Back pain in the lumbar region can appear for a variety of reasons. The most common and widespread of these is lumbar osteochondrosis. Knowing the correct 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 occurring during pregnancy. It can be accompanied by aggravation in the lower abdomen and appears on both the left and right side. If we talk about chondrosis, among other possible causes of back pain, are observed in both men and women:
- excess weight;
- long-term sitting - behind the wheel or at the computer;
- excessive exercise;
- sharp weight lifting;
- stress, regular nervous tension;
- current exposure, hypothermia.
Treatment of acute low back pain at home should begin by treating the cause of the inflammation. If the pain is constantly treated with medication, it is likely to return periodically. The goal of treatment is to alleviate the symptoms and speed up the healing process. The choice of therapy depends on the degree of pain symptoms.
First aid for acute pain
The back is supportive of the skeleton and the whole body. Pain in every part of it is accompanied by quite 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 groin is the most vulnerable part of the spine. Since a person moves straight, unlike animals, and the lower part of his back is the center of gravity, a large 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 for many people the type of activity is related to the sitting position and there is no prevention of back diseases, sooner or later the intervertebral discs lose elasticity and become the cause of the development of many diseases that, in acute. shape, can cause severe pain. Such diseases include:
- inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- spondylosis;
- intervertebral hernia;
- sprains and injuries;
- radiculitis;
- lumbago.
Sudden sharp pain disrupts a person's lifestyle. Appears with any load on the spine, can start abruptly even at rest. The risk group includes athletes, drivers, people whose work is related to weight lifting and those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
In case of severe back pain, it is important that the victim is given first aid correctly. Take a horizontal position on a firm surface. This will help the intervertebral muscles and discs relax as much as possible, while the spasm will decrease slightly. Then the affected area should be lubricated with an ointment with a warming and analgesic effect. If the pain does not subside after this and movement is still limited, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be taken. In general, they are quite effective. It is not recommended to take these drugs in large quantities. If the pain does not subside after these manipulations, then you should call an ambulance.
After giving first aid, in the absence of inflammation, you should tighten the lower back with a warm handkerchief, fixing it in one position.
When you need specialized help
You should consult a doctor immediately if, in addition to pain, the following symptoms occur:
- the pain intensifies;
- in addition to the spine, it hurts in several other places;
- impaired sensitivity.
It is also necessary to consult a doctor if the spine has been injured before.
Methods of therapy
Medications can be used during home treatment for acute low back pain, but only the attending physician should prescribe them. The following tools are commonly used:
- Painkillers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) relieve pain well, but you should not take them all the time because they have a variety of contraindications and often cause side effects.
- Some narcotic drugs are allowed to be used for a short period of time and only under the supervision of a specialist.
- Local pain relievers. These include ointments, gels, lotions. They rub into the affected area.
- Often, doctors prescribe muscle relaxants to their patients. Taking such medications is accompanied by drowsiness and dizziness.
Each of the listed drugs should be agreed with a specialist, as only he can prescribe the appropriate treatment regimen.
In some cases, when none of the drugs listed could help, cortisol injections are prescribed, which are done in the space around the spinal cord. Cortisol helps relieve inflammation in the area of nerve roots, but it may take several months until the pain syndrome is completely eliminated.
Physiotherapy and exercise therapy
In some situations, drug treatment is contraindicated. For example, pregnant women, lactating women, patients with diseases for which no medication should be taken. In such cases, many doctors recommend drug-free treatments for their patients.
Gymnastics relieves pain well. This allows you to quickly relieve back pain at home, relieve muscle tension, eliminate pain, and strengthen the muscle corset. The positive effect of sleep exercises is noticed on the whole body and on the patient's nervous system. The duration of the main workout is about 5 minutes, but the effect can already be felt during the execution.
One of the most beneficial exercises is the "cat" exercise. You should climb on all fours, bend your spine down, and then bend it up in an arc. You need to stay in each position for 7 seconds.
Twisting has a positive effect on the entire spine. To perform them, you need to sit on a firm surface, on your back. Turn your legs bent at the knees on one side and your body on the other. At the same time, it is important to feel how all the muscles are stretched.
Standing on all fours, place your head and shoulders in a chair. Slowly pull the spine, first in one direction, 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 may worsen the situation.
Massage is contraindicated in the acute period of the disease, at high temperatures, tumor diseases, thrombosis, hypertension, disc displacement, tuberculosis and some pathologies of the heart organs.
It is a good idea to learn basic self-massage techniques. Before performing, you should warm up your back, take a prone position, and stretch your head up. After that, sit down and pull your hands behind your head, trying to fix them on the lock. Then, with the right hand, you should wash the muscles along the spine, repeat the same with the left hand. Then, the sides are mixed with both hands. After the massage you should wrap yourself in a warm blanket and lie down in a quiet environment.
Paraffin therapy
Paraffin treatment is good for acute back pain. The purpose of the procedure is to increase blood and lymph flow to the tissues with impaired blood supply. During the procedure, warm melted paraffin is applied to the affected area. In this case, the average width of the layer should 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 methods of treatment include rubbing, use of tinctures, compresses, baths. A compress, which is prepared on the basis of honey and vinegar, is well proven. Relieve pain in the lumbar region very quickly by warming yourself with warm salt in a cloth bag. Mustard bath relaxes and relieves muscle tension. After any of these procedures, you should dress warmly and arrange your back with a warm scarf.
Prevention of back pain
After relieving the pain and inflammation, you need to make sure that such an attack does not recur. To do this, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle - get rid of 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 done every six months. It is important to understand the importance of water treatments for a healthy spine. Swimming in the pool, circular shower, bath - all these contribute to the health of the back and the body as a whole.
It is very important to balance your diet, add more vitamins and minerals to it. It is necessary to consider your need for UDH and agree with it. Helps build muscle mass, which will help support the spine and lose weight.