Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies of the spine.In this disease, the cartilage tissue of the spine and intervertebral discs are affected.Most often, osteochondrosis affects the lumbar region, since it is on it that 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, Ishias, disability.
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 feels slight pain in the lower back.
- Stage 2- Pain in the affected area becomes stronger, violations in the intervertebral discs become more noticeable.
- Stage 3- There are intervertebral hernias, the spinal column is deformed.The patient feels severe pain in the affected area.
- 4th stage- It becomes difficult for a person to walk and make any movements.Pain occurs with slight movement.At this stage, the latter, the patient is given disability, as a rule.
Causes
Most often, people whose profession or type of activity are associated with physical exertion and large loads on the lumbar department: builders, movers, utility workers, and athletes are subject to osteochondrosis.Also, pathology can occur in teachers, cashiers, office workers, since they spend most of the time in a sitting position.
There are many factors affecting the occurrence of osteochondrosis:
- Lack of physical exertion, conducting a sedentary lifestyle.
- Strong load on the lumbar region.
- Diseases of the joints and spine.
- Injuries of the lumbar spine.
- Flat feet or clubfoot.
- Obesity.
- Poster disorders, stoop.
- Scoliosis or kyphosis.
- Long -term hypothermia.
- Age -related changes in the spine.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Some internal diseases of the cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine systems.
- Improper nutrition.
Symptoms
The main signs of osteochondrosis of the lower back are:
- Strong aching pain in the lower back, sometimes giving up in 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.
- Goosebumps, a sensation of tingling in the legs.
- Numbness of the legs and feet.
- The constant chilliness of the feet and the feeling of cold in the legs.
- Varicose veins.
- Violation of potency in men.
- Irregular menstruation in women.
The main symptom of pathology is the pain, when the appearance of which you need to urgently consult a doctor.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis begins with a thorough examination of the patient and the collection of an anamnesis - the doctor asks the patient about cases of osteochondrosis in the genus, chronic diseases, lifestyle, kind of activity, joint diseases and spine.
Further, the specialist prescribes instrumental diagnostic methods, among which:
- X -ray of the 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 the intervertebral discs, the degree of change, the degree of deformation of the spine.
- MRI- allows you to thoroughly study the intervertebral discs, gives information about minor disorders in the spine, is used in difficult cases or if the picture of the examination 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
Treatment of osteochondrosis is carried out comprehensively.The necessary medicines and procedures are prescribed only by a doctor, strictly individually.
First of all, the patient is prescribed a number of drugs based on NSAIDs - non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs that can relieve inflammation and eliminate pain in the affected area.Chondroprotectors are also prescribed - drugs that stop the process of destruction of cartilage and feed cartilage tissue.Vitamins that improve the condition of the whole organism are prescribed as additional medicines.
For many diseases of the spine, including osteochondrosis, physiotherapy is prescribed.Procedures are able to enhance blood circulation at the lesion, relieve tension from the muscles, eliminate pain and inflammation.With osteochondrosis, electrophoresis, acupuncture, magnetic therapy and other procedures are prescribed.
The patient is also prescribed massage, mud baths or hydrotherapy with which it is possible to relieve tension and fatigue of the muscles, relax them, and enhance the blood flow.Muddy mud baths can eliminate the inflammatory process.
In the first stages of the disease, exercise therapy is prescribed - a color gymnastics, the performance of which 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 include in the diet products rich in minerals - fruits, vegetables, porridge.Be sure to eat low -fat meat, since it is rich in protein - it will be most useful to eat chicken or turkey meat.It will be useful to use fermented milk products.It is recommended to reduce the amount of fatty, sharp, smoked, fried dishes.It is important to observe drinking mode - be sure to drink at least 1 liter of clean water per day.
With osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, treatment in a 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 methods of treatment do not help, then the surgical method of treatment is used.During the operation, 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 right.
- Try to prevent injuries of the lumbar spine.
- Avoid hypothermia of the lower back.
- With a long seat, change the position of the body more often, regularly get up and do simple exercises for warm -up or just walk.
- Save proper posture, do not stoop.
- In case of clubfoot or flat feet, wear special orthopedic insoles that reduce the load on the spine.