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, the greater the probability of developing a disease such as lumbar osteochondrosis.
Older people with this disease, unfortunately, face an average of 90% of cases. As for the special risk group, it includes those who do not lead a sufficiently active and mobile lifestyle. And those people, you see, are now the majority.
The main causes of lumbar osteochondrosis.
In the case of uneven load distribution on the chin and trunk muscles, the intervertebral discs are deformed 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 mobility of the lumbar spine.
The situation where a person's back contracts with lumbar osteochondrosis does not happen suddenly, so experts recommend starting a solution to the problem before it becomes critical. Therefore, it makes sense to evaluate her 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;
- trouble walking;
- numbness of the extremities.
Due to the compression of the intervertebral vessels, diseases of the internal organs can even occur. This happens if the disease is severely neglected. If you notice any of the above symptoms, it is strongly recommended that you immediately seek the help of a specialist - a neurologist or a therapist. The doctor will prescribe a comprehensive therapy that can effectively prevent the worsening of the situation.
How to act in case of an acute attack of osteochondrosis.
However, if your back is twisted at some point in an unexpected way, you need to know what specific actions to take before an ambulance team, which you should call. 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 can also lead to even greater displacement of the vertebrae, which is fraught with paralysis;
- if possible, help the person lie down in bed or on the couch;
- do not touch the sore back area;
- the victim needs to receive an anesthetic drug that reduces pain;
- if the pain syndrome is moderate, the lower back should be treated with an anesthetic ointment.
Features of the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis
The main task to be solved in the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is the elimination of pain. After this, a series of actions must be taken to restore mobility and eliminate the cause of compression of the spinal nerves. In principle, the goal of treatment in any case is to achieve complete recovery of the patient. In advanced cases, we are talking about the induction of a stable remission with the restoration of most of the motor functions.
Treatment can be conservative and quick. The conservative method of treating 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 significant displacement of the vertebral disc. During the surgical operation, the hernia is removed, the intervertebral discs are replaced, as well as bone growths, adhesions, and scars on the vertebrae.
In some cases, the use of home remedies can be quite an effective method. For example, you can make compresses from medicinal herbs. It is also useful to wrap the lower back with handkerchiefs or kerchiefs made of natural camel or any other wool.
Features of the rehabilitation of osteochondrosis
To consolidate the results of the treatment carried out, it is strongly recommended to take rehabilitation measures seriously. It is best done during remission at medical and physical training centers, which are open in almost any city. Rehabilitation programs are developed for each person separately, selecting the complex individually. It includes all kinds of treatments, including physical therapy, massages, and physical therapy.