One of the conditions that is accompanied by severe pain syndrome, called lumbar spine osteochondrosis, is the symptoms and treatment of the disease, at least the first aid for "lumbago" must be known to everyone.
Diagnosis of lumbar spine osteochondrosis
The diagnosis of lumbar spine osteochondrosis is made in several stages. It begins with the collection of the patient’s existing complaints and the subsequent study of the history of the disease.
The next step is to examine the patient. The points of pain are felt on the surface of the spine.
Radiology is mandatory for one person. This technique is the most important way to diagnose the disease. In the resulting image, the doctor is able to track the typical signs of inflammation - narrowing of the cracks between the vertebrae. In addition, an X-ray reveals synchronous sclerosis, a condition in which the surface of each vertebra is compressed, and osteophytes (bone growths).
MRI examinationis also mandatory. Magnetic resonance imaging allows us to diagnose abnormal processes in the spine with maximum accuracy.
Computed tomography can become an alternative to MRI, replacing the procedure if a person is physically unable to spend 40 minutes indoors on the tomograph.
A blood test is also assigned. It is necessary to exclude rheumatological pathology. Analysis is performed if a patient with a confirmed diagnosis of osteochondrosis has an increased ESR.
Symptoms of lumbar spine osteochondrosis
Each vertebrae contains a fibrous ring that helps the spine withstand the stress on it. Abnormal changes in intracartilaginous tissue increase the pressure on the annulus fibrosis. Its rise is accompanied by damage to the nerve roots. The result of the change is severe pain syndrome. This is how osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine manifests itself, the symptoms and treatment of which are considered.
Signs of lumbar spine inflammation include:
- Severe pain is a major symptom of degenerative changes in the spine, as a healthy person does not experience back pain;
- increased pain - fixed after a long stay in the same position;
- feeling of sharp pain - lumbago - in the lumbar region;
- Intermittent tingling in the legs.
In women, the pathology may present with additional symptoms (caused by a violation of local blood circulation due to increased pressure):
- inflammation of the organs of the reproductive system - uterus and ovaries;
- Infertility - rarely occurs and is a complication of an advanced form of osteochondrosis of the lumbar region.
In osteochondrosis, the thigh muscles ache and do not allow walking - what to do
If your thigh muscles are sore during osteochondrosis and you are not allowed to walk, how can you relieve the pain and what causes the pain?
This pathology is characterized by the development of discomfort in the lower back. At first, they only develop after a strong physical exertion, but as the condition worsens, they become incessant, acquiring a painful character. Sometimes a person has a “lumbago” - a sharp painful sensation.
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 impair the patient’s quality of life.
Symptomatic medications are usually recommended to relieve symptoms. They do not cure osteochondrosis, they only reduce the manifestations of pain.
Medications belonging to the category of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to alleviate the condition.
Blockade is practiced in severe pain. But only a specialist can do this type of pain relief. Your doctor will give you injections at certain points to help completely relieve the pain. Individual intolerance to the drug used becomes a contraindication.
Preparations for the treatment of low back osteochondrosis
One of the most unpleasant diseases of the back is osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms and treatment of the disease means the use of several groups of drugs. The foundations are used in the complex.
Products in the muscle relaxants category are designed to relax the muscle ligament and relieve the resulting spasm. In addition, they normalize local blood circulation, partially relieving pain.
Existing contraindications should be taken into account when selecting a drug. There are quite a few.
The next product group is medicines that improve blood circulation. Lack of oxygen in the internal organs can cause hypoxia due to narrowing of the lumen of the blood vessels. To prevent the development of such a pathology, special medications are prescribed to the patient.
Painkillers are becoming mandatory medications. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve swelling and relieve pain. They have no therapeutic effect, but they act exactly symptomatically, relieving existing pain.
The treating physician should prescribe the treatment and select the dose. It is very reluctant to increase the dose of the drug on its own, as this can have a very negative effect on general well-being.
The next category of prescription drugs is sedatives. The main symptom of osteochondrosis is severe pain that negatively affects the patient’s mental state.
Exceeding the allowable doses prescribed by a specialist is unacceptable.
Lumbar osteochondrosis: home treatment
Home treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is primarily aimed at relieving pain. Doctors allow the use of painkillers.
It should be noted that you should only start treatment after consulting your doctor. The choice of drugs and dosage should be handled by a specialist.
Osteochondrosis - Treatment with Folk Remedies
Treatment with folk remedies involves the preparation of various rubs.
- Ointment based on hops and butter gives good results. The dry hop cones must be ground to a powder and mixed with softened butter. A thoroughly rubbed mass should be applied to the area of inflammation until completely absorbed.
- A popular cure is to rub elderberry. For a glass of medical alcoholic berry, we take four glasses of fresh berry. Before they are poured with alcohol, the elderberry should be rubbed. Stick to the cure for two weeks, then lower and use the tincture to rub.
Now you know what lumbar spine osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment of the disease. If you experience pain typical of the disease, you should seek professional medical help.