The back pain, tension and stiffness in the lumbar — common problems, with which sooner or later is faced with most people.
Often the back pain, as well as the lumbar part of the spine has greater mobility and takes upon himself the weight of the upper half of the body. Pain in the lumbar region has a separate name — low back pain, if she gives in to the leg — sciatica. Less pain occur and within the department of the back. If the pain is severe and apply (it) to the side or hand, is called "back pain" or "sciatica". This type of pain is usually associated with compression of the nerve.
The pain in the back and lower part of the back pain may appear suddenly after lifting weights, if hard to turn. Sometimes unpleasant sensation of back pain develop gradually long-term load or a poor posture. Rarely the cause of the pain cannot be established. The pain may worsen during the night, when load or after a long stay in an uncomfortable position, for example, after a long trip in the car. Often, the pain goes away in the supine position on a hard, flat surface.
In most cases, the back pain in a matter of a few days or weeks, and then health is improved, and the mobility is completely restored. To speed up the recovery, help for pain and a certain way of physical activity: the peace only in the first 1-2 days of very intense pain, and then the gradual return to an active life. However, in some cases, back pain or back pain in the long term, more than 6 weeks. Then talk about the development of chronic pain in the back and prescribe an additional treatment.
An important role to play in your state of mind. Because of the pain can be hard to maintain a good mood, but as studies show a positive effect on people, they tend to recover more quickly, than those who live in depression.
Causes of back pain
The health of the back depends on the coordinated work of a complex mechanism of bones, muscles, nerves and joints. Often determine with precision the cause of the pain can be difficult. Fortunately, serious illness, or an injury to the back are rare. Often the back pain or back pain occurs as a consequence of lung injury, muscle over-voltage, stretching of muscles and ligaments, the violation and the inflammation of the nerves. Unpleasant sensation of back pain can appear suddenly or develop gradually, growing. Possible causes of back pain, and the life:
- awkward motion: the tilt or rotation of a body;
- lifting or moving heavy objects, along the slopes of the trunk;
- poor posture when walking or sitting;
- excessive stretching of the muscles of the back;
- the long seat behind the wheel without stopping.
Sometimes the back starts to disease without apparent reason, for example, in the morning, after sleep.
Risk factors for back pain
Some risk factors increase the likelihood of back pain or lower back pain:
- Overweight — on the vertebral column, weighs an additional burden. To understand if your weight is normal, calculate the body mass index.
- Smoking can cause damage to the tissues in the back, and smoking, usually, unless they lead a healthy lifestyle.
- Pregnancy — the backbone of a woman is subjected to a load which increases with the increase in the volume of the abdomen.
- Long-term intake of drugs that reduce the density of the bones, such as corticosteroids.
- The constant stress believes that the emotion causes tension in the muscles of the back and neck, which can cause pain.
The disease, which can cause pain in the back, and the life:
- Low back pain and its complications, for example, the hernia spine — degenerative diseases, in which are destroyed the intervertebral cartilage, which leads to the appearance of headaches. These diseases often develop with age, especially in those people who are experiencing the greatest load on the back.
- Stretching of the ligaments and of the muscles — often after excessive physical exertion or awkward movement.
- Different types of inflammatory arthritis of the joints. In this case, in addition to the pain, celebrates morning stiffness of the joints, disorders of motility.
- Kidney disease, for example, pyelonephritis can cause back pain.
There are also more dangerous, but very rare causes of back pain. For example, cancer, tuberculosis of the spine, aneurysm of the aorta (the stratification of the walls of a blood vessel), etc. they are All commonly diagnosed in the course of a medical examination.
The diagnosis of back pain and lower back
With the back pain and lower back it is often possible to manage the house with the help of drugs, which are sold in pharmacies without a prescription. The treatment in the hospital usually is not needed. If the pain is severe, contact a physician and therapist. If the pain does not give you full movement, you can call a doctor at home.
During the exam, the doctor will ask you to sit, stand, walk, lift alternating legs, and will also control the amplitude of the movement of the back. He can ask of pathologies, diseases, or lesions, on your life style and the nature of the work, but also:
- When started the pain?
- Where does it hurt?
- I had discomfort in the back in the past?
- Can you describe the pain?
- From which the pain intensifies or goes?
In the course of the investigation and inspection the doctor will try to exclude the probability of infectious disease and fracture, although they are very rare. In the case of a controversial diagnosis, you can direct additional research: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or x-ray of the spine. To rule out kidney disease, the doctor prescribes analysis of the urine.
In most cases, the pain in the back you can rent for a couple of days. If the treatment does not work, the back pain lasts more than 6 weeks (the so-called chronic back pain), or the cause of the discomfort is a serious disease, the therapist will refer you to a specialist. Often the treatment of back pain or low back pain, you care of a neurologist. In addition, the processing can connect to these doctors, as osteopath, reflexology, chiropractor.
Treatment of back and lumbar
Treatment for back pain may depend on its duration and severity, and also by your personal preferences and needs. Often, the pain can be removed with the help of prescription medications and home treatment.
Motor mode. In previous years it was thought that with the sore back in need of a rest. Today, recognized that people who first start to run, faster to cope with the pain in the back and lower back. Full of peace and bed rest is shown only for 1-2 days in the acute phase, when pain is extremely express and does not move. With this, you may want to be tight and a flat surface. As only been slightly improved, it is necessary to return gradually to a mobile style of life, expanding the range of motion a little each day.
Little by little you will be able to move around the house or go shopping. You'll have to deal with a certain discomfort and learn to avoid anything that causes a sharp pain. A few days later you can return to work, without waiting for the time when the back pain or back will take place (unless, of course, your job is not related to excessive loads on the spine). The early activation will help you to return to your normal routine the day and distract myself from the pain.
Painkillers. These medicines to relieve pain, inflammation and swelling. Depending on the severity of the wellness, your doctor may prescribe these drugs in the injectable form, tablets or external media — ointments from back pain. Usually the treatment is started with the bites. Once the pain subsides, the introduction of drugs stop, if necessary, take pills or use creams. These funds are a number of contraindications, so before taking consult with your doctor and details, read the instructions. Pills of pain killers is best to take after meals, drink their milk.
Muscle relaxants is of medicines, which relieve the spasm of the skeletal muscle, to relax the muscles. Their prescribed in these cases, when excessive tension of the muscles of the spine increases the pain, which, for example, it is possible exacerbation of the degenerative disc disease or herniated disc. Muscle relaxants also have a range of actions, side effects, many of them can not take the guide. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
The treatment with the heat and the cold. Some relieve the pain it helps to heat, for example, the hot tub or hot water bottle on the affected area. Also relieve the state can and cold, for example, if you attach to the back ice or a package of frozen vegetables. Do not apply ice directly on the skin, as this can cause frostbite. Wrap it in a wet towel, and attach to the affected area. It is also possible to alternate the treatment with the heat and the cold, by applying alternatively ice and a hot plate.
Laying to sleep. The change of the posture of sleep can relieve tension with the back and relieve the pain. If you sleep on your side, slightly tighten the legs to the chest and put a pillow in between the legs. If you have the back-to-back, put a pillow under the knees to maintain the natural curve of the spine in the lumbar region.
Relaxation is an extremely important component of fight with the pain, as well as if you are strongly worry, this will cause muscle tension, which can aggravate the pain. As studies show a positive effect on people usually heal more quickly. The pain is in the long, chronic. There are various relaxation techniques. As a general rule, we recommend that you master the breathing exercises, but also of simple exercises, with the flow alternating tension and relaxation of different muscles of the body.
Exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Try to eliminate the cause of pain in the back, to prevent its return in the future. The most common causes of back pain — being overweight, poor posture and stress. Regular exercise and an active lifestyle to help your back to be strong and healthy. Very often people prefer walking, swimming and yoga. The most important thing — choose the one you like and it does not cause pain. Sometimes the lessons are held in groups under the guidance of a qualified instructor. Usually during the lessons are performed exercises to strengthen the muscles and improve the posture, but also of aerobic exercises and stretching exercises.
The treatment of chronic back pain
If the back pain lasts more than 6 weeks (the so-called chronic back pain), in addition to pain medications and muscle relaxants are used, as described below, the methods to fight the pain. These treatments can help those with back pain prevents you from performing the usual things and worrying.
The chiropractic place, a chiropractor or an osteopath, and includes a variety of techniques, including manipulation, mobilisation and massage.
The Alexander technique — allows you to remove excess muscle tension, to teach the correct way to sit or stand, how to rationally move. You will learn to maintain body balance and posture.
Acupuncture (acupuncture) — an ancient method of treatment in which various parts of the body injected with thin needles. This helps to relieve the pain in the back and lower back.
Antidepressants are assigned for the chronic pain in the back in cases, when pain medications and other methods do not work. Often recommended intake of tricyclic antidepressants, e.g. amitriptyline in a small dose. These drugs were initially developed for the treatment of depression, but have been shown to be effective for the treatment of some types of pain.
Psychotherapy can have an effect on back pain and lower back even in those cases, when other methods are powerless. The back pain is very real, but that, like the strokes, and how to think of it, may aggravate or mitigate. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) will help you relieve the pain in the back, due to a change of attitude towards her. Studies show that people who have passed the course of psychotherapy, less experience of pain. The motivation to lead an active lifestyle, regularly perform physical exercises, which, in turn, reduces the intensity of the pain.
Surgery is usually indicated only in cases, when all other treatment methods have not given result. To request the intervention of the appeal, only when the back pain is so strong or constant, which robs you of sleep and rest. Type of operation will depend on the type of pain and its causes.
For example, when a herniated spine, prescribe a special procedure. Today, surgeons can do the operation through a small incision, using tools for microsurgery. These transactions are considered a little traumatic. For more information, read the section "Treatment of hernia of the spinal column".
Spinal fusion is complex and less of a common operation. Its results do not always meet the expectations. For example, after surgery, you can still partially feel the pain. Spinal fusion with a consequent reduction in the motility of the spine, as well as during the operation of a pair of vertebrae, causing pain, immobile and bind to one another through the implant between them, with live bone tissue. After healing, the vertebrae firmly fused together, and then when you drive more, will not infringe the nerves located in the vicinity. This weakens the pain syndrome. Before accepting the intervention, it is necessary to discuss in detail all of the risks and benefits with a neurosurgeon.