Back pain is reported by 85% of people. How to treat yourself properly and is it possible to get rid of pain once and for all?
Does your back hurt? You are not alone! Sociological research data show that back pain is the second reason for the disability of the adult population after viral infections. She was born with us (according to neonatologists, 80-90% of children get spinal injuries at birth) and sooner or later she overtakes everything. This is believed to be revenge for upright walking. As a person grows, the load on the "spine" increases, existing spine problems become stronger, and stress, anxiety, obesity, overload, sedentary lifestyle exacerbate existing problems - and back pain can occur even at an early age.
What's wrong with that?
The vast majority (about 95%) of pain is associated with muscles, ligaments, and joints. This is popularly called pulling back. These pains are unpleasant, but they are not dangerous and in most cases they go away on their own in 2-3 days.
3-4% of pain is associated with radiculopathy (radiculitis) - a lesion of the spine root. It is usually damaged by a hernia. The pain disappears when the swelling caused by squeezing passes.
1-2% of back pain is caused by trauma or inflammatory diseases of the spine, cancer, diseases of the cardiovascular system or gastrointestinal tract, in which the pain syndrome can spread to the back. This is the most dangerous type of back pain. To rule out such pathologies, be sure to consult a doctor.
You can't hesitate
The main indicator that you need medical help is the regularity of the pain. If you distort from time to time - there is probably nothing wrong. If the pain of low or moderate intensity haunts you relentlessly, you cannot hesitate. An urgent need to consult a doctor if the pain is accompanied by an increase in temperature or the pain syndrome increases during treatment.
At home
The most effective medication is oral anti-inflammatory drugs. Just don’t overdo it - they’re only safe the first time. With prolonged use, these medications can cause ulcers and bleeding in the stomach lining. Traditional home treatments - non-steroidal ointments - can only be used as an additional measure. They are harmless but ineffective. Wearing a corset also gives relief - fixation relaxes the spine, relieves cramps and limits sudden movements. Only the corset should be normal - elastic, not warming up.
If treatment has not been effective within three days, you should consult a doctor who will block anti-inflammatory injections. By relieving cramps and relaxing muscles, the pain disappears immediately and often forever.
Forbidden!
Bath and massageunder the strictest prohibition. They worsen swelling and pain.
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It is important to determine the correct treatment tactics immediately. This should be done by a neurologist or neurosurgeon. It is dangerous to treat your back yourself. 30% of patients in the neurosurgical ward tried home treatment methods and were thus brought to a hospital bed.
Cut or not?
Until recently, a person diagnosed with a hernia was immediately referred for surgery. Today, the operation is performed only if there are indications:
- persistent pain that cannot be relieved with any pills;
- pelvic dysfunction - incomplete bladder emptying;
- weakness and numbness in the leg.
All these symptoms make surgery inevitable, because without it the patient can become disabled.
What are we risking
The danger of surgery, due to which it is delayed or completely abandoned, is considered by many patients to be very excessive. In neurosurgery, there are technologies that allow you to accurately calculate the effectiveness of surgery and which symptoms will disappear after it and which will remain.
The probability of recurrence of pain after surgery does not exceed 1-1, 5%. Hernias in other places can indeed appear, but it is not a complication, but the spread of the disease, which is often found in young undisciplined patients. As soon as the pain disappears, they return to their usual way of life: they sit behind the wheel, continue training. And that is absolutely impossible to do.
Is osteochondrosis to blame for everything?
Osteochondrosis is a chronic degenerative-dystrophic change in the intervertebral space. All people over the age of 25 have signs of osteochondrosis. It is impossible to avoid osteochondrosis, but you can save yourself from its complications that cause back pain.