What to do at home to relieve 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 take a look at why the lower back can hurt in the water. Usually, low back pain signals that you have:

  • osteonecrosis and neuralgia;
  • kidney disease;
  • pancreatitis in the acute phase.

Let's look in more detail at each possible reason.

Lower back pain can occur with different kidney diseases:

  • glomerulonephritis - non-infectious kidney damage;
  • nephritis - purulent inflammation in the renal pelvis;
  • the formation and migration of stones in the kidneys and ureters.

Often, hypothermia, cold or diet contribute to kidney disease; It is easy to confuse a torn lower back with kidney problems. However, there are characteristic symptoms of this type of disease:

  • pain unrelated to movement and physical activity;
  • body temperature regularly rises to more than 37. 5 degrees;
  • taping with the edge of the palm of the hand to the kidney area causes severe pain;
  • have problems urinating - often or very rarely, pain;
  • urine becomes cloudy and discolored.

When a person has kidney problems, the first thing to do is to call a doctor. This organ performs such an important function in the body that it is at risk of disease. While the doctor comes to your home, try to ease the patient's condition.

What can be done:

  • lay the patient down or help them get into a comfortable position;
  • in temperature conditions - antipyretic;
  • give a sick antispasmodic, for example, no-shpu;
  • monitor pressure, temperature;
  • provide assistance if needed if the person needs to turn around.

It is often written that a warm compress or a warm bath will help cure kidney diseases. Remember!

If the pain is caused by pyelonephritis, applying warm compresses will only make the situation worse, as the heat-induced inflammation increases.

All further measures can be prescribed by a doctor after a professional examination.

Lumbar spine injury is the most common cause of low back pain.

Low back pain occurs in most people at least once in their life. It should be noted that pain can be in any part of the back, however, pain in the lumbar spine occurs most often. 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 cause of doctor visits, right after a viral infection. 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 usually due to disc misalignment and spinal trauma.

Conditions that can cause back pain:

  • Lumbar spine tumor
  • Disc herniation and disc protrusion
  • Spondylolisthesis disease
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Degenerative spine
  • Compression fracture due to osteoporosis, multiple myeloma, vertebral hemangioma
  • Tumor in the lumen of the spinal canal

    Lumbar vertebrae in tuberculosis is a rare cause of low back pain.

  • Spinal fracture after trauma
  • Prolonged muscle tension
  • Anatomically narrow spinal canal
  • Curvature of the spine (scoliosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis, Scheuermann Mau disease)
  • aortic aneurysm
  • Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis
  • Infections of the spine - osteomyelitis, arthritis, tuberculosis of the spine
  • Pyelonephritis, urolithiasis
  • Complicated 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 varied: sharp, dull, pulling, burning, can be accompanied by tingling and goosebumps, numbness. The intensity of low back pain can vary dramatically - from mild to unbearable, making it difficult to make even the slightest movement. Pain may be associated with pain in the thigh, pain in the lower leg, pain in the foot.

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

  • Reduce physical activity for the first two days after the onset of the attack. This will help reduce the symptoms of the disease and swelling in the painful area.
  • Do not sit forward until the pain has subsided.
  • Take painkillers only if the pain is unbearable. Intramuscular injection is better than oral anesthetic. This will protect your stomach wall from direct contact with the anti-inflammatory medication. Try to avoid taking too much medication. Do not use hormonal drugs for treatment if low back pain is not related to 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 that you should limit physical activity for a long time. Rest in bed is not recommended! If you don't have a fever, weight loss, urinary incontinence, and bowel movements, you should be active for as long as possible. You may be able to reduce your activity for only the first two days after the onset of pain. Start doing some light aerobic exercise. Simulated walking, swimming will help improve blood flow to the muscles in the back. Consult with your doctor to choose exercises that do not increase pain.

A characteristic symptom of pancreatitis is low back pain, which begins below the left rib cage. It then spreads to the stomach and back, forming a ring. Pain in the navel area can also be a sign of pancreatitis. In atypical forms of the disease, pain in the back, slightly above the waist, is not uncommon - they are often mistaken for anything but a symptom of pancreatitis.

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

  • hungry (patients are not allowed to eat before examination);
  • comfortable position (helps the person take it), peace and comfort;
  • moderate drinking (can give water gradually);
  • condition control (do not leave patient alone).

There are positions on the body that help relieve pain: the knee-elbow position and the fetal position.

Diagnostic method

First you need to see a neurologist. Your doctor will ask you questions about the nature of your pain, its frequency, and its recurrence. The doctor will try to determine the cause of the pain and begin treatment with simple methods (ice, mild pain medication, physical therapy, and necessary exercises).

An MRI scan in 95% of cases will identify the real cause of back pain.

In most cases, these treatments help relieve back pain. During the examination, the doctor will determine the exact location of the pain, its degree of irradiation, nerve reflexes. Most people with low back pain recover within 4 to 6 weeks. Diagnosis includes magnetic resonance imaging (eng.

MRI) lumbar spine, lumbar spine computed tomography, spine X-ray. Since the most common cause of low back pain is a herniated disc in the lumbar spine, the first thing you need to do is get an MRI of the lumbar spine.

This study will also help rule out most causes of pain, such as an intraluminal tumor, spinal tuberculosis, spinal fracture, multiple myeloma, anatomical narrowing of the spinal canal, spina bifida. , various forms of curvature of the spine, spondylolisthesis and degenerative spondylosis.

If your neurologist hasn't ordered you to have an MRI, do it yourself. The capacity of the MRI machine must be 1 Tesla or more. You should not start the diagnosis with X-rays and computed tomography, which are not safe. They can only be done in the first place if a spinal fracture is suspected.

Diagnosis is made on the basis of patient complaints, physical examination, medical history data, and results of instrumental and biochemical studies. The most informative in the detection of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system is radiography. The resulting images clearly show deformed vertebral bodies and a reduction in the distance between them, as well as the growth of bone formation (osteoblasts).

If cranial protrusion, eye protrusion, internal diseases are suspected, MRI, CT, and ultrasound are performed. These studies make it possible to detect the localization of the pathology, to assess the extent of the inflammatory process.

General clinical blood and urine tests are required. If systemic disease is suspected (gout, rheumatoid arthritis), biochemical and serological studies are indicated.

Lower back pain due to bone necrosis

Osteoma is a disease of the cartilage that connects the vertebrae. Due to their pathology, the roots of the spinal cord are compressed, which is the cause of the pain. Anyone over the age of 30 is at risk for osteonecrosis, and recently this diagnosis has been more commonly found in adolescents and the very young.

The main cause of back pain is heavy lifting, working for a long time in an uncomfortable position (eg weeding or gardening). The development of osteonecrosis is also stimulated by long car trips, when a person is constantly in a sitting position.

Such low back pain can overcome most people. You can recognize osteonecrosis by the following symptoms:

  • lower back pain, pain spreading down the legs;
  • pain becomes stronger with movement, change of position, load;
  • may be disturbed by burning or shooting pains - "low back pain";
  • after a long time in one position, it is very difficult and painful to change it;
  • the sensitivity of the legs and buttocks decreases, a feeling of "goosebumps" appears;
  • Cold feet, sweating disorders.

There is no temperature in osteonecrosis.

Pain from osteonecrosis can strike at any time.

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

  • woolen belts or scarves at the waist;
  • lying on hard surfaces: boards, tables, hard mattresses;
  • taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • topical anti-inflammatory ointment.

If you're unsure of the diagnosis, consult your doctor - taking anti-inflammatory medications for stomach or pancreatic problems can worsen the situation.

What not to do

In any case, don't try to "set" your back on your own - this can increase pain, and even harm your back.

With exacerbation of osteonecrosis, incubation procedures should not be used. Under no circumstances should you take a hot bath or steam in a bathtub. After warming, the patient will feel temporary relief, then the pain will increase significantly. If such pain frequently bothers you, you should have an MRI (lumbar spine imaging) and consult a neurologist.

Importance! If, after taking anti-inflammatory drugs, you feel relief or completely disappear, you should not resume physical activity. The patient needs to rest - until bedtime - for a while longer.

Relieve back pain when moving heavy objects

How to relieve pain if it is neuralgia

Neuralgia is an inflammation of the nerves. Symptoms of low back pain are similar to signs of degenerative bone disease: the back reacts to movements, the patient is afraid of movement. But there are also specific points:

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

Nerve pains are difficult to cure, but it is important to try to reduce them. Help the patient:

  • pain-relieving anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • spasmolytics;
  • complete rest.

With severe neuropathic pain, the patient is better off being hospitalized. Doctors in the hospital use the blocker novocaine to treat nerve pain.

Remember! Using medicines without medical advice and examination can be dangerous to your health.

Timely visit to the doctor will avoid serious complications of the disease.

Conditions you need to see a doctor:

  1. Lower back pain associated with leg and foot pain
  2. Pain prevents you from taking care of yourself
  3. Pain related to urination and stools
  4. Combined low back pain with numbness of buttocks, thighs, legs, feet, 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 no apparent reason