According to statistics, back pain worries almost one in two people on the planet aged over 18.They can be caused by various reasons.In this article we will learn about one of the most common causes: osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.It is possible to fight this disease, and even win, if you start doing it from the early stages.
It's time to sound the alarm
If you want to successfully cope with a disease such as lumbar osteochondrosis, you should not expect the immediate appearance of obvious symptoms.At first, you won't feel them.
It is important to understand that people who spend a lot of time sitting or standing in the same position are more at risk of danger.If, due to circumstances or other reasons, this has been your case for many years, there may be a reason to check the condition of your spine, even if the symptoms of the disease are not visible.
You should not ignore the following "alarm bells", which may indicate that lumbar osteochondrosis has already progressed beyond the first stage.
- Lower back pain.At first, they appear only under greater loads than usual and disappear at rest.Or after a long stay in an uncomfortable static position.Over time, such pain bothers me constantly, during long walks.
- Little by little, the pain becomes chronic and can manifest itself as aches, tingling (referring to the thigh), acute pain, lumbago, etc.Sensation of heat or cold in the lower back.
- Pain developing dynamically, intensifying.Part of the leg becomes numb or there is a “tingling” sensation.
- Symptoms such as: constipation, urinary incontinence, numbness between the legs, menstrual irregularities (in women).
- The feet get cold for no apparent reason, the skin on the feet peels off.
- The spine begins to bend, the lower back muscles are abnormally tight, and it is difficult to bend over completely.
- Unbearable pain.
All these symptoms, especially if they appear together and their approximate sequence coincides with the one described above, cannot be ignored.
Pass the prescribed exam
The doctor you consult will prescribe certain examinations and various tests.This is due to the fact that it is not so easy to identify this disease.Many laboratory tests aim to rule out possible other diseases (such as diseases of internal organs) with the same symptoms.The best way to determine the cause is MRI - magnetic resonance imaging (possibly even with paramagnetic enhancement).But radiography is also used.
Is the important step of accurate diagnosis now behind us?What choices will you now be faced with among the different treatments?
Methods for influencing the affected spine
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is currently treated in various ways.But all of them can be divided into two large groups: symptomatic (eliminating pain and other consequences of the disease) and pathogenetic (it is believed that they act on the cause, eliminating it or preventing its development).
Treatment with medications that relieve pain.These medications are prescribed only by the attending physician.The treatment is symptomatic, that is, the person, happy that everything has returned to its previous state of health, can stop taking care of his back and, in the meantime, the disease will progress without symptoms until the pain manifests itself in a more serious form.
Muscle relaxants are medications that help relieve muscle spasms resulting from disc destruction, so this treatment is a symptomatic treatment.
Physiotherapeutic effects.These include a wide range of methods that affect lumbar osteochondrosis through the skin.This treatment:
- high frequency current;
- laser;
- magnets.
Various spinal extensions: in water or with equipment.You should be careful when using this method if lumbar osteochondrosis is already at a progressive stage.
The homeosiniatric method is a treatment in which homeopathic medicines are administered precisely to the affected area (or rather to a certain active point of the body), which helps the body get rid of toxins.
Hirudotherapy (treatment with leeches).They provide invaluable assistance, helping many patients to forget about the disease for many years.Leeches are believed to provide the body with hirudin, which helps improve blood circulation in the affected area, relieve pain, and relieve inflammation.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, provided that there are no protrusions, herniated discs and other contraindications, some trust an experienced chiropractor - a massage therapist who works with the spine.
Special exercises to relieve pain associated with osteochondrosis.It is better to consult a doctor when choosing a set of such activities for yourself.
Pathogenetic method developed by specialists
I would especially like to focus on interstitial physiological current stimulation (VTES).Under the guidance of the professor, a new method of influence was developed, allowing to improve blood circulation inside the bone of the vertebra itself.
It is believed that it is precisely due to the weakening of this blood flow that the nutrition of the disc noticeably deteriorates, which leads to a gradual loss of its properties, the ability to function normally and its eventual destruction.
The essence of the method is to deliver a physiological current to the affected vertebra, bypassing the skin - a natural insulator.The physiological current is a current identical to that produced in our body, amplified many times.It is powered by a needle - an electrode inserted to a certain depth (under the skin) at the site of pathology, that is, at a certain point on the back.The current powerfully stimulates the vessels inside the bones of the vertebra, thereby improving the nutrition of the discs.
According to the results of studies (needle rheography, polyorheography), blood circulation inside the bones, including the lumbar spine, significantly improves.The disc is fully restored (osteochondrosis at an early stage).
In later stages, lumbar osteochondrosis produces symptoms such as constant and severe back pain due to disc protrusion or herniation.Interestingly, treating VTES as soon as possible allows the reformation of a dense woven capsule around the hernia, preventing its growth and even reducing its size.
Good tips for prevention
- Knowing that working in a stationary position for long hours, including sitting at a computer, can help.For example, take breaks every hour, do stretches and walk.Maintain correct posture.Some people are helped by specially produced correctors, for example with neodymium magnets.
- Constantly lifting heavy weights also contributes to the development of the disease, so you need to know the rules for lifting them correctly.
- Try to avoid hypothermia and back injuries.Watch your weight, strengthen your back muscles by doing moderate sports, swimming, then you will not need treatment.
- It is quite possible to overcome lumbar osteochondrosis if you start treatment in the early stages or keep it under control.