More than 25% of the world's population and more than 50% of people of working age suffer from back pain.Unfortunately, evolution did not ensure that people over 35 to 40 years old lived comfortably.The biomechanical structure of the spine is such that the absence of back pain is not a guaranteed reality, but rather a happy (and, unfortunately, temporary) coincidence.Especially now, when the average office worker's body has to sit in front of the computer for 8 to 12 hours straight.But millions of years of evolution in nature have adapted us to a completely different and much more active way of life!
Is it possible to treat spinal pain yourself?
Unfortunately, not everyone asks this very correct question.The answer is: self-medication based on information from the Internet is extremely dangerous.This is a huge risk that can lead to disability.If we talk about internal pains such as pain in the back and spine, then it is not worth "diagnosing" yourself and "prescribing" treatment.The nerve endings in internal organs are located differently than those on the surface of the skin.Inner pain is difficult to locate and sometimes it seems like one thing hurts, but in reality the reason is something else.For example, back pain can be caused by cancer of the gastrointestinal tract.And pain that someone else may describe on a forum or in an article as very similar to yours may be caused by completely different reasons and require radically different treatment.
Yoram Anekstein, Tel Aviv Medical Center: "A very important advice: do not try to learn the names of spinal diseases, understand their etiology, diagnosis, etc. Spondyloarthritis, glenohumeral periatrosis, cervicobrachialgia - all these terms are of no use to you. There are dozens of such diseases in the textbooks of medical universities, and even with various clarifications and modifications. You should learn and remember the name of your diagnosis when a qualified doctorThe doctor does it, but not before."
Alarming symptoms
Unpleasant sensations most often occur in the cervical and lumbar spine, but pain in the chest is much less common.He is under less stress, so osteochondrosis, protrusion and herniated intervertebral discs do not affect him very often.However, chest and back pain can be caused by problems in the spine.
Occasional discomfort may occur, but is often not dangerous.If it is muscle pain (although it may not be similar to pain in the muscles of the arms after hard work and may be felt more strongly), then the cause is most likely due to overexertion due to staying in one position for a long time or too high a load.If the pain goes away after a change of position or a short walk and does not return, the problem is unlikely to be serious.Although it is necessary to face minor problems, for example, changing your usual postures, increasing your physical activity and doing physical exercise.And only a doctor can determine the severity of the problem.If there is even the slightest possibility, you should definitely go to the doctor: it is always much easier (and cheaper) to cure a disease in the early stages than an advanced case.
What is really dangerous?Here is a list of "alarm signs", after the appearance of one of which it is necessary to start diagnosis and treatment as quickly as possible:
- the pain does not stop, changing the position of the body does not help;the pain does not decrease with rest;the pain worsens at night;
- numbness (decreased sensation) or decreased strength of the extremities occurs;
- problems arise when urinating and defecating (for example, loss of sensation of emptying the bladder; urinary and fecal incontinence or, conversely, retention; not to be confused with constipation);
- the temperature increases, but there are no other reasons that could explain this, for example, ARVI;
- pain wakes you up and interrupts sleep;
- complications after suffering from malignant tumors (the prescription period does not matter);
- unexplained weight loss;
- complications after years of taking steroids;
- complications after recent serious illnesses;
- complications after recent infectious diseases;
- loss of anal reflex;
- weakness in the hips and knees;
- neurological deficit;
- progressive spinal deformity;
- back pain that worsens at rest;
- chest pain (ACS - ECG);
- general malaise.
Keep in mind that you don't have to wait for everything to start together.If at least one of these symptoms occurs, see a doctor immediately.
Yoram Anekstein, Tel Aviv Medical Center: "The question often arises: I made an appointment with a doctor, but my back doesn't hurt anymore. Should I go or not? Definitely go."
Articles on the Internet very often try to describe what types of pain are characteristic of osteochondrosis and what types of pain are characteristic of sciatica, etc.This is a wrong approach, the reasons for which we have already explained above.It doesn't matter what kind of pain: on the left, on the right, in the tailbone, everywhere, stabbing, lasting a couple of seconds or hours and days.These are all symptoms that scream that qualified medical attention is needed.
Causes of pain in the spine.
The most common cause is nonspecific pain associated with muscle strain, excessive stretching of tendons, ligaments and fascia.
Much less commonly, pain is associated with a herniated disc involving a nerve root (~3% of cases).
Osteoporosis (including pathological fractures), infections (spondylodiscitis), tumors, tuberculosis, trauma and other rheumatological diseases cause pain much less frequently (about 1%).
Diseases of the internal organs can also cause back pain (pancreatic cancer, peptic ulcer, for example, or acute coronary syndrome).
Degenerative changes, called osteochondrosis, and consisting of a complex of components (decreased elasticity and strength of the disc substance, decreased disc height, protrusion, herniation, changes in the vertebral bodies (Modic I-III), ligaments (spondylosis), facet joints (spondyloarthrosis) are not directly related to pain and other clinical manifestations.
It should be understood that only the group of spondylitis and spondyloarthritis includes more than 10 diseases with various causes, course features, symptoms, etc.The number of diseases of the back and spine in particular is very large.But from the above descriptions, you yourself can understand that seriousness unites them.Back pain cannot be ignored.Many of these diseases occur slowly, with long stages of remission.But at the same time, at each acute stage the risk of complications increases (up to complete loss of mobility).