Back pain is one of the most common health problems. We want to familiarize you with 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 a back pain at least once in his life. Back pain can be deaf and persistent, or it can come on suddenly and strongly, forcing you to measure every movement. It can start abruptly if you fall or lift something very heavy, or progress slowly, making it impossible for you to live a full 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.Your back hurts more often the older you get. Back pain usually occurs for the first time when you are in your 30s and 40s.
- Poor physical condition.Back pain is more common in inactive and sedentary people.
- Too much.A diet high in calories and fat can make you gain weight. Too much weight puts more pressure on the spine, causing pain.
- Heredity.There are inherited diseases, one of the symptoms of which is back pain, for example, ankylosing spondylitis.
- Other diseases.Certain types of arthritis and cancer can also cause back pain.
- Your work.If your job constantly requires a lot of physical effort, weight lifting, or if you spend several hours in an uncomfortable position, the result may be back pain. If you work at your desk all day without sitting up straight, your back will hurt too.
- Smoking.If you smoke, your body cannot obtain 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 for back pain. Sometimes the pain can be caused by mechanical reasons, such as:
- Spasms of the back muscles.
- Spinal contusion.
- Stretching the muscles.
- Extracting disks.
- Falls from a height.
- Spinal fractures.
Back pain can manifest 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 must get enough calcium and vitamin D every day.
- Maintain the correct posture, do not lean or bend.
- Avoid lifting weight. If you can't stand without lifting weights, do it correctly: bend your legs and keep your back straight, place the load in the center of your body, not the side, and press the load against your body, and don't carry it in your armsextended. When lowering a heavy object, continue to keep your back straight, crouch, and then put the weight on the floor. You need 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 progressively worsens 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 dieting.
What diagnostic methods are used when there is back pain?
To diagnose back pain, your doctor will ask you in detail about the course and nature of the pain and will do an examination. After the exam, he will request other tests, such as:
- Radiography.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Computed tomography (CT).
- Blood tests.
Medical tests may not show the cause of your back pain. Often, the cause of back pain remains unclear.
What is the difference between acute and chronic back pain?
Acute pain starts 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 when playing football or lifting heavy objects. Chronic pain lasts more than 3 months and is much less common than acute pain.
How to cure?
The treatment of back pain depends on the type of pain you feel. 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 relieve pain and relieve tension in your back. Heat can reduce muscle spasms. Cold helps to reduce swelling, swelling and tenderness. The use of hot or cold compresses can relieve pain, but this treatment will not address the underlying cause of chronic back pain.
Special exercises
Proper exercise can help relieve chronic pain, but it should not be used for acute low 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:
- Medicines for pain.
- Creams and ointments to relieve pain are rubbed into the skin over the pain site.
- Nonsteroidal 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.
Change of behavior
Learn how to lift heavy objects correctly to reduce back strain. Changing your lifestyle: healthy eating, 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 relievers to relieve pain.
Alternative treatments
Some unconventional therapies may work well. The most common of these methods are:
- Manual therapy.Chiropractors have techniques to help relieve long-term chronic back pain. However, it must be remembered that even if your doctor is a magician and has managed to relieve pain in some sessions, you need to seriously strengthen your back muscles so that these pains do 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 plan for low back pain.
- 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 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:
- 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, intervertebral discs can start to break 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 pain and prevent further problems.