If your back hurts in the lumbar region: how to treat yourself and what to do

back pain in men

Almost every person over the age of 20 has periods when his back hurts in the lumbar region. The causes of the pathology can be very different. But regardless of why the lower back hurts, it is necessary to carry out treatment. To do this, you should consult a doctor and report back pain. The symptoms may be supplemented by other signs that indicate the development of the disease.

Back pain is divided into primary and secondary. The primary symptoms show degenerative and dystrophic processes in the spine. Causes of the primary syndrome include spondyloarthritis and osteochondrosis.

The cause of the secondary syndrome can be bone tuberculosis, scoliosis, vertebral fractures, rheumatoid arthritis and others. The peculiarity of the secondary signs is that they can occur even as a result of gynecological diseases.

Important!A qualified specialist must make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment.

First of all, you need to understand that you can deal with lower back pain only with an integrated approach. The use of drugs alone will not be able to completely prevent the pathological process. In order to achieve full recovery, it is necessary to undergo a course of physiotherapy procedures. You can increase the effectiveness of therapy with the help of simple folk methods. Medical therapy is a prerequisite for the treatment of lower back pain. The treatment of back pain is performed both at home and in hospital.

Drug therapy

With constant and severe back pain you can not do without medication. Specialists may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain.

The analgesic effect can be achieved by taking:

  • pills;
  • injections;
  • ointments.

Muscle relaxants are included in the complex of drug therapy. Drugs from this group help to relieve muscle spasms in the lower back, as well as to relieve pain.

In the treatment of back pain, the doctor must prescribe B vitamins, which affect the inflammation of nerve fibers. When taking vitamins, the nervous tissue is strengthened.

Note!NSAIDs are effective in relieving pain but not preventing the disease.

Physiotherapy

Lumbar pathologies that cause pain should be treated with exercise complexes designed specifically for the lumbar region. Gymnastics includes exercises to relieve muscle tone, strengthen joints and restore all metabolic processes that are disrupted in damaged tissues. It is recommended to hold classes every day. Let's look at a few simple exercises:

  1. In an upright position, feet shoulder-width apart, tilt your body to the right, raising your left arm above your head, repeat the tilt in the opposite direction.
  2. In the same position, make curves of the body while the thighs should remain still.
  3. Stand on all fours, bend your back up while lowering your head. Then return to starting position and do a few more repetitions.

The first classes are best conducted under the supervision of a specialist to prevent further damage that worsens the patient's condition. Subsequently, you can do gymnastics at home.

gymnastics for back pain

The intensity of the movements should increase gradually. Both movements should be performed calmly. It is recommended to combine physiotherapy exercises with breathing exercises.

Very important!You should not exercise during periods of exacerbation or in the presence of severe pain.

Massage

Classical massage, which is recommended for many diseases of the spine, has a positive effect on the condition of damaged tissues. But the benefits of massage can only be obtained if performed correctly. Therefore, you should not do the massage yourself or trust a person who does not have the relevant experience.

Improper actions of the masseur can lead to serious disorders. Following all the rules of massage technique, the patient's condition will change after a few sessions. The result of the massage course is normalization of blood circulation, lack of spasms and muscle pain.

massage for back pain

Important!Like exercise therapy, massage is not recommended during exacerbations or in the presence of severe pain.

Physiotherapy

Consolidation of the achieved results in the fight against low back pain with drugs and other methods is carried out with physiotherapeutic procedures. The main task of physiotherapy is to prevent the development of degenerative (dystrophic) processes in the spine.

The following procedures are most often recommended:

  • laser treatment;
  • magnetic therapy;
  • electrophoresis;
  • ultrasound therapy.

Non-standard physiotherapeutic methods can also be prescribed:

  • thermal procedures;
  • mud covers;
  • balneotherapy;
  • paraffin applications.
physiotherapy for back pain

Physiotherapy has a number of contraindications. In this regard, it is not recommended to carry out treatment without indications and permission from a specialist. A full course of treatment is required.

Attention!The method of physiotherapy is determined by the doctor who monitors the patient, not by the patient himself. Physiotherapy at home is dangerous to health.

Alternative medicine

Many people with back pain use alternative medicine. This does not mean that all methods are effective and safe, but there are methods of therapy that really give a positive result.

Some experts recommend that patients undergo manual and acupuncture procedures. These methods are recognized by popular medicine. Therapy should be performed by a qualified physician with professional experience.

Acupuncture procedures consist of affecting nerve fibers and muscles with the help of special needles. Acupuncture is most commonly used to treat back pain. Acupuncture can be combined with the application of drugs or exposure of the body to a magnetic field (laser).

manual therapy for back pain

Manual therapy is no less popular for eliminating pathological processes in the spine. The peculiarity of the procedures is that all actions are performed by the hands of a therapist trained in special techniques. The chiropractor is able to correct even the wrong position of the vertebrae or pinching of the nerve fiber. The result of manual therapy is a rapid and complete recovery of spinal functions and elimination of pain.

Important!The methods of alternative medicine hide many risks, so it is important to make sure that there are no contraindications and specialized qualifications.

Folk recipes

Folk remedies are no less popular than medical therapy. But not many people know how to treat low back pain at home. There are many recipes, but not all are effective.

To reduce pain and inflammation, it is necessary to use plant and animal products that have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Chestnut ointment

Ointment prepared with the addition of horse chestnut gives a positive effect. To make the ointment, you need:

  • grated chestnut (100 g);
  • vegetable fat (100 g);
  • camphor oil (10 ml).
chestnut ointment for back pain

All components are mixed and applied to the lower back. It is recommended to do the procedure twice a day until the painful sensations disappear.

Rubbing with triple cologne

To deal with back pain, you can rub, which is prepared with the addition of triple cologne. To do the friction, you need:

  • cologne;
  • a bottle of iodine;
  • valerian tincture;
  • dried paprika.

All these components are combined and insisted for three days, after which the lower back is rubbed with the resulting mixture. It is better to do the procedure at night.

Important!Before starting treatment with folk remedies, you need to make sure that there are no contraindications.

It is much more difficult to treat spinal diseases than to prevent them. If you take preventive measures against diseases of the spine and maintain a healthy lifestyle, pain in the lumbar region may not appear at least until old age.

lower back pain