Back pain - Causes and how to relieve it

The main causes of back pain can include spinal problems, pneumonia or kidney stones, and to differentiate the cause should be noted the characteristic of pain and the region of the back that is affected.
Most of the time the pain in the back is of muscular origin and arises due to fatigue, weight lifting or poor posture, and can be solved with simple measures such as hot compresses and stretching.
However, if the pain in the back appears suddenly, is very strong or if there are other associated symptoms such as fever or difficulty moving, it is best to go to the doctor to request exams and indicate the most appropriate treatment.
Back pain - Causes and how to relieve it
What can cause pain in the back
The 7 main types of pain in the back are:

1. Back pain on the right or left side

What it can be: it is usually a pain in the form of weight that indicates the presence of a muscle injury, especially after going to the gym, however it can also be caused by professions that may be demanding for the back as is the case with dentists or gardeners.
How to relieve: place a warm compress in the region for 15 minutes, 2 times a day, for 3 to 4 days and apply an anti-inflammatory ointment such as Cataflam or Traumeel.

2. Back pain when breathing

What it can be: it can be related to the lung when there is a sensation of shortness of breath, mainly when there was a respiratory illness in recent years or if the person is bedridden. See other signs in: Symptoms of respiratory infection.
How to relieve: apply a warm compress in the region, but it is best to find a pulmonologist or general practitioner in case there are other symptoms of respiratory problems associated with pain, such as cough, phlegm or fever.

3. Low back pain

What it can be: it is usually a sign of renal colic, being related to the presence of kidney stones, which results in a very severe pain that prevents the patient from walking or moving. More details of this pain in: Symptoms of kidney stones.
How to relieve: pain should be treated as quickly as possible, so it is recommended to go to a hospital emergency.

4. Back pain that radiates to the legs

What it can be: it can be caused by a compression of the sciatic nerve in the final region of the spine or buttocks. However, when the pain is provoked in the form of a stitch with a tingling sensation or difficulty sitting or walking, it may indicate the presence of osteophytes. If you think you may have the affected sciatic nerve, answer the following questions:
1. Pain with tingling, numbness or shock in the spine, buttocks, leg or sole of the foot.Yes
2. Sensation of burning, stitches or tired leg. Yes
3. Weakness in one or both legs. Yes
4. Pain that intensifies with rest. Yes
5. Difficulty walking or staying a long time in the same position. Yes
How to relieve: what is recommended to do in these cases is to go to a trauma surgeon, so you can request exams such as an MRI, and from there indicate the best treatment.

5. Back pain with tightness in the chest

What it can be: when the pain worsens with effort and there is a feeling of discomfort or dizziness it can be a sign of heart attack, mainly if the person is above the ideal weight, if they have hypertension or suffer from high cholesterol.
How to relieve: you must call an ambulance or go as quickly as possible to the nearest health center emergency.
During pregnancy is also very common the emergence of back pain, especially in the last months of pregnancy due to the overload of the spine.

6. Middle back pain

What can be: muscle contracture or spinal problems such as a herniated disc, which mainly affects people over 45 years of age. The pain can get worse when getting up or staying a long time in the same position, being able to irradiate to the sides, to the ribs or down affecting the buttocks and legs.
How to relieve: You can place a warm compress on your back and avoid staying too long in the same position. In addition to this you can go to the orthopedist for X-rays or a resonance and indicate the appropriate treatment, which may include physiotherapy sessions.

7. High back pain

What it can be: It may be due to a muscle contracture due to fatigue, excessive physical activity, stress or worry, or torticollis, which in this case must be associated with pain in the neck as well.
How to relieve: Stretching exercises are a great help to stretch your muscles and feel more relaxed. In the case of torticollis should be placed in a comfortable position and should be turning the head slowly to all sides, can help relax the muscles of the upper part.
How to relieve pain in the back
What you can do to relieve back pain at home, before consultation with the doctor is:

Rest: lie on the floor or on a hard mattress for half an hour every day;
Warm compresses: place a warm compress with 3 drops of rosemary essential oil exactly on the region of pain, for 15 minutes per day;
Receive a massage: with warm almond oil, but without forcing much;
Homeopathy: ingestion of homeopathic medicines such as arnica, prescribed by the doctor to treat inflammation in the back;
Pilates exercises: help strengthen the muscles of the back and abdominals, fighting the cause of pain.
It is also important to follow some tips such as adopting good posture on a daily basis, to protect the spine, and exercise regularly. Muscle exercises are a good option to improve posture, reducing pain and discomfort in the back.

See other tips for relieving back pain: