Causes of back pain and treatment?

 Causes of back pain and treatment?

Many people, whether men or women, suffer from gluten pain as the human back contains a number of complex structures. Bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and discs that work together in order to provide support for the body and the ability to move, and if any of these structures are exposed to a specific problem, it may result in back pain, as back pain is a common problem among Individuals that many people suffer from, which is often the reason behind absenteeism from work because of this pain, and seeking medical treatment, and although back pain affects individuals of all age groups, lower back pain is more common with age, This is due to the presence of several different factors, the problem of degeneration of the intervertebral discs may be a cause of lower back pain with age, and by resorting to the reports of the American Association of Neurosurgeons, it can be said that 75-85% of Americans will suffer from back pain during their life, Of them 50% will suffer from several episodes of pain during one year, and 90% of all of these cases will show improvement without resorting to surgical intervention, and this is due to several reasons and as a result of Sample such as working all day, carrying heavy things, stress, injuries and many more.

The main causes of back pain are:

1. Muscle tear:

Muscle tearing or stress of the dorsal muscles is the most common cause of back pain, despite the size and strength of the back muscles, some muscle fibers may tear in them as a result of carrying heavy objects in the wrong way or due to applying a sudden force to the back muscles before they are ready for activity (making sudden twisting movements Sports injuries), and the muscle fibers tear is accompanied by a tear in the small blood vessels inside the injured part of the muscle, and this leads to the gradual pooling of blood within the muscle, and it may take several hours before the blood becomes sufficient to irritate and cause back pain, and this explains why most people bear the end of their work and not They suffer from severe back pain only after several hours.

The rupture of muscle fibers leads to pain with swelling and cramping of the muscle, and the pain may be very severe even if the injury is not serious. Muscle perfusion is generally good, and it provides them with the nutrients and proteins needed for healing. Therefore, most cases of muscle tear heal quickly (within 2 days - 2 weeks).

2. Sprain:

It is the excessive stretching of one or more of the back ligaments, and this stretching may be so severe that a tendon breaks, and muscle tears often occur with the ligaments stretching at the same time, especially in car accidents

Or crashes or injuries caused by contact sports (such as football or wrestling).

3. Herniated disc:

The scientific term for this condition is herniation of the pulpal nucleus, which is a common condition known to people as a herniated disc or disc, and is considered a relatively common cause of back pain, especially chronic pain. And we mention again that the pulpal nucleus or cartilage, as people call it, is a sticky gelatinous substance surrounded by strong fibers located in the middle of the disc between the vertebrae, and this cartilage helps absorb shocks and facilitate movement and its action is almost like the action of a spring.

The herniated disc occurs as a result of carrying heavy objects or sudden movements in the spine or trauma, as these cases lead to a hernia in the fibrous layer surrounding the cartilage, which helps the cartilage to protrude and leave its place, and it may put pressure on the adjacent nerve leading to the occurrence of lower back pain Which may spread to the buttocks and leg and is associated with a sense of numbness and numbness, and if this cartilage presses on the sciatic nerve, this condition is called sciatica pain.

The pain resulting from a herniated disc is usually severe and increases with coughing, sneezing and bending forward, and in many cases it prevents the patient from movement and activity, especially in the acute stage, and it may prevent him from sleeping as well, and this all depends on the degree of herniated disc and the degree of irritation or compression of the nerve.

Often a herniated disc occurs between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae, or between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae, or between the fifth lumbar vertebra and the first sacral vertebra, and this leads to compression of the fourth lumbar or fifth lumbar or sacral nerve root, respectively. Compression of each nerve root causes symptoms of its own, and after examining the patient, the doctor can often find out where the herniated disc is.

4. Spinal stenosis:

This condition occurs in people over the age of 50 years, where the vertebral canal inhabited by the spinal cord becomes narrow, and often as a result of degenerative changes in the joints of the spine, especially when it results in the formation of bony growths (we call them bony beaks) around the joints of the spine. These nibs, along with the thickening of the ligaments within the vertebral canal, narrow the space available for the spinal cord and nerves, causing compression of the spinal cord and the nerves emerging from it.

This condition causes back pain with pain in the thigh or leg, and the pain worsens after walking or standing for a long time, and weakness occurs in the leg muscles of the patient. If the symptoms are severe, persistent, and unresponsive to conservative treatment (analgesics, physical therapy), then we resort to surgery to decompress the spinal cord.

5. Sliding spondylitis:

In this case, a sliding paragraph of the vertebrae occurs towards the front on the one below it, and this occurs as a result of arthritis or trauma to which the spine is exposed, and this condition may be present from birth. Spondylolysis may not cause any symptoms and may cause dorsal pain with back pain, and pain may occur in the thigh or glute if the sliding causes pressure on the nerve roots. Treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms, as light exercise, analgesics, and physical therapy may be sufficient. In severe cases, we may resort to surgery.

6. Ankylosing spondylitis:

It is a type of arthritis that mainly affects the spine and leads to its abrasion and lack of movement. It is caused by inflammation of one or more vertebrae and leads to inflammation of the ligaments and tendons that connect the vertebra. The patient complains of back pain with prepuce and forward curvature of the spine. The dryness and pain usually begin in the pelvis and lower back and spread upwards along the back to the neck.

7. Osteoporosis and vertebral fractures:

Osteoporosis occurs in women, especially after menopause, where the bone density decreases and the bones become brittle, weak and easy to break when exposed to the slightest trauma. Symptoms are usually subtle and may not reveal the condition until a bone fracture occurs. Vertebral fractures may occur, causing bone pain and deformation of the spine, as well as hip and wrist fractures.

Back pain treatment

There are several options available to treat back pain:

Home treatment:

 This includes the use of ice and heat, and over-the-counter pain relievers, such as: ibuprofen (in English: ibuprofen), in addition to the exercise of light activities, such as: walking, daily activities, stopping the activities that increase the pain, and it usually gets better. Back pain after following previous instructions for several weeks.

Physical therapy:

 such as: heat therapy, ultrasound therapy, electrical stimulation therapy, and some exercises that help increase the flexibility of the abdominal and back muscles, strengthen them, and improve body posture.

Alternative medicine:

 which includes chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, and yoga practice that helps stretch and strengthen muscles, and improve posture.

Treatment with drugs: 

The appropriate medication is chosen depending on the type of back pain, including the following:

1. Injections, in the event that back pain moves to the legs, and this is done by injecting an anti-inflammatory drug, such as: cortisone, or an anesthetic medicine in the area around the spinal cord.
2. Muscle relaxants.
3. Topical pain relievers, such as ointments that are applied to the skin at the site of pain.
4. Antidepressants, especially tricyclic antidepressants.

Surgery

 and it is resorted to in certain cases, such as: spinal stenosis or a herniated disc.

Tips to reduce back pain:

1. Doing simple sports, including walking, may be a solution to treat back pain caused by sitting for a long time.
2. Take care to reduce excess weight and follow a diet to get rid of fats that harm the health of the back and spine bones.
3. When sitting at work for long periods, be careful to stand up after every twenty minutes to stretch the body, taking care to bend the body back slightly while standing to reduce pressure on the back.
4. Stop smoking because it increases the likelihood of developing osteoporosis, which causes back pain.
5. Reducing the wearing of high heels for women to preserve the health of the spine.
6. Work cold compresses on the back using ice cubes for two days and replace them with warm compresses, which helps reduce back pain.
7. Take medications for back pain under medical supervision.
8. Back massage once a week using a natural oil such as lavender oil, which helps reduce back pain.
9. Sitting upright and the lab to relax the shoulders and body with a cushion on the lower back while keeping the feet flat to get rid of back pain.
10. When sleeping, you can lie on your back with a pillow under the knees, which helps to put the spine in a proper position that helps relax and get rid of pain.