The most common pathology of the musculoskeletal system is back pain. Each person at least once came across them. Such pain does not always occur due to diseases of the spine. Often they cause inflammation of the back muscles. This condition can develop at any age for various reasons. If the pathology begins to be treated in time, it passes quickly and without complications.
Features of inflammation of the back muscles
The muscular corset of the spine performs very important functions. He supports the body in an upright position, and also participates in all, even small, movements. Therefore, the back muscles are constantly exposed to a lot of stress. As a result, they are more often than others susceptible to inflammatory diseases. In addition, the proximity to the spine, penetrated by a large number of nerve roots, provokes the occurrence of very severe pain in the inflammatory process.
Pathology characteristic
Inflammation of the back muscles, if it is not a symptom of other diseases, is called myositis. The pathology is characterized by the appearance of inflamed dense nodules, tissue swelling and pain. Inflammatory foci can be localized in different places. Usually one muscle is affected, but with some diseases, inflammation can capture the entire muscle corset.
A feature of the inflammatory process in the muscles is that it is very difficult to get rid of the pain. Inflammation develops according to this principle: swelling of the tissues leads to compression of the nerve roots located in the thickness of the muscle tissue or nearby. This causes severe pain, which provokes a reflex muscle spasm. In this case, the nerve is infringed even more, and a vicious circle is obtained.
Why does the disease develop?
Inflammation of the back muscles occurs under the influence of various external factors or in some diseases. Most often, various infectious diseases become its cause. Inflammation can develop with the flu or SARS. This is the most common cause of pathology. Sometimes muscles are affected by parasitic diseases, penetration of bacteria or toxic substances through the wound surface, and also with autoimmune diseases. But such internal causes of the inflammatory process are not very common.
Basically, inflammation of the back muscles develops under the influence of external factors:
- With prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position. This affects office workers, drivers, musicians, cashiers.
- Strong physical strain on the muscles, for example, when playing sports or lifting weights.
- Muscle injury - sprain, bruise, dislocation of the vertebrae.
- Strong hypothermia, especially in combination with physical activity.
- Stressful situation leading to muscle spasms.
In addition, very often myositis accompanies various pathologies of the spine. If osteochondrosis, disc herniation or radiculitis is observed for a long time, muscle spasm occurs. This condition causes the development of inflammation.
Types of inflammatory diseases
Inflammation of the back muscles along the spine, in the upper shoulder girdle, shoulder blades, lower back or pelvis can be divided depending on the cause of occurrence, localization and severity of the course. Usually, two forms of myositis are distinguished - acute and chronic. Most often, the disease begins acutely, with severe pain, fever.
If the patient does not take the pathology seriously, during the treatment he only relieves pain symptoms, self-medicates or does not follow all the doctor’s instructions, the disease becomes chronic. In addition, chronic myositis can develop with a prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, a sedentary lifestyle, or autoimmune diseases. The danger of this type of disease is that it proceeds secretly, pain occurs periodically under the influence of provoking factors. Therefore, the chronic form of myositis often causes complications.
In addition, with inflammation of the back muscles at the place of localization and the symptoms manifested, several types of the disease can be diagnosed:
- ordinary myositis is an inflammatory process that usually affects one muscle;
- polymyositis - affects several muscle groups, and is characterized by greatly increasing weakness;
- dermatomyositis - inflammation is accompanied by damage to the skin with the appearance of a rash, swelling and high fever;
- purulent myositis develops when an infection enters the muscle, is characterized by a high temperature, general intoxication and compaction of muscle tissue.
How is the disease manifested?
With careful attention to his condition, even an ordinary person can timely detect inflammation of the back muscles, the symptoms of which in most cases manifest themselves clearly and quite characteristically. By what signs can the occurrence of the disease be determined:
- severe pain in one or more muscles, usually exacerbated by touch or physical exertion, but sometimes increased pain can be observed even at rest;
- the appearance of painful seals in muscle tissue;
- muscle spasm;
- swelling, redness of the skin;
- fever, chills, headache, nausea, and weakness;
- gradually limiting the mobility of nearby joints, muscle atrophy.
Pathology diagnostics
It is acute and inflammation of the muscles of the back quickly passes into a chronic form. Symptoms and treatment should therefore be determined as soon as possible. If the patient consults a doctor on time, the pathology can be eliminated quickly and without consequences. But it is necessary to accurately diagnose. After all, muscle spasm that occurs during inflammation often causes nerve infringement. Therefore, the symptoms appear are the same as with some other diseases, for example, with a herniated disc or even a heart attack. Usually, for the exact diagnosis, the following types of examinations are prescribed:
- blood tests can detect the inflammatory process and exclude autoimmune pathologies;
- MRI is performed to detect foci of inflammation;
- electromyostimulation determines the condition of the affected muscles.
Inflammation of the back muscles: symptoms and treatment
Under the shoulder blade, pain can resemble a heart attack, in the lower back - sciatica. Therefore, sometimes patients begin treatment on their own, trying to just get rid of the pain. But this does not lead to anything good, as it only increases inflammation of the back muscles. Treatment should be carried out by a specialist, choosing methods strictly individually. The main thing is not only to relieve symptoms, but also to get rid of the cause of inflammation. For example, antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial damage, if the disease is caused by parasites - antiparasitic drugs, and with the autoimmune process only glucocorticoids can help.
But there is a general treatment regimen effective for all types of myositis. Therapy should be comprehensive, including both drugs for internal use and external agents. How is inflammation of the back muscles treated?
- First of all, painkillers and medications are prescribed to relieve inflammation. As a rule, these are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In case of damage to the back muscles, Diclofenac, Ketorolac, Metindol help well.
- Outwardly, with local myositis, ointments, rubbing and compresses help well. These can be drugs with a warming or anti-inflammatory effect. For example, "Finalgon", "Apizartron", "Capsicum" have a locally irritating effect, which leads to the abatement of pain. Relieve inflammation of the ointment "Diclofenac", "Quick gel", "Indomethacin", "Nise."
- In the acute period, the patient is usually recommended to rest. Only then can the affected muscle recover. Warming of the affected area also helps, so it is recommended to wrap the back with a warm scarf.
- Massage is very effective for relieving muscle tension. It improves blood circulation, has a warming effect. It is contraindicated only with a purulent form of the disease and with dermatomyositis.
- In addition, physiotherapeutic procedures are indicated for treatment. Ozone baths, electric current therapy, shock wave therapy, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture are used.
- When pain subsides, special exercises of physiotherapy exercises are performed to restore muscle function. Yoga is effective, as it relaxes muscles well.
- It is necessary to follow a special diet, excluding salty, fatty and fried foods. The diet should include vegetables, fish, dairy products. Be sure to drink at least 2 liters of water.
- Features are only in the treatment of purulent myositis. Warming up is contraindicated, and the treatment consists in surgical opening of the purulent focus and removal of its contents.
Inflammation of the back muscles: treatment with folk remedies
As an auxiliary therapy at home, you can use traditional medicine recipes. There are many, but some of them are easier to use and effective. You can remove inflammation of the back muscles with the help of such means:
- make a compress of cabbage leaves with soda and soap;
- rub the affected area with an ointment from butter and gum;
- helps compress from fresh leaves of burdock;
- warming with boiled mashed potatoes.
Possible complications of pathology
Usually, with timely treatment, inflammation can be removed in a few days. If the patient complies with all the doctor's recommendations, the disease goes away without consequences. But with a chronic course, as well as when treatment was stopped too early, complications are possible. Most often this is muscle atrophy or necrosis of muscle fibers. Due to persistent spasm, nerve roots and blood vessels can also be damaged.
Disease prevention
Inflammation of the back muscles can be prevented. To do this, avoid increased physical exertion and hypothermia. When working with static stress, it is recommended to take breaks more often, flexing muscles. Food should be balanced to eliminate the lack of trace elements. And chronic and infectious diseases need to be treated on time.