Back pain in the lumbar region can appear for a variety of reasons. The most frequent and widespread of them is lumbar osteochondrosis. Knowing the exact diagnosis, you can treat your back at home after consulting a specialist.
Causes of back pain
Back pain in women can be the cause of several gynecological problems - fibroids, adnexitis, tumors of various etiologies, sometimes it occurs during pregnancy. It can be accompanied by heaviness in the lower abdomen and occurs on both the left and right sides. If we talk about chondrosis, among the possible causes of lower back pain, both men and women are observed:
- overweight;
- long -term sitting - behind the wheel or in front of a computer;
- excessive exercise;
- sharp weight lifting;
- stress, normal 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 treated consistently with medication, it may return periodically. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and speed up the healing process. The choice of therapy depends on the level of pain symptoms.
First aid for acute pain
The spine is the support for the skeleton and the whole organism. Pain in any part of it is accompanied by rather unpleasant symptoms. A person is constrained in movement, often he cannot walk on his own, the condition of other organs and systems worsens. The waist is the most exposed part of the spine. Since a person moves straight, unlike an animal, and his lower back is the center of gravity, large loads are directed precisely to this department.
Osteochondrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system begin to develop at a relatively young age. Due to the fact that for most people this type of activity is associated with a sitting position, and there is no prevention of back disease, sooner or later the intervertebral disc loses elasticity and becomes the cause of the development of many diseases, in acute conditions. shape, can cause severe pain. Such diseases include:
- inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- spondylosis;
- intervertebral hernia;
- sprains and injuries;
- radiculitis;
- back pain.
Sudden pain suddenly disrupts one’s lifestyle. It appears with any load on the spine, it can start suddenly even at rest. Risk groups include athletes, drivers, people whose work is associated with weight lifting and those who lead an inactive lifestyle.
In case of severe back pain, it is important to give first aid to the victim properly. Take a horizontal position on a hard surface. This will help the muscles and intervertebral discs relax as much as possible, while the spasm will be reduced 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, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken. They are generally quite effective. It is not recommended to take this drug in large quantities. If the pain does not subside after this manipulation, then you need to call an ambulance.
After giving first aid, if there is no inflammation, you need to tighten the lower back with a warm handkerchief, fixing it in one position.
When you need expert help
You should see a doctor immediately if, in addition to pain, the following symptoms are present:
- the pain intensifies;
- in addition to the spine, it is painful in some other places;
- sensitivity is affected.
It is also necessary to consult a doctor if the spine was previously injured.
Methods of therapy
Medications can be used during treatment at home for acute back pain, but only the treating physician should prescribe them. The following methods are commonly used:
- Pain medicine. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relieve pain well, but you should not take them all the time, as they have some contraindications and often cause side effects.
- Some narcotic drugs are allowed to be used for a short period of time and only under expert supervision.
- Local pain reliever. 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 medication listed must be agreed with the specialist, as only he or she can prescribe the correct treatment regimen.
In some cases, when none of the listed medications can help, cortisol injections are prescribed, which are made into the space around the spinal cord. Cortisol helps relieve inflammation in the nerve root area, but it may take several months until the pain syndrome is completely eliminated.
Physiotherapy and exercise therapy
In some cases, drug treatment is contraindicated. For example, pregnant women, lactating women, patients with diseases for which medication should not be taken. In such cases, many doctors recommend non -drug treatment to their patients.
Gymnastics relieves pain well. It allows you to quickly relieve back pain at home, relieve muscle tension, relieve pain, and strengthen muscle corsets. The positive effects of exercise on sleep, the whole body and the nervous system of the patient were observed. The duration of the main training is about 5 minutes, but the effect can already be felt during the implementation.
One of the most useful exercises is the "cat" exercise. You have to crawl, bend the spine down, then bend it up in an arch. You must remain in each position for 7 seconds.
Turning has a positive effect on the entire spine. To perform it, you need to sit on a hard surface, behind you. Turn the bent leg at the knee to one side, and the body to the other side. 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 the chair. Slowly pull the lumbar spine, first in one direction, then in the other.
Massage and self -massage
The benefits of massage are obvious:
- reduce pain;
- stimulates blood circulation;
- increase lymph flow;
- restore the conductivity of nerve fibers;
- eliminate swelling;
- stopping the inflammatory process in the body.
However, the massage can only be done by a specialist, otherwise it can 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 the basic techniques of self -massage. Before doing, you need to warm up your back, take a prone position and stretch your head. After that, sit down and pull your hand to the back of your head, trying to tie it in a lock. Then, with the right hand, you need to wash the muscles along the spine, repeat the same thing with the left hand. Next, the edges are kneaded with both hands. After the massage, you need to wrap yourself in a warm blanket and lie down in a quiet environment.
Paraffin therapy
Treatment with paraffin 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, warm melted paraffin is applied to the affected area. In this case, the average width of the layer must be at least 15 mm. 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.
Restoration of the people
Traditional treatment methods include rubbing, applying tinctures, compresses, baths. Compressed, prepared on the basis of honey and vinegar, has proven itself well. Very quickly relieves pain in the lumbar region by warming the body with warm salt in a canvas bag. The mustard bath soothes and relieves muscle tension. After any of these procedures, you should dress warmly and fix your back with a warm scarf.
Prevention of back pain
After relieving pain and inflammation, you need to make sure that such attacks do not recur. To do this, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle - abandon bad habits, balance your diet, choose the right mattress for sleep and rest. Light training for the back muscles should be done daily, and a course of massage should be taken every six months. It is important to understand the importance of water treatment for a healthy back. Swimming in the pool, round bath, douche - all this contributes to the health of the back and the body as a whole.
It is very important to balance your diet, adding more vitamins and minerals to it. It is necessary to take into account your requirements for BZHU and comply with it. It helps build muscle mass, which will help support the spine and lose weight.