With back pain complaints, patients turn to doctors almost more often than a cold.Discomfort in the lumbar column can be a symptom of various diseases, but in 80% of cases, doctors diagnose: osteochondrosis.Men and women aged 30 to 50 and over are confronted with him.Recently, osteochondrosis is diagnosed in patients under the age of 25.Prevention, symptoms and treatment of this disease will be analyzed in detail in this article.
It was previously believed that osteochondrosis is inevitability and that disorders in the spine are caused by age -related changes.Modern medicine considers osteochondrosis as a disease that requires treatment and can be avoided, then postponed for many years.
Causes
It is believed that, as such, the cause of lumbar osteochondosis 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 physical exercises, avoiding hiking contributes to the fact that the back muscles weaken and the load on the spine increases.
- Violation of metabolism and endocrine system disease.These processes aggravate the nutrition of tissues in the spine.
- Already existing diseases of the musculoskeletal system:flat feet, curvature of the spine.
- Excessive physical activity, especially weight.The risk zone includes athletes engaged in heavy athletic, movers, working professions associated with the transport of goods.
- Incorrect nutrition, excess weight, insufficient sleep, stress.
Lumbar osteochondrosis degree
Osteochondrosis is gradually developing:
- At the first stage, the pier core inside the vertebral disc begins to move.Consequently, a person feels pain, as the nerve endings of the fibrous ring are compressed.The pain can be local and acute - like a component or long and stupid.
- The second step begins with the destruction of the fibrous ring.The vertebrae become unstable, mobile, cannot fully fulfill their function.The muscles surrounding the spine are in continuous tension.Patients feel fatigue, back of the back as after hard work.
- At the third stage of the development of osteochondrosis, the fibrous ring breaks, the nucleus of the jacket comes out and the hernia of disc shapes.Currently, patients note serious back pain, limiting movements.This happens due to the compression of nerve roots with falling fragments.
- The fourth stage of the disease brings imaginary relief: patients stop feeling painful pain, although motor activity is still limited.The question arises of disability.
- At the last stage of osteochondrosis, bone tissue begins to develop pathologically.
Osteochondrosis cannot be considered as frivolous diseases requiring minimal intervention.In case of pain in the lumbar column, you must consult a doctor who will select a treatment depending on the scene.
Lumbar osteochondrosis symptoms
The first symptom to which patients are immediately careful is pain.Its intensity depends on the stage of the disease, as well as the degree of destruction of the intervertebral disc and the cartilaginous tissues.
The nature of the pain is affected by the presence of projection or hernia.The signs of lumbar osteochondrosis include:
- Pain syndrome in the lumbar column.Patients complain of painful pain, who become sharp with net movements, as well as with a long stay of the body in a position.
- Often, a feeling of weakness or fatigue in the legs, as well as the absence of reflexes tendon legs, joins the pain.
- During a visual examination, a curvature of the spine in the lumbar region is observed.Osteochondrosis can be the result of scoliosis (folding the spine on the right or left, lordosis (when the spine folds forward) and cyphosis (when, on the contrary, natural turns are smoothed).
- Sometimes the vertebrae squeeze the spinal cord, then the patients feel numbness of the lower limbs, in rare cases, an uncontrolled urination and stools occur.
Often, lumbar osteochondrosis is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- decrease in the temperature of the lower limbs, numbness of the lower body;
- Dry skin in the lower back, pallor of the skin;
- violation of perspiration;
- Lack of control over urination.
Diagnosis
Before making a diagnosis, the doctor discovers the nature of the pain, collects an anamnesis, then palpates the lumbar.In addition, the patient is sent to a number of procedures:
- X -Ray.The image shows the state of the spine, you can assess the integrity of intervertebral discs, detect the presence of hernias and protuberances.
- Tomography.Also give an idea of the state of intervertebral discs and also helps to know if there is damage to the cerebral shell.
- MRI.A particularly precise study is used to clarify the diagnosis and details of the general image of the disease.
Diagnosis in a timely time is the key to successful treatment and minimum destruction of the spine.
Complications
You cannot treat loose lumbar osteochondrosis.This current disease can be accompanied by complications that affect quality of life.The most frequent followers of osteochondrosis are:
- protruding and hernies;
- inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- osteophytosis;
- spondylarthrosis;
- stenosis of the vertebral canal with compression, which leads to a violation of the spinal cord;
- lameness;
- Paresis of the lower limbs.
Treatment of lumbar column osteochondrosis
It is impossible to completely cure osteochondrosis, but doctors can stop the development of the disease, eliminate pain and restore motor activity.Patients are prescribed a complete treatment, which begins with a change of lifestyle: balanced nutrition, sleep at eight hours, physical activity (categories of home physiotherapy exercises and in specialized centers), moreover, the selection of the right place to sleep.
If the patient spends more than three hours a day, sitting at the table, it is necessary to change the body position every 40 minutes: take a walk, make several inclinations.
To reduce pain syndrome, drugs, massage, physiotherapy and spine are used.Consequently, all manipulations aim:
- Encouraging effects.
- Elimination of acute pain.
- Strengthen muscles (using load and massage).
- Improvement in blood circulation.
- Restoration of sensitivity in the lower body.
In rare cases, surgery is necessary for treatment.
Drugs
For the treatment of osteochondrosis, drugs in the form of ointments, tablets and injections are used.All drugs are used to relieve pain and the inflammatory process.As a rule, patients are prescribed:
- Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs - Diclofenac, ibuprofen and analogues.
- Analgesics.
- Chondroprotectors.They prevent additional destruction of the cartilage fabric.
- Corticosteroids.
- Music to eliminate muscle spasms.
- Vitamins.
Musorelaxants and antidepressants who have prescribed themselves to relieve spasms must be taken under the strict supervision of a doctor.
How is lumbar osteochondosis treated with physiotherapy?
Often, patients ask the question: is it possible to cure lumbar osteochondosis only of pills?As a rule, drugs are only eliminated by pain, but physiotherapy stops the cause of pain - the destruction of intervertebral discs stimulates metabolic processes and prevents subsequent development of the disease.In the fight against osteochondrosis, they use:
- phonophoresis;
- Darsonvalization;
- diadynamic current;
- Magnetic resonance therapy;
- laser;
- Amplimuls.
The massage is not prescribed during an exacerbation, only when a strong pain attack is eliminated or during the period of remission in the chronic course of the disease.In addition to manual exhibition, doctors advise to visit the sauna to warm up and relax sick muscles, improve blood circulation.Using massage, you can also stimulate blood circulation in the area affected by the disease, normalize tissue nutrition, relax the muscles and turn the moved vertebrae to place.
Therapeutic gymnastics
No ointments and massage can return mobility because the physical education of physiotherapy can turn the spine.An active lifestyle, saving sports, stop the development of osteochondrosis and restores the amplitude of movements.In the early stages of the disease, there is practically no restriction on sports.In more serious cases, it is necessary to start with special therapeutic exercises.The courses must be carried out regularly, the load will gradually increase.
First, each movement can hurt, but it is not a reason to stop treatment.Over time, the muscles will become stronger, the joints are more mobile.
There is no need to attend the gymnasium for this, home lessons will be effective.
Surgery
As a rule, the treatment of lumbar osteochondosis is carried out by conservative methods.Operations are necessary in rare cases.
Surgical intervention is necessary in cases where drugs can no longer be influenced, for example, if there is an intervertebral hernia.The vertebra exceeds the fibrous ring and presses the nerve roots, causing unbearable pain to the patient.In such cases, an operation to remove the disc is necessary.Effective and less traumatic methods are considered a microsurgical and endoscopic intervention.
Folk remedies
Often with back pain, patients try to face the help of folk remedies.It should be remembered that before their use should not consult a doctor and use such treatment only as auxiliary therapy as well as official medicine.Popular remedies are good for their availability, the main ingredients that everyone can find at home.
Folk remedies recipes:
Homemade analgesics
In order to prepare the ointment, you must take 300 ml of alcohol, 10 drops of iodine, analgin in tablets, 10 drops of camphor.All the components are mixed, while the tablets must be crushed in powder.The solution is applied to a painful point.You have to prepare for the fact that camphor gives a slight burning sensation on the skin, which should go within 7 to 10 minutes.
Compress honey and potatoes
A grated raw potato is mixed with a small amount of honey.The resulting mass is applied on the painful point and attached with a cloth.Keep the compress for up to two hours.
Anesthetic ointment with ginger
The grated or finely chopped grated garlic and ginger are mixed with butter.The consistency should be an ointment or a cream.
They rub the lower back at night to eliminate the painful pain that prevents patients from falling asleep.
Baths with herbs
Hot water with herbs relaxes muscles, improves blood circulation, soothes pain and inflammation.
- To treat back pain, a decoction of birch leaves is used.A concentrated solution is added to a bath with water at around 40 degrees.The duration of the procedure is up to 30 minutes.
- The bathroom with brown leaves is well relaxed.The chestnut leaves are brewed with water, brought to a boil and insisted for about an hour.Then the resulting solution is added to the bath.The duration of this procedure is up to 20 minutes.
- The inflammatory and soothing effects are perfusions of chamomile flowers.The pharmacy sells ready to use costs - bags and broadcasting.They must be brewed with hot water and insisted for 30 to 40 minutes.Add the solution finished in the bath.In such a bath, you can go up to 30 minutes.
- Baths with needles relax the muscles and soothe the lower back of the back, but they are contraindicated in allergies.Fir, pine or cedar needles should be poured with water and boiled for 15 to 20 minutes.Add the broth finished in a bath with hot water (about 45 degrees).The time for the procedure is up to 30 minutes.
Remember that a doctor consultation is necessary before taking a bath.Some herbs have contraindications.Remember 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 a panacea of osteochondrosis.
In the fight against this disease, an integrated approach will help you: a combination of an active lifestyle, appropriate nutrition, sports, medical treatment, physiotherapy and folk remedies will contribute to facing lumbar osteochondosis.