In developed countries, almost 75 percent of the population consults a doctor at least once for back pain.Nine out of ten people suffer from back pain at least once in their life.People between the ages of 30 and 50, i.e. those of active working age, are most often affected by back diseases.Of all patients who come to the clinic, more than a third come because of back pain.There are effective medications to relieve pain.
Types of back pain
Back pain is acute if it is localized in the spine and has not occurred for more than six weeks.Stabbing pain is difficult for patients to endure, but in many cases it is a relatively harmless symptom that can be treated.With timely treatment, patients can return to work within a month.
If the pain persists for more than six weeks, it becomes chronic, which is an equally dangerous problem as the quality of life of working-age patients deteriorates significantly.The proportion of patients with chronic back pain is ten percent.
Reasons
It is worth noting that the reasons for the development of pathological processes in the back are quite well studied.Back pain can occur due to both risk factors and a developed disease.Back and spine pain most often occurs when:
- obesity;
- muscle strain;
- injury to the intervertebral joints;
- cramp;
- hypothermia;
- osteochondrosis;
- Bulging and herniation of the intervertebral disc;
- Neuralgia.
It is known that the presence of excess body weight significantly increases the load on the musculoskeletal system: the load on the lumbar spine increases by forty kilograms with a one-unit increase in the body mass index.A sedentary lifestyle, prolonged static posture with poor posture and a lack of physical activity lead to both acute and chronic back pain.
Osteochondrosis
The first cause of back pain is osteochondrosis of the spine.Spinal osteochondrosis is a pathological destructive process that develops in the intervertebral discs.As the disease progresses, the bodies of adjacent vertebrae, intervertebral joints and ligaments that support the spine are also involved in the degenerative process.
The process initially develops in the core of the intervertebral disc, which loses elasticity due to loss of moisture.These processes in a relatively limited area of the spinal segment inevitably lead to changes in the adjacent vertebrae and intervertebral joints, which ultimately affects the mobility of the entire spine.
Herniated disc
The most common occurrence is a herniated disc in the lumbar spine.The patient feels pain in the back that radiates to the leg, buttocks, reaches the foot or is localized on the inside of the thigh.
Mobility is restricted.Sensitivity is impaired, which can occur in the form of burning and tingling.
neuralgia
The presence of muscular neuralgia can be assessed by the appearance of acute stabbing pain in the back.It occurs due to compression of the nerve under the influence of inflamed surrounding tissue.
Pain most commonly occurs in the narrow spaces between the ribs on the back.Neuralgia occurs in both childhood and adulthood.
Injections for back and lower back pain
Nowadays, the treating doctor is guided by data from the scientific literature, his own experiences and the experiences of his colleagues when it comes to therapy, since there are no standards for the diagnosis and treatment of back pain that are officially recommended by the Ministry of Health.
The following medications can be used to treat back pain:
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle relaxants;
- chondroprotectors;
- vasodilators and improve microcirculation;
- synthetic drugs;
- B vitamins.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
This group of drugs is indispensable for diseases of the musculoskeletal system.Available without a prescription.
Available in the form of ointments, gels, tablets, suspensions, capsules, rectal suppositories, injections for intravenous and intramuscular injections.
Mandatory:
- An anti-inflammatory drug from the group of phenylacetic acid derivatives with analgesic effects.Well tolerated and effectively relieves pain.Side effects include inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis in cartilage tissue and ulcerogenic properties, i.e.h.promoting the formation of stomach ulcers.
- An anti-inflammatory drug from the sulfonamide class with analgesic effects.The difference from the previous agent is the prevention of the destruction of proteoglycans and cartilage tissue, a selective effect on inflammatory mediators, which reduces the risk of peptic ulcer disease and enhances the effect of corticosteroids.Ideal for quick relief of acute pain.Side effects include the risk of toxic liver damage.
Steroid anti-inflammatory drugs
Used in cases where non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs do not produce the desired effect.
They act quickly, have a systemic anti-inflammatory effect and relieve pain in the pathological focus.Available in the form of ointments, tablets, injections for intramuscular, intravenous and intra-articular injections.
Used in severe cases.They are available only with a prescription, as they have many side effects: weight gain, edema, osteoporosis, ulcerative processes in the stomach and intestines.
Muscle relaxants
They are used only as part of complex treatment with drugs from other groups.The effect is based on muscle relaxation, i.e.h.they themselves have no therapeutic effect.But muscle relaxation helps with persistent cramps that lead to pain and increases the effectiveness of manual therapy, massage and physical therapy.
They are used both in conjunction with NSAIDs and in cases of intolerance or contraindications.
They are only available with a doctor's prescription because they have side effects: sudden changes in blood pressure, cramps, muscle weakness and a depressant effect on the central nervous system.
Chondroprotectors
These include glucosamine and chondroitin preparations.Chondroitin promotes calcium retention and slows bone loss.Glucosamine helps improve the functions of the affected joint by increasing the production of hyaluronic acid.Available in the form of ointments, tablets, injections for intramuscular and intra-articular injections.Prescribed in combination with NSAIDs.They have practically no contraindications or side effects.
In this case, oral administration should be combined with parenteral administration to achieve the best effect:
- Injections for intramuscular administration: one ampoule three times a week for one to two months.
- Powder: Dissolve in water and take half an hour before meals.Take one pack once daily for one to three months.
- Tablets: Take two tablets three times a day with meals.
Vasodilators
The drug based on deproteinized hemoderivatives of calf blood helps to dilate blood vessels, reduce trophic and microcirculation disorders by improving the supply of oxygen and nutrients.There is a decrease in hypoxia in the pathological focus with radiculopathies, osteochondrosis and intervertebral hernias.Available without a prescription in the form of tablets and injections.
Intravenous injections of a purine derivative are carried out in the morning and afternoon, 200-300 mg of the drug.Intramuscular injections are carried out at 100 mg two to three times a day.When tablets are taken simultaneously with injections, they enhance the effect of the drug and one tablet is taken two to three times a day.
B vitamins
Used as part of complex therapy.Only three vitamins from this group are used.Thiamine is involved in energy metabolism, improves the conduction of nerve impulses, relieves pain and promotes the restoration of intervertebral discs.Pyridoxine prevents hypoxia and improves intervertebral disc trophism.Cyanocobalamin relieves inflammation, increases tissue trophism and restores the structure of nervous tissue.
Available without a prescription.They have practically no contraindications or side effects.Available in the form of tablets and injections.Use one ampoule per day for ten days.If the pain is not acute, a regimen of using 3 ampoules per week (every other day) for three to four weeks is used.
The above drugs should be combined depending on the type of disease.But whatever it is, the main treatment will be aimed at eliminating pain, stopping inflammation and restoring the functions of the musculoskeletal system at the source of the pathology.
The following therapeutic measures are used:
- Massage;
- manual therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- physiotherapy;
- electrical neurostimulation;
- therapeutic blockade;
- Decompression and surgical stabilization.
Adequate therapy is prescribed by a family doctor after a complete examination.If necessary, he refers the patient to a specialist: neurologist, gynecologist, urologist.
Blockade against back pain
Carrying out a paravertebral block makes it possible to ensure that the drug goes directly to the pathological focus that is the cause of acute pain.After performing the block, patients experience immediate relief.However, it can only be carried out in a hospital environment and only by a competent specialist.The pain relief is temporary but noticeable.The procedure also has diagnostic value.If there is no immediate pain relief after the block, the cause is not a spinal disease.
The blockage can occur in biologically active points of muscles and tendons, in soft tissues around the affected section of the spine, in nerve sheaths, in nerve ganglia, joints and joints.In this case, the injection consists of one, two, three or more drugs.These can be local anesthetics, corticosteroids, NSAIDs, vitamins and ATP.The effectiveness of blocks is undeniable for osteochondrosis, herniated discs, spondylosis and spondyloarthrosis, lumbago, radiculitis, as well as acute and chronic pain in the spine.
Blockade procedure
When blocking with one of the above drugs, the following should be taken into account:
- immediate feeling of effect by the patient;
- almost complete absence of contraindications;
- Creation of a high concentration of the drug specifically in the pathological focus.
Description of the procedure:
- Examination of the pathological focus with localization of the site of maximum pain;
- the patient is placed on his stomach;
- Treating the blockage site with an antiseptic;
- Anesthetizing the injection site and administering the medication.
There are few contraindications to a block, but they do exist: pregnancy, individual drug intolerance, infection in the area of the procedure.
There are many ways to get rid of back pain.If you have back and lower back pain, you should not only resort to pills or injections, but also consider home remedies.First aid at home is applying cold to the back (ice from the refrigerator, frozen meat, dumplings from the freezer).Painful cramps are relieved with a massage.