Probably each of us has experienced back pain at least once in our lives.And if it seems possible to determine the cause of the pain, 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 on themselves.But there is no desired effect.And all because the problem may be hidden in a completely different place than the one that 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 forgotten about her, but she took him and reminded him of herself in such an unpleasant way.Therefore, in this case, influencing the pain zone is absolutely useless.Therefore, it is necessary 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 influence the health of your back, including the correct distribution of the load on the spine and the presence of past injuries.The body has the ability to self-heal and adapt, and the spine's task is to compensate for the consequences of damage.If necessary, it can be slightly twisted and bent, all to give the body the most upright 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 and creates additional support for itself.Most often, these disorders occur in the sacrum and coccyx.In this sense, in the case of a herniated disc, the medicinal effects on the spine or tense muscles help to relieve back pain only for a while.After all, its 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 occurs as a result of overload associated with the need to maintain an upright position of the body during scoliosis or after injury.Additionally, 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 the 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 a myocardial infarction.A sign of referred pain is the absence of a sensation of muscle stiffness during physical activity and the constant nature of the pain, regardless of body position.
The best option to get rid of pain is to consult a doctor.But if for some reason this is not possible, you can try to help yourself (if the pain is not reflected).We will tell you how to do this later.
Treatment and prevention of back pain.
The first thing to do when pain appears in the back or lumbar area is to rest for at least three days.You should not strain your back and move through the pain.In some cases, these 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, to get rid of it you should try to relax the spasmodic muscles.In this case, warming procedures can help.It is not necessary to warm up only the back, although this also provides a good effect.It is better to warm up the body completely, then the pain will go away faster.A good option is a bath or sauna, but in case of acute pain from high temperatures, as well as a sudden change in temperature, it is better to avoid it.You will have to postpone spraying with cold water for at least a couple of months.
Another good option is a warm bath with sea salt.10 to 15 minutes of this procedure every night will only be beneficial.
A very important condition for pain relief is not to lose heat after warming procedures.Therefore, after completing them, it is necessary to put on warm pajamas and cover yourself with a blanket.You can also drink hot tea, this will help warm the body not only outside, but also inside.It is advisable to repeat the procedure for three days.If the cause of the pain is not pinching of the 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 the improved blood circulation as a result of this warm-up will help relieve pain.
A good way to prevent back pain is to walk daily.This facilitates the smooth inclusion of each muscle, joint and ligament in work, as a result of which the self-massage process in the human body begins.
Doctor's help: for what type of pain should an ambulance be called?
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 fever or loss of consciousness.
Furthermore, you should not self-medicate and much less prescribe medications during pregnancy.You should call an ambulance if your child has back pain.
In other cases, if you managed to stop the attack of severe pain and there is no need for emergency medical care, it is advisable to visit a doctor.You should not expect the problem to resolve itself.So maybe it's better not to wait for a new attack?
If the pain is not very intense, 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 specialists specializing in the treatment of spinal diseases, for example, a neurologist.In some cases, the help of a neurosurgeon may be necessary.