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 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, and sometimes occurs during pregnancy. It can be accompanied by heaviness in the lower abdomen and occurs on the left and right sides. If we talk about chondrosis, among other possible causes of lower back pain, in both men and women, the following stand out:
- excess weight;
- prolonged sitting - behind the wheel or at the computer;
- excessive exercise;
- sharp weight lifting;
- stress, regular nervous tension;
- draft exposure, hypothermia.
Treatment of acute lumbar pain at home should begin by addressing the cause of the inflammation. If the pain is consistently treated with medication, it is likely to return periodically. The goal of treatment is to alleviate symptoms and speed up the healing process. The choice of therapy depends on the degree of pain symptoms.
First aid for acute pain
The spine is the support for the skeleton and the whole organism. Pain in any part is accompanied by rather unpleasant symptoms. The person is restricted in movement, often cannot walk independently, the condition of other organs and systems worsens. The groin is the most vulnerable part of the spine. Since a person moves straight, unlike animals, and his lower back is the center of gravity, a huge load is directed to this department.
Osteochondrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system begin to develop at a fairly young age. Due to the fact that in 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 become the cause 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. It 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 lifestyle.
In case of severe back pain, it is important to provide first aid to the victim properly. 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 a bit. Then the affected area should be lubricated with ointment with heating and analgesic effect. If the pain does not subside after that, and the movements are 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 subside after these manipulations, it is necessary to call an ambulance.
After providing first aid, in the absence of inflammation, it is necessary to tighten the lower back with a warm handkerchief, fixing it in one position.
When you need professional help
Contact 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 of acute lower back pain, but they are only prescribed by a doctor. The following tools are commonly used:
- Pain medications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relieve pain well, but they should not be taken constantly, because they have a number of contraindications and often cause side effects.
- Some narcotics may be used for a short period of time and only under the supervision of a specialist.
- Topical painkillers. This includes ointments, gels, creams. They rub into the affected area.
- Often doctors prescribe muscle relaxants to their patients. Taking such drugs is accompanied by drowsiness and dizziness.
Any of these drugs must be agreed with a specialist, because only he can prescribe the correct treatment regimen.
In some cases, when none of the mentioned drugs helped, cortisol injections are prescribed, which are injected into 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 exercise therapy
In some situations, drug treatment is contraindicated. For example, pregnant women, nursing mothers, patients with diseases for which there is no need to take medication. In such cases, many doctors recommend drug-free treatments to their patients.
Gymnastics relieves pain well. It allows you to quickly relieve back pain at home, relieve muscle tension, relieve pain and strengthen the muscular corset. The positive effect of exercise on sleep, the whole body and the nervous system of the patient is noticed. The duration of the main training is about 5 minutes, but the effect can be felt already during the performance.
One of the most useful exercises is the "cat" exercise. You have to stand on all fours, bend your spine down, and then bend it up into an arch. 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 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 and then in the other.
Massage and self-massage
The benefits of massage are obvious:
- reduces pain;
- stimulates blood circulation;
- improves lymph flow;
- restores nerve fiber conduction;
- removes swelling;
- stops inflammatory processes in the body.
However, the massage should be performed only by an expert, otherwise it can make the situation worse.
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 good to learn the basic techniques of self-massage. Before performing, it is necessary to warm up the back, take a supine position and extend the head upwards. Then sit down and pull your arms behind your head, trying to secure them in the lock. Then the muscles along the spine should be washed with the right hand, and the same should be repeated with the left hand. Then the sides 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
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. 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 prepared on the basis of honey and vinegar proved to be good. Relieve pain in the lumbar region very quickly by heating with warm salt in a linen bag. Mustard bath relaxes and relieves muscle tension. After any of these procedures, you need to dress warmly and fix your back with a warm scarf.
Prevention of back pain
After relieving the pain and inflammation, you must make sure that such an attack does not happen again. To do this, you need to lead 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 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, add more vitamins and minerals to it. It is necessary to take into account your need for BZHU and adhere to it. It helps build muscle mass, which will help support the spine and lose weight.