Back pain, according to statistics, worries almost every second inhabitant of the planet over the age of 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 the disease and even win successfully if you start it at an early stage.
Time to sound the alarm
If you want to successfully cope with a disease such as lumbar osteochondrosis, you should not expect obvious symptoms to appear immediately.You won't feel them in the first stage.
It is important to recognize that those who spend a lot of time sitting or standing in the same position are more susceptible to the dangers.If, due to circumstances or other reasons, this has been the case for you for many years, perhaps there is a reason to check the condition of the 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 passed the first stage.
- Lower back pain.At first, they only appear under a higher than usual load, they disappear during rest.Or after a long, uncomfortable static position.Over time, such pain constantly bothers me during long walks.
- Gradually, the pain becomes chronic and may manifest itself as pain, tingling (referring to the thigh), acute pain, lumbago, etc.A feeling of heat or cold in the lower back.
- Dynamically developing, intensifying pain.Part of the leg becomes numb or has a “pins and needles” feeling.
- Symptoms such as: constipation, urinary incontinence, numbness between the legs, menstrual disorders (in women).
- The feet get cold for no apparent reason, the skin on the feet peels off.
- The spine begins to bend, the back muscles in the lower back become unnaturally tense, and it is difficult to bend completely.
- Unbearable pain.
All these symptoms, especially if they appear together and their approximate sequence coincides with the one described above, cannot be ignored.
Carry out the prescribed test
The doctor you see will order certain tests and various tests.This is due to the fact that identifying the disease is not so simple.The purpose of many laboratory tests is to exclude possible other diseases (for example, diseases of internal organs) that are associated with similar symptoms.The best way to determine the cause is MRI - magnetic resonance imaging (possibly with paramagnetic enhancement).But radiography is also used.
Is the important phase of establishing an accurate diagnosis behind us?What choices do you have now among the various treatments?
Methods of influencing the affected spine
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is currently treated in several ways.But all of them can be divided into two large groups: symptomatic (eliminates pain and other consequences of the disease) and pathogenetic (it is believed that it acts on the root cause, eliminates or prevents its development).
Treatment with pain-relieving drugs.Such drugs are prescribed only by the attending physician.The treatment is symptomatic, that is, the person who is happy that everything has returned to its previous healthy state can stop taking care of the back, and the disease progresses without symptoms until the pain appears in a more severe form.
Muscle relaxants are drugs that help relieve muscle spasms caused by disc destruction, so this treatment is symptomatic.
Physiotherapy effects.These include a wide range of methods that affect lumbar osteochondrosis through the skin.This treatment:
- high frequency current;
- laser;
- magnets.
Various spine extensions: in water or with hardware.Be careful when using this method if lumbar osteochondrosis is already in a progressive stage.
The homeopathic method is a treatment in which homeo-medicines are administered precisely to the affected area (or rather to a certain active point of the body) which help the body to get rid of toxins.
Hirudotherapy (treatment with leeches).They bring invaluable help, many patients forget about the disease for many years.Leeches are believed to provide the body with hirudin, which improves blood circulation in the affected area, relieves pain, and reduces inflammation.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, provided that there are no protrusions, disc herniations and other contraindications, some trust an experienced chiropractor - a massage therapist dealing with the spine.
Special exercises to relieve pain in osteochondrosis.It is best to consult a doctor when choosing such activities for yourself.
A pathogenetic method developed by experts
In particular, I want to deal with interstitial stimulation with physiological current (VTES).Under the guidance of the professor, a new method of action was developed, which enables the blood circulation of the vertebra bone itself.
It is believed that precisely because of the weakening of such blood flow, the nutrition of the disc deteriorates noticeably, which leads to a gradual loss of its properties, normal functioning and 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 the same as the current produced in our body, amplified many times over.It is fed through a needle - an electrode inserted to a certain depth (under the skin) at the site of the pathology, that is, at a certain point on the back.The current strongly stimulates the blood vessels in the bones of the vertebra, thereby improving the nutrition of the discs.
According to the results of tests (thyreography, polyrheography), the blood circulation within the bones, including the lumbar spine, improves dramatically.The disc is completely restored (osteochondrosis in the early stage).
In the later stages, lumbar osteochondrosis produces symptoms such as constant back pain due to disc protrusion or herniation.Interestingly, treatment of VTES in the shortest possible time allows the re-formation of a dense woven capsule around the hernia, preventing its growth and even size.
Good tips for prevention
- Knowing that working in a standing position for long hours, especially sitting in front of a computer, can help.For example, take breaks every hour, stretch and walk.Maintain proper posture.For some people, specially made correctors help with this, for example with neodymium magnets.
- Continuous lifting of heavy weights also contributes to the development of the disease, so you must know the rules of correct lifting.
- Try to avoid hypothermia and back injuries.Take care of your weight, strengthen your back muscles with moderate sports and swimming, then you won't need treatment.
- Overcoming lumbar osteochondrosis is completely possible if you start the treatment at an early stage or keep it under control.