Back pain is one of the most common reasons to see a doctor. It also often causes disability in the world. According to statistics, more than 70% of the world's population has experienced back and lower back pain at least once. Fortunately, in most cases, there are ways to prevent or treat back pain. Often, the pain goes away on its own within a few days due to the involvement of the body's protective mechanisms. It can have a different character:
- muscle pain;
- shooting or stabbing pain;
- foot pain;
- restrict rear mobility
What diseases cause back pain?
The causes of back pain can vary. Often, this is damage to the back muscles or ligaments due to heavy lifting, sudden movements, or injuries. There are a number of diseases that can cause back pain in the lower back:
- osteochondrosis, spondylosis, spondyloarthritis;
- torsion, myositis, muscle contusion;
- scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis;
- osteomyelitis, epiduritis, ankylosing spondylitis;
- intervertebral hernia;
- intercostal neuralgia, diseases of the pelvic organs;
- spinal protrusion
- spinal stenosis, spinal instability and fractures;
- sciatica, lumbago or lumbago, inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- sometimes - spinal neoplasms, myeloma.
When should I see a doctor immediately?
In most cases, back pain goes away without treatment within two weeks. If this does not happen, please consult a doctor. Rarely, low back pain is a sign of a serious medical problem. Therefore, it is necessary to seek emergency medical care in the following cases:
- has a problem urinating or defecating;
- has a fever;
- the pain spreads to the foot or to both legs;
- pain caused by falling, back impact or other injuries;
- the pain is intense and does not go away after resting and taking painkillers;
- is accompanied by pain, weakness in the legs and numbness;
- pain is accompanied by sudden weight loss.
Individuals should also seek professional advice:
- over 50 years old;
- has been diagnosed with cancer or osteoporosis so far;
- Those who take steroid hormones.
Which specialists should I contact?
These can be doctors of the following specialties:
- orthopedic traumatologist;
- neurologist;
- neurosurgeon;
- urologist;
- ftiziatr;
- oncologist;
- rheumatologist;
- nephrologist;
Risk Factors
Back pain can affect anyone at any age, including children and adolescents. However, the following factors increase the risk of their occurrence:
- Age.Pain in the lower back and lumbar region often appears in the 30s;
- sedentary lifestyle.Weakening of the back muscles due to low physical activity is one of the factors that cause problems with the spine;
- Overweight.Extra pounds put extra stress on the vertebrae and intervertebral discs and lead to the development of diseases;
- Co-morbidities.Back pain occurs in a number of diseases, including cancer.
- Psychological disorders.People with depression or anxiety have a higher risk of back pain.
Diagnosis of low back pain
A number of studies are being conducted to make a correct diagnosis.
Spinal MRI
The gold standard for the diagnosis of low back pain is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Depending on the changes detected on MRI, the doctor prepares a treatment plan for the patient, along with the clinical picture and neurological condition. In addition, the MRI image allows you to predict how the disease will develop.
Diagnostic blocks
Diagnostic blockades are very informative to confirm the diagnosis in patients with a complex, unclear clinical picture. For example, the effectiveness of diagnostic blockade of facet or sacroiliac joints confirms the axial nature of patients' pain and is an important criterion for determining indications for radiofrequency denupration of relevant joints.
In addition to its high diagnostic value, intraarticular blockade is a therapeutic procedure that has a pronounced analgesic effect with different duration of action. In patients with radicular pain, diagnostic blocks may be performed if additional diagnosis is required.
Back Pain Treatment
There are different ways to treat back pain:
Pharmacological therapy
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have significant effects, but their long-term effects are relative due to the rapid development of addiction and the risk of side effects. Muscle relaxants have proven to be good, especially when used in acute periods. Antidepressants and some anticonvulsants are used in the complex treatment of pain. The treatment regimen is selected individually by the physician for each patient, depending on the patient's tolerance to the drug, individual sensitivity and the severity of the therapeutic effect.
Radiologically controlled treatment blockade
In the last decade, the use of minimally invasive procedures, including epidural and intra-articular blockades, has increased dramatically due to its rapid and noticeable analgesic and therapeutic effects. Epidural block is the most commonly prescribed procedure for radical disease. With the correct diagnosis and instructions for this procedure, the effect is simply amazing! Pain relief is achieved in a period of 6 weeks to 6 months, which in many cases does not require surgical treatment.
Neurosurgery
There is a wide range of neurosurgery for low back pain. Spinal cord decompression, discectomy, foraminotomy, intervertebral disc replacement, minimally invasive and microsurgery, and a number of other surgical techniques are used.
Radiofrequency generation
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the most optimal treatment methods to prevent or significantly delay surgery. Thanks to it, you can quickly eliminate the symptoms of pain, as well as minimize or eliminate the use of painkillers. Recovery after this procedure is quite fast, which allows you to quickly return to a normal lifestyle.