The lumbar spine includes five vertebral discs that connect the sacrum and the thoracic spine. This part of the musculoskeletal system takes on heavy loads. It is the most mobile and prone to diseases, the signs of which can appear at different ages. One of these ailments is osteochondrosis of the lower back. In addition, the patient may develop polysegmental osteochondrosis (affecting all parts of the spine). A description of the disease can be found in the International Classification of Diseases - ICD-10, where the general code M42 is assigned to osteochondrosis.
There are many ways to prevent and how to treat not only osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, but also polysegmental (code M 42 according to ICD-10).
Signs of osteochondrosis of the lower back.
The cause of the development of the disease can be:
- Excessive load on the lumbar, sacral spine, which is typical for manual workers (loaders, port workers, etc. ).
- Excessive weight of the patient, putting too much pressure on the spine. It is often found in both women and men.
- Lack of physical activity, physical inactivity, when blood circulation worsens, nutrition of the discs with essential substances, vitamins are in short supply.
- Violation of posture caused by the habit of sitting incorrectly, often at home (stooped, skewed).
- Injuries during sports practice, exercises performed incorrectly.
- The age factor, when in elderly women and men, the bones become prone to deformation.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis in the lower back.
Pain, indicating that urgent treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine (code M 42 according to ICD-10) is necessary, can occur even when sneezing or coughing. Manifestations of pain in the lumbosacral region can be caused by a sudden movement, tilt, transfer of gravity.
The tingling may be localized or extend up from the lower back. The pain can also radiate to the buttocks and legs. The patient's back loses flexibility. It becomes difficult for a person to perform turns, tilts. General malaise leads to sleep disturbances, irritability, loss of strength.
As one of the possible complications of the disease - disorders in the genitourinary system. Pain may appear in the kidney area. There may be disturbances in urination.
Treatment
To successfully cure lumbar osteochondrosis (code M 42 according to ICD-10), the patient will have to radically revise most of his daily habits. From now on, you will have to work on health every day. If it is different, then even in case of victory over the symptoms of the disease, it can return again. Unfortunately, this happens in many cases.
Often, during the first visit to the doctor, the patient is prescribed medication. Drugs against osteochondrosis of the lower back relieve pain and prevent inflammatory processes.
And in folk medicine there are many recipes for medicinal infusions, ointments that can help with the diagnosis of "osteochondrosis" (lumbar or polysegmental, code M 42 according to ICD-10). Folk medicines are used externally or taken orally to relieve pain and inflammation.
However, it is known that drug therapy only stops the manifestations of the disease (pain relief), but it is not enough to completely defeat the disease, it does not eliminate the root cause of the disease. For a full course of treatment, complex rehabilitation measures are required. Without them, the treatment will not be effective and the successes obtained will be short-lived. In some cases, a belt for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine (corset) may be prescribed, which should also be worn at home.
A special place in the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis (code M 42 according to ICD-10) is occupied by exercise therapy (physiotherapy exercises), special gymnastics. A set of individual exercises must be selected by a doctor, and the appointment must be implemented under the guidance of a qualified trainer. In the event that the patient has a pronounced problem of excess weight, he should follow a diet and increase daily physical activity. The complex of these measures can cure osteochondrosis.
It is also advisable to do acupuncture for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.
Vitamin therapy for osteochondrosis.
To cure the disease, an integrated approach is important. This treatment should include vitamins, which can often be taken at home.
B vitamins
They are prescribed at the initial stage of the disease to relieve painful symptoms. Often this is enough to cure osteochondrosis and eliminate pain.
In addition to the fact that B vitamins reduce pain, they can also be used to improve metabolic processes, restore immunity and sensitivity of tissues affected by the disease. They are used both in the form of injections (intramuscularly or intravenously) and in tablets.
B vitamins are found in:
- B1 (thiamin) - in cereals, bread (coarse flour), in yeast;
- B6 (pyridoxine) - in vegetables, eggs, milk, liver, meat, fish;
- B12 (cyanocobalamin) - in animal products: meat, beef liver.
The introduction of B vitamins by injection is quite painful. However, in the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis, they are an excellent background for the main drug treatment.
vitamins d
Doctors recommend using them in combination with calcium, since this combination has a beneficial effect on the bones, giving them strength. But the cartilages of the intervertebral discs, which mostly suffer from osteochondrosis, are strengthened with the help of vitamins of group D. Mostly, to cure the disease, experts prescribe vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) or D2 (ergocalciferol).
Vitamins D are found in:
- cod;
- Halibut;
- Milk;
- egg yolks;
- butter;
- sardines;
- tuna liver.
Vitamins A and E
A and E are powerful antioxidants. They catalyze tissue regeneration. For example, vitamin A promotes the strengthening of the immune system, actively resists infections, is responsible for the harmonious circulation of calcium, phosphorus and restores damaged tissues.
Vitamins A and E must be consumed in "tandem": when absorbed in the intestines, their elements complement each other and activate each other's work. It is thanks to them that the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis (code M 42 according to ICD-10) disappear, and the disease cannot spread further.
Content in foods of animal and vegetable origin:
- carrots, parsley, spinach, green onions, sea buckthorn, wild rose, apricots, mountain ash, black currant, blueberries, strawberries, blueberries;
- fish oil, liver, milk.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) enhances the body's defenses. This is very necessary during the fight against any disease. This vitamin removes toxins, protects cartilage, muscles and bone tissue from internal and external damage.
Ascorbic acid is sold in tablets, and additionally in ampoules for injection (this is also possible at home). Contains rose hips, red peppers (sweet), peas, strawberries, cabbage (broccoli, white cabbage, Brussels sprouts), needles, mandarin oranges, oranges, tomatoes, parsley, dill.
What gives swimming and exercises for osteochondrosis.
Properly organized swimming contributes to:
- Relaxation. Low back and polysegmental osteochondrosis (code M 42 according to ICD-10) leads to muscle spasms, their tension, which makes movement difficult. Water helps to relax the entire spine, eliminates muscle spasms and at the same time strengthens the muscles.
- Acceleration of metabolic processes. The damaged and still normal disc tissues receive the nutrition they need and begin to recover.
- Boosts immunity. This is important to treat any disease.
- Regular swimming and bathing, and especially exercises in the water, which remove extra pounds from the body.
- Swimming leads to an improvement in the functioning of the heart and respiratory system, helps to create a positive attitude to cure osteochondrosis.
Exercises in water, swimming are recommended both for polysegmental osteochondrosis (code M 42 according to ICD-10), and for osteochondrosis of any of the sections of the spine.
If, while taking vitamins and other drugs, you engage in swimming and exercises in the pool, you can heal the affected discs, improve the general condition of the entire spine, eliminate pain.
Doctors advise swimming treatment only in special pools. Naturally, such treatment is usually not possible at home. But in the river, in the sea, exercises are not recommended due to the fact that the flow of water bodies can cause additional stress on the spine.
When exercising in the pool, patients must follow some basic rules. Improper swimming and exercise can exacerbate pain:
- The water temperature should not be lower than 23 degrees, and during the first visits to the pool - at the level of 27-30 degrees Celsius.
- Swimming will help cure osteochondrosis, if you do a warm-up before entering the pool. It can be simple exercises, massage. All this in a few minutes will increase blood flow to the spine and prepare it for the procedure.
- Patients diagnosed with "lumbar (or polysegmental) osteochondrosis" should avoid sudden movements in the pool.
- You can (recommended) visit the pool at least twice a week, the optimal time for a session is 40-50 minutes.
- Special water exercises, swimming for men and women with osteochondrosis, should be recommended by a specialist in therapeutic exercises.
So, if you have signs of osteochondrosis (either lumbar or polysegmental), in addition to home treatment (vitamins, drugs), on the recommendation of a doctor, you should visit the pool or gym. Doctors emphasize that only an integrated approach, patience and perseverance in overcoming the disease will achieve positive results during its treatment.