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 throat, then everything is much more complicated here.
Back pain: cause and effect
When pain occurs in the back or lower back, many 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 lower back may occur if it was preceded by an injury to the coccygeal-sacral spine.The man had forgotten her long ago, but she took it and reminded him of herself in such an unpleasant way.Therefore, in this case it is absolutely useless to affect the pain zone.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 self-heal and adapt, and the job of the spine is to compensate for the consequences of injuries.If necessary, it can be twisted and bent a little, 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 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 only help relieve back pain for a while.After all, its root cause has not been eliminated!
Another of the most common causes of back pain is excessive tension in 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 type 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 occur 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 to get 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 tell you how to do this further.
Treatment and prevention of back pain
The first thing to do when back or lower back pain appears 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 sharp pain in most cases occurs due to muscle tension, you should try to relax the spasming muscles to get rid of it.In this case, warming procedures can help.It is not necessary to warm only the back, although this also gives 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 at high temperatures as well as a sharp temperature change, it is better to avoid it.You will need to postpone the cold water rinse for at least a few 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 heat after heating procedures.Therefore, after completing them, 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 each muscle, joint and ligament in the work, as a result of which the process of self-massage is launched in the human body.
The doctor's help: for what kind of pain should you call an ambulance?
An ambulance must 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 medicine, while you are pregnant.You should call an ambulance if your child has back pain.
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.Do not hope that the problem will resolve itself.So maybe it's better not to wait for another 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 prescription of 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 necessary.