MedClinic > Blog > Algology > Back pain treatment

Back pain treatment

Back pain (dorsalgia) is a common complaint among patients, a common cause of seeking medical attention and temporary disability.

The source of back pain can be:

  • bones;
  • muscle
  • ligaments;
  • intervertebral joints;
  • compressible nerve structures.

Reasons for the appearance

The causes of back pain are physiological conditions, for example, a heavy load, or pathological disorders, which signify some pathologies, in particular, of the spinal column. Back pain can be provoked by:

  • sprain or strain of spinal muscles;
  • development of arthritis or arthrosis (spondylarthrosis);
  • disruption of the integrity of intervertebral disc (prolapse, protrusion);
  • injuries and bruises of the spinal column;
  • disc herniation;
  • congenital anomalies of the spine;
  • the development of an infectious bone disease (spondylodiscitis).
  • neoplasms of a benign (haemangioma) or malignant nature;
  • osteochondrosis;

Often, all the above reasons are links of one chain – osteochondrosis – a chronic, degenerative – dystrophic disease of the spine.

Most of the causes of back pain in the early stages do not require complex medical treatment and do not carry the risks of a health hazard. But sometimes more serious treatment is necessary, in some cases even surgery.

Clinical picture

Symptoms may vary, depending on which part of the spinal column has undergone changes or has been damaged. Characteristics of pain, in the presence of which it is necessary to immediately seek medical help, are:

  • appears regardless of the presence or absence of load on the back;
  • constantly present, with a temporary increase in intensity;
  • radiates to the limbs (with localisation in the lower back it extends to the legs, in the cervical spine – pain can irradiate under the shoulder blades, into the interscapular space, along the upper limb, reaching the tips of the fingers);
  • signs of damage to the motor sphere – paresis of the foot

With pathological back pain, digestion is most often disturbed, pelvic organs do not function correctly, and sudden severe weight loss is observed for no apparent reason.

Diagnostic methods

Treatment of back pain is carried out only after finding out the causes of its occurrence. Often back pain is provoked by excessive physical activity or prolonged staying in the same position. In such cases, the pain goes away on its own with the elimination of the causative factor. But in some cases, the causes are much more serious, they need to be diagnosed as quickly as possible, and treatment should be carried out so as not to aggravate the disease.

Back pains are not specific and without a diagnosis, it is not possible to reliably identify the factors of their occurrence.

Diagnostic methods for determining the causes and treatment of back pain:

  • radiography with functional tests;
  • CT scan;
  • magnetic resonance imaging is the most sensitive and accurate research method in modern neuro-radiology;
  • electroneuromyography (performed if nerve damage is suspected).

Therapeutic measures

Depending on the diagnosis, treatment of back pain is carried out conservatively (medication, manual therapy, physiotherapeutic procedures, exercise therapy), or surgically.

Doctors of the MedClinic Medical Center have extensive experience in the treatment of acute and chronic pain syndromes associated with the pathology of the musculoskeletal system and more. Here you will receive qualified advice from a neurologist, neurosurgeon, orthopedist – traumatologist. You will be provided with a full range of services of a conservative and surgical nature, depending on the specific clinical situation.

The MedClinic Medical Center uses modern, effective, minimally invasive (non-surgical) methods adopted by the world medical community for the treatment of back pain:

  • selective transforaminal radicular blockade;
  • interlaminar (epidural blockade);
  • caudal epidural block for pelvic pain;
  • radiofrequency ablation of the medial nerve root branch (facet syndrome);
  • radiofrequency neuromodulation of the spinal roots;
  • block/ neuromodulation/ablation of the solar plexus;
  • block/ neuromodulation/ablation of ganglion impar (coxodynia);
  • block of ganglion stellate;
  • block of triggering points/

The advantages of these techniques:

  • performed on an outpatient basis under local anaesthesia;
  • duration of the procedure is 15-30 minutes;
  • duration of being under medical supervision is up to 1 hour;
  • there are practically no restrictions in the post-procedural period;
  • minimal risk of complications;
  • effective and safe;
  • have a high level of evidence;
  • there are practically no contraindications;
  • can be performed in combination with other treatment methods, provide a faster and more stable treatment result.

Surgical methods for treating back pain used at the MedClinic Medical Center:

  • spinal fusion (in degenerative processes);
  • microdiscectomy (removal of a hernia of the intervertebral disc from a mini-access);
  • kyphoplasty (with compression fractures);
  • vertebroplasty (in the presence of neoplasms);
  • corpectomy (removal of the vertebral body with prosthesis);
  • laminectomy (in case of damage to nerve endings due to stenosis of the spinal canal);
  • foraminotomy (when the roots of nerve endings are squeezed at the level of intervertebral foramen).

The operative method is selected by the doctor individually.