Back pain is one of the most common reasons for medical treatment. She also often becomes the cause of disability worldwide. According to statistics, more than 70% of the world’s population has experienced back pain at least once. Fortunately, in most cases, there are ways to prevent or treat back pain. Usually, the pain will go away on its own within a few days due to the body's own protective mechanism. It can have different characters:
- Muscle pain;
- shooting or tingling;
- Pain spreads to the leg;
- Limiting the ability of back movement
What diseases cause low back pain?
The cause of back pain may vary. Usually, this is due to heavy lifting, sudden movement or injury to the back muscles or ligaments. There are many diseases that can cause back pain in the lumbar region:
- Osteochondrosis, spondylopathy, spondyloarthropathy;
- Sprain, myositis, muscle contusion;
- Scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis, kyphotic deformity;
- Osteomyelitis, epidural inflammation, ankylosing spondylitis;
- Intervertebral hernia;
- Spine protrusions
- Spinal stenosis, spinal instability and fractures;
- Sciatica, low back pain or low back pain, inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- Sometimes-spinal tumors, myeloma.
When should I see a doctor right away?
In most cases, the back pain will subside within two weeks without treatment. If it does not happen, consult a doctor. In rare cases, back pain heralds serious medical problems. Therefore, it is necessary to seek urgent medical help in the following situations:
- Difficulty urinating or defecation;
- fever;
- The pain spreads along the leg or spreads to the legs.
- The pain is very severe and will not go away after resting and taking painkillers;
- Pain is accompanied by weakness and numbness in the legs;
- Pain is accompanied by sudden weight loss.
Individuals should also seek professional advice:
- Over 50 years old;
- People who have been diagnosed with cancer or osteoporosis;
- is taking steroids.
Which experts should I contact?
These can be doctors in the following specialties:
- Plastic surgeon;
- Neurologist;
- Neurosurgeon;
- Urologist;
- phtriciatrician;
- Oncologist;
- Rheumatologist;
- Nephrologist;
Risk factors
Back pain can occur to anyone of any age, including children and adolescents. However, the following factors will increase the risk of its occurrence:
- age. In most cases, back and lower back pain occurs at the age of 30;
- Sedentary lifestyle.Back muscle weakness caused by low physical activity is one of the causes of spinal problems.
- Overweight.The extra pounds put extra pressure on the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, leading to the development of the disease;
- Accompanying diseases.Back pain occurs in many diseases, including cancer.
- Psychological disorder.People with depression or anxiety are at greater risk of back pain.
Diagnose back pain
In order to make a correct diagnosis, many studies have been conducted.
Spinal MRI
Diagnostic block
Diagnostic blockade is very useful for confirming the diagnosis of patients with complicated and unclear clinical images. For example, the effectiveness of diagnostic blockade of facet joints or sa joints confirms the axial nature of patient pain and is an important criterion for setting radiofrequency denervation indications for corresponding joints.
In addition to its high diagnostic value, intra-articular block is a treatment method. They have obvious analgesic effects, and the duration of action is different. For patients with radiculopathy, when other diagnosis is needed, diagnostic block can be performed.
Low back pain treatment
There are many ways to treat back pain:
Medications
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have obvious effects, but their effectiveness has been relative for a long time. This is due to the rapid development of addiction and the risk of side effects. Muscle relaxants have been shown to have a good self, especially when used in acute periods. Antidepressants and certain anticonvulsants are effective in the comprehensive treatment of pain. The doctor chooses a treatment plan for each patient according to the patient's drug tolerance, individual sensitivity and the severity of the treatment effect.
Treatment blockade under the control of radiation
In the past decade, the use of minimally invasive surgery including epidural and intra-articular blockade has increased dramatically due to rapid and significant pain relief and therapeutic effects. Epidural block is the most commonly prescribed procedure for nerve root diseases. With the correct diagnosis and the discovery of the indications for the process, the effect is simply amazing! The pain relief time is 6 weeks to 6 months, and in many cases, surgery is not required.
Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery for back pain is extensive. Techniques such as spinal cord decompression, discectomy, foraminotomy, disc replacement, minimally invasive and microsurgery, and many other surgical techniques are used.