Osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine in which the intervertebral discs (and subsequently the vertebral bodies, joints and ligaments) lose the ability to function normally.
The lumbar spine is very vulnerable to disorders such as osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are often quite difficult to identify, since the course of the disease has many forms.
Symptoms
At the beginning of development the symptoms are very mild: patients mainly complain of pain in the lumbar region, which intensifies with movement and bending.
After 1-2 years from the beginning of the development of lumbar osteochondrosis, the pain may spread to the buttock or groin area.Stiffness of movements occurs in the lumbar region.
Lumbar osteochondrosis develops slowly, but as time passes, periods of exacerbation occur more often, and the symptoms intensify as more and more new vertebrae continue to be affected.
The most common variant of lumbar osteochondrosis is chronic low back pain.With this form the following symptoms are observed:
- The appearance of symptoms occurs in periods, waves.
- Not very intense pain in the lumbar region, which worsens in the morning.
- Back stiffness.
- The pain disappears after 30 minutes, but even light stress can reactivate it.
- A sudden increase in pain, a "low back pain", may occur, usually also due to physical effort - acute low back pain.Symptoms of acute low back pain may appear for 1-2 weeks, after which they are replaced by symptoms of chronic low back pain.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis
The same symptoms can be signs of different diseases, and the disease may not proceed according to the textbook.Don't try to cure yourself: consult a doctor.
During an exacerbation, a hospital stay for one week is indicated.The patient is advised to rest in bed;it is recommended to walk with the aid of crutches, thus unloading the lumbar region.
To treat lumbar osteochondrosis, various spinal tractions 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 exercises for lumbar osteochondrosis are a mandatory part of treatment.It is designed to strengthen the back muscles.
Exercises include flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, and rotation.Pool exercises are more effective because the water reduces the load on the spine.
When the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis worsen, as well as when it is associated with spina bifida, therapeutic exercises consist of breathing exercises.
At home, a good effect in the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is provided by daily smearing of painful areas 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.