Post-traumatic dorsalgia. Dorsalgia: symptoms and treatment

Science, including orthopedics, is moving forward, which leads to a change in many scientific concepts. One of them concerned back pain. Increasingly, instead of this familiar concept, one has to hear the term "dorsalgia". Patients think that this is a previously unknown, discovered new disease, but it is not.

Dorsalgia - what is it?

Dorsalgia literally translates as "back pain" (dorsum - spine, back). But can any pain be considered dorsalgia?

(The back is not the area between the base of the neck (the seventh vertebra C7) and the coccyx, as you might be surprised to read in some medical articles. The back is all five parts of the skeleton of the spine (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, coccygeal) with adjacent muscles. )

What back pain is related to dorsalgia

Reasons are endless. What just can not cause them:

degenerative processes;
scoliotic deformities;
injuries sometimes hidden from a person, for example, a compression fracture of the vertebrae;
dangerous chronic infectious processes (bone tuberculosis, osteomyelitis);
tumors (osteosarcoma, chondroma);
organ diseases (heart attack, appendicitis, pancreatitis, cyst torsion and many, many others).

The task of vertebrologists was to single out separately isolated back pain and secondary radiculopathy of a non-specific nature, but associated with dystrophic degenerative processes in it and dysfunctions that can still be cured and reversed. This pain was called dorsalgia.

According to the definition of ICD-10, dorsalgia is an independent, non-specific, that is, a benign and reversible disease of the musculoskeletal structure of the back. She is treated mainly on an outpatient basis.

The main signs of dorsalgia

Dorsalgia occurs as a result of:

Destructive damage to muscles, fascia, ligaments, tendons, synovium, bones and periosteum.
Muscle spasm, myofascial syndrome.
Dysfunctions of skeletal muscles and fascia, blockages, reversible dislocations and subluxations of the joints.

And although dorsalgia is presented today as a “new orthopedic disease”, it is a pain syndrome, the etiology of which is narrowed down to mild reversible diseases related to degenerative-dystrophic and deforming diseases of the spine. Therefore, not with every disease, the patient can be diagnosed with "dorsalgia". Unfortunately, in medicine today they put it right and left, meaning dorsalgia for each pain. The separation of pain syndrome into a separate disease, dorsalgia, led to the fact that many doctors took it literally as an opportunity to treat simple back pain, without revealing destructive and dysfunctional changes in the musculoskeletal structures that were the source of pain. Prescriptions for the “most effective” drugs are immediately written out, the patient is referred for expensive procedures. Such treatment is a sham, since it is unsafe and misleads the patient, and such doctors are more likely not doctors, but businessmen.

Definition of dorsalgia in ICD-10

Dorsalgia is classified in the international classification of ICD-10 in the section "Other dorsopathy". In domestic medicine, this formulation was first introduced by MD. Bogacheva.

Dorsalgia does not include:

trauma;
oncological pathologies;
infectious and inflammatory processes (including infectious and rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, infectious myositis, bone tuberculosis);
purulent-necrotic processes (aseptic necrosis, osteomyelitis);
diseases of internal organs;
psychogenic pain;
neural amyotrophy and myopathy.

Based on this definition, it can be concluded that a disease such as dorsalgia is not a critically dangerous disease.

But this is if doctors everywhere had a single approach.

Contradictions in views on the nature of dorsalgia

In the domestic medical environment, there is still no single priority opinion, and all diseases in the world are referred to as dorsalgia in articles on a medical topic.

Orthopedists also have a different understanding of primary and secondary diseases, vertebrogenic and non-vertebrogenic dorsalgia, specific and nonspecific pain.

All of the following definitions are in the context of BME and ICD-10:

Primary diseases are all nonspecific diseases, that is, and benign processes.
Secondary diseases - injuries, tumors, inflammation.
Vertebrogenic dorsalgia is associated with. Non-vertebrogenic - with muscular, psychogenic, somatic pains.
Nonspecific pain is caused by neurological diseases.

And here are the correct modern ideas, in accordance with BME and ICD-10:

According to BME, diseases caused by pathogenesis (cause, structure, mechanism of development) are primary.
Secondary are the processes that occur during the development of structural and functional disorders. Based on this definition, all specific and non-specific pain pathologies of the back can be both primary and secondary.
Muscle spasms and dorsalgia accompany all degenerative processes in the spine that affect the musculoskeletal system, so they cannot be considered non-vertebral. The division of dorsalgia into vertebral and non-vertebral is incorrect.
Pain due to internal organs, as well as psychogenic ones, do not belong to dorsalgia at all. In Russian science, they, together with dorsalgia, are included in the general section "Back pain".
Nonspecific pain is not neurological (see Definition of Dorsalgia).

Osteochondrosis according to ICD-10 includes only Calve's disease (aseptic necrosis of the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae) and Scheuermann-Mau's disease in children and adults. Osteochondrosis of Scheuermann-Mau does not usually cause dorsal pain, and aseptic necrosis is not on the list that defines dorsalgia.

International classification of dorsalgia

The following types of dorsalgia are classified according to the international ICD-10 system (let's summarize all the data in table 1):

Type of dorsalgia	International cipher	Localization and area of distribution of nonspecific musculoskeletal pain
Panniculitis of the cervical and spine	M54.0	Muscular and joint pain in the neck or spine, in combination with dermatosis
Unspecified radiculopathy* (neuritis, sciatica) in areas: chest; lumbar; lumbosacral; brachial	M54.1	Pain in the chest, lumbar, lumbosacral, shoulder areas, radiating: between shoulder blades and ribs; in the inguinal and gluteal regions; perineum and thigh surface; collarbone
Cervicalgia *	M 54.2	Back of the neck
Thoracalgia *	M 54.6	Posterior chest area
Lumbodynia *	M 54.5	Region of the lumbar spine
Lumbosacralgia*	M 54.4	The lower part of the lumbar region, the region of the lumbosacral spine. Irradiation to the gluteal region, groin, lateral thighs.
Sciatica **	M 54.3	sacral region. Irradiation to the buttocks, groin, leg.

Note:

* In addition to discogenic radiculopathies.

** Sciatic nerve neuralgia excluded.

What type of dorsalgia occurs most often

The greatest distribution of musculoskeletal pain was found in the lumbosacral region - 42%. Especially often lumbosacralgia is common in the vertebrae C5 - C6 and in the transitional segment C6 - S1.
The second place is occupied by dorsalgia of the cervical spine - 30%. Transient upper (C1 - C2) and transient lower (C6 - C7, C7 - T1) are also more likely to suffer here.
The least common thoracalgia (dorsalgia of the thoracic region) - 15%.

What diseases lead to dorsalgia

Dorsalgia occurs:

with destructive structural changes and microtraumas of the musculoskeletal system;
myofascial syndrome;
decompensation spondylarthrosis;
decompensation coxarthrosis;
joint blockage;
dysfunctional subluxations of the joints of the spine and hip joint;
myogelosis (muscle pain and stiffness with a sedentary lifestyle);
radiculopathy (non-discogenic).

Memo for the doctor: Dorsalgia does not include such vertebral pathologies:

lesions of the intervertebral discs (hernia, protrusion);
any discogenic radiculopathy;
neuralgia of the sciatic nerve;
all types of arthritis;
ankylosing spondylitis;
spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis.

Priority classification of dorsalgia in domestic medicine

Bogacheva, in her works on orthopedics, prioritized the Russian classification of dorsalgia and abolished a number of traditional former divisions of this disease into primary / secondary, vertebrogenic / non-vertebrogenic.

Types of pain in dorsalgia

Dorsalgia is non-specific musculoskeletal pain (NMSP), which is divided into three types:

acute isolated;
chronic isolated;
secondary radiculopathy.

Acute isolated pain - burning, aggravated by the slightest movement and palpation, does not go beyond the affected area of the back and can last up to three months.

Chronic dorsalgia may be less pronounced in color than acute dorsalgia - aching, pulling. Lasts over three months.

Secondary radiculopathy is what we used to call radicular syndrome. It is secondary because it joins the already ongoing DDZP. The pain goes beyond the pathology, has a tape character - follows along the nerve and spreads to other areas of the back and limbs.

How to make a diagnosis based on the type of pain

To differentiate pain, examine its nature.

The type of pain can be:

localized (somatic);
reflected (visceral);
projection (neuropathic)

Type of pain	The nature of the pain	Movement disorders and symptoms	Pain on palpation
Localized (somatic)	Accurately defined pain area	The range of motion of the back and limbs is limited. Pain worsens with movement	When pressing on painful areas, the pain intensifies
Reflected (visceral)	Fuzzy felt, directed from the inside to the surface	There are no restrictions on movement and there is no dependence of pain on movement	Painful areas on palpation are not detected
Projective (neuropathic)	Directed along the nerve, may be girdle	In the back there are restrictions of movement, in the limbs there are no restrictions, with the exception of lumbosacral radiculopathy. With increased movement, the pain intensifies, acquiring the character of a backache. Symptoms of Lasegue and Wasserman are observed	In the initial stages, painful areas are detected only in the back, in the final stages - and in the limbs

Localized pain in the spine is caused by musculoskeletal pathologies and destructive changes.
Reflected pains reflect diseases of the internal organs.
Projection neuropathic pain occurs due to irritation or inflammation of the spinal nerve.

How to treat dorsalgia

It is considered a medical crime to treat without a diagnosis of back pain, when the doctor immediately prescribes NSAIDs, without excluding up to thirty other most dangerous diseases, in which there may also be acute or chronic pain.

Such differentiation, in order to exclude the most dangerous diseases in the beginning, should be a priority in treatment.

So, dorsalgia of the thoracic spine can be reclassified into life-threatening diseases:

heart and aorta - angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, pericarditis;
BOD (respiratory diseases) - pleuropneumonia, pneumothorax, pleurisy;
GI tract (diseases of the gastrointestinal tract) - a penetrating ulcer, acute cholecystitis or pancreatitis.

The doctor should be especially careful when differentiating thoracalgia from organ diseases, since chest pains are more often associated with organs, and not with destructive-functional disorders.

Dorsalgia of the lumbosacral spine during examination may be:

renal colic;
thrombosis of the renal artery;
ovarian cyst;
inflammation of the appendages.

But here the picture is reversed: lumbodynia is diagnosed more often in the lumbar region than visceral pain.

A new approach to pain management

Linking pain syndromes to dysfunctional-functional musculoskeletal disorders turned all past ideas about pain upside down and changed old treatment regimens. Osteochondrosis is no longer considered the cause of dorsalgia, and this is true, since pain here can only occur as a result of radiculopathy - a pain reaction of the nerve root, and such a situation with disk DDD occurs only when the hernia is exacerbated.

Physician's task:

Differentiate the symptoms of dorsalgia from other diseases, that is, first of all, exclude injuries, organ diseases, tumors, infectious processes, etc.
Establish a diagnosis of the disease, based on the differential diagnosis. (There is no diagnosis of "dorsalgia"! This is part of the history, describing in detail where and how it hurts, using a clear dislocation and existing terminology: for example, acute cervical dorsalgia).
Treat the disease itself. The treatment of pain syndrome is carried out by the doctor meaningfully and does not imply the appointment of the patient with non-steroidal / steroid drugs and antispasmodics alone (in this case it will be only symptomatic).

It is important to establish the true causes that caused structural changes in the musculoskeletal system and eliminate them.

Dorsalgia is a group of disorders characterized by mild, moderate, or severe pain that arises from the nerves of the muscles or joints associated with the spine. Pain may be constant or intermittent, localized or diffuse. There may be signs of burning. If it is associated with the cervical bone, then this pain can be transmitted to the limbs with a feeling of numbness.

There are several common causes of lower back and leg pain, for example, in adults under 50 years of age, including herniated dysfunction and degenerative disc disease, in adults over 50 years of age, common causes include osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis. However, some researchers believe that 90% of back pain is caused by tension syndrome caused by stress and emotional disturbances.

Characteristics of the disease

Osteochondrosis or dorsalgia of the thoracic spine is an inflammatory process that occurs in the thoracic region. Among the many types of osteochondrosis, this disease is much less common and affects mainly people who lead a sedentary lifestyle.

With this type of disease, the destruction of the intervertebral discs occurs. But, despite the complexity of the disease, the symptoms appear much less frequently than in cases with lesions of other parts of the spine.

This is due to the fact that the thoracic spine is a sedentary part of the human skeleton, so the symptoms are less pronounced.

This situation leads to the fact that patients seek help even when the disease is in a neglected and often chronic condition. People who spend a long time in front of monitors, professional drivers, as well as those who have suffered various types of scoliosis, should regularly undergo medical examinations regarding the possible occurrence of the disease.

Dorsalgia of the thoracic spine - causes

Given the low mobility of the thoracic spine, the twelve discs present in this place are subject to less stress and there is little chance of possible injury.

This situation favors the fact that inflammatory processes in this meta develop much more slowly. However, when a disease occurs, the lateral or anterior spine is affected. And it is these departments that are most often affected, manifested by osteophytes.

As a result of changes in the intervertebral discs, compression of the spinal nerve cells occurs, blood flow is disturbed and, as a result, the spinal cord is affected.

There are a number of predisposing factors that increase the risk and lead to the development of dorsalgia:

Spinal injuries (fractures, bruises, dislocations);
For a long time being in an uncomfortable or incorrect position;
Back overload;
Sudden changes in temperature;
Hypothermia of the body;
Frequent stress and negative emotions;
Prolonged malnutrition;
Alcoholism;
Lack of physical activity and weakness of the muscular frame of the back.

Diseases of the spine, which are characterized by dorsalgia:

Osteochondrosis;
Spondylosis;
Herniated disc;
Spondylarthrosis;
Spondylolisthesis;
Instability of the intervertebral discs;
Osteoporosis;
Bechterew's disease;
Fractures of the spine;
Bruises of the spine;
Scoliosis;
Kyphosis;
Lordosis;
Dislocations of the spine;
Malignant tumors of the spine;
Tuberculosis, bone form;
Osteomyelitis of the vertebrae;
Radiculitis;
Congenital anomalies of development;
Spondylitis;
Intercostal neuralgia;
Rheumatoid arthritis.

Classification

Dorsalgia is commonly referred to as back pain. The name of the disease comes from the Latin dorsalis, meaning back, and algos, meaning pain. Pain occurs for very different reasons and can have a different character. It can be acute, chronic pain, prolonged pain, strong or moderate.

However, despite the above definition, there is still no consensus in the scientific community about dorsalgia. Most doctors believe that this concept can be used to define any pain in the spine. And representatives of medicine with scientific degrees object and give their opinions.

In general terms about the disease The initial cause of pain can be, as already mentioned, different. However, the pain itself occurs due to hypertonicity and tension of the spinal muscles, after which muscle spasms appear.

Classification In present medical practice, the following classification is used: vertebrogenic dorsalgia; myofascial dorsalgia. Relatively speaking, chronic dorsalgia of the first type develops due to diseases of the spine.

And pains of the second type are caused exclusively by muscle clamps. Sometimes, with a diagnosis of dorsalgia, nonspecific back pain appears due to diseases of the internal organs (kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, pelvic organs, lungs). The development of vertebrogenic dorsalgia occurs after pinching of the roots of the spinal nerves.

The pinching is usually followed by inflammation and sciatica develops. Sciatica can be located between the vertebrae or at the site of a protrusion of the spinal disc. Pain usually occurs only after a degenerative change in the tissues of the intervertebral discs, which is called osteochondrosis.

Spasms of muscle tissue lead to spasms of blood vessels, which impairs the nutrition of disc tissues. As a result, the intervertebral discs simply dry out. The space between the vertebrae becomes smaller, and this is followed by pinching of the nerve endings and pain attacks, which are stimulated by the reflex pinching of the muscles.

Sometimes the nerve endings pinch the spasmodic muscles themselves, which makes the pain even more acute and difficult to bear. In the myofascial scenario, the cause of the development of pain is also muscle spasm. Clamped muscles form pain foci - triggers. These areas are where pain occurs.

According to the localization of pain, there are: dorsalgia of the lumbosacral spine; dorsalgia of the thoracic spine; dorsalgia of the cervical spine.

Symptoms

Diagnosis of the disease is quite difficult, since many of the symptoms are similar to diseases associated with cardiovascular diseases, angina pectoris, pneumonia, gastritis.

Therefore, for an accurate diagnosis, a more complex examination of the patient is carried out.

What should be of concern:

pain in the chest area, which increases with palpation or with physical exertion;
aching pain under the shoulder blades;
pain when raising hands;
pain when bending or rotating the body;
pain when inhaling and exhaling;
intercostal pain;
feeling of constriction in the chest.

As this description shows, the same symptoms are characteristic of other diseases. In addition, there are often sensations that are similar to disorders in the digestive tract or neurological disorders, namely:

feeling of "goosebumps";
burning, itching, cold hands or feet;
peeling of the skin and brittle nails;
diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting.

Diagnostics

For a complete examination and diagnosis of dorsalgia, an integrated approach is applied to each patient:

Interrogation (collection of complaints and anamnesis of life and illness). Helps to establish complaints at the time of contacting a doctor, the chronology of their occurrence, the mechanism of development of the underlying disease and its complications, causes;
Inspection. Allows you to identify a forced position of the body, visible deformities of the spine, violations of active and passive movements in the affected spine, etc.;
Palpation. Palpation of the spine reveals the tension of the muscular frame of the back, soreness of the spine, any deformity, etc.;
Neurological examination. Checking the sensitivity of the skin and muscle fibers (pain, temperature, tactile sensations), the safety of physiological reflexes, paresis or paralysis, the presence of pathological reflexes;
Radiography of the spine in two projections (anteroposterior and lateral). Allows you to detect deformations of the spinal column, the state of the spinal canal, fractures, dislocations, and other changes in bone tissue;
CT (computed tomography). Layered x-rays allow you to determine the pathological area with great accuracy, detects a violation of the integrity of not only the spine, but also the spinal cord, etc .;
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). The most accurate visual method. Determines any violations of the structure of the spine, spinal cord, soft tissues, blood vessels and nerves;
Spinal puncture. Allows you to detect hemorrhage in the spinal cord, the presence of tumor cells in the cerebrospinal fluid, purulent and inflammatory processes, etc.;
Myelography. A contrast x-ray image determines the condition of the spinal cord.

Treatment

Treatment of dorsalgia of any localization and origin can be divided into conservative and surgical. With exacerbation of dorsalgia, in the case of a pronounced pain syndrome, bed rest is recommended.

To speed up the healing process and its maximum effect, the bed should be with an orthopedic mattress and pillow, the patient should be comfortable and comfortable.

It is necessary to receive a complex of medicines:

NSAIDs. They are basic in the treatment of dorsalgia. They are prescribed both in the form of tablets or capsules (for pain syndrome of mild and moderate severity), and by injection (for intense pain).

Representatives: Diclofenac, Nimid, Analgin, Indomethacin, Baralgin, Pentalgin, etc. The frequency of oral administration is 1-4 times a day, injections are 1-2 times a day.
Muscle relaxants. They relax the back muscles and smooth muscle fibers in the walls of blood vessels, reduce pain, restore posture and mobility of the spinal column. Representatives: Mydocalm, Tizalud, Tizanil, Baclofen and others. The frequency of admission is 1-2 times a day.
Chondroprotectors. Accelerate the restoration of the affected cartilage tissue, prevent the further development of the disease.
The course of treatment with these drugs is long, at least several months.

Representatives: Mukosat, Chondroitin sulfate, Artron Complex, Artra, etc.
Angioprotectors. Restore patency in blood vessels, normalize and accelerate gas exchange and metabolism between blood and tissues, improve the condition of the walls of blood vessels, reduce tissue edema. Representatives: Pentoxifylline, Detralex, Troxevasin, Askorutin, etc.
biological stimulants. They stimulate and accelerate metabolic processes and natural mechanisms to fight the disease, increase the rate of tissue repair, restore blood flow and conduction of nerve impulses. Representatives: Aloe, Plasmol, FiBS, etc.
Vitamins. Accelerate metabolism, tissue blood supply, nerve conduction, improve tissue repair processes, reduce the development of the disease. Representatives: Milgamma, B vitamins (B1, B2, B6 and B12).
metabolic agents. They accelerate metabolic processes, restore blood flow and gas exchange in tissues, activate natural mechanisms to fight the disease. Representatives: Mildronate, Trimetazidine, etc.
Glucocorticosteroids.
They are used in case of severe clinical manifestations, when other means do not have the desired effect. Enhance the effects of drugs, especially NSAIDs, reduce the severity of pain, reduce swelling, restore physiological processes.

These are Prednisolone, Prednisone, Dexamethasone, etc.

After the relief (cessation) of acute symptoms by medication, you can proceed to physiotherapy. There are many options, you just need to carefully study the contraindications and secure the approval of your doctor. The main physiotherapy procedures that are useful for back pain:

Acupuncture is a method of Chinese traditional medicine, the essence of which is to influence the acupuncture points of the human body, problem areas are stimulated with the help of special thin needles.
They are placed along the so-called meridians, where the plexus of nerve endings, blood vessels and connective tissue is located.

Acupuncture activates blood circulation, reduces swelling, promotes the production of hormones: serotonin (pain-relieving effect) and cortisol (anti-inflammatory effect). The method is indicated for radiculitis, myositis.
Laser therapy - exposure to diseased areas with an infrared radiation apparatus. The laser warms up and restores the neurovascular bundles of soft tissues, normalizes blood circulation. Such treatment is indicated, in particular, for a hernia of the spine.
Magnetotherapy is the use of a static magnetic field for medicinal purposes. It is carried out through stationary or portable devices. It has a positive effect on immune and metabolic processes. Used for neuritis.
Electrophoresis is a physiotherapeutic method when a medicinal substance enters the body through the skin using a special apparatus that provides exposure to an electric field. The active substance is administered in the form of ions, in small doses, which demonstrate high chemical activity. Indicated for osteochondrosis, spondylosis.
Traction of the spine (traction) - used in orthopedic medicine to increase the distance between the vertebrae, strengthen the spinal muscles, straighten the spine.
The procedure takes place on a traction table (there are horizontal and vertical ones). You can stretch the patient's back using his own weight, or using weights.

Indications: hernia, curvature of the spine (scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis).
Therapeutic physical education (LFK) - sets of exercises have been developed to solve the problems of squeezing the intervertebral discs, strengthening the ligamentous-muscular apparatus of the back. Regular exercise reduces pain, helps to remove harmful toxins and toxins from the body. It is prophylactically indicated for everyone, with the exception of acute painful conditions.
Manual therapy and massage - treatment with hands. This includes carpentry. The essence of the techniques comes down to stretching, pressure, displacement and twisting of problem areas with the help of specialized techniques. Indications: functional disorders of mobility.
Swimming - relieves stress from the spine, trains the muscular corset. Beneficial effect on any person. For people with existing problems, swimming on the back is useful.

Surgical treatment of dorsalgia is practically not resorted to. The exception is those cases when conservative treatment is not effective, or severe complications develop.

Therapeutic diet

It is highly desirable to follow certain dietary rules. With their help, it is easy to maintain optimal weight, qualitatively filling the body's need for nutrients. Cartilage needs collagen (jelly, jellied fish, milk jelly) and proteins (lean poultry, fish, eggs).

Minerals for bone health:

calcium (milk, kefir, hard cheese);
magnesium (fresh cucumbers, avocados);
phosphorus (white cabbage, peas);
zinc (wild rice, oatmeal, sunflower seeds);
manganese (beans, celery).

For the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, vitamin D is needed, it is found in sea fish (fish oil), egg yolk, caviar, butter, and is also produced under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.

The main postulates of rational nutrition for dorsalgia are as follows:

Eat 5-6 times a day, in small portions;
Reduce consumption of simple carbohydrates: sweets, muffins, pasta;
Do not exceed the individual daily calorie content of food - approximately 2500 kcal (more accurately, it will be calculated by a dietitian);
Drink plenty of clean water (at least 1.5 liters per day);
Refuse fried foods and alcoholic beverages;
Introduce dairy products into a permanent diet (in the absence of lactose intolerance);
Limit salt intake;
Take vitamin complexes (courses).

Be sure to have vegetable and butter in the menu in moderation. Various cereals and fruits are useful as a source of carbohydrates.

You can choose any bread, except wheat. Do not abuse strong coffee and tea.

Traditional medicine

Traditional medicine is not a panacea for any disease. However, it can provide significant assistance in therapy if combined with traditional methods of treatment.

Folk remedies for osteochondrosis mainly include various lotions, ointments and other "drugs" for external use. However, there are those that are used internally.

The material from which these medicinal products are made is mainly vegetable - herbs, flowers, roots, etc. Non-vegetable components are also widely used - fats, beekeeping products, etc.

It should always be remembered that it is impossible to get rid of osteochondrosis only by means of traditional medicine. If you feel unwell, you should definitely contact your doctor. And also it is impossible to use non-traditional methods of treatment if there is an allergy or individual intolerance to one of the components of the remedy.

Treatments for osteochondrosis include ointments, compresses and rubbing. There are a lot of recipes. The most effective of them are the following:

You need to take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of wormwood flowers and pour 300 ml of water (90-100 ° C) into it. Insist 1.5-2 hours. Then strain. The resulting tincture is generously applied to gauze, previously prepared according to the size of the diseased area of the back. Unscrew so that the liquid does not drain. Put gauze on your back, cover with oilcloth on top (can be cut from any bag) and wrap with a scarf, towel or any other warm material at hand. You need to walk with such a compress for at least 2 hours, but it is better to leave it overnight. The course of treatment is up to 14 procedures. If necessary, repeat after 2 weeks.
It is necessary to take a full glass of flowers of any lilac (you can mix several different types), pour them with 500 ml of vodka (you can use alcohol) and leave for 10 days. Then strain and apply as a rub. Massage into the skin of the affected area of the back 1-2 times a day. Then warmly wrap your back. The course of treatment is 10-14 days.
It is necessary to connect 6 tbsp. spoons of powdered bay leaf, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of frayed juniper needles and 12 tbsp. tablespoons of butter. Mix everything thoroughly until smooth. Rub the finished cream on the affected area of the back 1-3 times a day. The course of treatment is from 2 weeks to 1 month.
Mix 50 g of aloe pulp, 100 g of any honey and 150 ml of vodka (or alcohol). Let it brew for 4-5 days. Apply a thin layer on the affected area of the back, put a layer of oilcloth on top (make from any package) and wrap it with something warm (plaid, towel, scarf, etc.). So you should walk from 2-3 hours, if possible - at night. The course of treatment is 10 compresses.
Mix 2 tbsp. tablespoons powdered plantain and sage leaves, add 4 tbsp. tablespoons of sunflower or olive oil and 40 g of vaseline melted in a water bath. To stir thoroughly. Apply the finished ointment in a thin layer on the affected area of the back and rub thoroughly 2-3 times a day. Then wrap your back in something warm. The course of treatment is 3-4 weeks.

Despite the fact that baths are the same as local therapies, like ointments with compresses, they can be distinguished into a separate group of non-traditional treatment of osteochondrosis.

In addition to the analgesic, soothing and relaxing effect on the affected area of the back, baths also have a general strengthening effect on the entire body, improve tissue metabolism, and normalize sleep.

There are a lot of recipes for preparing such therapeutic baths. The most effective of them are the following:

Mix 1 tbsp. spoon medical chamomile flowers, knotweed leaves, lavender and walnut leaves. Pour 250-300 ml of cold water and put on a slow fire. Bring to a boil, cook for 1-2 minutes. Infuse for 40-60 minutes, then strain. Pour the resulting broth into a warm bath (37-38 ° C). It takes 15-25 minutes to take such a bath. The course of treatment is up to 1 month daily or every other day. If necessary, you can repeat after 14-21 days.
Mix 1 tbsp. spoon of spruce needles, valerian, chestnut and lavender, add 4 tbsp. tablespoons of sea salt and 300-400 ml of water. Cook on low heat for 5 minutes after boiling. Then leave for 1 hour, strain and add to a warm bath (37-38°C). It takes 20-25 minutes to take such a bath. The course of treatment is up to 1-1.5 months daily or every other day. If necessary, you can repeat after 14-21 days.

Alternative medicines that are taken orally (through the digestive organs) contribute to the analgesic, anti-inflammatory effect, relieve muscle spasm, improve blood flow, partially restore nerve conduction and help remove deposited salts from the tissues of the spine.

The most effective recipes include the following:

Mix 1 tbsp. spoon of yarrow and tansy flowers, pour 200-250 ml of boiling water, cover and let it brew for 2 hours. Then strain and take 1 tbsp. spoon 3-4 times a day, 30-40 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 28 days.
Put lilac flowers (both fresh and dry) in a liter jar so that it reaches almost to the top, pour vodka on top, close the lid tightly. Insist in a warm and dark place for 10-12 days. Then strain and take orally 35-45 drops. You can drink water. The course of treatment is 14-28 days.
Squeeze 1.5 cups (300-350 ml) of juice from a radish of any variety, add 1 cup of honey, 1 tablespoon of crushed sea salt and 500 ml of vodka to it. Mix thoroughly until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Take 50 g daily 30 minutes before bedtime. The course of treatment is 3 weeks.
It is necessary to take 1 glass of unpeeled oat grains, pour it with 1 liter of cold water and put on a slow fire with the lid open. Cook until a quarter of the liquid has evaporated. Cool this slimy decoction and strain. Add 3 tbsp. spoons of honey. Take half a glass three times a day 30-45 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 1 month.

Complications

As for the complications of thoracic osteochondrosis, over time, this ailment can lead to various diseases of the internal organs. The most serious complication is the pathology of the cardiovascular system and degenerative changes in the heart muscle.

They appear due to irritation of the receptors of the neck and chest and all the sympathetic formations that are associated with them.

There may also be disturbances in the work of the duodenum, the appearance of dyskinesia of the gallbladder, a violation of the peristalsis of the intestinal tract. Needless to say, how important is it to timely identify osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine in order to treat this insidious disease?

What is called intercostal neuralgia? This is a pain syndrome that, although not very common, is the cause of one of the most severe pain sensations. It can be compared to the pain during acute renal colic. The cause of this syndrome often lies precisely in osteochondrosis of the chest.

Pinching of several roots can lead to damage to the intercostal nerve, as a result of which there are very severe pains of the girdle character. Often they spread in the intercostal space as the affected nerve itself goes.

In this case, there may be a violation of sensitivity, blanching or redness of the skin, a significant increase in sweating, and, in addition, twitching or muscle spasms, which makes the pain even stronger.

Intercostal neuralgia is also called thoracalgia. It manifests itself with neuropathic pain, which by its nature is very similar to the pain syndrome during cardiovascular diseases.

Intercostal neuralgia, despite the fact that the cause of its occurrence is degenerative-inflammatory diseases of the spine, is called the most striking "deceiver" in medicine, since its symptoms often resemble the symptoms of diseases of almost all organs located in the chest and abdominal cavity.

This pathology usually develops due to irritation and compression of the intercostal nerves. Often, intercostal neuralgia is recorded in older people, we can associate this with age-related changes that occur in the body. Among children, this disease almost never occurs.

It is worth noting that intercostal neuralgia cannot be called a separate disease, since it is only a concomitant symptom of any serious pathology. Often, it develops precisely against the background of osteochondrosis, as well as scoliosis, various tumor diseases, or appears due to displacement of the vertebrae.

About intercostal nerves However, in this case, not only pain is dangerous, but also the fact that intercostal neuralgia is successfully “disguised” as other diseases. For example, pain may occur, similar to pain in angina pectoris, and in the same way give under the shoulder blades.

The only notable difference is the fact that during angina pectoris, pain is usually short-lived, often disappearing after a few minutes, while pain in neuralgia can even persist for several days.

Another option for "masking" neuralgia is pain that mimics an ulcer. In this case, the duration of pain is the same as with a real ulcer, but unlike it, usually effective medications that relieve spasms do not work.

Unfortunately, misdiagnosis often occurs and a course of treatment is prescribed that does not help the patient in any way. And only after some time the doctor realizes that he was mistaken, and directs the patient to additional studies that can provide another opportunity to find the real cause of the pain syndrome.

Prevention

As a preventive measure for the occurrence of dorsalgia, it is recommended to adhere to simple measures and rules:

Exercise regularly (at any time of the day);
Strengthen the muscular frame of the back (special exercises);
Take daily walks in the fresh air (from 5 km or more);
Adhere to the rules of a balanced diet;
With a sedentary lifestyle or sedentary work during the day, spend every hour a 5-minute workout;
Comply with safety regulations in the workplace, when playing sports, etc .;
Observe the correct posture at the table, when walking, resting, etc .;
Rationally and evenly distribute the weight of weights when lifting with your hands;
Seek medical attention promptly if any symptoms occur.

Sources: spinomed.ru, etospina.ru, moyaspina.com, spinomed.ru, spina-sustav.ru, pozvonkoff.ru

megan92 2 weeks ago

Tell me, who is struggling with pain in the joints? My knees hurt terribly ((I drink painkillers, but I understand that I am struggling with the consequence, and not with the cause ... Nifiga does not help!

Daria 2 weeks ago

I struggled with my sore joints for several years until I read this article by some Chinese doctor. And for a long time I forgot about the "incurable" joints. Such are the things

megan92 13 days ago

Daria 12 days ago

megan92, so I wrote in my first comment) Well, I'll duplicate it, it's not difficult for me, catch - link to professor's article.

Sonya 10 days ago

Isn't this a divorce? Why the Internet sell ah?

Yulek26 10 days ago

Sonya, what country do you live in? .. They sell on the Internet, because shops and pharmacies set their margins brutal. In addition, payment is only after receipt, that is, they first looked, checked and only then paid. Yes, and now everything is sold on the Internet - from clothes to TVs, furniture and cars.

Editorial response 10 days ago

Sonya, hello. This drug for the treatment of joints is really not sold through the pharmacy network in order to avoid inflated prices. Currently, you can only order Official website. Be healthy!

Sonya 10 days ago

Sorry, I didn't notice at first the information about the cash on delivery. Then, it's OK! Everything is in order - exactly, if payment upon receipt. Thank you so much!!))

Margo 8 days ago

Has anyone tried traditional methods of treating joints? Grandmother does not trust pills, the poor woman has been suffering from pain for many years ...

Andrew a week ago

What kind of folk remedies I have not tried, nothing helped, it only got worse ...

Ekaterina a week ago

I tried to drink a decoction of bay leaves, to no avail, only ruined my stomach !! I no longer believe in these folk methods - complete nonsense !!

Maria 5 days ago

Recently I watched a program on the first channel, there is also about this Federal program for the fight against diseases of the joints spoke. It is also headed by some well-known Chinese professor. They say they have found a way to permanently cure the joints and back, and the state fully finances the treatment for each patient

If you want to understand what dorsalgia is, you have come to the right place. But it will take some mental effort to understand this issue in detail.

What is dorsalgia?

Dorsalgia (lat. Dorsum - back; Greek algos - pain) - back pain. This is a short definition. In fact, this term includes many headings, which we will analyze below. The term dorsalgia includes pain syndromes in the neck, trunk and extremities (in cases where displacement of the intervertebral discs is excluded).

The main thing, How can you recognize dorsalgia?, this is that the symptoms of dorsalgia are not accompanied by loss of functions of the spinal roots and spinal cord. The main symptom is pain. And all the rest depend on the specific disease that caused the disease.

Types and forms

It is divided by origin:

Vertebrogenic(lat. Columna vertebralis - spinal column), which is caused by the pathology of the spine.
Non-vertebrogenic, caused by myofascial pain syndrome, stretching of muscles and ligaments, fibromyalgia, referred pain in diseases of internal organs, neoplasms and metastases, syringomyelia, psychogenic pain, etc. If a ? - read the answer to the question here.

According to localization, there are:

cervicalgia(Latin cervix - neck, Greek algos "- pain) - pain in the neck, which is often accompanied by tension, muscle soreness, limited neck mobility, as well as dizziness, autonomic dysfunction.
(Latin torax - chest, Greek algos - pain) - a syndromic diagnosis that corresponds to back pain at the level of the chest.
Lumbalgia(lat. Lumbus - lower back, Greek algos - pain) - acute pain in the lumbosacral region, which is provoked by irritation of nerve endings, roots, muscle fibers. About read here.

Stories from our readers!
"I cured my sore back on my own. It's been 2 months since I forgot about the pain in my back. Oh, how I used to suffer, my back and knees hurt, lately I couldn't really walk normally ... How many times I went to polyclinics, but there they only prescribed expensive pills and ointments, which were of no use at all.

And now the 7th week has gone, as the joints of the back do not bother a bit, in a day I go to the country to work, and from the bus it’s 3 km, so I walk easily! All thanks to this article. Anyone with back pain should read this!

What is the pain like?

The International Association for the Study of Pain gives the following definition: pain is an unpleasant sensation and emotional experience that is combined with existing or theoretical tissue damage, or described by the patient as damage.

Pain happens: acute.

The reasons: diseases, injuries, dysfunction of muscles or internal organs. It gives us the opportunity to identify, localize and delimit tissue damage.

Subdivided:

Superficial pain provoked by a skin impulse, an impulse from the subcutaneous fatty tissue and mucous membranes. The patient can localize and describe the pain with the following characteristics: sharp, stabbing, throbbing, burning.
deep somatic pain occurs when the receptors are irritated, which are located in the tendons, muscles, joints and bones. The patient characterizes it as more dull, aching, cannot determine a clear localization. The more intense and prolonged exposure, the larger the area on which pain is perceived. For example, with a short interval and not pronounced intensity of pain stimulation of the knee joint, the pain is felt localized, and with a long and more intense one, it is perceived throughout the limb.
Visceral pain It is formed in diseases and dysfunctions of internal organs and their membranes.
chronic pain- persists after an acute period of illness or the passage of a period of time sufficient for recovery (average 1-6 months). Chronic pain may be caused by peripheral nociceptive effects, or by PNS and CNS dysfunction. There may be disturbances in the rhythms of sleep and wakefulness, affective disorders.

About read here.

Causes of dorsalgia

Factors that can lead to the development of dorsalgia:

Stretching of the back muscles.
Physical surges.
Performing work in a non-physiological position of the body.
Muscle skeletal injury.
Work in unhealthy conditions.
Hypothermia and overheating.
Mental stress.
Painful internal organs and joints.

Pain and crunch in the back over time can lead to dire consequences - local or complete restriction of movement, up to disability.

People, taught by bitter experience, use a natural remedy recommended by orthopedists to cure their back and joints...

Diseases of the spine

This group includes many diseases, but the most common cause is osteochondrosis and its complications, so let's take a closer look.

Osteochondrosis -, which occurs against the background of an imbalance between the processes of biosynthesis and the destruction of important structures. During physical overstrain, the tension on the intervertebral discs increases, metabolism increases, and this leads to an increase in hyaluronidase, which changes the properties of hyaluronic acid.

This leads to the fact that an excessive amount of fluid enters the disk, the disk swells, and loses its cushioning properties. Fissures of the fibrous ring are formed, the pulpous nucleus penetrates into them, which is deformed. it leads to the occurrence, prolapses or hernias intervertebral discs. The consequences are compression of the nerve roots and blood vessels, cicatricial-spike changes in the membranes of the spinal cord, which will cause pain.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:

Reflex syndromes: cervical myalgia, dyskalgia, anterior scalene syndrome, shoulder-scapular periarthrosis, Strainbroker's syndrome (shoulder-arm syndrome). About read here.
Radicular syndromes- characterized by pain and hyperesthesia (hypersensitivity) in the radicular zone of a certain dermatome, muscle hypotrophy and weakness, decrease or loss of tendon reflexes, paresthesia.
Vascular spinal syndrome- reflex and compression syndromes.
visceral syndromes. For example, the most common is cervical angina (cardiac syndrome), associated with sympathetic innervation in the neck, more precisely, with its violation.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine:

Protrusions.
Prolapse.
Herniated discs.
Interscapular sympathology is a burning, aching or dull pain between the shoulder blades.
Pseudoangina pectoris, abdominal pain and many other symptoms.

About read here.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.

Reflex syndromes:

Lumbago- acute pain in the lower back, which is also called "lumbago". It is the first clinical symptom of osteochondrosis. The cause of lumbago is the pinching of the nucleus pulposus in the fissure of the annulus fibrosus.
Lumbalgia- subacute or chronic low back pain.
Sciatica- a pathological condition characterized by the occurrence of pain along the sciatic nerve and in the lumbosacral region.

About that, read here.

Radicular syndromes:

Ankylosing spondylitis(Strumpell-Bechterew-Marie disease) is an inflammatory systemic disease of autoimmune origin with a chronic course. The sacroiliac, joints of the spinal column and soft tissues that are located near them are involved in the process.
facet syndrome(facet pain syndrome, arthrosis of the intervertebral joints, spondyloarthropathic syndrome) is a condition that often accompanies the dysfunctional or unstable phase of spondylosis. The whole problem lies in the intervertebral (facet, facet) joints, they are formed by the lower articular processes of the overlying vertebra and the upper articular processes of the underlying one.
Vertebral instability- a pathological condition of the spine, when it cannot be kept in a physiological position at rest and during movement. The vertebrae are displaced in the anteroposterior and lateral directions. This pathological condition can be observed at any age, it is important to seek help in time, as it can reach disability.

Other:

Spinal injury.
Osteoporosis.
Spinal tumors.

Treatment

General tasks:

It is necessary to identify the factors that led to dorsalgia.
Eliminate neurological disorders.
Stop the pain syndrome.

Medical treatment

About read here.

Of course, for high-quality treatment, you need to contact a specialist, he will identify the cause, the possibility of its elimination and treatment.

Painkillers:

The first drug for pain in the musculoskeletal system -. Diclofenac has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antirheumatic, anti-ageing properties. The mechanism of action is that it inhibits COX, which leads to a block in the reaction of the arachidonic cascade and a disruption in the synthesis of prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2alpha, thromboxane A2, prostacyclin, leukotrienes and the release of lysosomal enzymes. It also inhibits platelet aggregation. With prolonged use, it has a desensitizing effect. Applied inside: adults - 75-150 mg / day.
Ketorolac has a strong analgesic effect at a dose of 30 mg intramuscularly in 3-5 days.
You can also use analgin, paracetamol.

But remember, if you have peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, a tendency to bleeding, then non-selective NSAIDs are contraindicated for you. Then it is necessary to drink selective COX-2 inhibitors, for example, celecoxib 200 mg 3 times a day.

vitamin therapy- It is necessary to take vitamins of group B.
Vascular Therapy- actovegin, sermion, nicotinic acid, trental, detralex, pentoxifylline, troxevasin, ascorutin.
-, tisalud, tizanil, baclofen.
Chondroprotectors- chondroitin sulfate, mucosate, artron complex.
Biological stimulants- aloe, plasmol, FIBS
If you are concerned about anxiety-depressive disorders, you need to take antidepressants: amitriptyline - from 25 to 75 mg / day for 2-3 months.
It is possible to use blockades: radicular, articular, epidural with glucocorticoids.

Non-drug treatment

Massage, manual therapy, exercise therapy, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, radon, coniferous, saline, hydrogen sulfide baths, diadynamic currents, microwave fields, acupuncture, laser magnetotherapy, light therapy, kinesitherapy, UV irradiation, osteopathy, electrophoresis, apitherapy, mud therapy, recreational swimming.

Surgery

Surgical intervention is indicated only in cases where drug and non-drug treatment has been ineffective.

Surgical treatment should be justified by such research methods as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, myelography and others.

With osteochondrosis, surgical methods are indicated in stages 3-4 of the disease with the following criteria:

Persistent pain syndrome.
Gross violations of statics, even with moderate pain.
Resumption of radicular syndromes after conservative treatment.

The current treatment is:

Elimination of vertebro-medullary conflict.
Removing a functionally unusable disk.
Stabilization of the spine.
laminectomy.
Hernia removal.
Removal of sequesters together with a degenerative disc and subsequent corrodesis with corundum or porous ceramics.
The treatment of vertebral instability consists in fixing the vertebrae with special constructions or grafts in order to create joints of various types.
For the treatment of arthrosis of the intervertebral joints, radiofrequency denervation of the problem joint, coagulation of the nerves, restoration of the normal volume of joint fluid, injection of drugs into the joint are used.
Surgical treatment for injuries and tumors is very different depending on the specific case, this requires a separate article.

Prevention

Normalization of the work-rest regime. That is, during work, try not to overload, perform less twisting movements (such as reaching with your right hand to your left heel). If you have hard physical work, then it is necessary to take small breaks for rest.
It is advisable to give up bad habits, since due to alcohol and smoking, the metabolism in organs and tissues is disturbed, and this leads to degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs, and their functional activity is very important for the health of the back.
Normalization of the diet. Be sure to monitor the use of foods that contain sufficient amounts of B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants.
Regular exercise, strengthening the muscle frame, swimming, follow the rules of sitting at the table and at the workplace, do warm-ups for 5 minutes in each hour worked, rationally and evenly distribute a heavy load when lifting it with your hands.
Seek medical attention in a timely manner when suspicious symptoms occur.

So, if you eat right, lead a healthy lifestyle, regularly follow the points written in prevention and seek medical help in a timely manner, you will have a very high chance of preventing the disease. If the diagnosis is already reliable, be sure to contact a highly qualified specialist.

Main symptoms:

Dorsalgia - in fact, is the fact of the presence of pain of varying degrees of intensity in the back. From this it follows that this is not a separate pathology, but a syndrome that occurs in any age category and regardless of gender.

In almost all cases, the source of such a disorder is the course of a disease that affects the skeletal system or the spinal column. In addition, clinicians also distinguish the category of predisposing factors.

As for the symptoms, it will be dictated by the ailment that served as the source of dorsalgia. The main clinical manifestation is, against which other symptoms gradually develop.

The clinician will be able to make a diagnosis of dorsalgia on the basis of data from instrumental examinations of the patient, which can also be supplemented by a physical examination and laboratory tests.

The tactics of therapy are dictated by the etiological factor, but are often based on conservative methods.

The International Classification of Diseases of the Tenth Revision has singled out a separate value for such a syndrome. The ICD 10 code is M 54. However, it is worth noting that unspecified dorsalgia has a value of M 54.9.

Etiology

A large number of predisposing factors can cause the appearance of pain in the back or dorsalgia, which is why they are usually divided into several groups.

- this is an infectious-inflammatory disease that primarily affects the bone marrow area, after which it spreads to the bone tissue;
benign or malignant neoplasms, as well as cancer metastasis;
- in this case, a herniated disc is formed;
- for such a pathology, increased fragility of all bones is characteristic;
- in such cases, there is a displacement of one vertebra in relation to the rest;
narrowing of the lumen of the spinal canal;
fractures and injuries.

The second group of causes includes muscle diseases, among which it is worth highlighting:

Crick;
muscle spasms.

Dorsalgia can also be due to:

hemorrhages in the pelvic area;
hematomas located in the retroperitoneal space, in which a purulent process occurs;
injuries and ailments of the pelvic organs;
pathologies of the digestive tract and kidneys;
rheumatological disorders.

In addition, there are such risk factors:

extensive injuries;
lifting weights by a physically weak person;
prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position;
prolonged hypothermia of the body.

In addition, in females, dorsalgia can be caused by the period of bearing a child and the course of menstruation.

Classification

Depending on the location of pain, there are the following forms of this syndrome:

cervicalgia- has the second name "dorsalgia of the cervical spine";
lumbalgia- while the pain is localized in the lumbar region, which is why the disorder is also known as dorsalgia of the lumbar spine;
thoracalgia- differs in that the main symptomatology does not go beyond the sternum region, which means that in such cases dorsalgia of the thoracic spine will be diagnosed.

According to the duration of the expression of unpleasant sensations, the syndrome can occur in several forms:

acute dorsalgia- is such if the pain bothers patients for no more than a month and a half. It differs in that it has a more favorable prognosis, in comparison with a sluggish variety;
chronic dorsalgia- is diagnosed if pain in a particular section of the spine persists for more than twelve weeks. Such a course is fraught with loss of working capacity or disability of a person.

By origin, such a violation has two types:

vertebrogenic dorsalgia- characterized by the fact that it is directly related to injury or diseases of the spine;
non-vertebrogenic dorsalgia- the occurrence of such a variety is caused by other etiological factors, for example, somatic ailments or psychogenic causes.

Symptoms

The clinical manifestations of dorsalgia consist in the expression of a pain syndrome, which can be both permanent and paroxysmal, aching or sharp. However, in all cases, the pain is aggravated by physical activity.

Against the background of the fact that such a syndrome develops due to the course of various diseases, it is natural that the symptoms in each case will be different.

With the course of rheumatological pathologies, the clinical manifestations will be as follows:

localization of pain in the lumbar region;
irradiation of discomfort in the buttocks and thighs;
increased pain with prolonged rest;
bilateral spinal injury.

In cases where infectious processes have become the source, then among the characteristic symptoms will be:

sharp pain throughout the spinal column;
foci of pain in the lower back, buttocks or lower extremities;
swelling and redness of the skin in the problem area.

With muscle pathologies that caused dorsalgia of the spine, the symptoms will be as follows:

distribution of pain on the left or right side of the body;
increased pain during climate change or in cases of stressful situations;
the occurrence of painful points located in various areas of the body, which are detected by accidental pressure on them;
muscle weakness.

With osteochondrosis and spondylarthrosis, clinical signs are presented:

back pain - exacerbation is observed when turning or bending;
discomfort that occurs when you stay in one position for a long time;
numbness or tingling of the hands or feet;
decreased muscle tone;
headaches and dizziness;
impaired hearing or vision;
tonic syndrome;
movement disorders.

In cases of damage to other internal organs, the following will be expressed:

abdominal pain and frequent urination - with kidney pathologies;
girdle nature of pain - in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
pain in the chest and under the shoulder blades - with lung diseases.

Diagnostics

If you experience back pain or dorsalgia, you should seek qualified help from a neurologist. It is this specialist who will conduct the initial diagnosis and prescribe additional examinations.

Thus, the first stage of diagnosis includes:

collecting a life history and analyzing the patient's medical history - this will help determine which pathological condition provoked the appearance of such a syndrome. Symptoms and treatment will differ depending on the identified ailment;
general physical examination aimed at palpation of the spine and assessment of the range of motion in it;
a detailed survey of the patient - to establish the nature of pain, the presence and severity of additional symptoms.

Laboratory diagnostic measures are limited to the implementation of a general clinical analysis of blood and urine.

The most valuable during the establishment of the correct diagnosis are the following instrumental examinations of the patient:

radiography - to detect pathological changes in the vertebrae;
electromyography - will detect muscle pathologies;
densitometry - determines the density of bone tissue;
CT and MRI - for a more detailed picture of the spine. It is thanks to this that it is possible to distinguish non-vertebrogenic dorsalgia from the syndrome of vertebrogenic genesis;
radioisotope bone scintigraphy - in this case, the radiopaque substance is distributed over the bones. The presence of foci of excessive accumulation will indicate the localization of the pathology, for example, the sacral spine.

In addition, you may need advice:

vertebrologist;
rheumatologist;
orthopedist.

Treatment

In the vast majority of cases, elimination of the underlying disease is sufficient to relieve back pain.

Nevertheless, the treatment of dorsalgia involves the use of a whole range of conservative techniques, including:

observance of bed rest from two to five days;
wearing a special bandage designed to relieve the load from the spine;
taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - orally, by injection or use as ointments;
the use of muscle relaxants - these are drugs that relax muscles;
course of therapeutic massage;
physiotherapy procedures;
performing exercise therapy exercises - but only after the pain subsides.

The issue of surgical intervention is decided individually with each patient.

Prevention and prognosis

To reduce the likelihood of developing a syndrome such as dorsalgia, it is necessary:

constantly monitor the correct posture;
engage in timely treatment of those diseases that can lead to back pain;
rationally equip the working and sleeping place;
completely eliminate hypothermia of the body;
prevent injuries to the spine, back and pelvic area;
exclude the influence of heavy physical exertion;
monitor body mass indicators - if necessary, lose a few kilograms or, conversely, increase body mass index;
several times a year to undergo a complete preventive examination in a medical institution.

By itself, dorsalgia does not pose a danger to the patient's life. However, we should not forget that each disease-source of back pain has its own complications. The most unfavorable prognosis is observed with vertebrogenic dorsalgia, since in such cases it is not excluded that the patient will become disabled.

Is everything correct in the article from a medical point of view?

Answer only if you have proven medical knowledge

It is difficult to distinguish it from other diseases due to the similarity of concomitant symptoms with other diseases of the spine, as well as internal organs.

Characteristics of dorsalgia and its types

Depending on the cause of occurrence, dorsalgia is divided into:

vertebrogenic- occurs due to pathological changes in the components of the spine, which are accompanied by an inflammatory process, are the result of an injury to the spinal column, or are of a neoplastic nature (malignant tumors);
non-vertebrogenic- occurs against the background of muscle sprains, prolonged stress and other psychogenic factors, as a result of muscle spasms and prolonged tension of the back muscles.

According to the localization of painful sensations, the following types of pain syndrome are determined:

cervicalgia- soreness in the cervical spine;
thoracalgia- pain in the thoracic spine;
lumbalgia- Pain in the lumbar region of the spine.

Dorsalgia can be combined and simultaneously cover two or three sections of the spine.

At-risk groups

The following categories of people may be affected by dorsalgia:

those who lead a sedentary lifestyle (for example, office workers, drivers);
having an underdeveloped muscular corset of the back;
those who have suffered spinal column injuries;
having malignant tumors of the spine;
suffering from spondylosis;
suffering from scoliosis;
having displacement of the vertebrae from their anatomically correct position;
exposed to infectious diseases;
having diseases of internal organs;
suffering from osteoporosis;
being overweight;
back muscles subjected to hypothermia (myositis);
people with congenital diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Neurological examination allows you to determine the safety of all physiological reflexes and identify the presence of pathological reactions.

After collecting an anamnesis of the disease and a neurological examination, the doctor sends the patient for an additional examination, which will help establish an accurate diagnosis and without the results of which it is impossible to prescribe the correct treatment.

Methods for diagnosing dorsalgia include:

radiography- performed in two projections: anterior and lateral. This method allows you to identify compression fractures (may be caused by osteoporosis, etc.), displacement of the vertebrae and other deformities of the spinal column. Also, this research method allows specialists to assess the condition of the patient's spinal canal.
Myelography- an X-ray with a contrast agent. Myelography allows you to determine the condition of the spinal cord.
Computed tomography (CT)- allows you to get layered images, with the help of which you can more accurately determine the location of the disease or injury, the presence or absence of spinal cord injuries.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)- This research method is the most accurate and effective of all of the above. It allows you to identify all types of damage to the spinal column, spinal cord, spinal nerves and blood vessels.
spinal tap- cerebrospinal fluid is taken if the patient is suspected of having benign or malignant tumors in the spine. This method allows you to find out about hemorrhages in the spinal cord and identify the presence of purulent or inflammatory processes.

Treatment of dorsalgia and prognosis of recovery

And did you know that…

Next fact

If the patient has acute back pain, the treatment of dorsalgia must be comprehensive. Then the patient is prescribed drug therapy, it is recommended to visit the physiotherapy room and the exercise therapy room. In some cases, surgery may also be necessary.

Drug therapy for dorsalgia involves the use of the following groups of drugs:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)	They play an important role in the presence of a strong pain syndrome in a patient. With severe pain, they are prescribed in the form of intramuscular injections. For mild or moderate pain, they can be used in the form of tablets or capsules. For greater efficiency, gels and ointments can be used simultaneously with drugs of this group in tablet form or in the form of injections.	Indomethacin Analgin Nimid Ibuprofen
Muscle relaxants	They are prescribed to relax the muscles of the back, as well as the smooth muscle fibers of the blood vessels. Preparations of this group help to get rid of the pain syndrome (sometimes not completely), which allows you to restore the mobility of the spinal column, normal gait and posture.	Mydocalm Sirdalud Thezalud
Chondroprotectors	They help to restore the affected cartilage tissue, but treatment with these drugs should be carried out for several months.	Chondroitin sulfate Mukosat
Glucocorticosteroids	They are used to enhance the effect of drugs of other groups (especially NSAIDs). They help to get rid of pain and swelling of soft tissues. Glucocorticosteroids help restore physiological processes in the body.	Prednisolone Dexamethosone
Angioprotectors	They are prescribed to improve the metabolism between the blood and tissues of the body, improve the patency of blood vessels. Allows you to get rid of swelling of soft tissues.	Troxevasin Detralex Askorutin
Biostimulants	They are prescribed to stimulate metabolic processes in the body, improve blood circulation and transmission of nerve impulses. Helps speed up the recovery of body tissues. Strengthen the body's resistance to diseases.	Plazmol
vitamins	Vitamin complexes help to strengthen the body, slow down the progression of the disease, accelerate the exchange between the blood and body tissues, and stimulate the restoration of damaged tissues. Dorsalgia requires vitamin B complexes (B1, B2, B6, B12).	Milgamma

Attention! Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are not recommended for use for treatment longer than 5-7 days. Drugs in this group can cause complications, in particular diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Physiotherapy for dorsalgia involves the use of the following treatment methods:

apitherapy (use in the treatment of bee venom and bee products);
acupuncture;
magnetotherapy;
manual therapy;
electrophoresis.

For the treatment of dorsalgia used and manual therapy. But massage should be done only by a qualified specialist.

The chiropractor during the massage acts on the deep subcutaneous layers, improving blood circulation in the muscular corset of the back and returning the displaced elements of the spinal column to their places.

Exercise therapy is also effective for the treatment of dorsalgia. A set of exercises is selected by the exercise therapy instructor individually for each patient, taking into account the cause of back pain.

Surgery is rarely used.- in cases where complex therapy does not give a positive result. In some cases, vertebroplasty is used - a gentle surgical method that allows you to strengthen the elements of the spinal column percutaneously, using special equipment and medical cement.

At home, only exercise therapy can be used to treat dorsalgia. The remaining methods are cold or hot compresses, wraps, warming up, tinctures, etc. can only worsen the state of health if the exact cause of pain is not established.

In 90% of cases, dorsalgia and the underlying disease that caused the pain syndrome are successfully treated.. In 5% of cases, back pain can be accompanied by complications and treatment can take about 3 months. In only 2% of cases, dorsalgia may require surgery to treat.

Video: "Exercises for the spine from osteochondrosis"

Conclusion

Dorsalgia- not a disease, but a pain syndrome that arose against the background of any disease of the musculoskeletal system. For its treatment, only a complex technique is used.

If the cause of the pain syndrome is not treated in a timely manner, this can lead to serious consequences:

to circulatory disorders in the spinal cord and brain;
to partial or complete paralysis of the body;
to impaired mobility of the back;
to a significant decrease in performance;
to dysfunction of the pelvic organs.

To avoid the occurrence of dorsalgia, it is recommended to adhere to the following preventive measures:

strengthen the muscles of the back with exercises;
knead your back from time to time during prolonged sedentary work;
control the weight of the lifted weights and evenly distribute the load on both upper limbs;