Back pain has been one of the most common complaints reported by emergency department and outpatient patients in recent years.Such pain is not a separate pathological unit but a clinical manifestation of certain diseases.What makes this symptom particularly serious is that it is often accompanied by acute pain, significantly limited physical activity, and a person's ability to work is reduced.
The main cause of back pain is spinal diseases;In addition, such clinical manifestations can be caused by pathology of internal organs, occupational characteristics (long sitting at a desk or driver's seat, heavy work), trauma or pregnancy.In most cases, the cause of pain can be found by carefully examining the patient;Sometimes additional tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis.Relieving pain syndrome depends on the underlying disease and its course;Treatment methods are selected individually for each case.
Medical statistics indicate that more than half of the world's population suffers from back pain.Moreover, in childhood, such symptoms indicate diseases of internal organs and are quite rare;As you get older, back pain occurs more and more frequently, and in old age, almost everyone experiences it and only about 25% of people with this condition seek medical advice.
How dangerous is back pain?
In most cases, untimely or inadequate treatment of back pain will lead to the process becoming chronic.Chronic back pain is a very common cause of reduced performance in people aged 40 to 55 years and is characterized by:
- permanent character;
- increases during movement and physical activity;
- limit physical activity;
- develop a feeling of stiffness in the back.
The chronic process is characterized by a relapsing course with frequent exacerbations provoked by prolonged hypothermia, physical activity or being in one position.Exacerbations are followed by periods of remission, during which pain is absent or minimal.In most cases, back pain does not pose a direct threat to a person's health or life, but there are serious pathologies of the spine and internal organs that are manifested by this symptom, requiring immediate consultation with a specialist.
Back pain caused by common diseases
Common diseases that present with back pain include sciatica and spinal disc herniation.
The severity of pain in these diseases depends on the stage of progression and the patient's sensitivity threshold.
Inflammation of the nerve root
Radiculopathy or radiculitis is a symptom complex that develops due to compression of the spinal roots and is manifested by motor and autonomic disorders against the background of severe pain.There is cervical, thoracic and lumbar radiculitis (lumbosacral).
Clinical manifestations
It manifests itself as a pronounced pain syndrome, localized at the site of invasion and enhanced by movement and coughing (even with mild coughing).The pain can be of different nature (painful, dull or sharp), appear cyclically or continuously.In most cases, the pain radiates to the upper or lower limbs.In addition to pain, the disease also causes muscle weakness and loss of sensitivity in the limbs.
Disc herniation
Protrusion or prolapse of disc fragments into the spinal canal is called disc herniation.Usually, the disease occurs in people between 25 and 50 years old;Risk groups include drivers, people who sit for long periods of time, and people who are forced to lift heavy objects every day.
Clinical manifestations
The main symptom is pain, which at the beginning of the disease is dull, intermittent and intensifies with exertion, coughing and prolonged position.As the hernia progresses, the pain gradually increases and spreads to the arms, buttocks or thighs, depending on the location of the hernia.
Causes of pain in people over 50 years old
Almost every elderly person has spinal pain;The most common causes of this symptom are the following diseases:
Osteoporosis
Clinical manifestations
The disease is characterized by an asymptomatic or almost imperceptible onset, with symptoms similar to osteonecrosis.Most often, pathology is already detected with characteristic injuries, or rather, fractures, which can occur with minimal loads or light bruises.
It is difficult to recognize the disease in its early stages;It often manifests itself with the following signs:
- pain in the lumbar or thoracic spine, appearing with prolonged static loads and with sudden changes in weather conditions;
- hair and nails become brittle;
- non-inflammatory periodontal diseases may develop;
- Postural changes and height loss;
- the appearance of cramps in the legs at night.
Osteoarthritis of the vertebrae
Chronic degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the spine, caused by deformation of the vertebrae and the appearance of spurs and bone spurs growing on their surface.
Clinical manifestations
In the early stages, it manifests itself as a slight restriction in the mobility of the spine.As the disease progresses, a pronounced pain syndrome develops due to immobilization of the overloaded area.Acute, unbearable pain accompanied by muscle tension and limited movement due to the gradual straightening of the physiological curves of the spine.
Causes of pain in people under 50 years old
Very often, the following pathologies become the cause of pain in the lumbar or thoracic spine that occurs in youth or middle age:
- cholecystitis;
- osteomyelitis of the spine;
- spondylolisthesis;
- fibrositis.
Sacroiliitis
The inflammatory process localized to the sacroiliac joint is called sacroiliitis.The cause of the development of this disease can be trauma, increased load on the joints for a long time (during pregnancy, work involving lifting heavy objects or continuous sitting), congenital developmental defects, metabolic disorders, neoplasms.
Clinical manifestations
The pain is localized in the pelvic area and radiates along the sciatic nerve on the affected side;it can be enhanced by pressure on the pelvic wings and flexion of the limbs.In case of severe pain, the patient must be in a forced position with bent knees.In addition to pain, an increase in body temperature, the development of purulent abscesses and severe intoxication syndrome can be observed.The disease is often treated in surgical departments.
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is a purulent infectious disease that affects bone tissue, periosteum, and bone marrow.It can be acute (occurring for the first time) or chronic (long-term and characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission).
Clinical manifestations
It begins with chills, increased body temperature (often up to 40.0) and increased heart rate.After 2-4 days, local pain appears at the site of damage, local swelling and congestion (redness) of tissues and limitation of motor activity.In chronic osteomyelitis, there are traces of fistulas (round wounds with pus) on the skin.If you suspect the development of osteomyelitis, you should urgently seek help from a doctor.This pathology is treated by a surgeon.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis is the forward displacement of a vertebra as a result of congenital misalignment of the arch with the body or degeneration of the intervertebral disc.In most cases, it develops when the fifth lumbar vertebra is displaced.
Clinical manifestations
The main symptom is chronic pain in the lumbar region, due to spondylosis and compression of nerve endings.The pain often radiates to the buttocks and intensifies when trying to straighten.May be accompanied by pain in the legs, muscle weakness and numbness in the limbs.
Fibrositis
Fibrosis is a nonspecific inflammatory process characterized by fibrous and fatty degeneration of fibrous connective tissue.The exact cause of the disease is still unclear.More common in middle-aged women.
Clinical manifestations
- constant or severe back pain;
- headache;
- neck and shoulder pain;
- pain and stiffness of the spine in the morning;
- sleep disorders;
- uncomfortable.
The pain increases in the cold season when going out, after too much exercise, after mental stress, in the morning.
Pain of musculoskeletal origin
The musculoskeletal system, which allows you to hold your body in space and move, has spatial and pain sensitivity.Damage to any element, no matter how small, of this system due to injury or disease causes pain.Various injuries, excessive physical activity, as well as displacement of the joint processes of the vertebrae lead to the development of the inflammatory process in the tissues of the spine, which becomes the cause of pain.
Pain radiating to the back and lumbar region (stenosis)
When there is spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal or exit hole of the spinal nerve root), due to nerve fibers being compressed, pain appears in the back and then spreads to the legs, the patient's gait changes, causing limping.
The pain is dull and constant.The reason for the development of this disease is age-related changes, so young and middle-aged people are not susceptible to it.For treatment, a surgical method called decompression surgery is used, in which the vertebral arches are dissected.
Back pain after injury
Causes of back injuries can be:
- sudden lifting of weights often causes sprains or tears of muscle fibers or ligaments;
- fall;
- blows or bruises;
- mechanical impact.
Along with the appearance of pain when injured, spasms of muscle fibers develop and disappear after a few hours to a few days, depending on the severity of the injury.In cases of severe injury, muscle spasms can last several weeks.Immediately after the injury, the pain is intense, which after a while is replaced by aching sensations.
Back pain during pregnancy
In some women, persistent pain in the lumbar region appears in the first months of pregnancy and does not disappear until childbirth.The cause of pain is due to increased secretion of Relaxin, a hormone responsible for preparing the birth canal for the child to be born, specifically softening the ligamentous apparatus of the sacral region.Since Relaxin acts on all ligaments and an increased load is placed on the spine of pregnant women, chronic pain in the lumbar region may develop.
How to reduce back pain during pregnancy:
- Do not wear high heels;
- Every movement must be performed smoothly;
- you cannot lift weights;
- If you need to urgently lift a heavy object, try to distribute the weight on both hands, do not bend or jerk;
- You should not bend down to the floor but kneel;
- No need to remove tall objects.
Causes of pain in the upper lower back
The main causes of localized pain above the lower back are:
- osteoarthritis;
- myofascial syndrome.
Osteoarthritis
The degenerative-dystrophic process that leads to changes in the normal structure of spinal cartilage tissue is called cartilage degeneration.There is degeneration of the cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral bones.Usually the disease is accompanied by disc protrusion and disc herniation.
Clinical manifestations
Characteristics of the symptoms of the disease depend on its location:
- Cervical spondylosis is manifested by pain and stiffness when moving the neck and arms, headaches;When the vertebral artery is compressed, dizziness, hearing loss, and fainting can occur.
- In the chest form of the disease, acute pain in the back and chest appears (feeling like a pile), heart pain, difficulty breathing.
- Localized lumbosacral region is characterized by pain in the lumbar region, radiating down the legs and intensifying with movement;Low back pain, numbness of the extremities, and genitourinary system disorders may appear.
Myofascial syndrome
Myofascial syndrome is a disease characterized by painful excessive tension in the spinal muscles.The main cause of its development is long-term static overload of the spinal musculature (in an uncomfortable position).
Clinical manifestations
The pain is localized on one or both sides of the spine, intensifies when subjected to pressure, overwork, injury or sudden hypothermia.Pain can vary in severity from mild, almost imperceptible discomfort to severe pain that lasts for several days.
One of the most effective ways to treat back paintherapeutic blockade.