The lumbar spine includes five vertebral discs that connect the sacrum and the thoracic spine. This part of the musculoskeletal system receives a heavy load. It is the most mobile and prone to disease, the symptoms of which may appear at different ages. One of these diseases is lumbar osteochondrosis. In addition, patients 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 lower back osteochondrosis
The causes of the development of this disease can be:
- Excessive load on the lumbar, sacral spine, which is typical for manual workers (loaders, dock workers, etc. ).
- The patient is overweight, putting too much pressure on the spinal space. It is often found in women and men.
- Lack of physical activity, physical inactivity, when blood circulation worsens, disc nutrition with essential substances, lack of vitamin supply.
- Posture violations caused by improper sitting habits, often at home (crouched, tilted).
- Injuries during sports, exercises performed improperly.
- Age factor, when in older women and men, bones become prone to deformation.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis in the lumbar
Pain, indicating that urgent treatment of lumbar spine osteochondrosis (code M 42 according to ICD-10) is necessary, can occur even during sneezing or coughing. Manifestations of pain in the lumbosacral region can be caused by sharp movements, tilt, gravity transfer.
The tingling may be localized or spread upwards from the lower back. The pain can also spread to the back and legs. The patient's back loses flexibility. It becomes difficult for someone to do round, sloping. General discomfort 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 a disturbance in urination.
Treatment
To successfully cure lumbar osteochondrosis (code M 42 according to ICD-10), patients need to radically review most of their daily habits. From now on, you need to take care of your health every day. If it is different, then even in the case of victory over the symptoms of the disease, it may return again. Unfortunately, this happens in many cases.
Often, during the first visit to the doctor, the patient is given medication. Drugs against lumbar osteochondrosis relieve pain, prevent inflammatory processes.
And in folk medicine there are many recipes for medical infusions, ointments that can help with the diagnosis of "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 manifestation of the disease (pain relief), but not enough to defeat the disease completely, it does not eliminate the cause of the disease. For full treatment, complex remedial measures are required. Without them, treatment will not be effective, and the success achieved will be short -lived. In some cases, a belt for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine (corset) can be prescribed, which must 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 training), special gymnastics. A set of individual exercises should be selected by the physician, and appointments should be made under the guidance of a qualified coach. In the case when the patient has the problem of overweight, you need to follow a diet, as well as increase daily physical activity. The complex of these measures can cure osteochondrosis.
It is also advisable to do acupuncture for lumbar spine osteochondrosis.
Vitamin therapy for osteochondrosis
To cure disease, an integrated approach is essential. This treatment should include vitamins, which can often be taken at home.
vitamin B
They are prescribed in the early stages of the disease to relieve painful symptoms. Often this is enough to cure osteochondrosis and relieve 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 in the form of injections (intramuscular or intravenous) and in tablets.
Vitamin B is found in:
- B1 (thiamine) - 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, when treating lumbar osteochondrosis, they are an excellent background for primary treatment with medications.
vitamin D
Doctors recommend using it in combination with calcium, because this combination has a good effect on bones, giving them strength. But the cartilage of the intervertebral disc, most of whom suffer from osteochondrosis, is strengthened with the help of group D vitamins. Mostly, to cure the disease, specialists will prescribe vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) or D2 (ergocalciferol).
Vitamin D is found in:
- Cod fish;
- halibut;
- milk;
- yolk;
- butter;
- sardines;
- tuna liver.
Vitamins A and E.
A and E are powerful antioxidants. They catalyze tissue regeneration. For example, vitamin A supports the strengthening of the immune system, actively fights infection, is responsible for the harmonious circulation of calcium, phosphorus, and restores damaged tissue.
Vitamins A and E must be consumed in a "tandem"-when absorbed from the intestine, their elements complement each other and activate their respective work. Thanks to them that the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis (code M 42 according to ICD-10) disappeared, and the disease could not spread further.
Contained in animal, plant foods:
- carrots, parsley, spinach, green onions, sea buckthorn, wild roses, apricots, mountain ash, black currant, blueberries, strawberries, blueberries;
- fish oil, liver, milk.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) boosts the body's defenses. This is very necessary when fighting 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 pepper (sweet), beans, strawberries, cabbage (broccoli, white cabbage, Brussels sprouts), needles, tangerines, oranges, tomatoes, parsley, dill.
What gives swimming and exercise for osteochondrosis
Regular swimming contributes to:
- Relaxation. Lower back and polysegmental osteochondrosis (code M 42 according to ICD-10) leads to muscle spasms, their tension, which impedes movement. Water helps the entire spine to relax, relieves muscle cramps and at the same time strengthens muscles.
- Accelerates metabolic processes. Damaged and still normal disc tissues receive the nutrients they need and begin to recover.
- Increase immunity. This is important to treat any disease.
- Swim and shower regularly, and especially exercise in the water, which removes extra pounds of the body.
- Swimming leads to an increase in the function of the heart and respiratory system, helping to create a positive attitude to cure osteochondrosis.
Exercise in water, swimming is recommended for both polysegmental osteochondrosis (code M 42 according to ICD-10), and osteochondrosis of any part of the spine.
If, while taking vitamins and other medications, you practice swimming and exercising in the pool, then you can heal the affected disc, improve the general condition of the entire spine, and relieve pain.
Doctors advise swimming treatment only in special pools. Naturally, such treatments usually cannot be done at home. But in the river, at sea, exercise is 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 need to follow a few basic rules. Improper swimming and exercise can make the pain worse:
- The water temperature should not be lower than 23 degrees, and during the first visit to the pool - at the level of 27 - 30 degrees Celsius.
- Swimming will help cure osteochondrosis, if you warm up before entering the pool. It can be a simple exercise, a massage. All of this in a matter of 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 one session is 40-50 minutes.
- Special water exercises, swimming for men, as well as women with osteochondrosis, should be recommended by specialists in therapeutic exercises.
So, if you have signs of osteochondrosis (either lumbar or polysegmental), then in addition to home treatment (vitamins, medications), on the recommendation of a doctor, you should visit a swimming pool or gym. Doctors emphasize that only an integrated approach, patience, perseverance in overcoming the disease will achieve positive results during its treatment.