Back pain is one of the most common health problems. We want to introduce you to the reasons for its occurrence and teach you what to do when your back hurts.
There is probably no person in the world who has not been hurt at least once in his life. Back pain can be dull and constant or be sharp and sudden, making you measure every movement. It can start suddenly if you fall or lift something too heavy, or it progresses slowly, making it impossible for you to live a full life.
Factors that increase the risk of back pain
Everyone is immune to back pain, but there are some factors that increase the risk of back pain:
- Age.Your back hurts more often the older you get. Back pain usually first appears when you are in your 30s or 40s.
- Poor physical condition.Back pain is more common in inactive and sedentary people.
- Overweight.A diet high in calories and fat can make you gain weight. Being overweight puts more stress on the spine, causing pain.
- Heredity.There are hereditary 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 job.If your work constantly requires serious physical effort, heavy lifting or you are forced to spend several hours in an awkward position - the result can be back pain. If you work all day at your desk without sitting up straight, your back will also hurt.
- Smoking.If you smoke, your body cannot get enough of the nutrients your bones need, leading to 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 causes such as:
- Back muscle spasms.
- Spinal cord injury.
- Stretching the muscles.
- Eject discs.
- Falling from a height.
- Spinal fractures.
Back pain can be 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 healthy bones, you need to take enough calcium and vitamin D every day.
- Maintain a proper posture, do not move or stoop.
- Avoid heavy lifting. If you can't do without lifting weights, do it right: bend your legs and keep your back straight, place the load in the center of the body, not the side, and press the load against the body and do not carry it with outstretched arms. When lowering a heavy object, keep your back straight, squat, and then lower the weight. You should get up after these manipulations slowly and carefully, because after transferring weights the spine is vulnerable.
When to see a doctor?
You should see a doctor if you have:
- Numbness or tingling.
- Severe pain that progressively worsens and does not respond to treatment.
- Pain occurred after a fall or injury.
Pain is accompanied by one of the following symptoms:
- Problems urinating.
- Weakness.
- Numbness in the legs.
- Fever.
- Weight loss without diet.
What diagnostic methods are used when back pain?
To diagnose back pain, your doctor will ask you in detail about the course and nature of the pain and will perform an examination. After the review, he will order other tests, such as:
- Radiography.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Computed tomography (CT).
- Blood tests.
Medical tests may not show the cause of the back pain. Quite often the cause of back pain remains unclear.
What is the difference between acute and chronic back pain?
Acute pain begins quickly and lasts 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 more than 3 months and is much less common than acute pain.
How is it treated?
The treatment of 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 painkillers to relieve the pain. Exercise and surgery are not often used to treat acute back pain.
Below are some of the treatments for chronic back pain:
Hot or cold compresses (or both)
Warm or cold compresses can soothe pain and relieve back tension. The heat can reduce muscle spasms. The cold helps reduce swelling, swelling and sensitization. The use of hot or cold compresses can reduce pain, but this treatment will not eliminate the root 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.
Medicines
The following are the main medications used for back pain:
- Pain medications.
- Pain-relieving creams and ointments are rubbed into the skin at the site of pain.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can reduce pain and swelling. NSAIDs include branded drugs. Your doctor may prescribe stronger NSAIDs.
- Muscle relaxants and some antidepressants can help with some types of chronic back pain, but this is very individual.
Behavior change
Learn to lift heavy objects properly to reduce the strain on your back. Lifestyle changes: Eating healthy, quitting smoking, buying a quality orthopedic mattress and swimming can help reduce back pain.
Injections
Your doctor may suggest injections of steroids or topical pain medications to help relieve the pain.
Alternative treatments
Some non-traditional therapies may work well. The most common of these methods are:
- Manual therapy.Chiropractors have techniques that help relieve long-term chronic back pain. However, it should be remembered that even if your doctor is a magician and has managed to relieve the pain for several sessions, it is necessary to seriously strengthen the muscles of the back so that this pain does not return again.
- Acupuncture.Chinese medicine uses fine needles to relieve pain and restore health. Acupuncture can be effective when used as part of a comprehensive treatment for low back pain.
- Acupressure.The therapist applies pressure to certain 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 the last resort and is used if other treatments do not work. The operation may be necessary if you have:
- Disc herniation.
- Spinal stenosis.
- Spondylolisthesis.
- Spinal fractures.
- A fracture can be caused by a blow to the back or destruction of the bones due to osteoporosis.
- Degenerative disc disease.
With age, intervertebral discs can begin to rupture and cause severe pain.
Rarely, when back pain is caused by a tumor, infection, or a nerve root problem called cauda equina syndrome, surgery is needed immediately to relieve the pain and prevent new problems.