Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies of the spine.In this disease, cartilage tissue of the spine and intervertebral discs is affected.Most often, osteochondrosis affects the lumbar region, as it is maximized during walking, seating, running and other activities.
If treatment does not start on time, then the disease can cause sciatica, intervertebral hernia, lumbago, Ishia, disability.
The stages of development
The disease is usually divided into several stages:
- The first stage- There are minor changes in the intervertebral discs, the spinal column is not deformed, the person feels a little pain in the lower back.
- Stage 2- The pain in the affected side becomes more severe, disorders in the intervertebral discs become more noticeable.
- Stage 3- There is intervertebral hernia, the spinal column is deformed.The patient feels severe pain in the affected side.
- Stage 4- It is difficult for a person to walk and make any movement.Pain occurs in slight movement.At this point, the latter is given a disability, usually.
Causes
Most often, people whose profession or type of activity is related to the physical effort and high load in the lumbar department: builders, movements, utility workers and athletes are subject to osteochondrosis.Pathology can also occur in teachers, cashiers, and office workers, as they spend most of their time sitting.
There are many factors that affect the event of osteochondrosis:
- Lack of physical exercise, tempting lifestyle.
- Strong load in the lumbar region.
- Diseases of the joints and spine.
- Lumbar spine injuries.
- Flat legs or club.
- Obesity.
- Paate disorders, Stop.
- Scoliosis or kyphosis.
- Long hypothermia.
- Age -related changes in the spine.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Some internal diseases of the cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine systems.
- Incorrect meal.
Symptoms
The main signs of lower back osteochondrosis are:
- Severe painful pain in the lower back, sometimes the leg refusal and intense when any movement, cough, cough, etc.
- Constant tension of the posterior muscles.
- Inability to straighten the back after a long stay in the same position.
- Unpleasant sensations when tilting or expanding.
- Lighting lower back.
- Loss of sensitivity in the buttocks, hips.
- Goosebumps, feelings of feet sticks.
- Legs of legs and legs.
- Constant cold feet and cold in the legs.
- Varicose veins.
- Disruption of potential in men.
- Irregular menstruation in women.
The main symptom of the pathology is pain when the appearance that you need to appear urgent consultation with your doctor.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis begins with a thorough examination of the patient and the collection of anamnesis - the physician asks the patient for cases of chronic diseases, lifestyle, facial activity, joint diseases and osteochondrosis of the spine.
In addition, the specialist determines instrumental diagnostic methods, including:
- Lumbar region x -ray- Allows you to determine the presence of pathology and the degree of spine damage.
- Computed Tomography (CT)- A more accurate research method that allows you to determine the damage to the intervertebral discs, the degree of change, the degree of deformation of the spine.
- MR- Allows you to thoroughly study intervertebral discs, provide information on minor spine disorders, used in difficult cases, or if the examination of the CT or X -Ray examination is unclear.
- Myelography- A type of diagnosis in which a contrast agent is used to detect intervertebral hernia.
Based on the data, the specialist determines the quality of the pathology and determines the necessary treatment.
Treat
Treatment of osteochondrosis is performed perfectly.The necessary medicines and procedures are prescribed only by your doctor, strictly individually.
First of all, the patient is prescribed numerous drugs based on NSAIDs -anti -non -anti -legal anti -anti -anti -anti -drug agents that can relieve inflammation and eliminate pain in the affected area.Chondroprotectors are also prescribed - medications that stop the process of destruction of cartilage and food cartilage tissue.Vitamins that improve the condition of the whole body are prescribed as additional medications.
Physiotherapy is prescribed for many diseases of the spine, including osteochondrosis.Procedures can enhance blood circulation by injury, relieve muscle tension, eliminate pain and inflammation.Osteochondrosis, electrophoresis, acupuncture, magnetic therapy and other procedures.
The patient is also prescribed massage, mud baths or hydrotherapy that can alleviate muscle tension and fatigue, their rest, and blood flow.Mud mud baths can eliminate the inflammatory process.
In the first stage of the disease, exercise therapy is prescribed - color gymnastics, which helps to restore spine mobility, strengthen the back muscles.In stages 3 and 4 of osteochondrosis, this type of treatment is not used.
Diet is very important for the treatment of the disease - it is necessary to include in diet products rich in minerals - fruits, vegetables, porridge.Make sure you eat low meat because it is rich in protein - the most useful will be chicken or turkey meat.It will be useful to use fermented dairy products.It is advisable to reduce the number of fatty, sharp, smoked, fried dishes.It is important to observe the drink mode - make sure you drink at least 1 liter of clean water per day.
Along with osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, it will be useful to treat the sanatorium, where experts in the complex treat the disease throughout the patient, and the patient is constantly under the supervision of physicians.
If conservative treatment methods do not help you, then the surgical method of treatment is used.During surgery, the affected wheels or cartilage were replaced by 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 correctly.
- Try to avoid lumbar spine injuries.
- Avoid lower spinal hypothermia.
- With a long seat, change your body position more often, regularly, and do simple exercises for warm or just walk.
- Keep proper posture, don't stop.
- In the case of club or flat legs, wear special orthopedic insoles that reduce the load on the spine.