Back pain - a common symptom. Most people, at least once in his life faced with. It is one of the most common causes of visits to a doctor and pass work.
Keywords: back pain, back pain, spine
Back pain can occur at any age, but is most common between 35 and 55 years. The pain in the spine is associated with the how to work the bones, muscles, intervertebral discs, ligaments, tendons and nerves.
Back pain can be caused by problems with the vertebrae, the discs between them, strings around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the back, internal organs in the abdominal and pelvic areas. Also the cause of pain in the upper back can become a disease of the aorta, tumors in the chest and inflammation of the spine.
Risk factors
The presence of risk factors increases the likelihood of developing a condition. For example, obesity significantly raises the risk of developing type ii diabetes.
The following factors are associated with an increased risk of developing back pain:
- office work?
- the project, coupled with the permanent stress?
- pregnancy - pregnant women often suffer from pain in the spine?
- the sedentary life?
- age?
- depression?
- obesity/over-weight?
- smoking?
- heavy physical exercise?
- the heavy physical work.
The signs and symptoms of back pain
The symptom is what the patient feels, while a symptom can be seen by the doctor. For example, pain is a symptom, then, as a rash - a sign.
The main symptom is pain in the spine is pain in any part of the back. Sometimes the pain extends to the buttocks and legs or in the shoulder and arm.
You should contact your doctor immediately if the pain in the spine accompany any of the following symptoms:
- weight loss?
- high temperature (fever);
- pain in the back is not facilitated after the holidays?
- the pain, giving the leg?
- the pain down below the knee?
- the presence of recent injury of the spine?
- incontinence of urine (even a small portion of it)?
- difficulties with urinating - urine passes it by force?
- faecal incontinence is the loss of control over the process of defecation;
- numbness in the genital area?
- numbness in the anal area;
- numbness in the buttocks.
Seek the help of a specialist, if you belong to one of these groups:
- persons under the age of 22 and over 55 years old?
- patients who received steroids a couple months?
- patients with cancer to you?
- patients, who once was a cancer?
- patients with low immunity.
Causes of pain in the back
The human spine is a complex structure consisting of muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs and bones. Intervertebral discs are located between each pair of vertebrae and function as shock absorbers friction. Problems with any of these ingredients can lead to pain in the spine. In some cases, the cause of the pain installation fails.
The stretch
The most common causes of pain in the vertebral column are the following:
- stretched muscles?
- stretched strings?
- lift heavy object in an incorrect position of the body?
- the lift is a very heavy object?
- the result is an abrupt and awkward movement?
- spasm of the muscles.
Structural problems
The following structural problems may cause pain in the spine:
- protrusion of intervertebral disc. The gap outer shell of the disc leads to vbuhanie of the internal contents to the outside. This can lead to jamming of the nerve and thus the pain?
- herniated disc - bulging internal contents of the disc large sizes?
- sciatica - acute and shooting pain, which radiates to the buttock and the back area of the foot, caused by protrusion or herniated disc, compression of nerve?
- arthritis - patients with osteoarthritis commonly experience problems with the joints of the hip, lumbar spine, knees and hands. In some cases, may occur spinal stenosis, since in the space around the spinal cord narrows it?
- abnormal curve of the spine - if the spine to bend in an unusual way, the patient is more likely to suffer from pain in the spine. Example abnormal curvature is scoliosis in which the spine bends to the side?
- osteoporosis the bones, including the vertebrae, become brittle and porous, which leads to the increase of the brittle.
Below are some other causes of pain in the spine:
- cauda equina syndrome - the horse's tail is a bundle of nerve roots which branches off the spinal cord. People with cauda equina syndrome feel a dull pain in the lumbar spine and buttocks. Also can position the loss of sensitivity, the buttocks, the genitals, the hip. Sometimes people with cauda equina syndrome suffer from incontinence of urine and/or feces;
- cancer of the spine - a tumor located in the spine, can compress the nerve that causes the pain?
- infection of the spine - if the patient is high body temperature, as well as a painful hot area on the back, then it can talk about infections of the spine?
- other infections - pelvic inflammatory disease in women, and infections of the bladder and of the kidney can also cause pain in the back?
- sleep disorders - people with sleep disorders often experience pain in the spine compared with the general population?
- herpes zoster - infection, which can affect the nerves?
- bad mattress - if a mattress does not support certain parts of the body and ensures the smooth position of the backrest, there is a risk of pain in the spine.
Also the cause of pain in the spine can be certain movements or body positions, such as prolonged driving, cough, etc.
What to do when my back hurts
If you are experiencing pain in the spine in just a few days, then the following tips will help to reduce the pain and discomfort and to speed recovery:
- stay active as much as possible?
- it is necessary, use otc painkillers?
- use hot and cold compresses. As long as a hot water bottle, and a bag of frozen vegetables.
Despite the fact that it's hard to stay optimistic when you're suffering from pain, try not to lose heart. This will speed up the process of recovery.
With long-term pain in the spine, that does not go away within six weeks, you should consult a doctor. The doctor drops the medical history, carry out an inspection and, if necessary, will lead to additional research. The doctor may prescribe x-rays, if you suspect that the problem is the system of bones or osteoarthrosis, CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in the case of intervertebral hernia, or any other problems related to soft tissues or nerves. In such a situation the MRI scan is the best choice. Also, your doctor may recommend to pass some of the laboratory tests or to measure the electrical activity of the nerves (EMG).
After diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment. For most cases it is sufficient to conservative treatment, which may include:
- specific exercises?
- reflexology is?
- resistance of the spine?
- massage.
In severe cases, may put the question on the operation. The surgeon will help You to choose the appropriate method as well as to advise on the possible complications. After some period of time after surgery, it is recommended that the passage from the prophylactic therapy of the spine. Remember that surgery on the spine is quite dangerous, as the operating area is located in the immediate vicinity of nerves.