. At the same time, it is recommended for the patient to perform shock wave treatment and use special drugs. In addition, the patient prescribes special orthopedic devices;
• Adherence to semi-bed rest for the next 8-9 days. During this period, SWT and medication should be continued. In addition, the patient is recommended to introduce special exercises with low load and electrophoresis with painkillers;
• Period of limited physical activity (days 12-20). During this phase, medication, shock wave therapy and physiotherapy sessions continue. In order to achieve an additional positive effect, massage treatments are used;
• Unlimited physical activity (without increased load) along with the implementation of physiotherapy exercises;
• Preventive measures. Regular physical therapy practice and sports training. This improves the quality of life.

Use of medicines

During diagnostics, it is not always possible to determine the cause of the pain syndrome, therefore, when prescribing drugs, the nature of the discomfort is often taken into account:

1. In the case of acute pain, a medicinal blockade of the paravertebral muscles is used. If the pain cannot be relieved by the above method, anesthesia is performed in the epidural space of the spine.
2. The pain syndrome of moderate intensity is stopped by injections with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Among these agents, the derivative of phenylacetic acid is considered the most effective. However, long-term use of this drug can disrupt the activity of the cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, in the case of the patient's gastrointestinal disorders, more benign drugs from this group are prescribed.
3. Medicines that reduce the tone of skeletal muscles are used to stop muscle spasms.
4. B group vitamins. It enhances the pain-relieving effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. These drugs are administered in the form of tablets or by intramuscular injection.
5. With neuropathic pain, anticonvulsant or psychotropic drugs are used as part of complex therapy.

Preventive measures

So that the question of what to do if you have pain in the lower back, in the lumbar region or around the shoulder blades does not bother you for years, pay attention to your body. Only a careful attitude to the body, as well as regular implementation of preventive measures, will reduce the likelihood of back pain.

There are several important rules, the observance of which will allow you to avoid back discomfort. So, if your back hurts and you are wondering what to do in this situation, reviews show that you should pay attention to shoes first of all. Since the spine bears the greatest load during movement, you should avoid wearing uncomfortable shoes. Experts recommend giving preference to shoes with small heels (1-3 cm).

It is also important to pay attention to posture. If you work at a computer for a long time, try to change your body position regularly and sometimes walk around the room or office.

When transporting heavy objects, the weight of the load must be optimally distributed.

Another condition for maintaining a healthy back is performing gymnastic exercises. Physiotherapy and special exercises recommended by professionals make it possible to strengthen the muscles.