More than 25% of the world's population and more than 50% of people of working age suffer from back pain.Unfortunately, evolution was not convinced that people over the age of 35-40 lived comfortably.The biomechanical structure of the spine is such that the absence of back pain is not a guaranteed reality, but a happy (and unfortunately temporary) coincidence.Especially now, when the body of the average office worker has to sit at the computer for 8-12 hours.But we wild millions of years of evolution have adapted to a completely different, more active lifestyle!
Is it possible to treat back pain yourself?
Unfortunately, not everyone asks themselves this very correct question.Answer: Self-medication based on information from the Internet is extremely dangerous.This is a huge risk that can lead to disability.If we are talking about internal pain, such as pain in the back and spine, then it is not worth "diagnosing" yourself and "prescribing" treatment.Nerve endings in internal organs are located differently from the surface of the skin.The pain in it is difficult to localize and sometimes something hurts, but in fact the cause is something else.For example, back pain can be caused by cancer of the gastrointestinal tract.The pain that another person can describe on a forum or in an article may have completely different causes and require radically different treatment.
Yoram Anekstein, "Very important advice:" Very important advice: Learn the names of spinal diseases, etiology, diagnosis, etc.the name of your diagnosis when a qualified doctor does it.But not before."
Alarm signals
Unpleasant sensations occur most often in the cervical and lumbar region, but chest pain is less common.It is subjected to less stress, so osteochondrosis, protrusion and ruptured intervertebral discs are not affected much.However, chest and thoracic back pain can thus be caused by spinal problems.
Occasional discomfort may occur, but is often not dangerous.If it's muscle pain (although I can't compare it to pain in the muscles of the arms after hard work, it can be felt stronger), because of this, it is most likely to stay in one position for a very long time or a very high load.If the pain does not go away and does not return after a position or a short walk, the problem is unlikely to be serious.Although you need to deal with small problems, for example, change your usual postures, increase your physical activity and exercise.And only a doctor can determine the seriousness of the problem.If you have the slightest opportunity, you should definitely go to the doctor: it is easier (and cheaper) to deal with a disease in the first stages than an advanced one.
Is it really dangerous?A list of "Alarm signals" after the occurrence of one that is necessary to start diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible:
- The pain does not stop, changing the body position does not help;pain does not subside with rest;The pain worsens at night;
- numbness (decreased sensitivity) or a decrease in limb strength occurs;
- problems arise with urination and defecation (for example, loss of the sensation of emptying the bladder; urine and stool intervention or, conversely, retention; not to be confused with constipation);
- The temperature rises, but there is no other reason that can explain it, for example, ARVI;
- Pain wakes you up and interrupts your sleep;
- complications after suffering from malignant tumors (the statute of limitations does not matter);
- Unexplained weight loss;
- complications after taking steroids;
- complications after recent serious illnesses;
- complications after recent infectious diseases;
- loss of anal reflex;
- weakness in hips and knees;
- neurological deficit;
- progressive spinal deformity;
- back pain that gets worse at rest;
- chest pain (ACS - ECG);
- General malaise.
Remember that you don't have to wait for everything to start together.If at least one of these symptoms occurs, consult a doctor immediately.
Yoram Anekstein, Tel Aviv Medical Center: "The question often arises: I saw a doctor, but my back is already painful. Should I go or not?"
Articles on the Internet very often describe what types of pain are characteristic of osteochondrosis, and what types of pain are characteristic of sciatica, etc.It is mostly characteristic.These are the reasons we explained above.No matter what kind of pain, left, right, everywhere, shooting, lasts for a few seconds or hours and days.All these are symptoms that require qualified medical care.
Causes of back pain
The most common cause is non-specific pain associated with muscle strain, overstretching of tendons, ligaments and fascia.
Less often, the pain is associated with a herniated disc affecting the nerve root (~3%).
Osteoporosis (including pathologic fractures), infections (spondylodisitis), tumors, tuberculosis, trauma, and other rheumatologic diseases cause less pain (about 1%).
Diseases of internal organs can also cause back pain (pancreatic cancer, peptic ulcer, for example, or acute coronary syndrome).
The so-called osteochondrosis consists of a complex of degenerative changes and components (reduction of disc substance and decreased strength, reduction of disc height, fracture height, fracture, sedimentation, rods (modic i-iii) changes, stretching (spondylosis), facet joints (spondylodarrosis), pain and other clinical manifestations are not directly related.
Only the different causes, course characteristics, symptoms, etc. of spondylitis and spondyloarthritis group.Includes more than 10 diseases per year.In particular, the number of back and back diseases is very large.But from the above descriptions, you yourself can understand that they are combined with seriousness.Back pain is not considered.Most of these diseases occur slowly with long stages.But at the same time, the risk of complications (for loss of complete mobility) increases with each acute stage.