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 people immediately start rubbing various ointments.But there is no desired effect.And all because the problem can be hidden 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 it long ago, but she took it and reminded him of herself in such an unpleasant way.Therefore, in this case, the impact on the pain area is absolutely useless.Therefore, you should 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 the 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 injury.If necessary, it can be slightly twisted and bent, and all this to give the body the most vertical position.This alone 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 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 happens as a result of overload related to 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 internal organs.This type of pain is called referred pain.For example, with cholelithiasis, 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.The 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 way to get rid of the pain is to go to the doctor.But if for some reason this is not possible, you can try to help yourself (if the pain is not reflected).We will show 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 don't have to strain your back and move through the pain.In some cases, such precautions are sufficient and after a few days the back pain disappears.
Due to the fact that sharp pain in most cases occurs due to muscle tension, to get rid of it you should try to relax the spasmodic muscles.In this case, heating procedures can help.It is not necessary to heat only the back, although this also gives a good effect.It is better to fully warm up the body, 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 a sharp temperature change, it is better to avoid it.You will need to postpone cold water bathing for at least a few months.
Another good option is a warm sea salt bath.10-15 minutes of this procedure every evening will only be useful.
A very important condition for getting rid of pain is not to lose warmth after heating procedures.Therefore, after finishing them, you should wear 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 worsening period, it is recommended to make it a rule to do exercises every day to relax the muscles of the spine.This will last no more than 15 minutes, while improving 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 involvement of every muscle, joint and ligament in the work, as a result of which the process of self-massage begins in the human body.
Doctor's help: what kind of pain should you call an ambulance for?
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 temperature or loss of consciousness.
In addition, you should not self-medicate, much less prescribe medications during pregnancy.You should call an ambulance if your child has back pain.
In other cases, if you have managed to stop the attack of severe pain and there is no need for urgent medical attention, it is advisable to visit 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 too strong, 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 needed.