Why does my back and spine hurt?

Almost everyone is familiar with back pain., and 15-20% have to deal with this symptom regularly during the year.

The problem is not only of a medical nature, but also of a socio-economic nature, because during the illness, the patient, depending on the causes that caused the problem, loses his ability to work.

In most cases, it is possible to get rid of the disease in a month, after which the patient can resume a normal life.

Despite these results, in 70% of patients the pain returns again, the treatment is useless due to the fact that the therapy was incorrect or inadequate.

It should be noted that painis a sign of degenerative processes in the spine, which is again considered a sign of pathological conditions.

Classification and nature of back pain

Types of back pain:

• non-specific(benign) - dorsopathy, "obsolete" osteochondrosis, the cause is most often dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system, an additional examination is usually useless;
• specifically(dangerous) pains that require additional diagnostics already at the first visit, which makes it possible to rule out the presence of spinal fractures, tuberculosis, tumors, metastases, etc. ;
• radicular pain(radiculopathy) - associated with nerve root irritation/compression of a herniated (prolapsed) disc.

What diseases of the musculoskeletal system cause pain in the spine in the middle of the back?

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system that cause pain:

• osteoarthritis- the patient may bend over from pain, tries to straighten his back, taking a deep breath contributes to an increase in negative sensations, when squeezing the vertebrae, the load on the elastic shock-absorbing pad increases, as a result, the damaged element becomes thinner;

• chondrosis, osteochondrosis of the thoracic region- develops against the background of obesity, physical inactivity, unbalanced diet, mineral metabolism disorders, in the process of age changes, the elasticity and height of intervertebral discs decreases, their structure changes, pinching of nerve fibers contributes to sudden, severe pain or moderate discomfort aggravated by movements;
• scoliosis, increased/decreased lordosis, kyphosis- lead to deterioration of posture and appearance, which results in pinching of nerves in the spinal column;
• column injury;
• neurological causes(radiculitis);
• congenital pathologies- additional / missing vertebrae in the spine lead to painful discomfort;
• myositis- weakening and increasing pain develops on the background of inflammation of skeletal muscles, discomfort increases with palpation of the back.

Other causes of back pain

Other reasons:

• kidney inflammation- discomfort is often accompanied by high temperature, swelling of the lower extremities, hypertension;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system, vascular pathologies - accompanied by throbbing pains in the back and increased blood pressure;
• chronic stress;
• diseases of the digestive system- the pain is localized in the middle or on the left side of the back, after eating the pain intensifies against the background of pancreatitis or diseases of the gastric mucosa;
• psychoemotional disorder.

Serious diseases of the organs located in the abdominal cavity and under the chest can also react with pain in the spine. It is often very difficult for the patient to determine the nature of the pain, it is recommended to monitor the symptoms and inform the doctor in a timely manner.

Treatment of back pain

Before starting treatment, the doctor must make a diagnosis, study the patient's history, listen to complaints, conduct a visual examination and palpation, study the results of laboratory and diagnostic studies. After that, the necessary drugs are selected, the action of which is aimed at correcting the problem.

drugs

During an exacerbation, therapy is aimed at stopping the pain signal.

Medicines:

1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs- their action is aimed at stopping mediators of inflammatory processes before they enter the tissues surrounding the spine. It helps to get rid of inflammation, fever, swelling, cramps, pain. In case of severe pain, injectable preparations are prescribed, they are characterized by a quick effect (15-20 minutes), safety for the gastrointestinal tract, all components are supplied in the initial dose. To eliminate moderate and mild pain, external preparations or drugs in oral form are prescribed.
2. Analgesics- they are prescribed when the analgesic properties of NSAIDs are not sufficient, the drugs affect the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain, which prevents the response. The combination of 2 groups is recommended to be carried out carefully, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the body, the compatibility of drugs, the selection of the dose is made on an individual basis.
3. Muscle relaxants- diseases of the spine are often accompanied by muscle spasms, which force the patient to freeze in one position, all movements lead to sharp pains. The injection of muscle relaxants will help relax the muscle corset, the effect of their application lasts for 12 hours. Tablets are used less often, because they begin to work only after the necessary amount of substance has been accumulated.
4. Chondroprotectors- problems with the spine appear against the background of degenerative processes in joint and cartilage tissue, in such cases drugs containing chondroitin or glucosamine are prescribed. The substances are the basis for restoring tendons, joints, ligaments, etc. These components are not produced in the body, therefore during the course of the disease the cells should be as saturated as possible with the mentioned substances, they are most often prescribed orally, the drugs should be taken in long courses.

As an additional therapyvitamin complexes, diuretics, antispasmodics can be prescribed, as well as means for improving trophism and restoring blood circulation, antioxidants, antihistamines, etc.

Operation

In the absence of the effect of medical treatment, surgical treatment is indicated, excellent results can be achieved with modern techniques.In the case of osteochondrosis, injuries and hernias, part of the vertebra or intervertebral disc is removed, with aortic aneurysm, plastic surgery is indicated.

In the case of spinal diseases, it is necessary to determine the cause of the pain, and internal organs are often the source of unpleasant symptoms. Only a doctor can diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment.

Exercise, exercise therapy, massage

If the patient's condition and the nature of the course of the underlying disease allow, moderate physical activity is necessary.

Doctors also recommend regular morning exercises, the complex includes the following exercises:

1. child's pose. Sit on your knees with your head bent towards the floor, stretch your arms forward, stay in this position for 20 seconds, stretch your arms back also for 20 seconds, repeat the exercise twice.
2. Head bending.Sit on the floor with a straight back, put your hands behind your head, slowly pull your head forward, tilt it until your chin touches your neck, hold for 10-15 seconds, repeat 8-10 times.
3. He spins with a stick. In a standing position, put the gymnastic stick in a horizontal position on the neck behind the head, extend your arms and hold the ends of the stick. With the stick behind the head, slowly turn to the left, hold for 25-30 seconds, repeat in the opposite direction, the number of repetitions is 10-12 times.
4. Leaning the body forward. With your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands clasped behind the lock, rise up, leaning your body forward, slightly bend your legs at the knees, stay in this position for 15-20 seconds, repeat up to 4-5 times.
5. Lean your body forward with your toes touching. Sitting on the floor, fold your legs, place them in front of you, bend forward to reach your toes with your hands. The exercise should be performed without sudden movements, gradually, slowly, holding the position for a few seconds.

During exacerbations, exercise therapy and other types of physical activity are strictly contraindicated.

Massage

Manual massage also shows effectiveness in back pain caused by spinal diseases.. The techniques allow you to achieve muscle relaxation, during their application, soft tissues are heated, which helps to improve blood circulation. Such a massage is recommended for patients with pathologies of the respiratory organs, accompanied by the discharge of sputum.

Treatment at home or folk remedies

In the presence of persistent back pain, it is recommended to turn to folk recipes, before using them, you should consult a doctor. Despite the apparent safety, many means can be not only useless, but also harmful.

Recommended for pain reliefprepare the rub. To do this, you need to take a mixture of pure alcohol or cologne, a small amount of hot pepper, valerian root tincture, a bottle of 5% iodine solution, rub the affected area well with the mixture, wrap it. The procedure is recommended to be performed in the evening, left in a warm place until morning. It is very important not to start the disease, to identify the cause of the pathology in a timely manner and to follow all the doctor's recommendations.

The following steps can help relieve the condition at home:

• avoid prolonged stay in bed - physically active patients suffer less pain;
• engage in light sports - moderate physical activity is best;
• maintain proper posture;
• increase the flexibility of the spine;
• wear corsets and spine belts;
• apply heat and cold to the affected area;
• stop smoking - nicotine causes spasm of small blood vessels, which leads to microcirculation disorders and cessation of oxygen delivery to tissues;
• relaxation exercises.

Prevention

The patient can prevent the development of back disease by himself, he must learn to sleep, sit and stand properly, as well as withstand heavy loads with minimal damage to himself. It is recommended to stand and sit with a straight back, the head should not hang forward, one should not bend and bend the body without leaning on the hands.

If you need to stand on your feet for a long time, you should find a point to support your head and limbs, you can lean on a closet, wall and other surfaces. Walking in heels for more than 2 hours in a row is excluded, the legs should rest occasionally, for this they should be raised for a few minutes.

Prevention measures:

• relieve neck and lower back with special rollers or bone pillows, avoid sitting on chairs or with bent back, every 15 minutes. one should change positions, stretch and lean back, take breaks after every hour of sitting;
• you must sleep on hard mattresses without high pillows, you can put orthopedic rollers under your head;
• certain rules must be followed when carrying loads, you should not carry loads of more than 3 kg for women and more than 5 kg for men, it is dangerous to lift weights while bending or jerking, bags should be lifted with a straight back, heavy loads should be carried in several steps.

Conclusion

• Back pain- relatively common pathology, with the appearance of pain syndrome, you should seek medical help.
• The causes of the pathology are very different, the doctor makes a diagnosis based on the patient's history, examination, and complaints.
• During treatmentmedicines are used(primarily for pain relief), it is recommended to perform massage, exercise therapy.