Probably each of us has experienced back pain at least once in our life.And if it is possible to determine the cause of painful sensations, for example in the throat, then everything is much more complicated here.
Back pain: causes and consequences
When pain in the back or lower back occurs, many people immediately start applying various ointments.But there was no desired effect.And all because the problem may be hidden in a completely different place than the painful one.For example, pain in the lumbar region can appear if it begins with an injury to the coccygeal-sacral spine.He had long forgotten about her, but she picked him up and reminded him of herself in an unpleasant way.Therefore, in this case, the impact on the pain zone is completely useless.Therefore, you need to find 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 load on the spine and the presence of past injuries.The body has the ability to self-heal and adapt, and the spine's job is to compensate for damage.If necessary, it can be slightly twisted and bent, and all this to provide the most vertical body 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, this disorder occurs in the sacrum and coccyx area.In this case, in the case of disc herniation, the effect of the drug on the spine or tense muscles helps relieve back pain only temporarily.After all, the main cause has not been eliminated!
Another most common cause of back pain is excessive tension in the muscles and ligaments.In most cases, this occurs due to overload associated with the need to maintain an upright body position during scoliosis or after injury.Apart from that, 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 internal organs.This kind of pain is called referred pain.For example, in 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.Signs of referred pain are 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 pain relief 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 it further.
Treatment and prevention of back pain
The first thing to do when pain in the back or waist appears is to give it rest for at least three days.You should not stretch your back and deal with pain.In some cases, such precautions are sufficient, and after a few days the back pain disappears.
Since sharp pain in the majority of cases occurs due to muscle tension, to eliminate it, you should try to relax the spasming muscle.In this case, warming procedures can help.It is not necessary to just warm the back, although this also has a good effect.It is better to warm up the body completely, then the pain will go away faster.A good option is a bath or sauna, but in case of acute pain at high temperatures, as well as sharp changes in temperature, it is better to avoid them.You should postpone watering with cold water for at least a few months.
Another great option is to take a warm bath with sea salt.10-15 minutes of this procedure every evening will only benefit.
A very important condition for eliminating pain is not to miss the warmth after warming procedures.Therefore, after completing it, you need to wear warm pajamas and cover yourself with a blanket.You can also drink warm tea, this will help warm the body not only from the outside, but also from the inside.It is recommended to repeat this procedure for three days.If the cause of the pain is not pinched nerve endings, the discomfort will quickly disappear.
At the end of the exacerbation period, it is recommended to make it a rule to do exercises every day to relax the spinal muscles.This will take no more than 15 minutes, while the increased blood circulation due to such warming 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, as a result of which self-massage processes are launched in the human body.
Doctor's help: for what pain should you call an ambulance?
An ambulance should be called if:
- back pain occurs as a result of a fall or strong blow;
- the pain is very strong, accompanied by high fever or loss of consciousness.
In addition, you should not self-medicate, let alone prescribe medication while pregnant.You should call an ambulance if your child's back hurts.
In other cases, if you manage to stop a severe pain attack and do not need emergency medical treatment, it is still recommended to see a doctor.Don't expect the problem to resolve itself.So maybe it's better not to wait for a new attack?
If the pain is not too severe, it makes sense to consult a therapist.If necessary, this doctor will refer the patient to a specialist for examination and prescribe appropriate treatment.
In case of severe pain, the therapist will refer the patient to a specialist who specializes in the treatment of spinal diseases, for example to a neurologist.In some cases, the help of a neurosurgeon may be required.