Few know what to do if the lower back hurts badly, how to treat the problem area at home. Most people are reluctant to see a doctor because of expensive medical services, while others prefer traditional, proven methods.
Self-medication is possible provided the diagnosis is reliably known. Temporary alleviation of acute symptoms does not solve the problem, and the long-term development of the disease triggers a transition to a chronic form. It is advisable to consult a professional on this topic who can give practical recommendations.
Causes of back pain
Both chronic illness and an accidental event can cause pain in the lower back. A similar problem in women is the complication of gynecological diseases (fibroids, adnexitis, malignancy). In men, low back pain occurs primarily with heavy working conditions and lifting heavy objects.
The most common causes of this problem are:
- stages 2 and 3 of obesity;
- excessive sitting position;
- overload during sports activities;
- lifting and carrying weights;
- chondrosis, osteochondrosis, kyphosis;
- unstable psycho-emotional state;
- effect of drafts, hypothermia.
It is very important to identify the cause of the pain as it is forbidden to start a course of therapy without an accurate diagnosis. Temporary relief of symptoms does not bring the expected result because the underlying cause remains untreated.
Even if symptomatic treatment helps, the lower back pain keeps coming back.
When to see a professional
Self-care at home is possible if the nature of the discomfort remains unchanged, the local area of injury does not expand, and there are no further manifestations.
In some cases, self-medication may not be possible, but specialist intervention is required. Some example:
- intense increase in pain;
- the local area of injury began to expand or shift;
- there is no sensitivity in the lower extremities.
With low mobility of the toes, there is a possibility of spinal cord damage. Immediate specialist intervention is required.
Home treatment methods
A huge range of pharmaceutical products can be used to treat low back pain. The patient is offered painkillers, various gels and ointments, and suppositories. But it is impossible to buy medicines on your own, a mistake of choice can lead to an increase in symptomatic manifestations.
Prior consultation with a traumatologist or therapist will be required. Medications are only prescribed with the prior administration of a narrow profile specialist. Some strong medicines in the pharmacy are only available by prescription, you cannot buy them yourself.
The duration of treatment is 1-6 months, depending on the area of the injury, the intensity of the manifestations of pain, and the frequency of unpleasant symptoms. The therapeutic course must be completed, otherwise the pain will return after a short time.
Ointments and gels
Ointments or gels are always prescribed for back pain, regardless of the cause. These agents act locally, suppressing discomfort and facilitating movement.
The advantages of this method are the minimum number of side effects and contraindications and the ease of use.
There are a number of rules to follow when applying ointments:
- mandatory adherence to the instructions for use;
- a little medicine is needed to squeeze your hands and start rubbing your lower back, it is necessary to apply the ointment once a day, preferably before going to bed;
- if side effects occur, the drug should be discontinued.
There are different groups of ointments to treat lower back pain:
- Chondroprotectors. They help strengthen articular cartilage, suppress inflammatory reactions in it.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointments. They are used for any inflammatory reaction, restoring the activity of the musculoskeletal system. Read the contraindications before use.
- Analgesics. It is mainly used for acute forms of pain, helping to transmit severe symptoms.
There is also a combined ointment group that combines the above properties.
Oral and injectable drugs
Oral medications or injectable medications have similar effects to ointments, but have increased side effects and a large list of contraindications. Read the instructions for use carefully before starting the therapy course.
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 suppress the inflammatory process in the lower back. You can only apply with the permission of a specialist.
- Muscle relaxants. This group of drugs helps relieve muscle tension, relieve cramps and suppress painful manifestations. It is worth noting that the use of muscle relaxants causes drowsiness or an increase in blood pressure.
- Corticosteroids. Hormonal drugs suppress inflammatory reactions and have analgesic effects.
- Narcotic painkillers. It should only be prescribed by your doctor in case of uncontrolled pain syndrome or surgery.
- Vitamin B Promotes normalization of blood circulation, oxygen saturation, restores metabolic processes.
Note:most drugs have a strong therapeutic effect, read the package leaflet before use.
Rectal suppositories
These drugs are confidently promoted in the pharmaceutical industry and are actively used for severe back pain for the following reasons:
- dissolves rapidly, the result of application can be felt in 10-15 minutes;
- no adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract;
- minimal side effects.
Patch
If the lower back hurts due to changes in the musculoskeletal system, how to treat at home with plaster? It's very simple.
Treatment panels block pain, relieve inflammation, and warm the affected area, allowing the patient’s condition to be relieved. Each patch has a unique effect, you need to choose the right treatment to achieve the result.
Exercise
Therapeutic practices are extremely effective for lumbar lesions. Allows:
- back muscle development;
- restore the distance between the vertebrae and release the pinched nerves;
- improves blood circulation;
- suppresses pain.
Note:Physiotherapy cannot be performed in all patient groups; there is a strict list of contraindications. The appropriate set of exercises can only be selected by your doctor.
Examples of popular and useful practices:
- "Cat". The patient should stand on all fours and bend the spine and then bend in the opposite direction. Repeat the exercise 3-4 times, the duration of the job is 5-7 seconds.
- Twisting. The person should be in a horizontal position on a hard, flat surface. Bend your knees, start rotating your legs to the right, your body to the left. Perform 5-6 repetitions, then switch pages.
You have to exercise yourself every day, following medical regulations. If negative symptoms occur (headache, vomiting, misorientation), exercise should be stopped urgently.
Massage
Therapeutic massage is most effective for spinal lesions. It is better to carry out the procedure under the supervision of a specialist, self-handling can have a number of consequences due to incorrect movements.
Massage is prohibited in the following patient groups:
- malignant cancer patients;
- patients with active tuberculosis;
- women in any trimester of pregnancy;
- people with high blood pressure or arrhythmia;
- patients with skin lesions.
If you are performing massage on your own, without the services of an experienced professional, you must first obtain a list of your doctor’s rules for the correct procedure.
Paraffin therapy
Intense pain syndrome is well removed with paraffin. The procedure improves blood circulation in the lymph and soft tissues of the affected area. Molten paraffin warms the lower back, the effect of application lasts for several hours.
It is difficult to perform such a 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 medications have failed. But it is not worth abusing such methods without medical advice, otherwise it can cause irreparable damage to the musculoskeletal system.
The most common methods are:
- Compresses.The procedure only needs to be performed in the evening to allow the patient to relax physically and mentally. The gauze should be impregnated with a pre-prepared preparation (herbs only) and applied to the sore spot. Spend at least an hour in this state. As a component of the mixture you can use radish and horseradish, salt, honey, garlic, mustard.
- Rubbing.We only do it in the evening, the human body needs to be at rest. Alcoholic tinctures of beaver, dandelion root, eucalyptus, red pepper, etc. are used for rubbing. The product should be rubbed thoroughly into the affected area and the lower back should be wrapped in a warm cloth or blanket. You must spend at least an hour in this state.
- Warming bath.An excellent method to relax not only the affected area but the whole body. The effect of the method can be enhanced by using herbs (mint, mustard powder). It is necessary to stay in the water until it starts to cool down.
There are other methods of traditional medicine, but the above methods are the simplest, do not require high cash costs and theoretical knowledge.
How to provide first aid? How to treat lower back pain at home?
The pain in the lower back does not always appear gradually. Osteochondrosis and other changes in the spine can cause sudden, severe pain. Light load, cold air or heavy lifting - all cause a similar problem.
Acute pain should be stopped urgently. Manifestations can be so strong that a person loses consciousness. Before giving help, you need to make the patient aware with ammonia.
The victim should be placed horizontally on a hard, flat surface. It is forbidden to put a pillow, the spine must be in a straight position. When lying down, the load on the intervertebral discs is reduced, and the cramps and pain partially fade.
If you have ointments and gels at home, you can treat the affected area. It is desirable for the funds to have anti-inflammatory or analgesic effects, such drugs rapidly alleviating unpleasant manifestations. You should leave the victim alone for 30-40 minutes after applying the ointment.
If the medication is effective, the lower back should be tightened with a warm cloth to secure it tightly. In case of persistent acute pain, the patient may be given anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, preferably strong. The tablets take effect after 30-50 minutes, depending on the intensity of the pain.
Important:painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs cannot be abused, in an emergency the maximum daily dose is allowed, but no more.
With constant pain, even after implementing the above recommendations, you should call an ambulance.
Prevention of back pain
Once you find out why your lower back hurts, how to treat it at home, you need to learn a prevention program. Special corrective measures are useful both after a course of therapy and for prophylactic purposes to prevent the development of waist problems.
Useful tips:
- Change your diet. Try to exclude junk and greasy foods from the menu, minimizing the consumption of such foods. The diet should be dominated by fortified and healthy foods that saturate the body with the necessary trace elements.
- Check your weight. Stages 2 and 3 of obesity place a huge burden not only on the internal organs but also on the spine. Overweight causes displacement and deformation of the intervertebral discs, damage to the cartilage.
- More activities. In addition to a sedentary lifestyle (such as working in the office), you should do daily warm-ups and walks.
- Reduce spinal stress. Lifting and carrying weights without good reason is not recommended. Even a small load can deform the spine.
Getting rid of bad habits will also have a beneficial effect on the condition of your lower back. Alcohol disrupts blood circulation and the half-life of ethanol negatively affects the condition of cartilage and joints.