Probably each of us has experienced back pain at least once in our lives.And if it seems possible to determine the cause of painful sensations, for example, in the throat, then everything is much more complicated here.
Back pain: cause and effect
When pain in the back or lower back occurs, many people immediately begin to rub in various ointments.But there is no desired effect.And all because the problem may be hiding in a completely different place than where it hurts.For example, pain in the lumbar region may appear if it was preceded by an injury to the coccygeal-sacral spine.The man had forgotten about her a long time ago, but she took it and reminded him of herself in such an unpleasant way.Therefore, in this case, influencing 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 influence 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 self-heal and adapt, and the task of the spine is to compensate for the consequences of damage.If necessary, it can be slightly twisted and bent, and all this in order 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 in 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 tense muscles help relieve back pain only for a while.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 body position during scoliosis or after injury.In addition, back pain can occur due to stress, excessive physical activity, and a sedentary lifestyle.
In some cases, back pain is not associated with muscle spasms or problems with the spine, but with diseases of the internal organs.This kind of pain is called referred pain.For example, with cholelithiasis, 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 constant nature of the pain, regardless of body position.
The best option for getting rid of 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'll tell you how to do this further.
Treatment and prevention of back pain
The first thing to do when pain in the back or lower back appears is to provide it with 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 sharp pain in most cases occurs due to muscle strain, to get rid of it you should try to relax the spasming muscles.In this case, warming procedures can help.It is not necessary to warm only the back, although this also provides a good effect.It is better to warm up the body completely, then the pain will go away faster.A good option is a bathhouse or sauna, but in case of acute pain in high temperatures, as well as a sharp change in temperature, it is better to avoid it.You will have to postpone dousing with cold water for at least a couple of months.
Another good option is a warm bath with sea salt.10-15 minutes of this procedure every evening will only be beneficial.
A very important condition for getting rid of pain is not to miss the warmth after warming procedures.Therefore, after completing them, you need to put on warm pajamas and cover yourself with a blanket.You can also drink hot tea, this will help warm up the body not only from the outside, but also from the inside.It is advisable 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 exercises every day to relax the spinal muscles.This will take no more than 15 minutes, while improved blood circulation as a result of such warm-ups will help relieve pain.
A good way to prevent back pain is to walk daily.This facilitates the gentle inclusion of every muscle, joint and ligament in the work, as a result of which the process of self-massage is launched in the human body.
Doctor's help: for what kind of pain should you call an ambulance?
An ambulance should be called if:
- back pain occurred 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 medications while 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 emergency medical care, it is still advisable to visit a doctor.You should not hope that the problem will solve itself.So maybe it’s better not to wait for a new attack?
If the pain is not very severe, it makes sense to consult a therapist.If necessary, this doctor will refer the patient to specialists for examination and prescribing appropriate treatment.
In case of intense pain, the therapist will refer the patient to specialized specialists specializing in the treatment of spinal diseases, for example, to a neurologist.In some cases, the help of a neurosurgeon may be needed.