Back pain in the lumbar region can occur for a variety of reasons. The most common and common 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 some gynecological problems - fibroids, adnexitis, tumors of various etiologies, sometimes occurring during pregnancy. It may be accompanied by heaviness in the lower abdomen and appear on both the left and right sides. If we talk about chondrosis, among other possible causes of lower back pain, both in men and women are noted:
- Overweight;
- prolonged sitting - behind the wheel or in front of the computer;
- excessive physical activity;
- abrupt lifting of weights;
- stress, regular nervous tension;
- exposure to currents, hypothermia.
Treatment of acute lumbar pain at home should begin with eliminating the cause of inflammation. If the pain is treated consistently with medication, it is likely to return periodically. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and speed up the healing process. The choice of therapy depends on the severity of the pain symptom.
First aid for acute pain
The spine is the support for the skeleton and the whole organism. The pain in each part of it is accompanied by quite unpleasant symptoms. The person is limited 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 man moves straight, unlike animals, and his lower back is the center of gravity, a huge load is 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 many people the type of activity is associated with sitting and there is no prevention of back disease, sooner or later the intervertebral discs lose elasticity and cause the development of many diseases that in acute form 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 each load on the spine, can start abruptly even at rest. The risk group includes athletes, drivers, people whose work involves weightlifting and those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
In case of severe back pain, it is important to provide proper 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 reduced slightly. 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. Overall, 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 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 specialized help
You should consult a doctor immediately if you have the following symptoms in addition to pain:
- 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.
Therapeutic methods
Medications can be used during home treatment of acute low back pain, but only the attending physician should prescribe them. The following tools are usually 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 approved for use for a short period of time and only under the supervision of a specialist.
- Local painkillers. These include ointments, gels, creams. They are rubbed into the affected area.
- Doctors often prescribe muscle relaxants to their patients. Taking such drugs is accompanied by drowsiness and dizziness.
Each of these drugs should be agreed with a specialist, as only he can prescribe the right treatment regimen.
In some cases, when none of these drugs have helped, 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 can take several months for the pain syndrome to be completely eliminated.
Physiotherapy and therapeutic exercise
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 non-drug treatment 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 muscular corset. The positive effect of the exercises on sleep, the whole body and the patient's nervous system is noted. The duration of the main workout is about 5 minutes, but the effect is felt during the performance.
One of the most useful exercises is the "cat" exercise. You have to get on all fours, bend your spine down, then bend it up in an arc. You must 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 hard surface, on your back. Turn the bent legs 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 the lumbar spine, first in one direction, then in the other direction.
Massage and self-massage
The benefits of massage are obvious:
- reduces pain;
- stimulates blood circulation;
- improves lymph flow;
- restores the conduction of nerve fibers;
- removes puffiness;
- 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, with fever, tumors, 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 need to warm up your back, lie down and stretch your head up. Then sit down and pull your arms behind your head, trying to lock them in the lock. Then with the right hand you have to wash the muscles of 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 relaxed atmosphere.
Paraffin therapy
Paraffin treatment is good for acute back pain. The purpose of the procedure is to increase the flow of blood and lymph in tissues with impaired blood supply. During the procedure, warm melted paraffin is applied to the affected area. In this case, the average layer width must be at least 15 mm. The paraffin 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, using tinctures, compresses, baths. Compress, which is prepared on the basis of honey and vinegar, has proven itself well. Very quick relief of lumbar pain by heating with warm salt in a cloth bag. The mustard bath relaxes and relieves muscle tension. After one of these procedures you should dress warmly and fix 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 lead a healthy lifestyle - to give up bad habits, to balance your diet, to choose the right mattress for sleep and rest. Light exercises for the back muscles should be performed daily, and a course of massage should be done 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 this contributes to the health of the back and body as a whole.
It is very important to balance your diet, to add more vitamins and minerals to it. You need to take into account your need for BZHU and comply with it. Helps build muscle mass, which will help maintain the spine and lose weight.