Symptoms of back pain

Introduction

Very many people suffer from back pain nowadays. However, this is not a clinical picture in itself, but the result of another underlying disease, such as a herniated disc or disease of the spine, or physical posture. The back pain that occurs is the symptom in itself, but it can also have different characteristics due to its different causes and may be accompanied by other specific symptoms such as burning.

What other symptoms can occur with back pain?

Most patients with back pain complain of pain in the lower back (lower back pain). However, this pain is often not limited to the back, but radiates into the buttocks or thighs. It is not uncommon for other symptoms to appear in parallel or even before the back pain manifests itself.

These should be recognized as a warning signal, but are ignored by many because they can be reversed by a certain behavior and are not permanent. These include symptoms like: The symptoms of muscle tension are typical for people with back pain and are a problem mainly because they are the entry point to a circuit that is difficult to break. The aching muscles primarily trigger two reactions: On the one hand, pain always puts a strain on the psyche (back pain and psyche) of those affected, which often causes them to adopt the so-called “relieving posture” (shoulders are raised, head and upper back are slightly bent forward), which in turn is a bad posture and increases back pain.

On the other hand, chronic pain patients tend to become passive, as they are tired and exhausted, often cannot sleep well and feel unable to perform. As a result, a breakdown of muscle tissue takes place, but the body needs this to maintain a correct upright posture: Tension and pain therefore become worse. If nothing is done, the symptoms of back pain usually become more frequent and intense over time.

This leads to sudden, extremely severe pain (lumbago). However, pain is usually not the only symptom patients have to complain about. Disorders in mobility and sensation can also be an indication of symptoms of back pain caused by nerves being trapped or damaged, for example by a herniated disc or bony structures in the spine.

Those affected then experience a sensation in the corresponding extremities that feels similar to when a part of the body has “fallen asleep”, i.e. a tingling sensation that is often referred to as “formication”. If this occurs regularly and also occurs during activity, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Apart from these symptoms, pain that is not located in the back at all can also be the result of pathological processes in the area of the spine.

The so-called sciatic nerve, which is responsible for a large part of the lower part of the body, can lead to pain when irritated, which is strongly reminiscent of menstrual pain or damage to the ovaries or uterus and is often misinterpreted by patients. Headaches can also be caused by back pain and are then called tension headaches, which typically have a dull character and radiate from the neck into the back of the head and into the temples. Even dizziness can be caused by processes in the spine.

When nerves become acutely pinched, a severe pain is caused, which is known as lumbago. This pain is often so acute and stressful for an affected person that it literally takes their breath away. So breathing difficulties occur which are so frightening and such a serious problem in themselves that the actual pain in the back is sometimes no longer consciously perceived.

Fortunately, most symptoms of back pain can be eliminated with simple measures, as they are usually not caused by serious illness but rather by muscular tension or poor posture. In many cases, sports, physiotherapy, specific relaxation techniques such as yoga or autogenic training or simply a proper mattress are enough to make the back pain disappear or at least improve it significantly.

  • A general lassitude
  • A morning stiffness of the back and other joints
  • A short-term painful stinging during particularly heavy strain or with certain movements and
  • A feeling of tension

When back pain occurs together with nausea, it can have several causes. It is often a combination of several factors.

These often include stress and excessive physical strain. This makes the body more susceptible to infections or other diseases. Complaints of the gastrointestinal tract, which are caused by an irritated stomach lining for example, can often lead to nausea.

However, this can also affect the back and lead to pain there due to the strain on the body. Occasionally, an inflammation of the pancreas can also be the cause of back pain with nausea. This is also known as pancreatitis and often leads to severe discomfort that affects digestion.

Since some nerves that run along the pancreas also run along the back, this can cause discomfort in both regions. However, irritation of nerves in the back can also lead to nausea and vomiting.

  • Inflammation of the pancreas
  • When abdominal pain and back pain occur together

It is not uncommon for attacks of dizziness to occur during prolonged back pain.

These can often depend on the position of the body and thus the tension of certain muscles. Back pain is often caused by tension and hardening of the muscles of the back. The muscles also play an important role for the body in terms of balance and orientation in space.

Through their tension or relaxation, the brain receives information about the current position of the body. However, if these muscles are now excessively tense, false signals are transmitted. As a result, the brain is no longer able to correctly classify the position of the body in space.

The balance is disturbed and the body reacts to this with dizziness. This is often a case of so-called rotational vertigo. This means that those affected feel as if they are sitting on a merry-go-round.

Since different muscles are put under greater strain depending on the movement, the occurrence of vertigo often depends on different movements. In order to relieve these symptoms, it is helpful to release the tension in the muscles. Physiotherapy, various relaxation and strengthening exercises as well as heat wraps can be very helpful for this purpose.

If the dizziness still persists, an ear, nose and throat doctor should be consulted if necessary. If back pain is accompanied by shortness of breath, there are several possible causes. Irrespective of this, a doctor should be consulted, depending on the severity of the pain, to relieve the shortness of breath and clarify the cause.

  • A herniated disc in the area of the thoracic spine can lead to breathing difficulties due to the entrapment of nerves running there.
  • Also with the so-called angina pectoris, i.e. the tightness of the chest, there is not only a sudden onset of shortness of breath and a feeling of tightness in the chest, but also occasional pain in the back area.
  • Tension in the back muscles, especially the muscles that assist breathing, can cause breathing difficulties in back pain.

Back pain sometimes occurs together with diarrhea. Although the two symptoms can be independent of each other, they are often mutually dependent. This is due to the nerve tracts that supply the digestive tract and come mainly from the spinal cord.

If the intestine is irritated and under stress, diarrhea often occurs. Due to the close connection of the nerves, this can also affect the back and manifest itself in the form of back pain. If back pain occurs together with fever, there is often an inflammatory reaction in the body.

This can, for example, be caused directly in the spine by an infection. Often bacteria are responsible for this. This often leads to severe acute pain, which occurs mainly at night or at rest.

In addition, it often leads to fever and fatigue. But other infections, such as a stronger flu, can also lead to back pain and fever. If back pain is accompanied by headaches, there are several possible connections.If the back pain occurs mainly in the area of the cervical spine, the accompanying headaches can be caused by tension in the muscles of the neck.

This is due to the fact that many nerves and muscles run along the neck, connecting the back with the head. Psychological stress can also cause back pain with headaches. This often leads to a so-called tension headache, which is usually experienced as oppressive.

There are many possible explanations for back pain associated with abdominal pain. In women, hormonal changes during menstruation or pregnancy can be responsible for this. Gastrointestinal complaints can also be felt in the abdomen and can lead to back pain.

Inflammation or overuse of the muscles in the lower back can also cause pain in the lower abdomen. The so-called iliopsoas muscle, the strongest hip flexor, plays a particularly important role in this. During menstruation, many women experience back pain.

These occur mainly in the area of the lumbar spine. The reason for this is the release of hormones, the so-called prostaglandins. These primarily have a stimulating effect on the muscles in the uterus.

Often, however, there is an excessive production of prostaglandins and this leads to various complaints, including back problems. In many cases, warm compresses and drinking tea are already sufficient to relieve the pain. If necessary, relaxation exercises can also be helpful.

This could also be interesting for you: menstrual painIn rare cases, back pain can be caused by an inflammation directly on the back. This is mainly due to infections, which are usually caused by bacteria. Both the bones and the muscles can be affected.

Occasionally, the intervertebral discs can also become inflamed. In most cases, this inflammation of the back is already caused by another inflammation in the body. As a result, the pathogens in the body can reach the back via the blood and cause pain there.

These are usually of a very strong character and occur especially when the back is relieved, i.e. especially at night. Depending on the exact location of the inflammation, pain or paralysis can also occur in the muscles of the back. Frequently, fever and a feeling of exhaustion also occur.

If these symptoms occur, a doctor should be consulted, as an inflammation caused by a bacterial infection should be treated with antibiotics. Back pain can occasionally be caused by problems with the gallbladder. This can be explained by the fact that the internal organs located near the back can cause pain that radiates into the back when discomfort occurs.

Back pain can also be caused by problems with the gallbladder, for example gallstones. Certain nerves also transmit the complaints to the surface of the body. For example, problems of the gallbladder often lead to pain in the shoulder and upper back area.

If there is acute back pain, it should not automatically be assumed that this is a heart attack. It is usually much more likely that other causes, such as tension or a pinched nerve, are responsible for the back pain. In the case of a heart attack, however, it is quite possible that a strong pain is felt in the back, especially between the shoulder blades.

Other symptoms, such as shortness of breath and a tightness in the chest, usually occur as well. If a heart attack is suspected, a doctor should be consulted immediately. When the heart is pierced, a very strong stabbing sensation occurs in the chest.

This can be caused by various factors and is often accompanied by pain in the back and shoulder blades. Occasionally, nausea or shortness of breath also occurs. Since a heart attack can also be present in addition to more harmless causes, a doctor should be contacted to clarify the cause.