Do you spend a lot of time sitting down due to work or hobbies, or do you work out a lot at the gym?Everything was fine before, but now you have frequent back and lower back pain?So maybe you should see a doctor for help?What causes back pain?Which doctor should I contact and how should I deal with the wound?We will talk about this and much more later in the article.
What causes pain?
So, "What to do if your back hurts and what could be causing it?"Let's look at this question in more detail.There may be more than enough reasons for this.The fact is that pain in the back and lower back can signal a number of diseases, both of the spine itself and of the internal organs.This is due to the fact that many nerve endings extend from the spine, which surround all the internal organs.Therefore, based on the localization of pain in a certain area of the ridge, we can talk about some specific diseases.
reasons
What does lower back pain mean and which doctor should you consult about it?The causes of pain in the lower back can be both habits and diseases.The first include:
- Permanent sedentary work.IT workers and drivers are at risk.
- Constant work in a standing position.
- Frequent heavy physical exertion.Athletes, especially weightlifters, are at risk.
- A sedentary lifestyle.
- Pregnant women and women who have recently given birth are in a separate risk group.
- Overweight.
As you can see, everything is simple with the habits.As for the second case, often pain in the lumbar region can be caused by a disease.Here we can distinguish between diseases of the spine itself and diseases in which pain in the lumbar region is only a symptom.The first include osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis, intervertebral hernia and protrusion.
The second group includes the following possible causes of lower back pain:
- Spinal fracture due to trauma.
- A fracture caused by osteoporosis.
- A tumor located in the spinal canal.
- Prolonged muscle tension.
- Narrow structure of the spinal canal (quite rare).
- Various complications during pregnancy.
- Various arthritis, eg osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis.
- Deformations of the spine, eg kyphosis, scoliosis, Scheuermann-Mau disease, kyphoscoliosis.
- Spinal tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, discitis.
- Urolithiasis, pyelonephritis.
- Ovarian cancer, endometriosis, ovarian cyst.
When should you see a doctor?
Mild back pain that quickly passes and is a consequence of prolonged exertion is the norm.But if the lower back hurts for quite a long time or the pain is intermittent, then it arises by itself, then disappears, then you should raise the alarm.You should also go to the hospital immediately after a severe back injury.It should be understood that lumbar pain can be accompanied by pain in the foot or lower leg.It is also possible that part of the leg or buttocks may go numb.In this case, you have something serious and you should get checked out as soon as possible.
You are unlikely to diagnose yourself, so you should go to the hospital, but which doctor should you go to?Some will say a chiropractor and some will say a neurologist is more experienced.Both options are correct, but it would be more correct to contact a neurologist, because he will be the one who will be able to correctly prescribe and conduct the entire course of diagnosing the disease.And in this case, the cause will be identified more precisely and there is every chance of successfully dealing with it.So, taking the point of view of a neurologist, with pain in the lower back, based on the intensity and strength of the pain, you can roughly determine the cause of its occurrence.
Sharp pain
Acute pain in the lower back in men and women is a consequence of recent trauma (fall, muscle strain, impact, sudden movements).Also, the cause may be prolonged work in an uncomfortable position or carrying and lifting heavy things for a long time.Finally, do not forget about a cold back due to hypothermia or prolonged exposure to a draft.Here you can easily treat back pain with folk remedies.
Separately, the most common include lumbago and displacement of the intervertebral discs.The first to suffer from the disease are people whose field of activity includes constant heavy physical labor, which is why men develop pain in the lower back.The disease is popularly called "lumbago".It usually stops on its own with rest or after a few days.However, it can easily last up to a month, so it requires at least low back pain treatment at home.
Sharp and severe pain in the lower back also occurs when the intervertebral discs are displaced.The disease can be caused by various injuries, heavy physical labor or a disease such as osteochondrosis.Here you can no longer treat yourself at home.Hospitalization and full diagnosis is required.It may even lead to surgery.
Severe pain
Severe pain differs from acute pain in that it is more prolonged and is a consequence of a disease related to the musculoskeletal system.These include lumbosacral radiculitis and osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.With them, you feel a terrible pain in the lower back when you sneeze, cough, sit, walk, in short, your back hurts with every movement.In addition, the pain may radiate to the lower limbs and they may even become numb.Here you no longer need to run, but fly to the attending physician for an examination.
Pain
As a rule, the back can hurt due to a sudden strong tension in the spinal muscles.You can relieve lower back pain by simply resting for a few hours.But you should not fly in the clouds, you should be alert because your back may hurt due to severe hypothermia.In this way, the more chronic disease myositis can develop, in which the psoas muscles become inflamed.In this case, you need a few days of rest and also know how to relieve the pain.
Chronic
It is often caused by spondylosis deformans.The main symptoms of this disease are crippling pain in the lower back, radiating to the buttocks or legs.Numbness of the lower extremities may also occur.Other diseases that cause similar symptoms include: cancer, metabolic disorders and ankylosing spondylitis.
Displaced
Such pain is not a consequence of a disease of the back, but a result of a disease of some organ involved in the spinal region.This includes diseases of the pelvic organs of both the male and female halves, as well as diseases of the colon, kidneys, pancreas and various types of tumors.
How is the treatment carried out?
So how do you get rid of lower back pain?First you need to go to the hospital and make an appointment with a specialist for an examination.After the examination, the attending physician must send you for an examination to confirm or reject his suspected diagnosis.To find out what it might be, you may be sent for an X-ray of your spine.Today, a more advanced method called myelography is used.
This method allows you to examine in detail the pathways conducting the spinal cord.Identifies all pathologies in the presence of reduced road patency.It is worth knowing that before the X-ray, a xenon substance will be injected into your spinal cord using a syringe, which will highlight everything in the image.This method is quite expensive, but very effective and almost always helps to find out why your back hurts.In addition, MRI, ultrasound, EKG and CT may be prescribed.In additional cases, other tests may be required, such as a complete blood count, etc.
medicines
In most cases, medication is an excellent option for treating lower back pain.It is aimed at relieving pain, removing and further preventing inflammatory processes, improving blood circulation and regenerating damaged tissues.So, having learned why the lower back hurts, we can get a general picture of how to treat lower back pain.
Conventionally, the entire treatment can be divided into 3 stages, namely: the beginning of the treatment, the treatment itself and the end of the therapy.At each stage, drugs can be administered both in the form of droppers and in the form of blockades and injections.Treatment of lower back pain at the first stage should eliminate the pain itself, reduce swelling and inflammation, relieve spasms and relax the muscles.At the second stage, you need to completely get rid of the cause of the disease.Here, the treatment is mainly carried out locally.Ointments and mixtures for compresses are used.In addition, it is recommended to undergo physical therapy.
The third stage consists of injections that increase the regeneration of damaged tissues and nourish them with all the necessary components.This restores the full functionality of the segment.In all stages, the choice of drugs and therapy depends on your diagnosis and the choice of your doctor.Self-medication is strictly not recommended.
Physiotherapy
When the exact cause of the pain is established, treatment using physiotherapeutic methods can be resorted to.Based on the cause of their occurrence, the following treatment methods can be distinguished:
- Ultrasound.
- Laser therapy.
- Exposure to electric current, etc.
Physical therapy is more focused on how to treat back pain in the early stages.In the later stages of the disease, it can be recommended as an additional method of treatment.The necessary therapy is prescribed only by the attending physician after examination.
Surgical intervention
In the vast majority of cases, back pain will not require surgery.But if you have pain for a long time and it only worsens with time and you flatly refuse to consult a doctor, then this method of treatment is also possible.In this case, general anesthesia will most likely be used, where a lytic mixture is used to completely immobilize the patient.The surgical plan itself will be developed by the surgeon based on diagnostic data.
Traditional methods
To the question "How to relieve lower back pain?"Traditional medicine can also answer.Here, depending on how strong the pain symptoms are, various homemade ointments, lotions, etc. can be used.The main purpose of such means is to relieve pain and inflammation.In most cases, the treatment of the lower back with folk remedies is justified only as first aid.With prolonged self-medication, not knowing the root cause of the pain can significantly worsen the disease.Below are a few folk remedies.
- A compress of grated horseradish and turnip mixed with sour cream is placed on the painful area of the lower back.Everything is covered with a paper napkin on top, and the lower part of the back is tied with a scarf.This compress perfectly removes pain symptoms and removes muscle spasms.
- When your back hurts, hot compresses from an infusion made with a mixture of healing injuries will be a great help.These include thyme, chamomile, St. John's wort and black elder.The compress is done at night.The sore spot is wrapped with a warm towel.It is recommended that the treatment be carried out at night.An identical compress is prepared from an infusion of dried burdock leaves.
- Another treatment with folk remedies is based on the healing properties of horse chestnut.First, you need to grind the chestnut into a powder.It is then mixed with camphor oil and melted lard.The ingredients are given in approximately the same amounts.The resulting ointment is spread on a slice of black bread and applied as a compress on the sick back.This product can improve blood circulation and has nutritional and anti-inflammatory properties.
But remember that no matter how good the folk remedy turns out to be, you still need to see a doctor.After all, self-medication is always done at your own peril and risk.In addition, it may turn out that medical procedures bring only short-term relief, after which the pain will intensify significantly.
Prevention
When your back hurts in the lumbar region, it's too late to do prevention.But in order not to face such a problem as long as possible, you need to think about how to prevent it and what causes it?It has already been described above that people who lead a sedentary or sedentary lifestyle, athletes, especially weightlifters and overweight people are at risk.
Accordingly, the best prevention of the disease will be mandatory morning gymnastics, sports, therapeutic gymnastics, reducing the load on the back, massage, control of nutrition, etc.Also, periodically scheduled checkups with your doctor will help you get rid of what may be causing your lower back pain.
First aid
What to do if your lower back hurts very badly and the road to the hospital is long?How to quickly relieve back pain so you can wait for the doctor?To do this, you need to know some first aid techniques.Of course, they will not have a therapeutic effect, but they will help to cope with the pain.So, let's do everything step by step:
- We lie on our back, on a hard bed or on the floor.The blanket from the bed must be removed.
- At the same time, the legs are raised and bent at the knees.For more comfort, place a pillow or folded blanket under the raised legs.
- We take the usual dose of the pain reliever or anti-inflammatory medicine we have.
- We lie down and try not to make sudden movements.
- While performing the procedures, do not forget to call a doctor at home.
- In most cases, you will need rest and bed rest for the next few days.After the doctor's visit, call work and notify your boss.
- During and after treatment try to avoid spicy and smoked foods.