When back pain occurs, the thought of radiculitis arises immediately. Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, in fact, can also cause discomfort in the lower back. Therefore, before devising a treatment regimen, doctors carefully examine the patient. When the back hurts in the lumbar region, only a neurologist can decide how to treat the pathology. Often doctors with narrow specializations are involved in the therapy: gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, oncologist, gynecologist, urologist. Depending on the diagnosed diseases, further treatment is carried out at home or in the hospital.
Basic principles of treatment
Pain affecting the lumbar spine can be uncomfortable, annoying or violent and violent. If, during the examination, the patient does not have pathologies of organs of other vital systems, the following measures are included in the therapeutic scheme:
- taking pharmacological drugs to relieve inflammatory processes, eliminate pain, restore damaged bones and joint tissues;
- perform physiotherapeutic procedures to accelerate the regeneration of the vertebrae and skeletal muscles;
- physical therapy or gymnastics.
In case of acute and severe pain that restricts movement, patients are prescribed drugs for intramuscular injection. As a rule, in this case, hospitalization is carried out in a hospital. After improving the patient's condition, they are discharged for further recovery at home.
The correct approach to treatment
The main cause of low back pain is destructive-degenerative damage to the vertebrae or a formed intervertebral hernia. No matter how effective the treatment is, doctors recommend that patients eliminate the factor that caused the pathology from their usual lifestyle. Otherwise, the disease will return after a while or turn into a chronic form, dangerous for its relapses.
Starting to treat acute pain or back pain should be in bed. When the inflammatory process becomes the cause of the pathology, even insignificant physical activity contributes to its spread. Neuropathologists recommend purchasing an orthopedic pillow and mattress. They will reduce the load on the sore back, prevent compression and pinching of muscles and nerve roots. If it is not possible to purchase special devices, then you need to choose a mattress and pillow of medium hardness for sleeping.
To speed up recovery, the following medical recommendations should be followed during treatment:
- avoid any physical activity and active sports. In the rehabilitation phase, you can do yoga, swim or just take a long walk in the fresh air;
- Eliminate fatty and fried foods from your diet. They negatively affect the condition of the blood vessels located in the lumbar spine and contribute to the deposition of harmful cholesterol. Lack of nutrients and biologically active substances is one of the causes of the destruction of bone tissue;
- do not drink or smoke. If it is impossible to completely overcome the harmful addiction, at least for the duration of treatment you should forget about it. Poisonous resins, nicotine, ethanol have a detrimental effect on veins, arteries and capillaries, slow down the restoration of bone, joint and cartilage tissues in men and women.
The intake of balanced complexes of vitamins and microelements will help speed up recovery. Some of them contain higher amounts of calcium, but these drugs can only be taken as directed by a doctor. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase simple drugs.
Pharmaceutical products
Despite the effectiveness of folk remedies and physiotherapy procedures, only pharmaceutical preparations can quickly get rid of severe back pain. If the discomfort is poorly expressed, a course of capsules, pills and tablets will help. And with severe pain, neuropathologists prescribe intravenous and intramuscular injections to relieve the patient's condition. Many of the medications used to treat the lower back have serious side effects and many contraindications. To avoid negative consequences will allow strict adherence to medical recommendations regarding the dosages used and the duration of the course.
Solutions for injection
For the treatment of lower back pain, injectable forms of preparations containing B vitamins are almost always used. They show neurotropic activity:
- normalizes the innervation of skeletal muscles;
- restores the transmission of nerve impulses;
- promotes the regeneration of the affected nerve fibers;
- accelerates the metabolism of substances;
- increases the functional activity of the central and peripheral nervous system.
The preparations also contain analgesics, so the preparations of vitamins of group B have moderate analgesic properties.
Injection medications are prescribed for acute pain, often called "low back pain". And when the pathology becomes chronic, their use does not bring the expected result. Vitamins are used both as a single drug and in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is NSAIDs that are becoming the first choice in the treatment of low back pain. Solutions for intramuscular administration in a few minutes stop inflammation, reduce the severity of discomfort and eliminate swelling of soft tissues.
Some drugs are structurally similar, but they may differ in the intensity of the therapeutic effect and the number of side effects. When choosing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the doctor takes into account many factors. For example, some drugs have a pronounced analgesic effect, but at the same time severely damage the joints and cartilage. And there are drugs that, unlike others, do not interrupt the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
Despite the effectiveness of NSAIDs in the treatment of back pain, neuropathologists prescribe them with caution, especially in injectable forms. The fact is that even a single intramuscular injection of the solution can cause ulceration of the mucous membranes of the digestive system. The use of NSAIDs in injections or tablets for people diagnosed with gastritis, as well as ulcerative lesions of the stomach and duodenum, is strictly prohibited. Treatment of low back pain in men and women with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be combined with any proton pump inhibitor.
Tablets, capsules, dragees
NSAIDs and vitamins of group B after a course of injections, the patient takes tablets or capsules to consolidate the result of therapy. If the lower back hurts and injections of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are contraindicated, the doctor prescribes pills with such active ingredients.
For the treatment of pathologies of the spine, drugs with a combined composition are often used.
Pain in the lumbar region of the back occurs with muscle spasms.
The nerve roots are elongated, causing the development of secondary root syndrome. Muscle relaxants help normalize the innervation of nerve impulses and stop the spasm. In case of acute pain, a short course of injections is given, then the patient continues the treatment with pills.
Chondroprotectors are recommended during the rehabilitation period. The tablets usually contain stimulants for the regeneration of cartilage tissue, shark cartilage extracts and medicinal plants that help restore the bony structures of the spine. Before treating low back pain with chondroprotectors, doctors assess the degree of damage to joint and cartilage tissues. When severe destructive changes are diagnosed, therapy with these drugs can last more than a year.
Ointments, gels, creams, balms
Along with drugs for parenteral and oral administration, neuropathologists prescribe drugs for external use. They are applied to the lumbar region several times a day until the painful sensations are completely eliminated. Some ointments contain bee and snake venom, paprika extract and essential oils.
All these organic substances have a warming effect. Patients with sensitive skin may experience burns and symptoms of allergic reactions. And before treating low back pain caused by an inflammatory process, you should consult with your doctor about the safety of using such external agents. As a rule, neuropathologists prescribe the following ointments and gels:
- homeopathic. They contain plant extracts and chemical compounds that improve metabolism and have an analgesic effect. Many doctors are skeptical of homeopathy, but patients who do not consider it a pseudoscience can be treated. One of the serious disadvantages of such ointments is the long duration of therapy;
- NSAIDs. An ointment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is well absorbed into the skin and quickly penetrates the damaged area. After a single application, the severity of the pain syndrome decreases, the mobility of the vertebrae is restored.
Effective stimulation of the normalization of tissue metabolism and the relief of dystrophic changes occurs after the course of the use of external agents with chondroprotectors.
It does not matter if one vertebra is diseased or if the inflammation has affected the entire lumbar region - ointments with chondroprotectors help to restore joint and cartilage tissues damaged by the pathological process.
Physiotherapy procedures
Most of these treatments are not prescribed to patients with pain caused by acute inflammation. Procedures are started after his relief with pharmacological drugs. Physiotherapy is used to normalize tissue metabolism, regenerate tissues and prevent further degenerative changes in the lumbar spine. What physiotherapy procedure can you use to get rid of back pain:
- electrophoresis. Therapeutic manipulation is designed to ensure rapid delivery of drugs (NSAIDs, analgesics, anesthetics, chondroprotectors) to damaged areas of the lumbar spine. In the process of conducting electrophoresis, cotton swabs soaked in a medicinal solution are placed on the patient's back. On top, special plates are superimposed through which the current is passed. Under the influence of electrical impulses, chemical molecules quickly penetrate the area of inflammation;
- ultrasound therapy. The oscillation of the ultrasound waves stimulates blood circulation in the lower back. Nutrients and biologically active substances, as well as molecular oxygen, begin to penetrate into damaged tissues. After 5-10 procedures, the patient's pain disappears due to the alleviation of muscle spasm and increased metabolism;
- laser therapy. Polarized laser light is used in the treatment of destructive changes in the lumbar intervertebral discs. Under the influence of infrared radiation, the blood supply to the joint and cartilage tissues is restored, the metabolism is normalized.
Physiotherapy helps to remove toxins, toxins, the end products of the inflammatory process from the spine; - magnetic therapy. During the procedure, the patient is exposed to a wavy magnetic field to stimulate blood circulation in the damaged tissues.
Medical manipulation is prescribed to relieve further damage to the lumbar vertebrae and prevent the spread of inflammation to healthy tissues. The result is the disappearance of painful sensations and the restoration of complete freedom of movement.
For the treatment of severe pain that can radiate to the leg, arm, coccyx, physiotherapy is combined with the use of pharmacological drugs. And during the rehabilitation period or during the remission of chronic pathologies of the spine, mud therapy, mineral water baths, classic and precise massage, acupuncture are recommended to patients.
Traditional recipes for healers
Traditional healers recommend drinking plenty of fluids to treat low back pain. Pure water, chamomile and rosehip infusion, berry and fruit compotes will help quickly remove the end products of inflammation, toxins and toxins from the spine. As an abundant drink in folk medicine, infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs are used. Useful plants contain biologically active substances with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiseptic properties.
How to cure back pain with healing infusions:
- Pour 3 tablespoons into a thermos. spoons of cranberry leaves, St. John's wort and marigolds, pour a liter of boiling water and leave for about an hour. Filter, drink a fragrant infusion instead of coffee and tea;
- in an enamel or glass container, put a handful of dry rose hips, blueberries and juniper berries, pour 2 liters of hot water. Cook in a water bath for 30-40 minutes, strain and drink 0. 5 cups of infusion before each meal.
Back pain can be treated with a compress or ointment made from natural products. How to make a potion:
- Melt 3 tablespoons in a water bath. spoons of natural honey, cool and mix with 2 tbsp. spoons of pharmacy alcohol.
- Gently add 100ml of petroleum jelly to the mixture and rub into the damaged areas of the lower back.
This remedy is also used for medical compresses for back pain. To do this, the mixture should not be rubbed, but distributed in a thin layer on the skin. You need to put plastic wrap on top, then wrap it with a warm scarf. The duration of the procedure is 3-4 hours.
Treatment of low back pain is usually done at home. Only when an acute inflammatory process is diagnosed, the patient is hospitalized. Depending on the cause of the pathology, therapy lasts from two weeks to several months. But if medical recommendations are followed, recovery is significantly accelerated, as evidenced by the reviews of recovered patients.
- “One morning I couldn't get out of bed, I even thought I was paralyzed. But the pain disproved this assumption, it was so strong that it gave to the legs. They were treated in a hospital with NSAID injections and a muscle relaxant, and then drank them at home for about a week. The pain had disappeared already on the second day, but the doctor ordered to be treated until a successful recovery ".
- “My pain gradually increased, as I suspect, after swimming in a cold river. The lower back simply did not bend, I had to go on sick leave. I followed all the doctor's advice, drank NSAIDs and a muscle relaxant, smeared with anti-inflammatory ointment, mustard plasters glued to my back. She recovered in five days.
- “The doctor warned that pain is not the worst. During the diagnosis, it turned out that my vertebrae are rapidly collapsing. For about a year I took chondroprotectors and rubbed them on my back. For the pain, I drank NSAIDs with a proton pump inhibitor. After a new examination, the neuropathologist was happy that no new wounds were found. "