Back pain is a fairly common symptom. Everyone has experienced it in one way or another in their life.
Causes, frequency and risk factors for back pain
Let's look at why the lower back can hurt in the country. In most cases, lower back pain signals that you have:
- osteochondrosis and neuralgia;
- kidney disease;
- Pancreatitis in the acute stage.
Let's take a closer look at each of the possible reasons.
Back pain can occur with various kidney diseases:
- glomerulonephritis - non-infectious kidney damage;
- pyelonephritis - purulent inflammation in the renal pelvis;
- the formation and movement of stones in the kidneys and ureters.
Often hypothermia, cold or diet contribute to kidney disease; It's easy to mistake a torn lower back for kidney problems. However, there are symptoms characteristic of this type of disease:
- Pain is not associated with movement and physical activity;
- body temperature often rises to more than 37. 5 degrees;
- light tapping with the edge of the palm in the kidney area causes severe pain;
- there are problems with urination - frequent or too infrequent, painful;
- Urine becomes cloudy, changes color.
When a person has kidney problems, the first thing to do is to call a doctor. This organ performs too important a function in the body to risk. While the doctor comes to your country house, try to alleviate the patient's condition.
What can be done:
- Lay the patient down or help them get into a comfortable position.
- in the presence of temperature - give an antipyretic;
- give a sick person antispasmodic, for example, no-shpu;
- pressure, temperature monitor;
- if necessary, provide assistance if the person has to turn around.
It is often written that warm compresses or warm baths help with kidney diseases. Remember!
If the pain is caused by pyelonephritis, heating will only aggravate the situation, since inflammation from heat increases.
All other measures can be prescribed by a doctor after a professional examination.
Injuries to the lumbar spine are the most common cause of back pain.
Back pain occurs in almost everyone at least once in their lifetime. It should be noted that pain can occur in any part of your back, but the most common is pain in the lumbar spine. This is because the lumbar vertebrae are subjected to maximum stress from your body weight.
Back pain is the second most common reason for doctor visits after viral infections. You may experience lower back pain after lifting a heavy object, after a sudden movement, after sitting in one position for a long time, or after a spinal injury. Acute low back pain is most often caused by disc displacement and trauma to the spine.
Conditions that can cause back pain:
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
- Herniated disc and herniated disc
- spondyloarthritis
- spondylosis
- spondylolisthesis
- Compression fracture due to osteoporosis, multiple myeloma, vertebral hemangioma
- Tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal
Destruction of the lumbar vertebra in tuberculosis is a rare cause of back pain.
- Spinal fracture after injury
- Prolonged muscle tension
- Anatomically narrow spinal canal
- Curvature of the spine (scoliosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis, Scheuermann Mau's disease)
- aortic aneurysm
- Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis
- Spinal infections - osteomyelitis, discitis, spinal tuberculosis
- Pyelonephritis, urolithiasis
- Complicated course of pregnancy
- Gynecological diseases (endometriosis, ovarian cyst, ovarian cancer etc. )
Back pain in pancreatitis
A tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal is a common cause of back pain.
The pain can be varied: sharp, dull, pulling, burning, possibly accompanied by tingling and goosebumps, numbness. Back pain can vary in intensity from mild to excruciating pain that makes it difficult to perform even small movements. Pain can be combined with thigh pain, lower leg pain, foot pain.
For back pain, do not start with a spinal X-ray.
- Reduce physical activity for the first two days after an attack begins. This will help reduce the symptoms of the disease and swelling in the area of pain.
- Do not sit forward until the pain has completely subsided.
- Only take painkillers if the pain is unbearable. It is better to make an intramuscular injection than to drink an anesthetic. This protects your stomach wall from direct contact with the anti-inflammatory drug. Try to avoid taking too many medications. Do not use hormonal medications for treatment if back pain is not associated with an autoimmune disease.
- Sleep in the fetal position with a pillow between your legs. If you usually sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees
- A common misconception is that physical activity should be limited for long periods of time. Bed rest is not recommended! If you don't have a fever, weight loss, involuntary urination, and bowel movements, you should stay active for as long as possible. You can only reduce your activity for the first two days after the pain starts. Begin with light aerobic exercise. Walking on the simulator and swimming improve blood circulation in the back muscles. Consult your doctor for the choice of exercises so as not to increase the pain.
A characteristic symptom of pancreatitis is girdle pain, which begins on the left below the ribs. Then it spreads to the abdomen and back, forming a ring. Pain in the navel area can also indicate pancreatitis. In atypical forms of the disease, pain in the back, slightly above the waist, is not uncommon - it is usually mistaken for anything but a symptom of pancreatitis.
Back pain in acute pancreatitis is very severe. First aid for pancreatitis includes:
- Hunger (the sick person is not allowed to eat anything before the examination);
- comfortable position (help the person take it), calm and comfort;
- moderate drinking (you can gradually give ordinary water);
- Status check (do not leave the patient alone).
There are postures that help reduce pain: the knee-elbow position and the fetal position.
diagnostic methods
First you need to see a neurologist. The doctor will ask you questions about the nature of your pain, its frequency and how often it will come back. The doctor will try to determine the cause of the pain and begin treatment with simple methods (ice, mild painkillers, physical therapy and necessary exercises).
MRI in 95% of cases will determine the true cause of back pain.
In most cases, these treatments result in a reduction in back pain. During the examination, the doctor determines the exact location of the pain, its radiation, neurological reflexes. Most people with back pain recover within 4 to 6 weeks. Diagnosis includes magnetic resonance imaging.
MRI) of the lumbar spine, computed tomography of the lumbosacral spine, X-ray of the spine. Since the most common cause of low back pain is a herniated disc in the lumbar spine, an MRI scan of the lumbar spine must be performed first.
This study will also help rule out most causes of pain, such as: B. a tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal, spinal tuberculosis, vertebral fracture, multiple myeloma, anatomically narrow spinal canal, spondylolisthesis, various types of curvature of the spine, spondylosis and spondylarthrosis.
If your neurologist hasn't ordered you an MRI, do it yourself. The power of the MRI machine should be 1 Tesla or more. You should not start the diagnosis with X-ray and computed tomography, these methods are uncertain. They can primarily only be carried out if a vertebral fracture is suspected.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of the patient's complaints, his external examination, anamnesis data and the results of instrumental and biochemical studies. The most revealing in detecting pathologies of the musculoskeletal system is radiography. The resulting images clearly visualize deformed vertebral bodies and a reduction in the distance between them, as well as formed bone outgrowths (osteophytes).
If there is a suspicion of hernia protrusion, protrusion, diseases of the internal organs, MRI, CT and ultrasound are performed. These studies make it possible to identify the localization of the pathology and assess the degree of the inflammatory process.
Conducting general clinical blood and urine tests is mandatory. If a systemic disease (gout, rheumatoid arthritis) is suspected, biochemical, serological tests are indicated.
Lower back pain due to osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a disease of the articular cartilage that connects the vertebrae. Due to their pathology, the roots of the spinal cord are pinched, which is the cause of pain. Any person over 30 years old is at risk of developing osteochondrosis, and recently this diagnosis is often found in adolescents and very young people.
The main cause of an attack of back pain is heavy lifting, prolonged work in an uncomfortable position (for example, weeding or gardening). The development of osteochondrosis is also provoked by long car trips, when a person is constantly in a sitting position.
Back pain like this can happen to almost anyone. You can recognize osteochondrosis by the following symptoms:
- lower back pain, pain radiating down leg;
- the pain increases with movement, change of position, strain;
- can be disturbed by burning or stabbing pains - "lumbago";
- after a long stay in one position, it is difficult and painful to change it;
- the sensitivity of the legs and buttocks decreases, a feeling of "goose bumps" appears;
- Feet are cold, sweating is disturbed.
In osteochondrosis there is no temperature.
Pain in osteochondrosis can take over at any time.
If you are absolutely sure that it is the spine, the following measures will help the person:
- Wool belt or scarf in the lumbar region;
- lie on a hard surface: board, table, hard mattress;
- taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- local anti-inflammatory ointments.
If you're unsure about the diagnosis, see a doctor - taking anti-inflammatory drugs for stomach or pancreas problems can make the situation worse.
what not to do
In no case do not try to "straighten" your back yourself - this can increase pain and even damage your back.
With exacerbation of osteochondrosis, warming procedures are not recommended. In no case should you take a hot bath or steam in the bathtub. After warming up, a person feels temporary relief, then the pain increases significantly. If such pain often bothers you, you should do an MRI (image of the lumbar spine) and consult a neurologist.
Important! If, after taking anti-inflammatory drugs, you feel relief or a complete disappearance of pain, you should not resume physical activity. The patient still needs some rest – up to and including bed rest.
How to relieve pain if it is neuralgia
Neuralgia is an inflammation of the nerves. The symptoms of neuralgic lumbar pain are similar to the signs of osteochondrosis: the back reacts to movements, the patient is afraid to move. But there are also concrete points:
- pain spreads along the inflamed nerve;
- the nature of the pain is "jerking", it can subside and come on suddenly even at rest;
- Skin color and sweating may change, tremors appear in the muscles;
- When you push on the back, the pain occurs on both sides of the spine.
It is difficult to cure neuralgic pain, but one must try to relieve it. Help the sick:
- analgesic anti-inflammatory drugs;
- medications that relieve spasms;
- perfect rest.
With severe neuralgic pain, the patient is better hospitalized. Doctors in the hospital use novocaine blockades for neuralgia.
Remember! Using medicines without medical advice and examination can endanger your health.
Timely access to a doctor will avoid serious complications of the disease.
Conditions in which you need to see a doctor:
- Lower back pain associated with lower leg pain and foot pain
- Pain prevents you from taking care of yourself
- Pain associated with urinary and fecal incontinence
- Combination of lower back pain with numbness in buttocks, thigh, leg, foot, groin
- If you have ever had back pain
- If the pain lasts more than 3 days
- If you are taking hormones
- If back pain occurs after an injury
- Previously diagnosed with cancer
- If you have recently lost weight for unknown reasons