With complaints of back pain, 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 faced with him.Recently, osteochondrosis is 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 previously believed that osteochondrosis is the inevitability and disorders in the spine are caused by age -related changes.Modern medicine considers osteochondrosis as a disease that requires treatment and which can be prevented, then postponed for many years.
Causes
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 at the computer, the lack of physical exercises, avoiding hiking contributes to the fact that the back muscles are weakening, and the load on the spine increases.
- Violation of metabolism and disease of the endocrine system.These processes worsen the nutrition of tissues of the spinal column.
- Already existing diseases of the musculoskeletal system:flat feet, curvature of the spine.
- Excessive physical activity, especially weight lifting.The risk zone includes athletes engaged in heavy athletics, movers, working professions associated with transportation of goods.
- Incorrect nutrition, excess weight, insufficient sleep, stress.
Degree of lumbar osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis develops gradually:
- At the first stage, the jetty core inside the vertebral disk begins to shift.As a result, a person feels pain, as the nerve endings in the fibrous ring are compressed.The pain can be local and acute - like a shutter or long and dumb.
- The second stage 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, the back achs as after hard work.
- At the third stage in the development of osteochondrosis, the fibrous ring breaks, the jacket core comes out, and the hernia of the disk forms.At this time, patients note severe back pain, limiting movement.This occurs due to compression of the nerve roots with falling fragments.
- The fourth stage of the disease brings imaginary relief: patients cease to experience painful pain, although motor activity is still limited.The question arises of disability.
- At the last stage of osteochondrosis, bone tissue begins to pathologically grow.
Osteochondrosis cannot be considered frivolous diseases requiring minimal intervention.In case of pain in the lumbar spine, you need to consult a doctor who will select treatment depending on the stage.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar
The first symptom to which patients immediately pay attention to is pain.Its intensity depends on the stage of the disease, as well as on the degree of destruction of the intervertebral disc and cartilaginous tissues.
The nature of the pain is affected by the presence of protrusion or hernia.Signs of lumbar osteochondrosis include:
- Pain syndrome in the lumbar spine.Patients complain of aching pain, which becomes acute with sharp movements, as well as with a long stay of the body in one position.
- Often, a sense of weakness or fatigue in the legs, as well as the absence of tendon reflexes of the 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 (bending the spine to the right or left, lordosis (when the spinal column bends forward) and kyphosis (when, on the contrary, natural bends are smoothed out).
- Sometimes the vertebrae clamp the spinal cord, then patients feel numbness of the lower extremities, in rare cases, uncontrolled urination and stool occurs.
Often the lumbar osteochondrosis is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- decrease in the temperature of the lower extremities, numbness of the lower body;
- dry skin in the lower back, pallor of the skin;
- violation of sweating;
- Lack of control over urination.
Diagnostics
Before making a diagnosis, the doctor finds out the nature of the pain, collects an anamnesis, then palpates the lumbar.Further, the patient is sent to a number of procedures:
- X -ray.The picture shows the state of the spinal column, you can evaluate the integrity of the intervertebral discs, detect the presence of hernias and protrusions.
- Tomography.Also gives an idea of the condition of the intervertebral discs, and also helps to find out if there is damage to the cerebral shell.
- MRI.A particularly accurate study is used to clarify the diagnosis and details of the general picture of the disease.
Timely diagnosis is the key to successful treatment and minimal destruction of the spine.
Complications
You can not treat lumbar osteochondrosis frivolously.This common disease can be accompanied by complications that affect the quality of life.The most frequent followers of osteochondrosis are:
- protrusion and hernias;
- inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- osteophytosis;
- spondylarthrosis;
- stenosis of the spinal canal with compression, which leads to a violation of the spinal cord;
- lameness;
- Paresis of the lower extremities.
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 comprehensive treatment, which begins with a change in lifestyle: balanced nutrition, eight -hour sleep, physical activity (classes of physiotherapy exercises of the house and in specialized centers), in addition, the selection of the right place for sleeping.
If the patient spends more than three hours a day, sitting at the table, then it is necessary to change the position of the body every 40 minutes: take a walk, make several inclinations.
To reduce the pain syndrome, medicines, massage, physiotherapy and spinal traction are used.As a result, all manipulations are aimed at:
- Encouraging effects.
- Elimination of acute pain.
- Strengthening muscles (using charging and massage).
- Improving blood circulation.
- Restoration of sensitivity in the lower body.
In rare cases, surgical intervention is necessary for treatment.
Drug treatment
For the treatment of osteochondrosis, drugs in the form of ointments, tablets, as well as injections are used.All drugs are used to relieve pain and inflammatory process.Typically, patients are prescribed:
- Nonsteroidal anti -inflammatory drugs - diclofenac, ibuprofen and analogues.
- Analgesics.
- Chondroprotectors.They prevent the further destruction of cartilage fabric.
- Corticosteroids.
- Music to removing muscle spasm.
- Vitamins.
Musorelaxants and antidepressants who are 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 lumbar osteochondrosis only pills?As a rule, drugs are removed only by pain, but physiotherapy stops the cause of pain - the destruction of the intervertebral discs, stimulates metabolic processes, and prevents the further development of the disease.In the fight against osteochondrosis, they use:
- phonophoresis;
- darsonvalization;
- diadynamic current;
- magnetic resonance therapy;
- laser;
- amplimuls.
Massage is not prescribed during an exacerbation, only when a strong attack of pain is removed or during the period of remission in the chronic course of the disease.In addition to manual exposure, doctors advise visiting the sauna to warm up and relax the sick muscles, improve blood circulation.With the help of massage, you can also stimulate blood circulation in the area affected by the disease, normalize tissue nutrition, relax muscles, and return displaced vertebrae to place.
Therapeutic gymnastics
No ointments and massage are able to return the mobility as the physiotherapy physical education can return the spine.An active lifestyle, sparing sports, stop the development of osteochondrosis and restore the amplitude of movements.In the initial stages of the disease, there are practically no restrictions on sports.In more serious cases, it is necessary to start with special therapeutic exercises.Classes should be carried out regularly, the load will increase gradually.
First, each movement can hurt, but this is not a reason to stop treatment.Over time, the muscles will become stronger, the joints are more mobile.
It is not necessary to attend the gym for this, classes at home will be effective.
Surgical intervention
Typically, the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is carried out by conservative methods.Operations are required in rare cases.
Surgical intervention is necessary in cases where medication can no longer be influenced, for example, if there is an intervertebral hernia.The vertebra protrudes from the fibrous ring and presses on the nerve roots, causing unbearable pain to the patient.In such cases, an operation to remove the disk is required.Effective and least traumatic methods are considered microsurgical and endoscopic intervention.
Folk remedies
Often with back pain, patients are trying to cope with the help of folk remedies.It must be remembered that before their use should consult a doctor and use such treatment only as an auxiliary therapy along with official medicine.Folk remedies are good for their availability, the main ingredients everyone can find at home.
Folk remedies recipes:
Homemade painkillers
In order to prepare the ointment, you need to take 300 ml of alcohol, 10 drops of iodine, analgin in tablets, 10 drops of camphor.All components are mixed, while the tablets must be crushed into powder.The solution is applied to a sore spot.You need to 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
A grated raw potato is mixed with a small amount of honey.The resulting mass is applied to the sore spot and tied with a cloth.Keep the compress for up to two hours.
Anesthetic ointment with ginger
Grated or finely chopped garlic and ginger is mixed with butter.The consistency should be like an ointment or cream.
They rub the lower back at night to eliminate the aching pain that prevents patients from falling asleep.
Baths with herbs
Warm 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 about 40 degrees.The duration of the procedure is up to 30 minutes.
- The bathroom with brown leaves is well relaxed.The leaves of horse chestnut 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.
- Inflammatory and soothing effects are have infusions of chamomile flowers.The pharmacy sell ready -made fees - bags and scattering.They need to be brewed with hot water and insisted for 30-40 minutes.Add the finished solution to the bath.In such a bath you can spend up to 30 minutes.
- Baths with needles relax the muscles and soothe the sore lower back, but they are contraindicated in allergies.The needles of fir, pine or cedar 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 time of the procedure is up to 30 minutes.
Remember that a doctor’s consultation is required before taking a bath.Some herbs have contraindications.It must be remembered that hot baths are not shown to patients with cardiovascular diseases.In addition, one cannot be treated with baths and other folk remedies as a panacea from osteochondrosis.
In the fight against this disease, an integrated approach will help: a combination of an active lifestyle, proper nutrition, sports, medical treatment, physiotherapy and folk remedies will help to cope with lumbar osteochondrosis.