Back pain in the lumbar region can appear for a variety of reasons. The most common and common of these is lumbar osteochondrosis. With an accurate diagnosis, you can treat your spine 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 heaviness in the lower abdomen and can occur on both the left and right sides. Speaking of chondrosis, other possible causes of low back pain in both men and women include:
- Excess weight;
- Long sitting - behind the wheel or at the computer;
- Excessive exercise;
- Sharp weight gain;
- Stress, regular nervous tension;
- Impact of scratches, hypothermia.
Treatment of acute low back pain at home should begin with eliminating the cause of the inflammation. If the pain is constantly treated with medication, it is likely that it will 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 symptom.
First aid for acute pain
The spine is the support for the skeleton and the whole body. Pain in any part of it is accompanied by quite unpleasant symptoms. The person is restricted in movement, often he can not walk independently, the condition of other organs and systems deteriorates. The year is the most vulnerable part of the spinal column. Since man moves directly, unlike animals, and his lower back is the center of gravity, a huge load is directed at exactly this section.
Osteochondrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system begin to develop at a fairly young age. Because for many people the type of activity is associated with a sitting position and there is no prevention of spinal diseases, sooner or later the intervertebral discs lose elasticity and cause the development of many diseases, the acute form of which can cause severe pain. Such diseases include:
- Inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- Spondylosis;
- Intervertebral hernia;
- Stretches and injuries;
- Radiculitis;
- Lumbago.
Sudden sharp pain disrupts a person’s lifestyle. Appears on the spine with any load, even at rest it can start suddenly. The risk group includes athletes, drivers, people whose activities are related to lifting weights, and those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
In case of severe back pain it is important to give first aid to the victim properly. Take a horizontal position on a solid surface. This will help to relax the muscles and intervertebral discs as much as possible, while the spasm will be slightly reduced. The affected area should then be lubricated with ointments with a warming and analgesic effect. If after that the pain does not subside and movement is still restricted, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be taken. They are generally quite effective. It is not recommended to take large amounts of these drugs. If the pain does not subside after these manipulations, then you need to call an ambulance.
After 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 specialist help
You should contact your doctor immediately if you have the following symptoms in addition to pain:
- The pain intensifies;
- It hurts in a few other places besides the spine;
- Decreased sensitivity.
It is also necessary to consult a doctor if the spine has been damaged before.
Methods of therapy
Medications can be used to treat severe low back pain at home, but only the attending physician should prescribe them. The following tools are commonly used:
- Pain medications. Nonsteroidal 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.
- The use of some drugs is allowed for a short time and only under the supervision of a specialist.
- Local painkillers. These include ointments, gels, creams. They are rubbed on the damaged area.
- Often doctors prescribe muscle relaxants to their patients. Taking such drugs is accompanied by drowsiness and dizziness.
Any medication listed should be agreed with a specialist as only he can prescribe the correct treatment regimen.
In some cases, when none of the medications listed help, cortisol injections are prescribed, which are done in the area around the spinal cord. Cortisol helps to remove inflammation in the area of nerve roots, but it may take several months to completely eliminate the pain syndrome.
Physiotherapy and exercise therapy
In some cases, drug treatment is contraindicated. For example, pregnant women, lactating women, patients who have diseases for which medications should not be taken. In such cases, many doctors recommend non-narcotic treatment to 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 effects of exercise on sleep, the whole body and the patient's nervous system are noted. The duration of the basic exercise is about 5 minutes, but the effect is already felt during the performance.
One of the most useful exercises is the "cat" exercise. You have to climb on all fours, bend your spine down, then bend upwards. You have to stay in each position for 7 seconds.
Scrolling has a positive effect on the entire spine. To perform them, you need to sit on a solid 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.
Standing on all fours, place your head and shoulders on a chair. Slowly pull the lumbar 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;
- Eliminating swelling;
- Stops inflammatory processes in the body.
However, the massage should be performed only by a specialist, otherwise the situation may worsen.
Massage is contraindicated in the acute period of the disease, with fever, cancer, thrombosis, hypertension, disc displacement, tuberculosis and some pathologies of the heart.
It is a good idea to learn basic self-massage techniques. Before performing, you should warm up your back, take a reclining position, and stretch your head up. Then sit down and put 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. Then the pages are folded with both hands. After the massage, you should wrap yourself in a warm blanket and start in a calm environment.
Paraffin therapy
Paraffin treatment is good for acute back pain. The goal of the procedure is to increase blood and lymph flow to the tissues that have the 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. Paraffin wax is covered with a film and a warm blanket on top for a soothing effect. The course of treatment is from 7 to 20 days.
Folk remedies
Traditional methods of treatment include rubbing, applying tinctures, compresses, baths. The compress, which is made on the basis of honey and vinegar, is well proven. Very quickly relieves pain in the lumbar region by warming it in a canvas bag with warm salt. Mustard bath soothes and relieves muscle tension. After any of these procedures, you should wear warm clothes and cover your back with a warm scarf.
Prevention of back pain
After removing the pain and inflammation you need to make sure that such an attack does not recur. To do this, you need to be guided by a healthy lifestyle - give up bad habits, balance the diet, choose the right mattress for sleep and rest. Light exercises for the spinal muscles should be performed daily, and a massage course should be performed once every six months. It is important to understand the importance of water treatments for a healthy spine. Swimming in the pool, circular shower, shower - all this contributes to the health of the spine and the body as a whole.
It is very important to balance your diet, add more vitamins and minerals to it. It is essential to consider your need for BZHU and fulfill it. This helps build muscle mass that will help support the spine and help you lose weight.