Specialist-expert of the Ministry of Health, doctor-neurologist Marziyya Mammadova: Diagnosis is an important issue in back pain, and depending on the result, an individual treatment method is prescribed.

- Ms. Marziyya, first of all, we would like to know what are the causes of back pain?

- One of the biggest problems in modern times is physical passivity. So now some things are done online, public transport is accessible, people spend most of their lives sitting. Compared to previous years, complaints of back pain and diseases accompanied by back pain have become much younger. The reason for this can be considered, first of all, biomechanical disorders in the musculoskeletal system, widespread degenerative changes, stagnation in the body.
In my practice, every second patient comes with back pain. Half of them are 25-35 years old. I should also mention that most of the patients are women. When investigating the reason for this, most of them note that the pain occurs or increases either during pregnancy or after childbirth.
It is true that pregnancy and motherhood cause special changes in a woman's body. Thus, the hormonal background changes, puts a load on the musculoskeletal system, causes avitaminosis and other problems. However, these are all signs of a weak body, which later leads to aggravation of these problems during pregnancy.
The duration of complaints is one of the important factors in establishing the correct diagnosis in the case of back pain. Depending on the duration, they are divided into acute and chronic pain. Gold is taken for 12 weeks by default. Thus, pains lasting 4-12 weeks are considered acute/semi-acute, and pains lasting more than 12 weeks are considered chronic.
According to the international classification of back pain, specific and non-specific back pain includes spinal fractures, anomalies, derivatives, nerve/stem/spinal cord compressions, etc. belongs to.
Non-specific back pain includes spinal curvatures, muscle pain, etc. applies. At the same time, non-specific back pain is divided into mechanical (lumbago) and non-mechanical pain (central sensitivity syndromes, psychological problems, etc.).

- What should be done during back pain?

- Diagnosis is an important issue in back pain, and depending on the result, an individual treatment method is prescribed. First of all, a neurological examination is performed and the patient is visually examined. At this time, his gait, volume of movements, muscle strength, tone, degree of pain, physiological and pathological reflexes and sensation are checked.
After that, the level of damage and the method of instrumental diagnostic examination are selected locally. However, in practice, in most cases, as soon as patients have back pain, we witness X-ray, magnetic resonance and computed tomography examinations without a doctor's advice. As a result, the examination is carried out unnecessarily.
Sometimes, in the case of light protrusions that are accidentally found and do not have neurological manifestations, patients see the reason for all their complaints in the results of the neuroimaging examination. However, incidental findings (incidentalomas) without neurological manifestations and without complaints do not require treatment.
In addition to neuroimaging, an EMG (Electromyography) examination can be performed to clarify the diagnosis. At this time, an objective evaluation of the neuromuscular system is performed.

- How is back pain treated?

- Sometimes patients with acute and subacute pain syndrome can recover within a few days, even without treatment. Considering this, they are mainly offered non-pharmacological treatment. So, this includes warming procedures, massage, acupuncture or manual/osteopathic therapy, etc. belongs to.
However, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or muscle relaxant drugs can be offered to patients who prefer drug treatment.
For patients suffering from chronic back pain, therapeutic exercise, yoga, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, acupuncture, stress management methods, cognitive-behavioral therapy and a healthy lifestyle are recommended. It also includes healthy nutrition, conflict management and healthy working conditions.