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Why back pain: causes and treatment

Back pain is a popular disease of modern civilization: almost everyone suffers from back pain at least once in their life. Fortunately, in about 90% of cases, the cause is not a health threat. Thus, patients themselves can do many things to relieve back pain - from hot compresses to exercises to develop the back muscles. Learn more about the causes and treatment of back pain in this article.

backache

brief information

  • Backache: is among the most common types of pain and mainly affects women. Often, back pain is not specific.
  • Classification:duration (acute, subacute, and chronic back pain), position (upper, middle, or lower back) and shape (specific and nonspecific back pain).
  • Reason:there is no reason for non -specific back pain. On the other hand, certain back pain has detectable symptoms.
  • Review:depending on the physical condition of the patient: blood and urine tests, neurological examination, gynecological examination, electroneurography, and so on.
  • Treatment:Heat treatment, medicinal plants, proper flexibility and elongation, sports to strengthen the back, exercising the back at work, relaxation techniques, acupuncture, possibly medicine

Back pain: description and classification

Back pain, lumbago, back cramps, or back pain are the names of one symptom. Sometimes he pressed the cross, sometimes he pulled his neck. Sometimes back pain radiates to the sides, arms or legs. Symptoms can be permanent or only temporary. Sometimes they are so strong that the victim can barely move.

No matter how diverse the nature and level of complaints: back pain can haunt people of almost any age. They are among the most common modern male problems. Women of all ages are more likely to report back pain than men. This phenomenon also manifests itself in other types of pain.

Doctors divide back pain according to different criteria:

Classification by localization of back pain

  • Top back:Pain in the upper part of the spine (neck area) can be acute or chronic. Often felt on the shoulders, arms, and / or back of the head. Neck pain is caused, for example, by poor posture at work, a herniated disc, or a mental disorder.
  • In the middle of the back:Back pain in the thoracic spine is rarely caused by injury. Often it is caused by irritation of large muscle groups in this area or dysfunction of the costume vertebral joints.
  • In the lower back:back pain is most often seen in the lower back. Because the lumbar spine is more prone to injury and damage than the neck and thoracic spine. Lower back pain is called "back pain". The possible cause is, for example, a herniated disc or muscle tension.

Classification by duration of back pain

Depending on the duration of symptoms, doctors distinguish between acute, subacute and chronic back pain:

  • Acute back pain:it is back pain that occurs for the first time or after at least six months without pain and lasts for a maximum of six weeks. The prognosis is generally good: acute back pain disappears in most victims within a few weeks.
  • Subacute back pain:if back pain lasts from six weeks to a maximum of three months, they are considered subacute.
  • Chronic back painor chronic recurrent back pain: persistent for more than three months. The intensity of the pain can vary over time-sometimes the back pain is weaker, sometimes worse. Chronic back pain is more common with age.

Classification of causes of back pain

Depending on whether it is possible to determine the obvious cause of the disease, doctors distinguish between specific and non -specific back pain. Read more in the next section.

Main reason

Back pain can be divided into two main causes: nonspecific and specific back pain.

Nonspecific back pain

For non -specific back pain, doctors cannot find a clear cause for the symptoms. A large number of cases of back pain fall into this category.

Certain back pain

An overview of the important causes of certain back pain:

  • Muscle tension:often muscle tension is the cause of back pain. Poor posture, one -sided load or lack of physical activity makes muscles uneven - some muscles work too much, others are underused. As a result, the muscles shorten or harden, which can cause tension and pain. Pinched nerves can also be caused by muscle tension and cause back pain.
  • Herniated Disc. . . The disc is located in the form of a cushion -shaped shock absorber between individual vertebral bodies. They consist of a soft agar core surrounded by fibrocartigue rings. If the jelly core slips and penetrates the fiber sheath, a herniated disc will occur. This causes severe back pain when a mass of gelatin coming out of the sliding disc presses on nearby nerves.
  • Abrasions of the spine(arthrosis of the spinal joints, phase syndrome): with age, the vertebral joints wear out in the body.
  • Rachiocampsis. . . In what is called scoliosis, the spine is bent laterally. This leads to premature wear, which can cause muscle tension and back pain. In addition, with what is called Scheuermann’s disease, spinal curvature is characteristic. The result is back pain, back pain and limited movement.
  • Spondylolisthesis(Spondylisthesis): In this condition, the vertebrae are so unstable that they can be moved easily. This occurs mainly in the lumbar region. Many patients have few or no complaints. But certain exercises and movements can cause back pain. When the transplanted vertebra presses on nerve roots, neurological disorders, such as emotional disturbances or paralysis, may also occur.
  • Osteoporosis(bone loss). With osteoporosis, the bones become increasingly brittle. Then you can break it even with the smallest load (e. g. falling, tripping). This often leads to spinal fractures associated with back pain. Even the signs of osteoporosis - osteopenia - may already be linked to back pain.
  • Pregnancy:many pregnant women experience back pain. There are several reasons for this. For example, hormonal changes in pregnant women lead to relaxation of tendons and ligaments in the pelvic floor area. As a result, they become unstable, which can cause pain in the pelvis and lower back. In addition, the female center of gravity shifts due to the growing fetus. It can also cause back pain. In addition, stroke and premature birth can be associated with back pain.
  • Pyelonephritis:Pelvic kidney inflammation is usually caused by bacteria and especially in women. Especially if it is a chronic condition, it can cause long -term back pain.
  • Kidney stones:Unlike pelvic kidney inflammation, kidney stones are more common in men. Sometimes they are so small (semolina) that they are excreted in the urine through the ureters. On the other hand, large kidney stones can get stuck in the ureter. The result is renal colic, which can cause, among other things, a burning sensation, back pain, depending on the location of the kidney stones.
  • Pneumonia(pneumonia): In addition to coughing with fever and back pain, pneumonia is sometimes caused. Inflammation is mainly caused by bacteria.
  • Inflammation of the pancreas(pancreatitis): Acute and chronic pancreatitis causes pain in the upper abdomen. Often radiates to the back and is considered back pain.
  • Swelling of the spine and ribs:Back pain can also be caused by tumors in the spine or chest. Sometimes the tumor is benign, sometimes malignant. In the latter case, these are secondary cancerous tumor cells in another part of the body, such as breast cancer or lung cancer.

Risk factors for back pain

There are several factors that increase the risk of back pain. These are mainly:

  • Work -related factors:Carrying and lifting heavy loads, vibrations (e. g. , when working with a jackhammer) and working in uncomfortable positions put pressure on the spine, joints and muscles. This can cause back pain in the long run. Therefore, some back diseases are recognized as occupational diseases.
  • Work -related psychosocial conditions:People who are dissatisfied with their workplace or are forced to work monotonously from morning to evening (e. g. , on the assembly line) are more prone to back pain. In addition, social conflict in the workplace and high workforce intensity without adequate rewards (in the form of money, recognition, promotion opportunities) can contribute to back pain.
  • Social status.Back pain is more common in people with low social status in terms of education, profession and income than in people with high social status.

The path of existing back pain can be influenced by adverse conditions such as psychological factors. These include, for example, unrealistic fears of back pain, depression, as well as passive or overactive behaviors - that is, abstinence or too much activity.

Back pain therapy

With certain back pain, the doctor, if possible, will eliminate the cause of the disease. For example, for a herniated disc, conservative (non -surgical) therapies are usually sufficient, such as thermal treatment, physiotherapy, relaxation techniques, and pain relievers or muscle relaxants. Surgery is rarely required. If your back pain is caused by pyelonephritis, your doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics. A large number of bacteria are the cause of inflammation.

It is best to always consult a doctor about the technique before trying it.

  • Training and sports:Physical therapy and back exercise are highly recommended for subacute and chronic nonspecific back pain, but not for acute back pain.
  • Relaxation procedure:Targeted relaxation helps fight stress and tension (both of which play an important role in back pain). If the pain is already chronic, VUR can also help. By the way, there are other relaxation techniques such as exercise and autogenic meditation. Many patients with back pain also have positive experiences in this area.
  • Holistic methods and practices:yoga, qigong and tai chi chuan also have a relaxing effect. This complex training method is ideal for preventing lumbago and herniated discs.
  • Thermal therapy:Using heat (e. g. , heating pads, thermoses, mud baths, fango bags) relaxes muscles and can relieve non -specific back pain.
  • Medicinal plants:a combined preparation of ash and aspen can relieve back pain. For painful muscle tension, a capsaicin cream or patch can help.
  • Aromatherapy:If you suffer from lumbago (back pain), you can rub pine, sandalwood, or ginger oil on the affected area. This can help relieve symptoms.
  • Back friendly nutrition:bones, joints, muscles and discs need a lot of nutrients to function. Make sure you have enough essential fatty acids, calcium, fluoride, vitamins C, D, and E, as well as B vitamins, magnesium, boron, selenium, and zinc. It not only helps the buttocks well, but also contributes to good health in general.
  • Lots to drink:The supply of nutrients to the intervertebral disc only works with large amounts of fluid.

Back pain medicine

Medication reduces back pain so that physical activity can be done again. Over time, the dose of medication should and can be reduced: when they exercise, patients generally need less medication to move (almost) painlessly. The doctor gives specific instructions to each patient about when the drug can be used, how much dose, and for how long. Patients should follow these instructions to avoid side effects or addiction.

Even with certain back pain, drug therapy can be helpful and necessary. Basically it was only for a short time.

In principle, various groups of active ingredients are available for the treatment of back pain. Depending on the type and severity of symptoms, depending on which medication is most appropriate in each case:

  • conventional painkillers (analgesics);
  • very strong analgesics from the opium group;
  • muscle relaxation: not recommended for nonspecific back pain;
  • some antidepressants, for example, for chronic nonspecific back pain, when the patient is simultaneously experiencing depression or sleep disturbances

When should you see a doctor?

Back pain is not always a sign of a more serious medical condition that requires a visit to the doctor. There are relatively harmless reasons behind it, such as muscle tension due to lack of exercise or poor body posture. However, in the following cases, you must see a doctor for safety reasons:

  • atypical back pain
  • persistent back pain
  • increased back pain

Research is important

These studies help explain the causes of complaints:

  • cardiac catheterization;
  • joint puncture;
  • electromyography;
  • radiography;
  • history of disease;
  • CT scan;
  • scintigraphy;
  • ultrasound;
  • cystoscopy;
  • arthroscopy.

Back pain: examination

To clarify back pain, your doctor will first talk to you in detail to compile your medical history. Possible questions:

  • Where does back pain occur?
  • Does your back pain spread to other parts of your body (such as one leg or one leg)?
  • How long do pain attacks last?
  • Have there been previous cases of back pain? How does the pain continue?
  • Are there factors that cause, exacerbate, or relieve back pain (e. g. fever, chills, movement)?
  • How to treat back pain (medicine, massage)? Was the move successful? Are there any side effects?
  • What is the duration (daily) of back pain?
  • How bad is your back pain? Do they interfere with daily activities?
  • Do you have a similar mental or physical illness?

Examination by a doctor

After a medical history, doctors can perform various studies to investigate the cause of back pain.

  • Blood test: measurements of various blood volumes can be, for example, evidence of spinal cord abrasion, inflammation (such as pleurisy, prostatitis, pyelitis) or heart attack as triggers of back pain.
  • Urine analysis:Testing urine samples can clear or confirm the suspicion of kidney disease or acute prostatitis.
  • Electromyography (EMG):Measuring muscle electrical activity also serves to identify a herniated disc as a possible cause of back pain.
  • Ultrasound procedure:if your back pain is caused by pyelonephritis or kidney stones, ultrasound can help determine the cause.
  • X-ray:simple x-rays can provide information on a variety of possible causes of back pain, such as pneumonia, pneumothorax, spinal obstruction, spinal inflammation (ankylosing spondylitis), or osteoporosis.
  • Computed tomography (CT):performed when there is a suspicion that back pain is caused by a herniated disc, spinal cord abrasion, aortic aneurysm, pancreatitis, or lung tumor.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):this test can be used to identify suspicion of a herniated disc or inflammation of the spine (ankylosing spondylitis).
  • Skintigraphy:These nuclear medical tests determine the activity conditions of various tissues, such as bone tissue (bone scintigraphy: suspected ankylosing spondylitis) or lung tissue (lung scintigraphy: suspected pulmonary emboli).

When a study of what is needed

Physical examination and laboratory tests (blood, urine) are common in diagnosing back pain. In contrast, X -rays - X -rays, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - are only recommended if certain back pain is suspected. In the first explanation, acute and uniform chronic back pain is deliberately eliminated: too many examinations can cause patients to fear that there may be a serious cause behind back pain that has not yet been identified. This can make acute back pain chronic (chronic).