How can activities in your 20s cause back pain later in life. What sports can potentially damage your back long-term. Why is proper lifting technique crucial for back health. How can ignoring minor back pain lead to chronic issues.

The Long-Term Impact of Youth Activities on Back Health

Back issues are a common ailment as people age, but the root causes can often be traced back to our younger years. Surprisingly, everyday activities like lifting groceries or giving piggyback rides to children can contribute to back problems later in life. Dr. Kaliq Chang, an interventional pain management specialist at Atlantic Spine Center of New Jersey, explains that while acute injuries are often noticeable, “repetitive stress and impact over time can lead to accelerated spinal degeneration.”

Two prevalent back issues that can develop with age are:

• Degenerative disc disease: Caused by wear and tear on spinal discs, resulting in chronic low-level pain with occasional severe flare-ups.
• Osteoarthritis (spondylosis when affecting spinal joints): Develops through wear and tear, leading to inflammation and pain as cartilage between joints breaks down.

High-Impact Sports and Their Effect on Long-Term Back Health

While it’s not surprising that tackle football can cause lasting back issues, other sports can also lead to long-term damage. Which sports are most likely to impact back health in the long run?

• Basketball
• Gymnastics
• Cheerleading
• Extreme weightlifting

The key to preventing back issues from these activities lies in gradual progression. Dr. Chang advises, “The muscles surrounding and supporting the back need to be built up and strengthened slowly over time so that it can accommodate any increases in weight or impact. The spine becomes injured when a force or motion affects the spine much more than the muscles are used to handling.”

The Dangers of “Pushing Through the Pain”

Young adults often adopt an “all in” attitude, disregarding minor aches and pains. However, this approach can lead to serious long-term consequences. How does ignoring pain affect back health?

Dr. Chang explains, “If someone has a known injury or pain in the back, which may not have recovered while they ‘push through the pain,’ there is potential for the injury to lead to long-term degenerative changes in the spine. The body can compensate for spine injuries in teens and 20s but certainly much less in the 30s and 40s age ranges.”

The Hidden Dangers of Repetitive Heavy Lifting

Repeated heavy lifting, whether for work or helping friends move, can cause lasting back damage. Even seemingly innocuous activities like carrying children or groceries can contribute to long-term issues. What’s the proper technique for lifting to protect your back?

Dr. Chang advises, “When you lift, you should bend at the knees to use the power of the legs as much as possible. You want to keep your spine upright and hold any heavy object close to the body when lifting.”

The Importance of Listening to Your Body

Regardless of age, it’s crucial to be aware of and respond to your body’s signals. While it’s tempting to dismiss minor back pain as a normal part of life, paying attention to these signs and using proper form can help prevent long-term damage. Why is it challenging to convince young adults to take back health seriously?

Dr. Chang notes, “Though it is hard to convince 20-year-olds to do so, it is helpful to be mindful of the potential for long-term injury to the spine when engaging in any high impact or heavy lifting activities.”

Preventive Measures for Maintaining Back Health in Your 20s

Taking proactive steps in your 20s can significantly reduce the risk of developing chronic back issues later in life. What are some effective preventive measures?

• Regular exercise to strengthen core and back muscles
• Proper stretching before and after physical activities
• Maintaining good posture during daily activities
• Using ergonomic furniture and equipment
• Getting adequate rest and recovery time between intense physical activities

Implementing these habits early on can help build a strong foundation for long-term back health. How can young adults incorporate these practices into their daily routines without feeling overwhelmed?

Start by making small, consistent changes. For example, set reminders to check and correct your posture throughout the day, or dedicate 10 minutes each morning to stretching exercises. Gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts, focusing on exercises that strengthen your core and back muscles.

The Role of Nutrition in Back Health

While physical activity and proper lifting techniques are crucial, nutrition also plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy back. How does diet impact back health?

A balanced diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods can help reduce the risk of chronic back pain and promote overall spinal health. Some beneficial nutrients and foods include:

• Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts)
• Calcium and Vitamin D (for bone health)
• Magnesium (helps reduce muscle tension)
• Antioxidants (found in colorful fruits and vegetables)
• Lean proteins (to support muscle repair and growth)

Staying hydrated is also crucial for maintaining the health of spinal discs. How much water should young adults drink daily to support back health?

While individual needs may vary, a general guideline is to drink at least 8 glasses (64 ounces) of water per day. However, active individuals or those living in hot climates may need to increase their intake.

The Impact of Sedentary Lifestyles on Back Health

In today’s digital age, many young adults spend long hours sitting at desks or hunched over electronic devices. How does this sedentary lifestyle affect back health in the long term?

Prolonged sitting and poor posture can lead to:

• Weakened core and back muscles
• Increased pressure on spinal discs
• Reduced flexibility
• Chronic muscle tension

To counteract these effects, what strategies can young professionals implement in their daily routines?

1. Take regular breaks to stand and stretch
2. Use a standing desk or alternate between sitting and standing
3. Practice good posture while sitting
4. Incorporate short walks throughout the day
5. Perform desk exercises to keep muscles active

By implementing these habits early on, young adults can significantly reduce their risk of developing chronic back issues as they age.

The Importance of Sleep for Back Health

Quality sleep is often overlooked in discussions about back health, but it plays a crucial role in recovery and prevention of back issues. How does sleep affect back health, and what can young adults do to ensure they’re getting restorative sleep?

During sleep, the body repairs and regenerates tissues, including those in the spine. Poor sleep can lead to increased inflammation and pain sensitivity. To promote better sleep and back health:

• Invest in a supportive mattress and pillow
• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule
• Create a relaxing bedtime routine
• Avoid screens before bedtime
• Sleep in a position that supports spinal alignment

Is there an ideal sleeping position for back health?

While individual preferences may vary, sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees or on your side with a pillow between your knees can help maintain proper spinal alignment during sleep.

The Role of Stress Management in Back Health

Chronic stress can have a significant impact on back health, often manifesting as muscle tension and pain. How can young adults effectively manage stress to protect their backs?

Implementing stress-reduction techniques can help alleviate muscle tension and promote overall back health:

• Regular meditation or mindfulness practices
• Deep breathing exercises
• Yoga or gentle stretching routines
• Engaging in hobbies or activities that promote relaxation
• Seeking professional help when needed

By incorporating these practices into their daily routines, young adults can not only improve their mental well-being but also contribute to long-term back health.

The Importance of Regular Check-ups and Early Intervention

While preventive measures are crucial, regular check-ups with healthcare professionals can help catch potential issues early on. How often should young adults have their back health assessed?

Even in the absence of pain or discomfort, it’s advisable to have a spinal health check-up at least once a year. This allows for early detection of any developing issues and provides an opportunity to address them before they become chronic problems.

What signs should prompt a young adult to seek medical attention for their back?

• Persistent pain lasting more than a few days
• Pain that radiates down the legs
• Numbness or tingling in the extremities
• Difficulty performing daily activities due to back pain
• Changes in posture or gait

By staying vigilant and seeking early intervention when needed, young adults can significantly improve their chances of maintaining good back health throughout their lives.

Five Habits in Your 20s Your Back Will Regret Later

Avoid these bad habits when you’re younger (like going too hard on the field and not resting injuries) to avoid back pain as you get older.

Having back issues as people age is very common. For some, it is easy to make a connection between activities or actions in their youth that led to back issues years later. But for others, it may be harder to pinpoint if they did anything when they were younger that could explain the back problems are having in the present. Is it possible that normal everyday activities such as lifting groceries and giving your kids piggyback rides led to pain?

The answer is yes. It turns out you don’t need to be a footballer in your youth to damage your back in ways you’ll continue to feel in midlife and beyond. Simple pastimes such as playing basketball or tasks like heavy lifting can lead to significant back issues decades down the line.

Kaliq Chang, M.D., an interventional pain management specialist at Atlantic Spine Center of New Jersey explains, “Most likely there will be some indication (at the time) that an injury has occurred, but not always. There may not be an acute injury, but the repetitive stress and impact over time can lead to accelerated spinal degeneration.”

Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common causes of low back pain caused by wear and tear on a spinal disc. The pain associated with degenerative disc disease is usually low-level but chronic with intermittent periods of severe pain due to certain activities (such as sitting in a car for an extended period.)

Another prevalent issue that can occur with age is osteoarthritis (noninflammatory or degenerative arthritis, called spondylosis when it affects joints in the spine). According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Osteoarthritis usually affects the lower back and develops through wear and tear. As the cartilage between the joints slowly breaks down, it leads to inflammation and pain.”

Dr. Chang cites five reasons that the back pain experienced in midlife could stem from actions you took in young adulthood.

While it isn’t surprising to discover that playing tackle football could cause lasting back issues, other sports can cause lasting damage, too. Some of the more common ones that can impact long-term back health include participating in basketball, gymnastics, cheerleading, or extreme weightlifting.

In general, all increases in activity should be gradual. But going slowly isn’t something most people think about in their 20s when they are feeling invincible. An “all in” attitude of going hard at a new sport or other activity without building a physical fitness base can be a source of long-term issues.

Dr. Chang explains, “The muscles surrounding and supporting the back need to be built up and strengthened slowly over time so that it can accommodate any increases in weight or impact. The spine becomes injured when a force or motion affects the spine much more than the muscles are used to handling.”

It’s not uncommon, especially for young adults, to “push through the pain” rather than complain of back trouble or allow it to limit them.

Dr. Chang explains, “If someone has a known injury or pain in the back, which may not have recovered while they ‘push through the pain,’ there is potential for the injury to lead to long-term degenerative changes in the spine. The body can compensate for spine injuries in teens and 20s but certainly much less in the 30s and 40s age ranges.”

Whether it’s taking a job that requires daily heavy lifting or always offering to lend a hand when friends are moving furniture or other heavy objects, repeated heavy lifting can cause lasting back damage. Especially when kids are young, parents may find themselves carrying them more often, not realizing that this could lead to any long-term damage.

From lifting grocery bags in the car to moving furniture between apartments or carrying toddlers through amusement parks, younger adults are constantly using the muscles in their backs for everyday tasks. Understanding proper lifting techniques is imperative for maintaining good back health.

“When you lift, you should bend at the knees to use the power of the legs as much as possible,“ says Dr. Chang, “You want to keep your spine upright and hold any heavy object close to the body when lifting.”

Regardless of your age, it is always important to be cognizant of and listen to your body. While it’s easy to dismiss minor back pain as just a part of life, tending to your back and using proper lifting form may help people avoid long-term damage. Dr. Chang says, “Though it is hard to convince 20-year-olds to do so, it is helpful to be mindful of the potential for long-term injury to the spine when engaging in any high impact or heavy lifting activities.”

Our Review Process

Five Habits in Your 20s Your Back Will Regret Later

Avoid these bad habits when you’re younger (like going too hard on the field and not resting injuries) to avoid back pain as you get older.

Having back issues as people age is very common. For some, it is easy to make a connection between activities or actions in their youth that led to back issues years later. But for others, it may be harder to pinpoint if they did anything when they were younger that could explain the back problems are having in the present. Is it possible that normal everyday activities such as lifting groceries and giving your kids piggyback rides led to pain?

The answer is yes. It turns out you don’t need to be a footballer in your youth to damage your back in ways you’ll continue to feel in midlife and beyond. Simple pastimes such as playing basketball or tasks like heavy lifting can lead to significant back issues decades down the line.

Kaliq Chang, M.D., an interventional pain management specialist at Atlantic Spine Center of New Jersey explains, “Most likely there will be some indication (at the time) that an injury has occurred, but not always. There may not be an acute injury, but the repetitive stress and impact over time can lead to accelerated spinal degeneration.”

Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common causes of low back pain caused by wear and tear on a spinal disc. The pain associated with degenerative disc disease is usually low-level but chronic with intermittent periods of severe pain due to certain activities (such as sitting in a car for an extended period.)

Another prevalent issue that can occur with age is osteoarthritis (noninflammatory or degenerative arthritis, called spondylosis when it affects joints in the spine). According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Osteoarthritis usually affects the lower back and develops through wear and tear. As the cartilage between the joints slowly breaks down, it leads to inflammation and pain.”

Dr. Chang cites five reasons that the back pain experienced in midlife could stem from actions you took in young adulthood.

While it isn’t surprising to discover that playing tackle football could cause lasting back issues, other sports can cause lasting damage, too. Some of the more common ones that can impact long-term back health include participating in basketball, gymnastics, cheerleading, or extreme weightlifting.

In general, all increases in activity should be gradual. But going slowly isn’t something most people think about in their 20s when they are feeling invincible. An “all in” attitude of going hard at a new sport or other activity without building a physical fitness base can be a source of long-term issues.

Dr. Chang explains, “The muscles surrounding and supporting the back need to be built up and strengthened slowly over time so that it can accommodate any increases in weight or impact. The spine becomes injured when a force or motion affects the spine much more than the muscles are used to handling.”

It’s not uncommon, especially for young adults, to “push through the pain” rather than complain of back trouble or allow it to limit them.

Dr. Chang explains, “If someone has a known injury or pain in the back, which may not have recovered while they ‘push through the pain,’ there is potential for the injury to lead to long-term degenerative changes in the spine. The body can compensate for spine injuries in teens and 20s but certainly much less in the 30s and 40s age ranges.”

Whether it’s taking a job that requires daily heavy lifting or always offering to lend a hand when friends are moving furniture or other heavy objects, repeated heavy lifting can cause lasting back damage. Especially when kids are young, parents may find themselves carrying them more often, not realizing that this could lead to any long-term damage.

From lifting grocery bags in the car to moving furniture between apartments or carrying toddlers through amusement parks, younger adults are constantly using the muscles in their backs for everyday tasks. Understanding proper lifting techniques is imperative for maintaining good back health.

“When you lift, you should bend at the knees to use the power of the legs as much as possible,“ says Dr. Chang, “You want to keep your spine upright and hold any heavy object close to the body when lifting.”

Regardless of your age, it is always important to be cognizant of and listen to your body. While it’s easy to dismiss minor back pain as just a part of life, tending to your back and using proper lifting form may help people avoid long-term damage. Dr. Chang says, “Though it is hard to convince 20-year-olds to do so, it is helpful to be mindful of the potential for long-term injury to the spine when engaging in any high impact or heavy lifting activities.”

Our Review Process

Back pain during pregnancy

Pyelonephritis

ECO

Threatened miscarriage

Urolithiasis

Cholecystitis

Scoliosis

Flat feet

Hernia

113119

03 November

Back pain during pregnancy: causes of occurrence, in which diseases it occurs, diagnosis and methods of treatment.

Definition

Back pain is one of the most common complaints of pregnant women at the antenatal clinic, especially in the later stages.

Despite the fact that pregnancy is a natural process, it is a strong stress for a woman’s body and brings some discomfort into the life of the expectant mother associated with changes in her body and the growth of the child.

Back pain leads to a restriction of the activity of the expectant mother and a violation of the usual way of life. Sometimes back pain is a symptom that requires urgent medical attention.

Types of back pain during pregnancy

It is possible to distinguish types of back pain depending on the duration of pregnancy: pain in the early stages and pain in the later stages.

According to its characteristics, the pains can be aching, pulling, shooting.

Back pain during pregnancy often occurs in the lumbar region, but can also be localized in other parts of the spine: cervical, thoracic, sacrococcygeal.

Possible causes of back pain in pregnant women

Back pain during pregnancy occurs for various reasons. Conventionally, we can talk about the physiological causes of back pain, although it is worth noting that normally, pregnancy proceeds without pain until late, and you should inform your doctor about the appearance of pain. The lumbosacral spine in women during pregnancy experiences increasing stress. The so-called physiological pain can occur in late pregnancy with a shift in the center of gravity of the body, overload of the lumbar muscles and compression of organs and nerve plexuses by an enlarged uterus.

Often, such pain occurs with multiple pregnancies and with a large fetus.

The hormonal background of a woman undergoes significant changes during pregnancy. In large quantities, the hormone relaxin is produced, which helps to relax muscles, stretch the ligaments, which, in turn, leads to joint instability and pain.

At the end of pregnancy, the so-called preliminary pains are possible – irregular pulling pains in the lower abdomen, lower back, sacrum.

Such pains are harbingers of childbirth.

They are also called “training contractions”, while the general condition of the expectant mother is not disturbed, sleep is preserved.

Pathological back pain during pregnancy, which can be caused by threatened miscarriage and premature birth , is a dangerous condition for the life of a woman and the unborn child. They are accompanied by pain in the abdomen, especially in the lower part, a feeling of fullness in the vagina (they may resemble contractions or severe pain during menstruation), bloody discharge from the genital tract.

If these symptoms appear, you should immediately seek medical help!

Any back pain in a pregnant woman must be differentiated from gestational pyelonephritis (inflammation of the renal pelvis during pregnancy). The disease begins with a rise in temperature to high values, chills, pain in the lumbar region, nausea, and sometimes vomiting.

Women with urolithiasis may experience an attack of renal colic – intense pain in the lower back, radiating to the perineum, blood may appear in the urine. However, painless spontaneous passage of stones is also possible. As a result of a violation of the outflow of urine, a violation of the kidneys occurs, and with prolonged blockage by a stone, irreversible changes in the structure of the kidney can occur with its gradual wrinkling or the addition of an inflammatory process.

Girdle pain characteristic of pancreatitis . Such pains are accompanied by loss of appetite, aversion to fatty foods, bouts of nausea and vomiting, rumbling in the abdomen, and diarrhea.

Chronic cholecystitis can bring considerable discomfort to the life of a pregnant woman: a bitter taste in the mouth, pain in the right hypochondrium and lower back, a feeling of heaviness. The exacerbation of the disease is accompanied by a slight rise in temperature.

Spinal anomalies can also lead to pain syndrome in conditions of increasing load on the spine.

Scoliosis, flat feet, hernias and protrusions of the spine can remind of themselves during pregnancy with sudden pain when moving.

Deficiency of certain trace elements in the body of a pregnant woman leads to unpleasant symptoms.

So, for example, magnesium deficiency can cause pain in the lower back and pelvic region, twitching of the calf muscles, and the threat of termination of pregnancy.

Which doctors should I contact if I have back pain during pregnancy?

If there are sudden sharp pains in the back, especially accompanied by bleeding from the genital tract, a rise in temperature against the background of complete well-being, you should seek medical help as soon as possible.

In other cases, please contact
gynecologist for consultation and necessary appointments. You may need to consult other specialists: a neurologist, a surgeon,
urologist.

Diagnostics and examinations for back pain during pregnancy

After the examination, the doctor will prescribe additional tests that will help determine the cause of back pain. The list of studies may be different depending on the alleged cause of discomfort and associated symptoms. The list of studies may include:

• ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs;

US examination of pelvic organs (uterus, adnexa)

Ultrasound scanning of the organs of the female reproductive system to assess the shape and size, as well as exclude pathology.

RUB 2,590

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Comprehensive ultrasound examination of the urinary system (kidneys, ureters, bladder)

Comprehensive ultrasound scanning of the urinary system, which allows to detect pathology at an early stage of development.

RUB 2,990

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Screening ultrasound of the 1st trimester of pregnancy (11-13 weeks 6 days)

Examination necessary to monitor the growth and development of the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy.

RUB 3,090

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Screening ultrasound of the 2nd trimester of pregnancy (18-21 weeks) with Doppler evaluation of blood flow parameters

Examination to monitor the course of multiple pregnancy, growth and development of fetuses and the viability of blood circulation.

RUB 3,890

Sign up

Screening ultrasound of the 2nd trimester of multiple pregnancy (18-21 weeks) with Doppler evaluation of blood flow parameters

A method for controlling multiple pregnancy in the 2nd trimester in order to assess the development of fetuses, the condition of the uterus and placenta, as well as to study the viability of blood supply …

5 140 rubles

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Screening ultrasound of the 3rd trimester of pregnancy (30-34 weeks) with Doppler evaluation of blood flow parameters

Ultrasound examination for functional assessment of intrauterine development of the fetus, its estimated height and weight, as well as blood circulation.

RUB 3,890

Sign up

Screening ultrasound of the 3rd trimester of multiple pregnancy (30-34 weeks) with Doppler assessment of blood flow parameters

Ultrasound examination necessary to assess the condition of the fetus, the consistency of blood flow, as well as signs of a predisposition to preterm labor.

RUB 5,140

Sign up

Dopplerometry in multiple pregnancies

Examination to exclude or timely diagnose hemodynamic disorders in the umbilical cord artery of each fetus.

RUB 3,190

Sign up

1st trimester prenatal screening for trisomies, PRISCA-1 (1st trimester biochemical screening – 1st trimester “double test”, risk calculation using PRISCA software)

Synonyms: Prenatal Screening Markers for Down Syndrome; PRISCA-1.

Brief description of the study “Prenatal screening for trisomies of the 1st trimester of pregnancy, PRISCA-1)”

Test run…

Up to 1 business day

Available with home visit

2 040 RUB

Add to cart

General urinalysis (Urine analysis with sediment microscopy)

Method of determination

Determination of physical and chemical parameters is carried out on an automatic analyzer using the “dry chemistry” method.

Hardware microscope…

Up to 1 business day

Available with home visit

410 RUB

Add to cart

Urine Culture, Routine, quantitative. Aerobic Bacteria Identification and Antibiotic Susceptibility testing

Synonyms: Urine Culture, Routine, quantitative. Aerobic Bacteria Identification and Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing.
Brief description of the study “Urine culture for microflora and determination of sensitivity to a…

Up to 6 business days

Available with home visit

RUB 1,145

Add to cart

Clinical blood test: general analysis, leukoformula, ESR (with microscopy of a blood smear in the presence of pathological changes)

Synonyms: Complete blood count, UAC. Full blood count, FBC, Complete blood count (CBC) with differential white blood cell count (CBC with diff), Hemogram.
Brief description of the study CBC: general a…

Up to 1 business day

Available with home visit

RUB 810

Add to cart

Hemostasiogram (coagulogram), screening

Synonyms: Hemostasiogram, coagulogram.
Coagulation studies (coagulation profile, coag panel, coagulogram).
Profile Composition:
No. 2 Prothrombin (prothrombin time, prothrombin (according to Quick), INR …

Up to 1 business day

Available with home visit

RUB 1,620

Add to cart

What to do about back pain?

Moderate physical activity and strengthening exercises for pregnant women reduce the severity of back pain (if there are no contraindications, you should consult a doctor to clarify the range of possible loads).

Proper organization of rest (comfortable bed, use of special pillows for pregnant women), weight control, wearing a brace as prescribed by a doctor, correct posture can prevent back pain if there are no serious pathologies requiring specialist intervention.

High heels should be avoided in late pregnancy.

It is necessary to empty the bladder and intestines in a timely manner in order to prevent urinary tract infections and constipation.

Treatment of back pain during pregnancy

Self-treatment of back pain during pregnancy is unacceptable, as incorrect therapeutic measures can cause irreparable harm to the health of the expectant mother and child.

Any pain should be reported to your doctor, otherwise you can miss a dangerous situation.

Treatment of threatened miscarriage and premature birth is carried out in a hospital. Treatment tactics depend on the situation and the cause of these dangerous conditions. If pyelonephritis is detected, the pregnant woman will be hospitalized and given a course of antibiotic therapy. With cholecystitis and pancreatitis, it is necessary to adhere to a prescribed diet with a restriction of fatty, spicy, and doctors also prescribe enzymatic, anti-inflammatory and painkillers. Women with diseases of the spine, as prescribed by an orthopedist, can use various orthopedic products, orthopedic styling, conduct a relaxing massage of the lumbar spine and hips, and exercise therapy.

Sources:

1. Obstetrics: national guidelines / ed. G.M. Savelieva, G.T. Sukhikh, V.N. Serova, V.E. Radzinsky. – 2nd ed., revised. and additional – M.: GEOTAR-Media, 2018. 1088 p.
2. Serov V.N., Blinov D.V., Zimovina U.V., Jobava E.M. The results of a study of the prevalence of magnesium deficiency in pregnant women// Obstetrics and Gynecology, journal. No. 6, 2014.
3. Clinical guidelines “Urolithiasis” (adults). Developed by: Russian Society of Urology. – 2020.
4. Scriabin E.G. Anomalies of the lumbosacral spine in pregnant women: features of the clinic, diagnosis, treatment // Traumatology and Orthopedics of Russia, journal. No. 2(44), 2007.

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact your doctor.
For a correct assessment of the results of your analyzes in dynamics, it is preferable to do studies in the same laboratory, since different laboratories may use different research methods and units of measurement to perform the same analyzes.

Lower back pain – Mishkin Artem Olegovich

The first and most important thing to know is that the body is a very complex structure. Everything in it is so interconnected and at the same time confusing that it is almost impossible to independently determine why the lower back or any other area in the body hurts.

Of course, if you hit your back and it hurts, then the logical conclusion is that the back hurt because of the blow. You can drink an anesthetic pill and relieve discomfort for a while, but how do you know that when you fell, you didn’t hit any organ, didn’t damage a nerve, or didn’t break something?

Finding any problem in the body is difficult. Often this is difficult to do even for doctors who have been studying the human body all their lives and have the opportunity to attract additional equipment for research and diagnostics.

Therefore, perhaps, the main idea that concerns all types of pain – do not tolerate when it hurts, but do not self-medicate either. Hence the main conclusion: contact a good doctor who will competently advise and prescribe competent treatment.

And now let’s go directly to the pain in the lower back. What can cause it? What complications can it provoke if left untreated? When and how can you still try to cope with it yourself? When exactly do you need to see a doctor?

Why the lower back can hurt

The lower back is the part of the back between the sacrum and the ribs. In daily activities, the lower back bears the greatest load and is more prone to injury. Accordingly, this part of the back hurts most often.

The most common opinion among patients is that if the lower back hurts, then sciatica or osteochondrosis develops. But this is not always the case. Lower back pain can even occur due to diseases of those organs that, it would seem, have nothing to do with the back: kidneys, stomach, prostate, etc.

But mostly back pain is caused by bad posture. When standing and sitting, the lumbar region is loaded more than the rest. If you stand or sit for a long time, and also stoop, the load on the lower back increases several times, and at the same time, the risk of developing diseases also increases several times.

With excessive loads and incorrect lifting of weights, the lower back also has the greatest and at the same time traumatic load. If you round your back when lifting 20 kg, the pressure on the intervertebral discs reaches 400 kg with a maximum rate of 330 kg. Excess body weight and long walks in high heels often have the same effect. Therefore, keep your back straight, watch your weight and choose comfortable shoes.

What are the consequences of lower back pain

Intervertebral discs are located between the vertebrae – these are cartilaginous structures that absorb well and make the spine mobile. In the center of each disc is a soft nucleus, surrounded by a dense ring of fibrous tissue. Improper use of the back provokes damage to the intervertebral discs and lumbar joints, promotes inflammation and circulatory disorders in the muscles of the back.

Pain may indicate a violation of posture, the development of osteochondrosis, osteophytosis, protrusions and herniated discs. If you ignore the pain, it will go into a chronic stage – then the sensitivity is gradually disturbed in those parts of the body where the damaged nerves pass. And if you constantly endure pain, the cerebral cortex develops a habit and provokes the exhaustion of the nervous system.

Back pain often signals the development of a pathology or indicates an already developed and progressive disease. In any case, pain is always a signal of the body. The signal to respond to.

Pain Relief

If low back pain bothers you for the first time or rarely, and you know for sure that it was not caused by an injury, then you can delay the visit to the doctor and observe your condition. For 3 days, keep the lumbar region calm, periodically lie on your side in the fetal position, or on your back, placing your legs bent at the knees at an angle of 90 degrees. If after 3 days of following these recommendations the pain will pass and will not bother you again, most likely you have overstressed your muscles – it is not necessary to go to the doctor. Analyze your activity and eliminate risk factors – excessive loads, improper weight lifting, etc.

If pain persists or returns, seek medical attention immediately. If the pain is provoked by an injury, consult a doctor immediately. If the pain is shooting, see a doctor immediately. If you feel weakness, numbness, or pain in your legs along with lower back pain, contact your doctor immediately.

Attempts to self-medicate may lead to complications. For example, often patients decide to heat a place that hurts. But this cannot be done, because the temperature of the damaged area is already high due to inflammation. There is also no need to try to “insert” the vertebrae – you will not solve the problem, but you will earn spinal instability. Painkillers and ointments, which are often used by patients, only lull the pain and deceive the body. It is impossible to take painkillers systematically – they do not cure, instead they can only exacerbate the problem.

In general, see a doctor.

Which doctor to contact

As we have already figured out, there can be many reasons for back pain. Therefore, there are also many specialists who work with these causes.

But initially you can go to a therapist. He must collect an anamnesis, give recommendations and refer you to a doctor of the profile you need.

An orthopaedist-traumatologist is consulted for injuries; to a kinesitherapist and osteopath – if lower back pain is associated with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. You need to go to a neurosurgeon when lower back pain is accompanied by weakness in the lower extremities; to a neurologist – with acute or shooting pain in the spine, with loss of sensitivity or mobility. If you suspect problems with internal organs, then you may need a visit to a gastroenterologist, urologist, gynecologist, etc.

The Stamina Center employs an orthopedic traumatologist, kinesitherapists, osteopaths and rehabilitation specialists who treat back pain and diseases associated with the musculoskeletal system: postural curvature, protrusion, hernia, osteochondrosis, sciatica and many others.

How to get rid of pain in the Stamina Center

Our center employs experienced specialists who will take an anamnesis, diagnose the body, prescribe additional examinations if necessary and determine the cause of back pain. After that, the doctor will prescribe a treatment program. It may consist of kinesitherapy, osteopathic corrections, therapeutic massage and orthotics.

The main method of the center is kinesitherapy. These are physical exercises on special medical simulators, which are prescribed by a doctor; performed under the supervision of a physical therapist (rehabilitator).

Kinesitherapy helps to strengthen the muscles that support the spine; restore joint mobility and function of intervertebral discs. We exclude work with large weights, do not use jerky movements and do not give an axial load to the spine. Therefore, kinesitherapy will help get rid of lower back pain, and most importantly – cure the cause.

Osteopathy is a painless method of working with the patient’s body with the help of hands, which relieves pain, improves mobility and speeds up the process of repairing damaged tissues. As a rule, osteopathic corrections are prescribed in combination with kinesitherapy.