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 begin to rub various ointments.But it doesn't have the desired effect.And all this because the problem may lie 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 since forgotten her, but she took him 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 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 repair itself and adapt, and the task of the spine is to compensate for the consequences of the damage.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 has a bulging intervertebral disc.In this way, the spine tries to adapt to some mechanical damage in the body - it creates an additional support.Most often, such disorders appear in the sacrum and coccyx.In this regard, in the case of a herniated disc, the healing effects on the spine or strained muscles help relieve back pain only for a while.After all, its root cause is not 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 position of the body during scoliosis or after an injury.In addition, back pain can occur due to stress, excessive physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle.
In some cases, back pain is not related to muscle spasms or problems with the spine, but to 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 the pain in the thoracic spine can appear as a result of the development of a myocardial infarction.A sign of the indicated pain is the absence of a feeling of muscle stiffness during physical activity and the constant nature of the pain, regardless of the position of the body.
The best option to get rid of the pain is to see a doctor.But if for some reason this is not possible, you can try to help yourself (if the pain does not affect).We'll tell you how to do this next.
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 should not 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 acute pain in most cases occurs due to muscle tension, in order to get rid of it, you should try to relax muscle spasms.In this case, warming procedures can help.It is not necessary to heat only the back, but this also provides a good effect.It is better to warm up the body completely, then the pain will disappear faster.A good option is a bath or sauna, but in case of acute pain at high temperatures, as well as with a sudden change in temperature, it is better to avoid.You'll need to hold off on dousing with cold water for at least a few months.
Another good option is a warm sea salt bath.10-15 minutes of this procedure every night will only be beneficial.
A very important condition for eliminating pain is not to miss the heat after warming procedures.Therefore, after completing them, you should 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 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 exacerbation period, it is recommended to make it a rule to perform exercises to relax the spinal muscles every day.This will take no more than 15 minutes, while improved blood circulation as a result of such heating 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 joint in the work, as a result of which the process of self-massage is launched in the human body.
Help from a doctor: what pain should you call an ambulance for?
An ambulance should be called if:
- back pain that 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 drugs 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 emergency medical help, 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 another attack?
If the pain is not very 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 severe pain, the therapist will refer the patient to specialized specialists specializing in the treatment of spinal diseases, for example, a neurologist.In some cases, the help of a neurosurgeon may be necessary.