Backache

Back pain is one of the most common complaints in people over 25-30 years old. They can arise not only as a result of overload, but also act as a symptom of diseases of the spine or internal organs. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of your health and not to ignore the problem. After all, if back pain is caused by the appearance of pathological changes in the spine, they can ultimately lead to serious complications and even disability.

Reasons

In a number of situations, the back hurts for natural reasons: after strenuous physical work, hard training, long-term walking in high-heeled shoes, etc. In such situations, the pain is caused by the formation of lactic acid in the muscles, and in particularly severe cases, and micro-lotus muscles, spasms. Therefore, to eliminate them, it is required that the back be given for a few days.

Pregnancy is a common cause of back pain. Since the body undergoes many changes, especially in the late stages of pregnancy, it can respond to this with pain in the lower back. If they are not acute and are not accompanied by discomfort in the lower abdomen or the appearance of unusual discharge, this is considered a normal variant. But at the same time, the changes that occur, a shift in the center of gravity and an increase in a woman's weight during pregnancy can provoke a worsening 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 adjust the spine. Our clinic has developed and prepared a special program of comprehensive examination and treatment for pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy.

Are degenerative-dystrophic processes, as well as other pathologies of the spine, those that most often cause back pain in women and men over 30 years. With them, the pain can be localized to any part of the back (neck, between the shoulder blades, in the lower back) and given to the head, shoulders, arms, buttocks, legs, etc. It can be of varying degrees of severity, be acute, shooting, pulling, aching, be constantly present, or occur after physical exertion. All of these are important signs that help determine the cause of the development of pain, and therefore, find an effective way to eliminate it.

The most common diseases associated with back pain are:

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

Rarely, back pain is caused by compressive spinal fractures (typical of the elderly or people who have suffered injuries, falling from a height, an accident), the development of ankylosing spondylitis, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis andother diseases of the spine.

Also, pain in different parts of the back can be caused by the appearance of disorders in the work of internal organs. For example, neck pain may accompany pathologies of the thyroid gland, inflammation in the lymph nodes, vascular diseases, and pain in the lower back 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 happens. Its appearance, in addition to diseases of the spine, can stand on the appearance of disorders in the work of the heart, etc.

But the crux of the problem lies in the fact that any disease einternal organs do not come out of the blue. They almost always result from a segmental innervation violation, i. e. , the quality of transmission of nerve impulses from the spinal cord through nerve roots and nerve branches to specific organs. Each level of the spinal cord has its own pair of spinal roots, from which the nerves branch and go to the respective organs. If changes occur in the spine, for example, bends, vertebral displacement, changes in the height and condition of the intervertebral discs occur, this inevitably affects the condition of the spinal roots and spinal cord. They can be squeezed or even injured by various vertebral 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 progressive disturbances in their work. Gradually, organic changes appear in the organs, which become the cause of the development of the disease. Therefore, in case of back pain and detection of pathologies of internal organs, it is necessary to examine the spine and find the changes that provoked their development. The impact on them will increase the effectiveness of the treatment of internal diseases and most importantly will eliminate the preconditions for their occurrence.

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

Osteochondrosis, extension 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 associated with degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs, d. m. th. , their gradual destruction.

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

For osteochondrosis, the pain is typical, initially weak, aching after physical exertion or prolonged sitting. They gradually intensify and occur more and more often. Over time, the discs become so depleted that their outer shell does not withstand the loads placed on it and deforms, i. e. an extension is formed, which eventually turns into a hernia. In the latter case, the annulus fibrosus is completely ruptured, and the internal contents of the disc are able to fall into the spinal canal.

In both cases, the protruding parts can squeeze the spinal roots, thus provoking the onset of radicular syndrome. This means that in addition to the fact that the pain will be sharp and strong, it will also be given to the arms, legs, buttocks and other parts of the body, which depends directly on which disc is deformed. So when the nerves of the cervical spine are caught, the pain tends to be given to the shoulders and arms, and when the nerves of the lumbar spine are compressed, in the buttocks and legs. This is often accompanied by sensory impairments, including numbness, crawling sensations, and gradual muscle atrophy.

The disease is fraught with irreversible changes in nerve fibers, which can lead to paralysis and disability.

Spine curvature

The curvature of the cord can be seen in any part of it. A perfectly flat spine today is a rarity, therefore, more or less pronounced deformities are present in almost every modern person. This could be:

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

In either case, bending can lead to compression of different nerve groups, which will also provoke radicular syndrome. But if, with osteochondrosis, changes in the early stages of development are visually impossible to overcome, then spinal deformities can be easily diagnosed by asymmetry of the position of the shoulders, pelvic bones, abdominal elongation, or the formation of a lump.

Myofascial Syndrome Myofascial Syndrome is not a dangerous but rather 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 appears, you can get a new attack of acute pain, which is an important diagnostic criterion.

Diagnosing the causes of back pain

If back pain occurs, whether it is in the neck, between the shoulder blades or in the lumbar region, it is recommended that you consult a neurologist. It is necessary to schedule 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.

Our center's specialists use an integrated approach to diagnosis and treatment, so they can make an accurate diagnosis quickly. Diagnosis begins with a patient study, during which the nature of the complaints presented, as well as the characteristics of work and rest, are clarified. The doctor should carefully examine the patient, touching the spine, as well as perform special functional and neurological tests. This allows you to create a comprehensive picture of the patient's condition, detect signs of neurological deficit, and assess the extent of the damage. To clarify the diagnosis, it is mandatory to specify:

• X-ray examination;
• CT;
• MRI.

If there are no contraindications, MRI is always preferred, as this method can provide more complete data on the condition of the spine and especially its discs, which allows the diagnosis of even small changes in their conditionin the earliest stages and intervention in the pathological process in a timely manner.

In our clinic, you can also learn more about your body composition and the state of the vascular system, which is involved in the blood supply to the internal organs, musculoskeletal muscles and brain. Our experienced doctors will explain the findings to you in detail. Bioimpedansometry 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 state of the muscle mass. Metabolic processes, in turn, affect the body's ability to recover. From the indicators of active cell mass, the level of physical activity and nutritional balance can be judged. This simple and quick test helps us see endocrine disruptions 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 mellitus and much more. Angioscan allows you to determine such important indicators as the biological age of blood vessels, their stiffness, the stress index (which speaks to the heartbeat), the oxygen saturation in the blood. Such a screening will be beneficial for men and women after the age of 30, athletes, those who are undergoing a long and difficult treatment, as well as all those who monitor their health.

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

Body composition analysis gives us information on how much adipose tissue is in the body and the musculoskeletal component. This data will help the rehabilitator to accurately design a physical activity plan, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Treatment of Back Pain

Treatment of back pain is always complex, as it is impossible to eliminate pathological changes in the back only with the help of medication. Moreover, for each patient, the therapy regimen is developed strictly individually. Not only the diagnosis and the stage of development of the disease are taken into account, but also the presence of concomitant diseases, the age of the patient, his work habits and features, the level of physical fitness and other factors. Therefore, even in patients with the same diagnosis, treatment can be developed in different ways. Only this approach gives maximum results.

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

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

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

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

Drug therapy

Drug therapy may include drugs from different pharmacological groups, depending on a combination of different factors. In the vast majority of cases, patients are described:

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

Patients with very severe radicular pain who cannot be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or pain relievers may be offered blockages. The procedure involves injecting a solution of lidocaine or novocaine, sometimes in combination with corticosteroids, directly into the area where the compressed nerve passes. They do not have a 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 serious complications.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is rightly considered as one of the main components of the treatment of back pain of various origins, as it allows the restoration of 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;
• begin the body's natural recovery processes and create favorable conditions for their flow;
• strengthen immunity and increase the body's ability to adapt to new living conditions, etc.

The use of special manual action techniques directly on the spine and surrounding tissues allows the elimination of pressure on various anatomical structures in the spinal roots, which leads to the elimination of pain, including those 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 restoration of deformed vertebral discs, and active muscle kneading helps to eliminate functional blocks, increase mobility and flexibility ofbackpacking and accelerating the flow of metabolic processes.

We do not have common treatment standards, an individual approach applies to 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 appearance are eliminated. And the normalization of segmental innervation of the spinal cord helps to improve the functioning of internal organs and eliminate the causes for the progression of their diseases.

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

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is prescribed outside the acute period of the disease. With its help, it is possible to increase 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 ingredient in the treatment of back pain. The stability of the result mainly depends on the regularity and correctness of its application, as the exercise therapy mainly aims at strengthening the muscular corset of the spine, 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 drugs and nutrients to the lesions, which increases the effectiveness of therapy.

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

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