Back pain in the lower back can occur for various reasons. The most common and widespread of them is lumbar osteochondrosis. Once you know the exact diagnosis, you can treat your back at home after consulting a specialist.
Cause of back pain
Back pain in women can be the cause of some gynecological problems - fibroids, adnexitis, tumors of various etiologies, sometimes it occurs during pregnancy. It may be accompanied by heaviness in the lower abdomen and occur on both the left and right side. If we talk about chondrosis, among other possible causes of low back pain, both in men and women:
- excess weight;
- prolonged 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 low back pain at home should begin with addressing the cause of the inflammation. If the pain is consistently treated with medication, it is likely to return on a regular basis. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and speed up the healing process. The choice of therapy depends on the degree of pain symptom.
First aid for acute pain
The spine is support for the skeleton and the whole organism. Pain in any part of it is accompanied by rather unpleasant symptoms. A person is restricted in movement, often he can not walk on his own, the condition of other organs and systems deteriorates. The lumbar region is the most vulnerable part of the spine. Since a person moves straight, unlike animals, and his lower back is the center of gravity, a huge load is directed precisely at this department.
Osteochondrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system begin to develop at a fairly young age. Due to the fact that the type of activity for many people is associated with a sitting position and there is no prevention of back diseases, the intervertebral discs sooner or later lose their elasticity and become the cause of the development of many diseases that in acute form can cause strongpain. Such diseases include:
- inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- spondylosis;
- intervertebral hernia;
- sprains and injuries;
- radiculitis;
- lower back.
Sudden sharp pain disrupts the person's lifestyle. It appears with any load on the spine, it can start abruptly even at rest. The risk group includes athletes, drivers, people whose work is associated with lifting weights and those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
In case of severe back pain, it is important to provide first aid to the victim correctly. Assume a horizontal position on a hard surface. This will help the muscles and intervertebral discs to relax as much as possible while the spasm will subside a bit. Then the affected area should be lubricated with an ointment with a warming and analgesic effect. If the pain does not subside thereafter and movement is still restricted, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be taken. They are generally quite effective. It is not recommended to take these drugs in large quantities. If the pain does not subside after these manipulations, call an ambulance.
After providing first aid, in the absence of inflammation, tighten the lower back with a warm handkerchief and fix it in one position.
When you need specialist help
You should consult a doctor immediately if, in addition to pain, the following symptoms are present:
- pain intensifies;
- in addition to the spine, it hurts in several other places;
- decreased sensitivity.
It is also necessary to consult a doctor if the spine has been previously damaged.
Therapy methods
Medications can be used during home treatment for acute low back pain, but only the attending physician should prescribe them. The following remedies are commonly used:
- Painkiller. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relieve pain well, but you should not take them all the time because they have a number of contraindications and often cause side effects.
- Some narcotics are allowed to be used for a short period and only under the supervision of a specialist.
- Local painkillers. These include ointments, gels, creams. They are rubbed into the affected area.
- Often, doctors prescribe muscle relaxants to their patients. Taking such drugs is accompanied by drowsiness and dizziness.
Any of the mentioned medicines should be agreed with a specialist as only he can prescribe the correct treatment regimen.
In some cases where none of the mentioned drugs have been able to help, cortisol injections are prescribed, which are made into the space around the spinal cord. Cortisol helps relieve inflammation in the area of the nerve roots, but it can take several months before the pain syndrome is completely eliminated.
Physiotherapy and exercise therapy
In some situations, drug treatment is contraindicated. For example, pregnant, lactating women, patients with diseases for which one should not take medication. In such cases, many doctors recommend non-drug treatments to their patients.
Gymnastics relieves pain well. It allows you to quickly relieve back pain at home, relieve muscle tension, eliminate 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 training is approximately 5 minutes, but the effect can be felt already during the performance.
One of the most useful exercises is the "cat" exercise. You need to stand on all fours, bend the spine down and then bend it upwards in an arc. You must remain in each position for 7 seconds.
Twisting has a positive effect on the entire spine. To perform them, sit on a hard surface, on your back. Turn the legs bent at the knees to one side and the body to the other. At the same time, it is important to feel how all the muscles are stretched.
Stand on all fours, place your head and shoulders on a chair. Slowly pull on 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 conductivity of nerve fibers;
- eliminates swelling;
- stops inflammatory processes in the body.
However, massage should only be performed by a specialist, otherwise it may aggravate the situation.
Massage is contraindicated in the acute period of illness, at elevated temperatures, tumor diseases, thrombosis, hypertension, dislocation of discs, tuberculosis and some pathologies of the heart organs.
It is a good idea to learn basic self-massage techniques. Before performing, warm up your back, take a supine position and stretch your head up. Then sit down and pull your hands behind your head, trying to secure them in the clasp. Then with the right hand wash the muscles along the spine, repeat the same with the left hand. Next, knead the sides with both hands. After the massage, wrap yourself in a warm blanket and lie down in a quiet environment.
Paraffin treatment
Treatment with paraffin is good for acute back pain. The purpose of the procedure is to increase the flow of blood and lymph in tissues with reduced blood supply. During the procedure, hot melted paraffin is applied to the affected area. In this case, the average layer width must be at least 15 mm. The paraffin wax is covered with a film and a warm blanket on top for a relaxing effect. The course of treatment is from 7 to 20 days.
Folk remedies
Traditional treatment methods include rubbing, use of tinctures, compresses, baths. A compress made from honey and vinegar has proven to be good. Very quickly relieves low back pain by warming up with warm salt in a canvas bag. The mustard bath relaxes and relieves muscle tension. After any of these procedures, dress warmly and fix your back with a warm scarf.
Prevention of back pain
After relieving pain and inflammation, make sure that such an attack does not recur again. To do this, lead a healthy lifestyle - give up bad habits, balance your diet, choose the right mattress to sleep and rest. Light exercises for the back muscles should be performed daily and a massage course should be taken every six months. It is important to understand the importance of water treatments for a healthy back. Swimming in the pool, circular shower, shower - all of these contribute to the health of the back and body as a whole.
It is very important to balance your diet, add more vitamins and minerals to it. It is necessary to take into account your need for BZHU and comply with it. It helps build muscle mass which will help support the spine and lose weight.