Discomfort in any part of the spine limits mobility, reduces performance and significantly affects quality of life. Back pain can have different causes, which are not always associated with bone and joint structures. To determine the factors causing the problem, you will need to see a doctor.
Types of back pain
There are two reasons why this syndrome occurs. In the first case, back pain is caused by pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. It includes bone, joint and muscle tissue, ligaments and tendons. The second likely reason that there is severe pain in the back on the right or on the left is damage to internal organs. Inflammatory processes are often accompanied by compression of the nerve roots, which causes the considered problem.
Back pain with diseases of the spine
Damage to the musculoskeletal system is an obvious factor in discomfort. If the back hurts between the shoulder blades, in the neck or lower back, it is important to pay attention to the intensity, duration and nature of the symptom.
In diseases of the spine, neighboring muscles, joints and ligaments, pain has the following characteristics:
- Strong- discomfort is difficult to tolerate without pain relievers or anti-inflammatories. The sensations are very pronounced, limit mobility and flexibility.
- Paroxysmal- occurs in a certain position of the body or during certain movements. It is extremely rare that the back hurts constantly.
- Sharp- sharp, stab, shoot. The feelings are similar to sudden mechanical damage.
Back pain with diseases of internal organs
Puffiness, inflammation, suppuration cause an increase in the volume of soft tissue. This leads to compression of nerve roots and nearby endings, causing pain under the left or right scapula, neck, lower back, or tailbone. The symptom presented is less pronounced, compared to pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Even if the whole back hurts, the discomfort is tolerable. They are durable, sometimes permanent.
Pain may be specific to this:
painful- ;
- pulling;
- by pressing;
- is stupid.
Why is your back hurting?
After dealing with the characteristics and severity of the indicated trait, it is important to determine its location. It should be understood that the exact causes of back pain cannot be determined on your own. For a correct diagnosis, a thorough medical examination, laboratory and instrumental studies will be required. Pain under the right scapula, for example, can cause both osteochondrosis and lung damage on that side of the body. Due to the multifactorial nature of the problem described, it is dangerous to self-medicate.
Back hurts above shoulder blades
Discomfort, stiffness and poor mobility in the shoulder girdle and neck are characteristic of osteochondrosis. Back pain can be felt on the left or on the right, depending on the location of the strangled nerve root.
In addition to osteochondrosis, a pathological symptom occurs for the following reasons:
- stretch; muscle overload
- ;
- osteoarthritis;
- fibromyalgia;
- ankylosing spondylitis;
- spinal stenosis; myofascial syndrome
- ;
- rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis;
- polymyalgia;
- intervertebral hernia;
- neck injuries; osteomyelitis
- ;
- tuberculosis;
- acute thyroiditis;
- neoplasms of any quality, their metastases;
- mechanical damage to the spine;
- diseases of internal organs (kidneys, brain, heart, intestines, esophagus and others);
- lymphadenitis; shingles
- ; meningitis
- .
Back hurts shoulder blades
The central part of the spine is the most common location for stabbing, pulling and cutting sensations. In this case, it is important to clarify the side in which the discomfort is felt.
Pain under the right shoulder blade of the back of the back can occur for the following reasons:
- bilious hepatic colic;
- subphrenic abscess;
- renal function disorders; cholecystitis
- ;
- tuberculosis.
If the back hurts on the left shoulder blade, the following pathologies are suspected:
- psychological problems;
- ulcerative gastritis;
- diseases of the esophagus;
- myocardial infarction;
- inflammation of the pancreas;
- renal colic.
Back pain in the area of the middle shoulder blades often indicates ailments of the musculoskeletal system:
- herniated disc; osteochondrosis
- ;
- injury to the scapula;
- curvature of the spine;
- spondylarthrosis;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- pterygoid scapula;
- disk protrusion; muscle spasm
- ;
- humeral-scapular polyarthrosis;
- tumor, osteomyelitis of the scapula.
Less often it hurts the center of the back with pathologies of internal organs:
- hepatitis;
- respiratory diseases of the lungs; cholecystitis
- ;
- biliary dyskinesia;
- duodenal ulcer;
- ischemic heart disease;
- angina pectoris.
Back pain in the lumbar region
The presented part of the spine has maximum load, so it is easy to damage it. Severe back pain mainly occurs after strenuous exercise or physical fatigue. It gradually disappears in the process of resting on its own.
Back pain in the lumbar region can have the following causes:
- ruptures and deformations of the intervertebral discs;
- fracture of one or more vertebrae;
- inflammation of the joint capsules; osteochondrosis
- ; fibrositis
- ;
- rupture of the vertebral ligaments;
- compression of nerve endings; osteoporosis
- ;
- sacred radiculitis; scoliosis
- ;
- lordosis;
- arthritis and osteoarthritis;
- tumors of the spine;
- diseases of the genitourinary system;
- intestinal and renal pathology;
- Reiter syndrome;
- epidural abscess;
- brucellosis of the intervertebral disc;
- start of the menstrual cycle;
- pancreatitis;
- urolithiasis;
- pyelonephritis;
- cystitis and others.
Pain in the lower back below the waist
Discomfort in the coccyx area rarely occurs in isolation, it is combined with discomfort in adjacent parts of the spine.
Pain under the lower back occurs for the following reasons:
- fracture of the coccyx; scoliosis
- ;
- sprain of ligaments, muscles; osteoarthritis
- ;
- protrusion; hernia
- ;
- lordosis; osteochondrosis
- ;
- ankylosing spondylitis; radiculitis
- ;
- intestinal obstruction;
- inflammation of the appendix;
- renal pathology;
- chronic constipation; gastritis
- ;
- pyelonephritis;
- hepatitis; cystitis
- ;
- pregnancy;
- menstruation;
- climax;
- urolithiasis; ovarian cyst
- ;
- uterine fibroids;
- inflammation of the appendages;
- endometriosis and others.
What to do if your back hurts?
First, it is important to understand that it will not be possible to independently determine the true cause of the discomfort. The diagnosis and treatment of back pain is the prerogative of a qualified specialist. Before seeing your doctor, you can reduce the discomfort with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or pain relievers. Comprehensive therapy is carried out by an experienced doctor.
Which doctor should I contact if I have back pain?
The first specialist recommended by reception is a therapist. He will be able to guess why his back hurts and refer him to a specialist doctor. Depending on the reasons, doctors from the departments of the musculoskeletal system or internal organs are engaged in therapy.
The following specialists treat severe back pain:
- vertebrologist;
- neuropathologist (neurologist);
- urologist;
- nephrologist;
- podiatrist;
- gynecologist;
- endocrinologist; cardiologist
- ;
- gastroenterologist.
Ointment for back pain
Topical medications do not eliminate the triggers, but temporarily relieve the discomfort and help support effective treatment.
When the back muscles ache, it is better to use local irritant drugs with a warming effect.
For damage to bones, joints and ligaments, anti-inflammatory ointment is recommended for pain in the lower back, back or neck.
Injections for back and lower back pain
A pronounced symptom interferes with normal activity of living and basic self-service in daily living. To relieve the intense or unbearable sensations, you will need an intramuscular pain reliever for back pain. Nonsteroidal pain relievers relieve inflammation and block the sensitivity of nerve receptors, so they quickly bring relief.
Exercises for back pain
Active physical activity in the acute period of any pathology is strictly prohibited. Pain under the scapula caused by heart problems can not only get worse due to gymnastics, but also be complicated by a heart attack. It is important to coordinate all activities with your doctor or to perform them during the recovery period.
Upper back and neck exercises (repetitions 3-5 times):
- Back pressure.Close your hands at the back of your head in a "lock". Press on it, trying to lower your head forward. Resist neck muscles with 5-7 second delay.
- Front pressure.Place your palms on your forehead. Press down on it trying to throw your head back. Resist with the neck, lingering for 5-7 seconds.
- Lateral pressure.Press alternately on the head with the left and right palms. Resist by craning your neck, as in the previous points.
- Circular movements.Lower your chin to your chest. Slowly rotate your head from side to side and back, as if you are rubbing your collarbones.
- is running.Look one way, then the other, lingering in each position for 5 seconds.
Exercises if the back hurts in the shoulder blades (repetitions 5 to 10 times):
- Press.Lying on your back, close your hands behind your head, bend your legs at the knees. Breathe deeply. As you breathe out, simultaneously stretch your elbows and knees toward your stomach so that they are touching.
- Walking climber.Standing on all fours, move around the room according to the "left hand, right leg" principle. Continue for 10 to 20 minutes.
- Bridge of Glute.Lying on your back, bend your knees, stretch your arms along the body. Raise the pelvis and lower it.
- Stretch.Stand with your legs wider than your shoulders. Without bending your back, stretch your chest alternately towards your right and left knees.
- Fold.In the position of the previous stitch, lower your head as far as possible with your back straight.
Lower back pain exercise (10-15 repetitions):
- Embryo.Lie down, bend your knees. Pull them with your hands to your chest, linger for 10 seconds.
- Cat.Standing on all fours with your hands on the floor, bend your back.
- Camel.Bend the spine in a similar position.
- Rotation.Starting position - as in the first exercise. Rotate the pelvis and legs to the left and right without lifting the lower back off the floor.
- Hound dog.Get on all fours. Stretch your right arm forward and straighten your left leg, hold for 5 seconds. Repeat for the other side.