Each of us has had back pain at least once - from a slight discomfort to excruciating thoracolumbar pain (pain in the lower back, in the chest area). Disrupting lower back disorders from time to time can be one of the manifestations of a wide variety of diseases.
The most common cause of pain is osteochondrosis of the spine, which occurs in most people after 35-40 years. However, it does not explain the severity and duration of the pain. In order to understand the nature of diseases, it is necessary to understand in detail the problem and its causes.
reasons
There are many answers to the question of why your back hurts. The main mechanisms of pain syndrome remain dystrophic and degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs. As a result, subluxation of the joints and compression of the nerve endings of the spine exacerbate symptoms.
Let's look at the different causes of back pain:
- Basic diseases of the spine: intervertebral hernias, osteochondrosis, spondylosis, kyphosis, scoliosis, arthritis.
- Injuries, bruises, fractures, tumors. They are known as secondary causes of pain syndrome.
- cardiovascular diseases.
- Nephrological: sand or kidney stones.
- Women can experience additional pain with gynecological problems and even during menstruation.
Triggering factors for the pain syndrome:
- sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work. This article involves staying behind the wheel of a car or computer monitor for extended periods of time.
- overweight, obesity;
- Pregnancy involves a combination of weakened back muscles and weight gain;
- excessive physical activity (in everyday life or in the gym);
- Hypothermia of the body.
Possible diseases
The type of pain depends directly on the disease that caused the symptom. In the primary pathology (arthritis, intervertebral hernias), the lower back hurts monotonously: the pain increases or decreases with a change in the position of the body. It is accompanied by a sensation of goosebumps, burning, and alternating numbness of the lower extremities. Dull pain observed in lumbosacral radiculitis is felt by the patient not only in the back, but also in the buttocks, legs and thighs.
Diseases of the internal organs (angina pectoris, pyelonephritis)are characterized by a more pronounced and longer-lasting nature of pain that persists after rest or a change in posture. With gynecological problems, the lower abdomen is additionally concerned, and with cardiovascular pathologies, shortness of breath and lack of air are noted.
Important! Specific pains in the lumbar region in combination with a high fever can be manifestations of emergencies - kidney or gallstone colic, unstable angina pectoris.
Increased osteochondrosismanifests itself in sharp, stabbing pain - lumbago ("lumbago"), which radiates to the leg or pelvis when coughing or moving quickly. Herniated discs have characteristic features:
- An incline is not possible without first squatting.
- difficult to lift without support (chair, knee);
- In the prone position, the patient must put a pillow.
Inflammatory processes (myositis, radiculitis)continue with aching pain and an inability to perform elementary actions, as the simplest movements are restricted by the pain syndrome.
Fractures and dislocationsare accompanied by severe, increasing pain and swelling of the damaged area. The skin over the painful surface turns blue or red (depending on the type of injury).
How to get rid of back pain
Excessive physical activity or prolonged exposure to a draft in the near future lead to back problems. Let's take a closer look at the quick and easy help for familiar, annoying pain.
If the pain syndrome manifests itself after hypothermia or inflammation of the roots of the spinal cord (sciatica), a warm shower will help. Any physical activity is contraindicated after the bath. Pain relieving ointments have a warming, decongestant and anti-inflammatory effect.
Pain in osteochondrosis can be reduced by using anti-inflammatory ointments and gels as well as special exercises to relieve the intervertebral discs and the muscle corset.
Bruises or sprains cause increased swelling. A dry cold compress (ice from the freezer wrapped in a towel) will help reduce or prevent this. Apply to painful focus every few hours for two days.
It is worth remembering that only a specialist can correctly diagnose the cause of pain and draw up a treatment program. We therefore recommend that you register for a consultation at our clinic if you experience any alarming symptoms.
Treatment and prevention of back pain
Western medicine is represented by three main therapeutic areas:
- treated with medication;
- not medicinal;
- surgically.
Drug treatment includes taking pills and applying ointments, gels, and patches externally. The main groups of drugs:
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent - NSAIDs (relieve pain, inflammation);
- heparin ointments (relieve swelling, improve venous discharge);
- papaverine ointments (relieve pain, relieve pain cramps, dilate blood vessels);
- chondroprotectors (restore cartilage tissue);
- muscle relaxants (relieve muscle tension).
For the prevention of chronic diseases, an injection of injections is prescribed. The course of treatment for lumbar pain almost always includes injections of B vitamins. They improve metabolic processes and the restoration of nerve fibers, stabilize the work of the central and peripheral nervous system and restore impulse transmission. Analgesics are added to the composition of the drug to enhance the therapeutic effect. Vitamins are combined with NSAIDs.
In the case of acute illnesses, doctors carry out therapeutic blocks. Most often they are used for diseases of the spine and joints. The doctor injects both anti-inflammatory drugs and adrenal hormones. Prednisolone or dexamethasone (the main members of the group) numb the affected area and relieve swelling.
The non-drug therapy includes physiotherapy - massage, cold treatment (cryotherapy), warming up the affected areas. Physiotherapy is usually prescribed in subacute conditions or in remission.
Surgical treatment. Surgical interventions are used in extreme cases - with malignant tumors, destruction of the spinal cord, compression fractures. Surgical treatment of herniated discs leads to professional controversy: the positive effect of the operation is often not justified and the risk of complications is too high.
Preventive measures:
- Do morning exercises and be sure to include exercises to stretch the muscles of the lower back.
- Proper nutrition. Fried, salty, starchy foods and alcohol should be excluded - anything that contributes to the development of gastrointestinal diseases. It is necessary to include fiber and vitamins in the diet, steamed meat and fish or cook them in the oven. To improve blood circulation and the production of inter-articular fluid, it is recommended to drink up to 1. 5 liters of water (without contraindications).
- Monitor your posture.
- Walk or exercise regularly while sitting down.
- It is advisable to sleep on orthopedic pillows and mattresses.
Treatment in the Tibetan Medicine Clinic
Tibetan traditional medicine regards lumbodynia as a violation of the three constitutions. Outraged dosha bile cramps the back muscles. Excited mucus leads to endocrinological problems, metabolic disorders. An excess of constitution wind (responsible for the nervous system) exacerbates the disharmony of the other two constitutions.
Eastern doctors not only help to eliminate symptoms, but also to understand the cause of the disease and how to deal with it.
In the clinic, you are not offered to "clog" the problem with pills, hormones and injections. After diagnosing the disease using ancient oriental techniques, the patient is given an individual treatment plan. Basic sample of treatments used by Tibetan medical professionals:
- Correction of nutrition and restoration of mental comfort, emotional background.
- herbal medicine. Herbs and herbal supplements will treat the problem from within. The Tibetan multi-component preparations restore the balance between the three constitutions "wind", "slime" and "bile". Unique collections not only stop the symptom, but also have a healing effect on the entire body.
- acupuncture. The action of needles on bioactive points relieves vascular and muscle spasms and increases blood flow to the damaged areas of the back.
- acupressure massage. The specialist presses the points of the energy meridians with his fingers and works with chronic diseases of the internal organs.
- Cupping massage (vacuum) improves the microcirculation not only of the painful areas, but of the entire organism.
- Moxotherapy. The vermouth cigar restores the balance of the three doshas, the integrity of the entire system. Stone therapy. Cold and hot stones neutralize swelling and inflammation.
- Tsubotherapy is one of the acupuncture options with metal balls. Tiny balls are applied with plaster of paris to bioactive areas for up to 2 weeks.
- Hirudotherapy - cleansing a slagged body with leeches, normalizing the body's metabolic processes.
The effectiveness of Tibetan methods in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders has been proven and confirmed by our patients.