Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathology of the spine.In this disease, cartilage tissue of the spine and intervertebral disc is affected.Most often, osteochondrosis affects the area of the lumbar, as it occurs on the maximum load during walking, seating, running and other activities.
If treatment does not begin in time, the disease may cause radiculitis, intervertebral hernia, long, ishus, disability.
Phase of development
The disease is usually divided into several stages:
- First stage- There are minor changes in the intervertebral disc, the spinal column is not deformed, a person feels a little back pain.
- Stage 2- Pain in the affected area becomes stronger, violation in intervertebral disc becomes more noticeable.
- Stage 3- Intervertebral hernias are, the spinal column is deformed.The patient feels severe pain in the affected area.
- Fourth stage- It becomes difficult for a person to walk and make a movement.Pain is accompanied by minor movement.At this stage, later, the patient is given disability as a rule.
Reason
Most often, people whose type of profession or type of activity is associated with large loads on physical exertion and lumbar department: builders, movers, utility workers and athletes are subject to osteochondrosis.In addition, pathology can be in teachers, cashier, office staff, as they spend most of the time in sitting conditions.
There are many factors affecting the occurrence of osteochondrosis:
- Lack of physical exertion, operating a sedentary lifestyle.
- Strong load on the lumbar region.
- Diseases of joints and spine.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Flat foot or clubfoot.
- obesity.
- Poster disorder, stoop.
- Scoliosis or kiffosis.
- Prolonged hypothermia.
- Age -related changes in the spine.
- Genetic tendency.
- Some internal diseases of the heart, nerve, endocrine systems.
- Improper nutrition.
symptoms
The main indications of osteochondrosis of the lower back are:
- There is strong pain in the lower back, sometimes leaves in the leg and sharpens when performing any movement, sneezing, cough, etc.
- Continuous stress of the rear muscles.
- Inability to straighten the back after staying in the same position for a long time.
- Unpleasant sensations when tilt or expanding backwards.
- Lights in the lower back.
- Loss of sensitivity in buttocks, hips.
- Goosebumps, sensation of tingling in the feet.
- Numbness of legs and legs.
- Constant cold of the feet and the feeling of cold in the feet.
- Varicage - Vance.
- Violation of power in men.
- Irregular menstruation in women.
The main symptom of pathology is pain when you need to consult a doctor.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis begins with the patient's intensive examination and a collection of an anamnesis - the doctor asks the patient about the cases of genus, chronic diseases, lifestyle, activity, the cases of osteochondrosis in joint diseases and spinals.
In addition, experts determine the instrumental clinical methods, of which:
- Kath area x -ray- allows you to detect the presence of pathology and degree of vertebrae damage.
- Computed Tomography (CT)- A more accurate research method that allows you to damage the degree of intervertebral disc, degree, degree of spinal deformation.
- MRI- allows you to study the intervertebral disc completely, gives information about minor disorders in the spine, used in difficult cases or if the picture of the exam using a CT or X -ray examination is not clear.
- Vertebrae- A type of diagnosis in which a contrasting agent is used to detect intervertebral hernias.
Depending on the data, the specialist determines the degree of pathology and determines the necessary treatment.
Treatment
Osteochondrosis is treated extensively.Essential medicines and procedures are prescribed only by a doctor, individually strictly.
First, the patient is prescribed many drugs based on NSAIDS -neon -storoidal anti -inflammatory drugs that can relieve inflammation and pain in the affected area.Chondroprotactors are also prescribed - drugs that prevent the process of drug destruction and the destruction of the cartilage tissue.Vitamins that improve the condition of the entire organism are prescribed as additional drugs.
Physiotherapy is prescribed for many spinal diseases, including osteochondrosis.Procedures are capable of increasing blood circulation on the wound, relieving muscle stress, eliminating pain and inflammation.With osteochondrosis, electrophoresis, acupuncture, magnetic therapy and other procedures are prescribed.
Massage, earthen bath or hydrotherapy is also prescribed to the patient, with which it is possible to relieve muscle stress and fatigue, relax them and increase blood flow.The dirty mud bath can eliminate the inflammatory process.
In the first stages of the disease, exercise therapy is prescribed - a color gymnastics, whose performance helps restore spinal dynamics, to strengthen the back muscles.In 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 food -rich diet products with minerals - fruits, vegetables, oatmeal.Make sure to eat low -bans, as it is rich in protein - it will be most useful for eating chicken or turkey meat.It would be useful to use fermented milk products.It is recommended to reduce the amount of fatty, sharp, smoked, fried dishes.It is important to inspect the drinking mode - be sure to drink at least 1 liter of clean water per day.
With osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, treatment in a sannerium will be useful, where the patient will treat the disease during the entire migration in the premises, and the patient is constantly under the supervision of doctors.
If the conservative methods of treatment do not help, the surgical method of treatment is used.During the operation, the affected wheels or cartilage is replaced by a transplant.And if there is an intervertebral hernia, it is removed.
Prevention
- Limit the load on the lower back.
- Play the game, do morning exercises.
- eat right.
- Try to stop the spinal cord injuries.
- Avoid hypothermia of the lower back.
- With a long seat, replace the body position more often, get up regularly and do a simple practice for warm -up or simply walk.
- Save proper postures, do not stop.
- In the case of clubfoot or flat legs, wear special orthopedic insole that reduces the load on the spine.