Back hurts - what to do?

Back pain - a common Symptom. Most people at least once in life have experienced with him. This is one of the most common causes for visits to the doctor and skip work.

Back pain

Keywords: Back Pain, Back Pain, Spine

Back pain can occur at any age, but is more common between 35 and 55 years. Pain in the spine, in connection with the fact of how our bones, muscles, intervertebral discs, ligaments, tendons and nerves.

Pain in the spine can be due to problems with the vertebrae, discs, in between, ligaments around the spine and disks, the spinal cord and the nerves, the muscles of the back, the internal organs in the abdominal and pelvic areas. The cause of pain in the upper back can to diseases of the Aorta in the chest and inflammation of the spine.

Risk factors

The increased presence of risk factors, the probability of a state. For example, obesity, the risk of Diabetes of the second type increases.

The following factors are associated with an increased risk of developing back pain:

  • Office work;
  • the work, connected with the constant Stress;
  • Pregnancy - pregnant women often suffer from pain in the spine;
  • A lack of exercise;
  • Age;
  • Depression;
  • Obesity/overweight;
  • Smoking;
  • heavy exercise;
  • heavy physical labor.
Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of back pain

Symptom is that the Patient feels, as the character of the doctor can determine. For example, the pain is a Symptom, like a rash - Symptom.

The main symptom is pain in the spine is pain in any part of the back. Cell arms to the buttocks and legs or on the shoulder and hands.

You must immediately contact your doctor if the pain is accompanied in the spine of one of the following signs:

  • Weight loss;
  • high temperature (fever);
  • Pain is relieved in the back to rest;
  • Pain radiating into the leg;
  • Pain, end-of-waste below the knee;
  • the presence of fresh injuries of the spine;
  • Urinary incontinence (also small portion);
  • Difficulty urinating - urine goes hardly;
  • Bowel incontinence - the loss of control of bowel movement;
  • Numbness in the genital area;
  • Numbness in the area of the Anus;
  • Numbness in the buttocks.

Seek the advice of a specialist if you belong to one of these groups:

  • People younger than 22 or older than 55 years;
  • Patients, the steroids took several months;
  • Patients with cancer;
  • Patients who see an oncological disease;
  • Patients with low immunity.

Causes of back pain

The human spine is a complex structure consisting of muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs and bones. The intervertebral discs are located between each pair of vertebrae and serve as shock absorbers of the friction. Problems with one of these components can lead to pain in the spine. In some cases, the cause of the pain.

Sprain

Stretching

The most common causes of pain in the spine are:

  • stretched muscles;
  • stretched ligaments;
  • Rise of heavy object in the wrong Position;
  • the climb to the heavy object;
  • the result is a sharp and disagreeable motion;
  • Muscle cramps.

Structural Problems

The following structural problems can cause pain in the spine:

  • Protrusion of the intervertebral disc. Rupture of the outer skin of the disc leads to vbuhanie its internal contents to the outside. This can lead to nerve entrapment and, as a result of pain;
  • Herniated disc - bulging inner contents of the Disc large sizes;
  • Sciatica - a sharp and stabbing pain, radiating to the buttocks and the back of the legs, caused by the protrusion, or herniated disc compress the nerve;
  • Arthritis - patients with Osteoarthritis of the hip joint problems of the hip, lumbar spine, knees and hands. In some cases, spinal canal stenosis, the space narrows to the spinal cord;
  • abnormal curvature of the spine - if the spine curves abnormally way, the Patient more likely to suffer from pain in the spine. An example of an abnormal curvature of the scoliosis, where the spine bends in the direction;
  • Osteoporosis - bones, including the vertebrae, brittle and porous, leading to an increase your hair breakage.

The following are some other causes of pain in the spine:

  • Syndrome Cauda equina - horse tail roots is a bundle of nerves, the spinal cord branches out. People with the syndrome Cauda equina feel a dull pain in the lumbar spine and buttocks. Also, the loss of the sensitivity of the buttocks, genitals, thighs. Sometimes people with Cauda equina syndrome suffer from urinary incontinence and/or fecal incontinence;
  • Cancer of the spine - a Tumor that can compress in the spine, the nerve pain that results;
  • Infection of the spine - if the Patient may have a high temperature of the body, but also a painful Hot area on the back, the talk about the infection of the spine;
  • other infections - inflammation of the pelvic organs in women, and infections of the bladder and of the kidneys also cause pain in the back;
  • Sleep disorders - people with sleep disorders are more common pain in the spine compared to the General population;
  • Shingles infection that can affect the nervous;
  • inappropriate mattress - if the mattress does not support specific parts of the body and ensures the friction-free Position back, there is the risk of developing pain in the spine.

The cause of the pain in the spine can travel to certain movements or body positions, such as long car, cough etc.

Back what pain I can do

What to do if your back hurts

If you are pain in the spine within a few days, then the following tips will help you to speed up the reduction of pain and discomfort and the recovery:

  • you can stay as active as possible;
  • if necessary, use over-the-counter painkillers;
  • you can use hot and cold compresses. Fit, and the bottle with hot water, and a package of frozen vegetables.

Despite the fact that it is difficult to remain optimistic when you are in pain, suffer, try not to lose heart. It speeds up the healing process.

In the case of prolonged pain in the spine, which must, within six weeks, consult a doctor. The doctor is the medical history, the examination and, if necessary, refers for further investigations. The doctor x-rays may prescribe in cases of suspected a Problem with the bone system or osteoarthrosis, CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in the case of suspected intervertebral hernia or other problems in connection with soft tissue, or nerves. In such a Situation, the MRI is the best choice. Also, your doctor may advise to pass some of the laboratory tests or to measure the electrical activity of the nerve (EMG).

After the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe treatment rubs. In most cases, a conservative treatment can include:

  • special exercises;
  • Reflex zone massage;
  • Traction of the spine;
  • Massage.

In severe cases, the question about the conduct of the Operation. The surgeon will help you find the right method, and advises about possible complications. Some time after the Operation, recommended the passage of prophylactic treatment of the spine. Keep in mind that spine surgery is dangerous enough, there's the operational area in the vicinity of the nerve.