Lumbar osteochondrosis affects many patients. This is an unpleasant and very dangerous disease, which can lead to unpleasant complications. By the way, among all types of this disease, it is more common in medical practice, because the spine has the greatest load. In this condition, the spine does not receive enough nutrients, the intervertebral discs lose their elasticity and simply dry out. The back can not withstand such heavy loads, the fibrous ring goes in different directions and breaks.
Diagnostics
If a patient complains of severe pain in the lower back, it does not mean that he has osteochondrosis in the lower back or lumbosacral region. However,the doctor must diagnose the patient to determine the cause of the disease. To do this, he:
- examines the affected area, trying to identify the inflammatory processes that the patient complains of;
- evaluates whether the posture is straight or crooked;
- can send a patient for additional examination - x-ray;
- schedule additional examination using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
symptoms
The most important symptom of low back osteochondrosis is unbearable back pain. And this symptom appears either immediately or after a while, after heavy physical exertion. In this case, the nature of the pain may be completely different:
- Aching back pain becomes unbearable and can spread to the legs;
- Every time the patient tries to do some kind of physical activity, the pain begins to intensify, and this symptom can occur during coughing, chewing, and any change in body position;
- As long as the patient is in the same position for a long time, any attempt to change the situation causes pain in the lower back;
- lumbar muscles are always tense, as if the patient is always carrying some weight;
- As a result of the slightest hypothermia, the spine begins to "hit";
- Nerve endings in the thighs, knees, and legs begin to atrophy, ie sensitivity decreases in these areas;
- gas bumps and slight tingling sensations appear in the legs; feet cool;
- There may be spasm in the arteries of the legs and the pulse may be weak;
- the patient begins to sweat actively;
- The skin in the affected area dries out and begins to peel.
Help: We must not forget that osteochondrosis can become an acute stage if the initial symptoms continue to burden the lower back or severely irritate the body.
Lumbar osteochondrosis, treatment
In our time, there are various schemes for the treatment of the disease. There is also gymnastics for drug treatment, acupuncture and osteochondrosis. But in any case, the doctor prescribes treatment.If the patient self-medicates, the disease can worsen and the outcome can be very bad.
Important: We must not forget that osteochondrosis of the spine is a very difficult disease to cure. You can get rid of it completely only in the first or second stage.
Protocol and Scheme
There are many methods for treating osteochondrosis, but the treatment regimen is the same. It is necessary to reduce spinal stress, strengthen the back and lumbar muscles. It is also necessary to normalize spinal nutrition by restoring metabolic processes and blood circulation. And the final victory will be to restore the sensitivity of the lower body.
First Aid
- When a sudden sharp pain covers the lumbar region, first of all it is necessary to insulate this area with something warm (wool scarf, heating pad, etc. ). But at the same time, you need to make sure that the affected area is warm, not hot.
- The body should be placed on something solid and level (bench, board, plank, floor).
- A roll should be placed under the back, at the waist. However, if the lower extremities are tense, the cylinder should be placed below the knee.
- Call a doctor and take painkillers until you arrive.
Conservative and operational methods
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is divided into conservative treatment and surgical treatment. What is the difference? And thedifference is that with conservative treatment methods, the doctor uses a complex technique that affects different areas of medicine.
That is, this technique involves long-term and sometimes unsuccessful treatment. Surgery depends on the neglect of the disease. For example, one of the surgical treatments is excessive, but it is impossible without it.
Effective Conservative Methods
In the early stages, medications and health gymnastics are good for relieving pain and normalizing metabolism.However, if the disease progresses to a more severe stage, the doctor may prescribe physical therapy in addition to surgery. Moreover, in the latter case, such a method is considered excessive, but very effective. The most important thing in the treatment of osteochondrosis is not to overload the spine and at the same time try to immobilize the inflammatory foci.
Medication
- The most important and effective drugs for acute pain are analgesics (analgin, amidopyrine, phenacetin, etc. ). Medications reduce pain, but do not eliminate the cause.
- Doctors also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs that affect the radicular nerves and eliminate swelling. Such drugs reduce and eliminate the foci of inflammatory processes.
- Local anesthetics (eg, novocaine) are prescribed when the disease is 3-4 degrees.
- Your doctor will prescribe muscle relaxants to relieve spastic muscle contractions.
- Condoprotectors are used to normalize metabolism and restore cartilage tissue. This treatment reduces the risk of cartilage deformation and tissue destruction.
- Vitamin B is prescribed to the patient along with the medication. This group of vitamins improves the body's metabolism, reduces inflammation, and is a natural diuretic that allows you to get rid of excess fluid.
- Diuretics may also be prescribed.
- To improve the patient's condition, he is prescribed drugs that increase the immunity of the body as a whole.
- The picture is complemented by drugs that improve blood circulation at the site of the lesion.
Physical Education
Experience shows that physiotherapy exercises help with osteochondrosis. And it not only helps, it is applied daily in the Far East and is prescribed primarily to patients. Currently, there are various methods of gymnastic exercises to combat this disease. And among the ancient techniques are yoga, qigong and so on. deal with.
Which gymnastic exercises to perform is decided by the doctor together with the patient. However, we must not forget that each technique has its own indicators and contraindications. For example, severe forms of the disease cannot be treated with physiotherapy exercises. At the doctor's discretion, gymnastic exercises can be combined with medication and physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy
It so happened that in our country, physiotherapy is prescribed mainly after the invalidity of drug treatment. Although a person is always affected by certain physiological processes.
The principle of physiotherapy is the exposure of the body to simple physical processes (current, magnetism, etc. ). However, unlike natural phenomena, physiotherapeutic methods help to direct the effects of impact methods in the right direction. So, let's take electrotherapy, for example. With the help of current, doctors help to normalize metabolism or relieve spasms.
Massage
Massage is prescribed for recovering patients. However, in some cases, massage may be prescribed during the exacerbation of the disease. Then only healthy parts of the body are massaged.A session usually lasts 15-20 minutes and the number of sessions lasts up to 7 procedures.
However, this technique is dangerous for ordinary people, so it is best to meet with a specialist. At the same time, it is now possible to massage with both hands and special devices.
Lessons on specialized simulators
Doctors believe that the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis depends on the patient's wishes and desires. The treatment of a disease is like choosing a tool where healing is possible. Sports equipment is one of the tools to help improve the condition and speed up the recovery from the disease. However, doctors recommend going to the gym when the patient recovers and the disease begins to recede.
Among such simulators that will help in this matter:
- horizontal strip;
- expander;
- cardiovascular equipment;
- gym (in this case it is best to enroll in special courses with a personal trainer who will help the patient choose a simulator).
Joint injections
If the disease worsens, the doctor may prescribe injection therapy. It is an effective tool for the spine to artificially absorb all nutrients and trace elements. In this case, the injections move directly on the spine, the pain passes much faster.However, this method is related to drug treatment, ie it can have its own side effects. Therefore, injections should be made under the strict guidance of the attending physician.
Swimming
Swimming is considered an additional treatment. But at the same time, everyone should know thatneeds to warm up to warm up the muscles before you start training in the water.. In this case, the water should be at least 27-30 ° C. And you can lower the temperature to 23 ° C after each lesson. Proper breathing is the key to a successful workout. First you need to take a deep breath, then a short breath. You also need to choose the right exercises and swimming techniques.
To get positive results, you first need to swim 30-100 m with a pillow in your hand. Then you need to rest a bit, then hold the pillow on your feet and face the same amount, working only with your hands. Then relax again and swim with a 20-30 m brass stroke without holding your breath. You can continue after a little rest.
First you need to immerse your body in water up to your chest and start walking on the spot, and then just walk around the pool. Then raise your knees as high as possible and at the same time open your arms to the sides. Imagine swimming with your chest. Do the same, leaning to the side only. After that, you should bend forward, holding your hands on your belt. Then imagine you are a hippo and stick your belly back and forth. Then, do a few squats, holding the side.
How much is being treated and what will happen if not treated
The duration of treatment for lumbar osteochondrosis depends on the severity of the disease. Basically, when a patient first goes to the hospital, the doctor prescribes a treatment (course) that lasts for a certain period of time (it all depends on the method). You should also consider how the patient behaves during the course. Because the disease is chronic in the severe stages of the disease, symptoms may return and treatment will need to be repeated.
Prevention
The following rules should be followed to avoid feeling for yourself what lumbar osteochondrosis is:
- If your work is related to physical activity, you should not overload your back and give it rest;
- Start exercising, especially by strengthening your back muscles; Look at your
- posture; move more often, evening walks are best;
- Observe proper nutrition (not to be confused with diet, proper nutrition is a complete balance of all vitamins and minerals);
- follow proper rest rules;
- Osteochondrosis can be the cause of other back diseases, so take care of your health in time.
Which doctor should you contact
When a patient begins to have back pain, the first thing to do is to see a local doctor. However, in this case, it only identifies external symptoms and directs them further for examination. The first person to send a referral is aneurologist or vertebrologist.
These two doctors deal specifically with osteochondrosis. However, when a patient is in remission, massage therapists, gymnastics coaches, physiotherapists and others, depending on what recovery activity the doctor prescribes.
Result
Osteochondrosis is a very unpleasant disease. However, experience shows that the main patients in hospitals are people who do not control their health. Therefore, keep in mind that timely detection and prevention ofdisease will cost you much less than the advanced stage of the disease.