back pain

There are primary and secondary pain sensations, and each type of pain sensation can be caused by a variety of conditions and diseases. In this article, we will try to consider only the most basic.

Nonspecific (mainly). This type of pain is directly related to problems with the spine and surrounding tissues.

Causes of spine-related back pain:

• Scoliosis. Violation of posture, leading to gradual curvature of the spine, displacement of vertebrae, and strained muscles.
• Osteochondrosis. The reason for the development of the disease is a decrease in the devaluation capacity of the spine: damage to the intervertebral disc, rupture of the annulus fibrosus and, as a result, damage to the nucleus of the intervertebral disc. Pain sensation is located in that part of the spine where there are pathological changes. So, with thoracic osteochondrosis, back pain is located in the thoracic area (back pain between the shoulder blades and below the ribs), and with lumbar osteochondrosis, a person will experience pain in the lumbar region.
• Intervertebral hernia. Due to disc injury, the soft structures of the vertebrae protrude, with the possibility of invasion (normal and strangulated hernias). The pain is localized to the hernia.
• Ankylosing spondylitis. It is characterized by back pain and limited spinal mobility, causing the patient to be forced into a "bend forward" position.
• osteomyelitis. The cause of the disease is an infectious process that develops in the spine. Patients feel pain not only in the spine but also in the back muscles.
• Spinal cord injury. In this case, the cause of back pain is the injury and its accompanying complications. The intensity of pain sensation and its localization are directly related to the type of injury and the affected part of the spine.

In 40-50% of cases, back pain is caused by damage to the joints and ligaments of the spine (skeletal pain). Another 3-5% of severe back pain is associated with damage to the root of the spinal cord (radicular pain).

Back pain associated with muscle pathological changes:

• Fibromyalgia. The inflammatory process occurs in the muscles around the spine, is characterized by symmetry, and can be chronic. In this condition, the back muscles are injured along the entire spine. The important point is that when you press on certain places, there is a peak pain.
• Polymyositis. Hypothermia can trigger this disease. As the disease progresses, patients experience muscle weakness and pain that worsens when trying to turn.
• Polymyalgia rheumatica. The cause of the disease is unknown. Infectious diseases that reduce immunity can act as triggers. It manifests as pain that increases as the disease progresses and can cover all parts of the back. Severe back pain can impair mobility so that the patient cannot move independently. Noticeable asymmetry is visible on the back.
• Charcot disease. Symptoms are caused by inflammation of the peripheral nerves along the spine. As a result of the pathological process, in addition to rather severe pain, a person's gait changes.

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

Specific (secondary pain). This type of pain, although located in the back, is usually not directly related to a disorder of the spine or surrounding musculoskeletal conditions. The causes of specific pain are extremely varied, but the most dangerous are neoplastic diseases. Therefore, pain radiating to the back may be caused by a malignant tumor in the breast, lung, or prostate region, which can cause spinal metastases.

Conditions that cause specific pain include:

• Compression of nerve roots in the chest. In most cases, this leads to the development of intercostal neuralgia. In this case, the pain is limited to the pinching site. Thus, intercostal neuralgia can manifest: pain under the shoulder blades, back pain under the ribs (on the side where the squeezing occurs). Soreness comes in different degrees - from sore to sharp, shot. Most of the time, pain syndrome occurs when moving or pressing on the affected area. This fact is the main difference between intercostal neuralgia and heart and lung disease, and it can also be manifested by pain under the shoulder blade on the left (or right) side of the back.
• Gastrointestinal disease. More commonly, they cause pain on the right side, and in some cases, it can also spread to the left side of the body. Most pain is in the lumbar and sacral lumbar regions. Sufficiently intense pain is a pathological feature associated with disease manifestations such as pancreas, colonic diverticulum, intestinal obstruction, and retrocecal appendicitis.
• Ulcer lesions. Ulcerative lesions of the upper abdominal organs (peptic ulcers of the duodenum and stomach) can manifest in the form of pain in the chest and lower back. If the lower part of the abdominal cavity is affected (ulcerative colitis), the pain is limited to the lower back. The severity of pain can vary, but the peak is usually reached at night.
• appendicitis. In acute appendicitis, if the appendix (appendix) is located behind the cecum, the back can be painful in the lower back. Pain is variable in nature and can range from painful and mild to severe and severe.
• kidney disease. Many times, they manifest as lower back pain. These findings are characteristic of pyelonephritis and chronic glomerulonephritis. Pathologies directly related to the spine can be distinguished based on the analysis of other clinical manifestations and findings.
• Urolithiasis. When suffering from renal colic, the back will be painful in the lower back. Pain is obvious, intense, sudden and independent of body position. Lower back pain with antler kidney stones. The manifestations of pain syndrome are low-intensity, and the pain is quite painful in nature.
• Female reproductive system disorders and menstrual pain. In these cases, the pain is more common in the lower back.
• Pulmonary system tumors. In this case, pain occurs when the lung undergoes germination of peripheral tumor components (metastases) into the pleural area and chest wall. The nature of the pain is severe and debilitating.
• Cardiovascular diseases. The most common causes of chest and back pain are myocardial infarction and stroke. Often, these disorders are accompanied by pain between the shoulder blades.
• Inflammatory processes in joints. Septic arthritis can cause pain to radiate from the affected joint to nearby areas, including back pain.

In most cases, the reasons for the presentation of back pain in both genders are the same, but it is necessary to highlight some disorders that differ in sexual orientation.

back pain in men

Although the causes of back pain in men and women are basically the same, men are more prone to many diseases due to their lifestyle.

These triggers include:

• work involving lifting and carrying heavy objects;
• Strength sports (including various martial arts, weightlifting, etc. );
• bad habits.

Therefore, men may be more prone to musculoskeletal and cardiovascular diseases than women.

Specific "male" conditions that can cause back pain are various pathologies of the prostate.

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

In this case, the pain can be localized to the lumbosacral region or spread to the entire back. This is because the inflammatory process affects the large number of nerve endings that surround the organ.

The intensity of pain is directly related to the stage of the disease. Thus, in the acute phase, the characteristics of pain are acute and short-term. In the chronic form, the pain syndrome is less pronounced and usually permanent.

Diagnosis and treatment of this condition is carried out by a urologist.

female back pain

In some cases, a woman's back pain may have specific properties related to physical characteristics and the processes that take place within it. First, we are talking about the field of reproduction.

Typically, pain associated with gynecological disorders is located in the thoracic and lumbosacral regions. The most common reasons include:

1. Menstrual cycle. During menstruation, a woman's hormonal background changes, leading to many negative manifestations. This is mainly due to a decrease in the level of progesterone, which is responsible for the pain threshold intensity. Lowering the pain threshold can cause even mild pain sensations to become more pronounced. In addition, hormonal changes can lead to irritation of the intestinal wall and fluid retention, which can lead to increased volume in certain organs, which can compress nerve endings in the lumbar spine. A combination of these factors triggers the development of back pain.
2. Pregnant. Low back pain in this condition can be divided into two groups: Pain in the first trimester. If the pain is accompanied by other symptoms (bleeding, fever, etc. ), we can talk about the risk of miscarriage. Pain during the second half of pregnancy. Most of the time, this pain is related to physiological changes, namely: the active growth of the fetus, causing a change in the position of the body's center of gravity, and the preparation of the pelvis for the upcoming labor event.
3. reproductive system diseases. Most of the pain is concentrated in the lower back, which can be explained by the topography of the female reproductive organs. The most common causes of this pain syndrome are ovarian cysts, adnexitis, ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis, etc.
4. menopause. During menopause, hormonal levels undergo strong changes and fluctuations. This body reorganization has left its imprint on many systems in the female body. First, the skeletal system is affected and, under the influence of hormonal changes, becomes more fragile and prone to various diseases.
5. big breasts. A large bust, coupled with poor underwear support, places an additional burden on the spine, and as a result, women experience back pain in the scapula and lower back area.
6. High heel. Wearing high heels can lead to the development of many diseases associated with pathological changes in the musculoskeletal system and back pain.

back pain caused by coronavirus

A coronavirus infection affects many organs, but the lungs are affected first. Therefore, pain between or below the shoulder blades is often a sign of inflammation of the lung tissue. Depending on which lung is more affected, patients experience pain under the left or right shoulder blade.

In addition to damage to lung tissue, there is systemic intoxication and elevated temperature, which can also cause pain (pain) in the back and extremities.

The reason for coronavirus back pain is that the disease not only damages the nervous system, but also chronic diseases, including the visceral and musculoskeletal systems, are exacerbated in the context of a general decline in immunity.

back pain after sleeping

Back pain after sleeping can be caused by:

• work related to physical activity and weightlifting;
• Back muscle tension;
• Intervertebral hernia and osteochondrosis in history;
• prolonged low temperature on the back;
• curvature of the spine, causing muscle strain and uneven contraction;
• Excessive weight, which increases the load on the back;
• stressful situations;
• Uncomfortable bed.

Unpleasant sensations can vary in intensity and occur under the ribs, in the lower back, between and under the shoulder blades.

In order to eliminate pain that occurs after sleep, it is necessary to exclude all precipitating factors and consult a doctor for treatment.

Back pain - which doctor should I contact?

The initial diagnosis of back pain is made by a general practitioner. If necessary, some additional inspections and consultation of highly specialized experts can be prescribed:

• neurologist;
• gastroenterologist;
• gynecologist;
• urologist;
• Pulmonologist.

To make an accurate diagnosis, a detailed analysis of the patient's condition is necessary. Doctors may prescribe additional studies for these purposes:

• lab testing. In most cases, the list includes general and biochemical blood tests, urinalysis, stool, and, in some cases, hormone level analysis. These studies help identify possible inflammatory processes and infections. If you suspect certain diseases or components of oncology, your doctor may prescribe specific studies (biopsy, tumor markers, etc. ).
• Hardware research. They contribute to a more intuitive understanding of the course of the disease, which cannot be achieved by visual inspection and palpation. Most commonly prescribed radiography, MRI, ultrasound.

Back Pain Treatment

In order to obtain qualified treatment, an in-house consultation with a specialist is required. Treatment selection is strictly based on diagnosis and takes into account the general condition of the patient. Self-treatment of back pain can lead to disease progression or transition to a chronic phase.

Prevention of low back pain

The main preventive measure depends on what is causing the back pain. General recommendations include:

• healthy lifestyle;
• complete and healthy nutrition;
• A reasonable dose of physical activity;
• Prompt treatment of detected diseases;
• Regularly pass preventive examinations, including those by specialists with a narrow scope.