Lumbar osteochondrosis is a fairly common disease. But, despite this, it is not recommended to let your treatment run its course under any circumstances, as this can lead to serious consequences, including disability. The older a person is, the greater the likelihood of developing a disease such as lumbar osteochondrosis.
Unfortunately, older people with this disease face 90% of cases on average. As for the special risk group, it includes those who do not lead a sufficiently mobile and active lifestyle. And these people, you see, are now the majority.
The main causes of lumbar osteochondrosis
In case of uneven distribution of the load on the chin and trunk muscles, the intervertebral discs deform and protrude between the vertebrae. This leads to compression of the spinal nerves. The result is the so-called radicular syndrome, which is characterized by back pain and a significant decrease in the mobility of the lumbar spine.
The situation where a person's back wedges with lumbar osteochondrosis does not occur suddenly, so experts recommend starting a solution to the problem before it becomes critical. Hence, it makes sense to test your body for any problems.
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis are as follows:
- pulling pain in the lumbar region (in the first stage of the disease, the pain is not too strong, but over time it intensifies);
- limitation of mobility in the lumbar region;
- problems while walking;
- numbness of the limbs.
Due to the compression of the intervertebral vessels, diseases of the internal organs can also occur. This happens if the disease is severely neglected. If any of the above symptoms are observed, it is strongly recommended that you immediately seek help from a specialist - a neurologist or therapist. The doctor will prescribe a complete therapy that can effectively prevent the situation from worsening.
What to do in case of an acute attack of osteochondrosis
If your back is still twisted at some point in an unexpected way, you should know what specific actions to take in anticipation of an ambulance team, which needs to be called. So, we are talking about the following manipulations:
- in no case should a person be helped to straighten up, since such actions can not only provoke a new attack of pain, but also lead to an even greater displacement of the vertebrae, which is fraught with the development of paralysis;
- if possible, help the person lie down on the bed or sofa;
- do not touch the painful back area;
- the victim should be given an anesthetic drug that reduces pain;
- if the pain syndrome is moderate, the lower back should be treated with anesthetic ointment.
Features of the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis
The main task that needs to be solved in the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is the elimination of pain. Next, it is necessary to take a number of actions to restore mobility and eliminate the cause of compression of the spinal nerves. In principle, however, the goal of treatment is to achieve complete recovery of the patient. In advanced cases, we are talking about the induction of stable remission with the restoration of most of the motor functions.
Treatment can be conservative and timely. The conservative method of treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis involves courses of painkillers, as well as general strengthening and anti-inflammatory therapy. Surgical treatment is carried out only in cases where there is a real risk of paralysis against the background of a significant displacement of the vertebral disc. During the surgical operation, the hernia is removed, the intervertebral discs are replaced, and the bony growths, adhesions and scars on the vertebrae are removed.
In some cases, the use of folk remedies can be quite an effective method. For example, you can make compresses based on medicinal herbs. It is also useful to wrap the lower back with natural camel or other wool scarves or foulards.
Features of rehabilitation for osteochondrosis
To consolidate the results of the treatment carried out, it is strongly recommended to take rehabilitation measures with great seriousness. It is best to perform it during remission in medical and physical training centers, which are open in almost all cities. Rehabilitation programs are developed separately for each person, selecting the complex on an individual basis. It includes all types of treatments, including physical therapy, massage and physiotherapy.