Pain in the lumbar spine is considered a common phenomenon, and the reasons for its occurrence may be different. Often such a symptom appears due to hypothermia, pathologies of internal organs and degenerative changes in the spine. In women, lower back pain can be caused by various physiological characteristics of the body and pregnancy. Elimination of such an unpleasant phenomenon can be carried out with the help of drugs and folk remedies. To find out why the lower back hurts and how to treat it at home, you can consult a specialist after a full examination.
Why does the lower back hurt?
Primary aches and pains in the lumbar region are usually caused by degenerative-dystrophic changes that affect 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, spondyloarthrosis and spondylosis.
Such diseases progress quite 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 lower back can be triggered both by diseases of the musculoskeletal system and by pathologies of other organs.
Specialists identify some provoking factors, under the influence of which pain in the lower spine can occur:
- injuries of the musculoskeletal system of a congenital and acquired nature;
- systemic and rheumatological diseases;
- problems with metabolic processes in the body and pathology of the endocrine system;
- malignant tumors in the spine and adjacent tissues;
- inflammation of the muscles of the lower back;
- spinal injuries and injuries;
- gynecological diseases in women;
- pathology of the urinary system.
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 periodically experience episodes of lower back pain. In most cases, they appear completely unexpectedly, so it is important to be able to provide medical assistance in a timely manner.
In the event that your lower back hurts, it is necessary to lie down on a hard and even surface, and this should be done slowly and carefully. It is possible to reduce the load on the spine and eliminate discomfort if you lie 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 extremities on a raised platform at an angle of 90 degrees and remain in this state for about 15 minutes. This position helps your back muscles relax and align your spine.
After eliminating the pain syndrome in the lower back, it is necessary to stand up correctly to prevent its recurrence. To do this, get on your side, get on all fours and use any support. Only after that is he allowed to stand up and stretch his back only at the end.
After providing first aid to the patient, it is important to wrap the lower back well with a scarf and thus fix it. Also, when treating at home, it is allowed to take a drug with an analgesic effect and visit a doctor who will prescribe the necessary treatment.
medical therapy
To eliminate back pain, various drugs can be used, but only a doctor should select them. Treatment can be carried out with the following medications:
- Analgesics. Such medications are good for relieving acute attacks of low back pain, but their excessive use can cause side effects. To eliminate the pathology, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed;
- narcotic drugs. The use of drugs from this group is allowed for a short time under the supervision of a specialist;
- Antidepressants. The doses of these drugs vary by small amounts, and with their help it is possible to relieve some types of chronic back pain. Basically, tricyclic antidepressants are used to eliminate pathology;
- Topical pain medications. Such drugs are available in the form of an ointment, cream or gel, which must be rubbed directly into the area of pain.
- Muscle relaxants. In the event that it is not possible to get rid of the pain with the help of over-the-counter pain relievers, a muscle relaxant is prescribed. Taking these drugs may be accompanied by the development of such side effects as drowsiness and dizziness.
In the event that all of the above measures fail to bring relief to the patient, doctors may prescribe the use of a medication such as cortisol. An anti-inflammatory drug is given as an injection into the space around the spinal cord. With its help, it is possible to minimize the inflammation around the nerve roots, but it may take several months to completely eliminate the pain syndrome.
When a nerve is pinched in the lower back and the pain spreads to the leg, a treatment with B complex vitamins should be carried out. 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 must 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:
- Extension. Proper stretching of muscles in combination with active exercises helps maintain normal activity in muscles that are spasming or atrophying. Patients experiencing low back pain should focus on stretching the muscles of the lower back, abdomen, legs, and hips. Yoga is considered a good preventive measure, which relaxes the muscles and keeps them in good shape;
- dynamic exercises. Such exercises can be performed with special balls, and their main purpose is to strengthen the secondary muscles of the spine and keep them in various ranges of motion.
It is recommended to complement physiotherapy exercises with 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, clary sage, lavender, and other types of oil. When carrying out such a procedure, the following sequence must be observed:
- for 2-3 minutes warm up the back stroking with the palms of the hands;
- rub the skin with oil with the upper phalanx of the thumb or the base of the palm in slow upward circular movements;
- Tight back muscles are kneaded with two hands: one of them comes with pressure, and the other relaxes, lightly stroking.
As an emergency aid for back pain, self-massage is suitable, for which you need to close your left or right hand into a fist and begin to draw spirals with it in the area of discomfort. All movements should be smooth and precise, and strong pressure should be avoided. It is permissible to perform such a self-massage on a painful place every day several times a day.
Physiotherapy
After it was possible to stop the pain syndrome in the back, therapeutic exercises and gymnastics are allowed. It is important to remember that it is forbidden to use it during exacerbations. To get a lasting positive effect, you need to practice every day.
A physiotherapist must select a set of exercises, taking into account the characteristics of the patient's condition. When done correctly, the exercises help strengthen your back muscles and eliminate pain. During exercise, it is necessary to monitor the absence of pain, and if there is pronounced discomfort, it is necessary to reduce the range of motion.
Home remedies
It is possible to alleviate the well-being of back pain with the help of alternative methods of treatment, but before using them, it is recommended to consult a specialist.
therapeutic compresses
To eliminate pain in the back and restore good health, you can use the following recipes for compresses 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 with a warm scarf or scarf. It is recommended to carry out such a procedure several times a day for half an hour;
- You can grate radish or horseradish and combine the resulting mass with sour cream in a 1: 1 ratio. Such a remedy should be applied to the back and covered with a warm scarf. The duration of one procedure is from 1 to 1. 5 hours, and usually, after the time has elapsed, the pain syndrome completely disappears;
- It is necessary to grind raw potatoes and horseradish on a grater in equal proportions and mix with 5-10 ml of honey. The resulting mixture should be applied to the sore back, and the procedure lasts from 1 to 1. 5 hours.
A good effect in the fight against pain gives a bow, which can be applied all night to the lower back and wrapped with a warm cloth, after grinding in a blender. You can dissolve mustard powder in water to form a mass of homogeneous consistency and apply it to your back for 5 minutes. Folk healers say that after removing such a compress, you will definitely feel better.
Rubbing
Quick removal of pain is facilitated by such a method as rubbing, which can not only increase blood flow to the affected area, but also improve metabolic processes. It is best to perform this procedure before bedtime with the help of the following means:
- warm honey;
- a mixture of iodine, valerian, triple colony and crushed red pepper;
- alcohol tincture of eucalyptus, adam's root or burdock.
A good effect to eliminate 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 strained and mixed with 5 grams of soda. With the help of a remedy, it should be rubbed daily before bedtime for several days.
Infusions for internal use
It is possible to cope with 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 root of cinquefoil and pour a mass of 500 ml of vodka. The resulting mixture should be left to infuse for 1 month, after which it should be taken several times a day, 1 tbsp. me;
- You can previously boil 10 basil leaves in water to evaporate all the liquid. After that, the pain medicine should be cooled and a little soda added. The resulting mixture must be taken orally daily several times a day;
- Soak some wheat in water and leave this dough overnight. In the morning, you need to add coriander and boil the mixture in 200 ml of milk. It is recommended to take such a drug twice a day until the pain syndrome is completely eliminated.
A proven and effective folk remedy for back pain is elecampane wine, for the preparation of which 100 grams of yeast are combined with a liter of honey and 30 grams of crushed root. The resulting mixture is placed in a three-liter jar, a little water is added and a perforated rubber glove is put on the neck. After 30 days, the container is placed in the refrigerator and ½ cup is drunk in the morning and before bed.
Preventive measures
Pain therapy at home is allowed to be carried out both in the chronic course of pathology, and to relieve an acute attack. This therapy is suitable for both young people and elderly patients.
To prevent back pain, it is recommended to move actively and do exercises that are aimed at strengthening the muscles of the spine and lower back. Simultaneously with the ongoing treatment, it is necessary to strengthen the muscles of the peritoneum, as well as regularly exercise in the pool and pump the press.
Women should refrain from wearing high-heeled and platform shoes, which will reduce the load on the spine and lower back. It is necessary to sleep on a solid orthopedic mattress, because such a measure helps to fully relax the spine and avoid pathologies of the spine.