Decades ago, osteochondrosis was an age-related disease. Now he is younger. Symptoms, treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is worth knowing to understand the importance of caring for your health.
Inflammation in the lumbosacral region is often diagnosed. It brings severe pain, deprives a person of mobility. There are no recovery methods, it is recommended to stop the progress in the early stages.
Causes of lumbar osteochondrosis
It is worth determining the cause of the occurrence. If left untreated, treatment will temporarily relieve symptoms.
Causes of lumbar osteochondrosis:
- Overweight. Excess weight increases the load on the spine and the center of gravity shifts. Lumbar discs are consumed, tired - osteochondrosis.
- Violation of metabolic processes. The cartilaginous tissues of the spine have no blood vessels and cannot take substances for life from within. Receives nutrients when exchanged with neighboring tissues, interruption of the process leads to gradual death.
- Wrong gait, movement, weight lifting. Lumbar osteochondrosis is often diagnosed in people who are overweight and obese. The inability to control the body and movements negatively affects the spine.
- Back injury, infection. Osteochondrosis of the lower back is a disease of athletes. Increased stress, injuries often lead to a deterioration of the condition of the intervertebral discs. For the sake of prices, records, health is often sacrificed.
- Inheritance. In some, the structure of the intervertebral discs is initially more porous and loose. Relationships require proper nourishment and respect.
- Passive lifestyle. Reason related. A sedentary lifestyle leads to a deterioration of metabolic processes. Sitting, the spine is more stressed.
Symptoms of the disease
To diagnose the disease, it is worth knowing the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis. The main one is back pain. It is present during an exacerbation of the disease, during periods of invisible course. It is recommended to pay attention to back pain at the onset of the disease. Doctors diagnose the disease based on five symptoms:
- Closed back. Severe pain in the lower back when trying to direct. Pain is associated with increased stress on the back muscles. In the supine position, the pain goes away.
- Backache. Sharp painful sensations that occur in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle after physical exercise. They appear during movements, difficult turns, loads. An attractive pain is constantly observed.
- Numbness. It is observed in different areas, depending on the intervertebral disc that provoked the disease. Localization is determined by areas of numbness. Covers buttocks, thighs, legs, feet.
- Cooling A decrease in skin temperature is caused by compression of arteries, blood vessels, a decrease in metabolic processes.
- Violation of genitourinary functions. A common symptom of untreated lumbar osteochondrosis is in a "neglected" state. There is a frequent desire to go to the toilet, on the contrary, there are problems with this.
- Decreased activity. In order not to injure the back, not to cause pain, a person tries to move gently, less. Over time, this leads to the fact that he stops walking, taking care of himself.
Important it is important to treat lumbar osteochondrosis, to determine the place of localization of the process, the degree of development. Diagnosis is performed using X-ray, magnetic resonance.
Method of treatment
The back can not be restored. The treatment lasts a lifetime. With the wrong approach to the disease, it progresses, leading to unpleasant consequences.
The treatment is based on the principle. The doctor prescribes medication, procedures that eliminate the symptoms. After alternative courses of treatment, when the disease temporarily does not appear, it worsens again. Respect the plan:
- Elimination of the causes of the development of the disease. Lifestyle change, loads, fight against excess weight, metabolic disorders, elimination of foci of infection.
- Suppression of concomitant diseases. Osteochondrosis provokes disease. Causes hypertension, radicular syndrome and leads to diseases of the genitourinary system.
- Stimulating the regeneration of damaged areas. Use anti-inflammatory, restorative lumbar osteochondrosis medications.
- Removal of inflammation. The cause of pain is the development of inflammation. It is worth achieving muscle relaxation, improving blood circulation, relieving pain, blocking enzymes that trigger inflammation.
- Changing habits. The patient should develop habits that facilitate the course of the disease and promote healing. Useful habits - therapeutic exercises, diet.
With an exacerbation of the disease, the doctor's task is to eliminate the symptoms. Often you have to deal with severe pain. After diagnosing the cause, the patient is prescribed painkillers, NSAIDs. Substances block the nervous system, suppress the foci of pain, relieve swelling.
Before the arrival of the doctor, it is recommended to use special ointments, topical gel and taking pills to relieve pain syndrome, temporary relief. It is recommended to lie down, put warmth on the injured area to improve blood circulation, lighten the load on the lower back.
In remission, treatment of acute lumbar spine osteochondrosis consists of taking chondroprotectors involved in the restoration of damaged tissue. Procedures are prescribed: massages, acupuncture. There are many techniques. Relieve muscle tension, stretch your spine. Exercise, exercise therapy is part of the treatment process. If you follow your doctor's instructions, the chance of re-deterioration is reduced.
Sometimes, the treatment is done surgically. The patient will have hernias removed, vasoconstriction eliminated, and special prostheses placed.
Self-medication, advice from friends is the worst treatment option. Only a doctor prescribes special medicines and gives advice. Traditional methods are used before a visit to a doctor, who tries not to push it. The main thing is not to hurt.
Complications of lumbar osteochondrosis
If lumbar osteochondrosis treatment methods are not followed, complications develop. The lumbar region is characterized by mobility. The nerves flowing along the length are responsible for the lower limbs, the pelvic organs.
The development of the disease leads to a decrease in the space between the vertebrae. Blood vessels and nerve bundles pass through the holes. Squeezing them leads to severe pain during movement. If there is a constriction of the spinal cord, it will affect the body as a whole.
Unpleasant consequences - numbness, paralysis of the lower extremities, buttocks. The work of the pelvic organs is broken. Weakness occurs.
The hips are an important part of the spine and should be treated with care. Osteochondrosis is a common disease.