Probably each of us has experienced 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 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 may be in a completely different place than where it hurts.For example, pain in the lumbar region may occur if there was a previous injury to the coccyx-sacrum spine.The man had long ago forgotten her, but she took it and reminded him of herself in such an unpleasant way. Therefore, influencing the pain zone in this case is absolutely useless.Therefore, you need to look for the true 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 proper load distribution on the spine and the presence of past injuries.The body has the ability to heal and adapt, and the spine's job is to compensate for the consequences of damage.If necessary, it can be slightly twisted and bent to give the body the most upright position possible.This is the only way that negative changes to the spine itself can occur.One of these is a bulging disc.In this way, the spine tries to adapt to mechanical damage in the body - it creates additional support.Such disorders most commonly occur in the sacrum and coccyx.Drug effects on the spine or tense muscles in the event of a herniated disc only help temporarily to relieve back pain.After all, the root 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 is a result of overuse associated with the need for an upright posture during scoliosis or after an injury.In addition, back pain can result from 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, the pain in cholelithiasis radiates to the area between the shoulder blades.And as a result of the development of myocardial infarction, pain in the thoracic spine may occur.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 posture.
The best way to get rid of pain is to see a doctor.However, if for some reason this is not possible, you can try to help yourself (if the pain is not reflected).We'll tell you what happens next.
Treatment and prevention of back pain
The first thing you should do when you experience back or lower back pain is to give it rest for at least three days.You should not strain your back or move through the pain.In some cases, such precautionary measures are enough and the back pain disappears after a few days.
Since in most cases, sharp pain occurs due to muscle strain, you should try to relax the tense muscles to get rid of them.In this case, warming procedures can help.It is not necessary to warm just the back, although this also has a good effect.It is better to warm up the body completely, then the pain will disappear faster.A good option is a bathhouse or sauna, but in case of acute pain at high temperatures, as well as sharp temperature fluctuations, it is better to avoid them.You need to postpone dousing 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 requirement for pain relief is not to miss the heat after the heat treatments.Therefore, after completion, you need to put on warm pajamas and cover yourself with a blanket.You can also drink hot tea, it helps to warm up the body not only from the outside but also from the inside.It is recommended to repeat the process for three days.If the cause of the pain is not pinched nerve endings, the discomfort will soon go away.
At the end of the exacerbation phase, it is recommended to perform daily exercises to relax the spinal muscles.This takes no more than 15 minutes, while improved blood circulation from such warm-ups helps relieve pain.
A good way to prevent back pain is to walk every day.This allows all muscles, joints and ligaments to be gently involved in the work, thereby starting the process of self-massage in the human body.
Help from the doctor: what 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 severe, accompanied by high fever or loss of consciousness.
In addition, you should not self-medicate during pregnancy, let alone prescribe medication.Call an ambulance if your child's back hurts.
In other cases, if you managed to stop the severe attack of pain and there is no need for emergency medical care, it is still advisable to see 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 makes sense to see a therapist.If necessary, this doctor will refer the patient to specialists for examination and prescription of appropriate treatment.
If the pain is severe, the therapist refers the patient to specialists who specialize in the treatment of spinal diseases, for example a neurologist.In some cases, the help of a neurosurgeon may be necessary.