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 because of expensive medical services; others prefer proven traditional methods.
Self-medication is possible as long as the diagnosis is reliably known. Temporary relief of acute symptoms will not solve the problem and long-term development of the disease will lead to a transition to a chronic form. It is advisable to consult an expert on this subject who can give practical advice.
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, malignancy). In men, low back pain occurs mainly in the context of difficult working conditions and lifting heavy objects.
The most common causes of this problem are:
- stage 2 and 3 obesity;
- excessive sitting position;
- excessive loads during sports activities;
- lifting and transporting weights;
- chondrosis, osteochondrosis, kyphosis;
- unstable psycho-emotional state;
- the influence of air currents, hypothermia.
Identifying the cause of pain is very important, as it is forbidden to start a therapeutic course without a precise diagnosis. Temporary symptom relief will not yield the expected results as the root cause will remain untreated.
Even if symptomatic treatment helps, the lower back pain will continually return.
When to see an expert
Self-treatment at home is possible if the nature of the discomfort remains unchanged, the local area of lesions does not expand, and there are no additional manifestations.
In certain situations, self-medication cannot be performed, but specialist intervention is required. Some examples:
- intense increase in pain;
- the local area of the lesions began to expand or change;
- there is no tenderness in the lower extremities.
With low mobility of the toes, there is a possibility of damage to the spine. Immediate specialist intervention is required.
Home Treatment Methods
A wide range of pharmaceuticals can be used to treat low back pain. The patient is given pain relievers, various gels and ointments, as well as suppositories. However, as it is impossible to buy medications on their own, an error in the choice can lead to an increase in symptomatic manifestations.
A preliminary consultation with a traumatologist or therapist will be required. Medications are prescribed only with the presentation of a restricted specialist. Some potent medications are dispensed from the pharmacy by prescription only, you cannot buy them yourself.
The duration of treatment is 1 to 6 months, depending on the area of the lesion, the intensity of pain manifestations, the frequency of occurrence 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 number of side effects and contraindications, in addition to its ease of use.
When applying ointments, a series of rules must be followed:
- mandatory adherence to the instructions for use;
- it takes a little medicine to rub it on your hand and start rubbing it 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 medication.
There are different groups of ointments for low back pain:
- Chondroprotectors. They help to strengthen articular cartilage, suppressing inflammatory reactions in it.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointments. They are used for any inflammatory reactions, they restore the activity of the musculoskeletal system. Read 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 of the above properties.
Oral and Injectable Medicines
Oral or injectable medications have a similar action to ointments, but they increase side effects and a long list of contraindications. Before starting a course of therapy, you should carefully read the instructions for use.
The following groups are selected for the patient, depending on the nature and duration of the pain:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs. They perfectly relieve pain, help to suppress the inflammatory process in the lower back. Enrollment is only possible after authorization from a specialist.
- Muscle relaxants. This group of drugs helps relieve muscle tension, relieve spasms and suppress painful manifestations. It is important to note that when muscle relaxants are used, drowsiness or increased blood pressure occurs.
- Corticosteroids. Hormonal drugs suppress inflammatory reactions and have an analgesic effect.
- Narcotic pain relievers. Prescribed exclusively by the treating physician in case of uncontrolled pain syndrome or surgical intervention.
- Vitamin B. Promotes normalization of blood circulation, oxygen saturation, restores metabolic processes.
Observation:most drugs have a strong therapeutic effect, before using it is necessary to read the instructions for use.
rectal suppositories
These medications are confidently promoted in the pharmaceutical industry and are actively used for severe back pain for the following reasons:
- dissolve quickly, the application result is felt in 10-15 minutes;
- there is no harmful effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
- minimal side effects.
Fragment
If, due to injuries to the musculoskeletal system, the lower back hurts, how can you treat it at home with a cast? Very simple.
The treatment plates block pain, relieve inflammation, heat the affected area, which allows the patient's condition to be alleviated. Each patch has a unique effect, you need to choose the right remedy to get the result.
Physical exercise
Therapeutic exercises are extremely effective for lower back injuries. It allows you to:
- develop back muscles;
- restore the distance between the vertebrae and release the pinched nerves;
- improve blood circulation;
- suppress the pain.
Observation:Corrective gymnastics cannot be performed for all groups of patients; there is a short list of contraindications. A suitable set of exercises can only be selected by a treatment specialist.
Examples of popular and useful exercises:
You need to exercise alone every day, observing the medical prescriptions. If negative symptoms appear (headache, choking, disorientation in space), it is necessary to stop the exercises urgently.
Massage
Therapeutic massage is most effective for spinal injuries. It is best to carry out the procedure under the supervision of a specialist as an independent approach 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 the massage yourself, 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 to the lymph and soft tissue of the affected area. The molten paraffin heats the entire lower back, the application effect lasts for several hours.
It is problematic to perform this 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 have 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:
- Compresses.It is necessary to perform the procedure only at night so that the patient is physically and mentally relaxed. The gauze should be impregnated with a pre-made composition (medicinal herbs only) and applied to the wound. Spend in this state for at least an hour. As mixing ingredients, you can use radish and horseradish, salt, honey, garlic, mustard.
- Friction.It is only performed at night, the human body must be in a relaxed state. For scrubbing, alcoholic tinctures from a beaver stream, dandelion root, eucalyptus, red pepper, etc. are used. The product should be rubbed well into the affected area, after which the lower back is wrapped in warm fabrics or blankets. You need to spend at least an hour in this state.
- Warming bath.An excellent method to relax not only the affected area, but the entire body. The effect of the procedure can be enhanced with the use of medicinal herbs (mint, powdered mustard). It is necessary to stay in the water until it starts to cool down.
There are other methods of traditional medicine, but the methods above are the simplest to perform, they do not require large expenses of money and theoretical knowledge.
How to provide first aid? Low back pain how to treat at home?
Lower back pain does not always appear gradually. Osteochondrosis and other spinal injuries can occur suddenly, accompanied by severe pain. Light loads, cold air, or heavy lifting - all cause a similar problem.
Sharp pain sensations must be stopped urgently. The manifestations can be so strong that the person loses consciousness. Before providing assistance, it is necessary to bring the patient to their senses with ammonia.
The victim should be placed horizontally on a flat, hard surface. It is prohibited to place a pillow, the spine must be in a straight position. Being in a supine state will reduce the load on the intervertebral discs, spasms and pain will partially disappear.
If you have topical ointments and gels at home, you can treat the affected area. It is desirable that the funds have an anti-inflammatory or analgesic effect, such medications quickly relieve uncomfortable manifestations. After applying the ointment, you should leave the victim alone for 30-40 minutes.
If the medications work, it will be necessary to pull the lower back with a warm cloth to secure it precisely. For continuous acute pain, the patient may receive anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, preferably potent. The pills will take effect after 30-50 minutes, depending on the intensity of the pain.
Important:analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs cannot be abused, in an emergency situation the maximum daily dose is allowed, but no more.
With ongoing pain, even after fulfilling all of the above recommendations, you should call an ambulance.
Back Pain Prevention
Once you know why your lower back hurts how to treat it at home, you need to learn the preventive program. Special corrective measures are useful after a course of therapy and for prophylactic purposes to prevent the development of problems in the lower back.
Helpful hints:
Getting rid of bad habits will also have a beneficial effect on the condition of the lower back. Alcohol disrupts blood circulation and the half-life products of ethanol negatively affect the condition of cartilage and joints.