If you go to the doctor laziness or not the opportunity, people begin to diagnose themselves.As a result, we think that the back hurts, and later, already with the doctor, it turns out: the reason is still in the stomach.Or vice versa: we write off the pains on problems with the intestines, although the question, on the contrary, is in the back.We asked a neurologist what diseases can be “disguised” for back pain.There were a lot of options: it is better not to neglect the consultation with the specialist.
Back pain: what could be the reason
Pain in the back itself are divided into radicular (pinching or inflammation of the spinal cord roots), non-specific skeletal-muscle pains and specific, associated with other specific problems.
Nonspecific include vertebrogenic lumbalgia - this is a lower back pain associated with the spine.That is, a person has a pathological muscle tension in the lumbar region, while the spine has a defeat of lumbar or sacral roots.Most often, this is protrusion, protrusion, hernias, ”the doctor explains.- Nonspecific pains are also due to other degenerative changes, arthrosis, pain occurs in the small joints of the spine that cause pain in the lower back.
Back pain can also be due to pathological muscle tone (myofascial pain syndrome) is just muscle tension.
What these pains can be confused with
There are a number of other diseases, due to which you can feel the pain in the back, similar to the above.However, the true reason will be completely different.Such cases include:
- the departure of metastases into the spine;
- reflected pain in some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, intestines;
- metabolic diseases (such as osteoporosis);
- Pathology of the female genital organs;
- pyelonephritis (kidney infection);
- Problems associated with the bladder (cystitis).
Separately, it is worth noting that back pain can be associated with lung pathology.Especially now, due to pneumonia, ”the specialist emphasizes.
It seems that the back hurts, but in fact it is light.Therefore, consulting a doctor, primarily a neurologist, is important for verification of the problem.
The neurologist will check if your back really hurts or this symptom is still associated with other diseases.
How then to determine what exactly hurts
As we have already noted, it will not work to make a diagnosis without a doctor anyway.But you can try to assume a type of pain by its nature - for this you need to listen to your feelings.
For example, when you lie in bed, feel pain, get up - it leaves.It is more like a myofascial pain syndrome.If the back hurts, but “gives” in the leg, then this is rather radicular pain.Does the pain in the back decrease or intensify during urination or menstruation?Most often, the urinary bladder is the cause.If the pain is felt mainly after you have eaten or empty the intestines, then, probably, the reason should be sought in the gastrointestinal tract, the neurologist says.- Erings of pain more often indicate problems with the pancreas or a consequence of herpes.
The doctor will determine the cause by examining the patient, after which, if necessary, he will perform various examinations.These include radiography, tomography (or CT, or MRI), electroneuromyography, if it is necessary to determine the degree of damage to the roots of the spinal cord, ultrasound of the internal organs, ultrasound of the genitals, if we are talking about a woman.
Of course, it is also worth doing a blood test, ”the doctor adds.Depending on various indicators, you can see the picture: if the liver enzymes are not in order, it is worth examining the liver, if uric acid is not normal, then this may be an indicator of inflammation.
The neurologist says that according to his experience, people “pull” with diagnostics very often and as a result earn a lot of pathologies that could be avoided with a timely examination.
If the pain syndrome lasts more than three days, this is an occasion to go to the doctor.If the pain radiates at the feet, then all the more you need to sign up for a neurologist.Women with such concomitant symptoms as a change in body temperature, pain during urination, menstruation, should additionally visit the gynecologist.There are patients who and acute appendicitis are written off for lower back pain, although in this case there is no time to see how to seek medical help.