The lumbar spine includes five vertebral discs that connect the sacrum and thoracic spine. This part of the musculoskeletal system receives heavy loads. It is more mobile and more prone to diseases, the signs of which can appear at different ages. One of these diseases is lumbar osteochondrosis. 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 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, dock workers, etc. ).
- Excess weight of the patient, exerting too much pressure on the spine. It is often found in both women and men.
- Lack of physical activity, physical inactivity, when blood circulation deteriorates, nutrition of discs with essential substances, vitamins are lacking.
- Posture violation caused by the habit of wrong posture, often at home (bent, bent).
- Injuries during sports, exercises performed incorrectly.
- The age factor, when in women and men in old age, the bones become prone to deformation.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis in the lumbar region
Pain, indicating that urgent treatment of lumbar spine osteochondrosis (code M 42 according to ICD-10) is necessary, can also occur when you sneeze or cough. Manifestations of pain in the lumbosacral region can be caused by a sharp movement, tilt, gravity transfer.
The suction may be localized or spread upwards from the lower back. The pain can spread to both the back and legs. The patient's back loses flexibility. It becomes difficult for a person to perform curves, anime. General discomfort leads to sleep disturbances, irritability, loss of strength.
As one of the possible complications of the disease - disorders of the genitourinary system. Pain may appear in the kidney area. There may be discomfort in urination.
Treatment
To successfully cure lumbar osteochondrosis (code M 42 according to ICD-10), the patient will need to radically reconsider most of his daily habits. From now on, you will have to work every day for health. If it is different, then even in case of victory over the symptoms of the disease, it can come back again. Unfortunately, this happens in many cases.
Often, during the first visit to the doctor, the patient is prescribed medication. Medications against lumbar osteochondrosis relieve pain, prevent inflammatory processes.
And in folk medicine there are many prescriptions for medicinal infusions, ointments that can help diagnose "osteochondrosis" (lumbar or polysegmental, code M 42 according to ICD-10). Folk remedies 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 remove 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 achieved will be short-lived. In some cases, a spine osteochondrosis (corset) belt 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) occupies exercise therapy (physiotherapy exercises), special gymnastics. A set of individual exercises should be chosen by a physician, and the appointment should be implemented under the guidance of a qualified trainer. In case the patient has a pronounced problem of excess weight, you should follow a diet as well as increase daily physical activity. The complex of these measures can cure osteochondrosis.
It is also advisable to have acupuncture for lumbar spine osteochondrosis.
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.
vitamin B
They are prescribed in the initial stage of the disease to relieve painful symptoms. Often this is enough to cure osteochondrosis and remove the 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 (intramuscular or intravenous) and in tablets.
B vitamins are found in:
- B1 (thiamine) - in grain, 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, when treating lumbar osteochondrosis, they are an excellent background for major medication treatment.
vitamin D
Doctors recommend their use in combination with calcium, as this combination has a beneficial effect on the bones, giving them strength. But the cartilage of the intervertebral discs, above all suffering from osteochondrosis, is strengthened with the help of group D vitamins. Mainly, to cure the disease, experts will prescribe vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) or D2 (ergocalciferol).
Vitamins D are found in:
- cod;
- open 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 favors 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 should be consumed "tandem" - when absorbed by the intestines, their elements complement and activate each other's work. Thanks to them the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis disappear (code M 42 according to ICD-10) and the disease is not able to spread further.
Contained in animal and plant foods:
- carrots, parsley, spinach, green onions, seafood, wild rose, apricots, mountain ash, black currants, blueberries, strawberries, blueberries;
- fish oil, liver, milk.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) increases the body's defenses. This is very necessary during the fight against any disease. This vitamin removes toxins, protects cartilage, muscles, bone tissue from internal and external damage.
Ascorbic acid is sold in tablets, and, in addition, in ampoules for injection (this is also possible at home). It contains rose hips, red (sweet) peppers, peas, strawberries, cabbage (broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts), needles, tangerines, oranges, tomatoes, parsley, fennel.
What gives swimming and exercise for osteochondrosis
Properly organized swimming contributes to:
- Relaxation. Osteochondrosis of the lower back and polysegmental (code M 42 according to ICD-10) leads to muscle spasms, their tension, which impedes movement. Water helps the whole spine to relax, eliminates muscle spasms and at the same time strengthens the muscles.
- Acceleration of metabolic processes. Damaged and still normal disc tissues get the nourishment they need and begin to recover.
- Increased immunity. This is important to treat any disease.
- Swimming and regular bathing, especially exercises in water, which remove excess 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 medicines practice swimming and exercises in the pool, then you can heal the affected discs, improve the general condition of the entire spine and get rid of the pain.
Doctors advise swimming treatment only in special pools. Of course, such treatment is usually not possible at home. But in the river, at sea, exercises are not recommended for the fact that the flow of water bodies can cause additional stress on the spine.
When exercising in the pool, patients should follow some basic rules. Improper swimming and exercise can make pain worse:
- 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. They can be simple exercises, massage. All this within 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, as well as women with osteochondrosis, should be recommended by a therapeutic exercise specialist.
So, if you have signs of osteochondrosis (or it is lumbar or polysegmental), then in addition to home treatment (vitamins, drugs), with the recommendation of the doctor, you should visit the pool or gym. Doctors emphasize that only an integrated approach, patience, perseverance in overcoming the disease will achieve positive results during its treatment.