Osteochondrosis is considered a common disease of the spine. Above all, due to the peculiarities of the lifestyle, the lower back suffers, therefore, the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine are more frequent than others. The pathology is equally dangerous for both men and women, regardless of age. Patients with the disease wear corsets, suffer during pregnancy. Diet and exercise become essential.
The disease is indicated in a separate section of the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and is referred to spinal deformity disease (ICD-10 M42-43). Osteochondrosis of the spine has received a code - M42 according to ICD-10. There are such options for ICD-10:
- Juvenile osteochondrosis - M42. 0 according to ICD-10.
- Osteochondrosis in adults - M42. 1 according to ICD-10.
- Unspecified forms - M42. 9 according to ICD-10.
If earlier the disease spread to people over 30 years old, then recently there has been a tendency to affect the pathology of the younger generation. It is associated with stress and prolonged exposure to the computer, a passive lifestyle.
The lower back always faces heavy loads both in the nature of the engine and from the load of body weight. Women suffer a lot during pregnancy, people whose life history includes numerous injuries of the lumbar spine and ignore such a factor as exercise. Also, studying the causes of intervertebral hernia, sciatic nerve injury, one can single out the main factor - long-term osteochondrosis.
Causes and stages of pathology
All causes leading to pathology can be divided into external and internal. The first are associated with various influences of external factors. Sedentary people who are overweight are prone to osteochondrosis. In addition, there are such predisposing factors:
- occupations associated with long periods of sitting.
- hypothermia;
- weakening of the body's defenses associated with stress, overwork.
Internal causes are based on genetic predisposition and various diseases. With endocrine diseases, the restoration of bones, muscle tissue and their nutrition is disturbed. This condition can be seen with age and with a genetic predisposition, especially if the medical history indicates spinal injuries at a young age.
Pathological disorders of the spine structure accelerate the onset of osteochondrosis, if not treated, the disease progresses rapidly. The most important conditions are kyphosis, scoliosis. Also, the medical history shows that the most common cause of the disease is spinal cord injury.
The disease has 4 stages of development. In the first stage, there are no serious disturbances in nutrition and the structure of the spinal discs. Symptoms are mild. They can be easily removed with painkillers. It is possible to cure the disease during this period as quickly as possible, the main thing is not to heat up, not to strain your back. Diet and rehabilitation help a lot.
Often, osteochondrosis begins to appear during pregnancy, if not treated, it quickly progresses to the next stage. The history of the disease considers the corset an effective drug for the progression of the disease.
The second stage is characterized by protrusions and intense clinical manifestations. Treatment becomes difficult, exacerbation occurs more often. For girls, before pregnancy, it is necessary to treat the disease in order to avoid complications due to salt deposits and displacement of the vertebrae. There may be problems with going to the toilet, then special candles will help. A corset, diet, daily exercise and ERT can also be effective.
The third and fourth stages are dangerous with the appearance of intervertebral hernias, complications and disturbances in the work of internal organs. Only diet and massage will not help. Sometimes the only way out in the fight against the disease can be surgical treatment. In the future, a person will need to wear a corset and recover for a long time.
Symptoms
The signs of lumbar osteochondrosis begin to appear in the first stage of the disease with the appearance of a sharp pain in the lumbar region. The flare-up at first passes quickly and does not interfere with the normal functioning of the working capacity. During pregnancy, a woman constantly feels discomfort and muscle tension.
With the progression of the disease, exacerbation occurs more often, but it can be removed with analgesics. Pain symptoms become prolonged, they hurt. If the nerve fibers are affected, then the pain radiates to different parts of the body. It can be a leg, the buttocks and various areas of the back. Increased pain occurs when staying in one position for a long time, sudden movements or lifting weights. A characteristic sign of osteochondrosis may appear - a pain in the back.
In addition to the feeling of pain, the muscle corset also suffers. The muscles of the back are constantly in a tense state, painful when pressed. Over time, the flare-up does not subside, the patient experiences unbearable pain, which worsens even with a slight movement, coughing or sneezing. During pregnancy, weight gain occurs, which worsens the general well-being of a woman and causes constant symptoms of osteochondrosis.
In extreme stages, innervation is disrupted and the spinal cord is affected. The muscular corset does not face protection, the vertebrae are destroyed, intervertebral hernias are formed. There are malfunctions in the work of the intestines, stomach, genitourinary system. Men have problems with potency. Constant pain and symptoms of intoxication worsen a person's well-being. The medical history of a patient with such abnormalities often leads the patient to the operating table.
Treatment
To choose the right treatment for osteochondrosis, diagnostics are carried out. The patient's medical history and complaints are studied in detail. Sharpening makes it possible to more carefully identify the image using diagnostic techniques. The patient's medical history is updated with new symptoms. An X-ray is ordered to examine the spine. During pregnancy, x-rays cannot be done in the same way as wearing a corset.
There are other diagnostic methods. It may be an MRI or a CT scan. An ultrasound is done to examine the internal organs, especially if the medical history indicates various pathologies.
The treatment in each case is selected individually and must be comprehensive. There are certain principles that help in the treatment of the disease. These are drugs to relieve pain, a diet to normalize the functioning of internal organs. Also, you cannot heat the affected area.
During pregnancy, you should first worry about the health of the fetus. With a running course, in addition to the main course of treatment, it is necessary to wear a corset. In case of bowel dysfunction, special suppositories are used. Also, you cannot warm up the back muscles if there is a flare-up. The diet is prescribed after consultation with a gynecologist. Charging must be specific and at a specific time.
The treatment is mainly aimed at eliminating the symptoms, restoring the normal functions of the spine.
For pain, it is necessary to take NSAIDs, antispasmodics, analgesics. The necessary medicine will be prescribed by the doctor. You can relieve severe pain with the help of blocking novocaine.
The diet excludes foods that are harmful and difficult for the liver and kidneys. Do not abuse alcohol, cigarettes. To treat the disease, you can combine drugs and alternative treatment methods at the same time. Charging must enter the rhythm of life. It is impossible to heat the area of \u200b\u200bthe injury during the exacerbation and at the beginning of treatment. The diet should be prescribed for a long time.
Effective massage, manual therapy, physiotherapy and daily exercise - these are what will help you get rid of the disease and always stay in shape.