Few people know what to do if the lower back hurts a lot, how to treat the problem area at home. Most people refuse to visit a doctor due to expensive medical services, others prefer traditional and 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 cause a transition to a chronic form. It is advisable to consult on this subject with a specialist who can give practical recommendations.
Causes of back pain
Both a chronic illness and an accidental event can cause pain in the lower back. In women, a similar problem is a complication of gynecological diseases (fibroids, adnexitis, malignant neoplasms). In men, low back pain occurs mainly in the context of difficult working conditions and heavy lifting.
The most common causes of this problem are:
- obesity stages 2 and 3;
- excessive sitting position;
- excessive loads during sports activities;
- lift and carry weights;
- chondrosis, osteochondrosis, kyphosis;
- unstable psychoemotional state;
- the influence of drafts, hypothermia.
Identifying the cause of pain is very important, since it is forbidden to start a therapeutic course without an accurate diagnosis. Temporary relief of symptoms will not bring the expected results, because the root cause will not be treated.
Even if symptomatic treatment helps, the low back pain will continually return.
When to see a specialist
Self-treatment at home is possible if the nature of the discomfort remains unchanged, the local area of the lesions does not expand, and there are no additional manifestations.
In certain situations, self-medication cannot be performed, but requires the intervention of a specialist. Some examples:
- intense increase in pain;
- the local area of the lesions began to expand or shift;
- there is no tenderness in the lower extremities.
With poor mobility of the toes, there is the possibility of damage to the spine. The immediate intervention of a specialist is required.
Home treatment methods
A wide range of pharmaceuticals can be used to treat low back pain. The patient is offered painkillers, various gels and ointments, as well as suppositories. But, it is impossible to buy drugs on your own, an error in the choice can lead to an increase in symptomatic manifestations.
A preliminary consultation with an orthopedic surgeon or therapist will be required. Medications are prescribed only with the presentation of a narrow-profile specialist. Some powerful drugs are dispensed at a pharmacy by prescription only, you cannot buy them yourself.
The duration of treatment is from 1 to 6 months, depending on the area of the injury, the intensity of the manifestations of pain and the frequency of appearance of uncomfortable symptoms. The therapeutic course must be completed, otherwise the pain will return after a short period of time.
Ointments and gels.
For back pain, regardless of the root cause, ointments or gels are always prescribed. These agents act locally, suppress discomfort, and facilitate movement.
The advantage of this method is the minimal amount of side effects and contraindications, as well as the ease of use.
When applying ointments, a number of rules should be followed:
- mandatory compliance with the instructions for use;
- a little medicine is required to squeeze the hand and start rubbing on the lower back, it is necessary to apply the ointment once a day, preferably before bedtime;
- If side effects occur, it is necessary to stop using this medicine.
There are different groups of ointments for low back pain:
- Chondroprotectors. They help to strengthen the articular cartilage, suppress inflammatory reactions in it.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointments. They are used for any inflammatory reaction, restore the activity of the musculoskeletal system. Read the contraindications before use.
- Analgesics. They are mainly used for acute forms of pain, they help to facilitate the transfer of severe symptoms.
There is also a combined group of ointments that combine all the above properties.
Oral and injectable medications.
Oral or injectable medications have similar action to ointments, but have enhanced side effects and a long list of contraindications. Before starting a therapeutic course, you should carefully read the instructions for use.
The following groups are selected for the patient, depending on the nature and duration of pain:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs. They perfectly relieve pain, help to suppress the inflammatory process in the lower back. The application is possible only with the permission of a specialist.
- Muscle relaxants. This group of drugs helps to relieve muscle tension, relieve spasms and suppress painful manifestations. It is worth noting that when using muscle relaxants, there is drowsiness or sudden increases in blood pressure.
- CorticosteroidsHormonal drugs suppress inflammatory reactions and have an analgesic effect.
- Narcotic pain relievers. Prescribed exclusively by the attending physician in case of uncontrolled pain syndrome or surgical intervention.
- Vitamin B. Promotes the normalization of blood circulation, oxygen saturation, restores metabolic processes.
Note:most drugs have a strong therapeutic effect, before use it is necessary to read the instructions for use.
Rectal suppositories
These drugs are confidently promoted in the pharmaceutical industry and actively used for severe back pain for the following reasons:
- dissolves quickly, the result of the application is felt in 10-15 minutes;
- there is no harmful effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
- minimal side effects.
Patch
If, due to injuries of the musculoskeletal system, the lower back hurts, how to treat it at home with a plaster? Very simple.
Treatment plates block pain, relieve inflammation, warm the affected area, thus allowing to alleviate the patient's condition. Each patch has a unique effect, you need to choose the right remedy to achieve the result.
Physical exercise
Therapeutic exercises are extremely effective for lower back injuries. It allows you:
- develop back muscles;
- restore the distance between the vertebrae and release the pinched nerves;
- improve blood circulation;
- suppress pain.
Note:Corrective gymnastics cannot be performed for all patient groups; there is a strict list of contraindications. A suitable set of exercises can only be selected by a treatment specialist.
Examples of popular and useful exercises:
- "Cat". The patient should get on all fours and bend the spine, then bend in the opposite direction. Repeat the exercise 3-4 times, the duration of the pose is 5-7 seconds.
- Cramp. The person should adopt a horizontal position on a flat and hard surface. Bend your knees, start turning your legs to the right and your body to the left. Do 5-6 reps, then switch sides.
You need to do gymnastics yourself every day, following medical prescriptions. If negative symptoms appear (headache, nausea, disorientation in space), it is necessary to urgently stop exercising.
Massage
Therapeutic massage is most effective for spinal injuries. It is better to carry out the procedure under the supervision of a specialist, independent behavior can result in a number of consequences due to incorrect movements.
Massage is prohibited for the following groups of patients:
- people with malignant neoplasms;
- patients with active tuberculosis;
- women in any trimester of pregnancy;
- people suffering from hypertension or arrhythmia;
- patients with skin lesions.
When performing a massage on your own, without the services of an experienced specialist, you must first obtain a list of rules from the doctor for the correct procedure.
Paraffin therapy
Severe pain syndrome is well removed with paraffin. The procedure improves blood circulation in the lymph and soft tissues of the affected area. The molten paraffin warms the entire lower back, the effect of the application lasts for several hours.
It is problematic to carry out such a procedure on your own, it is recommended to use the services of an experienced specialist.
Traditional medicine
Traditional medicine methods have repeatedly confirmed their effectiveness, sometimes helping where pharmaceuticals failed. But, it is not worth abusing such methods without medical advice, otherwise you can cause irreparable damage to the musculoskeletal system.
The most common methods are:
- Compress.It is necessary to carry out the procedure only at night so that the patient is physically and mentally relaxed. The gauze fabric should be impregnated with a ready-made composition (only medicinal herbs) and applied to the sore spot. Spend in this state for at least an hour. As ingredients of the mixture, you can use radish and horseradish, salt, honey, garlic, mustard.
- Rubbing.It is carried out only at night, the human body should be in a relaxed state. For rubbing, alcoholic tinctures of a beaver stream, dandelion root, eucalyptus, red pepper, etc. are used. The product should be completely rubbed into the affected area, after which the lower back is wrapped in warm fabrics or a blanket. You must spend at least an hour in this state.
- Heating bath.An excellent method to relax not only the affected area, but the entire body. The effect of the procedure can be enhanced by using medicinal herbs (peppermint, mustard powder). You need to stay in the water until it starts to cool down.
There are other methods of traditional medicine, but the above methods are the simplest to perform, they do not require large cash costs or theoretical knowledge.
How to provide first aid? How to treat back pain at home?
Pain in the lower back does not always appear gradually. Osteochondrosis and other spinal injuries can occur suddenly, accompanied by severe pain. Light loading, cold air, or lifting heavy objects - all of this causes a similar problem.
Sharp pain sensations must be urgently stopped. The manifestations can be so strong that a person will lose consciousness. Before providing assistance, the patient needs to regain their senses with ammonia.
The victim must be placed horizontally on a flat, hard surface. It is forbidden to put a pillow, the spine must be in a straight position. Being in a supine position 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 funds have an anti-inflammatory or analgesic effect, such drugs quickly relieve uncomfortable manifestations. After applying the ointment, you need to leave the victim alone for 30-40 minutes.
If the drugs have an effect, you will need to pull the lower back with a warm cloth to fix it strictly. For ongoing acute pain, the patient may be given anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, preferably strong ones. The tablets will work after 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the intensity of the pain.
Important:you can not abuse painkillers and anti-inflammatories, in an emergency situation, the maximum daily dose is allowed, but no more.
With continuous pain, even after doing all the above recommendations, you need to call an ambulance.
Back pain prevention.
After it was found out why lower back hurts how to treat it at home, it is necessary to learn the preventive program. Special corrective measures are useful both after a therapeutic course and for prophylactic purposes, to prevent the development of problems in the lower back.
Helpful tips:
- Change your diet. Try to exclude junk and fatty food from the menu, minimize the consumption of such dishes. The diet should be dominated by fortified and healthy foods, which will saturate the body with the necessary microelements.
- Control body weight. Stages 2 and 3 of obesity impose a colossal load not only on internal organs, but also on the spine. Under the influence of excess body weight, there is a displacement and deformation of the intervertebral discs, damage to the cartilage.
- More activity. With a sedentary lifestyle (for example, due to office work), you need to warm up and take walks every day.
- Reduce stress on the spine. It is not recommended to lift weights and carry them without good reason. Even a slight load can deform the spine.
Getting rid of bad habits will also have a beneficial effect on the condition of the lower back. Alcohol impairs blood circulation and ethanol's half-life products negatively affect the state of cartilage and joints.