Treatment of back and spine pain

Back pain often occurs after sudden movement or heavy lifting. If your back hurts constantly, it is a symptom of an illness. The cause of back pain is diagnosed and treated by a neurologist. Illness is successfully treated with conservative methods.

What you need to know about back pain

Back pain is also called dorsalgia. It bothers every second person from time to time. Most often, the pain is localized in the lumbar region. It usually occurs against the background of existing changes in the spine. Depending on the type of disease, the pain can be temporary or permanent. Persistent pain is a sign of serious illness and can lead to spinal surgery if not treated in time.

When should you go to the doctor?

Do not delay visiting a neurologist if you notice the following symptoms:

• acute back pain does not go away within 2-3 days;
• chronic pain lasts more than a week without improvement;
• the pain occurs suddenly without an obvious reason;
• pain occurs regularly after an injury;
• back pain radiates to the legs, knees, feet.

You should see a doctor immediately if the pain is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• elevated temperature;
• limited mobility of the arms or legs;
• feeling of numbness in the limbs;
• severe changes in blood pressure;
• painkillers do not help relieve pain;
• loss of consciousness occurs;
• there are problems with the functioning of internal organs;
• there are signs of poisoning;
• bleeding started.

But even without these symptoms, you should not delay contacting specialists - some back diseases can only be completely cured in the early stages. Your efficiency directly determines the quality of your treatment.

Risk factors include:

• work related to a computer or driving a car, heavy physical activity, stress;
• intensive training in the gym without the supervision of a trainer;
• forced work while sitting or standing;
• overweight.

Why does my back hurt?

The causes of back pain are varied. They are caused by the following diseases:

• osteochondrosis, spondylosis, spondyloarthrosis;
• scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis;
• protrusion or herniation of an intervertebral disc;
• radiculitis or lumbago, inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
• scoliosis;
• spinal instability and fractures;
• intercostal neuralgia;
• overexertion, hypothermia or contusion of the back muscles;
• damage to the ligaments of the spine;
• myositis.

Pregnancy and back pain

Another common factor that affects the incidence of back pain is pregnancy. As the belly grows and the lumbar curvature increases, the load on the spine also increases. The intervertebral discs wear out quickly and sometimes the nerves are pinched. You can prevent back pain and the pathologies that cause it if you do not overwork during pregnancy. If necessary, wear a support bandage and follow the advice of another doctor.

Even if there was no back pain during the pregnancy itself, but the spine was exposed to serious stress, injuries leading to pain may still occur during childbirth.

How to identify the disease based on the type of pain

Different diseases cause different types of back pain. It can be acute, chronic, painful, stinging, with or without conduction (irradiation).

The type of pain	What disease does it cause?
With and without acute conduction (irradiation).	Osteochondrosis. Back pain sometimes radiates to the legs and worsens when lifting heavy objects, coughing or sneezing. Back pain can last for several minutes, hours or days.
	Intervertebral hernia. The pain occurs when lifting heavy objects, bending and turning to the side. Then pain and weakness appear in one leg. His back hurts when he moves, coughs or sneezes.
	Radiculitis. The pain is sharp or dull, aching. It is usually unilateral, radiating to the legs, buttocks, thighs, and lower legs. It intensifies with a change in body position and may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, burning, itching or a "pinching" sensation.
Chronic and acute pain	Muscle strain, muscle inflammation, long work in an uncomfortable position, heavy lifting, sudden movements, hypothermia.
	Lumbago. It affects people doing heavy physical work. Severe back pain usually goes away after a few days, although it can take up to two to three weeks.
	Displacement of the intervertebral discs. It is caused by osteochondrosis, heavy lifting and heavy physical work.
Chronic	Spondylosis. Aching pain may be accompanied by numbness and weakness in the legs. Cervical spondylosis causes pain in the back of the head, in the shoulders and when turning the head.
Sore	Inflammation of the muscles of the back and lumbar spine. The disease occurs after hypothermia or muscle tension. The pain is not strong and lasts a long time. The muscles in the affected area are dense and painful when straining.
Pain with conduction (irradiation) in the leg	Inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Hernia of the lumbar spine. Back pain in the lumbar and sacrum areas. The pain can be felt in the buttock, back of the thigh, lower leg or foot.

Diagnostic methods

Clinic specialists use the following diagnostic methods to accurately determine the cause of back pain:

• MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging
• Ultrasound examination (ultrasound)
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Laboratory research

Methods for treating back pain

In the modern clinic, doctors use many non-surgical methods: from gentle massage techniques and osteopathy to laser and physiotherapy. In order to make the treatment as effective as possible, we offer each patient individual pain-relieving procedures at the beginning of the course.

• Resonance wave UHF therapy
• Rehabilitation on the Thera-Band exercise machine
• Block of joints and spine
• Drug treatment
• Shock wave therapy

Diagnostic methods

Specialists accurately determine the cause of back pain using the following diagnostic methods:

First, a basic assessment of the patient is carried out to determine what exactly preceded the appearance of the pain, the nature of the pain, etc. Then a visual examination of the patient and a physical palpation of the spine are performed. If the pain intensifies when pressing on the spinal column, this makes it possible to eliminate diseases of the internal organs. If necessary, the patient can be referred to a cardiologist, gynecologist, orthopedist or other specialist.

Methods for treating back pain

Doctors in modern clinics use many non-surgical methods: from soft massage techniques and osteopathy to laser and physiotherapy. In order to make the treatment as effective as possible, we offer each patient individual pain-relieving procedures at the beginning of the course.

Clinics help to get rid of back pain, relieve swelling and inflammation in the affected area, normalize metabolic processes, strengthen back muscles and restore the normal position of the spine. Freedom of movement will return to you, you will feel momentum.

As part of the rehabilitation, the specialist of the clinic prepares an individual physical activity plan for each patient for independent exercise, the purpose of which is to consolidate the results of the treatment and prevent diseases.

What to do in case of back pain

If you have severe back pain, our doctors recommend the following:

• Lie down, choose a comfortable position in which the least pain is felt and the muscles are not tense. Spend at least 20 minutes in this position until the pain subsides.
• Do not sit forward, carry heavy objects, or exercise until the pain subsides.
• Contact your doctor immediately.

Remember if you havespinal pain, treatmentcannot be postponed. There is a risk of a serious worsening of the situation.

If the pain has become unbearable and you have to wait for the doctor or an ambulance to arrive, do the following:

• Lie down on the bed and try to minimize movements and ensure maximum peace. Silence is your best friend.
• Place a soft pillow under your back to reduce the strain on your spine.
• If you have a suitable mild pain reliever, you can take a pill to reduce the pain, but it's better not to. See the next paragraph for why.
• Apart from plain water, it is not recommended to eat or drink anything, because if urgent surgery is needed, it may disturb you (many interventions can only be performed on an empty stomach). It is also recommended not to give medicine or heat the problem area, because this distorts the clinical picture and prevents the correct diagnosis of the problem and, as a result, the prescription of the appropriate treatment.
• It is allowed to apply cold to the painful place, even if the cause of the pain is unknown, it does not aggravate any of the common pathologies.