Lumbar osteochondrosis is a fairly common disease. However, it is not recommended to continue his treatment under any circumstances, as this can lead to serious consequences, including disability. The older a person is, the more likely they are to develop a disease such as lumbar osteochondrosis.
Elderly people with this disease, unfortunately, face an average of 90% of cases. As for the special risk group, it includes those who do not lead a sufficiently mobile and active lifestyle. And such people, you see, are now in the majority.
The main causes of lumbar osteochondrosis
In the case of uneven load distribution on the chin and trunk muscles, the intervertebral discs deform and protrude between the vertebrae. This leads to compression of the spinal nerves. The result is the so-called radicular syndrome, which is characterized by back pain and a significant reduction in the mobility of the lumbar spine.
The situation in which a person's back gets stuck with lumbar osteochondrosis does not appear suddenly, which is why experts recommend that you start solving the problem before it becomes critical. So it makes sense to test your body for any problems.
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis are as follows:
- pulling pain in the lumbar region (in the first stage of the disease the pain is not too strong, but over time it intensifies);
- limitation of mobility in the lumbar region;
- walking problems;
- tingling in the limbs.
Due to the compression of the intervertebral vessels, even diseases of the internal organs can occur. This happens if the disease is severely neglected. If you notice any of the above symptoms, it is strongly recommended that you seek immediate help from a specialist: a neurologist or therapist. The doctor will prescribe a comprehensive therapy that can effectively avoid worsening the situation.
How to act in case of an acute attack of osteochondrosis
However, if your back is crooked at some point in an unexpected way, you need to know what specific actions to take in anticipation of an ambulance team to be called. So, we are talking about the following manipulations:
- in no case should a person be helped to stand up, as such actions can not only provoke a new attack of pain, but also lead to even greater displacement of the vertebrae, which is fraught with the development of paralysis;
- if possible, help the person lie on the bed or sofa;
- do not touch the inflamed area of the back;
- the victim needs to be given an anesthetic that will reduce the pain;
- if the pain syndrome is mild, the lumbar region should be treated with anesthetic ointment.
Characteristics of the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis
The main task to be solved in the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is the elimination of pain. A number of steps must then be taken to restore mobility and eliminate the cause of the spinal nerve compression. In principle, the goal of treatment in each case is to achieve complete recovery of the patient. In advanced cases, we talk about causing a stable remission with the restoration of most motor functions.
Treatment can be conservative and fast. The conservative method of treating lumbar osteochondrosis includes courses of painkillers, as well as restorative and anti-inflammatory therapy. Surgical treatment is performed only in cases where there is a real risk of paralysis against the background of significant displacement of the spinal disc. During the operation the hernia is removed, the intervertebral discs are replaced, as well as the bone growths, adhesions and scars on the vertebrae are removed.
In some cases, the use of folk remedies can be quite an effective method. For example, you can make compresses based on medicinal herbs. It is also useful to wrap the lumbar region with scarves or shawls of natural camel or other wool.
Characteristics of rehabilitation in osteochondrosis
In order to consolidate the results of the treatment, it is strongly recommended to take rehabilitation measures with great seriousness. It is better to do it during remission in medical and physical training centers, which are open in almost every city. Rehabilitation programs are developed for each person individually, and the complex is selected individually. Includes all types of treatments, including exercise therapy, massage and physiotherapy.