Lumbago

Lumbago (lumbago) is an attack of lumbar pain resulting from the development of an intervertebral hernia.

Causes lumbago

Doctors identify the following causes of lumbago: intervertebral hernia, which causes pinching of nerve roots, hypothermia, colds, bruises. In response to pain, the muscles tense up, causing pain in the lower back and headaches. Often, lumbago is combined with such an unpleasant disease as sciatica. In this case, the pain is transmitted along the nerve trunks to the leg. This can last for several hours.

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Symptoms lumbago

You may find that in addition to lower back pain, you are unable to straighten up. The pain may radiate to the buttock. Ask your family to put a few pillows on the floor and raise your legs. If you do not provide timely assistance to the patient, in a month the pain will become chronic, and it will be much more difficult to cope with it. The pain occurs when bending forward, for example, when removing snow.

Lying down significantly reduces pain. The pain in lumbago is shooting, and extension is limited. This condition lasts for several hours, the patient is helpless with lumbago, he cannot cough or sneeze, any tension causes intense pain.

Forms

Lumbago with sciatica

Lumbago with sciatica is most often caused by osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. Cystitis, pyelonephritis and kidney stones are the result of problems in the lumbar spine. Injuries, scoliosis, obesity lead to osteochondrosis. Other factors: physical overexertion, infections. You can fight osteochondrosis at an early stage by strengthening the surrounding muscles. The fetal position relieves back muscle tension well.

Sciatica is an inflammation of the sciatic nerve. The most common methods are: acupressure and manual therapy. Choose your manual therapist carefully! Treatment of lumbago with sciatica should be aimed at improving muscle trophism, cleansing tissues of toxins and improving the health of the legs.

Not only pain, but also sensory disturbance, burning sensation, numbness may occur. The patient assumes a forced body position with the spine bent forward. Sciatica affects the work of muscles and can cause paralysis and paresis.

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Attack of lumbago

An attack of lumbago can be provoked by a sharp jerk and carrying heavy objects. If you have had a lumbago, even once, do not delay medical help for your body. The doctor will prescribe you an X-ray to identify signs of osteochondrosis - the most common culprit of this trouble. Medicine has safe conservative methods of treatment and rehabilitation after an attack of lumbago. As a result, blood circulation and nutrition of damaged discs improves.

To prevent an attack of lumbago, do not stay in one position for a long time, do not lift too heavy a load, and be careful in the gym.

What happens during lumbago? The structure of the intervertebral disc resembles jelly. It can lose elasticity if there are pathologies of the spinal column, especially osteochondrosis in the lumbar region.

The first attack of lumbago and sciatica sometimes occurs during pregnancy. Consult a neurologist, he will prescribe you a course of treatment that is harmless for the baby, because if you neglect this condition, the lumbago may bother you after childbirth or worsen during childbirth, which is very dangerous. Prescribed drugs that relieve muscle spasms in the back and warming ointments. Do not prescribe them to yourself under any circumstances. Another effective remedy is the Dorsaplast patch. It effectively relieves spasms and inflammation around the prolapsed vertebral disc, and allows you to reduce the dosage of anti-inflammatory drugs. It should be glued on all day for 10 days. Very easy to use, does not require a prescription, sold in many pharmacies in Ukraine. If you are pregnant, wear a special bandage. Do not overcool your lower back.

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Diagnostics lumbago

Diagnosis of lumbago primarily involves assessing the patient's appearance and the characteristic posture he or she takes. A sharp pain indicates lumbago, the person cannot straighten up, walk, and freezes in place. If there are difficulties, an X-ray of the spine may be prescribed. The most modern and reliable method is magnetic resonance imaging. The doctor may send you for it to clarify the condition of the intervertebral disc. In every third case, the cause of lumbago cannot be determined.

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Treatment lumbago

During treatment, anti-inflammatory drugs, pepper plaster (applied to the sore spot daily, it improves blood circulation and has a resorption effect), vitamins and manual therapy are used. Bed rest for 14 days is recommended. Physical therapy with flexion and extension exercises is also performed. Swimming in a pool is very useful for unloading the spine. Salty and smoked foods, which retain water in the body, are excluded from the diet. Eat more vegetables. If necessary, spinal traction or exercise on special exercise machines may be prescribed. Sanatorium treatment is indicated.

Office work, poor nutrition and hypothermia can cause lower back pain even in middle-aged people – lumbago. Lumbago is a consequence of osteochondrosis of the spine and scoliosis. Treatment consists of therapeutic exercise and manual therapy. The doctor will also prescribe gels and creams for local use. For example, this is Fastum Gel. The drug is classified as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory local agent. The gel is applied to the skin once a day and rubbed in. Duration of treatment is up to 20 days. Prescribed with caution to pregnant women. Eczema, purpura, urticaria, edema and stomatitis are possible. Do not apply to wounds and abrasions, do not use in children.

Ibuprofen, an analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug, may be prescribed for pain relief. It is available in tablet form. The daily dose is 800 mg. One tablet contains 200 mg of ibuprofen. Possible side effects include nausea, heartburn, dyspepsia, and dizziness. Allergies are possible. Very rarely, aseptic meningitis. The drug is not prescribed for children, ulcerative colitis, and kidney and liver dysfunction. Blood composition must be monitored.

Drug treatment of lumbago

After helping your relatives move, did you feel back pain that confined you to bed? In a week, if you stay in bed and follow the doctor's recommendations, who should definitely be called to your home, the attack will be nothing more than a terrible memory.

How to relieve suffering during an attack of lumbago? By taking anti-inflammatory local gels and ointments and tablets. For example, such a medicine can be Voltaren in tablets. Take 2 tablets per day. Possible side effects include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, ulcers, stomatitis, glossitis. Do not prescribe for stomach ulcers, blood clotting and hematopoiesis disorders, and in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

Injections for lumbago

If the pain is very severe, you may be prescribed injections for lumbago, such as Voltaren in the form of injections. Voltaren is administered intramuscularly, 1 ampoule, 1 time per day. Side effects: your stomach may hurt, you may feel sick and vomit, or enterocolitis, ulcers and gastric bleeding may occur. If you have had any of this before (stomach problems, ulcers), it is better not to use Voltaren in the injection, but to consult a doctor so that he can prescribe another medicine.

Ointments for lumbago

An effective remedy for lumbago is Bystrum gel. Bystrum gel is our analogue of the German Fastum gel. It contains ketoprofen and essential oils. It is enough to apply it to the skin and rub it in once a day. It is usually well tolerated, but is contraindicated during pregnancy. Do not apply Bystrum gel to open wounds.

Painkillers for lumbago

Nimesulide, a sulfonanilide painkiller, is an effective pain reliever for lumbago. Take 1 tablet orally once a day after meals, or 100 ml of suspension. There is also Nimesulide in gel form, which is applied and gently rubbed in 2 times a day. Do not use during pregnancy and in children under 12 years of age, in patients with severe liver, heart and kidney failure. Possible drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, urticaria, allergies, anemia, prolonged bleeding time, and impaired hematopoiesis. It is especially dangerous to prescribe the drug in the last months of pregnancy.

Folk treatment of lumbago

Treatment of lumbago by folk medicine methods is, first of all, cupping on the lumbar region, infusion of plum kernels of plum stones (pour 30 g of kernels into 200 ml of plum tincture) and leave for 4 days. Use for rubbing.

Mix 1 horseradish root in a 1:1:1 ratio with flour and salt and make compresses, keeping it on the sore spot for 1 hour.

Take equal parts of lingonberry leaf, angelica root and nettle, pour the mixture into a thermos (1 tbsp. per 500 ml of water) and leave overnight. Drink 0.5 cups in the morning on an empty stomach.

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Treatment of lumbago at home

The best treatment for lumbago at home is bed rest. You can return to active life in 10 days on average. In the acute period of the disease, saunas and exercise therapy are prohibited.

Peel the radish, grate it, spread it on a cloth and apply the compress to the lower back.

Make compresses from valerian tincture.

Make an ointment from the leaves of American agave by grating it and rubbing it in overnight.

Rub in capsicum extract 2 times a day for 14 days.

Massage for lumbago

In case of lumbago, a general warming massage with creams and ointments is used. The masseur strokes and kneads the back muscles for 10-15 minutes. The massage effectively relieves pain and restores the function of the spine. Patting and stroking are used to relieve increased tone. The tissues of the vertebrae receive nutrients necessary for their regeneration during a therapeutic massage session. Electrophoresis is also used, activating local metabolism and defenses. Acupuncture is also successfully used to treat lumbago.

Exercises for lumbago

Gymnastics for lumbago in the acute period:

1. Bend your feet at the ankle joints 5 times.
2. Bend your knees while lying in bed 4 times.
3. Raise your arms up 4 times.
4. Lying in bed, spread and bring your knees together 5 times.
5. Bend your legs and pull your knees towards your stomach 4 times.
6. Lying on your side, raise your arm up, turn over to the other side and raise the other arm 6 times.
7. Lying on your side, bend and straighten your leg at the knee 6 times.

Exercises to do once acute symptoms subside:

1. Place one hand on your chest, the other on your stomach, inhale and pull in your stomach, exhale (6 times).
2. Place your arms along your body, pull your feet towards you (8 times).
3. Lie on your back, bend your arms at the elbows, place them on the floor and make rotating circular movements with your hands. Repeat 12 times.
4. Lying on your back, bend and straighten your knees 12 times.
5. Left hand to the side - look at the hand - right hand to the side.
6. Bicycle with left leg and right leg 10 times.
7. Circular movements with each leg in turn.
8. Raise your arms up and press your knees to your stomach. Straighten your legs. And again. Do the exercise 4 times.

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Prevention

Prevention of lumbago consists of changing your lifestyle to a more active one, avoiding heavy lifting, treating scoliosis and osteochondrosis. Do not overcool your back. Avoid injuries, watch your weight. During pregnancy, you should wear a bandage.

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Forecast

The prognosis for lumbago is positive with timely and adequate treatment. After 14 days, the patient returns to normal life and usual activity.