Effectiveness of treatmentBack painIt directly depends on how accurately it was deliveredDiagnosis. . . However, the pain syndrome itself is not a characteristic symptom - it is a general symptom according to which it is impossible to determine the cause of the disease. There are many different pathologies that can causeBack painAnd not all of them are related to diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
In self-medication, patients mistakenly believe that coping with pain is the most important thing and lose sight of the fact that every pain has its cause. Taking painkillers is a symptomatic treatment that affects neither the outcome of the disease nor the cause of the pain.
The main causes of back pain
Consider the mainDiseaseCausingBack pain. . . For convenience of diagnosis, doctors divide the spine into upper (cervical spine), middle (thoracic spine), and lower (lumbosacral) parts.
Upper back pain
Cervical spine pain requires special attention. The reason is in the unique anatomical features of the cervical spine: in them passes the vertebral artery, which supplies blood to the brain; ; The vertebrae of the first and second cervix form a movable complex articulation with the skull, which is responsible for its rotation and inclination; Any disease that occurs at this level has the potential to cause serious neurological damage, as damage to the spinal cord or even a slight contraction of the cervical spine immediately leads to impaired motor and / or sensory function in the rest of the body.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Normally, the intervertebral discs, joints, ligaments, and tendons do not have their own blood vessels; Their blood supply depends on how intensively the blood is supplied to nearby muscles and bones. If this process is disrupted, for example, in an office worker who leads a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle, degenerative-dystrophic changes begin in them. Cartilage nutrition of the intervertebral discs and joints is disrupted, ligaments and tendons thicken, the spinal canal narrows due to sclerotic changes, and the distance between the vertebrae decreases.
This disease is known among non-specialists as osteochondrosis of the spine. Although degenerative-dystrophic processes are characteristic of the entire spine, it is osteochondrosis that is the most common cause of pain in the cervical spine. Moreover, as in other parts of the spine, this disease can be complicated by an intervertebral hernia. However, due to the peculiarities of the cervical spine anatomy, even a small hernia can cause serious complications.
Trauma
Although spinal cord injury is more commonly diagnosed in the lumbar region, almost 50% of cases of spinal cord injury occur with cervical spine injury. This is due to the peculiarities of the neck anatomy: the absence of a developed muscular frame and massive bodies of the spine, high mobility contributes to trauma even without direct physical impact (for example, during a sudden stop or backstroke. With a sharp curvature, followed by a sharp extension of the cervical spine). Pain is a constant companion to any injury to the spine.
Myositis
Myositis or inflammatory diseases of the muscles is a whole group of diseases characterized by muscle pain. The most common cause of banal muscle inflammation is forced posture while doing any work, hypothermia, scratches. Muscle pain can be the result of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, intervertebral hernia - the muscles receive a large part of the load on the neck, which eventually leads to congestion, muscle spasm with microcirculation disorders and inflammation.
Neuralgia
Neuralgia is a condition in which nerve fibers become a source of constant pain impulses. The pain is paroxysmal, may intensify and be provoked by turning or tilting in cold weather. Causes of neuralgia are diseases of the spine - osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, scoliosis, etc. Sh. The immediate cause of the pain is irritation of the spinal cord roots when pressed into the intervertebral space, a muscle spasm that disrupts the metabolism in the nerves leading to the spasmodic muscles. Unlike neuritis or inflammation of the nerve, with neuralgia, the pain is periodic, with no abnormal changes in the nerve fibers themselves.
Diseases of the heart
Heart diseases such as angina, ischemic heart disease, coronary atherosclerosis are often accompanied by pain that radiates to the left side of the neck, lower jaw, shoulder and forearm. Pain may be accompanied by numbness, tingling in the skin, simulation of pain in cervical osteochondrosis of the spine. Often patients undergo massage, physiotherapy, visit other doctors, although an electrocardiogram is sufficient to determine the cause.
A characteristic feature of such pain is the ability of antianginal drugs to improve blood circulation through the coronary arteries (isocet, nitroglycerin) to relieve pain within minutes.
Pain in the middle of the spine
The thoracic spine consists of 12 thoracic vertebrae, each of which has a pair of ribs attached. Together they provide protection for the chest organs. The size of the thoracic spine gradually increases, starting from the 1 thoracic spine and then to the beginning of the lumbar spine - this is explained by the gradual increase of the load on them. The mobility of the middle part of the spine is significantly lower than the mobility of the neck, the ribs provide additional protection, which is why traumatic spinal cord injury in the chest area is less common.
Spinal curvature or scoliosis
Scoliosis or scoliotic disease is an abnormal curvature of the spine in several planes. The causes of scoliosis are not yet known exactly, the disease begins in childhood. Lack of physical activity, spinal muscle weakness, incorrect posture of schoolchildren and workplace organization are considered to be contributing factors. Due to pronounced curvature, spinal loads and biomechanics disorders, excessive muscle load, which compensates for part of the load,AriseChronicBack pain.
Arthritis (spondyloarthritis)
The intervertebral discs together with the intervertebral discs unite the spine into one whole. Each vertebra has 4 articular surfaces that form an articulation with the surrounding vertebrae. Like any other joint, the intervertebral joints can become inflamed. This pathological condition is called spondyloarthritis. There are two main causes of inflammation of the intervertebral joints. These are systemic rheumatic diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis) or reactive inflammation that occurs in response to increased stress in osteochondrosis, scoliosis, and other pathologies of the spine. Inflamed joints lose their function: firmness of movements, firmness of the spine, Prolonged spinal pain.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and back pain
Diseases of the abdominal organs often cause pain reflected in the back and spine. There is also a direct link between pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Diseases such as chronic colitis or gastroenteritis are the basis of spinal spondyloarthritis or osteochondrosis.
Most often, the pain reflected back pain is manifested by gastric and duodenal ulcers, hiatal hernia, acute or chronic pancreatitis. This phenomenon arises from the peculiarities of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, whose nerve fibers are present in all organs of the abdominal cavity. Part of the pain impulses perceived by them return to the roots of the spinal cord, simulating back and spine pain.
Kidney disease and back pain
The kidney is a paired organ located in the retroperitoneal space that, as in the case of the abdominal organs, is closely connected by nerves to the roots of the spinal cord. In the presence of inflammation of the urinary tract, stones or other pathologies, part of the pain impulses reach the spinal cord, simulating spinal disease.Symptoms of back painMay occur in acute pyelonephritis, renal colic, renal abscess. A characteristic symptom in renal projection is tension in the spinal muscles, which occurs due to inflammation of the kidneys or an abscess of tissue around them.
Pain in the lumbar-sacral spine
The lumbosacral spine has the greatest stress. About 60-70% of the adult population in developed countries complains of back pain. This is a favorite localization of the intervertebral hernia. One patient is most often implanted with 2-3 hernias in the lumbosacral area of the spine. Also, pain in the lumbar and sacral areas often occurs with gynecological and urological pathologies.
Intervertebral hernia
Interstitial hernia is the result of prolonged osteochondrosis of the spine. While relatively small loads are placed on the intervertebral discs around the cervix, each disc in the lumbosacral area has enormous pressure. A healthy drive can compensate for any weight, due to the semi-liquid core, which acts as a hydraulic shock absorber. However, due to osteochondrosis, the fibrous and strong cartilage (annulus fibrosus) extending to the periphery of the intervertebral disc loses its elasticity and strength and some parts of it may crack. With a sharp increase in load, for example when lifting weights, the pressure inside the diseased disc increases, so that its contents can actually "shoot" through the damaged cartilage, falling into the lumen of the spinal canal - this is how the intervertebral hernia is formed.
Fragments of the nucleus falling out of the disc suffocate the spinal cord and spinal roots. The result is swelling of the nerve tissues and disruption of blood circulation, accompanied by severe pain and spasm of the protective muscles. The pain may be unbearable, before the need to use narcotic analgesics. A characteristic sign is pain radiating to the lower extremities. There may be impaired sensitivity to pain, tingling and numbness of the skin of the lower leg and thigh.
Intervertebral disc protrusion
The main difference between intervertebral disc protrusion and hernia is maintaining the integrity of the ring fibrosis. The cause of the pain is compression of the spinal cord and its roots by protrusion along the periphery of the intervertebral disc. However, if the process is continued, the rash can easily turn into a hernia. The symptoms and pain are similar to those of a hernia disc, since the severity of the pain syndrome depends not only on the size but also on the location of the protrusion or hernia.
Spinal spondylosis
Excessive loading of the spine and degenerative-dystrophic processes can lead to ossification of cartilage tissue, which is saturated with calcium salts and turns into sharp coracoid bone growths or growths that arise on the periphery of the vertebral bodies. As the process progresses, these growths may combine with the same growths on the vertebrate body surrounding it. Over time all the vertebrae grow together, the spine loses flexibility and elasticity. Pain occurs due to irritation of the spinal cord and its roots, reactive inflammation and dystrophy of soft tissues, joints and muscles.
Sciatica
Sciatica is called severe pain that results from circulatory disorders and ischemia of the spinal cord roots, hernia, or rash with osteochondrosis of the spine. Various disorders of skin sensitivity in the buttocks, perineum, thighs and lower extremities are possible. Starting sciatica causes muscle atrophy and weakness. A characteristic symptom is pain along the sciatic nerve, with aggravated movement, heaviness, and cold weather. This condition is called sciatica or sciatica.
Spinal infection
Vertebrae are made up of spongy bone tissue that is rich in bone marrow. When an infection enters a blood vessel in the body of the spine, an inflammatory process can occur - osteomyelitis. Gradual degeneration of bone tissue is accompanied by necrosis - this picture is also characteristic of spinal tuberculosis. Pain can occur both due to irritation of the nerve endings as well as due to abnormally compressed fractures of the weakened spine.
Gynecological and urological diseases
Pathologies such as cervical cancer, endometriosis or adnexitis (inflammation of the uterine appendages) in women, prostatitis or prostate cancer in men, are often accompanied by severe pain in the lumbosacral area of the spine. The nature of the pain is explained by the irritation of the nerves caught in the area of inflammation or the growth of nerve trunks by the tumor.
The spinal muscles ache along the spine
Well-developed spinal muscles are a sign of a healthy spine, since a muscular corset relieves some stress and additionally stabilizes the spine. In chronic diseases of the spine, the muscles are subjected to excessive load, which weak and atrophied muscles can not withstand. As a result, muscle spasm occurs and due to metabolic disorders and pain in the muscles. This condition is called myofascial syndrome, which is characterized by osteochondrosis of the spine, hernias, and rash of the intervertebral discs.
Postoperative pain
Spinal surgeries are usually accompanied by extensive trauma - in order to stabilize and restore the integrity of the vertebrae, doctors may resort to installing metal structures, tightening screws in the vertebrae, and removing non-viable tissue. The pain in this case is caused not only by the disease itself but also by surgical intervention. With proper rehabilitation and postoperative care the pain will gradually disappear. However, if you ignore the doctor's instructions in the postoperative period and neglect the mandatory exercises, the pain can become chronic.
How are the causes of back pain diagnosed?
You need to consult a qualified neurologist in time to diagnose back and spine pain. In the first stage, a neurological examination, examination of the patient, study of reflexes and symptoms are carried out. An experienced and competent doctor is well aware of what diseases back and spine pain has due to certain causes and characteristic signs.
Back pain for no apparent reason should be especially vigilant. It can be manifested by pain in other organs and systems, spinal cord tumors and diseases.
To find out why there is pain in the back and spine, a neurologist may order a magnetic resonance imaging. This is the most effective and safe method for diagnosing almost all possible causes of back pain. The procedure is based on the ability of magnetic fields and radio waves to provide a clear and detailed image of the spine and spinal cord without the use of X-rays and other harmful factors.
How to relieve back pain
To relieve back pain, but not for treatment, take painkillers for a few days, making it necessary to wait for specialist consultation. Most often, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs are used for this purpose. However, it is important to remember that this group of drugs can cause dangerous side effects that increase the likelihood of prolonged use. It is therefore important not to delay a visit to the doctor and examination later. TreatmentDiseasesThe spineAnd causesBack pain.
Treatment of back pain
As mentioned from the beginning, the effectiveness of back pain treatment depends on how accurately the diagnosis is made. While it is obvious that many patients "cure" pain for years, but not the disease itself, each time they delay a visit to the doctor, consult traditional healers, osteopaths and chiropractors. Moreover, for some diseases of the spine such procedures are not only contraindicated but also dangerous.
There are various effective and scientifically proven remediesSpeciesCausing diseasesBack pain. . . Many of them require patient endurance and resilience in the fight against disease. It is important to remember that there are no pills or injections that can cure osteochondrosis - only you can do that, with strenuous exercise and physical exercise that your neurologist will show you.
Which doctor should I go to for back pain?
Back pain is one of the most common neurological symptoms manifested by the involvement of nerves and spinal cord in the pathological process. Therefore, the first specialist to be consulted in case of back pain will be a neurologist. Depending on the results of the examination and magnetic resonance imaging, you may need to consult another doctor. If the back pain is caused by heart disease, the patient is referred to a cardiologist, if the problem is in the digestive tract, a gastroenterologist. But most often pain syndrome is associated with exactly the pathology of the spine.