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 of low back pain

Let's take a look at why the lower back can hurt on the field. Most of the time, back pain indicates that you have:

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

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

Low 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.

Hypothermia, a cold, or diet often contribute to kidney disease; It's easy to confuse a strained 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 above 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 call a doctor. This organ performs too important a function in the body to risk. While the doctor arrives at his country house, he tries to alleviate the patient's condition.

What can be done:

• lay the patient down or help him to a comfortable position;
• in the presence of temperature, administer 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 hot compresses or warm baths will help with kidney diseases. Remember!

If the pain is caused by pyelonephritis, heating will only make the situation worse, as it increases inflammation from heat.

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

Lumbar spine injury is the most common cause of low back pain.

Low back pain occurs in almost everyone at least once in their life. It should be noted that the pain can be in any part of the back, but, nevertheless, pain in the lumbar spine occurs most often. This is due to the fact that the lumbar vertebrae bear the maximum load of your body weight.

Low back pain is the second most common cause of doctor visits, 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 displacement of the intervertebral disc and trauma to the spine.

Conditions that can cause back pain:

• Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
• Intervertebral herniation and intervertebral disc protrusion
• spondyloarthrosis
• spondylosis
• spondylolisthesis
• Osteoporotic compression fracture, multiple 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 Mau disease)
• 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 low back pain.

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

For low back pain, don't start with a spinal x-ray.

• Reduce physical activity in the first two days after the start 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 is completely gone.
• Take pain relievers only if the pain is unbearable. It is better to do an intramuscular injection than to drink an anesthetic drug. This will protect your stomach wall from direct contact with the anti-inflammatory medicine. 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 too long. Bed rest is not recommended! If you don't have a fever, weight loss, involuntary urination, or bowel movements, you should stay active 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 back muscles. Consult your doctor for exercise selection so as not to cause increased pain.

A characteristic symptom of pancreatitis is pain in the waist, which begins below the ribs on the left side. It then 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 often mistaken for anything but a symptom of pancreatitis.

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

• hunger (the patient should not eat before the examination);
• comfortable position (help the person to take it), peace and comfort;
• moderate drink (you can gradually give ordinary water);
• control of conditions (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 start 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 in 4 to 6 weeks. Diagnosis includes magnetic resonance imaging (eng.

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

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

If your neurologist hasn't ordered an MRI, then do it yourself. The power of the MRI machine must be 1 tesla or more. You should not start the diagnosis with an X-ray and CT scan, these methods are not safe. They may 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, the data of the anamnesis 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, an MRI, CT scan and ultrasound are performed. These studies allow detecting the location of the pathology, to assess the degree of the inflammatory process.

It is mandatory to carry out general clinical analyzes of blood and urine. If systemic disease (gout, rheumatoid arthritis) is suspected, biochemical and serologic studies are indicated.

Low back pain due to osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disease of the articular cartilage that connects the vertebrae. Due to its pathology, the roots of the spinal cord are pinched, which is the cause of pain. Anyone over 30 years of age is at risk of 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 awkward position (for example, weeding or gardening). The development of osteochondrosis is also provoked by long car trips, when a person is constantly sitting.

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

• lower back hurts, pain radiates to the leg;
• the pain becomes stronger with movement, change of position, load;
• can be disturbed by burning or stabbing 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 overcome at any time.

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

• woolen belt or woolen scarf in the lumbar region;
• lying on a hard surface: board, table, hard mattress;
• take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• local anti-inflammatory ointments.

If you are not sure of 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 "adjust" your back on your own; this can increase pain and even damage your back.

With exacerbation of osteochondrosis, warm-up procedures are not recommended. In no case should you take a hot bath or steam in the bathroom. After heating, a person will feel temporary relief, then the pain will increase significantly. If that pain bothers you frequently, you should have an MRI (image of the lumbar spine) and see 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, even bed rest, for a while longer.

How to relieve pain if it is neuralgia

Neuralgia is inflammation of a nerve. Symptoms of neuralgic low back 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 "shaking", it can subside and appear suddenly even at rest;
• skin color and sweating may change, tremors occur in the muscles;
• if you press on the back, the pain is on both sides of the spine.

It is difficult to cure neuralgic pain, but it is necessary to try to relieve it. Help the sick person:

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

With severe neuralgic pain, the patient is better off hospitalized. Hospital doctors use novocaine locks for neuralgia.

Remember! The use of medications without medical advice and examination can put your health at risk.

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

Conditions where 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 lower back pain with numbness in the buttock, thigh, leg, foot, and 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