What should I do if I have back pain?

Perhaps each of us has experienced back pain at least once in our lives.If it seems possible to determine the cause of a painful sensation, for example, in the throat, then everything here is much more complicated.

Back pain: causes and consequences

back pain

When pain occurs in the back or waist, many people immediately start applying various ointments.But it didn't achieve the desired effect.All this is because the problem may be hiding in a completely different place than where the problem is.For example, if the injury to the caudal sacral spine precedes it, you may experience low back pain.The man had already forgotten her, but she reminded him of herself in such an unpleasant way.Therefore, in this case, affecting the painful area is absolutely useless.Therefore, you need to look for the real cause of the pain.

The human body is a very complex mechanism in which all organs and systems - from muscles and spine to nerves and ligaments - are interconnected.Therefore, many factors influence the health of your back, including the correct distribution of spinal loads and any past injuries.The body has the ability to heal and adapt, and the spine’s job is to compensate for the consequences of injury.Twist and bend slightly if necessary, all to keep the body in its most vertical position.Only this can lead to negative changes in the spine itself.One of these is a herniated disc.In this way, the spine attempts to adapt to some mechanical damage to the body - it creates additional support for itself.Most commonly, this type of disease occurs in the sacrum and coccyx.In this regard, in the case of a herniated disc, medications that act on the spine or tight muscles can only provide temporary relief from back pain.After all, the main reason has not been eliminated yet!

Another most common cause of back pain is excessive tension on muscles and ligaments.In most cases, this is due to overload caused by the need to maintain an upright body position during scoliosis or after an injury.In addition, stress, excessive physical activity, and a sedentary lifestyle can also contribute to back pain.

In some cases, back pain is not related to muscle spasms or spinal problems, but to internal organ disease.This pain is called referred pain.For example, with cholelithiasis, pain can radiate to the area between the shoulder blades.Thoracic spine pain may occur due to the development of myocardial infarction.One symptom of referred pain is the absence of muscle stiffness during physical activity and the pain persists regardless of body position.

Your best option for getting rid of pain is to see a doctor.But if for some reason this is not possible, you can try to help yourself (if the pain does not reflect it).We will tell you how to do this further.

Back pain treatment and prevention

When pain occurs in your back or waist, the first thing to do is to rest it for at least three days.You should not strain your back and move in pain.In some cases, such precautions are enough and the back pain disappears after a few days.

Since most of the time severe pain is caused by muscle strain, in order to get rid of this pain, you should try to relax the spasmed muscles.In this case, a warming program can help.It is not necessary to just warm the back, although this can provide good results as well.It's best to warm the body up completely so the pain goes away faster.A bath or sauna is a good option, but it's best to avoid it if you experience severe pain in the heat, or if there are drastic changes in temperature.You must postpone cold water soaking for at least a few months.

Another great option is to take a hot bath with sea salt.Doing this routine for 10-15 minutes every night will only help.

A very important condition for getting rid of pain is not to miss the warmth after the warming procedure.So once you're done, you'll want to put on warm pajamas and cover yourself with a blanket.You can also drink hot tea, which not only warms the body from the outside, but also warms the body from the inside.It is recommended to repeat the process for three days.If the pain is not caused by pinched nerve endings, the discomfort will go away quickly.

After the acute episode is over, it is recommended to develop a daily exercise routine to relax the spinal muscles.The entire process should take no more than 15 minutes, and the improved circulation brought about by this warm-up will help relieve pain.

A great way to prevent back pain is to walk every day.This helps to gently bring each muscle, joint, and ligament into work, thereby initiating the self-massage process in the human body.

Doctors ask for help: What kind of pain requires calling an ambulance?

Back pain doctor appointment

Call an ambulance if:

  • Back pain due to a fall or hard blow;
  • The pain is severe and may be accompanied by a high fever or loss of consciousness.

Additionally, you should not self-medicate, let alone prescribe, medications during pregnancy.If your child has back pain, you should call an ambulance.

In other cases, if you manage to stop an episode of severe pain and do not require emergency medical attention, it is still recommended that you see a doctor.You should not hope that the problem will resolve itself.So maybe it's better not to wait for new attacks?

If the pain is not severe, it makes sense to consult a therapist.If necessary, the doctor will refer the patient to a specialist for examination and appropriate treatment.

If severe pain occurs, the therapist will refer the patient to a specialist who specializes in treating spinal conditions, such as a neurologist.In some cases, the help of a neurosurgeon may be needed.