With complaints of back pain, patients turn to doctors almost more often than with a cold.Lumbar spine discomfort 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 have faced 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.
Previously it was believed that osteochondrosis is inevitability and spine disorders are caused by age -related changes.Modern medicine considers osteochondrosis as a disease that requires treatment and can be prevented, then delayed for many years.
Causes
It is believed that, as such, the cause of lumbar osteochondrosis cannot be distinguished.The development of the disease causes a group of factors, among which they distinguish:
- A sedentary lifestyle.Working on the computer, the lack of physical exercise, the avoidance of walking contributes to the fact that the back muscles are weakening, and the load on the back is increased.
- Violation of metabolism and disease of the endocrine system.These processes exacerbate spinal column tissue nutrition.
- Already existing diseases of the muscular system:Flat feet, curvature of the spine.
- Excessive physical activity, especially weight lifting.The danger zone includes athletes engaged in heavy athletics, moving, labor -related work occupations.
- Incorrect nutrition, excess weight, insufficient sleep, stress.
The degree of lumbar osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis develops gradually:
- In the first stage, Jetty's nucleus inside the vertebral disc 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 - as a lattice or tall and dumb.
- The second phase begins with the destruction of the fibrous ring.The vertebrae becomes unstable, removable, cannot fully fulfill their function.The muscles surrounding the spine are in constant tension.Patients feel fatigue, rear Ach as after hard work.
- In the third stage in the development of osteochondrosis, the fibrous ring is broken, the jacket core emerges and the hernia of the disk shapes.At this time, patients mark severe back pain, limiting movement.This is due to the compression of the nerve roots with the falling fragments.
- The fourth stage of the disease brings fictional relief: patients cease to experience painful pain, though motor activity is still limited.The disability question arises.
- In the last stage of osteochondrosis, the bone tissue begins to grow pathologically.
Osteochondrosis cannot be considered non -serious diseases that require minimal intervention.In case of pain in the lumbar back, you should consult a doctor who will choose the treatment depending on the stage.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
The first symptom that patients immediately pay attention to is pain.Its intensity depends on the stage of the disease, as well as the degree of destruction of the intervertebral disc and cartilage tissue.
The nature of the pain is affected by the presence of prolongation or hernia.Signs of lumbar osteochondrosis include:
- Lumbar spine pain syndrome.Patients complain of pain pain, which becomes acute with sharp movements, as well as with a long body stay in one position.
- Often, a feeling of weakness or fatigue in the legs, as well as the lack of tendon reflexes, 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 (curvature of the spine on the right or left, lordosis (when the spinal column bends forward) and kyphosis (when, on the contrary, natural curves soften).
- Sometimes the vertebrae tighten the spinal cord, then patients feel numbness of the lower extremities, in rare cases, uncontrolled urination and excrement occurs.
Often lumbar osteochondrosis is associated with the following symptoms:
- lowering the temperature of the lower extremities, numbness of the lower body;
- dry skin at the bottom of the back, pallor of the skin;
- sweating violation;
- Lack of control over urination.
Troubleshooting
Before making a diagnosis, the doctor detects the nature of the pain, collects an anamnesis, then palpon the lumbar.Further, the patient is sent to a number of procedures:
- X -Ray.The photo shows the condition of the spinal column, you can evaluate the integrity of the intervertebral discs, discover the presence of hernia and extension.
- Tomography.It 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.
- MRIA particularly accurate study is used to clarify the diagnosis and details of the general figure of the disease.
Timely diagnosis is key to successful treatment and minimal spinal cord destruction.
Complications
You cannot treat lumbar osteochondrosis in a non -sisorrous way.This common disease can be associated with complications that affect the quality of life.The most common followers of osteochondrosis are:
- Protrusion and hernias;
- inflammation of the sciatica;
- osteophytosis;
- spondylarthrosis;
- Compression spinal stenosis, which leads to a spinal cord violation;
- madness;
- The paresis of the lower extremities.
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine
It is impossible to fully cure osteochondrosis, but doctors are able to stop developing the disease, eliminating pain and restoring motor activity.Patients are prescribed a comprehensive treatment, which begins with a change in lifestyle: balanced nutrition, eighth sleep, physical activity (class of home physiotherapy exercises and in specialized centers), in addition, choosing 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 body's position every 40 minutes: take a walk, make some trends.
To reduce pain syndrome, medicines, massage, physiotherapy and spinal withdrawal are used.As a result, all manipulations are intended:
- Encouraging effects.
- Elimination of acute pain.
- Strengthening muscle (using charging and massage).
- Improving blood circulation.
- Restoring sensitivity to the lower body.
In rare cases, surgical intervention is needed for treatment.
Treatment
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.Typically, patients are prescribed:
- Josteroidal anti -inflammatory drugs - diclofenac, ibuprofen and analog.
- Analgesic.
- Chondroprotectors.They prevent further destruction of the cartilage fabric.
- Corticosteroids.
- Music to remove muscle spasm.
- Vitamins.
Musorexants and antidepressants who are prescribed to facilitate spasm should be taken under the strict supervision of a physician.
How is lumbar osteochondrosis treated with physiotherapy?
Often patients ask the question: Is it possible to cure only lumbar osteochondrosis pills?As a rule, medicines are removed only by pain, but physiotherapy stops the cause of the pain - the destruction of the intervertebral discs, stimulates metabolic processes and prevents further development of the disease.In the fight against osteochondrosis, they use:
- phonophoresis;
- darsonvalization;
- Diadyamic current;
- Magnetic resonance therapy;
- laser;
- Amplimuls.
Massage is not described during an irritation, only when a strong pain attack is removed or during the period of remission in the chronic course of the disease.In addition to manual exposure, doctors advise to visit the sauna to warm up and soothe the diseased 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 the muscles and turn the moved to the site.
Therapeutic
No ointments and massage are able to restore mobility as physical education of physiotherapy can turn the spine.An active lifestyle, saving sports, stop the development of osteochondrosis and restore amplitude of movements.In the initial stages of the disease, there are virtually no restrictions on sports.In more serious cases, it is necessary to start with special therapeutic exercises.Classes should be performed regularly, the load will gradually increase.
First, any movement can damage, 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 participate in the gym for this, the home classes will be effective.
Surgical intervention
Typically, the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is performed by conservative methods.Operations are required in rare cases.
Surgical intervention is necessary in cases where medicines can no longer be affected, for example, if there is an intervertebral hernia.The vertebra lasts from the fibrous rings and crushes in the nerve roots, causing unbearable pain to the patient.In such cases, surgery is required to remove the disk.Effective and less traumatic methods are considered microsurgical and endoscopic interference.
Folk remedies
Often with pain in the back, patients are trying to cope with the help of popular remedies.It should be remembered that before using them should consult a physician and use such treatment only as an assistive therapy along with official medicine.Folk remedies are good for their availability, the main ingredients that everyone can find at home.
Popular legal recipes:
Soothing
To prepare the oil, you need to take 300 ml of alcohol, 10 drops of iodine, analgin in tablets, 10 drops of camphor.All ingredients are mixed, while the tablets should be crushed into the powder.The solution is applied to a sore spot.You need to prepare for the fact that camphor gives a slight burning sensation to the skin, which should spend within 7-10 minutes.
Compress from honey and potatoes
A crude minced potato is mixed with a small amount of honey.The resulting mass is applied to the injured site and connected to a cloth.Keep the compression for up to two hours.
Ginger anesthetic oil
Garlic and minced or chopped ginger is mixed with butter.Consistency should be like an oil or cream.
They rub the lower back at night to eliminate the painful pain that prevents patients from falling asleep.
Herb
Warm water with herb 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 water bath about 40 degrees.The duration of the procedure is up to 30 minutes.
- The bathroom with brown leaves is well smooth.Horse chestnut leaves are produced with water, brought to a boil and insisted for about an hour.Then the resulting solution is added to the bathroom.The duration of this procedure is up to 20 minutes.
- The inflammatory and soothing effects have infusions of chamomile flowers.The pharmacy sells ready -made fees - bags and distribution.They should be created with hot water and insisted for 30-40 minutes.Add the finished solution to the bathroom.In such a bath you can spend up to 30 minutes.
- Needles baths relax the muscles and soothe the lower painful part, but they are contraindicated in allergies.Spruce, pine or cedar needles should be poured with water and boiled for 15-20 minutes.Add the finished soup to a hot water bath (about 45 degrees).The procedure time is up to 30 minutes.
Remember that consulting a doctor is required before taking a bath.Some herbs have contraindications.It should be remembered that hot baths are not told to patients with cardiovascular disease.In addition, it cannot be treated with baths and other popular remedies as a drug from osteochondrosis.
In the fight against this disease, an integrated approach will help: a combination of active lifestyle, proper nutrition, sports, medical treatment, physiotherapy and popular remedies will help cope with lumbar osteochondrosis.