Back pain may be due to injury, activity, and certain medical conditions. It can affect people of all ages. With advancing age, degenerative changes increase and back pain becomes more common. The back region consists of the back vertebrae, the muscles, ligaments, tendons and discs that connect them. In addition, the rib cage is formed with the rib bones, and the internal organs are inside the rib cage; heart, lungs and great vessels. And the source of pain in the back area can be any of these.
Back pain is less common than neck and waist pain. Often, back pain is accompanied by neck pain. Back pain, which mostly occurs due to muscle-related problems, can also be a sign of more serious diseases. We can often detect the cause of back pain with a detailed history and functional examination. But in some cases, when there are findings that we describe as red flags, a detailed examination must be requested. Especially if there is pain that wakes up at night, if it is accompanied by symptoms such as weight loss, fever, skin lesions, if there is back pain that decreases with movement and increases with rest, especially if it is accompanied by morning stiffness, if the patient has a history of strain before the back pain, if there is a history of bacterial disease, if the back pain is caused by the legs. If it is accompanied by loss of strength and numbness, a detailed evaluation should be made by a specialist physician. The majority of back pain is due to physical activity, that is, regular sports, not being a part of our lives. Constantly sitting at a desk, working in front of a computer screen, as well as a sedentary lifestyle, causes the back muscles to weaken. Back pain caused by heart weakness is easily treated by posture regulation exercises that the patient does at home, regular physical activity outside, plus compliance with ergonomic rules.
What are the causes of back pain?
Muscle strains; Repetitive heavy lifting or making a sudden adverse movement can also cause strain on our muscles and ligaments. If the person is in poor physical condition, these strains cause painful muscle spasms. Sports injuries can also cause pain by causing crushing and straining in the muscles. knows. Fibromyalgia, back hernia, inflammatory rheumatic diseases, osteoporosis, flattening of the cervical spine, chronic stress, posture disorders, spinal curvatures such as scoliosis and kyphosis, and canal stenosis can cause back pain. You may experience back pain due to lung, heart or large vessel problems in the ribcage, and back pain may also occur due to gallbladder problems. Another cause of back pain is cervical disc herniation and cervical arthritis. Shingles, which means inflammation of the nerve endings, also causes back pain. Stomach diseases, carrying a heavy backpack, sleeping in an inappropriate bed, being exposed to air conditioning, standing or sitting too much during the day can cause back pain. Disorders and calcification occur in the joints and discs between the bones, and the discs may lose their fluid content and cause herniation. These changes in the joints, bones and discs can narrow the canal in the spinal cord, causing back pain. Benign and malignant tumors originating from the bones or soft tissues of the spine can cause back pain, while breast, lung and prostate tumors can spread to the spine. They can cause back pain, especially at night, and are important features of the pain that does not go away with rest. It may also be accompanied by symptoms such as fever, weight loss and fatigue.
What is the treatment of back pain?
The treatment of back pain varies depending on the diagnosis, that is, the source of the pain. After a detailed history and examination, and if necessary, a diagnosis should be made and treatment planned. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the source of most back pain is muscle. Desk workers are especially at risk. If physical activity is also lacking, the risk increases even more. In such cases, it is important to comply with ergonomic rules. Chairs should be preferred to fill the waist space. The computer screen should be placed at eye level. You should not sit at a desk for more than 1 hour, and you should get up and take small breaks of 2-3 minutes. Not exercising causes the back and abdominal muscles to weaken. It is necessary to exercise regularly for short periods of time. Tu Living a sedentary life at work and at home every week and exercising excessively one day on the weekend also increases the risk of injury. In addition to exercise and ergonomics rules, painkillers and muscle relaxants may also be recommended. Despite these, if the back pain worsens and becomes difficult for daily living activities, treatments such as device physical therapy, manual physical therapy such as manual therapy, neural therapy, dry needle, acupuncture, kinesiobap, prolotherapy, PRP, shock wave therapy and ozone therapy can be performed.
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