We heard enough already about what the worst pain in the neck and back can occur due to a failure of a herniated disc, and if there's severe pain, go to the doctor in the wake of a terrible penalty. However, the myth of inevitable pain when the hernia is excessive: hernia often is not the cause of pain in the back and neck, although many of the older people in the picture are fixed at the same time, even a few 3-4 mm herniation. And how, then there is severe pain in back and neck, even among young people?
Reasons for pain in the neck and back
Back and neck pain, appear most often due to spasms in the muscles and joints subluxations of the vertebrae. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of muscles and joints is made well enough. The smallest hernia, and the protrusion is immediately identified with the use of CT and MRI, while the subluxations and misalignment of the vertebrae often remain unnoticed. Electromyography , which allows to identify explicitly the different muscle tone, often not conducted at all.
How and why you may experience abnormal muscle spasms or subluxation of the vertebrae? Maybe they are only possible in weightlifting or only occur after injuries or injuries of the spine?
The fact of the matter is that it can happen to absolutely anyone, and almost imperceptibly.
Muscle spasms may increase throughout life and in themselves lead to changes in the spine and sprains
Cramps in the muscles of the back and neck
A boost to muscle cramps can be quite humdrum affairs:
- Constant uncomfortable a tense posture in the sitting position
- The second reason is the sudden movement and disproportionate physical activity (applies especially for fans of independent fixes and keen gardeners): muscle spasm of the thoracolumbar division of the back pain can happen due to heavy loads to extend forward of the hands; pain and tension in the muscles of the lumbar-sacral region occurs due to the attempts to raise the heavy tilt position
- The third reason is the inflammation of the muscles (myositis) due to elemental exposure. Probably everyone knows that shot in the neck or back, caused by a disastrous drafts. Oddly enough, it happens more in the summer than in the winter season. The reason for this is in the wrong is the air conditioning works, all displayed the same wrong temperature (too great a difference between external and preset temperature)
Symptoms of pain in the neck and back
- Cervical myositis (sometimes referred to as cervical radiculitis) causes a backache coming on one side from the top of the head through the ear to the shoulder and arm
- Backache in the thoracic region of the back radiates to ribs in the form of intercostal neuralgia. Localization in the left part of the chest leads to simulate a heart attack
- Lumbar backache (lumbago), are given in the thigh. Same with inflammation of the sciatic nerve causes a sharp pain attack of "sciatica" in which the pain extends from the gluteal muscles and down the entire back of the thigh and lower legs literally to feet
The mechanism of pain in the muscles
Why pain syndrome arising in the muscles, and are often treated difficult, despite the fact that the first attack is able to pass just by itself? Why do the muscles hurt?
The pain is so insidious phenomenon that resembles the beast that was awakened. While he is napping, that's okay. But, it's worth it to Wake up, you will have problems.
If the resulting spasm of the muscles in the back and neck going through the affect of muscles, nerves, allows the reflex mechanism of the pain reminiscent of a hell of boomerang:
- A pinched nerve multiplies a muscle spasm (this is their natural protective pain response)
- Repeated spasm of the muscle irritates the nerve again and everything that happens in the never ending circle
The pain simply can not subside due to constant reflex irritation.
Therapy of muscular back and neck pain
Contributes to the development of chronic pain syndrome and inappropriate treatment:
- Heat packs to the painful area, hot tubs, rubbing at first glance, it seems to lead to relief, but then the swelling of the muscles of the back and neck even more important and acute pain
- Conduct therapeutic exercises, and even exercises for stretching in the course of the exacerbation may also lead to worsening of the situation, because the reaction already tense muscles under the influence of the additional load can be unpredictable. In some cases, they can relax, while others become even more intense
- A similar reaction can occur during the massage
Pulled muscles are very firm to the touch, and the man himself is extremely difficult to bend-stretch, rotate neck, elevate and take away the hand.
The treatment of muscle spasms and acute pain need to be directed to a more rapid elimination of pain syndrome
This is assigned to a week of bed rest and held:
- Five to seven-day course of the pain non-steroidal medication
- With great pain in the region made novocaine or Lidocainum blockage
- The sessions of post-isometric relaxation is a very effective static exercises to relieve pain
- Manual therapy and acupuncture, provided that they are performed by qualified professionals
- Myofascial massage with the stimulation of the trigger (pain) points
Trigger points and area of pain is not always the same:
- Pains in the lower part of the back, and the muscles, tightens the much lower, and not back and forward
The displacement of the joints of the vertebrae of the back and neck
The displacement (subluxation) of the joints of the vertebrae, is not an unusual phenomenon. It can cause:
- Spinal injury, and even ordinary household: a fall, a blow, a bad fall on the feet, etc.
- A sharp incline, turn neck and torso with too great an angle
- Constant muscle spasm, compressing the vertebrae
Diagnosis of displacement of the joints
If subluxation occurs after a fall or bad dynamics, to diagnose it can be sudden and long-term pass pain. In the course of displacement, you can hear a crunching or clicking
- The surprise factor of the pain syndrome should alert the physician, as well as in degenerative disc disease or hernia the pain is chronic and has been present for a number of years
- If the subluxation is caused by muscles, diagnosing it is more difficult, as the displacement develops slowly and is manifested with a gradual increase in pain and immobility
Offset joints can not give a vivid clinical picture, except in those cases when it occurs in transitional areas:
- Cervical-thoracic
- Thoracolumbar
- Lumbosacral
Each Department has its own characteristic additional features of the displacement of the vertebra:
In the cervix:
- Sick and dizzy to the floor fainting
- Eclipse, flies before the eyes, noise in the ears
- The curvature of the neck
- Weakness in the arm, burning sensation and numbness in the fingers (syndrome cervico-brachial plexus)
In the chest:
- Stabbing pain between the shoulder blades, radiating to the sternum and the abdomen
These symptoms are a common reason for hospitalization of patients with suspected myocardial infarction, ulcers, and even inflammation of the appendix.
To determine that the chest pain not due to heart, is easy enough: After taking of validol or nitroglycerin pain fails attack
In the lumbar:
- Acute backache radiating to the thigh, lower abdomen and groinWhat happens when subluxation of the spine in the upper part of the back with a pinched femoral nerve
- Passes along the entire back surface of the foot starting from the buttocks
- Stiffness, feeling of cramps in the legs or they are taken awaySuch phenomena say about the pinched sciatic nerve by vertebral subluxation in the lower lumbar of the back
Treatment of subluxations of the joints
Optimal treatment of dislocation of the spine is poverty reduction, which is carried out with the help of osteopathy and manual therapy. Rooting will not stop until until the spine snaps into its original place
Unfortunately, the truth reasonable osteopaths and chiropractors, are able to implement a corresponding set of spine is very small.
- To start with the treatment you need, also, mandatory relief of pain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Then it is desirable to provide competent manual therapy
- But manual therapy is not a sufficient method of treatment, and in order to maintain its effect, the necessary measures for the strengthening of the diseased area of the spine. This can be achieved, while strengthening the muscles and restore their balance with:
- Strengthening of physical therapy
- Massage
- Electro-myostimulation
Cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis
Over time, chronic cervical myositis leads to osteochondrosis, and he, unlike hernia, a very common cause of pain in the neck and is quite common among many young people.
- Symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease involves the vascular disorders, when the pain in the neck and the under — shoulder region, the arms are added indications of cerebrovascular disease
- The same pain, and muscle spasms in the thoracic region — in the form of burning, in the form of chronic pain pain interspersed with feeling like my feet were growing. The walking becomes uncertain: the man is literally walking on a bent
If in cervical osteochondrosis patients usually go to the doctor with the complaint that the headache, when the lumbar to the presumed cause is already significantly lower and the complaining is already starting to be a "paraplegic".
A muscle spasm in the lumbar region leads to a spasm and narrowing of the blood vessels, which impairs blood flow to all organs located below the problem area, including the feet. Hence, there is a sense of numbness in the extremities
If the pain in the back and neck, despite treatment, is not completed for a few weeks, there is reason to suspect more serious disease: the displacement of the joints of the spine or a herniated disc.
Pain when intervertebral hernia
They finally came out of the herniated source of the most intense pain in the cervical and lumbar, and neck and still the most dangerous phenomenon, in view of the exceptional role of the neck as the main "pipeline" for the vertebral artery.
Pain in the hernia, and the really most painful and long, as that is caused by a pinched spinal nerve. But this disease never occurs in a vacuum and is always secondary
As a rule of pathology is preceded by:
- Long-dystrophic processes in the spine, e.g. osteochondrosis
- Abnormalities in muscle function (the same pains and cramps in certain muscle groups)
- Injury and other diseases
Thus the expression, "I have unexpectedly formed a hernia" is not wrong, although the output for the victim is often a complete surprise. But, here we need the convergence of several external factors:
- The heavy lifting in an awkward position
- A sudden movement back
- The fall of the feet or the coccyx, etc.
The herniation does not always lead to pain:
- Before the hernia is directed toward the opposite side of the spinal cord and never touch the nerve
- Schmorl hernia, which so love to scare the doctors, often completely asymptomatic, since it is the vertical indentation of the hyaline cartilage or intervertebral discs in the vertebral body. It is also impossible contact with the nerve
Danger is just on the back hernia
If it happens in the neck and back pain, to conduct a thorough diagnosis.
Very often, when a person treat hernia, and in the picture, she really is, but to be the cause of pain can not, because there is not the main cause: compression of nerves. The location of the hernia eliminates this possibility
But, one person has pain in the back and it is still persistently treated "a hernia", and even work on it. And causes the pain can really be subluxation, and locking of the vertebrae or a muscle spasm.