Back pains

Back pain is one of the most common complaints among people over 25-30 years old. They can occur not only as a result of fatigue, but also act as a symptom of diseases of the spine or internal organs. That is why it is important to be careful about your health and not to ignore the problem. After all, if back pain is triggered by the appearance of pathological changes in the spine, they can eventually lead to serious complications and even disability.

Causes

In many situations, the back hurts for natural reasons: after strenuous physical work, heavy training, prolonged walking in high heels, etc. In such situations, the pain is caused by the formation of lactic acid in the muscles, and in particularly difficult cases by micro-ruptures muscles, sprains. Therefore, to remove them, it is required to give a rest on your back for several days.

Pregnancy is a common cause of back pain. As the body undergoes many changes, especially in the late stages of pregnancy, it can react to this with pain in the lower back. If they are not acute and are not associated with lower abdominal discomfort or the appearance of abnormal discharge, this is considered normal. But at the same time, the changes that occur, shifting the center of gravity and increasing a woman's weight during pregnancy can provoke an exacerbation of chronic diseases or cause the development of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine.

Due to the fact that during pregnancy the load on a woman's body doubles, it is very important to arrange the spine. Our clinic has developed and prepared a special program for comprehensive examination and treatment for pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy.

It is the degenerative-dystrophic processes, as well as other pathologies of the spine, that most often cause back pain in women and men over 30 years of age. In them, the pain can be localized in any part of the back (neck, between the shoulder blades, in the lower back) and affect the head, shoulders, arms, buttocks, legs and more. It can be of varying severity, be sharp, shooting, pulling, painful, be present all the time, or occur after exercise. All of these are important signs that help determine the cause of the development of the pain syndrome and therefore find an effective way to eliminate it.

The most common diseases associated with back pain are:

• osteochondrosis, protrusions and intervertebral hernias;
• curvature of the spine (kyphosis, scoliosis, lordosis and their combinations);
• myofascial syndrome.

Slightly less often back pain is caused by compression fractures of the spine (typical of the elderly or people who have suffered injuries, falls from a height, accident), development of ankylosing spondylitis, spondylosis, spondylosisof the spine.

Also, pain in various parts of the back can be caused by the appearance of disorders of the internal organs. For example, neck pain may accompany pathologies of the thyroid gland, inflammation of the lymph nodes, diseases of the blood vessels, and back pain may indicate pathology of the kidneys, pelvic organs and gastrointestinal tract. Discomfort in the middle of the back, in the area of ​​the shoulder blades is quite rare, but it also occurs. Its appearance, in addition to diseases of the spine, may lie in the appearance of disorders of the heart and others.

But the essence of the problem lies in the fact that diseases of the internal organs do not appear suddenly. They almost always result from a segmental disorderinnervation, ie the quality of transmission of nerve impulses from the spinal cord through the nerve roots and branches of the nerves to certain organs. Each level of the spinal cord has its own pair of spinal roots, from which the nerves branch and go to the appropriate organs. If changes occur in the spine, such as distortions, displacement of the vertebrae, changes in the height and condition of the intervertebral discs, this inevitably affects the condition of the spinal roots and spinal cord. They can be compressed or even injured by various spinal structures as they change their natural parameters and position. Therefore, nerve impulses pass worse to the organs, which leads to the appearance of initially insignificant, but constantly progressing disorders in their work. Gradually, organic changes appear in the organs, which causes the development of the disease. Therefore, in case of back pain and detection of pathologies of the internal organs, it is mandatory to examine the spine and to detect the changes that provoked their development. The impact on them will increase the effectiveness of treatment of internal diseases and, most importantly, will eliminate the prerequisites for their occurrence.

Each segment of the spine has its own pair of nerve roots that transmit signals to a specific organ.

Osteochondrosis, protrusion and intervertebral hernia

Osteochondrosis is the most common disease of the spine, which is present in every second adult at different stages of development. It is accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs, ie their gradual destruction.

Depending on which part of the back pain occurs and respectively degenerative-dystrophic processes in the intervertebral discs, osteochondrosis of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine is distinguished. Most often the discs of the lumbosacral spine are destroyed, a little less often - the cervical and only in rare cases osteochondrosis of the chest is diagnosed.

For osteochondrosis, the pain is typical, initially mild, painful after exercise or prolonged sitting. They gradually intensify and appear more often. Over time, the discs become so depleted that their outer shell cannot withstand the loads placed on it, and it deforms, that is, a protrusion forms, which eventually turns into a hernia. In the latter case, the annular fibrosis is completely destroyed and the internal contents of the disc may enter the spinal canal.

In both cases, the protruding parts can compress the spinal roots, thus provoking the appearance of radicular syndrome. This means that in addition to the pain being sharp and severe, it will also affect the arms, legs, buttocks and other parts of the body, which directly depends on which disc is deformed. So when the nerves of the cervical spine are compressed, the pain is usually attributed to the shoulders and arms, and when the nerves of the lumbar spine are compressed, to the buttocks and legs. This is often accompanied by sensory impairment, including tingling, creeping sensations, and gradual muscle atrophy.

The disease is fraught with irreversible changes in nerve fibers that can lead to paralysis and damage.

Curvature of the spine

Spinal curvature can be observed in any part of it. Today, a perfectly flat spine is a rarity, therefore more or less pronounced deformities are present in almost every modern person. This can be:

• kyphosis - strengthening of the natural curvature of the spine in the cervicothoracic region;
• lordosis - increased natural deviation of the spine in the lumbar spine;
• scoliosis - lateral deformity of the spine.

In any case, the curvature can lead to compression of different groups of nerves, which will also provoke radicular syndrome. But if in osteochondrosis the changes in the initial stages of development are visually impossible to anticipate, then spinal deformities can be easily diagnosed by asymmetry of the position of the shoulder blades, pelvic bones, protrusion of the abdomen or the formation of a hump.

Myofascial syndrome Myofascial syndrome is not a dangerous but rather a painful condition in which certain muscle groups spasm in response to pressure or physical activity. Therefore, if, against the background of absolutely normal health, you press the place where back pain usually occurs, you can get a new attack of acute pain, which is an important diagnostic criterion.

Diagnosis of the causes of back pain

If back pain occurs, whether it is located in the neck, between the shoulder blades or in the lumbar region, it is recommended to consult a neurologist. You should make an appointment with a chiropractor, vertebrologist and neurologist as soon as possible if the pain radiates to other parts of the body, as this is a sign of the development of radicular syndrome.

Specialists from our center use an integrated approach to diagnosis and treatment to be able to quickly make the correct diagnosis. The diagnosis begins with a survey of the patient, during which the nature of the complaints is clarified, as well as the characteristics of work and rest. The doctor should carefully examine the patient by palpating the spine, as well as perform special functional and neurological tests. This allows you to form a complete picture of the patient's condition, detect signs of neurological deficits and assess the degree of damage. To clarify the diagnosis it is mandatory to appoint:

• X-ray examination;
• CT;
• NMR.

If there are no contraindications, MRI is always preferred, as this method can provide the most complete data on the condition of the spine and especially its discs, which allows even the smallest changes in their condition to be diagnosed onthe earliest stages and timely intervene in the pathological process.

In our clinic you can also learn more about the composition of your body and the condition of the vascular system, which is involved in the blood supply to internal organs, musculoskeletal muscles and the brain. Our experienced doctors will explain the findings in detail. Bioimpedancemetry calculates the ratio of fat, muscle, bone and skeletal mass, total body fluid, basal metabolic rate. The intensity of the recommended physical activity depends on the condition of the muscle mass. Metabolic processes in turn affect the body's ability to recover. The level of physical activity and nutritional balance can be judged by the indicators of active cell mass. This simple and quick test helps us see endocrine disorders and take action. In addition, it is also very important for us to know the condition of blood vessels for the prevention of diseases such as heart attacks, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes and many others. Angioscan allows you to determine such important indicators as the biological age of blood vessels, their stiffness, stress index (which speaks of heart rate), blood oxygen saturation. Such screening will be useful for men and women after 30 years, athletes, those undergoing prolonged and difficult treatment, and anyone who monitors their health.

If the diagnosis shows that back pain is the result of the development of diseases of the internal organs, the patient is referred to such narrow specialists as urologist, endocrinologist, gynecologist, gastroenterologist, cardiologist and others.

Body composition analysis gives us information about how much fat is in the body and the musculoskeletal component. These data will help the rehabilitator to properly prepare a plan for physical activity, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Treatment of back pain

The treatment of back pain is always complicated, as it is impossible to eliminate pathological changes in the spine with the help of drugs alone. In addition, the therapeutic regimen is developed strictly for each patient. Not only the diagnosis and the stage of development of the disease are taken into account, but also the presence of concomitant diseases, the patient's age, his habits and peculiarities of work, the level of physical training and other factors. Therefore, even in patients with the same diagnosis, treatment may be different. Only this approach gives maximum results.

So, the main components of conservative therapy for back pain of vertebral origin are:

• drug therapy;
• osteopathy;
• manual therapy;
• massage;
• physiotherapy (phonophoresis, carboxytherapy, ozone therapy, RF-pressure therapy);
• individual lesson with a rehabilitation doctor.

Spinal surgery is indicated only in very advanced cases with absolute ineffectiveness of conservative treatment.

Patients are definitely advised to reduce their weight as much as possible, as well as to avoid excessive physical activity as well as a sedentary lifestyle. A balanced diet will further enhance the effect of treatment.

Drug therapy

Drug therapy may include drugs from different pharmacological groups, depending on a combination of different factors. In most cases, patients are prescribed:

• NSAIDs;
• corticosteroids;
• muscle relaxants;
• chondroprotectors;
• B vitamins;
• vitamin D.

Patients with very severe radicular pain who cannot be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or painkillers may experience blockages. The procedure involves administering a solution of lidocaine or novocaine, sometimes in combination with corticosteroids, directly to the area where the compressed nerve passes. They have no therapeutic effect, but allow you to quickly eliminate even severe pain of neurological origin. But the application of blockades requires special skills and absolute sterility, as such injections can lead to the development of severe complications.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is rightly considered one of the main components of the treatment of back pain of various origins, as it allows to restore the normal anatomy of the spine and at the same time:

• to improve the quality of transmission of nerve impulses along peripheral nerves to all organs of the human body;
• activate blood circulation and lymph flow;
• start the natural processes of recovery of the organism and create favorable conditions for their course;
• strengthen immunity and increase the body's ability to adapt to new living conditions and more.

The use of special manual techniques directly on the spine and surrounding tissues allows to eliminate the pressure of various anatomical structures on the spinal roots, which leads to the elimination of pain, including that radiating to the limbs and other parts of the body. Also, with their help it is possible to increase the distance between the vertebral bodies, which provides the most favorable conditions for the recovery of deformed spinal discs, and active kneading of muscles helps to eliminate functional blocks, increase mobility and flexibility of the spine. , as well as to accelerate the course of metabolic processes.

We do not have common standards for treatment, an individual approach is applied for each patient. Gritsenko's author's technique has shown high efficiency over the years of use. This implies a special effect on the spine, due to which not only the back pain disappears, but also the causes of their occurrence are eliminated. And the normalization of segmental innervation of the spinal cord helps to improve the functioning of internal organs and eliminate the causes of the progression of their diseases.

Thus, patients with back pain can count on pronounced positive changes after 1-2 sessions of manual therapy according to the author's method of Gritsenko. How many procedures will be needed to achieve the maximum possible result and its consolidation is chosen individually for each patient.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy treatment is prescribed outside the acute period of the disease. With its help it is possible to enhance the effect of other methods of influence. As a rule, patients are prescribed courses of procedures characterized by anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic properties, namely:

• electrophoresis;
• traction therapy (spinal traction);
UHF;
• laser therapy;
• ultrasound therapy, etc.

exercise therapy

Physiotherapy is not the last component in the treatment of back pain. The stability of the result largely depends on the regularity and correctness of its implementation, as exercise therapy is aimed primarily at strengthening the muscular corset of the back, which will create support for the spine and reduce the load on the intervertebral discs. In addition, exercise therapy helps to improve the quality of blood circulation, which leads to a more active supply of nutrients to the lesions, which increases the effectiveness of therapy.

However, it is not recommended to choose a set of exercises yourself, as performing generally recommended exercises can harm the patient due to overexertion of certain muscle groups. Therefore, the development of the optimal complex should be trusted by a doctor - a rehabilitator who will teach a person to perform each exercise correctly.

Thus, although back pain is familiar to every adult, it is not worth considering it harmless. Such negligence can lead to serious complications and at best they can be treated surgically. In the worst case, the patient faces an injury. Therefore, if your back pain occurs with enviable regularity or is quite acute, make an appointment with a neurologist and find out the real cause of discomfort. After all, the disease is much easier to stop in the early stages of development.