Osteochondrosis is considered a common spinal disease. Above all, due to lifestyle specifics, the lower back suffers, hence the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine are more common than others. The pathology is equally dangerous for men and women, regardless of age. Patients with the disease wear a corset, suffer during pregnancy. Diet and exercise become essential.
The disease is highlighted in a separate section of the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and refers to dorsopathy deformans (ICD-10 M42-43). Spinal osteochondrosis received a code - M42 according to ICD-10. There are these options for the 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, recently there has been a tendency to affect the pathology of the younger generation. Associated with stress and prolonged exposure to the computer, a passive lifestyle.
The lumbar region always suffers great loads in terms of both the motor character and the load of the body weight. Women suffer a lot during pregnancy, people whose life history includes numerous low back injuries and ignore a factor like exercise. Also, studying the causes of intervertebral hernia, violation of the sciatic nerve, the main factor can be highlighted - long-term osteochondrosis.
Causes and stages of pathology
All causes that lead to pathology can be divided into external and internal. The former are associated with various influences of external factors. People who lead a sedentary lifestyle, who have excessive body weight, are prone to osteochondrosis. In addition, there are these predisposing factors:
- professions associated with a long stay in the sitting position;
- 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 bone, muscle tissue and their nutrition are disrupted. 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 structure of the spine accelerate the occurrence of osteochondrosis, if left untreated, the disease progresses rapidly. The most significant conditions are kyphosis, scoliosis. Also, the medical history indicates that the most common cause of the condition is spinal cord injury.
The disease has 4 stages of progression. In the first stage, there are no serious disturbances in the nutrition and structure of the spinal discs. Symptoms are mild. They can be easily removed with pain relievers. 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 left untreated, it quickly passes to the next stage. The history of the disease considers the corset an effective remedy for the progression of the disease.
The second stage is characterized by bumps and vivid clinical manifestations. Treatment becomes difficult, exacerbation occurs more often. For girls, before pregnancy, it is necessary to cure the disease to avoid complications due to salt deposits and displacement of the vertebrae. There may be problems with going to the bathroom, so 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. Diet and massage alone will not help. Sometimes, the only way out in the fight against the disease may be surgical treatment. In the future, a person will need to wear a corset and recover for a long time.
Symptoms
Signs of lumbar osteochondrosis begin to appear at the first stage of the disease with the onset of sharp pain in the lower back. The exacerbation at first passes quickly and does not interfere with the normal function of work capacity. During pregnancy, a woman constantly experiences discomfort and muscle tension.
As the disease progresses, exacerbation occurs more often, but can be removed with analgesics. Pain symptoms become prolonged, painful. If the nerve fibers are affected, the pain radiates to different parts of the body. It could be a leg, buttocks and different areas of the back. Increased pain occurs when you spend too much time in one position, sudden movements, or lifting weights. A characteristic sign of osteochondrosis may appear - a pain in the back.
In addition to the sensation of pain, the muscular corset suffers. The back muscles are constantly in a tense state, painful when pressed. Over time, the exacerbation does not go away, the patient develops unbearable pain, which is aggravated even by slight movement, coughing or sneezing. During pregnancy, weight gain occurs, which worsens a woman's general well-being and causes constant symptoms of osteochondrosis.
In extreme stages, innervation is disrupted and the spinal cord is affected. The muscular corset does not deal with protection, the vertebrae are destroyed, intervertebral hernias are formed. There are dysfunctions 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, diagnoses are carried out. The patient's medical history and complaints are studied in detail. Exacerbation makes it possible to identify the condition more carefully 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 performed in the same way as wearing a corset.
There are other diagnostic methods. It could be MRI or CT scan. An ultrasound exam is done to examine the internal organs, especially if the medical history indicates multiple pathologies.
Treatment in each case is selected individually and must be comprehensive. There are certain principles that help to cure the disease. They 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 be concerned about the health of the fetus. With a running course, in addition to the main course of therapy, it is necessary to wear a corset. In case of impaired bowel function, special suppositories are used. Also, you cannot warm the muscles of the lower back if there is an exacerbation. The diet is prescribed after consultation with a gynecologist. Loading must be special and at a certain time.
The treatment mainly aims to eliminate the symptoms, restoring the physiological 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 novocaine blockade.
The diet excludes foods that are harmful and difficult for the liver and kidneys. Do not abuse alcohol, cigarettes. To cure the disease, you can combine medicines and alternative methods of therapy at the same time. Charging should get into the rhythm of life. It is impossible to warm the injured area during exacerbation and at the beginning of treatment. The diet must be prescribed for a long time.
Effective massage, manual therapy, physical therapy and daily exercise - this is what will help you get rid of the disease and always stay in shape.