Do you spend a lot of time sitting because of your 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 are the causes of back pain?Which doctor should I contact and how to treat the wound?We'll talk about this and more later in the article.
What causes the pain?
So, “What to do if you have back pain and what could be causing it?”» Let's look at this question in more detail.There could be 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 because many nerve endings originate from the spine and surround all internal organs.Therefore, based on the localization of pain in a particular area of the ridge, we can talk about some specific diseases.
Causes
What does lower back pain mean and which doctor should you consult for it?The causes of lower back pain can be both habits and diseases.The first include:
- Constant sedentary work.IT workers and drivers are in danger.
- Constant standing work.
- Intense and frequent physical activity.Athletes, especially weightlifters, are at risk.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Pregnant women and women who have recently given birth belong to a separate risk group.
- Overweight.
As you can see, with habits everything is simple.As for the second case, pain in the lumbar region can often be caused by illness.Here we can also 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 contains the following possible causes of lower back pain:
- Spinal fracture due to trauma.
- Fracture caused by osteoporosis.
- A tumor located in the spinal canal.
- Prolonged muscle tension.
- Narrow structure of the spinal canal (fairly rare).
- Various complications during pregnancy.
- Various arthritis, for example osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis.
- Spinal deformities, e.g. kyphosis, scoliosis, Scheuermann-Mau disease, kyphoscoliosis.
- Vertebral tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, discitis.
- Urolithiasis, pyelonephritis.
- Ovarian cancer, endometriosis, ovarian cyst.
When should you consult a doctor?
Minor back pain, which disappears quickly and is the consequence of prolonged exercise, is the norm.But if the lower back hurts for a fairly long time or the pain is periodic, then it appears on its own, and then it disappears, then you should sound the alarm.You should also go to the hospital immediately after a serious back injury.It should be understood that lower back pain can be accompanied by pain in the foot or lower leg.It is also possible that part of the leg or buttocks becomes numb.In this case, you have something serious and need to be examined as quickly as possible.
It's unlikely you'll be able to diagnose yourself, so you should go to the hospital, but which doctor should you see?Some will say a chiropractor, while others will say a neurologist is more experienced.Both options are correct, however, it would be more correct to contact a neurologist, since it is he who will be able to correctly prescribe and carry out the entire process of diagnosing the disease.And in this case, the cause will be identified more accurately and there will be every chance to successfully treat it.So, taking the point of view of a neurologist, with lower back pain, depending on the intensity and strength of the pain, you can approximately determine the cause of its occurrence.
Acute pain
Acute lower back pain in men and women is the consequence of a recent injury (fall, muscle strain, blow, sudden movements).Also, the cause may be working in an uncomfortable position for a long time or carrying and lifting heavy objects for a long time.And finally, don't forget the cold back, due to hypothermia or prolonged exposure to a draft.Here you can easily treat lower back pain with folk remedies.
Furthermore, the most common include lumbago and displaced intervertebral discs.The first to suffer from the disease are people whose field of activity involves constant heavy physical labor, which is why lower back pain occurs in men.Popularly, the disease is called “lumbago”.It usually stops on its own with rest or after a few days.However, this can easily last up to a month, so it requires at least treatment for lower back pain at home.
Sharp, intense 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, we can no longer get treatment at home.Hospitalization and complete diagnosis are necessary.This can even go as far as surgical intervention.
Severe pain
Severe pain differs from acute pain in that it lasts longer and is the consequence of a disease associated with the musculoskeletal system.These include lumbosacral radiculitis and osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.With them, you feel girdle pain in the lower back when sneezing, coughing, sitting, walking, in a word, your back hurts with any 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 go to the attending physician for an examination.
Painful
Typically, the back may be painful due to 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 need to be alert, because your back can hurt from severe hypothermia.Thus, myositis, a more chronic disease, can develop, in which the psoas muscles become inflamed.In this case, you need several days of rest, and also know how to relieve pain.
Chronic
Often caused by spondylosis deformans.The main symptoms of this disease are girdling 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.
Moved
Such pain is not a consequence of a back disease, but the result of a disease of an organ included in the spinal region.This includes diseases of the pelvic organs of the male and female half, as well as diseases of the colon, kidneys, pancreas and various types of tumors.
How does the treatment take place?
So how to get rid of lower back pain?First of all, you need to go to the hospital and make an appointment with a specialist for an examination.After the examination, the attending physician must have you examined to confirm or refute his or her suspected diagnosis.To find out what it is, you may be sent for an x-ray of your spine.Today, a more advanced method is used called myelography.
This method allows the pathways leading to the spinal cord to be examined in detail.Identifies all pathologies in the presence of a decrease in tract permeability.You should know 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 you have back pain.Additionally, MRI, ultrasound, ECG and CT scan may be prescribed.In additional cases, other tests may be required, such as a complete blood count, etc.
Medicine
In most cases, medications are an excellent treatment option for lower back pain.It is aimed at relieving pain, eliminating and further preventing inflammatory processes, improving blood circulation and regenerating damaged tissues.So, after understanding why the lower back hurts, we can have a general idea of how to treat lower back pain.
Conventionally, any treatment can be divided into 3 stages, namely: the start of treatment, the treatment itself and the end of treatment.At each stage, drugs can be administered both in the form of droppers and in the form of blockages and injections.Treatment of lower back pain in 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 eliminate the cause of the disease.Here the treatment is carried out mainly locally.Ointments and mixtures for compresses are used.Additionally, 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.Thus, all functionality of the segment is restored.At all stages, the choice of medications and treatment 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 identified, treatment may involve physiotherapeutic methods.Depending on their cause, the following treatment methods can be distinguished:
- Ultrasound.
- Laser therapy.
- Exposure to electric current, etc.
Physiotherapy focuses more on how to treat back pain at an early stage.In later stages of the disease, it may be recommended as an auxiliary method of treatment.The therapy you need is prescribed only by the attending physician after examination.
Surgery
In the vast majority of cases, back pain will not require surgery.However, if you have been experiencing pain for a long time and it only gets worse over time and you categorically refuse to see a doctor, this method of treatment is also possible.In this case, most likely, general anesthesia will be used, where a lytic mixture is used, in order to completely immobilize the patient.The surgical plan itself will be developed by the surgeon based on the diagnostic data.
Traditional methods
To the question “How to relieve lower back pain?”Traditional medicine can also answer.Here, depending on the severity of pain symptoms, various ointments, lotions, etc. are used.homemade can be used.The main goal of these remedies is to relieve pain and inflammation.In most cases, treatment of the lower back with folk remedies is justified only as first aid.With prolonged self-medication, not knowing the main cause of the pain can greatly aggravate the disease.Below are some popular remedies.
- A compress of grated horseradish and radish mixed with sour cream is placed on the painful area of the lower back.The whole thing is covered with a paper towel on top and a scarf is tied over the entire lower back.This compress perfectly eliminates pain symptoms and removes muscle spasms.
- When you have back pain, warm compresses from an infusion prepared with a mixture of medicinal wounds will be of great help.These include thyme, chamomile, St. John's wort and black elderberry.The compress is applied at night.The painful area is wrapped in a warm cloth.It is advisable to carry out the treatment at night.An identical compress is prepared from an infusion of dried burdock leaves.
- Another folk remedy is based on the healing properties of horse chestnut.First of all, you need to grind the chestnut into powder.Then it is mixed with camphor oil and melted lard.The ingredients are given in approximately the same quantities.The resulting ointment is spread on a slice of black bread and applied to the sore back in the form of a compress.This product can improve blood circulation and has nutritional and anti-inflammatory properties.
But remember that no matter how effective the folk remedy is, you should always consult a doctor.After all, self-medication is always carried out at your own risk.Additionally, medical procedures may only provide short-term relief, after which the pain will significantly intensify.
Prevention
When you have back pain at the lumbar level, it is too late to do prevention.But in order not to encounter such a problem as long as possible, you need to think about how to prevent it and what leads to 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 would be obligatory morning exercises, sports, therapeutic exercises, reducing the load on the back, massage, nutritional control, etc.Additionally, scheduled periodic checkups with your doctor will help you get rid of what might be causing your lower back pain.
FIRST AID
What should you do if your lower back hurts a lot and the way 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 pain.So, let's do everything step by step:
- We lie on our backs, on a hard bed or on the floor.The bed cover must be removed.
- At the same time, the legs are raised and bent at the knees.For added comfort, place a pillow or folded blanket under your elevated legs.
- We take the usual dose of whatever painkiller or anti-inflammatory we have.
- We lie down and try not to make any sudden movements.
- When carrying out 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 tell your boss.
- During and after treatment, try to avoid spicy and smoked foods.