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.
Cause of back pain
Back pain in women can be the cause of some gynecological problems - fibroids, adnexitis, tumors of various etiologies, sometimes it occurs during pregnancy. It can be accompanied by heaviness in the lower abdomen and occur 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:
- excess weight;
- long-term sitting - behind the wheel or at the computer;
- excessive exercise;
- sharp lifts of weights;
- stress, regular nervous tension;
- exposure to drafts, 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 come back periodically. The goal of treatment is to relieve 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 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 loin is the most vulnerable part of the spinal column. Since a person moves straight, unlike animals, and his lower back is the center of gravity, a huge load is directed precisely at this department.
Osteochondrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system begin to develop at a fairly young age. Due to the fact that for many people the type of activity is associated with a sitting position, and there is no prevention of back diseases, sooner or later the intervertebral discs lose elasticity and become the cause of 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 the 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 associated with lifting weights and those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
In case of severe back pain, it is important to provide first aid to the victim correctly. 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 decrease 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 the movement is still limited, nonsteroidal 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, then you need to call an ambulance.
After providing first aid, in the absence of inflammation, you need to tighten the lower back with a warm handkerchief, fixing it in one position.
When you need specialist help
You should immediately consult a doctor if, in addition to pain, the following symptoms are present:
- 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 was previously injured.
Therapy methods
Medications can be used during home treatment for acute low back pain, but only the attending physician should prescribe them. The following means are usually used:
- Pain medications. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relieve pain well, but you should not take them all the time, because they have a number of contraindications and often cause side effects.
- Some narcotic drugs are allowed to be used for a short period of time and only under the supervision of a specialist.
- Local pain relievers. 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 of the listed drugs must be agreed with a specialist, since only he can prescribe the correct treatment regimen.
In some cases, when none of these drugs have been able to help, cortisol injections are prescribed, which are made into the space around the spinal cord. Cortisol helps to relieve inflammation in the area of the nerve roots, but it can take several months until the pain syndrome is completely eliminated.
Physiotherapy and exercise therapy
In some situations, drug treatment is contraindicated. For example, pregnant women, lactating women, patients with diseases for which medications should not be taken. In such cases, many doctors recommend non-drug treatments 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 muscle corset. The positive effect of exercise on sleep, the entire body and 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 need to get on all fours, bend the spine down, then bend it upward in an arc. You must remain 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, 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 conductivity of nerve fibers;
- eliminates puffiness;
- stops inflammatory processes in the body.
However, massage should only be performed by a specialist, otherwise it can aggravate the situation.
Massage is contraindicated in the acute period of the disease, at elevated temperatures, tumor diseases, thrombosis, hypertension, displacement of discs, tuberculosis and some pathologies of the heart organs.
It's a good idea to learn basic self-massage techniques. Before performing, you need to warm up your back, taking a prone position and stretch your head up. After that, sit down and pull your hands behind your head, trying to fasten them in the lock. Then, with the right hand, you need to wash the muscles along the spine, repeat the same with the left hand. Next, the sides are kneaded with both hands. After the massage, you need to wrap yourself in a warm blanket and lie down in a calm environment.
Paraffin therapy
Treatment with paraffin 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 molten paraffin is applied to the affected area. In this case, the average layer width 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, using tinctures, compresses, baths. A compress, which is prepared on the basis of honey and vinegar, has proven itself well. Very quickly relieve pain in the lumbar region by warming up with warm salt in a canvas bag. The 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 pain and inflammation, you need to make sure that such an attack does not recur again. To do this, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle - give up bad habits, balance your diet, choose the right mattress for sleeping and resting. Light exercises for the back muscles should be performed daily, and a massage course should be taken every six months. It is important to understand the importance of water treatments for a healthy back. Swimming in the pool, circular shower, douche - all these contribute to the health of the back and the 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 comply with it. It helps to build muscle mass, which will help support the spine and lose weight.