Back ache

19 November 2020

Back pain is one of the most common complaints in people over 25 to 30 years old. They can occur not only as a result of overwork, but also as a symptom of diseases of the spine or internal organs. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of your health and not ignore the problem. After all, if back pain is triggered by the appearance of pathological changes in the spine, in the end they can lead to serious complications and even disability.

Reasons

In a number of situations, the back hurts due to natural reasons: after exhausting physical work, intensive training, a long walk in high-heeled shoes, etc. muscles, sprains. Therefore, to eliminate them, it is necessary to give the back a rest for several days.

Pregnancy is a common cause of back pain. Since the body goes through many changes, especially in the later stages of pregnancy, it can respond with lower back pain. If they are not acute and are not associated with discomfort in the lower abdomen or the appearance of unusual discharge, this is considered a normal variant. But at the same time, the ongoing changes, a shift in the center of gravity and an increase in the weight of a woman during pregnancy can provoke an exacerbation of chronic diseases or provoke the development of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine.

Due to the fact that during pregnancy the load on the woman's body doubles, it is very important to tidy up the spine. Our clinic has developed and prepared a special comprehensive examination and treatment program for pregnant women and those planning to become pregnant.

It is degenerative-dystrophic processes, as well as other pathologies of the spine, that most often cause back pain in women and men over 30 years old. With them, the pain can be localized in any part of the back (neck, between the shoulder blades, in the lower back) and give to the head, shoulders, arms, buttocks, legs, etc. It can be of varying degrees of severity, be acute, pull, pull, hurt, be constantly present, or occur after physical exertion. These are all important signs that help determine the cause of the development of pain syndrome, and, accordingly, find an effective way to eliminate it.

The most common illnesses associated with back pain are:

osteochondrosis, intervertebral protuberances and hernias;
curvature of the spine (kyphosis, scoliosis, lordosis and their combinations);
.

Slightly less often, back pain is caused by compression fractures of the spine (typical of the elderly or those with injuries, falls from heights, an accident), developmentankylosing spondylitis, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis and other diseases of the spine.

In addition, pain in different parts of the back can be caused by the appearance of disturbances in the work of internal organs. For example, neck pain may accompany pathologies of the thyroid gland, inflammation of the lymph nodes, diseases of the blood vessels and back pain may indicate pathology of the kidneys, pelvic organs and gastrointestinal tract. Discomfort in the middle of the back, in the area of the shoulder blades is quite rare, but also occurs. Its occurrence, in addition to diseases of the spine, may lie in the occurrence of disturbances in the work of the heart, etc.

But the essence of the problem lies in the fact that no disease of the internal organs arises out of the blue. They almost always become the result of a violation of segmental innervation, that is, the quality of transmission of nerve impulses from the spinal cord through nerve roots and branches of nerves to specific organs. Each level of the spinal cord corresponds to its own pair of spinal roots, from which the nerves branch out, which go to the corresponding organs. If any changes occur in the spine, for example, curvatures, displacement of the vertebrae, changes in the height and condition of the intervertebral discs, this inevitably affects the condition of the spinal roots and spinal cord. They can be crushed or even injured by various spinal structures, as they change their natural parameters and position. As a result, nerve impulses deteriorate to the organs, which leads to the appearance of initially insignificant, but constantly progressive disturbances in their work. Gradually, organic changes appear in the organs, which become the cause of the development of the disease. Therefore, in case of back pain and the detection of pathologies of internal organs, it is imperative to examine the spine and find the changes that provoked their development. The impact on them will increase the effectiveness of treatment of internal diseases and, most importantly, eliminate the prerequisites for their occurrence.

Each segment of spinal motion has its own pair of nerve roots that transmit signals to a specific organ.

Osteochondrosis, protrusion and intervertebral hernia

Osteochondrosis is the most common disease of the spine, which occurs in one in two adults at different stages of development. It is accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic changes of the intervertebral discs, that is, their gradual destruction.

Depending on the part of the back pain and, as a result, degenerative-dystrophic processes in the intervertebral discs, osteochondrosis of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine is distinguished. Most often, the discs of the lumbosacral spine are destroyed, somewhat less often - the cervix, and only in rare cases is osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine diagnosed.

For osteochondrosis, pain is typical, initially mild, painful after physical exertion or prolonged sitting. They gradually intensify and occur more and more often. Over time, the discs become so exhausted that their outer shell cannot withstand the loads placed on them and deforms, that is, a protrusion is formed, which eventually turns into a hernia. . In the latter case, the fibrosus ring is completely ruptured and the internal contents of the disc may fall into the spinal canal.

In both cases, the protruding parts can pinch the spinal roots, causing the development of radicular syndrome. This means that in addition to the fact that the pains will be sharp and strong, they will also be given to the arms, legs, buttocks and other parts of the body, which directly depends on the deformed disc. So, when the nerves of the cervical spine are pinched, pain tends to be given to the shoulders and arms, and when the nerves of the lumbar spine are compressed, to the buttocks and legs. This is often accompanied by sensory disturbances, including numbness, crawling sensations, and progressive muscle wasting.

The disease is fraught with irreversible changes in nerve fibers, which can lead to paralysis and disability.

Curvature of the spine

The curvature of the spine can be seen in any part of it. A perfectly straight spine today is a rarity, therefore, more or less pronounced deformities are present in almost all modern people. It could be:

Kyphosis

- strengthening of the natural curvature of the spine in the cervicothoracic region;
lordosis - increased natural deflection of the spine in the lumbar spine;
scoliosis - lateral deformity of the spine.

In each case, the curvature can cause compression of various groups of nerves, which will also cause radicular syndrome. But if, with osteochondrosis, changes in the initial stages of development are visually impossible to overcome, the deformities of the spine can be easily diagnosed by the asymmetry of the position of the shoulder blades, pelvic bones, the protrusion of the labdomen or the formation of a lump.

Myofascial syndrome Myofascial syndrome is not a dangerous condition, but rather painful in which certain muscle groups spasm in response to pressure or physical activity. Therefore, if against a background of absolutely normal health you press on the place where back pain usually occurs, you can have a new acute pain attack, which is an important diagnostic criterion.

Diagnosis of the causes of back pain

In case of back pain, whether located in the neck, between the shoulder blades or in the lumbar region, it is recommended to consult a neurologist. It is necessary to make an appointment with a chiropractor, vertebrologist and neurologist as soon as possible if the pain radiates to other parts of the body, as this is a sign of the development of radicular syndrome.

The specialists at our center use an integrated approach to diagnosis and treatment, so that they can quickly make the correct diagnosis. Diagnosis begins with an investigation of the patient, during which the nature of the presented complaints, as well as the characteristics of work and rest, are clarified. The doctor should carefully examine the patient, palpate the spine, and perform special functional and neurological tests. This allows you to get an overview of the patient's condition, detect signs of neurological deficit and assess the degree of damage. To clarify the diagnosis, it is mandatory to name:

X-ray examination;
CT;
MRI.

If there are no contraindications, MRI is always preferred, since this method can provide the most complete data on the condition of the spine and in particular its discs, which allows to diagnose even minor changes in their condition at the earliest stages and to intervene in the pathological process in a timely manner.

In our clinic, you can also learn more about your body composition and the state of the vascular system, which is involved in the blood supply to internal organs, musculoskeletal muscles and the brain. Our experienced doctors will explain the results to you in detail. Bioimpedansometry calculates the ratio of fat, muscle, bone and skeletal mass, total body fluid, basal metabolic rate. The recommended intensity of physical activity depends on the condition of the muscle mass. Metabolic processes, in turn, affect the body's ability to recover. By indicators of active cell mass, we can judge the level of physical activity and nutritional balance. This quick and easy test helps us see endocrine disruption and take action. In addition, it is also very important for us to know the condition of the blood vessels for the prevention of diseases such as heart attacks, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes mellitus and much more. Angioscan allows you to determine such important indicators as the biological age of blood vessels, their stiffness, the stress index (which speaks of heart rate), the oxygen saturation of the blood. Such screening will be useful for men and women after 30 years, athletes, those who undergo a long and difficult treatment, as well as all those who monitor their health.

If the diagnoses show that the back pain is the result of the development of diseases of the internal organs, the patient is referred to such close specialists as the urologist, endocrinologist, gynecologist, gastroenterologist, cardiologist, etc.

Analysis of body composition gives us information about the amount of fatty tissue in the body and the musculoskeletal component. These data will help the rehabilitator to correctly establish a physical activity plan, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Treatment of back pain

The treatment of back pain is always complex, since it is impossible to eliminate pathological changes in the spine only with the help of drugs. At the same time, for each patient, the treatment regimen is developed strictly individually. Not only the diagnosis and stage of development of the disease are taken into account, but also the presence of concomitant diseases, the age of the patient, his work habits and characteristics, the level of physical fitness and other factors. Therefore, even in patients with the same diagnosis, treatment can take place in different ways. Only this approach gives maximum results.

Thus, the main components of the conservative treatment of back pain of spinal origin are:

drug treatment

;
;
manual therapy;
;
physiotherapy (phonophoresis, carboxytherapy, ozone therapy, current RF pressotherapy);
individual lesson with a rehabilitation doctor.

Spine surgery is only indicated in very advanced cases with absolute ineffectiveness of conservative treatment.

Patients are strongly advised to reduce weight as much as possible and to avoid excessive physical exertion and a sedentary lifestyle. A balanced diet will further enhance the effect of the treatment.

Drug treatment

Drug treatment may include drugs from different pharmacological groups, depending on a combination of various factors. In the vast majority of cases, patients are prescribed:

NSAIDs;
corticosteroids;
muscle relaxants;
chondroprotectors;
B vitamins;
vitamin D.

Patients with very severe radicular pain who cannot be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or pain relievers may be offered blockages. The procedure involves the introduction of a solution of lidocaine or novocaine, sometimes in combination with corticosteroids, directly into the area where the compressed nerve passes. They have no therapeutic effect, but they can quickly eliminate even severe pain of neurological origin. But the implementation of blockages requires special skills and absolute sterility, since such injections can lead to the development of serious complications.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is rightly considered one of the main components in the treatment of back pain of various origins, as it allows to restore the normal anatomy of the spine and at the same time:

to improve the quality of transmission of nerve impulses along peripheral nerves to all organs of the human body;
activate blood circulation and lymphatic flow;
launches the body's natural recovery processes and creates favorable conditions for their development
strengthen immunity and increase the body's ability to adapt to new living conditions, etc.

The use of special techniques of manual action directly on the spine and surrounding tissues helps to relieve the pressure of various anatomical structures on the spinal roots, which leads to the elimination of pain, includingthose radiating to the limbs and other parts of the body. In addition, with their help, it is possible to increase the distance between the vertebral bodies, which provides the most favorable conditions for the restoration of deformed vertebral discs, and the active kneading of the muscles helps to remove functional blocks, toincrease the mobility and flexibility of the spine and speed up the course of metabolic processes.

We do not have common treatment standards, an individual approach is applied to each patient. The author's Gritsenko technique has shown great effectiveness over years of use. This implies a special effect on the spine, due to which not only back pain disappears, but also the causes of its occurrence. And the normalization of segmental innervation of the spinal cord helps to improve the functioning of internal organs and eliminate the causes of the progression of their diseases.

Thus, patients with back pain can count on pronounced positive changes after 1-2 sessions of manual therapy according to the author's Gritsenko method. The number of procedures necessary to achieve the maximum possible result and its consolidation is selected individually for each patient.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is prescribed outside the acute period of the disease. With its help, it is possible to enhance the effect of other methods of influence. As a rule, patients are prescribed procedures characterized by anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antispasmodic properties, namely:

electrophoresis

;
(spinal traction);
UHF;
;
ultrasound therapy, etc.

exercise therapy

Physiotherapy is not the last part of the treatment of back pain. The stability of the result largely depends on the regularity and correctness of its implementation, since exercise therapy is primarily aimed at strengthening the muscle corset of the back, which will create support for the spine and reducethe load on the intervertebral discs. In addition, exercise therapy helps improve the quality of blood circulation, which leads to more active delivery of drugs and nutrients to lesions, which increases the effectiveness of therapy.

But it is not recommended to choose a series of exercises on your own, since performing generally recommended exercises can adversely affect the patient due to an overload of certain muscle groups. Therefore, the development of the optimal complex should be entrusted to a doctor-rehabilitator, who will teach a person how to perform each exercise correctly.

So while back pain is familiar to all adults, it is not worth considering it harmless. Such neglect can lead to serious complications, and at best they can be treated surgically. At worst, the patient faces a disability. Therefore, if the back pain occurs with enviable regularity or is rather acute, make an appointment with a neurologist and find out the real cause of the discomfort. After all, it is much easier to stop the disease in the early stages of its development.