Osteochondrosis of the lower back: symptoms, treatment at home exercises

Common disease that affects the spine is the lumbar chondrosis: this disease is expressed in a negative state changes of the intervertebral discs, deformation and gradual destruction. Chondrosis is an initial stage of development of osteochondrosis in the absence of proper treatment, the disease can lead to serious back problems. In the early stages the disease is often asymptomatic, in the future, pain, difficulties in movement, sensation of numb muscles. The symptoms and treatment of chondrosis, methods of diagnostics and prophylaxis will be discussed below.

The causes of the problem

Lumbar chondrosis occurs in the following cases:

• Incorrect posture, leading to uneven load distribution on the spine.
• Hard physical labor, irregular loads, with a total sedentary lifestyle.
• Weak muscular corset.
• Hypothermia lumbar.
• For long periods in immobility, sedentary lifestyle, long hours of driving.
• Diseases of the cardiovascular, endocrine system.
• Problems with the metabolism.
• Congenital or recent pathology of the musculoskeletal system.
• Professional sports activities related to lifting heavy weight.

Read also: the symptoms and treatment of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

Chondrosis of the lumbar spine, symptoms of which do not appear immediately and need to start treatment as soon as possible, often appears in persons 50 years and older, people suffering from physical inactivity, stress, excess weight. Permanent incorrect posture provokes the degeneration of the intervertebral discs, lack of nutrients and vitamins in the diet weakens the musculoskeletal system. Another problem that can increase the risk, is wearing shoes with excessively high heels or platform: this reason is often causes chondrosis the fair sex.

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Symptoms of lumbar chondrosis

The characteristic sign of this problem is pain, focusing in the lumbar, sacrum and lower extremities. Other symptoms:

• Numb leg muscles.
• Problems with the urogenital organs radiating pain.
• Sharp attacks of pain, backache in the lumbar area in case of sudden changes in body posture (flexion, extension behind), during a strong cough, lifting heavy objects.
• Dryness and change the skin tone to blue.
• Scoliosis, misalignments of the spine.

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Often patients notice that after rest and stay calm the pain becomes quieter and felt weaker, and when lifting or sudden movement syndrome escalates, localizes in the lumbar region. In the absence of medical help you may experience the following consequences:

• Disorders of the nervous system, because the offset of the discs contributes to the pinching of nerve roots.
• Bony deformity, herniated discs.
• If there is deformity of the fourth lumbar nerve root, there are difficulties with the knee reflex.
• With the development of lumbar chondrosis may weaken or disappear reflexes Achilles tendon and flexion of the fingers.

The symptoms of disease needs to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis. The procedure at the clinic consists of several stages: first, the specialist clarifies the clinical picture, learning about the lifestyle, past injuries, stress, type of pain and other points. Inspected visually to check muscle tone, palpation reveals how symmetrical vertebrae, how far apart they are.

If visual inspection is not allowed to make an objective clinical picture, the doctor may prescribe the following types of surveys:

• An x-ray. The performed in 2 projections to determine the condition of the spine to detect deformation of the bone, the destruction of discs, sealing processes.
• MRI to check the status of the vessels and the fibrous rings.

Suggest to read: the treatment of cervical chondrosis of the thoracicspine.

The development of the disease

The disease proceeds gradually, it klassificeret in stages:

• The first stage in the lumbar area a discomfort, rarely pain, usually during physical exertion (lifting). The radiograph shows a slight deformation of bone tissue.
• In the second stage, collapse of the fibrous ring, of intervertebral distance decreases, the mobility of the vertebrae is limited. The pain occurs after physical activity and unplanned, it becomes stronger. Patients often come to the doctor it is at this stage in the development of chondrosis.
• The third stage occurs if the treatment was not assigned; the pain becomes constant, there have been serious deformation of the vertebrae, herniated discs.
• In the fourth stage, the spine strongly curved, the movement is difficult or impossible. When neglected often prescribed disability.

Treatment of chondrosis

Specialists prescribe therapy, which may include the following steps:

• Medication. The doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs, produced in the form of tablets or liquid for intramuscular injection: these include Ketanov, Diclofenac, Ortophenum and other drugs. To restore the state of the intervertebral discs of the lower back and sacrum use chondroprotectors, and immune system support is carried out by adding to the diet foods fortified with vitamin B. When severe pain use novocaine blockade.
• LFK. Therapeutic physical exercises accelerate blood circulation, strengthen muscle tissue, contribute to the correction of posture.
• Physical therapy with UV irradiation and diadynamic current impact (important in the rehabilitative process).
• Shock-wave treatment to help eliminate signs of fibrosis.
• Manual therapy that restores blood flow and helps to relax muscle tissue.
• Reflexology to increase the effectiveness of treatment, to stop pain and improve sleep.
• In the last stages of chondrosis is used surgery to correct the deformation, to eliminate the intervertebral hernia and complications.

To determine how to treat lumbar chondrosis, you need to consult with your doctor; in some cases, combine techniques to achieve the best effect. Allowed and the use of traditional medicine, among which the most popular the following recipes:

• Take 3 lemons, chop, without removing the peel, put in a glass jar with a capacity of 1 liter and pour the boiling water. Means insist 5 hours, in the morning take 1 tablespoon on an empty stomach. The Bank is required to store in the fridge.
• A piece of cheese placed on a piece of cotton fabric, add a few drops of vinegar, make dressing. Fabric you want to put on lumbar region, keep for 1.5-2 hours.
• Radish (350 g) RUB on a grater, mix with vodka and honey (100 ml and 250 g, respectively). The mixture is used for rubbing lumbar region.
• Also very effective a massage with cans;
• Wearing a belt made of natural dog hair throughout the day; before going to sleep it off.
• Pour in a jar with a capacity of 0.5 l. the flowers of common lilac, add vodka, close and leave in a dry, dark place. Capacity get after 21 days, strain and drink before meals 3 times a day. The duration of treatment is 3 months, the dosage is 30 drops.
• The pain mixed with olive oil (proportion 1 to 30), rubbing a mixture on the affected area, run up the plastic bag and warm woolen cloth.

Suggest to read: how to treat lumbar degenerative disc disease in the home.

How to prevent chondrosis of the lumbar spine?

This disease may be prevented, and the preventive measures can be the following:

• The constraint loads on the spine.
• Control of metabolic processes, enrichment of the diet with vitamins, increased attention to the state of the endocrine system.
• Increased activity, improvement of the monotonous routine with fitness exercises, charge.
• Wearing orthopedic devices (corsets, belts);
• Sports, including swimming.
• Procedures for General hardening of the body.

Lumbar and lumbosacral chondrosis appears in people who have severe persistent or irregular load on the spine. The problem is evidenced by acute paroxysmal pain, numbness and other symptoms, and treatment needed to start as soon as possible. The method of treatment prescribed by the physician, and often the methods are combined to achieve results and most rapid cure.