Pain in the lumbar spine is considered a common occurrence and the reasons for their occurrence may be different. Often such a symptom occurs due to hypothermia, pathology of internal organs and degenerative changes in the spine. In women, lower back pain can be caused by different physiological characteristics of the body and pregnancy. Elimination of such an unpleasant phenomenon can be carried out with the help of medicines and folk remedies. To find out why your lower back hurts and how to treat it at home, you can consult a specialist after a thorough examination.
Because my lower back hurts
Primary discomfort and pain in the lumbar region are most often caused by degenerative-dystrophic changes affecting the intervertebral discs and joints. Over time, the pathological process spreads to the vertebrae and adjacent tissues. The result is back pain and the development of pathologies such as osteochondrosis, spondylarthrosis and spondylosis.
Such diseases progress rather slowly and eventually become chronic. With the development of any complications, the patient is worried about acute pain, and this condition requires mandatory treatment.
Secondary pain in the lumbar zone can be caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system and pathologies of other organs.
Experts identify some provoking factors, under the influence of which pain in the lower spine can occur:
- congenital and acquired musculoskeletal lesions;
- systemic and rheumatic diseases;
- problems with metabolic processes in the body and pathology of the endocrine system;
- malignant tumors of the spine and adjacent tissues;
- inflammation of the lumbar muscles;
- spinal injuries and injuries;
- gynecological diseases in women;
- urinary tract pathology.
The cause of pain in men in the lower spine can be prostatitis and increased physical exertion on the body.
How to treat lower back at home
Many people who suffer from spinal pathologies occasionally experience attacks of lower back pain. They usually appear completely unexpectedly, so it is important to be able to provide medical care in a timely manner.
In case of lower back pain, it is necessary to lie on a hard and flat surface, and this should be done slowly and carefully. It is possible to reduce the load on the spine and eliminate the discomfort if you are lying on your side.
When the pain subsides, it is recommended to turn on your back, which will allow the muscles to relax. It is best to place the lower limbs on a raised platform at an angle of 90 degrees and stay in that position for about 15 minutes. This position helps the back muscles to relax and straighten the spine.
After eliminating the pain syndrome in the lower back, it is necessary to get up properly to prevent its recurrence. To do this, turn to the side, stand on all fours and use any support. Only after that, you are allowed to get to your feet, and bend your back only at the end.
After providing first aid to the patient, it is important to wrap the lower back tightly with a tissue and repair it. In addition, in home treatment it is allowed to take drugs with analgesic action and visit a doctor who will prescribe the necessary treatment.
Medical therapy
Various medications can be used to relieve back pain, but they are chosen only by a doctor. Treatment can be carried out with the following drugs:
- Painkillers. Such medications are good for relieving acute attacks of low back pain, but their excessive use can cause side effects. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to eliminate the pathology;
- Narcotic drugs. Drugs of this group may be used for a short time under the supervision of a specialist;
- Antidepressants. Doses of these drugs vary in small amounts, and with their help it is possible to alleviate some types of chronic back pain. Basically, tricyclic antidepressants are used to eliminate pathology;
- Topical painkillers. Such drugs are available in the form of ointments, creams or gels, which must be rubbed directly into the painful area.
- Muscle relaxers. In case the pain cannot be resolved with the help of over-the-counter pain medications, then a muscle relaxant is prescribed. Taking these medications may be accompanied by the development of side effects such as drowsiness and dizziness.
In case all the above measures do not bring relief to the patient, then doctors may prescribe the use of a drug such as cortisol. The anti-inflammatory drug is given as an injection into the area around the spinal cord. With its help, it is possible to minimize inflammation around the nerve roots, but it can take several months to completely eliminate the pain syndrome.
When nerve entrapment occurs in the lumbar region, and the pain spreads to the leg, treatment should be carried out with B vitamins. Thanks to them, it is possible to strengthen and restore those areas where the nerve tissue is affected.
It is important to remember that any medication should be agreed with a specialist, and only he will be able to answer the patient how to cure the lower back.
Physiotherapy
Exercise therapy for back pain should combine the following types of exercises:
- Stretching. Proper muscle stretching combined with active exercise helps maintain normal activity of muscles suffering from cramps or atrophy. Patients who experience pain in the lumbar region should concentrate on stretching the muscles of the lower back, abdomen, legs and hips. Yoga is considered a good preventative measure, which relaxes muscles and keeps them in good shape;
- dynamic exercises. Such exercises can be performed with the help of special balls, and their main purpose is to strengthen the secondary muscles of the spine and maintain them in different ranges of movement.
Physiotherapy exercises are recommended to be supplemented by swimming, cycling and brisk walking. They have a positive effect on muscle stagnation and improve the general condition of the body.
Massage
At home, you can massage and use oregano, juniper, sage, lavender and other types of oil. When performing such a procedure, the following order should be followed:
- Warm your back for 2-3 minutes by stroking your palms;
- rub the skin with oil on the upper phalanx of the thumb or the base of the palm in a slow circular motion upwards;
- tense back muscles are kneaded with two hands: one comes under pressure and the other relaxes, gently stroking.
As an ambulance for back pain, self-massage is suitable, for which you should squeeze your left or right hand into a fist and start drawing spirals in the area of discomfort. All movements should be smooth and precise, and strong pressure should be avoided. Such self-massage on the painful place is allowed to be performed several times a day.
Physiotherapy
Once it was possible to stop the back pain syndrome, it was allowed to engage in therapeutic exercises and gymnastics. It is important to remember that it is forbidden to use it during exacerbations. To achieve a lasting positive effect, you need to exercise every day.
The physiotherapist should choose a set of exercises, taking into account the characteristics of the patient's condition. When performed properly, the exercises help strengthen the back muscles and relieve pain. During the exercise, it is necessary to monitor the absence of pain, and if there is a pronounced discomfort, it is necessary to reduce the range of motion.
Folk remedies
It is possible to alleviate the well-being with back pain with the help of alternative methods of treatment, but it is recommended to consult a specialist before using them.
Therapeutic compresses
To eliminate back pain and restore good health, you can use the following dressing recipes at home:
- It is necessary to mix vinegar and honey in equal quantities, and spread the cabbage leaf with such a mixture. Such a compress should be applied to the lower back from above and wrapped in a warm scarf or shawl. It is recommended that such a procedure be performed several times a day for half an hour;
- You can grate radish or horseradish and mix the resulting mass with sour cream in a ratio of 1: 1. Such a drug must be applied to the back and covered with a warm scarf. The duration of one procedure is 1-1, 5 hours and usually after the expiration of the time, the pain syndrome completely disappears;
- It is necessary to grind raw potatoes and horseradish graters in equal proportions and mix with 5-10 ml of honey. The resulting mixture should be applied to a sore back, and the procedure takes 1-1, 5 hours.
A good effect in the fight against pain is given by the bow, which can be applied all night on the lower back and wrapped in a warm cloth, after grinding it in a blender. You can dissolve mustard powder in water until a mass of homogeneous consistency is formed and apply on the back for 5 minutes. Folk healers say that after removing such a wrap you will certainly feel better.
Rubbing
Quick removal of pain is facilitated by such a method as rubbing, which can not only increase blood flow in the affected area, but also improve metabolic processes. This procedure is best performed at bedtime using the following means:
- warm honey;
- a mixture of iodine, valerian, triple cologne and ground red pepper;
- alcoholic tincture of eucalyptus, adam's root or burdock.
A good effect in relieving pain in the lower back gives a mixture prepared from 10 grams of leaves and flowers of tansy, and a glass of boiling water. This mixture must be infused in a thermos for an hour, then strain and mix with 5 grams of soda. With the help of medicine, daily rubbing should be done before bed for a few days.
Infusions for internal use
It is possible to deal with the pathology with the help of means intended for internal use. At home, you can use the following recipes for lower back pain:
- It is necessary to grind the kerosene root and pour a mass of 500 ml of vodka. The resulting mixture should be left to stand for 1 month, after which it should be taken several times a day for 1 tbsp. l;
- You can pre-cook 10 basil leaves in water to evaporate all the liquid. After that, the painkiller must be cooled and a little soda added to it. The resulting mixture should be taken orally several times a day;
- Soak a little wheat in water and leave this mass overnight. In the morning, it is necessary to add coriander, then boil the mixture in 200 ml of milk. It is recommended to take such medicine twice a day until the pain syndrome is completely eliminated.
A proven and effective folk remedy for back pain is the wine from elecampane, for the preparation of which 100 grams of yeast are mixed with a liter of honey and 30 grams of crushed root. The resulting mixture is placed in a three-liter jar, add a little water and put a pierced rubber glove on the neck. After 30 days, place the dish in the refrigerator and drink ½ cups in the morning and at bedtime.
Preventive measures
Pain therapy at home is allowed both in the chronic course of the pathology and to alleviate the acute attack. This therapy is suitable for both young and elderly patients.
To prevent back pain, it is recommended to actively move and perform exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles of the spine and lumbar zone. Simultaneously with the current treatment, it is necessary to strengthen the muscles of the peritoneum, as well as exercise regularly in the pool and pump the press.
Women should refrain from wearing shoes with high heels and platforms, which will reduce the load on the spine and lower back. It is necessary to sleep on a firm orthopedic mattress, because such a measure helps to completely relax the spine and avoid spinal pathologies.