Few people know how to treat a problem area at home, what to do if your back hurts a lot. Most people refuse to see a doctor for expensive medical services, while others prefer traditional, proven methods.
Self-medication is possible provided the diagnosis is reliably known. Temporary relief of acute symptoms will not solve the problem and the long-term development of the disease will lead to a chronic form. It is advisable to consult a specialist who can give practical advice on this matter.
Causes of back pain
Both a chronic illness and an accidental event can cause back pain. A similar problem in women is a complication of gynecological diseases (fibroids, adnexitis, malignant neoplasms). In men, back pain occurs mainly against the background of heavy working conditions and lifting heavy objects.
The most common causes of this problem are:
- obesity stages 2 and 3;
- excessive sitting position;
- excessive load during sports activities;
- lifting and carrying weight;
- chondrosis, osteochondrosis, kyphosis;
- unstable psycho-emotional state;
- effects of drafts, hypothermia.
It is very important to determine the cause of pain, because it is forbidden to start treatment without an accurate diagnosis. Temporary relief of symptoms will not give the expected result, because the root cause will not be treated.
Even if symptomatic treatment helps, the back pain will return continuously.
When to consult a specialist
If the nature of the discomfort remains the same, the local area of the lesion does not expand, and there are no additional manifestations, it is possible to treat yourself at home.
In some cases, self-medication is not possible, but specialist intervention is required. A few examples:
- severe increase in pain;
- the local area of the lesions began to expand or change;
- there is no sensitivity in the lower extremities.
With low mobility of the toes, there is a possibility of damage to the spine. Immediate specialist intervention is required.
Home remedies
A wide range of medications can be used to treat low back pain. The patient is offered painkillers, various gels and ointments, as well as suppositories. However, it is not possible to buy medicines yourself, and a mistake in the choice can lead to an increase in symptomatic manifestations.
Prior consultation with a traumatologist or therapist will be required. Medications are prescribed only by a specialist with a narrow profile. Some strong medicines are only available by prescription at the pharmacy, you cannot buy them yourself.
The duration of treatment is from 1 to 6 months, depending on the area of the lesion, the intensity of pain, the frequency of unpleasant symptoms. The therapeutic course must be completed, otherwise the pain will return after a short time.
Ointments and gels
For low back pain, an ointment or gel is always prescribed, regardless of the root cause. These agents act locally, suppress discomfort and facilitate movement.
The advantage of this method is the ease of use, along with the minimum number of side effects and contraindications.
There are a number of rules to follow when applying the ointment:
- mandatory adherence to instructions for use;
- you need a little medicine to squeeze and rub under the waist, once a day, preferably before going to bed, apply the ointment;
- If side effects occur, the drug should be discontinued.
There are different groups of ointments for back pain:
- Chondroprotectors. They help strengthen articular cartilage and suppress inflammatory reactions inside.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointments. Used for any inflammatory reaction, restores the function of the musculoskeletal system. Read the contraindications before use.
- Painkillers. It is mainly used in acute forms of pain, facilitates the transmission of severe symptoms.
There is also a group of combined ointments that combine all of the above features.
Oral and injectable drugs
Oral or injectable medications are similar to ointments, but have a list of side effects and extensive contraindications. You should read the instructions for use carefully before starting the course of treatment.
The following groups are selected for the patient according to the nature and duration of pain:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs. Perfectly relieves pain, helps to suppress inflammatory processes in the lumbar region. Application is possible only with the permission of a specialist.
- Muscle relaxant. This group of drugs helps to relieve muscle tension, relieve spasms and relieve painful manifestations. It should be noted that there is drowsiness or fluctuations in blood pressure when using a muscle relaxant.
- Corticosteroids. Hormonal drugs suppress inflammatory reactions and have analgesic effects.
- Narcotic analgesics. In case of uncontrolled pain syndrome or surgery, it is prescribed only by the attending physician.
- Vitamin B. Helps to normalize blood circulation, oxygen saturation, restores metabolic processes.
Note:Most drugs have a strong therapeutic effect, you need to read the instructions for use before use.
Rectal suppository
These drugs are confidently promoted in the pharmaceutical industry and are actively used for severe back pain for the following reasons:
- dissolves quickly, the effect of the application is felt in 10-15 minutes;
- no harmful effects on the gastrointestinal tract;
- minimal side effects.
Patch
If you have back pain due to damage to the musculoskeletal system, how to treat it with plaster at home? Very simple.
Therapeutic tablets prevent pain, eliminate inflammation, warm the affected area, which allows to alleviate the patient's condition. Each patch has its own effect, you need to choose the right tool to achieve the result.
Physical training
Therapeutic exercises for lumbar lesions are extremely effective. Allows you to:
- develop back muscles;
- restore the distance between the vertebrae and release the compressed nerves;
- improve blood circulation;
- relieve pain.
Note:Therapeutic gymnastics can not be done for all groups of patients, there is a list of serious contraindications. An appropriate training set can only be selected by a treatment specialist.
Examples of popular and useful exercises:
- "Cat". The patient should stand on all fours and bend the spine, then bend in the opposite direction. The exercise is repeated 3-4 times, the duration of the posture is 5-7 seconds.
- Bending. The person will have to take a horizontal position on a hard, flat surface. Bend your knees, begin to turn your legs to the right and your body to the left. Repeat 5-6 times, then change sides.
You should do gymnastics yourself every day, following medical prescriptions. If negative symptoms appear (headache, oral cavity, disorientation in space), exercise should be stopped immediately.
Massage
Therapeutic massage is the most effective in spinal cord injuries. It is better to carry out the procedure under the supervision of a specialist, independent actions can lead to a number of consequences due to incorrect actions.
Massage is prohibited for the following patients:
- people with malignant neoplasms;
- active tuberculosis patients;
- women every three months of pregnancy;
- people suffering from hypertension or arrhythmia;
- patients with skin lesions.
When massaging independently without the services of an experienced specialist, you should first get a list of rules from your doctor for the correct procedure.
Paraffin therapy
Severe pain syndrome is best removed with paraffin. The procedure improves blood circulation in the lymph and soft tissues of the affected area. Melted paraffin warms the entire waist, the effect of the application lasts for several hours.
It is difficult to carry out such a procedure independently, it is recommended to use the services of an experienced specialist.
Traditional medicine
Traditional medicine has repeatedly proven its effectiveness, sometimes helping where drugs fail. However, such methods should not be abused without medical advice, otherwise you can cause irreparable damage to the musculoskeletal system.
The most common methods are:
- Compressors.The procedure should be performed only in the evening to relieve the patient physically and mentally. The tulle fabric should be impregnated with a pre-prepared composition (herbs only) and applied to the wound site. Spend at least an hour in this position. As part of the mixture you can use radish and horseradish, salt, honey, garlic, mustard.
- Friction.Performed only in the evening, the human body should be in a relaxed position. To rub a beaver stream, dandelion root, eucalyptus, red pepper, etc. Alcohol tinctures are used. The product should be rubbed well into the affected area, after which the waist is wrapped in warm cloth or blanket. In this case, you should spend at least an hour.
- Hot bath.An excellent way to relax not only the affected area, but the whole body. The effect of the procedure can be increased by using herbs (mint, mustard powder). You need to stay in the water until it starts to cool.
There are other methods of traditional medicine, but the above methods are the simplest to perform, do not require extensive money and theoretical knowledge.
How to give first aid? How is back pain treated at home?
Low back pain is not always gradual. Osteochondrosis and other lesions of the spine may be accompanied by severe pain. Light load, cold weather or heavy lifting - all this creates a similar problem.
Acute pain should be stopped immediately. Images can be so powerful that a person loses consciousness. Before helping, the patient should be brought to mind with ammonia.
The victim should be placed horizontally on a hard, flat surface. It is forbidden to put pillows, the back should be straight. Being asleep will reduce the load on the intervertebral discs, spasms and pain will partially disappear.
If you have topical ointments and gels in your home, you can treat the affected area. It is desirable that the drugs have anti-inflammatory or analgesic effect, such drugs quickly eliminate the unpleasant manifestations. After applying the ointment, you should leave the victim alone for 30-40 minutes.
If the medication has an effect, you should wrap your back with a warm cloth to seriously correct it. For persistent acute pain, the patient may be given anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, preferably strong. The tablets take effect after 30-50 minutes, depending on the severity of the pain.
Important:You can not abuse painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, the maximum daily dose is allowed in an emergency, but not more.
If the pain persists, you should call an ambulance after following all the above recommendations.
Prevention of back pain
After learning how to treat back pain at home, it is necessary to learn the prevention program. Special corrective measures are useful both after the therapeutic course and for prophylactic purposes to prevent the development of such problems.
Helpful hints:
- Change your diet. Try to eliminate unnecessary and fatty foods from the menu, minimize the consumption of such foods. The diet should be rich and healthy foods that will saturate the body with the necessary micronutrients.
- Control your body weight. Stages 2 and 3 of obesity place a heavy burden not only on the internal organs, but also on the spine. Under the influence of excess body weight, intervertebral discs move and deform, cartilage damage occurs.
- More activity. With a sedentary lifestyle (for example, to work in the office), you need to warm up and walk every day.
- You reduced the stress on the spine. It is not recommended to lift and carry weights without a serious reason. Even a small load can deform the spine.
Getting rid of bad habits will also have a beneficial effect on your back. Alcohol disrupts blood circulation, and the half-life of ethanol products adversely affects the condition of cartilage and joints.