What to do if a severe back pain suddenly appears, how to relieve the pain and can you do it yourself? Of course, it is good to know how to help yourself in case of sudden severe pain, but you should not limit yourself to this: after the first emergency self-aid, you should immediately consult a doctor. In the Moscow Paramita clinic, they will always help you: they will find the cause of the pain and get rid of it.
What to do with acute back pain
Back pain occurs periodically in 60-80% of the population. It is the second most common cause of temporary disability after acute respiratory viral infections. Acute back pain can start suddenly and end just as suddenly, but it can gradually subside and become chronic. This should not be tolerated, it is better to seek medical help immediately.
Just don't panic
The appearance of severe back pain does not mean that a person cannot be helped, in most cases all this can be treated successfully, which means that there is no need to panic. But it is important to know how to help yourself and reduce the pain, and then immediately consult a doctor. Contacting a specialist is necessary because back pain is caused by many diseases and they require different approaches to treatment.
How to alleviate your condition yourself
Sometimes the pain syndrome is so strong that the person remains in the position in which the attack caught him. In this case you need:
- Lie on your back on a hard surface or on the floor with a blanket over it; if you cannot straighten your back, then you should assume a position that causes minimal pain.
- Ask your loved ones to give you a pain reliever tablet, they can all be bought at the pharmacy without a prescription:
- Apply a pain-relieving medicine for external use to the skin over the painful area: rubbing solution, ointment, gel, emulgel and other over-the-counter medicines:
- Call an ambulance; the doctor will give you an anesthetic injection (usually injectable solutions of NSAIDs) and advise you on the best course of action: call a doctor at home or go straight to a specialist clinic.
When you need to see a doctor urgently for back pain
You should contact the clinic immediately if you have severe back pain:
- appeared after an injury;
- accompanied by high body temperature and malaise;
- as a result, problems with urination and defecation appear;
- accompanied by impaired motor function of the limbs and their numbness;
- has a dangerous character, covering not only the back, but also the abdomen (suspicion of acute pancreatitis);
- radiates to the left arm (suspected myocardial infarction);
- grows, cannot be removed with tablets and ointments.
It is impossible to help yourself in such a state. To avoid serious complications, you should consult a doctor.
What to do for different types of back pain
Back pain can be different: sharp, radiating to different parts of the body, deep, painful, very strong, constant or wave-like. It can also be found in different parts of the back: the neck, chest, lower back, sacrum and coccyx. Even after a complete examination, it is not always possible to determine the cause of the back pain, and then they say that it is non-specific.
Such pain is called nociceptive, associated with irritation of pain receptors in tissues (muscles, ligaments, bones). Irritants can be mechanical (injury), physical, chemical and inflammatory in nature. In addition, the degree of changes in the spine does not always correspond to the intensity of pain. Nonspecific pain accounts for about 80% of all back pain syndromes.
Neuropathic pain syndrome is associated with damage to nerve roots and nerve trunks. These pains represent 7-8% of all pain syndromes, their feature is the high possibility of confirming the diagnosis during instrumental examinations.
The third type of pain - specific pain syndromes (for example, in spinal tuberculosis) are relatively rare.
Severe back pain due to coronavirus and other acute respiratory viral infections
With any acute respiratory viral infection accompanied by a sudden onset and high fever, muscle pain in the back, body aches and severe weakness may occur. These painful sensations are associated with general intoxication of the body. During a coronavirus infection with a high fever, back pain can be one of the first manifestations.
When coronavirus pneumonia occurs, the back pain intensifies due to damage to the pleura, which has many nerve endings, as well as due to the constant tension of the spinal muscles during intrusive coughing. A large amount of lactic acid accumulates in the muscles of the back, causing irritation and pain.
What will help: you can take paracetamol by mouth - it is an analgesic and antipyretic. Taking any NSAIDs orally and applying them to the skin in the form of ointments and gels will also help.
Severe pain in the upper back (cervical spine)
Acute pain syndrome can be of a mixed non-specific and neuropathic nature. Non-specific pains are often associated with incorrect forced position of the table during work, tension in the muscles of the back and neck. A short-lasting painful attack may occur with angina and radiate to the left arm.
Neuropathic pain has a sharp, burning character, radiates to the arm and scapula on the affected side and is associated with pinched nerve roots of the cervical spine.
How can I help you:
- for pain resulting from spinal diseases - NSAIDs;
- heart attack - nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue; if the pain does not go away within a minute, take another tablet and call an ambulance.
Severe pain in the chest and shoulder blades
The back in the area of the chest and between the shoulder blades most often hurts due to a sedentary lifestyle and a long time of the body in an uncomfortable position. Very often this condition appears in those who sit in front of the computer for several hours a day. Weakened muscles cannot withstand the load and hurt.
The child's development can be disturbed due to incorrect posture - a lateral distortion of the chest occurs - scoliosis. If measures are not taken in time, the vertebrae are displaced and a compression fracture can occur.
Severe pain between the shoulder blades can occur when pinching the roots of the spinal nerves of the chest. It may radiate to the intercostal spaces or the left arm and resemble an attack of angina, but is not relieved by nitroglycerin.
Sharp pain in the area of the shoulder blades can appear due to various diseases of internal organs: heart, stomach, pancreas, lungs (with damage to the pleura), kidneys, gall bladder.
How can I help you:
- in case of damage to the musculoskeletal system - NSAIDs (see the section "How to relieve your condition yourself");
- with spasm of the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle (angina) - a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue;
- for diseases of internal organs - only a doctor can decide; in some cases, taking painkillers can lead to serious complications, for example, in appendicitis or cholecystitis, the pain that indicates the need for surgery can be removed.
If you do not understand what hurts you, it is better to call an ambulance.
My back hurts a lot
The syndrome of acute lumbar pain is most often associated with the condition of the spine, has a non-specific character and accounts for about 80% of all pain in this area.
Neuropathic pain syndrome is about 7-8%. Thus, acute sudden pain in the lower back (lumbago) is usually associated with pinching of the spinal roots in the lumbar spine. Sharp, sudden pain in the buttock, radiating to the back of the thigh (sciatica) when the sciatic nerve is pinched or inflamed.
The lower back can also hurt in diseases of the kidneys, urinary tract and genital organs.
How can I help you:
- in myositis - NSAIDs;
- for neuropathy - NSAIDs do not always relieve pain, you should consult a doctor to prescribe a full course;
- for diseases of internal organs - depends on the diagnosis, which can only be established by a doctor.
Severe pain in the back and abdomen
Such pains are dangerous, they are most often associated with diseases of the internal organs. When they appear, they first think of acute pancreatitis. Acute pain syndrome has a dangerous nature, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and requires urgent hospitalization of the patient. If this is not done, necrosis of the pancreatic tissue may occur and the patient may die.
Less commonly, girdle pain occurs with kidney disease. This condition also requires medical attention. With cholecystitis and an attack of cholelithiasis, pain may appear on the right side, radiating up to the collarbone.
Sharp pain in the girdle can occur with intercostal neuralgia, caused by pinching of the spinal roots of the lower parts of the chest. The pain is so strong that it deprives the patient of sleep.
How can I help you:
- for intercostal neuralgia - NSAIDs;
- for diseases of internal organs - immediately call an ambulance; Before the arrival of the doctor, you can take 2 No-shpa tablets.
Severe pain in the back that radiates to the leg
Irradiation of sharp pain in the buttock and the back surface of the right or left leg to the knee indicates a violation of the nerve roots of the lumbar region with the involvement of the sciatic nerve in the process. The pain syndrome is particularly strong, has the character of an electric discharge and is accompanied by painful convulsive twitching.
How to help: call an ambulance as soon as possible, and before that take NSAIDs and apply anesthetic ointment, but this is not very effective.
My back hurts when I inhale too much
Painful breathing occurs most often:
- with intercostal neuralgia - the pain increases with any movement, including inhalation and coughing;
- in acute diseases of the lungs and bronchi with involvement of the pleura - pleuropneumonia, lung cancer.
How to help: call a doctor at home and find out the problem; It is impossible to do this alone.
My back hurts a lot under my ribs
This localization is often associated with diseases of the internal organs:
- sharp, severe pain that does not subside and cannot be relieved, radiating to the stomach and spreading to the opposite side of the back; accompanied by nausea and vomiting - in acute pancreatitis;
- acute paroxysmal pain, often radiating in the groin area - with urolithiasis during the passage of a stone through the urinary tract.
How to help: call an ambulance - this is an emergency situation that often requires hospitalization; A pain reliever can help relieve the pain slightly.
Back pain
Sharp pain on the side of the back can also be associated with diseases of the musculoskeletal system and internal organs. Based on the location and nature of the pain, its origin can be assumed. If there is pain in the right side:
Location on the right middle back:
- sharp pain radiating along the intercostal nerves - it can be assumed that the nerve roots of the chest are pressed;
- local pain - muscle inflammation;
- deep, aggravated by deep inspiration and coughing - often associated with diseases of the pleura - pleurisy, cancer of the lung with budding into the pleura.
Localization on the right side under the ribs:
- intercostal neuralgia due to damage to the right nerve root;
- diseases of the pancreas, liver and bile ducts.
Pain in the left side:
- Severe burning pain along the ribs at any level is neurogenic pain associated with spinal pathology.
- Sharp, sudden, short-lasting pain in the upper and middle back, often radiating to the left arm - an attack of angina pectoris.
How can I help you:
- in spinal diseases - NSAIDs;
- for angina pectoris - Nitroglycerin under the tongue;
- with attacks of pancreatitis, cholecystitis, urolithiasis - take 2 No-shpa tablets.
If the pain does not go away, you should call an ambulance.
Back muscles hurt a lot
Muscle pain in the back occurs with a cold, acute respiratory viral infections or after prolonged training. In people who lead a sedentary lifestyle, muscles can hurt even with little physical activity.
Any disease of the spine (osteochondrosis, disc herniation, scoliosis, etc. ) is always accompanied by tension in the back muscles, as they protect the spine from any negative influences. At the same time, muscle tension increases back pain.
How to help: contact a neurologist, examine and determine the cause of the pain; You can relieve severe pain yourself with the help of an NSAID ointment or gel, but it will be difficult to completely get rid of the pain.
Severe pain in the back at night and in the morning
Night and morning back pain is a serious symptom, one of the signs of the inflammatory process. As a rule, the pain is combined with other symptoms: age up to 40 years, gradual onset, morning stiffness of movements up to half an hour or more, elimination of pain after the start of physical activity.
This is a serious symptom that deprives patients of sleep and develops in diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis (ankylosing spondylitis), reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, juvenile chronic arthritis, arthritis associated with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.
How to help: do not do anything yourself, you need to contact a rheumatologist, conduct an examination and treat the identified pathology.
Severe back pain during pregnancy
The pain syndrome during pregnancy has a mechanical nature. A growing fetus increases the load on the muscles and ligaments of the back. In the muscles of the back, under constant tension, an increased amount of lactic acid is produced, which leads to the appearance of muscle pain.
The pain syndrome can also have an acute, paroxysmal character, which indicates a violation of the spinal roots against the background of a high load on the spine. The pregnant woman experiences severe pain, does not sleep and is constantly in a state of stress.
How can I help you:
- contact a neurologist or a therapist at a prenatal clinic, he will conduct an examination and prescribe the necessary treatment; You can't take medicines yourself: many NSAIDs are contraindicated during pregnancy;
- Wearing an abdominal support bandage is indicated.
The most common diseases causing back pain
Back pain syndrome in most cases develops against the background of any diseases of the musculoskeletal system, neuroendocrine system or internal organs. The most common are osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, ankylosing spondylitis, oncological processes in the spine, etc.
Osteochondrosis and disc herniation
It is a degenerative-dystrophic process that leads to the gradual destruction of the intervertebral discs (cartilaginous shock-absorbing plates with an elastic core in the middle). The discs crack, lose their elasticity and can completely collapse. In this case, the core of the disc protrudes and presses on the nerve roots or the spinal cord - a disc herniation develops.
When the roots are pinched, severe back pain occurs, often radiating to large nerve trunks. Most often this happens in the lumbar region, which can withstand the greatest load. It first hurts in the lumbar region, and then radiates to the back surface of the lower limb (lumboischialgia). The earlier the treatment of this disease begins, the faster the patient will get rid of the pain.
Ankylosing spondylitis
The correct name of the disease is ankylosing spondylitis. It is a chronic inflammatory systemic disease of the connective tissue associated with autoimmune processes (allergy to the patient's own tissues) and aggravated heredity. Mostly men under 40 are affected.
Damage to the joints and ligaments of the spine occurs, accompanied by severe back pain and gradual formation of immobility of the spine (ankylosis). The process starts in the lower parts of the spine and gradually goes up. The characteristics of the pain syndrome are: night and morning back pain, morning stiffness, which disappears no less than half an hour after waking up and starting active movements. It is very important to pay attention to these symptoms in a timely manner and consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Lung cancer
The tumor develops slowly from the mucosa of large or small bronchi. Initially, the disease is asymptomatic, then a cough appears and inflammatory processes in the bronchi and lungs periodically develop. When the tumor grows in the pleura (a thin layer covering the chest with one layer and the lungs with the other), there is back pain that worsens with deep breathing, coughing or sneezing.
If you have back pain that worsens with breathing and coughing, you should immediately consult a doctor!
Diagnosis
The correct diagnosis of the disease is very important, because the treatment is prescribed based on its results. It is established on the basis of a study and examination of the patient by a doctor and data from additional tests, including:
- Laboratory tests - general and biochemical blood tests, urine; immunological blood tests, rheumatoid factor;
- Instrumental studies: radiography of the spine; magnetic resonance or computed tomography (MRI or CT); radioisotope scintigraphy - performed at the slightest suspicion of oncological pathology.
But even with a complete examination, it is not always possible to identify or exclude one or another cause of pain.
How to treat back pain
The main goal of treatment is to relieve pain and suppress the transition of an acute pathological process to a chronic one. For this purpose, treatment of the main disease is prescribed, as well as symptomatic drug therapy and non-drug treatment methods.
Algorithm for treatment of acute pain syndrome:
- short-term bed rest (2-5 days) in combination with drug therapy and reflexology (RT); long-term adherence to bed rest contributes to the transition of the acute process to a chronic one; it is possible to prescribe a short course of wearing orthopedic devices: cervical collar for pathology in the upper back and neck or lumbar belt;
- semi-bed rest for the next 7-8 days; the course of drug therapy and RT continues, light physical exercises and physiotherapy procedures (electrophoresis with pain-relieving drug solutions) are added;
- physical activity regime with small restrictions (10-20 days); drug therapy is carried out according to the indications; physiotherapy (laser and magnetic therapy), RT; add a course of manual therapy and massage;
- a regime of physical activity without restrictions (but without lifting weights) with the performance of specially selected exercises for therapeutic gymnastics;
- pain prevention - regular exercise therapy and feasible sports to raise the quality of life to a new level.
Drug therapy
Since the examination does not always reveal the causes of the pain, the treatment takes into account its nature (nociceptive, neuropathic):
- In case of very strong, acute pain, paravertebral blocks with novocaine are performed. If the pain syndrome is not relieved, epidural blocks are performed - pain relief by introducing anesthetics into the epidural cavity, located between the dura mater and the periosteum of the spine.
- Less severe pain is relieved by intramuscular administration of drugs from the group of NSAIDs. The selection of drugs is carried out individually, taking into account the properties of the drug and the individual characteristics of the patient. The most effective drug can cause gastrointestinal complications, so if the patient has stomach diseases, more modern NSAIDs will help relieve back pain.
- To eliminate back muscle spasms, muscle relaxants are prescribed.
- Vitamins of group B (B1, B6, B12) have a beneficial effect on the peripheral nervous system and enhance the analgesic effect of NSAIDs. These medications can be given as injections with individual vitamins or as a solution containing all 3 vitamins and the pain reliever lidocaine. After the condition improves, you can take tablets orally.
- In case of neuropathic pain associated with the involvement of nerve fibers in the process, antidepressants and anticonvulsants are included in the complex treatment. These remedies help relieve pain.
When treating severe back pain, the most important thing is to prevent acute pain from becoming chronic. Therefore, the patient should seek medical attention as soon as possible.