One of the conditions, accompanied by severe pain syndrome, is called osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms and treatment of the disease, at least first aid for "lumbago", should be known to everyone.
Diagnosis of lumbar osteochondrosis
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is made in several stages. It begins by collecting existing patient complaints and subsequently studying the medical history.
The next step is to examine the patient. Pain is detected by palpation on the surface of the spine.
Radiology is mandatory for a person. It is this technique that is the key way to diagnose the disease. In the resulting image, the doctor can follow the typical signs of inflammation - narrowing of the cracks between the vertebrae. In addition, X-rays reveal subchronic sclerosis, a condition in which the surface of an individual vertebra is compacted, as well as osteophytes (bone growths).
MRI examination is also mandatory. Magnetic resonance imaging allows us to diagnose with maximum accuracy the pathological processes that occur in the spine.
Computed tomography can become an alternative to MRI, replacing the procedure in case a person cannot physically spend about 40 minutes indoors on a tomograph.
An additional blood test is assigned. Rheumatological pathology should be ruled out. The analysis is performed in case the patient with a confirmed diagnosis of osteochondrosis has an increased ESR.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
Each spine contains a fibrous ring that helps the spine withstand stress on it. Pathological changes that have occurred in the intracartilaginous tissue cause an increase in pressure on the annular fibrosus. Its protrusion occurs, followed by injury to the nerve root. The result of the change is severe pain syndrome. This is how osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine manifests, whose symptoms and treatment we are considering.
Signs of lumbar spine inflammation are:
- severe pain is the main symptom of degenerative changes in the spine, because a healthy person does not feel back pain;
- increased pain - improves after a long stay of a person in the same position;
- feeling of sharp pain - lumbago - in the lumbar region;
- periodic tingling in the legs.
In women, the pathology can manifest itself with additional symptoms (caused by a violation of local blood circulation as a result of increased pressure):
- inflammation of the organs of the reproductive system - uterus and ovaries;
- infertility - develops in rare cases and is a complication of the advanced format of osteochondrosis of the lumbar region.
In osteochondrosis, the thigh muscles hurt and do not allow walking - what to do
If during osteochondrosis the thigh muscles hurt and do not allow walking, then how can the pain be alleviated and what is the cause of the pain?
The development of unpleasant sensations in the lower back is typical for this pathology. At the beginning, they appear only after a strong physical effort, but as the condition worsens, they become constant, taking on a painful character. Sometimes a person has a “lumbago” - a sharp painful feeling.
Pain is relieved when walking and when the patient is in a horizontal position. But when a person sits, stands or coughs / sneezes, the pain only intensifies. In this case, the pain can spread to the thigh muscles and significantly worsen the quality of life of the patient.
Symptomatic medications are usually recommended to alleviate the condition. They do not cure osteochondrosis, but only reduce the manifestations of pain.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to alleviate the condition.
Blockage is performed in severe pain. But only a specialist can deliver this type of pain relief. The doctor gives injections in certain places, which helps to completely relieve the pain. Individual intolerance to the drug used becomes a contraindication.
Preparations for the treatment of lower back osteochondrosis
One of the most unpleasant back diseases is osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms and treatment of the disease include the use of several groups of drugs. The funds are used in the complex.
Preparations from the category of muscle relaxants are designed to relax the muscular corset and alleviate the spasm. In addition, they normalize local blood circulation, partially relieving pain.
Existing contraindications should be taken into account when choosing a drug. They are quite numerous.
The next group of products are drugs that improve blood circulation. Lack of oxygen in the internal organs as a result of narrowing of the lumen of the vessels can cause their hypoxia. To exclude the development of such pathology, the patient is prescribed special medications.
Pain medications are becoming mandatory medications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve swelling and relieve pain. They have no therapeutic effect, but act precisely symptomatically, relieving existing pain.
The attending physician should prescribe the medication and select the dosage. It is very discouraging to increase the dose of the drug yourself, as this can have a very negative effect on the general well-being.
The next category of prescribed medications are sedatives. The main symptom of osteochondrosis is severe pain, which negatively affects the patient's mental state.
Exceeding the permitted doses prescribed by a specialist is unacceptable.
Osteochondrosis of the lower back: home treatment
Home treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is primarily aimed at relieving pain. Doctors allow the use of painkillers.
It should be borne in mind that you can start treatment only after consulting a doctor. The selection of drugs and dosage should be done by a specialist.
Osteochondrosis - treatment with folk remedies
Treatment with folk remedies consists in the preparation of various rubs.
- Hop and butter based fat gives a good result. Dried hop roots should be ground into a powder and mixed with softened butter. The thoroughly rubbed mass must be applied to the area of inflammation until it is completely absorbed.
- A popular remedy is rubbing elderberry. For a glass of medicinal alcohol berries, take four glasses of fresh berries. Before pouring alcohol over them, the elderberry must be rubbed. Insist on the medicine for two weeks, then drain it and use a tincture for rubbing.
Now you know what is osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, symptoms and treatment of the condition. If you feel pain typical of this disease, seek qualified medical help.