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 back pain at least once in their life. Back pain can be dull and persistent, or it can come on suddenly and abruptly, forcing you to measure every movement. It can start abruptly if you fall or lift something too heavy, or progress slowly, making it impossible for you to live a full life.
Factors that increase the risk of back pain
Everyone is not immune to back pain, but there are some factors that increase the risk of back pain:
- Age.As you get older, your back hurts more often. Back pain usually first occurs when you are in your 30s and 40s.
- Bad physical condition.Back pain is more common in inactive people with a sedentary lifestyle.
- Overweight.A diet high in calories and fat can cause you to gain weight. Too much weight puts more pressure on the spine and causes pain.
- Inheritance.There are inherited diseases, one of whose symptoms 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 great physical effort, lifting weights, or you have to spend several hours in an uncomfortable position, the result can be back pain. If you work at your desk all day without sitting upright, your back will also hurt.
- Smoking.If you smoke, your body cannot get enough of the nutrients it needs for your bones, resulting in a gradual loss of spinal strength and reduced flexibility. A smoker's cough can also cause back pain.
What are the reasons?
There are many causes of back pain. Sometimes the pain can be due to mechanical reasons such as:
- Spasms of the back muscles.
- Spinal contusion.
- Stretch the muscles.
- Removing 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 need to get enough calcium and vitamin D every day.
- Maintain a correct posture, do not hunch or stoop.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects. If you cannot do without lifting weights, do it correctly: bend your legs and keep your back straight, place the load in the center of the body, and not on the side, and press the load against the body, and do not carry it with your armsextended. When lowering a heavy object, continue to keep your back straight, squat down, and then lower the weight. You need to get up after these manipulations slowly and carefully, because after transferring weights, the spine is vulnerable.
When to see a doctor?
You should see a doctor if you have:
- Numbness or tingling.
- Severe pain that gets progressively worse and does not respond to any treatment.
- The pain occurred after a fall or injury.
Pain is accompanied by one of the following symptoms:
- Trouble urinating.
- Weakness.
- Numbness in the legs.
- Fever.
- Lose weight without dieting.
What diagnostic methods are used for back pain?
To diagnose back pain, the doctor will ask you in detail about the course and nature of the pain and perform an examination. After the exam, you will order other tests, such as:
- Radiography.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Computed tomography (CT).
- Blood test.
Medical tests may not show the cause of your back pain. Very 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 while playing soccer or lifting heavy objects. Chronic pain lasts longer than 3 months and is much less common than acute pain.
How to heal?
Treatment for back pain depends on the type of pain you have. Acute back pain usually goes away on its own without treatment, but you can take pain relievers to ease the pain. Exercise and surgery are not commonly used to treat acute back pain.
Here 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 the back. Heat can reduce muscle spasms. Cold helps reduce swelling, swelling, and sensitization. Using hot or cold compresses can reduce pain, but this treatment will not address the underlying cause of chronic back pain.
Special exercises
Proper exercise can help relieve chronic pain, but should not be used for acute back pain. Your doctor or chiropractor can help you determine which exercises are appropriate for your situation.
Medications
The following are the main medications used for back pain:
- Painkillers.
- Pain relief creams and ointments are rubbed into the skin over the pain site.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can reduce pain and swelling. NSAIDs include brand name 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.
Behavior change
Learn how to lift heavy weights correctly to reduce the strain on your back. Lifestyle changes: Eating healthy, quitting smoking, buying a quality orthopedic mattress, and going swimming can help ease back pain.
Injections
Your doctor may suggest steroid injections or topical pain relievers to help relieve pain.
Alternative treatments
Some unconventional therapies can work well. The most common of these methods are:
- Manual therapy.Chiropractors have techniques to help relieve chronic back pain in the long term. However, it must be remembered that even if your doctor is a magician, and he was able to relieve the pain in a couple of sessions, it is necessary to seriously strengthen the muscles of the back 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 low back pain treatment plan.
- 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 don't work. The operation may be required if you have:
- Herniated disc.
- Spinal stenosis.
- Spondylolisthesis.
- Vertebral fractures.
- A fracture can be caused by a blow to the back or destruction of the bone due to osteoporosis.
- Degenerative disc disease.
As we age, the intervertebral discs can begin to rupture and cause severe pain.
In rare cases, when back pain is caused by a tumor, infection, or nerve root problem called cauda equina syndrome, surgery is needed right away to relieve pain and prevent new problems.