With back pain complaints, patients turn to doctors almost more often than with a cold.Discomfort in the lumbar spine can be a symptom of various diseases, but in 80% of cases doctors diagnose: osteochondrosis.Both men and women from 30 to 50 years old and older are facing it.Osteochondrosis has recently been diagnosed in patients under 25 years of age.Prevention, symptoms and treatment of this disease will be analyzed in detail in this article.
It was earlier that osteochondrosis was inevitable and spinal disorders were caused by age -related changes.Modern medicine considers osteochondrosis to be a disease that requires treatment and can be prevented and then delayed for many years.
Reasons
It is believed that as such, the cause of lumbar osteochondrosis cannot be distinguished.The development of the disease triggers a set of factors among which they distinguish:
- A sedentary lifestyle.Working on the computer, the lack of exercise, the avoidance of tourism contributes to the fact that the posterior muscles weaken and the load on the spine increases.
- Disruption of metabolism and the disease of the endocrine system.These processes impair the nutrition of the tissues of the spine.
- Already existing diseases of the musculoskeletal system:Flat legs, spine curvature.
- Excessive physical activity, especially weight lifting.The risk zone includes athletes engaged in heavy athletics, hammers, working professions related to the transport of goods.
- Improper nutrition, excess weight, insufficient sleep, stress.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis develops gradually:
- In the first stage, the core of the port inside the vertebrae begins to shift.As a result, a person experiences pain as the nerve endings in the fibrous ring are compressed.The pain can be local and acute - as a prison or long and dumb.
- The second stage begins with the destruction of the fibrous ring.The vertebrae becomes unstable, mobile, they cannot fully fulfill their function.The muscles around the spine are in continuous tension.Patients experience fatigue, the rear ACHS like after hard work.
- In the third stage of the development of osteochondrosis, the fibrous ring breaks, the core of the jacket comes out and the hernia of the disc is formed.At that time, patients marked severe back pain, limiting movement.This happens due to compression of nerve roots with falling fragments.
- The fourth stage of the disease carries imaginary relief: patients cease to experience painful pain, although motor activity is still limited.The question arises for damage.
- In the last stage of osteochondrosis, bone tissue begins to grow pathologically.
Osteochondrosis cannot be considered frivolous diseases requiring minimal intervention.In the case of lumbar spine pain, you should consult a doctor who will choose the treatment depending on the scene.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar
The first symptom that patients immediately pay attention to is the pain.Its intensity depends on the stage of the disease, as well as on the degree of destruction of the intervertebral disc and cartilage tissues.
The nature of the pain is influenced by the presence of convexity or hernia.The signs of lumbar osteochondrosis include:
- Lumbar spine pain syndrome.Patients complain of sick pain that becomes acute with acute movements, as well as a long stay of the body in one position.
- Often the feeling of weakness or fatigue in the legs, as well as the lack of tendon reflexes of the legs, joins the pain.
- During visual examination, a curvature of the spine in the lumbar region is observed.Osteochondrosis may be the result of scoliosis (bending of the spine to the right or left, lordosis (when the spinal column bends forward) and kyphosis (when, on the contrary, natural turns are smoothed).
- Sometimes the vertebrae squeeze the spinal cord, then patients feel numbness of the lower limbs, in rare cases uncontrolled urination and stool occur.
Often lumbar osteochondrosis is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Reduction of lower limb temperature, numbness of the lower body;
- dry skin at the lower back, pale skin;
- sweating impairment;
- Lack of control over urination.
Diagnostics
Before diagnosing, the doctor discovers the nature of the pain, collects anamnesis, and then palpates the lumbar.In addition, the patient is sent to a number of procedures:
- X -ray.The picture shows the condition of the spine, you can evaluate the integrity of the intervertebral discs, find the presence of hernia and convexity.
- Tomography.It also gives an idea of the condition of the intervertebral discs, and also helps to understand if there is a brain wrap.
- MRI.A particularly accurate study is used to clarify the diagnosis and details of the overall picture of the disease.
Timely diagnosis is the key to successful treatment and minimal destruction of the spine.
Complications
You cannot treat lumbar osteochondrosis frivolously.This common disease can be accompanied by complications that affect the quality of life.The most common followers of osteochondrosis are:
- convexity and hernia;
- sciatic nerve inflammation;
- osteophitosis;
- spondylartrosis;
- stenosis of the spinal canal with compression, which leads to disorder of the spinal cord;
- lame;
- Paresis of the lower limbs.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
It is impossible to completely cure osteochondrosis, but doctors are able to stop the development of the disease, eliminate pain and restore motor activity.Patients are prescribed complete treatment, which begins with a change in lifestyle: balanced nutrition, eight hours of sleep, physical activity (classes of physiotherapy exercises in the house and in specialized centers), in addition to the selection of the right place to sleep.
If the patient spends more than three hours a day sitting on the table, then it is necessary to change the position of the body every 40 minutes: walk, make a few inclinations.
Medicines, massage, physiotherapy and spinal adhesion are used to reduce pain syndrome.As a result, all manipulations are directed to:
- Encouraging effects.
- Elimination of acute pain.
- Muscle strengthening (using charging and massage).
- Improvement of blood circulation.
- Restoration of lower body sensitivity.
In rare cases, surgery is required for treatment.
Medication
For the treatment of osteochondrosis, medicines in the form of ointments, tablets, and injections are used.All medicines are used to relieve pain and inflammatory process.Patients are usually prescribed:
- Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs - diclofenac, ibuprofen and analogs.
- Analgesics.
- Chondroprotectors.They prevent more and more destruction of cartilage tissue.
- Corticosteroids.
- Music to remove muscle spasm.
- Vitamins.
Mussorelaxants and antidepressants prescribed to relieve spasm should be taken under the strict supervision of a doctor.
How is lumbar osteochondrosis treated with physiotherapy?
Often patients ask the question: Is it possible to cure only lumbar osteochondrosis pills?As a rule, drugs are removed only by pain, but physiotherapy stops the cause of the pain - the destruction of the intervertebral discs, stimulates metabolic processes and prevents the disease from developing more.In the fight against osteochondrosis, they use:
- phonophoresis;
- Darsonvalization;
- diadynamic current;
- magnetic resonance therapy;
- laser;
- Amplimuls.
Massage is not prescribed during exacerbation only when a severe pain attack or during the remission period is eliminated in the chronic course of the disease.In addition to manual exposure, doctors advise to visit the sauna for warming and relaxing the diseased muscles, improving blood circulation.With the help of a massage, you can also stimulate blood circulation in the area affected by the disease, normalize tissue nutrition, relax the muscles and return the displaced vertebrae.
Therapeutic gymnastics
No ointments and massage are able to restore mobility, as physical education of physiotherapy can return the spine.An active lifestyle, sparing sports, stopping the development of osteochondrosis and restoration of movement amplitude.There are virtually no restrictions on sports in the initial stages of the disease.In more serious cases, you need to start with special therapeutic exercises.The classes must be performed regularly, the load will increase gradually.
First, any movement can hurt, but this is not a reason for stopping treatment.Over time, the muscles will become stronger, the joints are more mobile.
You do not need to attend the gym for this, at home classes will be effective.
Surgery
Usually, the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is performed by conservative methods.In rare cases, operations are required.
Surgical intervention is necessary in cases where drugs can no longer be influenced, for example, if there is an intervertebral hernia.The vertebra sticks out of the fibrous ring and presses on the nerve roots, causing intolerable pain to the patient.In such cases, surgery is required to remove the disc.Effective and less traumatic methods are considered to be microsurgical and endoscopic intervention.
Folk remedies
Often, back pain patients try to cope with folk remedies.It should be remembered that before their use should consult a doctor and use such treatment only as ancillary therapy with official medicine.Folk remedies are useful for their availability, the main ingredients that anyone can find at home.
Folk Medicine Recipes:
Domestic painkillers
To prepare the ointment, you need to take 300 ml of alcohol, 10 drops of iodine, analine in tablets, 10 drops of camphor.All components are mixed while the tablets should be lubricated.The solution is applied to a sore spot.You should be prepared for the fact that the camphor gives a slight burning sensation on the skin, which should pass within 7-10 minutes.
Compress from honey and potatoes
The city raw potatoes are mixed with a small amount of honey.The resulting mass is applied to the inflamed stain and rotated with a towel.Keep the compress for up to two hours.
Anesthetic ginger ointment
The sliced or finely chopped garlic and ginger are mixed with butter.The consistency should be like an ointment or cream.
They rub the lower back at night to eliminate the pain that prevents patients from falling asleep.
Herbs
Warm water with herbs relaxes muscles, improves blood circulation, soothes pain and inflammation.
- A decoction of birch leaves is used to treat back pain.The concentrated solution is added to a bath with water about 40 degrees.The duration of the procedure is up to 30 minutes.
- The bathroom with brown leaves is well calm.Horse chestnut leaves are boiled with water, bring to a boil and insist for about an hour.The resulting solution is then added to the bathroom.The duration of this procedure is up to 20 minutes.
- Inflammatory and soothing effects have infusions of chamomile flowers.The pharmacy sells ready -made charges - bags and dispersion.They should be cooked with warm water and insist for 30-40 minutes.Add the finished solution to the bathroom.You can spend up to 30 minutes in such a bathroom.
- Needle baths relax the muscles and soothe the inflamed lower back, but they are contraindicated in allergies.Ella, pine or cedar needles should be poured with water and boiled for 15-20 minutes.Add the finished broth to a bath with hot (about 45 degrees) water.The procedure is up to 30 minutes.
Remember that a doctor consult a consultation before bathing.Some herbs have contraindications.It should be remembered that hot baths are not shown to patients with cardiovascular disease.In addition, one cannot be treated with baths and other folk remedies such as osteochondrosis panacea.
In the fight against this disease, the integrated approach will help: a combination of an active lifestyle, proper nutrition, sports, medical treatment, physiotherapy and folk remedies will help to deal with lumbar osteochondrosis.