Diagnostics
If a patient complains of acute lumbar pain, it does not mean that he or she has osteochondrosis of the lumbar or lumbar region. However,to diagnose the cause of the disease, the doctor must diagnose the patient. And for that:
- detects the affected area, trying to identify the inflammatory processes that the patient is complaining about.
- assesses posture, whether it looks straight or not, how curved is it?
- may send a patient for additional examination - x-ray.
- appoints an additional examination using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
Symptoms
The most important symptom of bone osteochondrosis is unbearable back pain. And this symptom appears either immediately or after a while, after intense physical exercise. In this case, the nature of the pain may be completely different:
- lower back pain becomes unbearable and can radiate to the leg.
- Every time a patient tries to do some physical work, the pain starts to intensify, in addition, this symptom can occur during coughing, chewing, as well as any change in body position.
- Once the patient is in the same position for a long time, any attempt to change the position causes pain in the lumbar region.
- the back muscles are constantly tense, as if the patient is constantly carrying some weights.
- as a result of the slightest hypothermia, the lower back begins to "shoot".
- the nerve endings in the buttocks, knees, legs begin to atrophy, that is, the sensitivity in these places decreases.
- gooseberries and a slight tingling sensation in the legs. feet are cold The arteries in the legs may spasm and the pulse may feel bad.
- the patient begins to sweat actively.
- In the affected area, the skin dries and begins to peel.
Help: we must remember that osteochondrosis can turn into an acute stage if, with the main symptoms, it continues to load the back or overcool the body.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, treatment
Nowadays, there are various schemes for treating the disease. There is medication, acupuncture, and there is also exercise for osteochondrosis. However, in any case, the doctor prescribes the method of treatment.If a patient is self-medicating, it can make the disease worse and end badly.
Important: we must remember that osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a disease that is very difficult to recover. You can get rid of it completely only from the first or second stage.
Protocol and format
There are many methods for treating osteochondrosis, but the treatment regimen is the same. It is necessary to reduce stress on the spine and strengthen the muscles of the back and lumbar spine. It is also necessary to normalize the diet of the spine by restoring metabolic processes and blood circulation. And the final victory will be to regain the sensitivity of the lower body.
First aid
- When a sudden sharp pain swallows the lumbar region, it is necessary, first of all, to isolate this area with something warm (woolen scarf, heating pad, etc. ). But at the same time, you need to make sure that the affected area is warm and not hot.
- The body must be placed on something stable and level (bench, plank, plank, floor).
- A roller should be placed under the back, in the lumbar region. But if the lower limbs are tense, the roller should be placed below the knees.
- Call a doctor and take some painkillers before it arrives.
Conservative and functional methods
Methods of treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine are divided into conservative methods of treatment and surgical methods of treatment. What's the difference? Andthe difference lies in the fact that with conservative methods of treatment the doctor uses a complex technique that affects various areas of medicine.
That is, this technique involves long-term and sometimes unsuccessful treatment. Surgery depends on neglecting the disease. For example, surgery, as one of the methods of surgical treatment, is an extreme, but it is impossible without it.
Effective conservative methods
In the early stages, drug and wellness exercise is suitable for suppressing pain and normalizing metabolism. But, if the disease progresses to more severe stages, the doctor may prescribe physical therapy as well as surgery. Moreover, in the latter case, this method is considered extreme, but quite effective. The most important thing in the treatment of osteochondrosis is not to load the spine and at the same time try to immobilize the inflammatory foci.
Medicines
- The most basic and effective remedy for acute pain is pain relief (analgin, amidopyrine, phenacetin, etc. ). Medications relieve pain, but they do not eliminate the cause.
- Doctors also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs that affect the root nerves and eliminate swelling. Such drugs reduce and eliminate the foci of inflammatory processes.
- For grade 3-4 disease, local anesthetics (for example, novocaine) are prescribed.
- To eliminate spastic muscle contraction, your doctor will prescribe muscle relaxants.
- Chondroprotective agents are used to normalize metabolism and repair cartilage tissue. This treatment reduces the risk of cartilage deformity and tissue damage.
- In combination with drugs, the patient is prescribed vitamin B. This group of vitamins improves the body's metabolism, reduces inflammation, is a natural diuretic that allows you to get rid of excess fluid.
- Diuretics may also be prescribed.
- In order to improve the patient's condition, he is prescribed drugs that increase the body's immunity as a whole.
- Image augmentation is a drug that improves blood circulation to the affected area.
Physical Education
Practice shows that physical therapy helps with osteochondrosis. And it does not only help, in the Far East it is practiced on a daily basis and, first, is prescribed to patients. Currently, there are various methods of exercise to combat this disease.And among the ancient techniques that do yoga, qigong etc.
Which set of exercises is decided by the doctor together with the patient. But we must remember that each technique has its own indications and contraindications. For example, severe forms of the disease cannot be treated with physical therapy exercises. At the discretion of the doctor, exercise can be combined with medication and physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy
It happened in our country that physiotherapy was prescribed, basically, since the fact that the drug treatment proved invalid. Although a person is constantly affected by certain physiological processes.
The principle of physiotherapy is that the body is affected by simple physical processes (with the help of electricity, magnet, etc. ). But unlike natural phenomena, physiotherapy methods help to direct the results of the methods of influence in the right direction. That is, take, for example, electrotherapy. With the help of electricity, doctors help to normalize metabolism or eliminate convulsions.
Massage
Massage is prescribed for recovering patients. However, in some cases, massage may be prescribed as the disease worsens. Then only healthy parts of the body are rubbed.A session of a course usually lasts 15-20 minutes and the number of sessions lasts up to 7 procedures.
But this technique is dangerous for the simple, so it is best to make an appointment with a professional. At the same time, it is now possible to massage both hands and special devices.
Specialized simulator lessons
Doctors believe that the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis depends to a large extent on the desire and desire of the patient himself. The method of treating a disease is like choosing a means by which healing is possible. Exercise machines are one of the tools that help improve the condition and speed up the healing of the disease. However, doctors recommend going to the gym when the patient recovers and the disease begins to subside.
Among these simulators that will help in this matter are:
- horizontal line?
- extension?
- cardiovascular equipment?
- gym (in this case, it is better to enroll in special courses, where the patient will have the personal trainer who will help in the selection of simulators).
Joint injections
If the disease gets worse, your doctor may prescribe injections. It is an effective treatment in which the spine receives artificially all the nutrients and trace elements. In this case, the injections act directly on the spine, the painful sensations pass much faster.But this method belongs to drug therapy, which means it can have its own side effects. Therefore, injections should be given under the clear guidance of the treating physician.
Swimming
Swimming is considered an additional treatment. But at the same time, everyone should know thatbefore you start exercising in the water, you need to warm up to warm up your muscles. In this case, the water should be at least 27-30 ° C. And after each lesson, you can safely lower the temperature to 23 ° C. Proper breathing is the key to a successful workout. First you need to take a deep breath and then a short breath. And you also need to choose the right exercises and swimming technique.
To achieve positive results, you must first swim 30-100 meters with a pillow in your hands. Then you need to rest a bit, and then hold the pillow on your feet and swim the same amount, working only with your hands. Then rest again and swim 20-30 m. Front without holding your breath. After a little rest and you can continue.
First you have to immerse your body in water up to your chest and start walking in its place and then walk around the pool. Then raise your knees as high as possible and extend your arms to the sides at the same time. Think of swimming in your chest. Do the same, leaning only to the side. After that, you should bend forward, keeping your hands on your belt. Then imagine that you are a hippopotamus and stick your belly back and forth. Then, holding to the side, do some squats.
How much is treated and what will happen if not treated
The duration of treatment for lumbar osteochondrosis depends on the neglect of the disease. Basically, when the patient visits the hospital for the first time, the doctor prescribes treatment (course), which lasts a certain time (it all depends on the method). You should also consider how the patient behaved during the course. As this disease is chronic in severe stages of the disease, the symptoms may return and treatment should be repeated.
Prevention
In order not to feel yourself what is the osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the following rules must be observed:
- If your work is related to physical activity, then you do not need to load your back too much and give it a rest.
- Start playing sports, especially by strengthening your back muscles.
- watch your attitude. move more often, evening walks are best.
- observe proper nutrition (not to be confused with diet, proper nutrition is a complete balance of all vitamins and minerals).
- follow the right rest routine. Osteochondrosis can be the cause of other back diseases, so take care of your health at that time.
Which doctor to contact
When a patient's back starts to ache, the first thing you should do is see a local doctor. But in this case, it detects only external symptoms and directs further for examination. And the first person to write a referral to is aneurologist or vertebrate.
These two doctors deal specifically with the problem of osteochondrosis. But when a patient is in remission, massage therapists, fitness trainers, physiotherapists and many others are involved in the game, depending on the type of recovery activity the doctor prescribes.