Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies of the spine.In this disease, the tissue of the spine cartilage and intervertebral discs is affected.Most of the time, osteochondrosis affects the lower back, as it is in it that the maximum load when walking, sitting, running and other activities.
If treatment does not start in time, the disease can lead to radiculitis, intervertebral hernia, lumbago, ishias, disability.
Development stages
The disease is usually divided into several stages:
- 1st stage- There are minor changes in intervertebral discs, the spine spine is not deformed, a person feels a slight pain in the lower back.
- Stage 2- Pain in the affected area becomes stronger, violations in intervertebral discs become more noticeable.
- Stage 3- There are intervertebral hernias, the spine column is deformed.The patient feels intense pain in the affected area.
- 4th stage- It becomes difficult for a person to walk and make movements.The pain occurs with a slight movement.At this stage, the latter, the patient receives deficiency, as a rule.
Causes
Most of the time, people whose profession or type of activity are associated with physical effort and large loads in the lower back department: builders, busy, public service workers and athletes are subject to osteochondrosis.In addition, the pathology can occur in teachers, boxes, office workers, as they spend most of their time in a sitting position.
There are many factors that affect the occurrence of osteochondrosis:
- Lack of physical effort, leading a sedentary lifestyle.
- Strong load in the lower back.
- Joint and spine diseases.
- Lumbar spine lesions.
- Flat feet or club foot.
- Obesity.
- Poster disorders, Stoop.
- Scoliosis or kyphosis.
- Long -term hypothermia.
- Age -related changes in the spine.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Some internal diseases of cardiovascular, nervous and endocrine systems.
- Inadequate nutrition.
Symptoms
The main signs of osteochondrosis in the lower back are:
- Pain painful pain in the lower back, sometimes giving up the leg and intensifying when performing any movement, sneezing, coughing etc.
- Constant tension of the back muscles.
- The inability to straighten the back after a long stay in the same position.
- Unpleasant sensations when tilting or extension of the back.
- Lights in the lower back.
- Loss of sensitivity in buttocks, hips.
- Goose bumps, a tingling sensation in the legs.
- Numbness of the legs and feet.
- The constant calm of the feet and the feeling of cold in the legs.
- Varicose veins.
- Violation of power in 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 osteochondrosis begins with a thorough patient examination and the collection of an anamnesis - the doctor asks the patient about cases of osteochondrosis in gender, chronic diseases, lifestyle, type of activity, joint diseases and spine.
In addition, the expert prescribes instrumental diagnostic methods, including:
- X -Lumbar region- Allows you to detect the presence of pathology and the degree of vertebral damage.
- Computed tomography (CT)- A more accurate research method that allows you to determine damage to intervertebral discs, the degree of change, the degree of deformation of the spine.
- Magnetic resonance imaging- Allows thoroughly studying intervertebral discs, provides information on smaller spinal disorders, is used in difficult cases or if the exam image using the CT or X -Radio exam is not clear.
- Myelography- A type of diagnosis in which a contrast agent is used to detect intervertebral hernias.
Based on the data, the expert determines the degree of pathology and prescribes the necessary treatment.
Treatment
The treatment of osteochondrosis is performed comprehensively.The necessary drugs and procedures are prescribed only by a doctor, strictly individually.
First of all, the patient receives various drug -based drugs -It -non -esteroids that can alleviate inflammation and eliminate pain in the affected area.CondoProtectors are also prescribed - medicines that interrupt the process of destruction of the cartilage and food cartilage.Vitamins that improve the condition of the whole body are prescribed as additional medicines.
For many spinal diseases, including osteochondrosis, physiotherapy is prescribed.The procedures are capable of increasing blood circulation in the lesion, relieving muscle tension, eliminating pain and inflammation.With osteochondrosis, electrophoresis, acupuncture, magnetic therapy and other procedures are prescribed.
The patient also receives massage, mud baths or hydrotherapy with which it is possible to alleviate the tension and fatigue of the muscles, relax them and improve blood flow.Muddy mud baths can eliminate the inflammatory process.
In the early stages of the disease, exercise therapy is prescribed - a colorful gymnastics whose performance helps restore spine mobility to strengthen the back muscles.In 3 and 4 stages of osteochondrosis, this type of treatment is not used.
The diet is very important in treating the disease - it is necessary to include 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 more useful to eat chicken or turkey meat.It will be useful to use fermented dairy products.It is recommended to reduce the amount of fatty, sharp, smoked and fried dishes.It is important to observe the way of drinking - make sure to drink at least 1 liter of clean water a day.
With lumbar osteochondrosis, 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, it will be removed.
Prevention
- Limit the load in the lower back.
- Play sports, do morning exercises.
- Eat right.
- Try to avoid lesions in the lumbar spine.
- Avoid hypothermia from the lower back.
- With a long seat, change body position more often, get up regularly and do simple exercises to warm -up or just walk.
- Save the proper posture, do not include.
- In the case of club feet or boring feet, use special orthopedic insoles that reduce the load in the spine.