Back pain is one of the most common reasons to see a doctor. He is also often the cause of disability around the world. According to statistics, more than 70% of the world's population has experienced back and lumbar pain at least once. Fortunately, in most cases, there are ways to prevent or treat back pain. Often, the pain disappears on its own within a few days due to the participation of the body’s own protective mechanisms. It can have different characters:
- muscle pain;
- shooting or holding back pain;
- pain radiates to the feet;
- limits back mobility
Which disease causes back pain?
The causes of back pain can vary. Often this is damage to the muscles or ligaments of the back due to weight lifting, movement or sudden injury. There are a number of diseases that can cause back pain in the lumbar region:
- osteochondrosis, spondylosis, spondyloarthrosis;
- sprains, myositis, muscle disorders;
- scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis;
- osteomyelitis, epiduritis, ankylosing spondylitis;
- intervertebral hernia;
- intercostal neuralgia, pelvic organ disease;
- spine protrusion
- spinal stenosis, spinal instability and fractures;
- sciatica, lumbago or lumbago, sciatic nerve inflammation; Occasional
- - spinal neoplasm, myeloma.
When should I see a doctor right away?
In most cases, back pain will go away without treatment within two weeks. If this does not happen, please see a doctor. In rare cases, back pain indicates a serious medical problem. Therefore, it is necessary to seek medical help immediately if:
- have trouble urinating or defecating;
- has a fever;
- pain spreads to the bottom of the foot or radiates to both feet;
- pain caused by a fall, a back blow, or other injury;
- the pain is intense and does not go away after resting and taking painkillers;
- pain accompanied by weakness and numbness in the legs;
- pain is accompanied by sudden weight loss.
Individuals should also seek professional advice:
- is over 50 years old;
- who has been diagnosed with cancer or osteoporosis;
- who take steroid hormones.
Which specialist should I contact?
This can be the following specialist doctor:
- orthopedic traumatologist;
- neurologist;
- neurosurgeon;
- urologist;
- phthisiatrician;
- oncologist;
- rheumatologist;
- nephrologist;
Risk Factors
Back pain can happen to anyone at any age, including children and adolescents. However, the following factors increase the risk of its occurrence:
- Age.Often, pain in the back and lower back appears at the age of 30;
- Lifestyle inactive.Weakness of the back muscles due to low physical activity is one of the factors that cause problems in the spine;
- Overweight.The extra pound puts extra pressure on the vertebral and intervertebral discs, leading to the development of disease;
- Concomitant diseases.Back pain occurs in a number of diseases, including cancer.
- Psychological disorders.People who experience depression or anxiety are more at risk for back pain.
Diagnosing back pain
To make an accurate diagnosis, a number of studies are done.
MRI of the spine
The gold standard for diagnosing back pain is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Depending on the MRI changes indicated, along with the clinical picture and neurological status, the doctor develops a treatment plan for the patient. In addition, MRI images allow you to predict how the disease will develop.
Diagnostic restrictions
Diagnostic restrictions are very informative to confirm the diagnosis in patients with complex and unclear clinical picture. For example, the effectiveness of facet or sacroiliac joint diagnostic blockers confirms the axial nature of the patient’s pain and is an important criterion for setting indications for a corresponding decrease in the radio frequency of the joint.
In addition to their high diagnostic value, intra-articular blockade is a therapeutic procedure, they have a significant analgesic effect with different duration of action. In patients with radicular pain, diagnostic blocks can be performed when there is a need for additional diagnosis.
Back Pain Treatment
There are various ways to treat back pain:
Pharmacological therapy
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have significant side effects, but their effectiveness in the long run is relative due to the rapid development of addiction and the risk of side effects. Muscle relaxation has proven itself well, especially when used in the acute period. Antidepressants and some anticonvulsants are used with good effects in the treatment of complex pain. The treatment regimen is chosen by the doctor individually for each patient, depending on the tolerance of the drug to the patient, the individual sensitivity, and the severity of the therapeutic effect.
Treatment restrictions are performed under radiological control
In the past decade, due to the rapid and obvious analgesic and therapeutic effects, the use of minimal invasive procedures, including epidural and intra-articular blockade, has increased dramatically. Epidural block is the most commonly prescribed procedure for radicular disease. With the correct diagnosis and the availability of clues for this procedure, the effect is amazing! Pain relievers are achieved for 6 weeks to 6 months, which in many cases avoids the need for surgical treatment.
Nerve Surgery
The spectrum of nerve surgery for back pain is wide. Techniques such as spinal cord decompression, dyspectomy, foraminotomy, intervertebral disc replacement, minimally invasive and micro-surgery, as well as a number of other surgical techniques are used.
Radiating radio frequency
Radio frequency denomination (RFA) is one of the most optimal treatments to prevent or significantly delay surgery. Thanks to it, you can not only get rid of pain symptoms quickly, but also reduce or exclude the use of painkillers. Recovery after this procedure occurs fairly quickly, allowing you to quickly return to your normal lifestyle.