Back pain often occurs after sudden movement or heavy lifting. If your back hurts constantly, this is a symptom of illness. The cause of back pain is diagnosed and treated by a neurologist. The discomfort can be successfully treated with conservative methods.
What you need to know about back pain
Back pain is also called dorsalgia. It regularly bothers every second person. The pain is most often localized in the lumbar area. It usually occurs against the background of existing changes in the spine. Depending on the type of disease, the pain can be temporary or permanent. Persistent pain is a sign of a serious illness and, without timely treatment, can lead to spinal surgery.
When to go to the doctor
Do not delay a visit to a neurologist if you observe the following symptoms:
- acute back pain does not go away within 2-3 days;
- chronic pain lasts more than a week without improvement;
- Pain occurs suddenly and for no apparent reason;
- pain occurs regularly after an injury;
- Back pain radiates to the leg, knee and foot.
A doctor's visit should be urgent and immediate if the pain is accompanied by the following additional symptoms:
- high temperature;
- limited mobility of arms or legs;
- numbness in the limbs;
- severe blood pressure changes;
- Painkillers do not help relieve pain;
- unconsciousness occurs;
- there are problems with the functioning of internal organs;
- there are signs of intoxication;
- The bleeding started.
But even without these symptoms, you should not hesitate to contact a specialist - some back diseases can only be completely cured in the initial stages. Their efficiency directly determines the quality of the treatment.
Risk factors are:
- work related to a computer or driving a car, heavy physical activity, stress;
- intensive training in the gym without the supervision of a trainer;
- Working in a forced position while sitting or standing;
- Overweight.
Why does my back hurt?
The causes of back pain are varied. They are caused by the following diseases:
- osteochondrosis, spondylosis, spondyloarthrosis;
- scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis;
- Bulging or herniation of an intervertebral disc;
- radiculitis or lumbago, inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- stenosis of the spine;
- spinal instability and fractures;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- Overexertion, hypothermia or bruising of the back muscles;
- Damage to the ligaments of the spine;
- Myositis.
Pregnancy and back pain
Another common factor that influences the occurrence of back pain is pregnancy. As the abdomen grows and the curvature of the lumbar spine increases, the load on the spine also increases. The intervertebral discs wear out quickly and sometimes nerve pinching occurs. You can prevent back pain and the pathologies associated with it if you do not overexert yourself during pregnancy. If necessary, you should wear a restraint and follow the advice of other doctors.
Even if there was no back pain during pregnancy, but the spine was exposed to a lot of stress, injuries can occur during birth that lead to pain.
How to recognize a disease by the type of pain?
Different diseases cause different types of back pain. It can be acute, chronic, painful, stabbing, with or without conduction (radiation).
| Type of pain | What disease causes |
|---|---|
| Acute with and without conduction (radiation). | Osteochondrosis. The stabbing pain in the back sometimes radiates down the leg and increases when lifting heavy objects, coughing or sneezing. Back pain can last for several minutes, hours or days. |
| Intervertebral hernia. Pain occurs when lifting heavy objects, bending over and turning to the side. Then pain and weakness occur in one of the legs. The back hurts when moving, coughing, sneezing. | |
| radiculitis. The pain is sharp or dull and aching. Usually one-sided, radiating to the leg, buttocks, thigh, lower leg. It worsens with changes in posture and may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, burning, itching or a tingling sensation. | |
| Chronic and acute pain | Muscle strain, myositis, long work in an uncomfortable position, heavy lifting, sudden movements, hypothermia. |
| Lumbago. People who do heavy physical work are affected. Severe back pain usually stops after a few days, but can last two to three weeks. | |
| Displacement of the intervertebral discs. It is caused by osteochondrosis, heavy lifting and heavy physical work. | |
| Chronic | Spondylosis. Aching pain may be accompanied by numbness and weakness in the legs. Cervical spondylosis causes pain in the back of the head, shoulders, and when turning the head. |
| pain | Inflammation of the back and lumbar spine muscles. The disease occurs after hypothermia or muscle strain. The pain is not severe and lasts a long time. The muscles in the affected area are condensed and hurt when tensed. |
| Pain with conduction (radiation) to the leg | Inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Hernia of the lumbar spine. Back pain in the lumbar and sacral areas. Pain occurs in the buttocks, back of the thigh, lower leg, or foot. |
Diagnostic methods
The clinic's specialists will accurately determine the cause of back pain using the following diagnostic methods:
- MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging
- Ultrasound examination (ultrasound)
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Laboratory research
Methods for treating back pain
The doctors of the modern clinic use many non-surgical methods: from gentle massage techniques and osteopathy to laser and physiotherapy. To ensure that the treatment is as effective as possible, we offer each patient an individual treatment package with only pain-relieving medication at the beginning of the treatment.
- Resonant wave UHF therapy
- Rehabilitation on the Thera-Band training device
- Blockage of joints and spine
- Medication
- Shock wave therapy
Diagnostic methods
Specialists can accurately determine the cause of back pain using the following diagnostic methods:
First, a basic questioning of the patient is carried out to determine what exactly preceded the onset of pain, what type of pain it is, etc. This is followed by a visual examination of the patient and physical palpation of the spine. If the pain increases when pressing on the spine, diseases of the internal organs can be eliminated. If necessary, the patient can be referred to a cardiologist, gynecologist, orthopedist or other specialist.
Methods for treating back pain
Doctors in a modern clinic use many non-surgical methods: from gentle massage techniques and osteopathy to laser and physiotherapy. To ensure that the treatment is as effective as possible, we offer each patient an individual treatment package with only pain-relieving medication at the beginning of the treatment.
The clinics will help you eliminate back pain, relieve swelling and inflammation in the affected area, normalize metabolic processes, strengthen the back muscles and restore the normal position of the spine. Freedom of movement returns to you, you will feel a surge of strength.
As part of the rehabilitation, the clinic specialist creates a personal movement plan for independent exercises for each patient with the aim of consolidating the treatment results and preventing illnesses.
What to do if you have back pain?
If you have severe back pain, our doctors recommend the following:
- Lie down and choose a comfortable position in which you feel the least pain and there is no more strain on the muscles. Spend at least 20 minutes in this position until the pain subsides.
- Do not sit forward, carry heavy objects, or exercise until the pain subsides.
- Contact your doctor immediately.
Remember if soSpinal pain, treatmentcannot be postponed. There is a risk of the situation becoming seriously worse.
If the pain has become unbearable and you have to wait for a doctor or ambulance to arrive, do the following:
- Lie on the bed and try to minimize movements and ensure maximum rest. Silence is your best friend.
- Place a soft pillow under your back to reduce strain on your spine.
- If you have suitable mild painkillers, you can take a tablet to relieve the pain, but it is better to avoid it. You will find out why this is the case in the next paragraph.
- It is recommended not to consume any food or drink other than plain water, as this may cause disruption in the event of emergency surgery (many procedures can only be performed on an empty stomach). It is also recommended not to administer medications or heat the problem area, as this distorts the clinical picture and prevents you from correctly diagnosing the problem and, consequently, prescribing the correct treatment.
- Applying cold to the sore spot is allowed even if the cause of the pain is unknown, but it will not aggravate any of the common pathologies.