Low back pain in the lumbar region can appear for various reasons. The most common and widespread of them is lumbar osteochondrosis. Knowing the exact diagnosis, you can treat your back at home after consulting a specialist.
The cause of back pain
Back pain in women can be the cause of some gynecological problems - fibroids, adnexitis, tumors of various etiologies, sometimes occurring during pregnancy. It can be accompanied by heaviness in the lower abdomen and can occur on both the left and right sides. Speaking of chondrosis, it is mentioned among other possible causes of back pain in both men and women:
- excess weight;
- long sitting - behind the wheel or at the computer;
- excessive exercise;
- sharp lifting of weights;
- stress, regular nervous tension;
- exposure to drafts, hypothermia.
Treatment of acute back pain at home should begin with eliminating the cause of the inflammation. If the pain is treated with medication on a regular basis, there is a possibility of recurrence from time to time. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and speed up the healing process. The choice of therapy depends on the degree of pain symptoms.
First aid for acute pain
The spine is the backbone of the skeleton and the whole organism. Pain in any part of it is accompanied by very unpleasant symptoms. A person is limited in movement, often unable to walk on his own, and the condition of other organs and systems deteriorates. The spine is the most sensitive part of the spine. Because human beings move straight, unlike animals, and their backs are the center of gravity, a large load is directed to this branch.
Osteochondrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system begin to develop at a fairly young age. For many people, because the type of activity is related to sitting position and there is no prevention of back pain, sooner or later the intervertebral discs lose their elasticity and sharply lead to the development of many diseases. in the form of, can cause severe pain. Such diseases include:
- inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- spondylosis;
- intervertebral hernia;
- torsions and injuries;
- radiculitis;
- lumbaqo.
Sudden sharp pains disrupt a person's lifestyle. It can be seen with any load on the spine, and can even start suddenly at rest. The risk group includes athletes, drivers, people involved in weightlifting, and those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
In case of severe back pain, it is important to provide first aid to the victim properly. Hold a horizontal position on a hard surface. This will help to relax the muscles and intervertebral discs as much as possible, and the spasm will be slightly reduced. The affected area should then be lubricated with an ointment that has a warming and analgesic effect. After that, if the pain does not decrease and movement is still limited, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken. They are generally very effective. It is not recommended to take these drugs in large quantities. If the pain does not decrease after these manipulations, you should call an ambulance.
After first aid, if there is no inflammation, you should stabilize in one position by squeezing the lower back with a warm towel.
When you need expert help
In addition to pain, you should see a doctor immediately if you have the following symptoms:
- the pain intensifies;
- in addition to the spine, it hurts in several other places;
- impaired sensitivity.
If the spine has been damaged before, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Therapy methods
Medications can be used for treatment of acute back pain at home, but only the attending physician should prescribe them. The following tools are commonly used:
- Pain medications. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relieve pain well, but you should not take them all the time, as they have a number of contraindications and often cause side effects.
- Some drugs are allowed to be used for a short time and only under the supervision of a specialist.
- Local painkillers. These include ointments, gels, creams. They are rubbed into the affected area.
- Doctors often prescribe muscle relaxants to their patients. Taking such drugs is accompanied by drowsiness and dizziness.
Any of these drugs should be agreed with a specialist, because only he can prescribe the right treatment regimen.
In some cases, cortisol injections are given into the space around the spinal cord when none of the medications listed can help. Cortisol helps relieve inflammation in the area of nerve roots, but it can take several months for the pain syndrome to go away completely.
Physiotherapy and exercise therapy
In some cases, drug treatment is contraindicated. For example, pregnant women, lactating women, patients with diseases that do not require medication. In such cases, many doctors recommend non-drug treatment to their patients.
Gymnastics relieves pain well. This allows you to quickly relieve back pain at home, relieve muscle tension, relieve pain and strengthen the muscle corset. The positive effect of exercise on sleep, the whole body and the patient's nervous system is noted. The duration of the main exercise is about 5 minutes, but the effect can already be felt during the performance.
One of the most useful exercises is "cat" training. You should stand on all fours, bend your spine down, then bend upwards with an arch. You must stay in each position for 7 seconds.
Bending has a positive effect on the whole spine. To perform them, you need to sit on your back on a hard surface. Bend your legs at the knees to one side and your body to the other. At the same time, it is important to feel how all the muscles are stretched.
Stand on all fours, put your head and shoulders on the chair. Slowly pull the lumbar spine first in one direction and then in the other.
Massage and self-massage
The benefits of massage are obvious:
- reduces pain;
- stimulates blood circulation;
- improves lymph flow;
- restores the conduction of nerve fibers;
- eliminates swelling;
- Stops inflammatory processes in the body.
However, the massage should be performed only by a specialist, otherwise it can aggravate the situation.
Massage is contraindicated in the acute period of the disease, high fever, tumors, thrombosis, hypertension, disc herniation, tuberculosis and some pathologies of the heart.
It is a good idea to learn basic self-massage techniques. Before performing, you should warm your back, take a prone position and raise your head. Then sit down and put your hands behind your head, trying to lock them. Then, with the right hand, you need to wash the muscles along the spine, repeat the same thing with the left hand. Then the sides are kneaded with both hands. After the massage, wrap yourself in a warm blanket and lie down in a calm environment.
Paraffin therapy
Paraffin treatment is good for acute back pain. The purpose of the procedure is to increase blood and lymph flow in tissues with impaired blood supply. During the procedure, hot melted paraffin is applied to the affected area. In this case, the average width of the layer should be at least 15 mm. For a soothing effect, paraffin wax is covered with a film and a warm blanket on top. The course of treatment is from 7 to 20 days.
Folk remedies
Traditional treatments use friction, tinctures, compresses, baths. Compresses based on honey and vinegar have proven to be good. Very quickly relieve pain in the lower back by warming with warm salt in a linen bag. Mustard bath relaxes and relieves muscle tension. After any of these procedures, you need to dress warmly and straighten your back with a warm scarf.
Prevention of low back pain
After relieving the pain and inflammation, you need to make sure that such an attack does not happen again. To do this, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle - give up bad habits, balance your diet, choose the right mattress for sleep and rest. Light exercises should be done for the back muscles every day, a course of massage every six months. It is important to understand the importance of water treatments for a healthy back. Swimming in the pool, round shower, shower - all this contributes to the health of the back and the body as a whole.
It is very important to balance your diet and add more vitamins and minerals to it. It is necessary to take into account and comply with your need for BZHU. This helps build muscle mass that will support the spine and help you lose weight.