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Back pain

A woman is worried about back pain

In recent years, back pain is one of the most common complaints among patients in emergency and outpatient clinics.Such pain is not a separate nosological unit, but a clinical manifestation of a number of diseases.What makes this symptom particularly serious is that physical activity is significantly limited and people's ability to work is reduced due to the often acute pain.

The main cause of back pain is diseases of the spine;In addition, such a clinical manifestation can be caused by pathologies of internal organs, occupational characteristics (long sitting at a desk or driver's seat, heavy physical work), injury or pregnancy.In most cases, it is possible to find out the cause of the pain by carefully examining the patient;sometimes additional tests are required to make a diagnosis.The elimination of pain syndrome depends on the main disease and the features of its course;treatment is selected individually for each case.

Medical statistics show that more than half of the world's population suffers from back pain.Moreover, such a symptom in childhood indicates diseases of the internal organs and is extremely rare;as we age, back pain occurs more and more often, and almost everyone experiences it in old age, and only 25% of those suffering from this pathology consult a doctor.

What are the dangers of back pain?

In most cases, timely or inadequately prescribed therapy for back pain leads to chronicity of the process.Chronic low back pain is a very common cause of reduced performance in people aged 40-55 and is characterized by:

  • permanent character;
  • increased during movements and physical activity;
  • limitation of physical activity;
  • the development of a feeling of stiffness in the back.

The chronic process is characterized by a repeated course with frequent episodes of exacerbation, provoked by long-term hypothermia, physical activity or being in one position.Exacerbations are accompanied by periods of remission, during which there is no pain or it is minimally expressed.In most cases, back pain does not pose a direct threat to a person's health or life, but there are serious pathologies of the spine and internal organs that manifest themselves with this symptom, which require immediate consultation with a specialist.

Back pain due to common diseases

Common ailments that present as back pain include sciatica and herniated spinal discs.

The severity of pain in these diseases depends on the stage of their development and the sensitivity of the patient.

Radiculitis

Radiculopathy or radiculitis is a symptom complex that develops as a result of compression of the roots of the spinal cord and manifests itself with motor and vegetative disorders against the background of severe pain.There are cervical, thoracic and lumbar (lumbosacral) radiculitis.

Clinical manifestations

It manifests itself as a clear pain syndrome localized at the site of the violation and aggravated by movements and coughing (even with a slight cough).Pain can be of different nature (aching, dull or sharp), it can appear from time to time or it can be constant.In most cases, the pain spreads to the upper or lower limbs.In addition to pain, the disease is characterized by muscle weakness and loss of sensitivity in the limbs.

A ruptured disc

The protrusion or prolapse of fragments of the intervertebral discs into the spinal canal is called a herniated disc.Most often, the disease occurs in people aged 25 to 50 years;the risk group includes drivers, those who spend a long time sitting and those who have to lift heavy objects every day.

Clinical manifestations

The main symptom is pain, which is dull and intermittent at the beginning of the disease and is aggravated by physical exertion, coughing and staying in one position for a long time.As the hernia progresses, the pain increases and, depending on the location of the hernia, spreads to the arm, hip, or thigh.

Causes of pain in people over 50 years old

Almost every elderly person experiences pain in the spine;The most common causes of this symptom are the following diseases:

Osteoporosis

Clinical manifestations

The disease is characterized by an asymptomatic or almost imperceptible onset, the symptoms are similar to osteochondrosis.Often, the pathology is already detected with characteristic injuries, or rather with fractures, which can occur with a minimal load or light bruises.

It is very difficult to notice the disease at an early stage;usually manifests itself with the following symptoms:

  • pain in the back or thoracic spine that occurs during long-term static load and during sudden changes in weather conditions;
  • hair and nails become brittle;
  • development of non-inflammatory periodontal diseases is possible;
  • change in posture and decrease in height;
  • the appearance of leg cramps at night.

Spondylosis

Chronic degenerative-dystrophic damage of the spine is caused by the deformation of the vertebrae and the appearance of bone protrusions and spines (osteophytes) on their surface.

Clinical manifestations

In the early stages, it manifests itself as a small limitation in the mobility of the spine.As the disease progresses, an obvious pain syndrome develops due to the fixation of the area subjected to excessive loading.Sharp, unbearable pain is accompanied by muscle tension and limitation of mobility due to the gradual correction of the physiological curves of the spine.

Causes of pain in people under 50 years old

Very often, the following pathologies are the cause of low back or thoracic back pain that occurs in young or middle age:

  • sacroiliitis;
  • spinal osteomyelitis;
  • spondylolisthesis;
  • fibrositis.

Sacroiliitis

A localized inflammatory process in the sacroiliac joint is called sacroiliitis.The reason for the development of this disease can be injury, long-term increase in joint load (during pregnancy, work related to lifting heavy loads or constant sitting), congenital developmental anomalies, metabolic disorders, neoplasms.

Clinical manifestations

Pain is localized in the pelvic region and spreads along the sciatic nerve on the affected side;can be aggravated by pressure on the wing of the ilium and flexion of the limbs.In case of severe pain, the patient takes a forced position with bent knees.In addition to pain, an increase in body temperature, development of purulent abscesses and severe intoxication syndrome can be observed.The disease is usually treated in surgical departments.

Spinal osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is a purulent infectious disease affecting bone tissue, periosteum and bone marrow.It can be acute (occurring for the first time) or chronic (long-term and characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission).

Clinical manifestations

Chills begin with an increase in body temperature (often up to 40.0) and an increase in heart rate.After 2-4 days, local pain, local tissue swelling and hyperemia (redness) and limitation of motor activity develop at the site of the lesion.In chronic osteomyelitis, there are traces of fistulous tracts (round sores with purulent discharge) on the skin.If you suspect the development of osteomyelitis, you should urgently seek help from a doctor.This pathology is treated by a surgeon.

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is a forward displacement of the vertebra due to congenital non-union of the arch with the body or degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc.In most cases, it develops during the displacement of the fifth lumbar vertebra.

Clinical manifestations

The main manifestation is chronic pain in the lumbar region, caused by vertebral displacement and pinched nerve endings.The pain often spreads to the gluteal region and intensifies when trying to straighten.It can be accompanied by pain in the legs, muscle weakness and numbness of the limbs.

Fibrositis

Fibrosis is a nonspecific inflammatory process characterized by fibrous and fatty degeneration of fibrous connective tissue.The exact cause of the disease has not yet been clarified.It is more common in middle-aged women.

Clinical manifestations

  • moderate to severe persistent, aching back pain;
  • headaches;
  • neck and shoulder pain;
  • pain and stiffness of spine in morning;
  • sleep disorder;
  • irritation.

The pain intensifies in the morning when being outside in the cold season, after excessive exercise, after emotional stress.

Musculoskeletal pain

The musculoskeletal system, which allows the body to hold and move in space, has spatial and pain sensitivity.Damage to any, even the smallest, element of this system by injury or disease leads to the development of pain.Various injuries, excessive physical activity, as well as displacement of the articular processes of the vertebrae lead to the development of an inflammatory process in the tissues of the spinal column, which causes pain.

Pain spreading to the back and lower back (stenosis)

With stenosis (narrowing of the exit holes of the spinal canal or spinal nerve roots), as a result of which nerve fibers are compressed, the pain that appears in the back then spreads to the leg, when the patient's gait changes, he limps.

The pain is dull and constant.The reason for the development of this disease is age-related changes, so young and middle-aged people are not susceptible to its occurrence.For treatment, a surgical technique called decompression surgery is used, in which the vertebral arches are split.

Back pain after trauma

The causes of back injuries can be:

  • sudden lifting of weights often causes sprains or tears in muscle fibers or ligaments;
  • to fall;
  • bump or bruise;
  • mechanical effect.

In addition to the appearance of pain during injury, spasm of muscle fibers develops, which disappears within a few hours to several days, depending on the severity of the injury.In severe injuries, muscle spasms can last for several weeks.Immediately after the injury, the pain is sharp, after a while it is replaced by pain.

Back pain during pregnancy

In some women, constant nagging pain in the lower back appears already in the first months of pregnancy and does not pass until childbirth.The cause of the pain is the increased release of relaxin, a hormone responsible for preparing the birth canal for the passage of the child, that is, softening the ligamentous apparatus of the sacral region.Since relaxation affects all ligaments and an increased load is placed on the spine of a pregnant woman, chronic pain in the lumbar region may develop.

How to relieve back pain during pregnancy:

  • Do not wear high heels;
  • all movements should be done smoothly;
  • you can't lift weights;
  • if there is an urgent need to lift something heavy, try to distribute the weight in both hands, do not bend and bend;
  • You should not bend to the floor, you should kneel;
  • No need to remove tall objects.

Causes of upper back pain

The main causes of localized pain above the lower back are:

  • osteochondrosis;
  • myofascial syndrome.

Osteochondrosis

The degenerative-dystrophic process that causes a change in the normal structure of the cartilage tissue of the spine is called osteochondrosis.There is cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral osteochondrosis.Often the disease is accompanied by protrusion of the vertebral disc and intervertebral hernia.

Clinical manifestations

The characteristics of the symptoms of the disease depend on its location:

  1. Cervical osteochondrosis is manifested by pain and stiffness of movement in the neck and arms, headaches;Dizziness, hearing loss, and fainting may occur when the vertebral artery is compressed.
  2. In the thoracic form of the disease, there are sharp pains in the back and chest (feeling of a stake), heartache, difficulty breathing.
  3. Lumbosacral localization is characterized by pain in the lumbar region, radiates to the legs and intensifies during movement;lumbago, numbness of the extremities and disorders of the genitourinary system may appear.

Myofascial syndrome

Myofascial syndrome is a disease characterized by acute painful over-tension in the muscles of the spine.The main reason for the development is long-term static overload of the muscular framework of the spine (being in an uncomfortable position).

Clinical manifestations

The pain is localized on one or both sides of the spine, aggravated by pressure, overwork, injury or sudden hypothermia.Pain sensations can vary in intensity from mild, almost imperceptible discomfort to severe excruciating pain within a few days.

One of the most effective ways to relieve back paintherapeutic blockades.