In the event of complaints about back pain, patients turn to doctors almost more often than with a cold.Discomfort in the lumbar spine can be a symptom of different diseases, but in 80% of cases the doctors diagnose: osteochondrosis.Both men and women from 30 to 50 years and older are confronted with him.Osteochondrosis has recently been diagnosed in patients under the age of 25.Prevention, symptoms and treatment of this disease are analyzed in detail in this article.
It was previously assumed that osteochondrosis is inevitable and disorders in the spine are caused by age -related changes.Modern medicine sees osteochondrosis as an illness that requires treatment and which prevents it and can then be postponed for many years.
Causes
It is believed that the cause of lumbar osteochondrosis cannot be distinguished.The development of the disease triggers a number of factors from which they distinguish:
- A sitting lifestyle.When you work on the computer, the lack of physical exercises, avoiding hiking, contributes to the fact that the back muscles weaken and the strain on the spine increases.
- Violation of the metabolism and illness of the endocrine system.These processes worsen the diet of tissues of the spine.
- Existing diseases of the musculoskeletal system:Flat feet, curvature of the spine.
- Excessive physical activity, especially weight lifting.The risk zone includes athletes who deal with severe athletics, moving purchases and appointments in connection with the transport of goods.
- Improper nutrition, excess weight, insufficient sleep, stress.
Degree of lumbar osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis gradually develops:
- In the first stage, the bracket core begins to change within the vertebral disc.As a result, a person has pain because the nerve endings are compressed in the fibrous ring.The pain can be locally and acute - like a closure or long and stupid.
- The second stage begins with the destruction of the fibrous ring.The vertebrae are unstable, mobile and cannot fully perform their function.The muscles that surround the spine are continuous.The patients feel tiredness, the backs like after hard work.
- In the third stage in the development of osteochondrosis, the fibrous ring breaks, the jacket core comes out and the hernia of the disc shapes.Zu diesem Zeitpunkt bemerken die Patienten schwere Rückenschmerzen und begrenzen die Bewegung.Dies geschieht aufgrund der Kompression der Nervenwurzeln mit fallenden Fragmenten.
- The fourth stage of the disease brings an imaginary relief: patients no longer have painful pain, although motor activity is still limited.The question arises.
- At the last stage of osteochondrosis, the bone tissue grows pathological.
Osteochondrosis cannot be regarded as recouraged diseases that require minimal interventions.In the event of pain in the lumbar spine, you must consult a doctor who selects the treatment depending on the stage.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
The first symptom that immediately pay attention to the patient is pain.Its intensity depends on the stage of the disease and on the degree of destruction of the intermediate disk and the cartilaginous tissue.
The nature of the pain is influenced by the presence of lead or hernia.Signs of lumbar osteochondrosis include:
- Pain syndrome in the lumbar spine.The patients complain about painful pain, which are acute with sharp movements and with a long stay in the body in one position.
- Often a feeling of weakness or fatigue in the legs and the lack of tendon reflexes of the legs closes with the pain.
- A curvature of the spine in the lumbar area is observed during a visual examination.Osteochondrosis can be the result of scoliosis (bend of the spine to the right or left, lordosis (if the spine bends forward) and kyphosis (if on the contrary, natural bends smoothed).
- Sometimes the vertebrae clamps the spinal cord, then the patients feel deaf in rare cases
The lumbar osteochondrosis is often accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Acceptance of the temperature of the lower extremities, numbness of the lower body;
- Dry skin in the lower back, nonsense of the skin;
- Violation of sweating;
- Lack of control over urination.
Diagnosis
Before the diagnosis, the doctor finds out the type of pain, collects an anamnesis and then gropes the lumbar spine.In addition, the patient is sent to a number of procedures:
- X -Ray.The image shows the condition of the spine, you can evaluate the integrity of the intermediate disks and recognize the presence of hernia and protrusions.
- Tomography.Also gives an idea of the condition of the intermediate disc discs and also helps to find out whether the brain shell is damaged.
- MRI.A particularly precise study is used to clarify the diagnosis and details of the general image of the disease.
The timely diagnosis is the key to successful treatment and minimal destruction of the spine.
Complications
You cannot treat the osteochondrosis lumbar lightly.This common illness can be accompanied by complications that influence the quality of life.The most common supporters of osteochondrosis are:
- Ahead and hernia;
- Inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
- Osteophytosis;
- Spondylarthrosis;
- Stenosis of the vertebral canal with compression, which leads to a violation of the spinal cord;
- Lameness;
- Parese of the lower extremities.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
It is impossible to heal osteochondrosis completely, but doctors can stop the development of the disease, eliminate pain and restore motor activity.Patients are prescribed comprehensive treatment that begins with a change in the lifestyle: balanced diet, eight -hour sleep, physical activity (classes of physiotherapy exercises of the house and in specialized centers) in addition the selection of the right place to sleep.
If the patient spends more than three hours a day and sits at the table, the position of the body must be changed every 40 minutes: take a walk, make several inclinations.
To reduce pain syndrome, medication, massage, physiotherapy and spinal traction are used.As a result, all manipulations are directed:
- Encourable effects.
- Elimination of acute pain.
- Strengthening the muscles (with load and massage).
- Improvement of blood circulation.
- Restoration of sensitivity in the lower body.
In rare cases, surgical intervention is required for treatment.
Drug treatment
Medicines in the form of ointments, tablets and injections are used to treat osteochondrosis.All medications are used to relieve pain and anti -inflammatory processes.Typically, patients are prescribed:
- Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory medication - diclofenac, ibuprofen and analogue.
- Analgetics.
- Chondroprotectors.They prevent the further destruction of cartilage tissue.
- Corticosteroids.
- Music to remove muscle cramp.
- Vitamins.
Musorelaxants and antidepressants that are prescribed to relieve cramp should be taken under the strict supervision of a doctor.
How is lumbar osteochondrosis treated with physiotherapy?
Patients often ask the question: Is it possible to cure pills of lumbar osteochondrosis?As a rule, medicines are only removed by pain, but physiotherapy stops the cause of the pain - the destruction of the intervertebral discs, stimulates metabolic processes and prevents the disease.In the fight against osteochondrosis, use:
- Phonophoresis;
- Darsonvalization;
- diaynamic current;
- Magnetic resonance therapy;
- Laser;
- Amplimuls.
The massage is not prescribed during an aggravation, only if a severe pain attack is removed or during the remission period in the chronic course of the disease.In addition to manual exposure, doctors recommend visiting the sauna to warm up and relax the sick muscles and improve blood circulation.With the help of the massage, you can also stimulate the blood circulation in the area affected by the disease, normalize the tissue nutrition, relax the muscles and resume displaced vertebrae.
Therapeutic gymnastics
No ointments and massages can return mobility because physiotherapy sports lessons can bring back the spine.An active lifestyle, economical sport, stop the development of osteochondrosis and restore the amplitude of the movements.In the early stages of the disease, there are practically no restrictions on sport.In more serious cases, it is necessary to start with special therapeutic exercises.The lessons should be carried out regularly, the load gradually increases.
First, every movement can hurt, but this is no reason to stop treatment.Over time, the muscles become stronger, the joints are more mobile.
It is not necessary to take part in the gym.The lessons at home will be effective.
Surgical intervention
Typically, the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is carried out using conservative methods.Operations are required in rare cases.
Surgical intervention is required in cases where medication can no longer be influenced, for example afterwards when writing.The vertebrae protrudes from the fibrous ring and presses on the nerve roots, which causes the patient unbearable pain.In such cases, surgery is required to remove the hard drive.Effective and the least traumatic methods are viewed as microsurgical and endoscopic intervention.
Folk remedy
Patients with back pain often try to deal with folk remedies.It must be remembered that before use, consult a doctor and that such treatment should only apply as auxiliary therapy together with official medicine.People's funds are good for their availability, the main ingredients that everyone can find at home.
People's remedies recipes:
Homemade painkillers
To prepare the ointment, you need to take 300 ml of alcohol, 10 drops of iodine, analgin in tablets and 10 drops of camphor.All components are mixed while the tablets have to be crushed into powder.The solution is applied to a aching point.You must be prepared for the camphor to give a slightly burning feeling on the skin that should pass within 7 to 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 painful point and bound with a cloth.Keep the compress for up to two hours.
Anaesthesie salbe with ginger
Grated 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 painful pain, prevent the patients from falling asleep.
Baths with herbs
Warm water with herbs relaxes the muscles, improves blood circulation, calms pain and inflammation.
- To treat back pain, the decoction of birch leaves is used.A concentrated solution is placed in a bathroom with water with a water of about 40 degrees.The duration of the procedure is up to 30 minutes.
- The bathroom with brown leaves is well relaxed.The leaves of the horse chestnut are brewed with water, brought to a boil and exist for about an hour.Then the resulting solution is added to the bathroom.The duration of this procedure is up to 20 minutes.
- Inflammatory and calming effects have infusions of chamomile flowers.The pharmacy sells standby fees - bags and scatter.They have to be brewed with hot water and passed 30-40 minutes.Add the finished solution to the bathroom.You can spend up to 30 minutes in such a bath.
- Baths with needles relax the muscles and calm down the painful lower back, but they are contraindicated in allergies.The needles of firs, pine or cedar should be poured with water and cooked for 15 to 20 minutes.Add the finished broth into a bath with hot 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 patients with cardiovascular diseases are not shown hot baths.In addition, you cannot be treated with baths and other folk remedies as a panacea made of osteochondrosis.
In the fight against this disease, an integrated approach helps: a combination of active lifestyle, correct nutrition, sport, medical treatment, physiotherapy and popular reports helps to cope with lumbar osteochondrosis.