Why does your back hurt? How to treat it correctly and how it can cause harm

Back pain

- a common complaint. Usually we talk about back pain when pain is felt in the lumbar region. Sometimes in such cases they say that “the back is pinched.” According to recent studies, out of every five people, four have experienced such pain at least once in their lives. Read more about lower back pain>>>

Another typical location of back pain is under the right or left shoulder blade or between the shoulder blades. Read more about pain under the shoulder blade>>>

With age, back pain is more common - among older people, every second person experiences such pain from time to time.

Back pain can have a different character: it can be sharp, stabbing, burning, aching, pulling, and can radiate to other parts of the body (for example, to the chest, legs, abdomen, genitals). The pain may be occasional or constant.

When listening to pain, a person usually asks himself two questions: should he see a doctor, and which doctor should he go to for back pain? Let's try to answer these questions.

Why does my back hurt?

This may be associated with diseases of the internal organs, spinal trauma (including fracture), neurological pain usually indicates osteochondrosis, and sometimes it is a symptom of gastrointestinal pathology, kidney stones, etc.

In addition, the back is somewhat prone to injury and pain. The spine performs at least 4 functions: supporting, protective, shock-absorbing and motor. Therefore, if pain appears, it may be a consequence of poor posture, strong one-time load, sudden movement or turn.

What to do if you have back pain?

See a doctor and get examined. Based on the diagnosis, it will become clear how to cure back pain, depending on its root cause.

How does lumbago differ from kidney inflammation?

Lower back pain can occur due to kidney disease and is similar in nature to symptoms associated with spinal injuries. Therefore, it is very important to distinguish the causes of pain in order to properly carry out treatment.

How not to confuse one disease with another? This is not an easy task for the average person

Signs of low back pain associated with the spine include the following:

1. It appears after heavy physical activity.
2. It becomes stronger when bending or turning from side to side.
3. The pain disappears only if the person does not move.
4. Body temperature does not change.

Signs of kidney inflammation are as follows:

1. There is no obvious connection between pain and movement.
2. The pain does not change when turning to the sides.
3. Body temperature is increased.
4. When massaging the lower back, a sharp sharp pain appears.
5. Problems with urination. The color of urine changes.

Video - What to do if you get shot in the back?

Causes of back pain

Finding out why your back hurts is not easy. The fact is that the spine is at the same time a support, protection, and shock absorption of the body. If chronic back pain appears, the problem is a violation of any of these functions.

If you feel back pain between the shoulder blades, it may be associated with bronchitis and cough. If your back muscles hurt, the discomfort may be due to overexertion due to heavy lifting the day before. Back pain on the right or left can be caused by a sudden rotation of the body.

There are more serious causes of periodic sharp pain. For example, inflammation of internal organs, kidney stones, spinal bruise. If diagnostics of the back do not show degenerative changes, it is worth examining the internal organs. Thus, discomfort in the lumbar region may be a symptom of nephrosis.

In one case or another, the treatment is different, so first of all you need to establish the cause.

Types of diseases based on the nature of back pain

Possible causes of aching pain :

• myositis;
• lumbago;
• intervertebral hernia.

It worsens when lifting weights, physical work, hypothermia, or staying in one position for a long time.

Causes of shooting pain in the limbs :

• intervertebral hernia;
• radiculitis;
• osteochondrosis.

Discomfort increases with walking, bending, coughing and sneezing. Feeling weak in the legs and arms.

Causes of throbbing pain :

• intervertebral hernia;
• osteochondrosis;
• lumbago;
• spondylosis.

The discomfort does not go away even after taking an analgesic.

Possible causes of bursting and pressing pain :

• in the chest area - pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction;
• on any part of the spine - spondyloarthrosis;
• in the lumbar region - intestinal obstruction;
• in the neck area - atherosclerosis.

Why does my back hurt after sleep?

After waking up in the morning, you feel stiffness, discomfort and pain below the shoulder blades, in the right or left side, in the lumbar region. These sensations can be associated not only with an incorrect sleeping position or resting on an incorrectly selected mattress. After sleep, your back hurts for the following reasons:

• during the day physical work was performed with sudden lifting of weights;
• back muscles are weakened;
• intervertebral hernia or osteochondrosis is diagnosed;
• hypothermia occurred;
• the spine is curved, causing the muscles to contract unevenly;
• obesity, due to which the load on the spine is distributed unevenly;
• pregnancy;
• stress.

Diseases associated with joints and the spinal column

Back pain in the spinal area can occur due to the development of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system such as:

• Ankylosing spondylitis. The paravertebral muscles spasm, so to relieve discomfort the patient tilts the body forward. Over time, the vertebrae become woody, inflamed and fused, so the flexibility and mobility of the spine is impaired.
• Spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis. Due to these diseases, pain is mainly localized in the lumbar region. The vertebrae move forward or backward and compress the nerve endings;
• Osteochondrosis. The depreciation of the spine worsens. The discs between the vertebrae crack, the fibrous ring ruptures, and through the resulting cracks the core of the disc comes out and is pinched.
• Rheumatoid arthritis. Develops in the knees, shoulders, hip joint and moves to the cervical spine. In the morning, you feel stiffness and lumbago due to excess pressure on the nerves from the affected vertebrae.
• Osteomyelitis. Infection of the bone tissue of the spine causes inflammation and severe muscle pain.
• Reiter's disease results from inflammation of the small supporting muscles of the back.
• Intervertebral hernia due to the fact that during movement the protrusion between the vertebrae is compressed and pinched.

Muscle-related diseases

When determining the causes of back pain, tightness and spasms of the muscular corset that supports the spine are often discovered. Mobility is impaired as a result of:

• Fibromyalgia. My back hurts from my neck to my lower back. Neurological symptoms can be observed - sensitivity increases when pressing certain points on the back.
• Polymyositis. The back muscles become inflamed due to hypothermia and overexertion. It hurts to turn the body, muscle weakness is felt.
• Dermatomyositis. The skin near the striated and smooth muscles of the back becomes inflamed.
• Charcot's disease. The peripheral nerves that run along the spine become inflamed. Sensitivity worsens, muscle weakness increases, and gait changes.
• Polymyalgia rheumatica. It is difficult to raise your arms and stand on your feet without the help of someone else. The asymmetry of the back is noticeable.

Spinal cord pathologies

Back pain often occurs due to spinal cord compression. The spinal cord is the connecting link between the brain and the body. It runs from the head to the tailbone in the spinal canal between the vertebrae. There are 31 branches leaving the spinal cord. Each nerve is responsible for the innervation of one or another part of the body. The back may hurt due to pinching or inflammation of any part of the spinal cord as a result of:

• compression of the spinal membranes due to a spinal fracture, abscess or hematoma;
• cerebrovascular accidents;
• inflammation of nearby muscles;
• lack of vitamins and minerals;
• hemorrhages;
• complications of syphilis or HIV;
• multiple sclerosis;
• back tumors of various etiologies.

Back pain due to psychosomatics

Increasingly, back discomfort is not associated with physical illness. After the examination, no pathology is detected, which means that pain in the back and joints is caused by psychological factors. Unpleasant sensations can be triggered by depression, chronic stress, nervous tension, and sexual dissatisfaction. Due to nervousness, the gait changes, lumbago worsens, and sensory disturbances appear.

About the lumbago

How does it arise?

Lumbar “lumbago”, otherwise called lumbago, often accompanies osteochondrosis or intervertebral hernia. Due to degradation processes inside the spine, the distance between the lumbar vertebrae decreases. This leads to compression of the spinal cord and nerve branches. As a result, severe sharp pain occurs in the lower back, which is often followed by muscle spasm.

Why is he dangerous?

If treatment is not started on time, the degradation processes inside the spine will become even stronger. Pain and spasm will occur more often, more noticeably and lasting longer, and will become chronic. In addition, due to constant pressure on the roots of the spinal cord, the legs will lose sensitivity.

Causes of back pain by location

At different points of the back and spine, discomfort can be caused by different factors. Let's take a closer look at them.

Pain on the right side

Most often, the right side from the back hurts due to lordosis, kyphosis or scoliosis, as well as displacement of the intervertebral disc. The development of the following pathologies can be assumed:

• appendicitis;
• kidney stone disease;
• cholecystitis;
• salpingitis;
• oophoritis;
• nephritis;
• obesity;
• myositis.

Pain on the left side

If the unpleasant sensations are localized under the rib or near the lower back on the left side of the back, the following may develop:

• splenitis;
• urolithiasis;
• pinched spine;
• duodenitis.

Pain on the left in the hypochondrium indicates bronchitis, pleurisy, intercostal neuralgia, and heart pathologies. If the left side of the back hurts from below, doctors suspect a disease of the pelvic organs.

Pain in the lumbar region

The lumbar spine is the most mobile area and is subject to heavy loads. Because of this, the five lumbar vertebrae most often become inflamed from radiculitis, intervertebral hernia and osteochondrosis. Slightly less frequently diagnosed:

• infections – spinal tuberculosis or brucellosis;
• Reiter's disease;
• rheumatoid arthritis;
• osteoporosis;
• sciatica;
• sciatica.

In the lumbar area on the right

Burning and cutting pain just above the lower back appears with curvature of the spine, spinal tuberculosis, neuralgia, osteomyelitis. The pain extends not only to bone tissue, but also to the muscle corset.

Nagging pain signals the development of scoliosis, myositis, and degenerative changes in the vertebrae. If therapy does not bring results within several months, the patient is examined for a malignant tumor.

Acute and sharp pain indicates the need to diagnose stones in the urinary or gall bladder, inflammation of the kidneys or neoplasms in them.

Left lumbar region

Most often, the left side hurts from below after running or sports training. This usually goes away within a few hours. But if the aching pain only increases, you need to exclude the possibility of circulatory disorders, scoliosis and osteochondrosis. Most often, these diagnoses occur in people who work while sitting.

Constant pain on the left side while walking is typical for patients with diabetes mellitus and radiculitis. A distinctive feature is that it passes at rest.

The most dangerous pain is on the left side between the left shoulder blade and lower back during myocardial infarction. Unpleasant sensations radiate along the left half of the body, so you need to quickly provide medical assistance.

Shoots in the left side of the lower back with a stomach ulcer, but the difference is in the nature of the pain. The pain in this case is acute, “dagger-like”.

Pinched nerve

Sciatica is compression of the sciatic nerve without destruction of the myelin sheath. Most often, sciatica is a consequence of osteochondrosis. The pain in this case is characterized by sharp and sharp jabs that radiate to the lower limb, sacrum, and lower back.

The nerve can become pinched in late pregnancy due to a change in the center of gravity. Less commonly, the pathology is caused by spasm of the piriformis muscle, spinal canal stenosis, or infection of bone tissue.

Intervertebral hernia

A herniation is a protrusion of the disc core after the destruction of the fibrous ring and a decrease in the elasticity of the disc. The deformity is associated with increased load on the spine, lack of nutrients and impaired metabolism. With the slightest load and heavy lifting, the distance between the vertebrae decreases, so the hernia protrudes more. The pain is sharp and sharp. It radiates to the buttock, arm or leg, and is also accompanied by a decrease in sensitivity of the limbs.

In the area of ​​the shoulder blades

The paired bones in the clavicle and humerus area connect the back muscles and the shoulder corset. The pain is localized under the shoulder blades, between them, on the left or right side, between the ribs. Depending on the cause, back pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades can occur spontaneously, after an equal period of time, in paroxysms.

The characteristics of the pain indicate a possible diagnosis:

• If the pain is dull or aching, increases gradually, is relieved with medication, a stomach ulcer may develop. In this case, the pain is accompanied by dyspepsia, heartburn, bitterness in the mouth, and nausea.
• If the pain is aching and radiates to the shoulder, intensifies when moving the arm, scapular-costal syndrome develops. Accompanied by a crunching joint.
• If the pain is unbearable and intensifies during inhalation, body movement, coughing or sneezing, then this is intercostal neuralgia.
• If there is pain between the shoulder blades, but at the same time you feel dizzy, your blood pressure changes, and your arms go numb, then this is osteochondrosis.
• If there is pain under the shoulder blade on the left, while discomfort is felt in the chest and under the collarbone, then angina pectoris has worsened.

Pain along the spine and in the back

Pain throughout the spine or at a specific point indicates that the nerve endings are pinched. Exacerbation occurs with curvature.

If the pain is not severe, we can assume protrusion. As discomfort increases, protrusion can develop into osteochondrosis.

Vertebral pain occurs with myalgia, osteoarthritis, vertebral fracture, spondylosis. With ankylosing spondylitis, the pain is constant and sharp.

Causes of pain below the lower back

Basically, the lumbosacral region is susceptible to osteochondrosis and spondyloarthrosis, but less often the lower back and tailbone hurt due to displacement of intervertebral discs, scoliosis, pregnancy, endometritis, vulvitis, cervicitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis.

Symptoms

The symptoms are as follows:

1. Lumbago (shooting, pulsating or stabbing) on ​​the right side or left lower back during movements.
2. Intermittent pain that subsides and then appears.
3. Pain in lower extremities.
4. Numbness or tingling in the toes.
5. Strong pain. Its source is very easy to determine by palpation.

Shooting in the lower back is rich in symptoms

Note: Only a specialist can accurately diagnose the disease.

Symptoms that accompany back pain

The clinical picture of spinal pain depends on the location:

Nature of pain

Muscle pain differs in frequency of occurrence, duration, strength, location, and etiology. The last point talks about the causes of pain. They may be associated with spinal pathology.

The following types are distinguished by frequency::

• episodic seizures;
• periodically recurring;
• chronic.

Depending on the strength of the sensation, the pain can be mild or intense.

The nature of pain during inflammatory processes and injuries:

• Continuous aching pain can be a symptom of myositis, a common muscle inflammation that occurs as a result of hypothermia. Similar sensations on the border between pain and itching (in the interscapular region) may indicate the progressive course of osteochondrosis.
• A feeling of “flowing” in the collar area or mild numbness of the lower back accompanied by pain may appear with prolonged sitting. Most often, such symptoms appear in office workers who are forced to sit at the computer for a long time.
• Lacerations and bruises provoke hemorrhages into the muscles, resulting in a painful hematoma, the sensations can be quite intense. Stretches also lead to injury to surrounding tissues and muscles. The back muscles also hurt due to constant and prolonged compression (carrying bags on one shoulder or heavy backpacks).
• Heavy physical activity leads to muscle fatigue resulting from the accumulation of lactic acid in them. The pain syndrome may be accompanied by minor cramps, it disappears after a few days, there is no need for treatment.

Pay attention to possible problems with different types of pain. Nature of pain and disease:

• strong - radiculitis, intervertebral hernia, osteochondrosis;
• acute - displacement of spinal discs, sudden movements, falls, renal colic, diseases of the genitourinary system, lung diseases;
• aching - inflammatory processes in the lumbar muscles, myositis;
• chronic - spondylosis, ankylosing spondylitis, metabolic disorders, cancer, osteomyelitis;
• pain radiating to the right or left leg - inflammation of the sciatic nerve.

Situations in which you need to see a doctor as soon as possible

Usually the pain subsides within a few days. If the discomfort only increases, the pain is intense, then medical attention is needed.

You should call a medical team or go to the clinic yourself in the following cases:

• there has been a recent spinal injury or back injury;
• it is not possible to find a comfortable body position in which it becomes better;
• at night the condition worsens;
• the patient is under 20 years old or over 55 years old;
• the patient has a fever;
• neurological symptoms increase - limbs go numb, tingle, weaken;
• gait has changed;
• lumbago is felt in the shin;
• corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs do not relieve pain;
• limbs become numb, tingle, and weak.

Other reasons

Less common causes of spine pain:

• tumors in the affected area - the pathology is quite rare, the possibility of occurrence cannot be excluded.
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system - pain can radiate to the back, often they are localized in the lower back, in the lumbar area;
• pregnancy, gynecological diseases;
• congenital spinal defects (extra or missing lumbar vertebrae);
• spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis;
• Bekhterev's disease;
• osteoporosis can cause pain in the spine in women (during menstruation) and in older people;
• infectious lesions of the spinal column;
• tuberculosis;
• prostate diseases, bladder stones, urethral infections;
• consequence of psychosomatic reactions.

Associated symptoms

Did you know that...

Next fact

Symptoms differ for different diseases; it can be high fever, pain in various parts of the body, etc.

Diagnostics

To make a diagnosis of back pain, you need to make an appointment with a neurologist, take tests if necessary, and also undergo hardware testing as prescribed by a specialist.

1. Blood tests.
   They allow you to determine the presence of infection, ESR (increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which indicates inflammation, infection). If an increased level of leukocytes is detected, then this is also a sign of inflammation and infection. Also, blood tests can determine iron deficiency anemia, the cause of which may be oncology.
2. Hardware diagnostics.

• Duplex and triplex ultrasound scanning of the vessels of the neck and brain. Allows you to anticipate the structure and patency of blood vessels, the presence of narrowing or dilatation, plaques, blood clots, as well as compliance of blood flow with standards. It is used in diagnosing the causes of headaches, dizziness, high blood pressure, as well as in cases of suspected cerebrovascular accident, and in the early diagnosis of pre-stroke conditions.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). The most accurate and effective examination method. Allows you to visualize tumors on the vertebrae, herniated intervertebral discs, compression (and its degree) of the spinal nerves and spinal cord, narrowing of the spinal canal, inflammatory changes, including post-traumatic ones. MRI is required before surgery and in the postoperative period.
• CT (computed tomography). Detects vertebral fractures and their nature, allows you to find even very small fragments if they were formed due to injury. Based on the data obtained, you can create a 3D image of the desired area. CT “sees” what went unnoticed during radiography.
• Radiography. Allows you to assess the condition of bone structures. It is carried out to diagnose fractures, arthritis, spondylolisthesis, and the degree of postural impairment. It can be performed with functional tests, that is, when the patient flexes and extends the spine during the examination. Visualizes inflammation of the joints in the spine, helps to identify the localization of compression of the nerve processes by indirect signs. The degree of color intensity of the vertebrae in the image allows you to evaluate their strength (with osteoporosis they are more “transparent”, and when healthy they are bright white).
• Electromyography (EMG). A study aimed at determining the condition of nervous tissue. It evaluates the electrical impulses produced by the nerves, as well as the reaction of the muscles to them. Electromyography helps identify nerve compression caused by stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal or intervertebral hernia.
• Bone scan. This test is necessary if the doctor suspects a bone tumor or compression fracture due to osteoporosis.

Intervertebral hernias and lumbodynia

If the spine in the middle of the back hurts, the cause of such a problem may be an intervertebral hernia, which is a rupture as a result of insufficient nutrition, injury or critical overload. When the outer annulus fibrosus of the disc ruptures, a gelatinous mass (nucleus pulposus) protrudes into the spinal canal. Due to the protruding segment, the vessels and nerves of the spinal cord are pinched, and a number of other serious disorders are observed.

There are such types of intervertebral hernias:

• Prolapse is a protrusion of the hernia by several millimeters (usually no more than 3).
• Protrusion. Accompanied by protrusion of the hernia up to 16 mm.
• During extrusion, loss beyond the boundaries of the core is observed.

The first stage of intervertebral hernia is characterized by the appearance of cracks and slight protrusion of the nucleus pulposus. The lumbar region hurts severely, and lumbago is observed in the thoracic and cervical regions due to vascular spasms. At the second stage, the pain syndrome is dull and is often accompanied by compression radicular syndrome, which appears due to excessive tension and mechanical compression of the root.

To treat intervertebral hernia, the traction method is used today, which allows you to pull the nucleus pulposus inward and significantly reduce the size of the hernia.

At the third stage, difficulty in blood circulation occurs, coupled with the loss of shock-absorbing functions of the disc core and partial atrophy of the nerve root. The fourth stage is characterized by severe discomfort and pain, zero mobility of the spinal motion joints, as well as calcification, wrinkling and hardening of the intervertebral disc.

Hernias provoke severe pain in the spine, and the main causes of their occurrence are the following factors:

• insufficient development of the muscle corset;
• individual structural features of the spinal column;
• incorrect posture;
• infectious diseases.

Pain in the middle of the spine and other segments, caused by the presence of a hernia, usually first appears in people who have crossed the 30-year mark. The high-risk group includes the male half of the population, as well as people suffering from excess body weight. The most common symptoms of a hernia include muscle weakness, weight loss in one of the limbs, and frequent tingling or numbness in a leg or arm.

Pain syndrome localized in the lumbar region often radiates to the patient’s legs, which become “wobbly.” Many people complain of “crawling sensations,” lack of coordination and various difficulties with normal movement, which is hampered by unbearable pain. A hernia in the cervical region usually radiates to the arm and head, while the cervical muscles lose their symmetry.

A hernia located in the thoracic spine leads to pain on exhalation and inhalation, which many people mistakenly confuse with heart disease.

When diagnosing intervertebral hernias, the doctor must first listen to the patient’s complaints and find out exactly in which parts his back hurts. Then the doctor selects the optimal diagnostic test, which usually consists of the following procedures:

• X-ray. Used to exclude pathological processes affecting the spinal column.
• Using computed tomography, the approximate area in which the hernia is located is scanned. This method is characterized by rather low information content when it comes to identifying intervertebral hernia, therefore it is used as an auxiliary one.
• MRI is one of the most informative diagnostic methods. It allows you to examine the entire spine, determine the location of the intervertebral hernia, its dimensions and a number of other important data.

Such hernias can be treated using both conservative and surgical methods. Therapy should be aimed at eliminating pain, reducing tissue swelling and restoring the functioning of the spinal column. For non-surgical treatment, pharmacopuncture, vacuum therapy, acupuncture and other methods are used.

In case of surgery, the deformed area of ​​the disc is completely or partially removed. The best results can be achieved by combining magnetic puncture, moxa therapy, acupuncture and other treatment methods.

Treatment for back pain

Most often, patients do not know which doctor to see. A neurologist provides comprehensive treatment for back pain. It is he who should be contacted for problems with the spine. However, before a specialist arrives or visits him, you need to provide first aid for back pain.

How to relieve or relieve pain at home?

The most important thing is to relax. To do this, you need to lie on your stomach on a hard and flat surface. Best of all - on the floor. After a few minutes, you need to carefully roll over onto your back and raise your legs, fixing them so that your hips are at an angle of 90 degrees. This will take the load off your spine.

You can use anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of ointments and creams. After relieving the pain, you need to carefully get up and fix the painful area, for example, by bandaging it with a scarf or towel.

How to relieve pain if there are no painkillers?

Severe pain can be relieved with something as simple as a cold compress. It will not give complete relief, but it will alleviate the condition. This could be a product from the freezer, an ice pack, etc. You can also help with pain by applying a heating compress or heating pad. It’s just important not to overheat the sore spot.

What else helps?

Light physical activity aimed at warming up the muscles and increasing blood circulation will help relieve discomfort. This could be a leisurely walk, muscle stretching exercises.

Medicine against pain: methods of medical intervention

First of all, the disease that caused the pain is determined and its treatment begins. Along the way, medications are used to relieve discomfort and treat chronic pain:

• analgesics, NSAIDs, in rare cases – narcotic painkillers;
• B vitamins;
• muscle relaxants.

The person is prescribed bed rest and wearing a fixing corset (for example, for neuralgia).

An important stage of treatment is physiotherapy . Its main methods:

• electrophoresis with drugs;
• phonophoresis;
• laser therapy;
• magnetic therapy.

Reflexology is also provided :

• electrical neurostimulation;
• acupuncture techniques.

Massage, osteopathy, manual therapy, exercise therapy are effective for back pain. These techniques are used when pain is caused by diseases of the muscles and spine, during rehabilitation after injuries.

What is strictly forbidden to do?

It is impossible to completely cure back pain on your own, especially without understanding the reasons for the appearance of such a symptom. And using some folk methods, you can only harm yourself more. To prevent this from happening, you need to know which events are strictly prohibited. These include:

• Warming up. Especially if the pain is severe and swelling is noticeable in the affected area. They increase the movement of biological fluids, which only provokes pain.
• Exercises on the horizontal bar. From various sources you can hear about the benefits of hanging on a bar, that such an action helps to stretch the spine and relieve pain. But few people clarify that during the acute period it is strictly forbidden to do this. Especially if it is not clear what caused the pain.
• Visiting a bathhouse or sauna. Exposure to elevated temperature not only does not relieve the syndrome, but will also worsen the situation. Therefore, it is better to avoid going to the steam room during a sudden attack of lumbago.
• Massage. As in the previous case, any unskilled influence on the area will only increase the pain and lead to a worsening of the condition.

You need to take a pain-relieving and level position, allowing your lower back to rest for a sufficient amount of time. If the condition has not improved after an hour, you should call an ambulance. In most such cases, the patient requires inpatient therapy.

Prevention

Clinical recommendations for the prevention of intervertebral hernias and osteochondrosis :

• move more, do gymnastics in the morning, do yoga;
• take a contrast shower followed by rubbing with a towel to enhance metabolic processes;
• undergo a massage course every six months (up to 10 sessions);
• maintain liver health, because collagen production depends on it;
• increase immunity;
• avoid stress, establish a smooth psychological background;
• control your weight, because every extra 10 kg is approximately 0.5 kg of additional load on one vertebra, which leads to rapid wear.

In addition, it is important:

1. Stand and walk correctly. Correct posture is when you stand against the wall and touch it with the back of your head, shoulder blades, buttocks and heels. When walking and standing, you should try to maintain exactly this position.
2. Sit in the correct position: do not lean too far back, do not lean forward. You should press your back tightly against the back of the chair, have support for your lower back and neck. Every 15 minutes – change the position of your legs, stretch.
3. Sleep on an anatomically correct or orthopedic mattress.
4. After waking up, while still in bed, do simple exercises with your legs and arms, stretch before getting up (this should be done without sudden movements).
5. Do not carry heavy bags in one hand. It is better to distribute purchases evenly into two packages.
6. Do not carry a bag over your shoulder. Better for your back is a backpack with two straps.
7. A small child should be carried with a straight back, without bending backwards. It is best to carry a very small baby on the chest in a special sling, and a slightly older one - on the back.
8. When carrying heavy objects, do not bend or turn your body.
9. Do not bend over when cleaning - use an extension cord for the vacuum cleaner handle and a mop (do not wash the floors with just a rag while kneeling).
10. Eat grapes, apples, strawberries, pears, lentils, hazelnuts, pumpkin, green salad, and raspberries more often.
11. Monitor the balance of magnesium and potassium in your diet. Eat nuts, fish, seafood, spinach, cabbage, beans, peas.
12. Eliminate bad habits - alcohol and smoking.
13. Swimming, running (but only with shock-absorbing insoles and special sports shoes), skiing.

Be sure to visit doctors for preventive examinations to prevent the situation from worsening if you have an illness and to begin treatment on time.

Preventive actions

In order not to subsequently treat a pinched back, it is necessary to adjust your lifestyle. Pathological processes in the spine are provoked by various unfavorable factors; their maximum elimination will be an excellent prevention and protection of the body. The following recommendations will help:

• Choose high-quality orthopedic accessories for sleep. For the younger generation, a mattress with maximum rigidity is purchased; an orthopedic cushion is placed under the head to support the neck in the correct position.
• Avoid carrying heavy bags or weights. It is especially harmful to do this with one hand when the load is distributed incorrectly.
• Always monitor your posture when walking or staying at the computer for long periods of time.
• Wear only comfortable shoes with low heels. Products with tight toes that compress the foot should not be used for more than 2 hours a day.
• Organize proper nutrition for yourself and your family, including only high-quality healthy foods. Eliminate carbonated drinks, alcohol, and fast food from your diet.
• Give up bad habits, in particular, smoking or drinking alcohol once a week.
• Go in for sports or do simple gymnastics every day, aimed at improving blood circulation and strengthening the muscle frame.

Daily walks in the fresh air, controlling your own weight, limiting unhealthy, fatty and fried foods will strengthen the body and protect it from the development of a variety of pathologies. Such recommendations will be useful not only to healthy people, but also to those undergoing treatment for pathological changes in the body.

The lower part of the back can become jammed at all ages; today this problem occurs even among young people. The reason for this is most often an improper sedentary lifestyle, constant stay at the computer in an uncomfortable position, lack of a balanced diet, and excessive stress on the lower back. First aid will help correct the situation, but after pain relief, you should visit a doctor to determine the problem and choose the most correct treatment plan.