Mr. Li, 35 years old, was unable to walk on his feet due to acute pain in his waist caused by blowing the air conditioner. Normal sleep was affected at night. His self-care was limited and he was miserable. He came to the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Rehabilitation Medicine of our hospital to seek help. After a acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, his waist pain symptoms were greatly relieved and he could walk freely. Let's talk about some knowledge about acute lumbar sprains.
Acute lumbar sprain is an acute tear caused by sudden excessive pulling of soft tissues such as muscles, fascia, and ligaments in the lower back. It usually leads to lower back pain and restricted movement. This situation is prone to occur when bending down to lift heavy objects or when the muscles in the waist contract forcefully.
Acute lumbar sprains often occur during physical labor and exercise. When injured, there may be noise or back pain in the waist. It is common to have severe back pain, or mild back pain when still, severe back pain when bending over, and aggravated back pain when coughing or sneezing. Difficulty in movement can also occur in the waist, where the waist cannot be straightened or twisted, making it difficult to turn over or sit up. The waist and back can also be compressed and stiff, forming a "plate-like waist" shape with unbearable pain. So, acute lumbar sprain is generally diagnosed through three stages: medical history, physical examination, and X-ray examination.
How should we handle acute lumbar sprains if we are not careful? Firstly, we must try to minimize unnecessary activities, rest in bed to reduce weight, and medication and physical therapy can alleviate symptoms, reduce pain, and promote recovery. Do not perform massage or orthopedic treatment without a clear diagnosis.
Again, we can use salt and ice therapy for treatment. Injury to the lumbar muscles may result in local swelling leading to hematoma and bruising. Within 24 hours of acute sprain, ice compress can be applied by wrapping ice cubes in a towel and applying them to the twisted area. The cold can be used to constrict capillaries, reduce local bleeding, and have anti-inflammatory and anti swelling effects. It should be noted that hot compress should not be used within 48 hours after sprain, and gradually switched to hot compress after 48 hours. Hot compress can dissipate local bruising.
Finally, of course, the protagonist is our quintessence - acupuncture and moxibustion! Acupuncture and moxibustion is used immediately for acute lumbar sprain, and one needle will work! Next, let's learn a few simple and super effective special acupoints together!
1. Lower back pain points. Lower back pain acupoints are used to treat lower back pain caused by various reasons; Intervertebral disc herniation; Ankylosing spondylitis; Acute lumbar sprain; lumbar muscle degeneration; Sciatica; Various types of back pain with unknown causes. The body surface is located in the center of the forehead, with an artificial cross drawn at the midpoint (1.5 inches above the Yin Tang acupoint). Insert a flat needle of 3-5cm, and instruct the patient to slowly perform lumbar flexion and extension, as well as squatting exercises after insertion.
2. Lower back pain points. The lower back pain points belong to the extraordinary acupoints outside the meridians, with two on one side. They are mainly used to treat acute lumbar sprains. A one inch needle can be used, and the needle can be inserted about 0.5 inches into the palm direction. The effect is better after strong stimulation.
3. Local Ashi acupoint. Acupuncture at pain points and disease sites can directly promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, unblock collaterals, and relieve pain. After acupuncture, we still need to pay attention to rest in the waist, mainly in bed. Avoid lumbar fatigue or catching a cold in the waist, and reduce sitting, squatting, and bending postures, otherwise it may trigger lumbar pain again.
4. Houxi Cave. Houxi acupoint is the intersection of the eight meridians that connect to the Du meridian. Lower back pain belongs to the injury of the Du meridian, so when twisting the waist, especially in the middle, needling Houxi acupoint has a particularly good effect.
The following points are precautions for preventing acute lumbar sprains: ① Strictly follow the operating procedures for physical labor and avoid brute force. ② In labor, one should concentrate and avoid accidental injuries. ③ When carrying heavy objects, one should adopt a correct working posture such as a half squat position, and try to make the object as close to the body as possible. ④ Strengthen labor protection. When performing heavy physical labor such as carrying, lifting, carrying, and lifting, it is recommended to use a waist belt to assist in stabilizing the waist and spine. ⑤ It is recommended to do some exercises such as plank support to increase the stability of the core muscle group and strengthen the core stability of the trunk.