More often from pain of waist, as well as the lumbar spine has greater mobility and carries the weight of the upper half of the body. The pain in the lumbar area has a distinct name — low back pain, if the step of the sciatica. Less often the pain occurs and in the back. If the pain is acute and extends (da) in the elbow or the hand, is referred to as the "center" or "lumbago". This type of pain is usually associated with compression intervertebral the nerve.
The pain in the back and the lower part of the back may appear suddenly after lifting weights, if it is awkward to turn around. Sometimes discomfort in the back will develop slowly due to years of loading, or incorrect posture. Less often, the cause of the pain cannot be established. The pain may be worse at night, when the load or after a long stay in an uncomfortable posture, for example, after a long journey by car. Often the pain in supine position on a hard surface surface.
In most cases, the back pain for several days or weeks, and then the order of the improvement, and the mobility is recovered fully. To speed up the recovery help the pain medications and a specific mode of motor activity: peace only in the first 1-2 days, especially the intense pain and then a gradual return to the active life. However, in some cases, the back or spine pain of long duration, of more than 6 weeks. Then it says about the development of chronic back pain and is prescribed as an additional treatment.
Plays an important role in your mood. Due to the pain, it can be difficult to maintain a good spirit, but as studies show positively inclined people, normally, are recovering faster than those that are in depression.
Causes of back pain
The health of the back depends on the binding of a complex mechanism of bones, muscles, nerves and joints. Often determine exactly the cause of the pain can be difficult. Fortunately, a serious illness or an injury to the back are rare. Often the back pain or back occurs as a result of lesions in the lungs, muscle of the surge, the stretching of the muscles and of the ligaments, of the violation and the inflammation of the nerves. Back discomfort can appear suddenly or develop gradually, growing. The possible causes of pain in the back and the lower part of the back:
- awkward motion: to tilt or turn the body;
- the hoist or lifting heavy objects, long inclinations of the trunk;
- poor posture while walking or seating;
- excessive stretching of the muscles of the back;
- a long walk on lead without stopping.
Sometimes the back starts to the disease without apparent cause, for example, in the morning, after sleep.
Risk factors of back pain
Certain risk factors increase the likelihood that the pain in the back or in the lower part of the back:
- The excess weight — and in the spine support the additional load. To understand if your weight is healthy, calculate your body mass index.
- Smoking can cause damage to the tissues of the back, and the smoking, as a general rule, the less lead a healthy life style.
- Pregnancy — the spine of the woman is subjected to an additional load, which increases with the increase of the volume of the belly.
- Long medicines that reduce the density of the bones, for example, corticosteroids.
- Stress is considered as a constant of the emotion causes tension in the muscles of the back and neck, which can cause pain.
Diseases that can cause pain in the back and the lower part of the back:
- The osteochondrosis and its complications, for example, a hernia in the spine degenerative diseases, which destroy the intervertebral cartilage, which leads to the appearance of the pains. These diseases often develop with age, especially in those people that suffer the most load in the back.
- The stretching of the ligaments and muscles — which often occurs after excessive physical exertion or awkward movement.
- The different types of arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints. In this case, in addition to the pain held morning stiffness in the joints, the violation of the mobility.
- The disease of the kidneys, for example, pyelonephritis can cause pain in the lower back.
There are also more dangerous, but they are very rare causes of pain in the back. For example, cancer, tuberculosis of the spine, aneurysm of the aorta (the stratification of the wall fundamental of a blood vessel) and others, All of them are usually diagnosed in the survey of the doctor.
The diagnosis of back pain and the lower back
With the pain in the back and the lower back can often be treated at home with medication sold at the pharmacy without a prescription. The treatment in the hospital, it is usually not necessary. If the pain expressed, in contact with your doctor and therapist. If the pain does not allows you to join a move, you can call a doctor at home.
During the exam, the doctor will ask you to sit down, get up, it seems, alternately lift the feet, and will review the range of motion in the back. You can ask about the dragged from illness or injury, his style of life and the nature of the work, and also:
- When the pain started?
- Where it hurts?
- You are tormented by the attitude back in the past?
- You can describe the pain?
- The pain is more acute or that happens?
During the interview and examination, the doctor will attempt to rule out the possibility of infection and fracture, although they are very rare. In the case of the dispute of diagnosis, you can send in additional research: magnetic resonance imaging (mri) or an x-ray of the spine. To exclude the kidney disease, the doctor prescribes a general analysis of urine.
In most cases, back pain can be rented for a few days. If the treatment does not work, the back pain that lasts more than 6 weeks (the so-called chronic back pain), or the cause of the ailment is a serious disease, the therapist will refer you to a specialist. Often the treatment of pain in the back or in the lower part of the back takes care of a neurologist. In addition, the treatment can be connected to these doctors, as an osteopath, reflexologist, chiropractor.
The treatment of back and lumbar
The treatment of back pain may depend on the duration and expressiveness, as well as their personal preferences and needs. Often, the pain can be eased with non-prescription drugs, medications and treatment at home.
The engine compartment mode
In previous years it was believed that if the back pain is necessary to the rest. It is now recognized that the people that before you begin to participate in move more quickly to deal with the pain in the back and the lower part of the back. Full of peace and resting in bed, it only shows up in 1-2 days, in the period of acute, when the pain is extremely express and does not allow you to move forward. When you do this, it is recommended to be on the hard and level. As soon as the state slightly improved, you should gradually return to a mobile lifestyle, expanding the amplitude of the movements, little by little, every day.
Little by little, you will be able to move house or go shopping. You will have to live with some discomfort and learn to avoid everything that causes him a great pain. After a few days, you can return to work, without having to wait for the moment, when the pain in the back or in the lower part of the back is carried out completely (if, of course, your job is not related to excess loads of the spinal column). Activation early will help you to get back to the routine and escape the pain.
Muscle relaxants
This medications that relieve the spasm of the skeletal musculature, muscles relax. Your prescribe in cases in which the excess tension of the muscles of the spine increased the pain, which, for example, it is possible to the moment of aggravation of the degenerative disc disease or herniated disc. Muscle relaxants can also have side effects, many of them can not take the steering wheel. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
The treatment with heat and cold
Some alleviate the pain helps the heat, for example, the tub of hot water or a hot water bottle on the sore spot. Also facilitate the state may, and the cold, for example, if it is applied to the lower part of the back of the ice or a package of frozen food. Do not apply the ice directly on the skin, as this may cause frostbite. It is wrapped in a damp paper towel and place the patient in the space. You can also switch the treatment with heat, with cold, approaching alternatively, the ice and the heater.
The sleeping posture
The change of sleeping posture can take the stress out of the back and relieve the pain. If you sleep on your side, slightly squeeze the legs towards the chest and place a pillow between the legs. If you back, on your back, place a pillow under the knees to maintain the natural curvature of the spine in the lumbar area.
Relax
This is an important component of the struggle with the pain, since if you are going to worry, this will make the muscle tension, which can aggravate the pain. As shown in the studies positively inclined people generally recover faster. The pain does not pass in long, chronic. There are different techniques of relaxation. As a general rule, it is recommended to master the breathing apparatus, gymnastics, as well as simple exercises with a single sequence that alternates between tension and relaxation of different muscles of the body.
Exercise and a healthy lifestyle
Try to resolve the cause of the 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 can help your back to be strong and healthy. Often, people prefer to do this, the walking, swimming and yoga. The most important thing — to choose what you like and do not cause pain. Sometimes the teachers in groups under the direction of a qualified instructor. Usually in exercise classes to strengthen muscles and improve posture, as well as the aerobic training and stretching exercises.
The treatment of chronic pain in the back
If back pain lasts more than 6 weeks (the so-called chronic back pain), in addition to analgesics and muscle relaxants apply methods described in the continuation of the struggle with the pain. These treatments help to those to whom the back pain it prevents you from making common cause and triggers the alarm.
The prevention of back pain
Strong and flexible back is the best way to avoid the pain. Therefore, the most effective way of prevention is regular exercise, proper posture and the compliance of the safety when lifting and moving heavy objects.
If you regularly suffer from lower back pain, try the following:
- To lose weight, if you suffer from obesity. Too much body weight can put back the extra load.
- Carry orthopedic shoes with low heels, which reduces the load on the spine during the ride.
- Avoid sudden movements that can cause stretching of the muscles.
- Learn to manage stress, anxieties and worries, that may increase the pain in the back.
The correct and healthy posture of sleep when the back pain
The posture influences the health of your back. In a standing position, always try to keep the body gently, the head straight, not hunch. Distribute the weight evenly on both feet, not double. Sit with a straight back, with emphasis on the lower part of the back. The knees and hips should be at the same level, and heels standing on the ground (if necessary, use a support for the feet). Sometimes it is convenient to put under the back, a small pillow or rolled towel. If you're typing on the keyboard, the forearm should be horizontal, and the elbows should be bent at a right angle.
If you spend a lot of time behind the wheel, make sure that the chair is the top of the waist. If we change the side mirror of the view, you will not have to bend back. The pedals should be just in front of the feet. On the long journey, regularly stop to stretch the back.
The dream should serve as a holiday of relaxation throughout the body, including the back. For this reason, you need quite a hard mattress which does not bent under the weight of the body from the shoulders to the buttocks, as the hammock. If the bed is too soft, place a firm board or a control panel (ideally 2 cm thick) under the mattress. The head should be resting on the pillow, but the neck should not be bent under an angle.