Back pain, according to statistics, worries almost one in two inhabitants of the planet over the age of 18.They can be caused by several 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 overcome it successfully, if you start doing it from the beginning.
It's time to sound the alarm
If you want to successfully deal with a disease such as lumbar osteochondrosis, you should not wait for obvious symptoms to appear immediately.In the first stage you will not feel them.
It is important to realize that people who spend a lot of time sitting or standing in the same position are more susceptible to danger.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 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 only appear under greater than normal loads, disappearing during rest.Or after a long stay in an uncomfortable static position.Over time, these pains bother me constantly during long walks.
- Gradually, the pain becomes chronic and can manifest itself as aching, tingling (referring to the thigh), sharp pain, low back pain, etc.Feeling of heat or cold in the lower back.
- Pain that develops dynamically, intensifying.Part of the leg becomes numb or there is a “pins and needles” sensation.
- Symptoms such as: constipation, urinary incontinence, numbness between the legs, menstrual irregularities (in women).
- The feet become 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 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 that described above, cannot be ignored.
Complete the prescribed exam
The doctor you visit will order some tests and various tests.This is due to the fact that identifying this disease is not so easy.Numerous laboratory tests aim to exclude possible other diseases (such as diseases of the internal organs) that present the same symptoms.The best way to determine the cause is MRI - MRI (possibly even with paramagnetic enhancement).But radiography is also used.
Is the important step of making an accurate diagnosis behind you?What choices will you now face between the various treatments?
Methods of influencing the affected spine
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is currently treated in several ways.But they can all be divided into two large groups: symptomatic (eliminate pain and other consequences of the disease) and pathogenetic (believed to act on the cause, eliminating it or preventing its development).
Treatment with medications that relieve pain.Such medicines are prescribed only by the attending physician.The treatment is symptomatic, that is, the person, happy that everything has returned to its previous healthy state, can stop taking care of the back and, in the meantime, the disease will progress without symptoms until the pain becomes more severe.
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 hardware.You should be careful when using this method if the lumbar osteochondrosis is already in a progressive stage.
The homeosiniatric method is a treatment in which homeomedicines are administered precisely to the affected area (or rather, to a specific active point on the body), which help the body to get rid of toxins.
Hirudotherapy (treatment with leeches).They bring invaluable help, helping many patients to forget about the disease for many years.It is believed that leeches provide the body with hirudin, which helps improve blood circulation in the affected area, relieves pain and alleviates inflammation.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, as long as there are no protrusions, herniated discs and other contraindications, some trust an experienced chiropractor - massage therapist who works with the spine.
Special exercises to relieve pain in osteochondrosis.It is best to consult a doctor when choosing a set of these activities for yourself.
Pathogenetic method developed by experts
I would like to focus especially on interstitial stimulation with physiological current (VTES).Under the guidance of the professor, a new method of influence was developed that allows you to improve blood circulation within the vertebrae bone itself.
It is believed that it is precisely due to the weakening of this blood flow that the nutrition of the disc deteriorates significantly, which leads to the gradual loss of its properties, the ability to function normally and its eventual destruction.
The essence of the method is to supply 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, often amplified.It is fed through a needle - an electrode inserted at a certain depth (under the skin) at the site of the pathology, that is, at a certain point on the back.The current powerfully stimulates the vessels within the bones of the vertebrae, thus improving the nutrition of the discs.
According to the results of studies (needle rheography, polyorheography), blood circulation inside the bones, including the lumbar spine, improves dramatically.The disc is completely restored (early stage osteochondrosis).
In later stages, lumbar osteochondrosis produces symptoms such as intense and constant back pain due to protrusion or herniated disc.Interestingly, treating VTE in the shortest possible time allows the reform of a densely 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, especially sitting in front of a computer, can help.For example, take breaks every hour by stretching and walking.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 it is necessary to know the rules of how to lift them correctly.
- Try to avoid hypothermia and back injuries.Watch your weight, strengthen your back muscles by doing moderate sports, swimming, then you won't need treatment.
- It is quite possible to overcome lumbar osteochondrosis if you start treatment from the early stages or keep it under control.