Did you know? Cough and diarrhea can signal problems with the spine

After a long period of pandemic and quarantine, with a sedentary lifestyle and work from home, the number of visits to doctors related to spinal problems has increased. But sometimes annoying symptoms can be completely unobvious.

About Cough, Diarrhea, and Five Other Unobvious Signs of Spinal Destruction tells doctorpiter. And also about when to see a doctor, and how to get rid of back pain.

“Sedentary work” and symptoms of problems with the spine

When it became possible to work from home, many were even pleased at first – you can sleep an hour longer, not crowd at bus stops, and even lie down for a while during the working day. But after a few months, problems began to appear associated with a decrease in physical activity and an increase in the time passing in the “sitting” position.

It is worth noting that even without a pandemic, the number of people suffering from pain in the neck, back or lower back was quite high. Now, according to statistics, every fourth adult experiences such symptoms. Eleven million “remote workers” from the UK began to complain of constant discomfort. Orthopedist Rahul Shah says:

“A sedentary lifestyle exacerbates our problems with posture, spine and neck. People are complaining about pain more and more. Many also unconsciously develop bad habits that “feed” the pain syndrome.

What symptoms can signal serious problems with the spine? There are quite a few of them, check if you have similar signs:

• you constantly feel stiffness, it seems that the back has become “alien” and heavy;
• frequent back pain is noted, which increases in the evening and does not depend on the position or being at the desktop;
• when you try to turn the body completely to the left or right, acute pain may appear;
• some part of the back became insensitive;
• there was difficulty in controlling the bladder;
• There was difficulty breathing, an unusual cough, sputum, but the doctor ruled out problems with the lungs;
• “disagreements” with the intestines make you go to the toilet more often.

If the listed symptoms interfere with your life, that is, they are observed regularly, it’s time to visit the doctor, and you should not postpone it.

Habits as a source of pain

It’s hard to believe, but your favorite phone can cause neck or back pain. Of course, if you “hang” in it for a long time. The orthopedist explains:

“When you look at your phone with your head down, you change your center of gravity, causing your head to become heavier. The muscles of the neck and shoulders must contract to keep the head up. But the more you look down, the more your muscles have to work to keep your head in place, causing them to get tired and sore. This provokes stiffness, muscle spasms, headaches.

The doctor notes the importance of the fact that a seemingly harmless habit has a cumulative effect. Even if initially nothing hurts, then it will backfire after some time. There is pressure on the vertebral discs that we simply do not notice. This can lead to problems with the spine, impaired posture, and the development of various pathologies.

Can you get rid of neck and back pain?

At the initial stage, when discomfort in the back and neck began to overcome you, sedentary work and a sedentary lifestyle are most likely the culprit. In this case, do simple gymnastics. If you can’t go to the gym after work, arrange it at home. There are many videos on the Internet with professional trainers for both pros and beginners. And all you need is a mat. Here are some recommendations from an orthopedist that will increase the effectiveness of exercises:

1. Wear comfortable, non-restrictive clothing for exercise.
2. Stretching should be painless, do not force the body into difficult or painful positions for you.
3. Do not make sudden movements that can cause muscle strain, do the exercises slowly.
4. Practice on a flat, semi-hard surface.
5. Lock in each position for 15-30 seconds so that the muscles can “remember” it;
6. Repeat each exercise 2-5 times – as a rule, the muscle reaches its maximum lengthening after about four repetitions.
7. First stretch one side of the body, then move on to the other. The doctor does not recommend alternating exercises, as happens in strength training.

And from a neurologist, a short video for those who already have serious problems with their spine – five signs that you have a herniated disc:

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