Sharp pain in the back: in the lower back, between the shoulder blades, left and right side

Today, we increasingly have to deal with such a problem as sharp back pain. It is not always possible to determine the exact cause of such a pathology. There can be many reasons - from genetic and congenital pathology to injury, inflammation. The pain can be directly in the back, or in other areas, but give to the back. In any case, if such complaints appear, you should immediately contact a doctor who will determine the cause, make a diagnosis, and select treatment.

Causes sharp back pain

Usually, sharp pain indicates an acute process or traumatic injury. If you have not injured your back, it could be an inflammatory process, a pinched nerve, a displaced vertebra. A torn ligament, a muscle strain. But sometimes it happens that the cause is not only in the back itself. An inflammatory or infectious process can occur in the kidneys, liver, spleen, lungs, and even in the pleura, and the pain radiates along the nerve fiber and gives to the back.

Risk factors

The risk group includes people who do heavy physical work with a predominant load on the lower back. This also includes people who suffer from diseases of the spine, paravertebral muscles, acute or chronic radiculitis, damage to the vertebrae and intervertebral space. Also at risk are people who are overcooled, are in drafts, spend a lot of time in damp rooms, basements, or simply outside in the cold season. Of particular interest are people with diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

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Symptoms

It is located in different areas: on the side, in the center of the back, along the spine. It is often limited to a specific, clearly defined area, or it spreads throughout the back, and it is impossible to clearly determine its source. Everything depends on the cause of the pain.

• Sharp pain in the back in the spine area

May indicate a spinal injury, a pinched nerve, a herniated disc, or a displaced or damaged vertebrae. It may also be caused by muscle inflammation, pinching, stretching, or injury. Depending on the level of the vertebra where the pain is located, that section of the spine is subject to damage.

• Sharp pain in the back in the lumbar region

The process can proceed in two directions: an inflammatory process in the back, in the lumbar region, or inflammation in the kidneys, which radiates to the back, lumbar region. This can be cystitis, pyelonephritis, nephritis, glomerulonephritis, which manifests itself as a fairly pronounced pain syndrome, in which pain radiates from the site of inflammation to other areas of the body.

• Sharp pain in the back above the waist

The diaphragm, lower respiratory tract, and pleura may hurt above. Diagnoses such as pleurisy, pneumonia, bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, and abscess are not excluded. It is often a concomitant factor against the background of inflammation of the upper and lower respiratory tract, nervous diseases, and heart failure.

• Sharp pain in the back on the right

May indicate the development of an inflammatory process in the kidney area. In this case, the right kidney is most often involved in the inflammatory process. Also, similar pain on the right can develop with liver diseases, for example, with hepatitis, liver and kidney failure, cirrhosis.

• Sharp pain in the back in the shoulder blade area

Heart disease may be suspected: angina pectoris, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease. Similar sensations are noted by people suffering from heart failure. Also, pain in the shoulder blade area occurs with the development of pneumonia (the projection of the tops of the lungs is located in the shoulder blade area). Often the cause is a bacterial or viral infection that accompanies the inflammatory process. An important role in maintaining inflammation is played by cytomegalovirus infection, herpes, from bacterial infections - streptococcal. Less often - staphylococcal infection. Often this type of pain is caused by a recent sore throat.

• Sharp pain in the back under the shoulder blade

This may be a sign of inflammation or injury in the area of the upper limb girdle, shoulder blade, collarbone. Often, such pain is a pain syndrome of inflammatory genesis, the main etiological factor of which is considered to be insufficient mobility, which entails an inflammatory and infectious process. Bone and muscle structures are involved in this process, including vertebrae and intervertebral discs.

• Sharp pain in the back under the ribs

There may be many reasons, and in almost every case they are strictly individual. For example, pain may be a consequence of frequent stress, nervous and mental overstrain, as well as a consequence of the development of allergic, infectious, inflammatory, and even intoxication diseases.

• Sharp pain in the right side of the back

In most cases, this pain is not in the back, but in the kidney area, which radiates to the back, and it is not always possible to distinguish the source. Often, pain develops against the background of general hypothermia of the body, the development of inflammation of muscles and tissues with the involvement of other tissues in the inflammatory process. In this case, it is not necessarily the right kidney that is subject to the inflammatory process. Often the left one is inflamed, but the pain radiates to the right side.

• Sharp pain in the back when inhaling

May be associated with recent diseases of the lungs, bronchi, upper and lower respiratory tract. Is a consequence of inflammatory and infectious processes, spasm of the respiratory tract, excessive accumulation of exudate and surfactant in the alveoli and walls of the respiratory tract. Often observed as a residual phenomenon after pneumonia, prolonged wet cough. Congestive phenomena. Such pain can persist for a long time after pneumonia and pleurisy (from 2 weeks to 2-3 months), since recovery processes occur in the body at this time.

• Sharp pain in the back and abdomen

There may be many reasons, and it is impossible to determine which of them caused the pain in each specific case. At least, it is impossible to do this without visiting a gastroenterologist. He will conduct an examination. Most likely, a diagnostic examination will be required. One of the most effective methods is an ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity, an X-ray examination of the stomach and intestines, and a gastroscopy. Based on the results obtained, it will be possible to judge the cause of the pain.

• Sharp pain in the back and chest

The cause may be a pinched nerve, intercostal neuralgia, chest injury, inflammation in the lungs, bronchi, fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity, and many infectious diseases, such as croup, tuberculosis. It is advisable to consult a pulmonologist or therapist, as well as do a chest X-ray or digital fluorography, which will reveal pathology, if any.

• Sharp pain in the back muscles

A muscle may have been stretched, pinched or torn. Pain may be caused by sudden or excessive strain on the back muscles, overtraining, hypothermia. Sometimes there is a false impression that the muscles hurt. Such sensations are a symptom of poisoning or internal intoxication, toxins accumulate in the blood, deposit in the muscles.

• Sharp pains in the stomach and back

Provoked by exacerbation of gastritis or ulcer, transition of gastritis to ulcerative form, or preulcer condition. In addition, the cause may be appendicitis, peritonitis, and even development of liver and pancreas pathology. In women, the cause is often ectopic pregnancy, ovarian and genitourinary system pathology.

• Sharp pain in the back and neck

It may be a consequence of a pinched or displaced vertebra, development of an intervertebral hernia, arthrosis, osteochondrosis. Effective treatments include massage, swimming in a pool, water procedures (hydrotherapy), and therapeutic exercises.

• Sharp pain in the back radiates to the leg

It may be a sign of sciatic nerve damage. Various medications, ointments, therapeutic exercise, massage, and water procedures are used for treatment.

The Kneipp hydrotherapy method has been used for a long time to treat such pains. This method is based on hardening and the effect of water on the entire body as a whole. This helps to increase the body's resistance and endurance, normalizes metabolic processes. Foot baths, head, back and neck dousing, washing, full dousing of the entire body, compresses, steam baths are used.

• Sharp back pain when lifting weights

Associated with ligament rupture, overstrain of the muscular-ligamentous apparatus, as well as displacement of vertebrae, compression of nerves, and intervertebral discs.

• Sharp pain in the back when sneezing

A consequence of an infectious or inflammatory process, a general decrease in the body's resistance, metabolic, allergic and autoimmune disorders. An effective means of recovery is aloe juice, which should be dripped into the nose.

• Sharp back pain during sleep

It is necessary to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis, as there may be many reasons. But the greatest danger is that such pains can end in nighttime respiratory arrest, sudden cardiac arrest.

• Sharp pain on the left, in the left side of the back

In the treatment of any pain, herbs have proven themselves well, providing a complex anti-inflammatory, analgesic, immunostimulating effect on the body. Hydrotherapy sessions will help to quickly relieve pain. Hydrotherapy means external use of water in order to provide a therapeutic effect on the body, or for preventive purposes. In this case, water acts as the main active factor. At the same time, the body is hardened, which entails a general improvement in well-being, increased endurance and resistance to infectious and inflammatory processes. In the treatment of back pain, contrast showers, swimming in the pool, Charcot's shower, therapeutic baths, underwater massage, jacuzzi, hardening are used. At home, you can do dousing, rubbing, wet wraps, showers and baths. They can be contrasting, indifferent, cold, hot, warm. Sometimes, instead of water, decoctions of medicinal herbs are used.

Nature of pain

Pain can be different - acute and chronic, sharp and dull. It can cut, stab, burn. Sometimes it is simply aching, causing discomfort to a person for a long time. And sometimes it becomes sharp, paroxysmal, depriving a person of the ability to move, work. Everything depends on what caused the pain.

• Sharp, girdle-like pain in the back

First, you need to see a doctor, find out the cause of the pathology, and then undergo the prescribed treatment. Medication is used as a basis. Various methods of physiotherapy are also used. Physiotherapy is especially effective in complex treatment. Electrophoresis is used, with the help of which drugs are introduced directly into the damaged tissue. Such procedures work well with mechanical and manual methods of exposure. It is recommended to alternate with massage, manual therapy sessions.

• Sharp stabbing pain in the back

Usually, this is a consequence of damage to nerves, muscles, internal organs. The exact cause can only be determined based on diagnostics. The main treatment is prescribed by a doctor. But there are remedies that will help quickly relieve pain and recover. Thermal wraps that are applied to the affected area have proven themselves well.

Diagnostics sharp back pain

When the first signs of pain appear, listen to your sensations and try to determine the source of the pain yourself. If you believe that the pain comes from the muscles or lower back (back, spine, intervertebral discs), you should consult a surgeon, vertebrologist, or even a traumatologist. The doctor will definitely conduct an examination and make a diagnosis. Do not forget to tell the doctor about the probable causes of the pain, accurately describe the source where the pain is localized, try to describe your sensations as accurately as possible. This can be important diagnostic information and will help the doctor choose a treatment, determine an accurate diagnosis, and prescribe additional tests and studies as accurately as possible.

If you are inclined to believe that the source of the pain is still in deeper layers, in the kidneys, urinary tract - it is better to contact a nephrologist for a kidney examination. If you have doubts - still contact a nephrologist, since kidney diseases are quite serious, and even the slightest pathology should not be neglected. It is better to be on the safe side. In addition, preventive examinations should be done at least 1-2 times a year.

If there are no such doctors in your clinic, contact a therapist. He will solve your problem by sending you for a consultation to the necessary specialist, assigning an examination plan. At the doctor's appointment, classical research methods are used: questioning the patient, collecting anamnesis (life, illness), examination using classical research methods (percussion, auscultation, palpation).

The auscultation method listens to the main sounds, which can be very informative for making a diagnosis: wheezing, noises, whistling. Using the palpation method, the doctor will feel the painful areas and will be able to determine the foci of inflammation, hematomas, compactions, and other pathologies. This can be very important for making a diagnosis. Using the percussion method (tapping), the doctor can also identify areas of inflammation, swelling, on the basis of which a further diagnosis will be made. Then a plan for further examination will be drawn up.

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Tests

You can't do without standard tests - clinical blood and urine tests. Urine analysis is especially important.

Blood analysis is also important, it is by it that one can judge the direction of the main processes - inflammation, oncological, allergic, or autoimmune process occurs in the body. Another important parameter is "granularity" and the presence of inclusions in the blood. For example, the presence of curved, distorted and damaged cells in the blood may indicate intoxication, which occurs, for example, after long-term use of certain medications, drugs, chemotherapy or antibiotic therapy. Further examination is required, for example, the detection of tumor markers, biopsy, and so on.

Even such indicators as the amount of urine and its color can provide important information. For example, if there is about 100 ml of urine, one can assume normal, free urination. The amount of urine can be used to judge urinary retention, dysuria, which indicates severe kidney damage.

The color of urine is also an important diagnostic sign. In case of pathology, it can acquire a dark color or contain impurities. Red, scarlet color is the most dangerous (a sign of damage, bleeding, tumor development, and even necrosis, tissue death).

Transparency is an important feature. In case of pathology, it may become turbid. To clarify the information, a microscopic examination of the sediment is carried out.

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Instrumental diagnostics

Such research methods as ultrasound diagnostics, X-ray examination, computer and magnetic resonance imaging are used. These methods allow to determine the anatomical and physiological features of the kidneys, track processes in dynamics, and make a diagnosis. Survey urography, puncture with biopsy, and radioisotope scanning may also be required.

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics is based on the need to differentiate diseases that have similar symptoms. For example, in this case, it is important to differentiate kidney diseases from inflammatory diseases of the muscles and lower back, from lumbago, radiculitis, pinched nerves, myositis, intervertebral hernia, trauma. Instrumental research methods, as well as palpation, checking the main reflexes, are of particular importance.

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Treatment sharp back pain

Treatment of back pain requires a comprehensive approach. The most effective is etiologic therapy aimed at eliminating the cause of pain. But this is not always possible in the early stages, since sometimes diagnostics can be delayed. Read more about methods of treating acute back pain.

Complications and consequences

The main consequences are radiating pain that spreads and progresses quickly. Sharp back pain can be a sign of inflammation, infection, or tumor development. Therefore, if you ignore it, you can trigger these processes. Also, the pain can become chronic.

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Prevention

Prevention is based on timely diagnostics, timely treatment of various diseases, inflammatory processes, and sanitization of infection foci. Preventive measures also include maintaining the required level of physical activity, optimal physical activity, proper and vitamin-rich nutrition, and optimal drinking regimen.

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Forecast

Treatment can only be effective if the exact cause of the sharp back pain is identified. By eliminating this cause, the pain can be completely eliminated. But if the cause is not identified, treatment is often ineffective, and the condition can progress, limiting work capacity and leading to disability.

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