Back pain is one of the most common health problems. We want to acquaint you with the causes of its occurrence and teach you what to do when your back hurts.
Probably, there is no such person in the world who has never had a backache at least once in his life. Back pain can be dull and persistent, or it can be acute and sudden, causing you to measure every movement. It can start abruptly if you fall or lift anything too heavy, or it progresses slowly, making it impossible for you to live a fulfilling life.
Factors that increase the risk of back pain
Anyone is immune to back pain, but there are some factors that increase your risk of back pain:
- Age.Your back hurts more often the older you get. Back pain usually occurs for the first time when you are in your 30s and 40s.
- Poor physical condition.Back pain is more common in people who are inactive and sedentary.
- Overweight.A diet high in calories and fat can make you gain weight. Too much weight puts more stress on the spine, causing pain.
- Heredity.There are hereditary diseases, one of the symptoms of which is back pain, for example, ankylosing spondylitis.
- Other diseases.Certain types of arthritis and cancer can also cause back pain.
- Your job.If your work constantly requires serious physical effort, heavy lifting, or you have to spend several hours in an uncomfortable position - the result may be back pain. If you work at your desk all day without sitting upright, your back will hurt, too.
- Smoking.If you smoke, your body is unable to get enough of the nutrients it needs for your bones, resulting in a gradual loss of spine strength and reduced flexibility. A smoker's cough can also cause back pain.
What are the reasons?
There are many causes of back pain. Sometimes the pain can be caused by mechanical reasons such as:
- Spasms of the back muscles.
- Spinal contusion.
- Stretching the muscles.
- Ripping discs.
- Falls from a height.
- Spinal fractures.
Back pain can manifest itself as one of the symptoms of certain diseases and conditions, such as:
- Scoliosis of the spine.
- Spondylolisthesis.
- Arthritis.
- Stenosis.
- Pregnancy.
- Kidney stones.
- Infections.
- Endometriosis.
- Fibromyalgia.
Other possible causes of back pain are infections, swelling, or stress.
How to prevent back pain?
The best thing you can do to prevent back pain:
- Exercise regularly to strengthen your back muscles.
- Maintain a healthy weight or lose weight if you are overweight. To have strong bones, you must get enough calcium and vitamin D every day.
- Maintain correct posture, do not slouch or hunch over.
- Avoid heavy lifting. If you can't do without lifting weights, then do it right: bend your legs and keep your back straight, place the load in the center of the body, and not on the side, and press the load against the body, and do not carry it on outstretched arms. When lowering a heavy object, continue to keep your back straight, squat down, and then put the weight down. You need to get up after these manipulations slowly and carefully, because after transferring weights, the spine is vulnerable.
When to see a doctor?
You should see a doctor if you have:
- Numbness or tingling.
- Severe pain that gets progressively worse and does not respond to any treatment.
- The pain occurred after a fall or injury.
Pain is accompanied by one of the following symptoms:
- Problems with urination.
- Weakness.
- Numbness in the legs.
- Fever.
- Losing weight while not dieting.
What diagnostic methods are used when back hurts?
To diagnose back pain, the doctor will ask you in detail about the course and nature of the pain and make an examination. After the examination, he will order other tests, such as:
- Radiography.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Computed tomography (CT).
- Blood tests.
Medical tests may not show the cause of your back pain. Quite often, the cause of back pain remains unclear.
What is the difference between acute and chronic back pain?
Acute pain starts quickly and lasts no more than 6 weeks. This is the most common type of back pain. Acute pain can be caused by things like falling while playing football or lifting heavy objects. Chronic pain lasts more than 3 months and is much less common than acute pain.
How to heal?
Treatment for back pain depends on what kind of pain you have. Acute back pain usually goes away on its own without treatment, but you can take pain medication to help relieve pain. Exercise and surgery are not commonly used to treat acute back pain.
Below are some of the treatments for chronic back pain:
Hot or cold compresses (or both)
Hot or cold compresses can soothe pain and relieve tension in your back. Heat can reduce muscle spasms. Cold helps to reduce swelling, swelling, and sensitivity. Using hot or cold compresses may reduce pain, but this treatment will not address the underlying cause of chronic back pain.
Special exercises
Proper exercise can help relieve chronic pain, but should not be used for acute back pain. Your doctor or chiropractor can help you determine which exercises are appropriate for your situation.
Medicines
The following are the main medications used for back pain:
- Pain medications.
- Pain-relieving creams and ointments are rubbed into the skin over the site of pain.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can reduce pain and swelling. NSAIDs include brand name drugs. Your doctor may prescribe stronger NSAIDs.
- Muscle relaxants and some antidepressants can help with some types of chronic back pain, but this is very individual.
Behavior change
Learn to lift heavy objects correctly to reduce the strain on your back. Making a lifestyle change: Eating healthy, quitting smoking, buying a quality orthopedic mattress, and going for a swim can all help reduce back pain.
Injections
Your doctor may suggest injections of steroids or topical pain medications to help relieve pain.
Alternative treatments
Some unconventional treatments can work well. The most common of these methods are:
- Manual therapy.Chiropractors have techniques to help relieve long-term chronic back pain. However, it should be remembered that even if your doctor is a magician and was able to relieve pain in a couple of sessions, you need to seriously strengthen your back muscles so that these pains do not return again.
- Acupuncture.Chinese medicine uses fine needles to relieve pain and restore health. Acupuncture can be effective when used as part of a comprehensive low back pain treatment plan.
- Acupressure.The therapist applies pressure to specific areas of the body to relieve pain. The effectiveness of acupressure for back pain is not well understood.
Surgical Treatment
Most people with chronic back pain do not need surgery. This is usually the last resort and is used if other treatments do not work. The operation may be required if you have:
- Herniated disc.
- Spinal stenosis.
- Spondylolisthesis.
- Vertebral fractures.
- A fracture can be caused by a blow to the back or bone destruction due to osteoporosis.
- Degenerative disc disease.
As we age, the intervertebral discs can begin to break down and cause severe pain.
Rarely, when back pain is caused by a tumor, infection, or a nerve root problem called cauda equina syndrome, surgery is needed right away to relieve the pain and prevent new problems.