Why does my back and spine hurt?

Almost everyone is familiar with back pain., and 15-20% have to deal with this symptom regularly during the year.

The problem is not only medical, but also socio-economic, because during the illness, the patient, depending on the reasons that caused the problem, loses his ability to work.

In most cases, it is possible to get rid of the disease for a month, after which the patient can resume normal life.

Despite these results, in 70% of patients the pain returns again, the treatment is useless due to the fact that the therapy was incorrect or inadequate.

It should be noted that the painis a sign of degenerative processes in the spine, which in turn are considered a sign of pathological conditions.

Classification and nature of back pain

Types of back pain:

• non-specific(benign) - dorsopathy, "old" osteochondrosis, the cause is most often dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system, additional examination is most often useless;
• specific(dangerous) pain requiring additional diagnostics at the very first visit, which allows excluding the presence of a spinal fracture, tuberculosis, tumor, metastases, etc. ;
• radicular pain(radiculopathy) - related to nerve root irritation/compression from a herniated (prolapsed) disc.

What musculoskeletal disorders cause spinal pain in the center of the back?

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system that cause pain:

• osteoarthritis- the patient can bend over from pain, attempts to straighten his back, inhale deeply contribute to an increase in negative sensations, when you press on the vertebrae, the load on the elastic cushioning pad increases, as a result of which the damaged element becomes thinner;

• chondrosis, osteochondrosis of the chest area- develops against the background of obesity, lack of physical activity, unbalanced nutrition, disorders of mineral metabolism, in the process of age-related changes, the elasticity and height of the intervertebral discs decrease, their structure changes, the pinching of nerve fibers contributes to sudden, severe pain or moderate discomfort aggravated by movement;
• scoliosis, increased/decreased lordosis, kyphosis- lead to deterioration of the posture and appearance, which leads to pinching of the nerves in the spine;
• pole injury;
• neurological causes(radiculitis);
• congenital pathologies- extra/missing vertebrae in the spine lead to painful discomfort;
• myositis- waning and increasing pain develops against the background of inflammation of the skeletal muscles, discomfort increases with palpation of the back.

Other causes of back pain

Other reasons:

• inflammation of the kidneys- the discomfort is often accompanied by high fever, swelling of the lower limbs, hypertension;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system, vascular pathologies - accompanied by throbbing pain in the back and increased blood pressure;
• chronic stress;
• diseases of the digestive system- the pain is localized in the middle or on the left side of the back, after eating the pain intensifies against the background of pancreatitis or diseases of the gastric mucosa;
• psycho-emotional disorder.

Serious diseases of the organs located in the abdominal cavity and below the chest can also respond with pain in the spine. It is often very difficult for the patient to determine the nature of the pain, it is recommended to observe the symptoms and inform the doctor in a timely manner.

Treatment of spinal pain

Before starting treatment, the doctor must make a diagnosis, study the patient's history, listen to complaints, perform a visual examination and palpation, study the results of laboratory and diagnostic tests. After that, the necessary drugs are selected, the action of which is aimed at correcting the problem.

medicines

During an exacerbation, therapy is aimed at stopping the pain signal.

medicines:

1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs- their action is aimed at stopping the mediators of inflammatory processes before they enter the tissues around the spine. It helps to get rid of inflammation, fever, swelling, spasm, soreness. For intense pain, injectable preparations are prescribed, which are distinguished by a quick effect (15-20 minutes), safety for the gastrointestinal tract, all components are supplied in the initial dose. To get rid of moderate and mild pain, external preparations or drugs for oral form are prescribed.
2. Analgesics- are prescribed when the analgesic properties of NSAIDs are not sufficient, the drugs affect the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain, which prevents the occurrence of a response. The combination of 2 groups is recommended to be carried out carefully, to take into account the characteristics of the body, the compatibility of drugs, the selection of the dose is carried out individually.
3. Muscle relaxants- diseases of the spine are often accompanied by muscle spasms that force the patient to freeze in one position, all movements lead to sharp pain. Injection of muscle relaxants will help to relax the muscle corset, the effect of their application lasts for 12 hours. Tablets are used less often, since they begin to work only after the necessary amount of the substance has been accumulated.
4. Chondroprotectors- problems with the spine appear against the background of degenerative processes in joint and cartilage tissues, in such cases drugs containing chondroitin or glucosamine are prescribed. The substances are the basis of the restoration of tendons, joints, ligaments, etc. These components are not produced in the body, therefore, during an illness, cells should be as saturated as possible with the listed substances, most often they are prescribed orally, drugs should be taken in long courses.

As an adjunctive therapyvitamin complexes, diuretics, antispasmodics can be prescribed, as well as means aimed at improving nutrition and restoring blood circulation, antioxidants, antihistamines, etc.

surgery

In the absence of effect from drug treatment, surgical treatment is indicated, modern techniques can achieve great results.In case of osteochondrosis, injuries and hernias, part of the vertebra or intervertebral disc is removed, with aortic aneurysm, plastic surgery is indicated.

In diseases of the spine, the cause of the origin of the pain must be established, quite often the source of unpleasant symptoms is the internal organs. Only a doctor can diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment.

Exercise, exercise therapy, massage

If the patient's condition and the nature of the course of the underlying disease allow, moderate physical activity is required.

Doctors also recommend regular morning exercises, the complex includes the following exercises:

1. child's pose. Sit on your knees with your head bent to the floor, stretch your arms forward, stay in this position for 20 seconds, stretch your arms back also for 20 seconds, repeat the exercise twice.
2. Bending the head.Sit on the floor with your back straight, put your hands behind your head, slowly pull your head forward, tilt it until your chin touches your neck, hold for 10-15 seconds, repeat 8-10 times.
3. It is twisted with a stick. In a standing position, put the gymnastic bar in a horizontal position on the neck behind the head, extend your arms and grab the ends of the bar. With a stick behind the head, slowly turn to the left, hold for 25-30 seconds, repeat in the opposite direction, the number of repetitions is 10-12 times.
4. Leaning the body forward. With feet placed shoulder-width apart and hands clasped behind the lock, rise up, tilt the body forward, slightly bend the legs at the knees, stay in this position for 15-20 seconds, repeat up to 4-5 times.
5. Body forward lean with toes touching. Sitting on the floor, close your legs, place them in front of you, bending forward to reach your toes with your hands. The exercise should be performed without sudden movements, gradually, slowly, hold in position for a few seconds.

During exacerbations, exercise therapy and other types of physical activity are strictly contraindicated.

Massage

Manual massage also shows effectiveness in back pain caused by spinal diseases.. The techniques allow you to achieve muscle relaxation, during their execution the soft tissues are warmed up, which helps to improve blood circulation. Such a massage is recommended for patients with pathologies of the respiratory organs, accompanied by the release of sputum.

Treatment at home or folk remedies

In the presence of constant back pain, it is recommended to turn to folk recipes, before using them, you should consult a doctor. Despite the apparent safety, many means can be not only useless, but also harmful.

Recommended for pain reliefprepare rub. To do this, you need to take a mixture of pure alcohol or cologne, a small amount of hot pepper, valerian root tincture, a bottle of 5% iodine solution, rub the affected area well with the mixture, wrap it. The procedure is recommended to be carried out at night, in a warm place until the morning. It is very important not to start the disease, to promptly identify the cause of the pathology and to follow all the recommendations of the doctors.

The following steps can help relieve the condition at home:

• avoid prolonged stay in bed - physically active patients suffer from less pain;
• engage in light sports - moderate physical activity is best;
• maintain proper posture;
• increasing the flexibility of the spine;
• wear corsets and belts for the spine;
• apply heat and cold to the affected area;
• give up smoking - nicotine causes spasm of small vessels, which leads to disruption of microcirculation and stopping the supply of oxygen to tissues;
• relaxation exercises.

Prevention

The patient himself can prevent the development of back diseases, he must learn to sleep, sit and stand correctly, as well as withstand heavy loads with minimal damage to himself. It is recommended to stand and sit with a straight back, the head should not hang forward, the body should not bend and twist without relying on the hands.

If you have to stay on your feet for a long time, you should find a point to support your head and limbs, you can lean on a closet, wall and other surfaces. Walking on heels for more than 2 hours in a row is excluded, the feet must periodically rest, for this they must be raised for a few minutes.

Prevention measures:

• unload the neck and lower back with special rollers or "bone" pillows, avoid sitting in chairs or with a bent back, every 15 minutes. you need to change positions, stretch and lean back, after every hour of sitting you shouldto take breaks;
• you need to sleep on hard mattresses without high pillows, you can put orthopedic rollers under your head;
• certain rules must be followed when carrying loads, loads over 3 kg for women and over 5 kg for men must not be carried, it is dangerous to lift weights when bending or pulling, bags must be lifted with a straight back, heavy loadsshould be worn in several steps.

Conclusion

• back pains- relatively common pathology, with the appearance of a pain syndrome, you should seek medical help.
• The causes of the pathology are very different, the doctor makes a diagnosis based on the patient's history, examinations, complaints.
• During treatmentdrugs are used(mainly pain relievers), massage, exercise therapy is recommended.