85% of people report back pain. How to treat it correctly and is it possible to get rid of the pain once and for all?
Your back hurts? You're not alone! Sociological research data shows that back pain is the second reason for disability in the adult population after viral infections. She is born with us (according to neonatologists, 80-90% of children suffer spinal injuries at birth) and sooner or later surpasses them all. This is believed to be a reward for walking upright. Since as a person grows, the load on the "spine" increases, existing problems of the spine strengthen, and stress, anxiety, obesity, overload, a sedentary lifestyle exacerbate existing problems, And back pain can occur even at a young age. .
What hurts there?
The vast majority (about 95%) of pain is associated with muscles, ligaments, and joints. This is popularly called pulling back. These pains are unpleasant, but not dangerous, and in most cases, they go away on their own in 2-3 days.
3-4% of pain is associated with radiculopathy (radiculitis), a spinal root injury. It is usually damaged by a hernia. The pains disappear when the swelling caused by the squeeze passes.
1-2% of back pain is caused by trauma or inflammatory diseases of the spine, cancer, diseases of the cardiovascular system or of the gastrointestinal tract, in which the pain syndrome can spread to the back. This is the most dangerous type of back pain. To exclude such pathologies, be sure to consult a doctor.
You can't doubt
The main indicator that you need medical attention is the regularity of the pain. If it twists from time to time, chances are there is nothing wrong. If pain of low or moderate intensity haunts you relentlessly, you cannot doubt it. An urgent need to consult a doctor if the pain is accompanied by an increase in temperature or the pain syndrome increases during treatment.
At home
The most effective remedy is oral anti-inflammatories. Just don't overdo it, they are only safe the first time. With long-term use, these medications can cause ulcers and bleeding in the stomach lining. Traditional home treatments (non-steroidal ointments) can only be used as an added measure. They are harmless, but ineffective. Wearing a corset also provides relief - fixation soothes the spine, relieves spasms, and limits sudden movements. Only the corset should be normal - stretchy, not heated.
If the treatment has not been effective within three days, you should consult a doctor who will block with anti-inflammatory injections. By relieving spasms and relaxing the muscles, the pain goes away immediately and often forever.
Forbidden!
Bath and massageunder the strictest prohibition. Swelling and pain get worse.
Ask chiropractors for newspaper ads.Manual therapy is an area where there are three hundred charlatans for every specialist. If you really want to find a good doctor, you should contact certified clinics where certified specialists work.
It is important to immediately correctly determine the treatment tactics. This must be done by a neurologist or neurosurgeon. It is dangerous to heal your back on your own. 30% of the patients in the neurosurgery department have tried home treatment methods and have therefore been transferred to a hospital bed.
Cut or not?
Until recently, a person diagnosed with a hernia was immediately referred for surgery. Today, the operation is carried out only if there are indications:
- persistent pain that cannot be relieved with pills;
- pelvic function disorder: incomplete emptying of the bladder;
- weakness and numbness in the leg.
All these symptoms make the operation inevitable, since without it the patient can be disabled.
What we risk
The risk of surgery, due to which it is postponed or abandoned altogether, is considered by many patients to be grossly exaggerated. In neurosurgery, there are technologies that allow you to accurately calculate the effectiveness of the operation and which symptoms will disappear after it and which will remain.
The probability of recurrence of pain after surgery does not exceed 1–1. 5%. In fact, hernias may appear in other places, but this is not a complication, but a spread of the disease, which is often found in young undisciplined patients. As soon as the pain subsides, they return to their usual lifestyle: get behind the wheel, resume training. And this is absolutely impossible to do.
Is osteochondrosis to blame for everything?
Osteochondrosis is a chronic dystrophic-degenerative change in the disc space. All people over the age of 25 have signs of osteochondrosis. It is impossible to avoid osteochondrosis, but you can save yourself from its complications, which provoke back pain.