Causes and treatment of back pain

Many people have repeatedly experienced pain reactions from the muscles of the back. Such situations are familiar to people of different age categories, professions and activities. This symptom is called "myalgia", often it becomes the initial sign of pathological changes in the body. Myalgia is caused by various causes and factors - from ordinary muscle to serious and dangerous diseases that can only be cured with surgery. Therefore, it is possible to begin the treatment of pain syndrome only after an accurate determination of what causes the back muscles to hurt. To do this, you need to conduct a series of studies that the doctor will recommend.

Discomfort in the muscular frame of the human back occurs in the following cases.

Excessive muscle tension

Overstrain of the muscular frame is the most popular factor in back pain, in its different parts, especially in the lumbar region and sacrum, the trapezius muscle. At the same time, the muscles are overstrained not only from excessive physical exertion (for example, when playing professional sports, after training or during hard physical labor), but also due to a long stay in the same position (for example, during the working day at the computer) . Even sleeping on the wrong mattress can cause back pain. In this case, you should stop classes that cause discomfort for a few days. If the reason lies in improperly selected bedding, then change the mattress and pillow (preferably with orthopedic ones).

Orthopedic mattress has a passive positive effect on the diseased spine, and the spinal column takes the correct position

You can also conduct a massage course or rub your back with topical drugs: cream or ointment (Viprosal, Apizartron, etc.). If the soreness does not stop within 10-12 days, then it should be checked to see if it is caused by other conditions.

Injuries

Any injury to the muscles, vertebrae, ribs from the back (bruises, sprains, fractures) is accompanied by pain. With such injuries, a hematoma (bleeding into the muscle tissue) usually occurs at the site of the lesion, which often hurts a lot. Often, the back hurts due to the fact that a person carries heavy objects (bags, backpacks) on one shoulder for a long time and constantly.

Compression fracture

Occurs, as a rule, due to mechanical damage. This happens when a person is hit on the back, falls on their back (and lands badly), or has a heavy object dropped on their shoulders. A compression fracture of the spine can also occur due to diseases of the structural elements of the human musculoskeletal system.

If the fracture was the result of injury, then the person experiences severe, pronounced excruciating pain. When a fracture occurs due to illness, the pain is pulling, aching. Additionally, the following signs are observed:

• Muscular tension.
• Weakness in upper and lower limbs.

A compression fracture of a vertebra will be discussed in the program “Live is great!” Elena Malysheva, neurologist Dmitry Shubin:

• Soreness in the chest.
• Feeling of numbness in the back, arms and legs.

The diagnosis in this case is made on the basis of an X-ray examination of the spinal column, carried out in two projections. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging may also be needed. Therapeutic measures are usually practiced in stationary conditions, where the patient is stretched the spinal column. Additionally, painkillers are prescribed. After completion of treatment in a hospital, a person is recommended to wear a special corset, which reduces the load on the spine.

Myositis

Inflammatory processes that have arisen in the back are accompanied by pain. They can be provoked by the following situations:

1. Exacerbation of chronic pathologies of the respiratory system, colds.
2. Infectious diseases (ARVI, influenza, etc.).
3. Pathological disorders of the central nervous system.
4. Injuries, sprains, bruises.
5. Hypothermia or excessive tension in the back muscles.
6. Cramps, muscle spasms.

All parts of the back are inflamed. However, in the cervical and lumbosacral regions, they are diagnosed more often than in the thoracic region. Often a person has pain in the back muscles along the spine. As a rule, the pain is local in nature, does not spread to other parts of the back and parts of the body, becomes more intense when someone else touches a person, and is also often accompanied by a change in the color and structure of the skin (redness, itching, burning, peeling is possible) .

Myositis is treated in accordance with the causes that caused it. Usually drug therapy is used, which is combined with physiotherapy procedures. If the inflammation is left untreated, then this becomes the prerequisite for the recurrence of attacks. In such a situation, exacerbations become stronger each time and are accompanied by the following symptoms:

• The pain becomes more intense.
• Temperature rises locally.
• Aggravated infectious lesions of the body.
• The muscles of the back atrophy, it becomes difficult or impossible for a person to move.
• In the most severe forms of myositis, treatment in a hospital may be required.

Diseases of the spine

Usually, the following diseases of the spine and joints become the causes of pain in the back muscles.

Osteochondrosis, arthritis, arthrosis of the spinal column are characterized by disturbances in the structure and shape of cartilage tissue. In these situations, there is a compression effect on the nerve endings from the intervertebral discs and vertebrae. It is the compression that causes muscle pain in the back. As a rule, these diseases are caused by insufficient mobility and physical activity of a person, overweight. The danger of diseases lies in the fact that cartilage changes develop gradually and in the first stages of pathologies go unnoticed by the patient.

Types of osteochondrosis

With the progression of osteochondrosis, a person experiences pain in the back, an attack of which can last for several hours. Often, a severe headache is added to it. In a situation where a person does not seek medical help for osteochondrosis, does not undergo the necessary treatment, the disease continues to develop and is accompanied by additional symptoms:

1. A person often has high blood pressure.
2. Patients often complain that they have pain and dizziness.
3. Patients note that they have limited movement on the part of the arms and legs.
4. In some cases, coordination of movements is disturbed.

Arthritis, arthrosis are characterized by pulling pains when a person needs to bend over. In a calm state, a person does not experience them. In the presence of such signs, you should consult a neurologist.

Treatment usually involves the use of: "Ibuprofen", "Analgin", "Diclofenac" (in the form of tablets or injections), as well as following nutritional recommendations, undergoing physiotherapy, manual therapy, performing therapeutic exercises, selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Herniated disc

A herniated disc is formed if a person has a curved spine, metabolic processes in the body are disturbed, or a person has suffered a spinal injury. In this case, the structure of the disc gradually changes, and subsequently its shape changes up to the protrusion of individual fragments of the disc beyond its normal limits. Symptoms of a hernia do not develop immediately, but as the situation worsens. Therefore, pain in the muscles of the back due to a hernia becomes quite severe in the later stages of the disease. Depending on the place of occurrence, soreness is felt in other parts of the body:

• If there is a hernia in the region of the sacrum, lower back, then a sharp pain is felt in the lower back on the left or right, in the lower extremities.

• If a disc herniation occurs in the cervical region, then the head, neck muscles, arms, and back muscles hurt.
• When a hernia has formed in the middle part of the spine (thoracic region), then patients feel, shoulders, upper limbs, chest.

To determine the presence of a herniated disc can be based on the results of MRI. Depending on the condition of the sick person, he will be prescribed the necessary course of therapeutic treatment or will be offered an operation. Additionally, it is recommended to undergo massage, physiotherapy, do therapeutic exercises, wear a corset.

Spondylolisthesis

This disease is manifested by the fact that the vertebra located above is displaced in relation to the one located below. Often, spondylolisthesis is diagnosed in the lumbar region, where the back muscles begin to hurt. According to patients, discomfort often occurs in the morning, after sleep. Additionally, patients report that their leg muscles become weak and numb.

Diagnosis of pathology occurs through MRI. Treatment depends on the extent of the lesion.

Discomfort in the back due to diseases of the internal organs

Neurologist, reflexologist Titarchuk Andrey Borisovich will talk about the disease spondylolisthesis:

Some pathologies of the internal organs may be accompanied by back pain:

1. With pathologies of the heart, organs of the respiratory system, a person often has pain in the back muscles under the shoulder blades, especially from coughing, sneezing, deep breaths.
2. If the pain radiates to the lumbar region, then diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys are likely. In this case, the abdominal muscles may also hurt.
3. If the back hurts below, then there is a high probability of problems with the genitourinary system.

In any case, if the cause of soreness of the spinal muscles lies in diseases of the internal organs, then, first of all, it is necessary to treat the underlying disease.

Other reasons

Soreness in the back is caused by some other reasons:

• During pregnancy, women often complain of back pain. This is caused by natural processes occurring in the body of the expectant mother. As the fetus develops, the load on the spinal column increases. This kind of pain usually goes away on its own after childbirth.
• If severe pain occurs after a back massage, then this may be provoked by an incorrectly performed procedure, possible contraindications. You should consult with your doctor. Moderate pain is normal.
• Any congenital pathology of the musculoskeletal system often becomes the culprit of a pain reaction in the back.

Treatment and prevention

Before organizing the treatment of painful manifestations in the back, it is necessary to consult a doctor so that an unambiguous diagnosis can be made. In each case, therapeutic measures are selected in accordance with the underlying disease, its course, the degree of damage to the body, and the individual characteristics of the human condition. Only general recommendations for treatment can be given:

1. In case of sudden pain in the muscles, you can use topical medications that can anesthetize (Capsicam, Voltaren, etc.).
2. In case of diseases of the spine, joints, internal organs, infections, the doctor will prescribe the necessary set of measures in accordance with the underlying pathology.
3. Soreness during physical education and sports is reduced if a person uses warming ointments (Viprosal, Virapin, etc.).

A drug that has an analgesic effect. It is used for muscle and joint pain. Price in pharmacies from 256 rubles.

1. Exercises to strengthen the muscles, carried out within reasonable limits, help prevent the occurrence of back pain.
2. If a person is forced to stay in one position for a long time, then you should try to change it at least for a short time, taking breaks in work.
3. To prevent the occurrence of discomfort in the back, you should dress according to the weather, avoid being in a draft.

Treatment with folk remedies should be treated as carefully as possible so as not to harm yourself.

There are many reasons for back pain. Therefore, before taking any measures, one should establish their exact cause by consulting a doctor, and then carry out a correction of the condition.