Probably each of us has experienced back pain at least once in our life.And if it seems possible to determine the cause of painful sensations, for example, in the neck, then everything is much more complicated here.
Back pain: cause and effect
When back or lower back pain occurs, many people immediately begin to rub various ointments.But there is no desired result.And all this because the problem can be hidden in a completely different place than the one that hurts.For example, pain in the lumbar region may occur if there was a previous injury to the coccyx-sacral spine.The man had long since forgotten her, but she took it and reminded him of herself in such an unpleasant way.Therefore, in this case, affecting the pain zone is absolutely useless.Therefore, you need to look for the real cause of the pain.
The human body is a very complex mechanism in which all organs and systems - from muscles and spine to nerves and ligaments - are interconnected.Therefore, many factors can affect the health of your back, including the correct distribution of the load on the spine and the presence of injuries in the past.The body has the ability to heal itself and adapt, and the spine's job is to compensate for the effects of damage.If necessary, it can twist and bend slightly and all this to give the body the most vertical position.Only this can cause negative changes in the spine itself.One of them is a bulging intervertebral disc.In this way, the spine tries to adapt to some mechanical damage to the body - it creates additional support for itself.Most often, such disorders occur in the sacrum and coccyx.In this regard, in the case of a herniated disc, medicinal effects on the spine or strained muscles help relieve back pain only for a short time.After all, its main cause has not been eliminated!
Another of the most common causes of back pain is excessive tension in the muscles and ligaments.In most cases, this occurs as a result of overload associated with the need to maintain an upright position of the body during scoliosis or after an injury.In addition, back pain can occur due to stress, excessive physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle.
In some cases, back pain is not related to muscle spasms or spinal problems, but to diseases of internal organs.This type of pain is called referred pain.For example, with gallstones, the pain will radiate to the area between the shoulder blades.And pain in the thoracic spine can appear as a result of the development of myocardial infarction.A sign of referred pain is the absence of a feeling of muscle stiffness during physical activity and the continuous nature of the pain, regardless of body position.
The best option to get rid of the pain is to see a doctor.But if for some reason this is not possible, you can try to help yourself (if the pain is not reflected).We will tell you how to do this further.
Treatment and prevention of back pain
The first thing to do when back or lower back pain occurs is to give it rest for at least three days.You should not strain your back and move through the pain.In some cases, such precautions are enough, and after a few days the back pain disappears.
Due to the fact that acute pain in most cases occurs due to muscle strain, to get rid of it you should try to relax the muscles that break.In this case, heating procedures can help.It is not necessary to heat only the back, although this also provides a good result.It is better to fully warm up the body, then the pain will subside faster.A good option is a bath or sauna, but in case of severe pain at high temperatures, as well as a sudden change in temperature, it is better to avoid it.You should postpone bathing with cold water for at least a few months.
Another good option is a warm sea salt bath.10-15 minutes of this process every night will only be beneficial.
A very important condition for getting rid of pain is not to lose warmth after heating procedures.Therefore, after completing them, you should put on warm pajamas and cover yourself with a blanket.You can also drink hot tea, this will help warm the body not only from the outside, but also from the inside.It is recommended to repeat the procedure for three days.If the cause of the pain is not pinched nerve endings, the feeling of discomfort will soon disappear.
At the end of the exacerbation period, it is recommended to make it a rule to perform daily exercises to relax the muscles of the spine.This will not last more than 15 minutes, and the improved blood circulation as a result of such warm-ups will help relieve pain.
A good way to prevent back pain is to walk every day.This facilitates the gentle inclusion of each muscle, joint and ligament in the work, thereby launching the process of self-massage in the human body.
Doctor's help: for what kind of pain should you call an ambulance?
An ambulance should be called if:
- the back pain arose as a result of a fall or a strong blow.
- the pain is very strong, accompanied by high fever or loss of consciousness.
In addition, you should not self-medicate, much less prescribe medication while you are pregnant.You should call an ambulance if your child's back hurts.
In other cases, if you managed to stop the attack of severe pain and there is no need for urgent medical care, it is recommended to visit a doctor.You should not hope that the problem will solve itself.So maybe it's better not to wait for another attack?
If the pain is not too severe, it makes sense to consult a therapist.If necessary, this doctor will refer the patient to specialists for examination and prescription of appropriate treatment.
In case of severe pain, the therapist will refer the patient to specialized specialists who specialize in the treatment of spinal diseases, for example, a neurologist.In some cases, the help of a neurosurgeon may be needed.