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Myositis of the back
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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According to statistics, almost all suffer from back pain of varying strength, and often recurrent pain is noted in almost 20% of adults. However, there are not so many patients with myositis diagnosis.
Inflammatory processes that arise in the human skeletal muscles and manifest in the form of muscle pain (myalgia) of different localization are combined into one vast group of diseases - myositis (from the Greek myos - muscle). With back myositis, inflammation and the pain associated with it are concentrated in the tissues of the striated muscles of the back.
Without delving into the differences of the existing classifications of myositis, it should be noted that in domestic clinical medicine, the etiology and clinical signs of myositis are divided into types, subtypes and mixed types: infectious, purulent, parasitic, toxic, traumatic, professional. Moreover, here also try to attach myopathies (from the Greek myos - muscle and pathos - disease) - neuromuscular diseases with atrophic processes in the skeletal musculature ...
In general, all myositis, and, in the first place, myositis of the back, so far belong to poorly studied diseases.
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Causes of myositis of the back
The list of causes that cause myositis of the back is extremely extensive. This disease can be a consequence of hypothermia or the result of the injury. Although, according to specialists, myositis of the muscles of the back of a traumatic origin is not so often, and the most common cause of myositis of the back is considered to be muscle overstrain from a prolonged body stay in an uncomfortable position or a prolonged strain of spinal muscles in forced standing, sitting or repeatedly repetitive movements. This is not known by first-hand knowledge to professional drivers, seamstresses, workers on conveyors and operators of control panels of various manufacturing spheres, etc. And this is a professional back myositis, the basis of etiology of which is not inflammation but a violation of microcirculation in muscle tissues. First it gives a feeling of heaviness in the muscles, then pain sensations, and as a result, atrophic changes and functional disorders of both superficial and deep back muscles are possible.
To the causes of myositis, backs include metabolic pathologies, as well as some systemic and infectious diseases. For example, muscle myositis on the back - in the lumbar region - can be with chronic forms of brucellosis - a zoonotic infection that is transmitted to humans from sick animals.
There is a version according to which the inflammatory processes in muscles arise due to autoimmune reactions of the organism or as a result of autoimmune processes in the skeletal musculature itself.
One way or another, one should distinguish the pain caused by various causes in the back muscles and the inflammation of the skeletal muscles accompanied by pain - myositis of the back.
Symptoms of myositis of the back
The key symptoms by which doctors recognize myositis of the muscles of the back are:
- nojushchaja a pain in a back (more often - in the field of muscles of a loin),
- increased pain during movement and pressure on the muscles,
- The constant nature of pain, which can persist at rest,
- muscle tension and limitation of mobility,
- the presence of painful knots and seals in the thickness of the muscle (with diffuse lesions of muscle tissue).
There may be a significant swelling, hyperemia of the skin in the area of inflammation and an increase in temperature, which indicates a purulent myositis. Also, patients can complain about general deterioration of well-being and fatigue - due to reflex contraction of the inflamed muscle and its tension, especially in the mornings. Experts explain such a manifestation of myositis of the back that at night, at rest, the inflamed muscle tissue swells, its blood supply deteriorates, which leads to spasms.
Acute myositis in the absence of treatment goes into a chronic form, when the pains become stronger, especially when supercooled and prolonged stay in the same position. In this case, inflammation can spread to other muscle groups.
Where does it hurt?
What's bothering you?
Diagnosis of myositis of the back
To reveal myositis of the back is not as easy as it may seem. First, the symptoms of this disease develop slowly and clearly manifest only during exacerbations. Secondly, it is not uncommon for patients to take pains in the back for pains of a muscular nature, while a pain syndrome can be caused, for example, by an aggravation of the slow inflammation of one of the intervertebral discs. In addition, pain and spasm in the muscles of the back can be reflected and associated with many other pathologies of the musculoskeletal system and internal organs.
So the diagnosis of myositis of the back is carried out not only on the basis of anamnesis and clinical picture of the disease, but also on the data of such studies as:
- clinical blood test;
- a blood test for autoantibodies and muscle enzymes (eg, creatine kinases);
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI determines the exact location of the muscle inflammation);
- electromyography (EMG, measures bioelectric potential in skeletal muscles);
- muscle biopsy (the most accurate method of diagnosis, determining the degree of damage to muscle fibers).
Some cases of myositis of the back are not diagnosed for many years and are mistaken for other diseases that cause pain and muscle weakness.
What do need to examine?
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Treatment of myositis of the back
In acute neognoynom myositis back doctors recommend as little as possible to disturb the muscles and to comply with bed rest. And to relieve pain, painkillers are used - external and oral.
Widely used in the treatment of myositis back such non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as Ibuprofen and Febrofid. Ibuprofen (synonyms - Brufen, Ibuprom, Ibusan, Ibufen, Nurofen, etc.) has an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic effect and is available in the form of tablets, capsules, syrup, suspension for ingestion, and also for external use - in the form of gel and cream . Ibuprofen in tablets and capsules is recommended for adults in a daily dose of 400-1200 mg - in 3-4 divided doses. The course of treatment - no more than 7 days. Syrup or suspension of Ibuprofen is prescribed to children - 10-20 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. The cream or gel is applied to the skin in the area of the painful area (a strip of 5-10 cm in length) 3-4 times a day and rubbed to the full absorption of the drug.
Among the contraindications of this drug: bronchial asthma, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, optic neuritis, thrombocytopenia, violations of the liver and kidneys, severe heart failure, pregnancy and lactation, children's age (syrup, suspension - with a body weight of up to 7 kg; tablets or capsules - up to 12 years).
Gel for external use The fetus contains ketoprofen lysine salt and also belongs to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, providing anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous and analgesic effect. The gel is applied to the skin of a painful place (a strip of 3-5 cm) and slightly rubbed - 2-3 times a day. When using this drug, allergic reactions and skin hyperemia are possible. Contraindications to its use are wet dermatoses, eczema, infected abrasions, wounds, burns, pregnancy (third trimester) and lactation period, hypersensitivity to ketoprofen and other components of the gel.
It should be noted that very severe pain in the muscles of the back can cause the need for a novocaine blockade, in which the drug composition from novocaine and the corticosteroid drug is injected intramuscularly into the inflamed area.
In addition to medicines, the treatment of myositis of the back is performed with the help of physiotherapeutic procedures (electrophoresis, UHF, phonophoresis, diadynamic currents), reflexotherapy (acupuncture), physiotherapy (not during the exacerbation period), and therapeutic massage and hirudotherapy. These therapeutic methods allow to activate blood circulation, improve lymph drainage and stimulate metabolic processes in muscle tissues.
If the myositis is purulent, then it is necessary to take antibiotics. At the same time, situations when resorting to surgical treatment of suppurative myositis of the back muscles are not excluded. Such treatment suggests opening the suppuration and draining the wound with washing with antiseptic.
Treatment of myositis of the back by alternative means
It must be remembered that during exacerbation of inflammation of the back muscles, as with any other inflammatory process, warming is unacceptable. But the application of cold on the painful area during the first 2-3 days from the onset of pain is helpful. The duration of one procedure is not more than 20 minutes, the intervals between them are 1.5-2 hours. You can try hydrotherapy: alternating shower on the lower back: 2 minutes hot, 30 seconds cold. And the heat can be used only after 72 hours from the beginning of the exacerbation.
Treatment of myositis of the back by alternative means is carried out by rubbing the painful back portion with essential oils of fir, pine, chamomile or rosemary. For cooking homegreen enough for a tablespoon of any vegetable oil to add 10-15 drops of ethereal and this mixture gently rub the skin - 2-3 times a day.
Helps to remove the pain of the poultice with the infusion of flowers of black elderberry and the usual chemist's chamomile. It is necessary to take two tablespoons of a mixture of these plants (1: 1), pour a glass of steep boiling water, close tightly and insist for two hours. Warm the steamed flowers put in cheesecloth and attach to the sore spot for half an hour.
Alternative healers argue that the usual help with inflammation of the muscles of the back can be and ordinary white cabbage. It is necessary to wash the cabbage leaf, soap it on one side with household soap, sprinkle it with baking soda and put it on the sore spot for the night (wrapping the waist with a towel or a warm shawl).
More information of the treatment
Prophylaxis of myositis of the back
Myositis of the back muscles is a serious illness, and with its chronic form, back pain can occur in the most unpredictable situations. Therefore, it is necessary to treat acute myositis.
And tips for preventing myositis back are as follows: for a long time do not sit or stand in the same position; with sedentary work - at least once a half to two hours to rise and do a warm-up (tilt back and forth and turns left and right). In the cold season, wear outerwear with a warm lining and try to stay away from drafts.
In addition, you need to include in your daily diet fresh vegetables and fruits containing vitamins A, E and C, as well as calcium-rich whole milk products. Do not forget to arrange for yourself "fish days", because in sea fish there are a lot of iodine, potassium, sodium, magnesium, vitamin D and B12, polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3. All these substances are necessary to promote health, in particular, the musculoskeletal system.
Prognosis of myositis of the back
Myositis of the back as a whole has a positive prognosis - provided its timely detection and quality treatment. However, it should be borne in mind that myositis can progress, involving new muscles in the inflammatory process.