back pain

Back pain - an unpleasant manifestation of many diseases or strong muscles for other reasons. In most cases, the abnormality occurs in the background of various changes in the structure of the joints of the spine and adjacent muscles, nerve endings, or the skin over the spine. In addition, such a symptom is accompanied by some disease or malfunction of internal organs.

The location of pain can tell a lot about what internal organs are damaged. Thus, pain in lower back suggests that may have hurt the bone of the spine, the person developing intervertebral hernia, the affected nerves, bone marrow, abdominal cavity and small pelvis.

Pain in the upper back is shown on the background of various diseases of the aorta, cancer or benign tumors in the chest, coughing, and also on the background of inflammation of the spine. But much more often back pain occurs due to large load on the joints and ligaments of the spine.

Etiology

Pain in the back is not uncommon for a perfectly healthy person, but several times more common in diseases. The main causes associated with disorders of the functioning of the body, are various violations of the integrity of the spine. This group of the pathological causes include the following diseases:

• osteomyelitis that affects the bone marrow;
• cancerous growths metastasize or spread to the spine, causing pain in the lower back;
• the education of hernias of intervertebral discs;
• displacement of the vertebrae;
• spinal curves of different degree;
• fractures or other injuries of this organ;
• stenosis of the channels of the spine;
• spondylarthrosis - lesions of the cartilage;
• fibromyalgia - chronic muscle pain, accompanied by various unpleasant symptoms. There is not only pain in the upper back, but lower.

The main causes of back pain

The causes of pain, not associated with diseases of the spine or a change in its structure:

• pelvic bleeding;
• compression of nerves in the sternum leads to back pain when inhaling;
• gynecological disease often characterized by unpleasant sensations in the right side or in the lower back in General;
• the accumulation of a large amount of blood in the retroperitoneal space;
• diseases of the various organs of small pelvis;
• an aortic dissection;
• peptic ulcer - causes pain in the back between the shoulder blades;
• disorders of kidney function;
• shingles;
• arthritis;
• disorders of the digestive tract and urogenital system cause back pain on the right or left (in place of the projection of the affected organ);
• disorders of the organs localized in the abdominal cavity;
• rheumatological disease;
• tumors in the lungs will manifest pain when breathing or coughing;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system cause pain in the side, often the left;
• the formation of kidney stones, is manifested pain in the lower back;
• appendicitis - with this ailment the pain experienced in both sides;
• infectious diseases, accompanied by damage to the lungs.

In most cases these reasons can initiate the back pain below the waist.

The factors due to which pain may occur in healthy adult or child:

• the lasting impact of the cold temperatures;
• the operating conditions under which a person is forced to lift weights for hours;
• sudden movement;
• with a strong cough (causes pain in back above waist);
• stay in an uncomfortable position, perhaps during sleep or during long journeys;
• the flow of menstruation;
• injury or fractures, not necessarily spine. Due to fractures pain from the damaged places often gives back;
• incorrect posture;
• increased body mass;
• age division - trouble with the back can occur at any age, but for people of middle and old age such a feature is a characteristic most often because the body may develop a chronic disease, slow down some processes, and why the pain occurs in the muscles of the back (may not pass a long time).

We should also consider a back pain during pregnancy. Woman during the time feeling the weight in back and chest pain when coughing, caused by the growing fetus and the pressure that it creates. Due to the displacement of the body, the muscles of the lower back and hip strain in order to support the weight. For these reasons, there is a pain in the back.

Varieties

Depending on the reasons for this uncomfortable feeling can be localized in different places:

• back pain above waist - may be intermittent or chronic nature, is mostly caused due to harmless factors, among which, improper organization of the workplace, or heavy lifting;
• pain in the lumbar - are shown on the background of displacement or herniated discs. The pain can be so strong that there is a back pain when breathing and coughing, but in a horizontal position all passes;
• the pain below the waist can occur due to hypothermia or severe back strain. If this symptom is apparent when it comes to any disease, you should immediately call an ambulance. For such a type is characterized by unpleasant sensations in the right side, which often give in the lower limbs;
• pain in shoulder blades - back pain on the left occurs when the heart attack or psychological problems. Often distributed in such unusual places as the right arm, neck or groin. On the right side in the formation of stones or other kidney conditions. Pain directly in both blades is expressed due to tumors or tuberculosis;
• back pain on the right gives the signal of trouble breathing, pneumonia or cancer in the lungs or bronchi, as well as the bodies involved in the urine;
• back pain on the left indicates a problem with the heart and respiratory system;
• pain in lower back - the most common form of discomfort, because it may be due to the large number of diseases, for example, when the catarrhal cough, or under the influence of external factors. Tellingly, if the pain spread to the side and continue for more than three months, this means that the disorder overflowed into the chronic form;
• pain in upper back - most caused by cancerous tumors or metastases in the lungs or spine.

Classification of back pain

Symptoms

Symptoms of back pain in different locations, may vary, depending on causes. Most often pain in the back accompanied such signs:

• the disability and motor function of a person due to the different intensity of pain and its propagation in different directions, other organs or limbs;
• frequent urge to emission of urine, especially if the pain is caused by problems with the kidneys or urinary tract channel;
• in some cases there is fever;
• the sharp decline of body weight;
• diarrhea;
• weakness and pain in the muscles of the back;
• nausea, ending in vomiting;
• the pressure in the chest, heart and lungs;
• the appearance of a sharp pain in lungs when coughing;
• feeling short of breath;
• constant worry;
• absent-mindedness;
• the decrease in visual acuity and hearing.

Because the main symptom is pain, she can wear a different character. In some cases it can be acute and sharp, in others a constant and pressing. Often the pain spreads in different directions, internal organs or such places where in principle it should not be, for example, face, neck, lower jaw. In some cases a pain syndrome exacerbated after a meal, or, conversely, stops may occur during sleep due to improper position, or to complete, once a person takes a horizontal position.

Diagnosis

Before starting treatment, the therapist needs to conduct a series of surveys to determine possible causes of the expression of pain, its type and localization. To doctor has got the full picture about the course of this uncomfortable feeling, the patient needs:

Electromyography

• to provide complete information about your symptoms that accompany the pain in the back, when they first appeared and how intense;
• to Express the assumption that could lead to such a feeling, for example, menstruation, uncomfortable posture for sleep or body position while working, coughing or sudden movements, and to allow a specialist check out the full list of all the diseases of the particular patient over a lifetime;
• tell where the pain occurs, and what organs or body apply. It is very important to determine the diagnosis, because different localization of pain may indicate a variety of diseases;
• pass a General examination in which the doctor performs palpation of the spine;
• tests of blood and urine to determine the pathological process or diseases of the kidneys;
• to perform x-rays designed to detect anomalies in the structure of the spine, thorax and lungs;
• go CT and MRI examinations to detect possible pathologies of internal organs;
• to examine muscles with electromyography;
• to study the bone using the injection of a contrast agent. Where it will accumulate, and there is a breach;
• be examined to determine bone density;
• additionally, consult with such specialists as a neurologist, rheumatologist, orthopedist and vertebrologist.

After receiving all test results, the doctor will prescribe an individual treatment for each patient.

Treatment

If the pain is unbearable, before arrival of doctors it is necessary to implement measures for first aid:

• applying a cold compress to the back area, where localized pain;
• to ensure complete immobility to prevent further damage. The victim must take the most comfortable position of the body;
• to take pain medication;
• completely eliminate any load.

After arriving in a medical institution treatment, is based on treatment of the underlying disease, which may consist of:

• anti-inflammatory drugs;
• warming ointments;
• drugs that eliminate spasm with intense pain in the lower back, as this type of pain is most common in patients;
• drugs, which will increase production of the components of cartilage tissue;
• physiotherapeutic treatment (heating);
• therapeutic massage;
• manual therapy techniques, but use them only as directed by your healthcare doctor because improper holding of such treatment is likely to aggravate the situation;
• acupuncture - similar to the preceding paragraph is used with permission of the doctor;
• medical intervention - is it only in some cases, such as Oncology or you need to establish an intervertebral prosthesis;
• wearing a special corset which will reduce the load on the spine and lower back.

Prevention

Preventive methods to avoid the occurrence of back pain are:

• timely treatment of major diseases of the spine, lungs, kidneys and abdominal organs;
• the rejection of heavy physical exertion and hypothermia of the body, especially in pregnant women;
• the observance of correct posture during work and study;
• providing a comfortable environment for sleep;
• adjustment of overweight;
• limiting sudden movements of the back;
• preventive examinations in the clinic for early detection of pathologies that cause back pain.