Acute back pain: causes, prevention and first aid

Back pain, and especially in its lower third, is one of the most common reasons why patients turn to neurologists, surgeons, therapists, and orthopedists. Labor losses from pathology of the musculoskeletal system occupy one of the leading places, since, as a rule, the most active group of the population is affected, aged 20 to 60 years, and most often - 25-45 years.

Incorrect treatment often prolongs the disease for many months, which forces these patients to be referred to establish a disability group, and premature surgical treatment often permanently disables these patients. The number of disabled people due to so-called spinal osteochondrosis and joint diseases has reached alarming proportions.

Types of back pain depending on the cause

Pain sensations are primary and secondary; each of these types can be caused by a wide range of conditions and diseases.
In this article we will try to consider only the most basic ones. 1. Nonspecific (primary). This type of pain has a direct connection with problems in the spine and surrounding tissues.

Causes of back pain associated with the spine:

• Scoliosis. Poor posture, leading to gradual curvature of the spine, displacement of the vertebrae and muscle strain.
• Osteochondrosis. The cause of the development of the disease is a decrease in the shock-absorbing capacity of the spine: damage to the intervertebral discs, rupture of the fibrous ring and, as a consequence, infringement of the disc nucleus. Pain sensations are localized in the area of ​​the spine in which there are pathological changes. So, with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, back pain is localized in the thoracic region (the back hurts between the shoulder blades and under the ribs); with osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, a person experiences pain in the lumbar region.
• Intervertebral hernia. Due to damage to the intervertebral disc, protrusion of the soft structures of the vertebrae occurs with the possibility of strangulation (regular and strangulated hernia). The pain is localized at the site of the hernia.
• Ankylosing spondylitis. It is characterized by back pain and limited mobility in the spine, which leads to a forced “leaning forward” posture in the patient.
• Osteomyelitis. The cause of the disease is an infectious process that has developed in the spinal column. The patient feels that the pain affects not only the spine, but also the back muscles.
• Spinal injuries. In this case, the cause of back pain is injury and its accompanying complications. The intensity of pain and its location are directly related to the type of injury and the affected part of the spinal column.

In 40–50% of cases, the causes of back pain are damage to the joints and ligaments of the spine (skeletal pain). Another 3–5% of severe back pain is associated with damage to the roots of the spinal cord (radicular pain).

Back pain associated with pathological changes in muscles:

• Fibromyalgia. The inflammatory process develops in the muscles surrounding the spine, is characterized by symmetry and can be chronic. In this case, the back muscles along the entire spine hurt. The important point is that peak pain occurs when certain areas are pressed.
• Polymyositis. Hypothermia can trigger the disease. As a result of the development of the disease, the patient experiences muscle weakness and pain, which intensifies when trying to make a turn.
• Polymyalgia rheumatica. The etiology of the disease is not clear. Infectious diseases that lower immunity can serve as a trigger. It manifests itself as pain that increases as the disease progresses and can cover all areas of the back. Severe back pain impairs mobility to such an extent that the patient is unable to move independently. A clear asymmetry is visualized in the back.
• Charcot's disease. Symptoms are caused by inflammation in the peripheral nerves along the spinal column. As a result of the pathological process, in addition to fairly intense pain, there is a change in the person’s gait.

In 50–60% of cases of nonspecific back pain, their localization is in the muscles.

2. Specific (secondary pain). This type of pain, despite its localization in the back, is often not directly related to diseases of the spinal column or the surrounding muscular skeleton. The causes of specific pain are extremely varied, but the most dangerous are cancer. Thus, pain radiating to the back can be caused by a malignant neoplasm in the area of ​​the mammary glands, lungs or prostate, which provokes metastasis of the spine.

Diseases that cause specific pain include:

• Pinched nerve roots in the chest. Most often this leads to the development of intercostal neuralgia. The pain in this case is localized at the pinched site. Thus, intercostal neuralgia can manifest itself: pain under the shoulder blades, pain in the back under the ribs (on the side where the pinching occurred). Soreness has varying degrees - from aching to sharp, shooting. Most often, pain occurs when moving or pressing on the affected area. This fact is the main difference between intercostal neuralgia and diseases of the heart and lungs, which can also manifest as pain under the left (or right) shoulder blade from the back.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Pain is most often provoked on the right side; in some cases, it can spread to the left side of the body. For the most part, pain is localized in the lumbar and sacrolumbar regions. Quite strong pain is characteristic of pathologies associated with manifestations of diseases of the pancreas, colon diverticulum, intestinal obstruction, retrocecal appendicitis, etc.
• Ulcerative lesions. Ulcerative lesions of the organs of the upper abdominal cavity (peptic ulcer of the duodenum and stomach) can manifest themselves in the form of pain in the thoracic and lower lumbar back. If the lower part of the abdominal cavity is affected (ulcerative colitis), pain is localized in the lumbar region. The severity of pain may vary, but most often reaches its peak at night.
• Appendicitis. In acute appendicitis, in cases where the vermiform appendix (appendix) is located behind the cecum, the back hurts in the lumbar region. The pain is alternating in nature and can vary from aching, mild to acute, intense.
• Kidney diseases. Quite often they manifest themselves as pain in the lumbar region. This type of manifestation is characteristic of pyelonephritis and chronic glomerulonephritis. Differentiation from pathologies that have a direct connection with the spinal column occurs based on the analysis of other clinical manifestations and research results.
• Urolithiasis disease. With renal colic, the back hurts in the lumbar region. The pain is pronounced, intense, occurs suddenly and does not depend on the position of the body. Back pain in the lower back and with coral nephrolithiasis. Manifestations of the pain syndrome are low-intensity, the pain is rather aching in nature.
• Diseases of the female reproductive system and menstrual pain. In these cases, the pain is most often localized in the lower back.
• Neoplasms in the pulmonary system. In this case, pain appears at the stage when the lungs undergo germination of peripheral tumor elements (metastases) into the pleural area and chest wall. The nature of the pain is intense and debilitating.
• Cardiovascular diseases. The most common causes of pain localized in the thoracic back are myocardial infarction and stroke. As a rule, these diseases are accompanied by pain between the shoulder blades.
• Inflammatory processes in the joints. Infectious arthritis can cause pain to radiate from the affected joint to nearby areas, including back pain.

For the most part, the causes of pain in the back are identical for representatives of both sexes, but it is necessary to identify a number of diseases that differ in gender predisposition.

Causes of acute pain with a hernia in the lumbar region

First of all: an intervertebral disc that has lost its shape is not a source of pain. The disc may even rupture entirely. Its outer, circular fibrous layers cease to hold the internal nucleus pulposus, which is under high pressure, and the contents of the disc fall out of its limits. This is how a hernia is formed from the protrusion. But the disc itself, just like any cartilage tissue in the body, is not capable of feeling pain. The cartilage formations are not innervated, since otherwise the nerves would have to be in constant motion, with the risk of getting caught between the discs. For the same reason, cartilage, as the boundaries of the skeleton, which has mobility, is also devoid of blood vessels.

Therefore, the source of pain is other structures:

• the first of them is the deep ligaments, which are constantly touched by the hernial protrusion;
• the second component is the nerve roots that enter and exit the spinal cord at the level of each segment, which have sensory and motor portions.

The nerve roots themselves also cannot perceive pain. But if they experience intense compression by a protrusion, or, especially, a hernia, this will lead to the development of aseptic inflammation.

This inflammation will be of the same nature as a callus on the heel, which has formed as a result of constant rubbing from shoes. Constant mechanical irritation of the nerve roots leads to edema, swelling, they begin to be compressed by the surrounding bone canals and ligaments, and the pain increases sharply with every movement and shock (especially with intraforaminal hernias) of such a swollen nerve root. That is why the pain is shooting and sharp;

• this pain also has a constant, aching component, which is largely due to the reaction of the surrounding muscles.

A muscle can respond to pain in only one known way. This is a reduction. If the pain is constant, then the muscle is in a state of constant spasm, and excessive contraction makes it impossible for blood to flow and remove harmful substances from the muscle that are formed as a result of its vital activity. First of all, it is lactic acid.

Therefore, in the presence of an irritating factor, such as a protrusion or hernia, the muscle becomes denser and gradually falls into a state of constant, chronic spasm. Pain stimulates contraction, and constant contraction increases this pain. A vicious circle is formed.

Thus, in the pathogenesis of acute pain in the lower back with protrusion or hernia, several components can be distinguished: ligaments, swelling of the roots and muscle reaction, which forms aching pain that persists for a long time. How can we cope with this complex and multifaceted pain?

Back pain in men

Although the causes of back pain are mostly the same for both sexes, there are a number of diseases that men are more susceptible to due to their lifestyle.

Such predisposing factors include:

• work that involves lifting and carrying heavy objects;
• strength sports (including various martial arts, powerlifting, etc.);
• bad habits.

As a result, diseases of the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems may occur more often in men than in women.

Specific “male” diseases that can cause back pain are various prostate pathologies.

Prostatitis is an inflammatory disease of the prostate gland. At the beginning of the disease, the pain syndrome is localized in the groin, scrotum and lower abdomen, but in the second stage and in cases where the disease has become chronic, the pain spreads to the back.

The localization of pain in this case can either be concentrated in the lumbosacral region or spread to the entire back. This is due to the fact that the inflammatory process affects the nerve endings, which envelop this organ in large quantities. The intensity of pain is directly related to the stage of the disease. Thus, in the acute phase, pain is characterized as acute and short-term. In the chronic form, the pain syndrome is not very pronounced and is often permanent.

In this case, a urologist makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment.

Classification of pain

Lower back pain can be:

• strong;
• spicy;
• aching;
• chronic;
• displaced.

Severe pain

Severe pain occurs with osteochondrosis. Pain haunts a person constantly: when he walks, sits, lifts weights, even coughs or sneezes. Sometimes it radiates to the lower extremities. This is accompanied by numbness and a feeling of “pins and needles”.

A person feels severe pain immediately, which is why he goes to the hospital. Therefore it is easier to get rid of them

With lumbosacral radiculitis, a person feels severe pain in the lower back and other parts of the body: in the buttocks, hips, pelvis and legs. The pain becomes stronger during walking, coughing, and changing body position.

Prices for lumbosacral corset

At the first such signs, you need to contact a neurologist. It is recommended to sleep on a hard mattress to maintain the lower back in the correct anatomical position.

Acute pain

Acute pain in a person occurs in the following cases:

• Crick;
• being in an uncomfortable position for a long time;
• working with weights;
• injuries;
• sudden movements;
• hypothermia of the body;
• draft.

To eliminate such pain, you need to use gels and ointments that have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. They will help improve blood circulation and get rid of swelling. If the lower back pain does not go away two or three days after the first onset, then it’s time to see a doctor.

Acute pain is a sign of serious changes in the spine for the worse

In the first days, when lower back pain is especially severe, it is better to adhere to bed rest.

Aching pain

Aching pain in the lower back can occur due to myositis or inflammation of the lower back muscles. A person is constrained in his movements because he experiences pain when performing even the simplest movements.

Aching pain is not as noticeable as others, especially in the early periods of its development

To get rid of pain, you must first take a warm shower and then put on warm clothes. Physical activity is excluded. To alleviate the condition, it is recommended to rub in ointments that have a warming effect. If the pain does not go away after three days, it is better to consult a doctor.

Back pain in women

In some cases, back pain in women may have a specific nature associated with the characteristics of the body and the processes occurring in it. We are talking primarily about the reproductive sphere.

As a rule, pain associated with gynecological diseases is localized in the thoracic and lumbosacral regions. The most common reasons include:

1. Menstrual cycle. During menstruation, a woman's hormonal background changes, which leads to a number of negative manifestations. This is primarily due to a decrease in the level of progesterone, which is responsible for the intensity of the pain threshold. A decrease in the pain threshold leads to the fact that even minor pain sensations become more pronounced. Also, hormonal changes lead to irritation of the intestinal walls and fluid retention, which provokes an increase in the volume of some organs and, as a result, compression of the nerve endings of the lumbar spine. The combination of these factors provokes the occurrence of back pain.

2. Pregnancy. Lower back pain in this case can be divided into two groups:

– First trimester pain. If painful sensations are accompanied by additional symptoms (bloody discharge, increased body temperature, etc.), we may be talking about the risks of miscarriage. – Pain in the second half of pregnancy. Most often, such pain is associated with physiological changes, namely: active growth of the fetus, provoking a change in the center of gravity in the position of the body, and preparation of the pelvis for the upcoming labor. 3. Diseases of the reproductive system. Most of the pain is concentrated in the lumbar region, which is explained by the topography of the female reproductive organs. The most common causes of this manifestation of pain are ovarian cysts, adnexitis, ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis, etc. 4. Menopause. During menopause, powerful changes and fluctuations in hormonal levels occur. Such a restructuring of the body leaves its mark on many systems of the female body. First of all, the skeletal system suffers, which, under the influence of hormonal changes, becomes more fragile and susceptible to various kinds of diseases. 5. Large breasts. A large bust size in combination with poorly supporting underwear creates additional stress on the spinal column, and, as a result, a woman has back pain in the area of ​​the shoulder blades and lower back. 6. High heels. Wearing high-heeled shoes leads to the development of a number of diseases associated with pathological changes in the musculoskeletal system and back pain.

First aid for pain syndrome without drugs

Let's consider the principles of first aid, which can be carried out without taking medications and try to get rid of pain, and then - medications used in the first days, and even in the first hours after the onset of such acute pain.

Attention! You should be careful about one very common mistake. On the first day, and especially in the first hours, any warming up is strictly prohibited, and especially with the use of heating pads and physiotherapeutic devices that create excess heat. In the first day, swelling of the nerve roots and muscle tissue only increases, and an attempt to relieve pain by adding heat, according to the laws of physiology, only increases the blood flow to the area of ​​inflammation, complementing and increasing the volume of hyperemia. Treatment of acute lower back pain in the first day with heat will only lead to increased pain.

Therefore, instead of intensive heating, you can, on the contrary, use cooling. If the patient does not have chronic inflammatory diseases of the kidneys or female genital organs, then an ice pack or some cold object can be applied to the lower back for a short time (5-10 minutes) several times a day through dense tissue. This will reduce swelling and relieve pain.

The second thing to do is to try to immobilize the patient by putting a semi-rigid corset on him. It will maintain the necessary distance between the lumbar vertebrae and reduce the risk of acute pain.

The third non-medicinal first aid method is the use of home physiotherapeutic devices, which do not heat, but distract and irritate. These are Lyapko and Kuznetsov applicators. The needles and thorns on which the patient lies, on the contrary, allow the volume of blood to flow from the area of ​​inflammation into the subcutaneous tissue and deep layers of the skin. Thus, the pain syndrome is reduced, and the patient, at least while he lies still, experiences less discomfort. These simple remedies make it possible to alleviate the patient’s condition before using medications.

All other methods of treating acute lower back pain when protrusion and hernia occur or worsen are associated with the use of appropriate medications. Let's take a closer look at them.

Back pain due to coronavirus

Coronavirus infection leads to damage to many organs, but the lungs are primarily affected. Therefore, pain between the shoulder blades or under them is often a manifestation of inflammation that has developed in the lung tissue. Depending on which lung is more affected, the patient will feel pain under the left or right shoulder blade.

In addition to damage to the lung tissue, there is general intoxication of the body and an increase in temperature, which can also cause pain (ache) in the back and limbs.

Back pain after coronavirus is explained by the fact that the disease can not only damage the nervous system, but also, against the background of a general decrease in immunity, chronic diseases, including internal organs and the musculoskeletal system, worsen.

Back pain after sleep

The reasons why your back hurts after sleep can be:

• work involving physical activity and heavy lifting;
• low back muscle tone;
• history of intervertebral hernia and osteochondrosis;
• prolonged hypothermia of the back;
• curvature of the spine, leading to muscle strain and uneven contraction;
• excess body weight, resulting in increased load on the back area;
• stressful situations;
• uncomfortable sleeping place.

Unpleasant sensations can have varying intensity and appear under the ribs, in the lower back, between and under the shoulder blades.

To eliminate pain that occurs after sleep, it is necessary to exclude all provoking factors and consult a doctor to prescribe treatment.

Why does my lower back hurt?

The following factors may be the reason:

• long periods of driving or working at a computer in a sitting position;
• physical activity, emotional or nervous stress at work;
• intensive training in the gym (when performing exercises in a standing or sitting position);
• pregnancy and difficult childbirth;
• problems with excess weight.

Pain in the lumbar region can occur for various reasons

It happens that the pain goes away on its own. This makes it clear that if the lower back bothers you regularly, the development of a serious disease is possible. And if not treated in a timely manner, it can lead to serious consequences, which will have to be treated with surgical intervention.

Back pain - which doctor should I contact?

The primary diagnosis of pain in the back area is carried out by a general practitioner. If necessary, a number of additional examinations and consultation with highly specialized specialists may be prescribed:

• neurologist;
• gastroenterologist;
• gynecologist;
• urologist;
• pulmonologist.

To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a detailed analysis of the patient's condition. For these purposes, the doctor may prescribe a number of additional studies:

• Lab tests. Most often, this list includes general and biochemical blood tests, urine and stool tests, and in some cases, analysis of hormone levels. These studies help identify possible inflammatory processes and infections. If certain diseases or an oncological component are suspected, the doctor may prescribe a number of specific studies (biopsy, tumor markers, etc.).
• Hardware research. They help to obtain a more clear picture of the course of the disease, which cannot be achieved with visual examination and palpation. The most commonly prescribed are radiography, MRI, and ultrasound.

Medicines for treating injuries and wounds

Injuries and wounds, unfortunately, do not happen as rarely as we would like. In summer, the most common injuries are burns, bruises and minor injuries such as scratches and abrasions. But it should be remembered that any wound or injury requires serious treatment . Under certain conditions, even minor damage can cause serious consequences.

Burns
We mainly encounter household burns of the 1st (redness of the skin) and 2nd (formation of blisters) degrees.
Most often these are thermal burns - i.e. received as a result of contact with fire, heated objects, liquids, steam. Burns can also occur from exposure to the sun. The first thing to do is cool the burn area with cold water or a hypothermic pack. This will reduce pain. If you need to take painkillers, a good choice would be drugs based on ibuprofen: Next, Ibuprofen Medisorb
in capsule form, or a drug based on naproxen Theraliv 275, which is safe for patients with cardiovascular problems.

MestaMidin-sense Home
is
suitable as an antiseptic - it effectively fights germs without causing pain or irritation;
Chlorhexidine
or
ramistin
may also be used .
2nd degree burns can cause scarring. To prevent the appearance of scars and restore the skin, you need to regularly apply healing products. Usually these are drugs based on dexpanthenol
, because
it increases collagen production. This can be a spray, aerosol or foam, for example Panthenol
,
Librederm Panthenol

AfaPlast
liquid patch . They do not cause pain or discomfort when applied.
Children's Pan tenol BC foam spray
.
If you are more comfortable using drugs in the form of ointments and creams, you can use Romalen cream, Panthenol 6%, Dexpanthenol Vertex
.
For buyers who trust products with herbal composition, it would be advisable to offer Cikaderma
, which promotes healing and relieves the inflammatory process.
The treatment of sunburn is not much different from the treatment of thermal burns, but it is quite possible to prevent their occurrence. In addition to sunscreen, offer the buyer a course of beta arotine
, which will help prepare for sunbathing by improving the condition of the skin and protecting against ultraviolet radiation due to increased antioxidant activity.
It is worth giving preference to such dietary supplements as the Complex of hyaluronic acid, vitamins and collagen
;
Solgar Beta Carotene
;
Nature's Bounty Beta Carotene. Bruises and contusions
Summer is a time for outdoor activities, which are very often accompanied by falls and bruises and, as a result, hematomas (bruises).
Initially, it is recommended to cool the site of the bruise; AfaFrost
is a freezing spray that instantly relieves pain and prevents the formation of a hematoma, as well as a hypothermic package.
Ketoprofen gel 5%
or
Diclogen 5%
is suitable as a local anesthetic , depending on purchasing power.
The release form (gel) allows the drugs to be easily distributed on the skin and quickly absorbed, which ensures a faster onset of the therapeutic effect. For removal, we recommend Arnigel gel
- thanks to its natural composition, it is suitable for the smallest (1+), and a large tube (120 g) will be indispensable in a family where fidgets live.
As a budget option, suggest Troxerutin DS
,
gel with badyagi “Simple recipe”
.

The combined use of external and internal agents will be more effective; for this we recommend using Arnica Montana granules (0+)

. Mountain arnica helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels and capillaries, due to the rupture of which the hematoma appeared.

Minor damage: abrasions, scratches, cuts

Since abrasions and scratches are considered accidental injuries, they are always contaminated with microbes to one degree or another.
Wounds contaminated with soil and caused by rusty nails are especially dangerous because of the possible development of tetanus. The first thing you should do is wash the wound with clean warm water and treat it antiseptic solution
, such as
MestaMidinsense Daily
in a convenient spray bottle - it does not sting and is suitable for pregnant women and children (0+).
Miramistin
or
Furacilin
tablets for preparing a solution
are also suitable hydrogen peroxide 3%; chlorhexidine bigluconate. After treatment, the damaged area is carefully dried by blotting with a sterile gauze pad. Then the wound must be treated with antibacterial agents to prevent the development of purulent-septic complications. It is best to use drugs in powder form, such as Baneocin, which can be used from birth. To speed up healing, use Cikaderma
, which has an antiseptic effect, and its herbal components relieve inflammation and reduce pain;
it is suitable for children from the first year of life. -
based products: Stellanin
,
Solcoseryl or
Emalan collagen hydrogel
.

If necessary, the wound can be sealed with a plaster or BF-6 glue

, which is suitable for shallow cuts.
Afa Plast (liquid patch)
has become a competitor to the regular patch : it creates a protective film and does not peel off like a traditional patch.
For mothers of active children, we recommend that you always carry disinfectants with you, such as Lekker hydrogen peroxide 3%
in the form of a spray - it does not take up much space in your bag and is easy to use.

Large wounds with bleeding bodies included

Such wounds require immediate medical intervention.
As first aid for heavy bleeding, you should raise the affected area above chest level and firmly press the edges of the wound with a sterile cloth until the bleeding stops. Next, you need to treat the edges of the wound with antiseptic agents, such as MestaMidin-sense Home
, hydrogen peroxide, and a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

The wound should be isolated from the environment using a gauze pad, and for fastening it is better to use a self- fixing Hartmann bandage

— unlike gauze bandages, it does not weaken and does not “crumple.” If blood leaks through the first bandage, you need to apply a second pressure bandage without removing the previous one. If you can see fat, muscle, or bone in the wound, or, for example, if the cut is very wide and has jagged edges, you will likely need stitches.

It is also important to remember that no objects should be removed from a wound containing foreign bodies (for example, glass fragments)! Wounds and injuries, whether we like it or not, will happen in our lives from time to time. Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely protect yourself and your family from receiving them. But you can and should be ready to provide first aid when it is especially needed.

THERE ARE CONTRAINDICATIONS, YOU MUST READ THE INSTRUCTIONS OR CONSULT WITH A SPECIALIST. Dietary supplement NOT A MEDICINE.