Back pain is one of the most common reasons to visit a doctor. It also often becomes a cause of disability worldwide. According to statistics, more than 70% of the world's population has experienced back and lumbar pain at least once. Fortunately, in most cases, there are ways to prevent or treat back pain. Very often, the pain goes away on its own within a few days due to the involvement of the body's own defense mechanisms. May have another character:
- muscle pain;
- shooting or stabbing pain;
- radiating pain in the legs;
- restricting back mobility
What diseases cause back pain?
The causes of back pain can vary. Often this is damage to the muscles or ligaments of the back due to heavy lifting, sudden movements or injuries. There are a number of diseases that can cause back pain in the lumbar region:
- osteochondrosis, spondylosis, spondyloarthritis;
- contraction, myositis, muscle contusion;
- scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis;
- osteomyelitis, epiduritis, ankylosing spondylitis;
- intervertebral hernia;
- intercostal neuralgia, diseases of the pelvic organs;
- spinal extension
- spinal stenosis, spinal instability and fractures;
- sciatica, lumbago or lumbago, inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- occasionally - spinal neoplasms, myeloma.
When should I see a doctor right away?
In most cases, back pain will regress without treatment within two weeks. If this does not happen, please consult a doctor. In rare cases, back pain signals a serious medical problem. Therefore, it is necessary to urgently seek medical help if:
- have problems urinating or defecating;
- ka ethe;
- pain spreads below the foot or radiates to both feet;
- pain was caused by a fall, a blow to the back or other injuries;
- the pain is strong and does not go away after resting and taking sedatives;
- pain is accompanied by weakness and numbness in the legs;
- pain is associated with sudden weight loss.
Individuals should also seek professional advice:
- over 50 years old;
- who have ever been diagnosed with cancer or osteoporosis;
- who are taking steroid hormones.
Which specialists should I contact?
These may be doctors of the following specialties:
zxul> zxli> orthopedic traumatologist;Risk Factors
Back pain can happen to absolutely anyone at any age, including children and teens. However, the following factors increase the risk of their occurrence:
- Age.Most often, back and lower back pain appears by the age of 30;
- Sedentary lifestyle.Weakening of the back muscles due to low physical activity is one of the factors in the occurrence of back problems;
- Overweight.Extra pounds create extra stress on the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, leading to the development of disease;
- Concomitant diseases.Back pain occurs in a number of diseases, including cancer.
- Psychological disorders.People with depression or anxiety are more at risk for back pain.
Diagnosis of back pain
To make an accurate diagnosis, a number of studies are performed.
MRI of the spine
The gold standard for diagnosing back pain is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Depending on the changes detected on MRI, along with the clinical appearance and neurological status, the doctor designs a treatment plan for the patient. In addition, the MRI picture allows you to predict how the disease will proceed.
Diagnostic blocks
Diagnostic blockades are very informative for confirming the diagnosis in patients with a complex, unclear clinical picture. For example, the effectiveness of diagnostic blockade of facial or sacroiliac joints confirms the axial nature of patients ’pain and is an important criterion for establishing indications for radiofrequency impairment of the respective joints.
In addition to the high diagnostic value, blockages within the article are a therapeutic procedure, they have a pronounced analgesic effect with different durations of action. In patients with radicular pain, diagnostic blocks can be performed when additional diagnosis is needed.
Treatment of Back Pain
There are several ways to treat back pain:
Pharmacological therapy
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have a pronounced effect, but their effectiveness in the long run is relative due to the rapid development of addiction and the risk of side effects. Muscle relaxants have proven themselves well, especially when used in the acute period. Antidepressants and some anticonvulsants are used with good effect in the complex treatment of pain. The treatment regimen is chosen by the physician individually for each patient, depending on the patient's tolerance to the medication, individual sensitivity, and severity of the effect of the therapy.
Blockade of treatment performed under radiological control
In the last decade, due to the rapid and pronounced analgesic and therapeutic effect, the use of minimally invasive procedures, including epidural and intra-articular blockades, has increased dramatically. Epidural block is the most commonly prescribed procedure for radicular disease. With the correct diagnosis and the presence of indications for this procedure, its effect is simply amazing! Pain relief is achieved over a period of 6 weeks to 6 months, which in many cases avoids the need for surgical treatment.
Neurosurgery
The spectrum of neurosurgical operations for back pain is wide. Techniques such as spinal cord decompression, discectomy, foraminotomy, intervertebral disc replacement, minimally invasive and microsurgery are used, as well as a number of other surgical techniques.