Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies of the spine.In this disease, the cartilage tissue of the spine and the intervertebral discs is affected.Most often, osteochondrosis affects the lumbar region, as it is the maximum load when walking, sitting, running and other activities.
If treatment does not start in time, then the disease can lead to radiculitis, intervertebral hernia, lumbago, needles, damage.
Stages of development
The disease is usually divided into several stages:
- 1st stage- There are minor changes in the intervertebral discs, the spinal column is not deformed, a person experiences slight pain in the lower back.
- Stage 2-The pain in the affected area becomes more severe, the disorders in the intervertebral discs become more noticeable.
- Stage 3- There are intervertebral hernias, the spine is deformed.The patient experiences severe pain in the affected area.
- Stage 4- It becomes difficult for a person to walk and make some movements.The pain occurs with a slight movement.At this stage, the latter, the patient is given damage as a rule.
Reasons
Most often, people whose profession or type of activity are related to exercise and heavy workloads in the lumbar department: builders, wallets, utilities and athletes are subject to osteochondrosis.Also, the pathology can occur in teachers, cashiers, office workers, as they spend the greater part of the time sitting.
There are many factors affecting the onset of osteochondrosis:
- Lack of exercise, leading a sedentary lifestyle.
- Strong load on the lumbar region.
- Diseases of the joints and spine.
- Injuries to the lumbar spine.
- Flat feet or club.
- Obesity.
- Poster disorders, stop.
- Scoliosis or kyphosis.
- Long -term hypothermia.
- Changes in the age associated in the spine.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Some internal diseases of cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine systems.
- Improper meal.
Symptoms
The main signs of osteochondrosis of the lower back are:
- Severe diseased pain in the lower back, sometimes giving up in the legs and is exacerbated by every movement, sneezing, cough, etc.
- Constant tension of the posterior muscles.
- The inability to straighten the back after a long stay in the same position.
- Unpleasant sensations when tilting or lengthening the back.
- Lights in the lower back.
- Loss of sensitivity in the ass, hips.
- Goosebumps, a feeling of tingling in the legs.
- Tingling of the legs and legs.
- The constant stability of the legs and the feeling of cold in the legs.
- Different veins.
- Violation of potency in men.
- Irregular menstruation in women.
The main symptom of pathology is the pain when you should consult a doctor urgently.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis begins with a thorough examination of the patient and the collection of anamnesis - the doctor asks the patient for cases of osteochondrosis in the genus, chronic diseases, lifestyle, type of activity, joint disease and spine.
In addition, the specialist prescribes instrumental diagnostic methods, including:
- X -ray on the lumbar region- Allows you to find the presence of pathology and the degree of damage to the vertebrae.
- Computed tomography (CT)- A more accurate method of examination that allows you to determine damage to the intervertebral discs, the degree of change, the degree of deformity of the spine.
- MRI- Allows you to study in detail the intervertebral discs, gives information about minor disorders in the spine, used in difficult cases, or if the examination photo using CT or X -ray examination is unclear.
- Myelography- A type of diagnosis in which a contrast agent is used to detect intervertebral hernias.
Based on the data, the specialist determines the degree of pathology and prescribes the necessary treatment.
Treatment
The treatment of osteochondrosis is performed in complete.The necessary medicines and procedures are prescribed only by a doctor, strictly separately.
First, the patient is prescribed a number of medicines based on NSAIDs -non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs that can relieve inflammation and eliminate pain in the affected area.Chondroprotectors are also prescribed - medicines that stop the process of cartilage destruction and cartilage forage tissue.Vitamins, which improve the condition of the whole body, are prescribed as additional medicines.
For many diseases of the spine, including osteochondrosis, physiotherapy is prescribed.The procedures are able to increase blood circulation in the lesion, relieve muscle tension, eliminate pain and inflammation.Osteochondrosis prescribes electrophoresis, acupuncture, magnetic therapy and other procedures.
The patient is also prescribed massage, mud baths or hydrotherapy, with which it is possible to relieve muscle tension and fatigue, relax them and improve blood flow.The muddy mud baths can eliminate the inflammatory process.
In the first stages of the disease, exercises are prescribed - color gymnastics, whose effectiveness helps to restore the mobility of the spine, to strengthen the muscles of the back.At 3 and 4 stages of osteochondrosis, this type of treatment is not used.
Diet is very important in the treatment of the disease - it is necessary to be included in dietary products rich in minerals - fruits, vegetables, porridge.Be sure to eat low fat meat as it is rich in protein - it will be most useful to eat chicken or turkey meat.It will be useful to use fermented dairy products.It is recommended to reduce the amount of fat, sharp, smoked, fried dishes.It is important to monitor the drinking mode - be sure to drink at least 1 liter of clean water a day.
With osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, treatment in sanatorium will be useful, where experts during the entire stay of the patient in the complex will treat the disease and the patient is constantly under the supervision of doctors.
If conservative treatments do not help, then the surgical method of treatment is used.During the operation, the affected wheels or cartilage are replaced by an implant.And if there is an intervertebral hernia, then it is removed.
Prevention
- Limit the load on the lower back.
- Play sports, do morning exercises.
- Eat properly.
- Try to prevent injuries to the lumbar spine.
- Avoid hypothermia of the lower back.
- With a long seat, change the position of the body more often, get up and do simple exercises for a warm -Up regularly or just walk.
- Keep the right stand, do not bend over.
- In the case of a club or flat legs, wear special orthopedic insoles that reduce the load on the spine.