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Why Back Pains: Causes and Treatment

Back pain is a popular disease of modern civilization: almost everyone suffers from back pain at least once in their lifetime. Fortunately, in about 90% of cases, the causes do not threaten health. Therefore, patients themselves can do a lot to fight back pain—from heat packs to exercises to build back muscles. Learn more about the causes and treatment of back pain in this article.

back pain

short info

  • Back pain: are among the most common types of pain and affect mainly women. Most of the time, back pain is non-specific.
  • Classification:duration (acute, subacute and chronic back pain), position (upper, middle or lower back) and shape (specific and non-specific back pain).
  • Causes:there is no reason per se for nonspecific back pain. In contrast, specific back pain has a detectable symptom.
  • Researches:depending on the patient's physical condition: blood and urine tests, neurological examination, gynecological examination, electroneurography and so on.
  • Treatment:Heat treatment, medicinal plants, correct flexion and extension, sports to strengthen the back, workplace back exercises, relaxation techniques, acupuncture, possibly medications

Back pain: description and classification

Low back pain, low back pain, back stiffness or just back pain are the names of one of the symptoms. Sometimes she tightens the cross, sometimes she pulls her neck. Sometimes, back pain radiates to the side, arms or legs. Symptoms can be permanent or just temporary. Sometimes they are so strong that victims can barely move.

No matter how varied the nature and extent of the complaints, back pain can haunt people of almost all ages. They are among the most common problems facing modern man. Women in all age groups are more likely to report back pain than men. This phenomenon also manifests itself in other types of pain.

Doctors divide back pain according to different criteria:

Classification by location of back pain

  • Upper back: Pain in the upper spine (neck region) can be acute or chronic. It is usually felt in the shoulders, arms and/or the back of the head. Neck pain is caused, for example, by poor posture in the workplace, a herniated disc or a mental disorder.
  • In the middle of the back:Back pain in the thoracic spine is rarely caused by injury. They are most often caused by irritation of large muscle groups in this area or dysfunction of the joints of the costal vertebrae.
  • In the lower back:back pain is most commonly seen in the lower back. Because the lumbar spine is more prone to injury and damage than the neck and thoracic spine. Low back pain is called "back pain". Possible causes are, for example, herniated disc or muscle tension.

Classification by the duration of back pain

Depending on the duration of symptoms, doctors distinguish between acute, subacute and chronic back pain:

  • Acute back pain:is back pain that occurs for the first time or after at least six months without pain and lasts a maximum of six weeks. The prognosis is generally good: acute back pain disappears in most victims within a few weeks.
  • Subacute back pain:if back pain lasts from six weeks to a maximum of three months, it is considered subacute.
  • chronic back painor chronic recurrent low back pain: persists for more than three months. The intensity of the pain can vary during this period - sometimes the back pain is weaker, sometimes more intense. Chronic back pain is more common with age.

Classification for Back Pain Causes

Depending on whether they can determine the clear cause of the disease, doctors distinguish between specific and non-specific back pain. Read more in the next section.

main reasons

Back pain can be divided into two main causes: non-specific and specific back pain.

Non-specific back pain

For non-specific back pain, the doctor cannot find a clear cause for the symptoms. The vast majority of all back pain cases fall into this category.

specific back pain

An overview of the important causes of specific back pain:

  • Muscle tension:muscle tension is often the cause of back pain. Poor posture, unilateral loading or lack of physical activity make muscles uneven - some muscles are overworked, others are underused. As a result, muscles shorten or harden, which can cause tension and pain. A pinched nerve can also result from muscle tension and cause back pain.
  • Disc herniation. . . The discs are located in the form of cushion-shaped shock absorbers between the individual vertebral bodies. They consist of a soft gelatinous core surrounded by a ring of fibrocartiga. If the jelly core slips and breaks the fiber sheath, a herniated disc occurs. This causes severe back pain when the gelatinous mass that comes out of the sliding disc presses on nearby nerves.
  • Column abrasion(Arthrosis of the Spinal Joints, Stage Syndrome): With age, the vertebral joints wear out in the body.
  • rachiocampsis. . . In so-called scoliosis, the spine is bent laterally. This leads to premature wear, which can cause muscle strain and back pain. Furthermore, in what is called Scheuermann's disease, spinal curvatures are characteristic. The consequences are hunchback, back pain and difficulty in walking.
  • Spondylolisthesis(Spondylisthesis): In this condition, the vertebrae are unstable and can be easily moved. This mainly occurs in the lower back. Many patients have few or no complaints. But exercise and certain movements can cause back pain. When the dislocated vertebra puts pressure on the nerve root, neurological disturbances such as emotional disturbances or paralysis are also possible.
  • osteoporosis(bone loss). With osteoporosis, bones become more and more fragile. So you can break them even with the smallest loads (eg fall, trip). This often leads to vertebral fractures associated with back pain. Even the harbinger of osteoporosis - osteopenia - may already be associated with back pain.
  • Pregnancy:many pregnant women have back pain. There are several reasons for this. For example, hormonal changes in pregnant women lead to relaxation of the tendons and ligaments in the pelvic floor region. As a result, they become unstable, which can cause pain in the pelvis and lower back. Also, a woman's center of gravity changes due to the growth of the fetus. It can also cause back pain. Also, strokes and premature birth can be associated with back pain.
  • Pyelonephritis:Inflammation of the pelvic kidneys is usually caused by bacteria, especially in women. Especially if it's a chronic condition, it can cause long-term back pain.
  • Kidney Stones:Unlike inflammation of the pelvic kidneys, kidney stones are more common in men. Sometimes they are so small (semolina) that they are simply excreted in urine through the ureter. Large kidney stones, on the other hand, can become lodged in the ureter. The result is kidney colic, which can cause, among other things, burning and cramping in the back, depending on the location of the kidney stone.
  • Pneumonia(pneumonia): in addition to a cough with fever and back pain, pneumonia is sometimes attributed. Inflammation is mainly caused by bacteria.
  • Inflammation of the pancreas(pancreatitis): Both acute and chronic pancreatitis cause pain in the upper abdomen. It often radiates to the back and is perceived as back pain.
  • Spine and rib edema:Back pain can also be caused by a tumor in the spine or chest. Sometimes these tumors are benign, sometimes malignant. In the second case, they are almost always secondary to cancerous tumors in other parts of the body, such as breast or lung cancer.

Back Pain Risk Factors

There are several factors that increase the risk of back pain. This is mainly:

  • Work-related factors:Carrying and lifting heavy loads, vibrations (eg when working with a jackhammer) and working in uncomfortable positions put strain on the spine, joints and muscles. This can cause long-term back pain. Therefore, some back illnesses are recognized as occupational illnesses.
  • Work-related psychosocial conditions:People who are dissatisfied with their workplace or have to work monotonously from morning to night (for example, on an assembly line) are more prone to back pain. Furthermore, social conflicts in the workplace and high work intensity without adequate rewards (in the form of money, recognition, promotion opportunities) can contribute to back pain.
  • Social status.Back pain is more common in people with low social status in terms of education, profession and income than in people with high social status.

The course of existing back pain can be influenced by adverse conditions such as psychological factors. This includes, for example, unrealistic fears of back pain, depression, as well as passive or hyperactive behavior – that is, express restraint or over-activity.

Back Pain Therapy

With specific back pain, the doctor, if possible, will eliminate the cause of the condition. For example, for a herniated disc, conservative (non-surgical) therapy is usually sufficient, such as heat treatments, physiotherapy, relaxation techniques, and pain relievers or muscle relaxants. Surgery is rarely needed. If the back pain is caused by pyelonephritis, your doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics. Most bacteria are the cause of inflammation.

It is best to always consult your doctor about a technique before trying it out.

  • Exercise and sports:Physiotherapy and back exercises are especially recommended for subacute and chronic non-specific back pain, but not for acute back pain.
  • Relaxation procedures:Targeted relaxation helps with stress and tension (both play an important role in back pain). If the pain is already chronic, VUR can also be helpful. By the way, there are other relaxation techniques like autogenic training and meditation. Many back pain patients have also had positive experiences in this area.
  • Holistic methods and practices:yoga, qigong and tai chi chuan also have a relaxing effect. These complex exercise methods are suitable for preventing lumbago and herniated disc.
  • Thermal therapy:Applying heat (eg, thermos pads, thermos bottles, mud baths, mud bags) relaxes muscles and can relieve non-specific back pain.
  • Medicinal plants:Combined preparations of ash and aspen can relieve back pain. For painful muscle tension, a capsaicin cream or patch can help.
  • Aromatherapy:If you are experiencing lumbago (back pain), you can rub pine, sandalwood, or ginger oil into the affected area. This can help relieve symptoms.
  • Back-friendly nutrition:bones, joints, muscles and discs need lots of nutrients to function. Make sure you have enough essential fatty acids, calcium, fluorine, vitamins C, D, and E, as well as vitamins B, magnesium, boron, selenium, and zinc. It not only helps your back well, but it also contributes to overall good health.
  • Drink a lot:The supply of nutrients to the intervertebral discs only works with large amounts of fluid.

Back Pain Medications

The medications reduce back pain so much that physical activity is possible again. Over time, the dose of medication should and can be reduced: as they exercise, patients often need less medication to move (almost) painlessly. The doctor gives each patient specific instructions about when the drug can be used, in what dosage, and for how long. Patients must follow these instructions to avoid side effects or addiction.

Even with specific back pain, drug therapy can be useful and necessary. Basically it's only for a short period of time.

In principle, several groups of active ingredients are available for the treatment of back pain. Depending on the type and severity of symptoms, it depends on which medication is most appropriate in each case:

  • conventional analgesics (analgesics);
  • very strong analgesics from the opiate group;
  • muscle relaxants: not recommended for non-specific low back pain;
  • some antidepressants, for example, for chronic nonspecific low back pain, when the patient suffers simultaneously from depression or sleep disorder

When do you need to see a doctor?

Back pain is not always a sign of a more or less serious medical condition that requires a visit to the doctor. There are often relatively harmless causes behind this, such as muscle tension from lack of exercise or poor posture. However, in the following cases, you should consult a doctor for safety reasons:

  • atypical back pain
  • persistent back pain
  • increasing back pain

important research

These studies help to clarify the causes of complaints:

  • cardiac catheterization;
  • joint puncture;
  • electromyography;
  • radiography;
  • disease history;
  • Computed tomography;
  • scintigraphy;
  • ultrasound;
  • cystoscopy;
  • arthroscopy.

Back pain: exams

To clear up back pain, your doctor will first talk with you in detail to compile your medical history. Possible questions:

  • Where does back pain occur?
  • Does back pain spread to other parts of the body (such as the sides or a leg)?
  • How long does the current pain attack last?
  • Has there ever been a previous case of back pain? How did the pain start?
  • Are there factors that cause, worsen, or alleviate back pain (eg, fever, cold, movement)?
  • How was back pain treated (medication, massage)? Were the measures successful? Are there any side effects?
  • What is the (daily) duration of back pain?
  • How bad is your back pain? Do they interfere with daily activities?
  • Do you have any concomitant physical or mental illnesses?

Examination by a doctor

After a medical history, the doctor can conduct several studies to investigate the causes of back pain.

  • Bloodtests :the measurement of multiple blood counts can be, for example, evidence of spinal cord abrasion, inflammation (such as pleurisy, prostatitis, pyelitis) or heart attack as a trigger for back pain.
  • Urine analysis:Testing a urine sample can clarify or strengthen suspicions of kidney disease or acute prostatitis.
  • Electromyography (EMG):Measuring a muscle's electrical activity also serves to identify a herniated disc as a possible cause of back pain.
  • Ultrasound procedure:if the back pain is caused by pyelonephritis or kidney stones, an ultrasound can help determine the cause.
  • X-ray:a simple x-ray can provide information about many possible causes of back pain, such as pneumonia, pneumothorax, spinal obstruction, spinal inflammation (ankylosing spondylitis), or osteoporosis.
  • Computed tomography (CT):performed when there is suspicion of back pain caused by a herniated disc, spinal cord abrasion, aortic aneurysm, pancreatitis, or lung tumor.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI):this test can be used to identify suspected herniated discs or spinal inflammation (ankylosing spondylitis).
  • Scintigraphy:This nuclear medicine test determines the activity status of various tissues, such as bone tissue (bone scan: suspected ankylosing spondylitis) or lung tissue (pulmonary scan: suspected pulmonary embolism).

When what research is needed

Physical examination and laboratory tests (blood, urine) are common in diagnosing back pain. In contrast, X-rays - that is, X-rays, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - are only recommended if specific back pain is suspected. In the first clarification, acute and uniformly chronic back pain is deliberately omitted: too many tests can make the patient fear that there may be a serious cause of back pain that has simply not yet been identified. This can make acute back pain chronic (chronic).