In developed countries, nearly 75% of the population consults a doctor at least once due to back pain.Nine out of ten people suffer from back pain at least once in their life.Most often, back diseases affect people between the ages of thirty and fifty, that is, of active working age.Of all patients who come to the clinic, more than a third come because of back pain.There are effective drugs to relieve pain.
Types of back pain
Back pain is acute if it is located in the spine and started no more than six weeks ago.Acute pain is difficult for patients to tolerate, but in many cases it is a relatively benign symptom that can be treated.With timely treatment, patients return to professional activities within a month.
If the pain lasts more than six weeks, it becomes chronic, which is an equally dangerous problem, since a significant deterioration in the quality of life of patients of working age occurs.The percentage of patients with chronic back pain is 10%.
Reasons
It is worth noting that the reasons for the development of pathological processes in the back have been studied quite well.Back pain can occur both due to risk factors and due to developed diseases.Most often, back and spine pain occurs when:
- overweight;
- muscle tension;
- injuries to the intervertebral joints;
- spasm;
- hypothermia;
- osteochondrosis;
- protrusion 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 an increase in body mass index by one unit.Sedentary lifestyle, prolonged exposure to static positions with incorrect postures and lack of physical activity lead to both acute and chronic back pain.
Osteochondrosis
In first place among the causes of back pain is spinal osteochondrosis.Spinal osteochondrosis is a destructive pathological process that develops in the intervertebral discs.As the disease progresses, the bodies of the adjacent vertebrae, the intervertebral joints and the ligaments that support the spine are involved in the degenerative process.
Initially the process develops in the core of the disc, which becomes less elastic due to moisture loss.These processes in a relatively localized area of the spinal segment lead to inevitable changes in the adjacent vertebrae and intervertebral joints, which ultimately impair the mobility of the spine as a whole.
Disc herniation
Lumbar disc herniation is the most common.The patient feels pain in the back, which radiates to the leg, buttocks, reaches the foot or is localized on the inner side of the thigh.
Mobility is limited.Sensitivity is impaired and can manifest itself in the form of burning and tingling.
Neuralgia
The presence of muscular neuralgia can be judged by the appearance of sharp shooting pains in the back.It occurs due to compression of the nerve under the influence of inflamed surrounding tissues.
The most common place for pain to occur is in the narrow spaces between the ribs on the back side.Neuralgia occurs in both childhood and adulthood.
Injections for back and lower back pain
Today the attending physician in matters of therapy is guided by the data of the scientific literature, by his own experience and that of his colleagues, since there are no standards for the diagnosis and treatment of back pain that would be officially recommended by the Ministry of Health.
The following medications may be used to treat back pain:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle relaxants;
- chondroprotectors;
- vasodilators and improve microcirculation;
- synthetic drugs;
- B vitamins.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
This group of drugs is indispensable for diseases of the musculoskeletal system.Sold without a prescription.
Available in the form of ointments, gels, tablets, suspensions, capsules, rectal suppositories, injections for intravenous and intramuscular injections.
Prescribed:
- An anti-inflammatory drug from the group of phenylacetic acid derivatives with analgesic effect.Well tolerated and effectively relieves pain.Side effects include inhibition of the synthesis of proteoglycans in cartilage tissue and ulcerogenic properties, i.e. promoting the formation of gastric ulcers.
- An anti-inflammatory drug of the sulfonamide class with analgesic effect.The difference from the previous remedy is the prevention of the destruction of proteoglycans and cartilage tissue, a selective effect on inflammatory mediators, which reduces the risk of gastric ulcers and enhances the effect of corticosteroids.Ideal for quickly relieving acute pain.Side effects include the risk of toxic liver damage.
Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Used in cases where non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs do not have the desired effect.
They have a rapid effect, have a systemic anti-inflammatory effect and reduce pain in the pathological focus.Available in the form of ointments, tablets, injections for intramuscular, intravenous, intra-articular injections.
Used in more serious cases.They are available only by prescription because 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 action is based on muscle relaxation, that is, they themselves do not have a therapeutic effect.But muscle relaxation helps in the presence of prolonged spasms that lead to pain and to increase the effectiveness of manual therapy, massage and physical therapy.
They are used both in combination with NSAIDs and in case of intolerance to them or the presence of contraindications to them.
They are only available by prescription as they have side effects: changes in blood pressure, convulsions, muscle weakness and a depressant effect on the central nervous system.
Chondroprotectors
These include preparations based on glucosamine and chondroitin.Chondroitin promotes calcium retention and slows bone resorption.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, to obtain the best effect, oral administration must be combined with parenteral administration:
- 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 a day for one to three months.
- Tablets: take two tablets three times a day with meals.
Vasodilators
The drug based on deproteinized blood derivative of calf blood helps to dilate blood vessels, reduce trophic and microcirculatory 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 performed two or three times a day, 100 mg.Tablets, when taken simultaneously with injections, increase the effect of the drug and are taken one tablet two or 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 the trophism of the intervertebral discs.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 vial a day for ten days.If the pain is not acute, a regimen is used in which 3 ampoules are used per week (every other day) for three to four weeks.
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 origin of the pathology.
As therapeutic measures are used:
- massage;
- manual therapy;
- physical therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- electrical neurostimulation;
- therapeutic block;
- decompression and surgical stabilization.
Appropriate therapy is prescribed by the general practitioner after a complete examination.If necessary, he will refer the patient to a specialist: neurologist, gynecologist, urologist.
Block for back pain
Performing the paravertebral block allows you to ensure the administration of the drug directly to the pathological focus, which is the cause of acute pain.Patients experience immediate relief when the block is performed.But it can only be performed in a hospital setting and only by a competent specialist.Pain relief is temporary, but noticeable.The procedure also has diagnostic value.If immediate pain relief does not occur after the blockade, the reason is not related to a disease of the spine.
The blockade can be carried out in biologically active points of muscles and tendons, in the soft tissues surrounding the affected segment of the spine, in nerve sheaths, 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, ATP.The effectiveness of the blocks is undeniable for osteochondrosis, herniated disc, spondylosis and spondyloarthrosis, low back pain, radiculitis, acute and chronic pain in the spine.
Blocking procedure
When performing a blockade with any of the above drugs, the following is observed:
- immediate sensation of the effect by the patient;
- almost total absence of contraindications;
- creating 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;
- treat the blockage site with an antiseptic;
- anesthesia of the puncture site and administration of the drug.
There are few contraindications to the blockade, but they do exist: pregnancy, individual intolerance to drugs, infection in the procedure area.
There are many ways to get rid of back pain.You should resort not only to pills or injections for back pain and lumbago, but also remember home remedies.First aid at home is to apply cold to the back (ice from the refrigerator, frozen meat, dumplings from the freezer).Painful spasm is relieved with massage.