Osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine in which the intervertebral disc (and subsequently the vertebral bodies, joints and ligaments) lose the ability to function normally.
The lumbar spine is very susceptible to disorders such as osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are often quite difficult to identify, because the course of the disease has many forms.
symptoms
At the beginning of the development, the symptoms are very mild: the patient mainly complains of pain in the lumbar region, which increases with movement and bending.
After 1-2 years from the beginning of the development of lumbar osteochondrosis, the pain can spread to the back or groin area.Movement stiffness occurs in the lumbar region.
Lumbar osteochondrosis develops slowly, but over time, periods of exacerbation occur more often, and symptoms increase as more and more new vertebrae continue to be affected.
The most common variant of lumbar osteochondrosis is chronic lumbodynia.With this form, the following symptoms are observed:
- The appearance of symptoms occurs in periods, waves.
- Mild pain in the lumbar region, worse in the morning.
- Stiffness in the back.
- The pain subsides after 30 minutes, but the slightest pressure can trigger it again.
- There may be a sudden increase in pain, "lumbago", usually also caused by physical exertion - acute lumbago.Symptoms of acute lumbago may appear for 1-2 weeks, after which they are replaced by symptoms of chronic lumbago.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis
The same symptoms can be signs of different diseases, and the disease may not proceed according to the textbook.Do not try to treat yourself - seek the advice of a doctor.
During an exacerbation, staying in the hospital for a week is indicated.Patients are recommended to rest in bed;it is recommended to walk with the help of crutches, thereby unloading the lumbar region.
To treat lumbar osteochondrosis, various spinal pulls and back massages are performed.
Drug therapy includes analgesics, sedatives, and vitamins.In some cases, blockade with anesthetics is indicated.
Physiotherapy includes ultraviolet irradiation of the lower back, electrophoresis with novocaine and ultrasound therapy.
Therapeutic exercise for lumbar osteochondrosis is a mandatory part of treatment.It is designed to strengthen the back muscles.
Exercises include flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, and rotation.Exercise in the pool is the most effective, because water reduces the load on the spine.
When the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis worsen, as well as when it is combined with spina bifida, therapeutic exercises consist of breathing exercises.
At home, a good effect in the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is provided by daily rubbing of the painful area with iodine, as well as pepper plasters and mustard plasters.
Traditional medicine for lumbar osteochondrosis includes warming compresses with birch leaves or black radish juice.
Proper nutrition can significantly improve your condition.