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 look at why the lower back can hurt in the side. Lower back pain most often signals that you have:

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

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

Pain in the lower back 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, cold, or diet contribute to kidney disease; It's easy to mistake a torn lower back for kidney problems. However, there are symptoms that are characteristic of this type of disease:

• pain is not related to movements and physical activity;
• body temperature often rises to more than 37. 5 degrees;
• light tapping with the edge of the palm in the area of the kidneys causes severe pain;
• there are problems with urination - often or too rarely, 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 comes to your country house, try to relieve the patient's condition.

What can be done:

• lay the patient down or help him to take a comfortable position;
• if there is a temperature - give an antipyretic;
• give a sick antispasmodic, for example no-shpu;
• monitor pressure, temperature;
• assist if necessary if the person needs to turn.

It is often written that heating compresses or warm baths help with kidney diseases. I remember!

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

All additional 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 life. It should be noted that the pain can be in any part of the back, but most often pain occurs in the lumbar spine. This is due to the fact that the lumbar vertebrae take the maximum load from your body weight.

Low back pain is the second most common reason for a visit to the doctor, 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 intervertebral disc displacement and spinal trauma.

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, 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
• Spinal curvature (scoliosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis, Scheuermann-Mau disease)
• aortic aneurysm
• Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis
• Infections of the spine - 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 different: sharp, dull, pulling, burning, can be accompanied by tingling and goosebumps, tingling. The intensity of pain in the lower back can vary greatly - from mild to unbearable pain that makes it difficult to perform even a small movement. Pain can be combined with hip pain, lower leg pain, foot pain.

For lower back pain, don't start with a spine x-ray.

• Reduce physical activity during the first two days after the onset of the 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 give an intramuscular injection than to drink an anesthetic. This will protect the stomach wall from direct contact with the anti-inflammatory drug. Try to avoid taking too many medications. Do not use hormonal drugs for treatment if the lower back pain is not related to 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 fever, weight loss, involuntary urination and bowel movements, then you should stay active as long as you can. You can reduce your activity only during the first two days after the onset of pain. Start doing light aerobic exercise. Walking on the simulator, swimming will help improve blood flow to the back muscles. Consult your doctor about the choice of exercises so as not to cause an increase in pain.

A characteristic symptom of pancreatitis is lumbar pain that starts under the ribs on the left. 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, just above the waist, is not unusual - they are usually mistaken for anything else, but not a symptom of pancreatitis.

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

• hunger (the patient should not eat before the examination);
• a comfortable position (help the person to take it), calmness and comfort;
• moderate drinking (you can gradually give plain 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

You should see a neurologist first. The doctor will ask you questions about the nature of the 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 the necessary exercises).

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

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 radiation, neurological reflexes. Most people with low back pain recover within 4 to 6 weeks. Diagnostics includes nuclear magnetic resonance (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 to do is an MRI of the lumbar spine.

This examination will also help rule out 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, spondylolisthesis, various types of spinal curvature, spondylosis, and spondylarthrosis.

If your neurologist hasn't ordered an MRI, do it yourself. The power of the MRI machine must be 1 tesla or more. You should not start the diagnosis with X-ray and computer tomography, these methods are dangerous. They can only be done in the first place if a spinal fracture is suspected.

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

If a hernial protrusion, protrusion, diseases of 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 is suspected (gout, rheumatoid arthritis), biochemical, serological tests are indicated.

Pain in the lower back 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 pressed, which is the cause of the pain. Every person over the age of 30 is at risk of osteochondrosis, and recently this diagnosis often occurs in adolescents and very young people.

The main cause of an attack of back pain is lifting weights, 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 pain in the lower back can overtake almost anyone. You will be able to recognize osteochondrosis by the following symptoms:

• pain in the lower back, the pain radiates to the leg;
• pain becomes stronger when moving, changing position, loading;
• 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, perspiration is impaired.

There is no fever in osteochondrosis.

Pain in osteochondrosis can overtake at any time.

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

• woolen belt or woolen scarf on the lumbar region;
• lie down 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 stomach or pancreatic problems can make the situation worse.

What not to do

In no case do not try to "adjust" your back yourself - this can increase the pain and even damage the back.

In case of 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, after which the pain will increase significantly. If such pain bothers you often, you should have 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. The symptoms of neuralgic lumbar pain are similar to the signs of osteochondrosis: the back reacts to movements, the patient is afraid to move. But there are also specific points:

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

Neuralgic pains are difficult to treat, but it is necessary to try to relieve them. Help the patient:

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

With severe neuralgic pain, it is better to hospitalize the patient. Doctors in the hospital use novocaine blocks for neuralgia.

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

A timely visit to the doctor will avoid serious complications of the disease.

Conditions in which you should see a doctor:

1. Lower back pain associated with lower leg pain and leg 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, 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