Each of us experienced back pain at least once, ranging from mild discomfort to excruciating thoracolumbalgia (pain in the lower back, in the thoracic region). Disturbing discomfort in the lower back from time to time can be one of the manifestations of a wide range of diseases.
The most common cause of pain is osteochondrosis of the spine, which occurs in most people after the age of 35 to 40. However, it does not explain the severity and duration of the pain. To understand the nature of the ailments, it is necessary to understand in detail the problem and its origins.
Reasons
There are many answers to the question why your back hurts. The main mechanisms of the pain syndrome remain dystrophic and degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs. As a result, subluxation of the joints and compression of the nerve endings in the spine increase symptoms.
Let's look at the various causes of low back pain:
- Primary diseases of the spine: intervertebral hernias, osteochondrosis, spondylosis, kyphosis, scoliosis, arthritis.
- Injuries, contusions, fractures, tumors. They are known as secondary causes of pain syndrome.
- Cardiovascular diseases.
- Nephrological: sand or kidney stones.
- In women, pain can appear additionally with gynecological problems and even during menstruation.
Triggers for pain syndrome:
- sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work. This item includes an extended stay behind the wheel of a car or a computer monitor;
- overweight, obesity;
- pregnancy includes 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 nature of the pain depends directly on the disease that caused the symptom. In primary pathology (arthritis, intervertebral hernias), the lower back hurts monotonously: the pain increases or decreases with a change in body position. It is accompanied by a sensation of goose bumps, burning, alternating numbness of the lower extremities. The dull aches seen with lumbosacral radiculitis are 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 prolonged nature of pain that persists after rest or a change in body position. So, with gynecological problems, the lower abdomen is also concerned, and with cardiovascular pathologies, shortness of breath and shortness of breath are noted.
Important! Specific pain in the lumbar region in combination with high fever can be manifestations of emergency conditions: renal colic or gallstones, unstable angina pectoris.
Aggravated osteochondrosismanifests itself by sharp, stabbing pains: lumbago ("lumbago"), radiating to the leg, pelvis when coughing or rapid movements. Herniated discs have characteristic features:
- the incline is impossible without squatting first;
- difficult to lift without support (chair, knee);
- In the prone position, the patient is forced to place a pillow.
Inflammatory processes (myositis, radiculitis)continue with pain and inability to perform elementary actions, since the simplest movements are restricted by the pain syndrome.
Fractures and dislocationsare accompanied by severe and increasing pain and swelling of the damaged area. The skin on the painful surface changes color to blue or red (depending on the nature of the injury).
How to get rid of low back pain
Excessive physical activity or prolonged exposure to a draft in the near future will cause back discomfort. Let's take a closer look at simple and quick help for familiar and annoying pain.
If the pain syndrome manifests after hypothermia or inflammation of the roots of the spinal cord (sciatica), a warm shower will help. Any physical activity is contraindicated after bathing procedures. Pain relief ointments provide warming, decongestant, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Pain in osteochondrosis can be reduced thanks to anti-inflammatory ointments and gels, as well as special exercises to relieve intervertebral discs and muscle corset.
Bruises or sprains cause increased swelling. A cold, dry compress (ice from the freezer wrapped in a cloth) will help reduce or prevent it. Apply every two hours for two days on the painful area for half an hour.
It is worth remembering that only a specialist can correctly diagnose the cause of pain and draw up a treatment program. Therefore, we recommend that if you experience alarming symptoms you sign up for a consultation at our clinic.
Treatment and prevention of back pain
Western medicine is represented by three main therapeutic areas:
- medicated;
- non-pharmacological;
- surgical.
Pharmacological treatment involves taking pills and external application of ointments, gels and patches. The main groups of drugs:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug - NSAIDs (relieve pain, inflammation);
- heparin ointments (relieve swelling, improve venous flow);
- papaverine ointments (relieve pain, relieve pain spasms, dilate blood vessels);
- chondroprotectors (restore cartilage tissue);
- muscle relaxants (eliminate muscle tension).
For the prevention of chronic diseases, a cycle of injectables is prescribed. The course of treatment of low back 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 systems, and restore the transmission of impulses. Analgesics are added to the composition of the drug to enhance the therapeutic effect. Vitamins are combined with NSAIDs.
In acute conditions, doctors perform therapeutic blocks. Most of the time 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 representatives of the group) anesthetize the affected area and relieve swelling.
Non-drug therapy involves physical therapy: massage, cold treatment (cryotherapy), warming of affected areas. Physical therapy is generally prescribed in subacute conditions or in remission.
Surgical treatment. Surgical intervention is used in extreme cases: for malignant tumors, destruction of the spinal cord, compression fractures. The surgical treatment of herniated discs generates professional controversy: the positive effect of the operation is often not justified by itself, and the risk of complications is too high.
Preventive measures:
- Do morning exercises, be sure to include exercises to stretch your lower back muscles.
- Proper nutrition. Fried, salty, starchy foods, alcohol, everything that contributes to the development of gastrointestinal diseases should be excluded. It is necessary to add fiber, vitamins to the diet, cook meat and fish steamed or baked. To improve blood circulation and inter-joint fluid production, it is recommended to drink up to 1. 5 liters of water (in the absence of contraindications).
- Check your posture.
- Walk or exercise regularly in case of sedentary work.
- It is advisable to sleep on orthopedic pillows and mattresses.
Treatment at the Tibetan Medicine Clinic
Traditional Tibetan medicine views lumbodynia as a violation of all three constitutions. Dosha indignant bile makes the back muscles spasm. Excited mucus leads to endocrine problems, metabolic disorders. An excess of the Wind constitution (responsible for the nervous system) aggravates the disharmony of the other two constitutions.
Oriental doctors help not only to eliminate symptoms, but also to understand the cause of the disease and cope with it.
At the clinic, you will not be offered to "obstruct" the problem with pills, hormones, and injections. After diagnosing the disease using ancient oriental techniques, the patient will receive an individual treatment plan. Basic sample of treatments used by Tibetan medicine doctors:
- Nutrition correction and restoration of mental well-being, emotional background.
- Herbal Medicine. Herbal and herbal preparations will solve the problem from within. The multicomponent Tibetan preparations restore the balance between the three constitutions "Wind", "Slime", "Bile". Unique collections not only stop the symptom, but also have a healing effect on the whole body as a whole.
- Acupuncture. The effect of the needles on the bioactive points relieves vascular and muscle spasms, increases blood flow to damaged areas of the back.
- Acupressure massage. The specialist presses the fingers on the points of the energy meridians, working with chronic diseases of the internal organs.
- Cupping (vacuum) massage improves microcirculation not only in painful areas, but throughout the body.
- Moxotherapy. The absinthe cigar restores the balance of the three doshas, the integrity of the entire system. Stone therapy. Hot and cold stones neutralize swelling and inflammation.
- Tsubotherapy is one of the acupuncture options with metal balls. Tiny pellets of plaster are applied to bioactive spots for up to 2 weeks.
- Hirudotherapy: cleanses a chafed body with leeches, normalizing the body's metabolic processes.
The efficacy of Tibetan methods in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system has been tested and confirmed by our patients.