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Why back pain: causes and treatment

Back pain is an epidemic of modern civilization: almost everyone suffers from back pain at least once in their lifetime. Fortunately, in about 90% of cases, the cause does not threaten health. Therefore, patients can do many things to fight back pain on their own-from applying heat to exercising the back muscles. Learn more about the causes and treatment of back pain in this article.

Backache

Short message

  • Backache: It is the most common type of pain, mainly affecting women. In most cases, back pain is non-specific.
  • Classification:Duration (acute, subacute, and chronic back pain), location (upper, middle, or lower back) and form (specific and non-specific back pain).
  • reason:There is no cause for non-specific back pain. In contrast, specific back pain has detectable symptoms.
  • survey:According to the patient's physical condition: hematuria examination, nervous system examination, gynecological examination, neuroelectrogram, etc.
  • treatment:Heat treatment, medicinal plants, correct flexion and extension, exercises to strengthen the back, exercises for the back in the workplace, relaxation techniques, acupuncture, possible medication

Back pain: description and classification

Low back pain, low back pain, back stiffness, or just back pain is the name of a symptom. Sometimes she squeezed the cross, sometimes she pulled her neck. Sometimes back pain radiates to the side, arms or legs. Symptoms may be permanent or only temporary. Sometimes they are so powerful that the victim can barely move.

No matter how the nature and degree of complaints change: back pain can plague people of almost any age. They are one of the most common problems of modern people. Women of all ages are more likely to report back pain than men. This phenomenon is also manifested in other types of pain.

Doctors classify back pain according to different criteria:

Classified by location of low back pain

  • Upper back:Pain in the upper spine (neck) can be acute or chronic. It is usually felt on the shoulders, arms and/or back of the head. For example, neck pain is caused by poor posture in the workplace, herniated disc, or mental disorders.
  • Middle of the back:Thoracic back pain is rarely caused by injuries. In most cases, they are caused by stimulation of large muscle groups in the area or dysfunction of the rib joints.
  • On the lower back:Back pain is most common in the lower back. Because the lumbar spine is more likely to be injured and damaged than the neck and thoracic spine. Low back pain is called "back pain". For example, the possible cause is a herniated disc or a muscle strain.

Classified by duration of back pain

According to the duration of symptoms, doctors distinguish between acute, subacute and chronic back pain:

  • Acute back pain:Back pain occurs for the first time, or after at least six months without pain, and lasts for up to six weeks. The prognosis is generally good: Acute back pain in most patients disappears within a few weeks.
  • Subacute low back pain:If back pain lasts for 6 weeks to at most 3 months, it is considered subacute.
  • Chronic back painOr chronic recurrent back pain: lasting more than three months. The intensity of the pain may vary during this period-sometimes the back pain is weaker, sometimes more severe. As we age, chronic back pain becomes more common.

Classification of causes of low back pain

Depending on whether a clear cause of the disease can be determined, the doctor will distinguish between specific and non-specific back pain. Read more in the next section.

main reason

Back pain can be roughly divided into two main reasons: non-specific back pain and specific back pain.

Non-specific back pain

For non-specific back pain, doctors cannot find a clear cause of symptoms. The vast majority of back pain cases fall into this category.

Specific back pain

An overview of the important causes of specific back pain:

  • Muscle tension:Many times muscle tension is the cause of back pain. Poor posture, unilateral load, or lack of physical activity makes muscles uneven-some muscles are overworked, some muscles are underutilized. As a result, the muscles will shorten or harden, causing tension and pain. Tight nerves can also be caused by muscle tension and cause back pain.
  • Herniated disc. . . The disc is located between the vertebral bodies in the form of a cushion-shaped shock absorber. They consist of a soft gel-like core surrounded by fibrocartilage rings. If the jelly core slides and breaks through the fibrous sheath, a herniated disc will appear. When the gelatinous substance leaving the sliding disc compresses nearby nerves, this can cause severe back pain.
  • Spine wear(Spondyloarthropathy, phase syndrome): With age, the vertebral joints wear and tear in the body.
  • Luo Han Guo. . . In so-called scoliosis, the spine curves laterally. This can lead to premature wear and tear, which can lead to muscle tension and back pain. In addition, for so-called Schulman disease, curvature of the spine is characteristic. The consequences are hunched back, back pain and mobility problems.
  • Spondylolisthesis(Spondylolisthesis): In this case, the vertebrae are unstable, so they can move easily. This especially occurs in the waist area. Many patients have little or no complaints. But exercise and certain sports can cause back pain. When the displaced vertebra compresses the nerve roots, neurological disorders may also occur, such as mood disorders or paralysis.
  • Osteoporosis(Bone loss). With osteoporosis, bones become more and more fragile. Then, even the smallest loads (for example, falling, tripping), you can break them. This usually results in vertebral fractures associated with back pain. Even the aura of osteoporosis-osteopenia-may already be related to back pain.
  • pregnant:Many pregnant women have back pain. There are several reasons. For example, hormonal changes in pregnant women can cause tendons and ligaments in the pelvic floor area to relax. As a result, they become unstable, which can cause pelvic and lower back pain. In addition, due to the growth of the fetus, a woman's center of gravity will change. It can also cause back pain. In addition, stroke and premature birth may be related to back pain.
  • Pyelonephritis:Pelvic kidney inflammation is usually caused by bacteria, especially in women. Especially if it is a chronic disease, 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 (semolar) that they are only excreted in the urine through the ureter. On the other hand, large kidney stones may get stuck in the ureter. The result is renal colic, which can cause burning pain, cramping back pain, etc. , depending on the location of the kidney stone.
  • pneumonia(Pneumonia): In addition to cough, fever and backache, it is sometimes attributed to pneumonia. Inflammation is mainly caused by bacteria.
  • Pancreatic inflammation(Pancreatitis): Both acute and chronic pancreatitis can cause upper abdominal pain. It 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 these tumors are benign, sometimes malignant. In the second case, these are almost always secondary tumors of cancerous tumors elsewhere in the body, such as breast or lung cancer.

Risk factors for back pain

There are several factors that increase your risk of back pain. This is mainly:

  • Work related factors:Carrying and lifting heavy objects, vibration (for example, when working with jackhammers), and working in uncomfortable positions can put pressure on the spine, joints, and muscles. In the long run, this may cause back pain. Therefore, some back diseases are recognized as occupational diseases.
  • Psychosocial conditions related to work:People who are dissatisfied with the workplace or have to work monotonously from morning to night (for example, on the assembly line) are more likely to have back pain. In addition, social conflicts in the workplace and high labor intensity without adequate rewards (in the form of money, recognition, and promotion opportunities) can also cause back pain.
  • Social status.Compared with people with high social status, people with low social status in education, occupation, and income are more common in back pain.

The current process of back pain may be affected by psychological factors and other adverse conditions. For example, these include back pain, depression, and unrealistic fears of being passive or overactive—that is, showing restraint or excessive activity.

Back pain treatment

For specific back pain, if possible, the doctor will eliminate the cause of the disease. For example, for a herniated disc, conservative (non-surgical) treatments are usually sufficient, such as hyperthermia, physical therapy, relaxation techniques, and pain relievers or muscle relaxants. Surgery is rarely needed. If your back pain is caused by pyelonephritis, your doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics. Most bacteria are the cause of inflammation.

Before trying a certain technique, it is best to consult your doctor.

  • Exercise and exercise:Physical therapy and back exercises are particularly recommended for subacute and chronic non-specific back pain, but not for acute back pain.
  • Relaxation program:Targeted relaxation helps fight stress and tension (both play an important role in back pain). If the pain is already chronic, VUR may also help. By the way, there are other relaxation techniques, such as self-training and meditation. Many people with back pain have also had positive experiences in this area.
  • Overall approach and practice:Yoga, Qigong and Tai Chi also have relaxing effects. These complex exercise methods are suitable for preventing back pain and disc herniation.
  • Hyperthermia:Heating (for example, heating pads, hot water bottles, mud baths, wind bags) can relax muscles and relieve non-specific back pain.
  • Medicinal plants:The combined preparation of ash and poplar can relieve back pain. For painful muscle tension, capsaicin cream or patches can help.
  • Aromatherapy:If you are experiencing low back pain (back pain), you can rub pine oil, sandalwood oil or ginger oil on the affected area. This can help relieve symptoms.
  • Back-friendly nutrition:Bones, joints, muscles and intervertebral discs need a lot of nutrients to function. Make sure you have enough essential fatty acids, calcium, fluorine, vitamins C, D, and E, as well as B vitamins, magnesium, boron, selenium, and zinc. It not only helps the back well, but also contributes to overall health.
  • Drink a lot:The nutrient supply to the intervertebral disc is only suitable for large amounts of fluid.

Back pain medicine

Medications can greatly reduce back pain, so that physical exercise can be performed again. Over time, the dose of medication should and can be reduced: when they exercise, patients usually need less medication to move (almost) painlessly. The doctor will provide each patient with specific instructions on when the medication can be used, the dosage, and the duration of use. Patients should follow these instructions to avoid side effects or addiction.

Even with specific back pain, medication is helpful and necessary. Basically it is only a short time.

In principle, various active ingredients can be used to treat back pain. Depending on the type and severity of symptoms, it depends on which medicine is most appropriate in each situation:

  • Conventional analgesics (analgesics);
  • Very strong analgesic from opioids;
  • Muscle relaxants: not recommended for non-specific back pain;
  • Some antidepressants, for example, are used to treat chronic non-specific back pain when the patient also suffers from depression or sleep disorders

When do you need to see a doctor?

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

  • Atypical back pain
  • Persistent back pain
  • Increase back pain

Important research

These studies help clarify the reasons for the complaint:

  • Cardiac catheterization
  • Joint puncture
  • EMG;
  • Radiography
  • Medical history
  • CT scan;
  • Scintillation scanning
  • Ultrasound
  • Cystoscopy
  • Arthroscopy.

Back pain: check

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

  • Where does the back pain occur?
  • Will your back pain spread to other parts of your body (such as your sides or one leg)?
  • How long will the current episode of pain last?
  • Have there been any cases of back pain before? How does the pain proceed?
  • Are there any factors that cause, aggravate or relieve back pain (for example, fever, cold, exercise)?
  • How to treat back pain (medicine, massage)? Was the measure successful? are there any side effects?
  • What is the (daily) time course of back pain?
  • How severe is your back pain? Will they interfere with daily activities?
  • Do you have any accompanying mental or physical illnesses?

Doctor check

After understanding the medical history, the doctor may conduct various studies to investigate the cause of back pain.

  • Blood test:Measurements of various blood cell counts can be, for example, evidence of spinal cord abrasion, inflammation (such as pleurisy, prostatitis, pyelonephritis), or heart attack as a trigger for back pain.
  • Urinalysis:Testing a urine sample can clear or strengthen the suspicion of kidney disease or acute prostatitis.
  • Electromyography (EMG):Measuring the electrical activity of the muscles can also help 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:A simple X-ray examination can provide information about various possible causes of back pain, such as pneumonia, pneumothorax, spinal cord blockage, spinal inflammation (ankylosing spondylitis), or osteoporosis.
  • Computer Tomography (CT):When it is suspected 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 determine whether a herniated disc or inflammation of the spine (ankylosing spondylitis) is suspected.
  • Flicker scan:This nuclear medicine test determines the activity status of various tissues, such as bone tissue (bone imaging: suspected ankylosing spondylitis) or lung tissue (pulmonary imaging: suspected pulmonary embolism).

When do you need to study

Physical examination and laboratory tests (blood, urine) are common in the diagnosis of back pain. In contrast, X-rays are recommended only when a specific back pain is suspected, namely X-rays, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the first clarification, acute and uniform chronic back pain was deliberately omitted: too many examinations may cause patients to worry that there may be serious, unidentified causes behind back pain. This makes acute back pain chronic (chronic).