What to do at home for back pain

Back pain is a fairly common symptom. Everyone has experienced it in one way or another in their life.

Causes, frequency and risk factors for low back pain

Let's take a look at why the lower back can hurt in the country. Most often, lower back pain signals that you have:

• osteochondrosis and neuralgia;
• kidney disease;
• pancreatitis in the acute stage.

Let's consider each of the possible reasons in more detail.

Lower back pain can occur with various kidney diseases:

• glomerulonephritis - non-infectious kidney damage;
• pyelonephritis - purulent inflammation in the renal pelvis;
• the formation and movement of stones in the kidneys and ureters.

Often, hypothermia, a cold, or diet contributes to kidney disease; It's easy to confuse a torn lower back with kidney problems. However, there are symptoms that are characteristic of this type of ailment:

• pain is not associated with movements and physical activity;
• body temperature often rises to more than 37. 5 degrees;
• light tapping with the edge of the palm in the kidney area causes severe pain;
• there are problems with urination - frequent or too rare, painful;
• urine becomes cloudy, changes color.

When a person has kidney problems, the first thing to do is to call a doctor. This organ performs too important a function in the body to risk it. While the doctor is coming to your country house, try to alleviate the patient's condition.

What can be done:

• lay the patient down or help him take a comfortable position;
• in the presence of temperature - give an antipyretic;
• give a sick antispasmodic, for example, no-shpu;
• monitor pressure, temperature;
• provide assistance if necessary if the person needs to turn around.

It is often written that warm compresses or warm baths will help with kidney diseases. Remember!

If the pain is caused by pyelonephritis, warming will only worsen the situation, as the inflammation from heat increases.

All further measures can be prescribed by a doctor after a professional examination.

Injury to the lumbar spine is the most common cause of low back pain.

Low back pain occurs in almost every person at least once in a lifetime. It should be noted that pain can be in any part of your back, but, however, pain in the lumbar spine occurs most often. This is due to the fact that the lumbar vertebrae bear the maximum load from the weight of your body.

Low back pain ranks second in the number of visits to the doctor, immediately after viral infections. You may experience lower back pain after lifting a heavy object, after a sudden movement, after being in one position for a long time, or after a spinal injury. Acute pain in the lumbar spine is most often caused by a displaced intervertebral disc and spinal injury.

Conditions that can cause back pain:

• Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
• Intervertebral hernia and protrusion of the intervertebral disc
• Spondylarthrosis
• Spondylosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Compression fracture due to osteoporosis, myeloma, vertebral hemangioma
• Tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal

  Destruction of the lumbar vertebra in tuberculosis is a rare cause of low back pain.

• Spinal fracture after injury
• Prolonged muscle tension
• Anatomically narrow spinal canal
• Curvature of the spine (scoliosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis, Scheuermann's disease Mau)
• aortic aneurysm
• Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis
• Spinal infections - osteomyelitis, discitis, spinal tuberculosis
• Pyelonephritis, urolithiasis
• Complicated course of pregnancy
• Gynecological diseases (endometriosis, ovarian cyst, ovarian cancer, etc. )

back pain with pancreatitis

A tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal is a common cause of lower back pain.

The pain can be varied: sharp, dull, pulling, burning, may be accompanied by tingling and goosebumps, numbness. The intensity of lower back pain can vary significantly - from mild to unbearable pain that makes it difficult to make even a small movement. Pain can be combined with pain in the thigh, pain in the lower leg, pain in the foot.

For lower back pain, do not start with a spinal x-ray.

• Reduce physical activity in the first two days after the onset of an attack. This will help reduce the symptoms of the disease and swelling in the area of pain.
• Do not sit forward until the pain has completely subsided.
• Take painkillers only if the pain is unbearable. It is better to make an intramuscular injection than to drink an anesthetic drug. This will protect your stomach wall from direct contact with the anti-inflammatory agent. Try to avoid taking too many medications. Do not use hormonal drugs for treatment if low back pain is not associated with an autoimmune disease.
• Sleep in the fetal position with a pillow between your legs. If you usually sleep on your back, put a pillow under your knees
• A common misconception is the idea that you should limit physical activity for a long time. Bed rest is not recommended! If you don't have a fever, weight loss, involuntary urination and bowel movements, then you should stay active for as long as you can. You can reduce your activity only in the first two days after the onset of pain. Start doing some light aerobic exercise. Walking on the simulator, swimming will help improve blood flow to the muscles of your back. Consult your doctor for the selection of exercises so as not to cause an increase in pain.

A characteristic symptom of pancreatitis is girdle pain, which begins under the ribs on the left. Then it spreads to the stomach and back, forming a ring. Pain in the navel area can also indicate pancreatitis. In atypical forms of the disease, pain in the back, slightly above the waist, is not uncommon - they are usually mistaken for anything but a symptom of pancreatitis.

Back pain in acute pancreatitis is very severe. First aid for pancreatitis includes:

• hunger (a sick person must not eat before the examination);
• comfortable position (help the person to take it), peace and comfort;
• moderate drinking (you can gradually give ordinary water);
• condition control (do not leave the patient alone).

There are body positions that help reduce pain: the knee-elbow position and the fetal position.

Diagnostic methods

First you need to see a neurologist. The doctor will ask you questions about the nature of your pain, its frequency, recurrence. The doctor will try to determine the cause of the pain and begin treatment with simple methods (ice, mild pain relievers, physical therapy and necessary exercises).

MRI in 95% of cases will determine the true cause of back pain.

In most cases, these treatments lead to a reduction in back pain. During the examination, the doctor will determine the exact position of the pain, its irradiation, neurological reflexes. Most people with low back pain recover within 4 to 6 weeks. Diagnosis includes magnetic resonance imaging (eng.

MRI) of the lumbar spine, computed tomography of the lumbosacral spine, X-ray of the spine. Since the most common cause of low back pain is a herniated disc in the lumbosacral spine, the first thing you need to do is an MRI scan of the lumbar spine.

This study will also help to exclude most causes of pain, such as a tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal, spinal tuberculosis, spinal fracture, multiple myeloma, anatomically narrow spinal canal, sponlylolisthesis, various types of curvature of the spine, spondylosis and spondylarthrosis.

If your neurologist has not ordered you an MRI, then do it yourself. The power of the MRI machine should be 1 Tesla or more. You should not start the diagnosis with an x-ray and computed tomography, these methods are unsafe. They can be done in the first place only if a spinal fracture is suspected.

The diagnosis is made on the basis of the patient's complaints, his external examination, anamnesis data, and the results of instrumental and biochemical studies. The most informative in the detection of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system is radiography. The resulting images clearly visualize deformed vertebral bodies and a decrease in the distance between them, as well as formed bone growths (osteophytes).

If a hernial protrusion, protrusion, diseases of the internal organs are suspected, MRI, CT, and ultrasound are performed. These studies make it possible to detect the localization of the pathology, to assess the degree of the inflammatory process.

Conducting general clinical blood and urine tests is mandatory. If a systemic disease (gout, rheumatoid arthritis) is suspected, biochemical, serological studies are indicated.

Lower back pain due to osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disease of the articular cartilage that connects the vertebrae. Due to their pathology, the roots of the spinal cord are pinched, which is the cause of pain. Any person over 30 years of age is at risk for osteochondrosis, and recently this diagnosis is often found in adolescents and very young people.

The main cause of an attack of back pain is heavy lifting, prolonged work in an uncomfortable position (for example, weeding or gardening). The development of osteochondrosis is also provoked by long car trips, when a person is constantly in a sitting position.

Such lower back pain can overtake almost anyone. You will be able to recognize osteochondrosis by the following symptoms:

• the lower back aches, pain radiates to the leg;
• the pain becomes stronger with movement, change of position, load;
• may be disturbed by burning or shooting pains - "lumbago";
• after a long stay in one position, it is difficult and painful to change it;
• the sensitivity of the legs and buttocks decreases, a feeling of "goosebumps" appears;
• feet are cold, sweating is disturbed.

There is no temperature in osteochondrosis.

Pain in osteochondrosis can overtake at any time.

If you are completely sure that the matter is in the spine, the following measures will help the person:

• woolen belt or woolen scarf on the lumbar region;
• lie on a hard surface: board, table, hard mattress;
• taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• local anti-inflammatory ointments.

If you are not sure about the diagnosis, consult a doctor - taking anti-inflammatory drugs for problems with the stomach or pancreas can aggravate the situation.

What not to do

In no case do not try to "set" your back yourself - this can increase pain, and even harm your back.

With exacerbation of osteochondrosis, warming procedures are not recommended. In no case should you take a hot bath or steam in the bath. After warming up, a person will feel temporary relief, then the pain will increase significantly. If such pain bothers you often, you should do an MRI (image of the lumbar spine) and consult a neurologist.

Important! If after taking anti-inflammatory drugs you feel relief or complete disappearance of pain, you should not resume physical activity. The patient needs rest - up to bed rest - for some more time.

How to relieve pain if it is neuralgia

Neuralgia is inflammation of a nerve. Symptoms of neuralgic lumbar pain are similar to signs of osteochondrosis: the back reacts to movements, the patient is afraid to move. But there are also specific points:

• pain spreads along the inflamed nerve;
• the nature of the pain is "jerking", it can subside and suddenly appear even at rest;
• skin color and sweating may change, trembling occurs in the muscles;
• if you press on the back, the pain occurs on both sides of the spine.

It is difficult to cure neuralgic pains, but it is necessary to try to alleviate them. Help the sick person:

• analgesic anti-inflammatory drugs;
• drugs that relieve spasm;
• complete rest.

With severe neuralgic pain, the patient is better to be hospitalized. Doctors in the hospital use novocaine blockades for neuralgia.

Remember! Using medicines without medical advice and examination can put your health at risk.

Timely access to a doctor will help to avoid serious complications of the disease.

Conditions in which you need to see a doctor:

1. Lower back pain associated with lower leg pain and foot pain
2. Pain prevents you from taking care of yourself
3. Pain associated with urinary and fecal incontinence
4. Combination of pain in the lower back with numbness in the buttock, thigh, leg, foot, groin
5. If you have had back pain before
6. If the pain lasts more than 3 days
7. If you are taking hormones
8. If back pain occurs after an injury
9. Previously diagnosed with cancer
10. If you have recently lost weight for unknown reasons