Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies in the spine.In this disease, the cartilage tissue is affected in the spine and intervertebral disks.Most often, osteochondrosis affects the lumbar region, as it is on it that the maximum load when walking, sitting, running and other activities.
If the treatment does not start in time, the disease can lead to radiculitis, intervertebral hernia, lumbago, ishias, disability.
Development stages
The disease is usually divided into several stages:
- 1. Step- There are minor changes in the intervertebral disks, the spine is not deformed, a person feels a little pain in the crucifix.
- Step 2- Pain in the affected area becomes stronger, violations in the intervertebral disks become more visible.
- Step 3- There are intervertebral hernias, the spine is deformed.The patient feels severe pain in the affected area.
- 4th phase- It becomes difficult for a person to go and make any movements.Pain occurs with slight movement.At this point, the latter, the patient usually gets.
Causes
Most often, people whose occupation or type of activity are associated with physical exertion and heavy stresses on the lumbar department are: builders, movements, supply workers and athletes are subject to osteocondrosis.Pathology can also occur in teachers, cashiers, office workers as they spend most of the time in a seating position.
There are many factors that affect the occurrence of osteochondrosis:
- Lack of physical exertion that performs a sedentary lifestyle.
- Strong load on the lumbar area.
- Diseases of the joint and spine.
- Damage to the lumbar spine.
- Flat feet or club foot.
- Obesity.
- Poster Disorders, Bending.
- Scoliosis or kyphosis.
- Long -Term hypothermia.
- Age -related changes in the spine.
- Genetic disposal.
- Some internal diseases of the cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine systems.
- Incorrect nutrition.
Symptoms
The main signs of osteocondrosis in the crucifix are:
- Strong sore pain in the crucifixion, sometimes giving up in the leg and intensified when performing some movement, sneezing, coughing, etc.
- Constant tension of the back muscles.
- Inability to straighten your back after a long stay in the same position.
- Unpleasant sensations when tilting or extending your back.
- Light in the crucifix.
- Loss of sensitivity in the buttocks, hips.
- Goosebumps, a feeling of the tingling in the legs.
- Numbness in the legs and feet.
- The constant cool and the feeling of cold in the legs.
- Varicose veins.
- Violation of strength in men.
- Irregular menstruation in women.
The most important symptom of pathology is the pain when the appearance you are urgent to consult a doctor.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of osteocondrosis begins with a thorough examination of the patient and the collection of a history - the doctor asks the patient about cases of osteocondrosis in the genus, chronic diseases, lifestyle, kind of activity, joint diseases and spine.
Furthermore, the specialist prescribes instrumental diagnostic methods, including:
- X -Ray of Lumbar Region- Allows you to detect the presence of pathology and the degree of spine.
- Computer tomography (CT)- A more accurate research method that allows you to determine damage to the intervertebral disks, the degree of change, the degree of deformation of the spine.
- Mr- Allows you to study the intervertebral discs thoroughly, provides information on minor disorders in the spine, is used in difficult cases, or if the image of the study using CT or X -Ray examination is unclear.
- Myelography- A type of diagnosis where a contrast agent is used to detect intervertebral hernias.
Based on the data, the specialist determines the degree of pathology and prescribes the necessary treatment.
Treatment
Treatment of osteochondrosis is performed extensively.The necessary medicines and procedures are prescribed only by a physician, strictly individually.
First of all, the patient is prescribed a number of drugs based on NSAIDs -not -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs 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 feeding lake.Vitamins that improve the entire organism's condition are prescribed as further medicine.
Too many diseases of the spine, including osteocondrosis, physiotherapy is prescribed.Procedures are capable of improving blood circulation in the lesion, relieving tension from the muscles, eliminating pain and inflammation.With osteocondrosis, electrophoresis, acupuncture, magnetic therapy and other procedures are prescribed.
The patient is also prescribed massage, mud baths or hydrotherapy, which is possible to relieve muscle tension and fatigue, relax them and improve blood flow.Muddy mud baths can eliminate the inflammatory process.
In the first stages of the disease, exercise therapy is prescribed - a color gymnastics whose performance helps restore the spine to strengthen your back on your back.At 3 and 4 stages of osteocondrosis, this type of treatment is not used.
Diet is very important in the treatment of the disease - it is necessary to include in the diet products that are rich in minerals - fruits, vegetables, porridge.Be sure to eat fat -fat meat as it is rich in protein - it will be most useful to eat chicken or turkey meat.It will be useful to use fermented milk products.It is recommended to reduce the amount of fatty, sharp, smoked, fried dishes.It is important to observe drinking mode - be sure to drink at least 1 liter of clean water a day.
With osteocondrosis in the lumbar area, treatment in a sanatorium will be useful where experts throughout the patient's stay in the complex will treat the disease and the patient is constantly under the supervision of doctors.
If conservative treatment methods do not help, the surgical treatment method is used.During the operation, the affected wheels or cartilage are replaced with an implant.And if there is an intervertebral hernia, it is removed.
Prevention
- Limit the load on the crucifix.
- Play sports, do morning exercises.
- Eat right.
- Attempt to prevent damage to the lumbar spine.
- Avoid hypothermia in the crucifix.
- With a long seat, change the body's position more often, get up regularly and do simple exercises for warm -up or just go.
- Save proper posture, don't bend.
- In case of club foot or flat feet, wear special orthopedic insoles that reduce the load on the spine.