Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies in the spine.In this disease, the cartilage tissue of the spine and intervertebral discs is affected.Most often, osteochondrosis affects the lumbar region, because it is on the maximum load during walking, session, race and other activities.
If the treatment does not start over time, then the disease can cause radiculitis, an intervertebral hernia, a lumbago, ishias, a handicap.
Development steps
The disease is generally divided into several stages:
- 1st step- There are minor changes in the intervertebral discs, the spine is not distorted, a person feels a slight pain in the lower back.
- Step 2- Pain in the affected area becomes stronger, violations of intervertebral discs become more visible.
- Step 3- There are intervertebral hernias, the spine is distorted.The patient feels intense pain in the affected area.
- 4th step- It becomes difficult for a person to walk and make movements.The pain occurs with a slight movement.At this point, the latter, the patient receives a handicap, as a rule.
Causes
Most often, people whose profession or type of activity are associated with physical effort and large charges in the lumbar department: manufacturers, movers, public services and athletes are subject to osteochondrosis.In addition, pathology can occur among teachers, cashiers, office employees, because they spend most of the time in a sitting position.
There are many factors affecting the occurrence of osteochondrosis:
- Lack of physical effort, making a sedentary lifestyle.
- Strong foundation on the lumbar region.
- Joint and spine diseases.
- Injuries of the lumbar column.
- Dishes or club foot.
- Obesity.
- Poster disorders, wounding.
- Scoliosis or cyphosis.
- Long -term hypothermia.
- Age -related changes in the spine.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Some internal diseases of cardiovascular, nervous and endocrine systems.
- Incorrect nutrition.
Symptoms
The main signs of lower back osteochondrosis are:
- Strong pain pain in the lower back, sometimes abandoning the leg and intensified during the realization of a movement, sneezing, cough, etc.
- Constant tension of the back muscles.
- The inability to straighten your back after a long stay in the same position.
- Unpleasant sensations when tilting or expanding the back.
- Lights in the lower back.
- Loss of sensitivity in the buttocks, hips.
- Goosebumps, a tingling feeling in the legs.
- Numbness of the legs and feet.
- The constant shiver of the feet and the feeling of cold in the legs.
- Varicose veins.
- Power violation among men.
- Irregular menstruation in women.
The main symptom of pathology is pain, when the appearance you need to urgently consult a doctor.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of osteochondosis begins with an in -depth examination of the patient and the collection of an anamnesis - the doctor asks the patient of cases of genre osteochondosis, chronic diseases, lifestyle, type of activity, joint disease and spine.
In addition, the specialist prescribes instrumental diagnostic methods, including:
- X-ray of the lumbar region- allows you to detect the presence of pathology and the degree of vertebral damage.
- Tomodensitometry (CT)- A more precise research method which allows you to determine the damage to the intervertebral discs, the degree of change, the degree of deformation of the spine.
- MRI- Allows you to study in depth the intervertebral discs, gives information on minor disorders in the spine, is used in difficult cases or if the image of the examination using the CT or X -Ray examination is not clear.
- Myelography- A type of diagnosis in which a contrast agent is used to detect intervertebral hernias.
Based on data, the specialist determines the degree of pathology and prescribes the necessary processing.
Treatment
The treatment of osteochondrosis is carried out in depth.The necessary drugs and procedures are only prescribed by a doctor, strictly individually.
First of all, the patient is prescribed by a number of drugs based on NSAIDs - non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs which can relieve inflammation and eliminate pain in the affected area.Chondroprotectors are also prescribed - drugs that stop the process of destroying the cartilage and food cartilage fabric.Vitamins that improve the state of the entire body are prescribed in the form of additional drugs.
For many vertebral column diseases, including osteochondrosis, physiotherapy is prescribed.Procedures are able to improve blood circulation in lesion, relieve muscles tensions, eliminate pain and inflammation.With osteochondrosis, electrophoresis, acupuncture, magnetic therapy and other procedures are prescribed.
The patient is also prescribed by massage, mud baths or hydrotherapy with which it is possible to relieve the tension and fatigue of the muscles, to relax and improve blood flow.Muddy mud baths can eliminate the inflammatory process.
In the first stages of the disease, the therapy for the exercise is prescribed - color gymnastics, whose performance helps restore the mobility of the spine, to strengthen the back muscles.At 3 and 4 stages of osteochondrosis, this type of treatment is not used.
The diet is very important in the treatment of the disease - it is necessary to include in food products rich in minerals - fruits, vegetables, porridge.Make sure you eat low -fat meat, because it is rich in protein - it will be very 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, net, smoked and fried dishes.It is important to observe the alcohol consumption mode - be sure to drink at least 1 liter of clean water per day.
With osteochondrosis in the lumbar region, treatment in a sanatorium will be useful, where experts throughout the patient's stay in the complex will treat the disease, and the patient is constantly under the supervision of doctors.
If conservative treatment methods do not help, the surgical treatment method is used.During the operation, affected wheels or cartilage are replaced by an implant.And if there is an intervertebral hernia, then it is deleted.
Prevention
- Limit the load on the lower back.
- Doing sports, do morning exercises.
- Eat well.
- Try to prevent injuries from the lumbar column.
- Avoid hypothermia from the lower back.
- With a long seat, modify the body position more often, gets up regularly and do simple exercises for hot or simply walking.
- Save the appropriate posture, don't look.
- In the event of a club or flat foot, wear special orthopedic soles which reduce the load on the spine.