Osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine in which the intervertebral discs (and subsequently the vertebral bodies, joints and ligaments) lose their ability to function normally.
The lumbar spine is very sensitive to disorders such as osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are often quite difficult to recognize, because the course of the disease has many forms.
Symptoms
At the beginning of the development, the symptoms are very mild: patients mostly complain of pain in the lumbar region, which is aggravated by movement and bending.
After 1-2 years from the beginning of the development of lumbar osteochondrosis, the pain can spread to the buttocks or the groin area.Stiffness of movement occurs in the lumbar region.
Lumbar osteochondrosis develops slowly, but over time periods of exacerbations occur more frequently, and symptoms intensify as more and more new vertebrae continue to be affected.
The most common variant of lumbar osteochondrosis is chronic lumbago.The following symptoms are observed in this form:
- Symptoms appear in periods, waves.
- Not very intense pain in the lumbar region, worse in the morning.
- Stiffness in the back.
- The pain disappears after 30 minutes, but even minor stress can cause it again.
- There may be a sudden increase in pain, "lumbago", usually due to 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 - consult a doctor.
During an exacerbation, a stay in the hospital for a week is indicated.The patient is recommended to rest in bed;it is recommended to walk with the help of crutches and thus relieve the lumbar area.
For the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis, various tractions of the spine and back massage are performed.
Drug therapy includes analgesics, sedatives and vitamins.In some cases, anesthetic blockade is indicated.
Physiotherapy includes ultraviolet radiation 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.Exercises in the pool are the most effective, because the 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 painful places with iodine, as well as pepper plaster and mustard.
Traditional medicine for lumbar osteochondrosis includes heating compresses with birch leaves or black radish juice.
Proper nutrition can significantly improve your condition.