Back pain in the lumbar region can occur for a variety of reasons. The most common and widespread of these is lumbar osteochondrosis. Knowing 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 certain gynecological problems - fibroids, adhexitis, tumors of various etiologies, sometimes occurring during pregnancy. It can be accompanied by gravity in the lower abdomen and appears on both the left and right side. If we talk about chondrosis, among other possible causes of lower back pain, in both men and women, the following are noted:
- overweight?
- long seat - behind the wheel or on the computer.
- excessive exercise;
- steep weight lifts.
- anxiety, regular nervous tension.
- exposure to currents, hypothermia.
Treatment of acute lumbar pain at home should begin with addressing the cause of the inflammation. If the pain is treated consistently with medication, it is likely to recur periodically. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and speed up the healing process. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of the pain symptom.
First aid for acute pain
The spine is the support for the skeleton and the whole body. Pain anywhere is accompanied by rather unpleasant symptoms. A person is restricted in movement, often can not walk alone, the condition of other organs and systems deteriorates. The lumbar region is the most vulnerable part of the spine. Since a person moves in a straight line, unlike animals, and his lower back is the center of gravity, a huge load is directed exactly at this part.
Osteochondrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system begin to develop at a very young age. Due to the fact that for many people the type of activity is associated with sitting position and there is no prevention of back diseases, sooner or later the intervertebral discs lose their elasticity and become the cause for the development of many diseases that, in acute form, canto cause severe pain. Such diseases include:
- inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- spondylosis;
- intervertebral hernia;
- sprains and injuries;
- rhizitis?
- lumbago.
Sudden acute pain disrupts a person's lifestyle. Appears with any load on the spine, it can start abruptly even at rest. The risk group includes athletes, drivers, people whose work is related to weightlifting and those who lead a sedentary life.
In the event of severe back pain, it is important to properly provide first aid to the victim. Take 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 be slightly reduced. The affected area should then be lubricated with an ointment with a warming and analgesic effect. If the pain does not go away after that and the movement is still limited, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken. They are generally quite effective. It is not recommended to take these drugs in large quantities. If the pain does not go away after these treatments, then you need to call an ambulance.
After giving first aid, in the absence of inflammation, you should tighten the lower back with a warm handkerchief, securing it in one place.
When you need specialist help
You should consult a doctor immediately if, in addition to pain, there are the following symptoms:
- the pain intensifies.
- in addition to the spine it hurts in several other places;
- reduced sensitivity.
It is also necessary to consult a doctor if the spine has been injured before.
Treatment methods
Medications can be used during home treatment for acute low back pain, but only the treating physician should prescribe them. The following media are commonly used:
- Painkillers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) relieve pain well, but you should not take them constantly, 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.
- Topical analgesics. These include ointments, gels, creams. They rub in the affected area.
- Doctors often prescribe muscle relaxants to their patients. Taking such drugs is accompanied by drowsiness and dizziness.
Any of the listed medications should be agreed with a specialist, as only he can prescribe the right treatment regimen.
In some cases, when none of the listed medicines could help, cortisol injections are prescribed, which are done in the area around the spinal cord. Cortisol helps relieve inflammation in the area of the nerve roots, but it may take several months for the pain syndrome to be completely eliminated.
Physiotherapy and exercise
In some cases, medication is contraindicated. For example, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, patients with diseases for which no medication should be taken. In such cases, many doctors recommend non-drug treatments to their patients.
Exercise relieves pain well. It allows you to quickly relieve back pain at home, relieve muscle tension, eliminate pain and strengthen the muscular corset. The positive effect of exercise on sleep, on the whole body and on the patient's nervous system is noted. The duration of the main workout is about 5 minutes, but the effect can be felt already during the execution.
One of the most useful exercises is the "cat" exercise. You have to climb on all fours, bend the spine down and then bend it up in an arc. You have to stay in each position for 7 seconds.
Twisting has a positive effect on the entire spine. To perform them, you must sit on a hard surface, on your back. Turn your legs bent at the knees on one side and the 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 on a 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 done only by a specialist, otherwise it can worsen the condition.
Massage is contraindicated in the acute period of the disease, in high temperatures, tumor diseases, thrombosis, hypertension, disc displacement, tuberculosis and certain pathologies of the heart organs.
It is good to learn basic self-massage techniques. Before performing, you should warm up your back, taking a prone position and stretching your head up. After that, sit down and pull your hands behind your head, trying to fasten them to the lock. Then, with the right hand, you should wash the muscles along the spine, repeat the same with the left hand. The sides are then kneaded with both hands. After the massage, you should wrap yourself in a warm blanket and lie down in a calm environment.
Paraffin therapy
Paraffin therapy is good for acute back pain. The purpose of the procedure is to increase blood and lymph flow to tissues with reduced blood supply. During the procedure, hot melted paraffin is applied to the affected area. In this case, the average width of the mattress 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 methods of treatment include rubbing, use of tincture, compresses, baths. A compress, which is made on the basis of honey and vinegar, has proven to be good. Relieve lumbar pain very quickly by warming it with hot salt in a canvas bag. The mustard bath relaxes and relieves muscle tension. After any of these procedures, you should dress warmly and make 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 happen again. To do this, you need to follow a healthy lifestyle - give up bad habits, balance your diet, choose the right mattress for 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 back. Swimming in the pool, round shower, shower - all this contributes 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 important to consider and comply with your BZHU. Helps build muscle mass, which will help support the spine and weight loss.