Each of us has probably suffered from 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 apply various ointments.But there is no desired effect.And all because the problem can hide 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 long forgotten her, but she took him and reminded him herself in such an unpleasant way.Therefore, in this case, influencing the painful area is absolutely useless.Therefore, you need to find out 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 task of the spine is to compensate for the consequences of damage.If necessary, it can be slightly twisted and bent, and all 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 certain mechanical damage to the body - it creates additional support for itself.Most often, these 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 can only relieve back pain for a certain period of 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 results from overload associated with the need to maintain an upright body position during scoliosis or after an injury.Additionally, back pain can occur due to stress, excessive physical activity, and a sedentary lifestyle.
In some cases, back pain is associated not with muscle spasms or spinal problems, but with diseases of the internal organs.This type of pain is called referred pain.For example, in cases of cholelithiasis, the pain will radiate to the area between the shoulder blades.And pain in the thoracic spine may appear as a result of the development of myocardial infarction.A sign of referred pain is the absence of sensation 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 consult 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 later.
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 bear the pain.In some cases, such precautions are enough and after a few days the back pain disappears.
Since acute pain in most cases occurs due to muscle tension, to get rid of it, you need to try to relax the spasmed muscles.In this case, warming procedures may be helpful.It is not necessary to warm up only the back, although this also gives a good effect.It is better to fully warm up the body, then the pain will disappear faster.A good option is a public bath or sauna, but in case of acute pain at high temperature, as well as a sharp change in temperature, it is better to avoid it.You will have to postpone watering with cold water 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 lack heat 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 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 pinching of the nerve endings, the feeling of discomfort will soon disappear.
At the end of the period of exacerbation, it is recommended to make it a rule to perform exercises daily to relax the muscles of the spine.It will take no more than 15 minutes, while better blood circulation resulting from 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 into work, which triggers the process of self-massage in the human body.
Doctor's help: for what type of pain should you call an ambulance?
An ambulance should be called if:
- back pain occurred following a fall or strong blow;
- the pain is very severe, accompanied by high fever or loss of consciousness.
In addition, you should not self-medicate, let alone prescribe medications during pregnancy.You should call an ambulance if your child's back hurts.
In other cases, if you have managed to stop the attack of severe pain and there is no need for emergency medical attention, it is always advisable to consult a doctor.You should not hope that the problem will resolve itself.So maybe it's better not to wait for a new attack?
If the pain is not very severe, it is a good idea 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 specialists specializing in the treatment of spinal diseases, for example to a neurologist.In some cases, help from a neurosurgeon may be necessary.