The treatment of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine

a man stands at the bottom of the back

The acute pain in the lumbar region, at the bottom of the degenerative disc disease of the spine is a common problem, which is faced with the absolute majority of people. Who obtained of us "in the price of the" our stand (by increasing the axial load of the spinal column), this disease, sooner or later, the strike of each inhabitant of the planet, the only question is, how quickly this happens, and how are expressed the symptoms. This "dark statistics fact to claim this pathology socially significant diseases and the fight against this phenomenon must be the task of a person suffering from symptoms of the disease, but also in the world of health systems in general. Therefore, the question of the treatment of degenerative disc disease of the spine – a very timely topic.

So what is low back pain? Let's briefly look at what happens in the development of the disease. In his name, if translated from latin, literally, defined the structure, the evolution of low back pain: the bone and the cartilage. For the purposes of the depreciation and of the resistance to the vertical loads of the nature has placed between our vertebrae a kind of fibro-cartilaginous "cushions" — the intervertebral discs. Their power is carried out in childhood with blood vessels, which are lost in approximately 25 years, and the food begins to materialize in a diffuse way, to the detriment of other muscles.

When the pathological of the load on the spine (sedentary work, or vice versa – the excess of the physical load), the violations of the process of the mineral metabolism of the intervertebral disc loses its elastic and shock-absorbing properties, reduces its height, the change in the structure of the vertebrae, appear pathological bony growths (osteophytes and zamechatelnye of the plate), motility disorders, in ravaged by the department of the vertebral column. In the last stages of the disease than the central part of the intervertebral disc, the so-called nucleus gelatinous, rupture of fibrotic ring, is a kind of saccular protrusion between the vertebral bodies — intervertebral hernia. The herniation may cause compression of adjacent to the pozvonkam of the nerve root, occurs intense pain in the area of compression, as well as in the field of adjustable work hit a nerve. Because of the constant irritation plexus occurs reflex skeletal muscles, in medicine, is called the protector of the defence that, on the one hand protects with the division of the vertebral column of unnecessary movements, and on the other hand increases the compression, swelling and pain in the affected area.

In the majority of cases (90%) pain syndrome of low back pain (even very strong) because of muscle spasms! In other cases, the cause of pain is the compression of the nerve root or the spinal cord directly to a herniated disc.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: how to deal with

Of all the departments of the spine, and only a man of five - (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal), because of the greater propulsion of loads the more often the manifestations of the illness lumbar. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine has, familiar to all the symptoms and the treatment of her is significant of a social goal, because it affects the quality of life are not only elderly, but also active people of working age.

wife Denitsa to the kidneys

The pain can be localized directly in the lumbar region, as well as on the front of the thigh, or across the back or to the outside of the leg, sometimes up to more fingers. Often, the pain make it in the gluteal region, the sacrum, the perineum, and can sometimes be located only in these areas, is masked under diseases of the genito-urinary tract, of the scope and of the intestine and hinder the implementation stage of a correct diagnosis. The intensity of the pain may be so high that the man loses the ability to perform the most basic of the movement, takes postures forced, and loses the normal sleep. It is the sciatic, which in the general public has become synonymous with the disease itself.

The limitation of motor activity. Violated normal motion and sensibility in the limbs, you experience muscle cramps, paresthesia (sensations of tingling, burning sensation crawl of the ants").

The violation of the function of the organs in the pelvis. In the case of syndrome, nerve root, known to all as the sciatic nerve, or when massive Grajewo the protrusion may not even violate the urination and the functioning of the intestine, which causes severe torments in the patient.

The treatment of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is often difficult for the patient and for the doctor. Each person with this disease I asked myself: "How to treat lower back pain low back?", "Instead of treating degenerative disc disease, lumbar?", "If the treatment of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar at home does not help, what doctor to consult?", "If the pill and ointments when the osteochondrosis does not help - how to treat?".

Deal with the aggravation of the degenerative disc disease, and assigned for the competent treatment to help these doctors: general practitioner, neurologist, specialist care, massage, physical therapist, physical therapist, and, if necessary, surgical treatment of a physician neurosurgeon.

The means to fight the osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

The essential in the treatment of degenerative disc disease, the good way of life! In people actively and properly in charge of the physical culture and concerns for the spine, the back never hurts! Unfortunately, few people meet these simple truths.

The deconstruction of this question, we can distinguish between:

  • drug;
  • no to drugs.

Institute of techniques of treatment of pathology of the lumbar spine

The distractions of the procedure. Their effect lies in the title - the application of various applicators, massage treatments, rugs and cushions, belts wool, "compresses" and "rastirok" because of the impact on the water surface, nerve endings and blood vessels a few reduced muscle spasms and pain. These methods can be used as auxiliaries, but isolated and their application in the course of the exacerbation of the degenerative disease disk lumbar, without any special treatment of the ineffective drugs.

Capital funds. Below these tools include bandages of different design, the port that helps protect the spine from sudden and "dangerous" movements, and redistribute the static charge of work. The immobilization means can be purchased in the stores of medical equipment, and pharmacies, but before buying, it is advisable to consult a doctor who will help you to determine the best in your situation, the design, the stiffness and the staffing of the fabric. Apply advised only on the time of the impact of adverse factors (travel and driving, sedentary work, etc), because the prolonged use causes malnutrition of the muscles.

Physiotherapy (PHYSIOTHERAPY) – an integrated component of treatment of degenerative disc disease. The execution of the exercises, designed to maintain the tone bones and the muscles of the back and of the lifting of the disease of muscle spasms, helping with the reconstruction and maintenance of physical activity, the reduction of the intensity of the pain. An important advantage of the LFC is that, after the training of the teacher of people every day, you may even perform some exercises at home, as well as the existence of a complex practice applicable even during the process. The most effective way of the CFL is the mechanotherapy – training on simulators individually developed a methodology, such as to form a corset of muscle, it is best to work with resistance training.

Massage – well-known for a long time, the most common and probably the most preferred by patients as a means of prevention and treatment, however, in the phase of aggravation of the degenerative disease disk lumbar may not be used. In addition, to proceed to a massage low back pain should only a specialist medical education, familiar with the anatomy and physiology and wielding technicians medical knowledge of therapeutic massage.

The manual therapy and the growing popularity in recent years, osteopathy in the year of the literacy professional can have a significant healing effect and even over a long period of get rid of exacerbation of the disease. It is also important to remember that when you go to manual doctor before you begin any of the procedures, you must pass the screening tool of the spine (x-ray, ct scan or magnetic resonance imaging, bone densitometry), in order to allow your doctor to evaluate the prevalence and the severity of the process and to avoid possible contraindications to manipulation. Such as massage, manual therapy and osteopathy have a number of contraindications, for example, expressed the compression of the nerve root by the herniation, subluxation of the spine. In the acute period of the degenerative disease disk lumbar usually use a mild of the technique of manual therapy (muscle relaxation, etc).

Acupuncture. The results of recent studies of the application of this popular in the circles wider of the methodology is considered as probative of evidence-based medicine osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, does not resolve the symptoms of the disease, and refers to unconventional methods of treatment.

Physiotherapy, included in the clinical guidelines and standards of care low back pain has long since proven its effectiveness in the treatment of this disease. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine apply electromyostimulation, amplipuls therapy, shock-wave therapy, interstitial biostimulate, laser therapy. A popular method in the treatment remains the magnetotherapy. Its advantages are a good tolerance and a small list of contraindications, the possibility of applying to the acute phase of the disease. By working on all aspects of the disease process, it has already been a few procedures that greatly reduces the pain and allows man to extend the motor activity. In addition, thanks to the improvement in trophic affected tissues, slowing the progression of the disease. The undoubted advantage of this method is the possibility of self-application by the patient outside of the walls of the medical institution.

But if all of these non-medication methods have proven ineffective - that to treat lumbar low back pain?

The drug treatment

The disease involves the assignment of groups of drugs:

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are available in the shapes as well as for local (gels, ointments, creams), and for the system of application (tablets, suppositories, solutions for intramuscular and intravenous). Their action is based on blocking the inflammatory process on the enzymatic level, and as a result eliminates the swelling of the affected area and significantly decreases the pain syndrome.

In the early stages of the disease is quite local use of NSAIDS in a complex with non-drug methods (gymnastics, magnet). When expressed pathological process and intensive pain syndrome of use of preformed, and sometimes injection forms of medication.

Unfortunately, having a good anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of NSAIDS, the administration system, the application can trigger the development and the worsening of ulcer-erosion process gastrointestinal tract, as well as the violation of the kidney and liver function. This is why patients, for a long time, take NSAIDS, it is also necessary to medications that protect the lining of the stomach and by a regular laboratory control of the performance of the liver and kidneys.

The system muscle relaxants, that is to say, medicine, relieve muscle spasms. The principle of their action lies in the title: the relaxation spasm of the muscles contributes to the reduction of the compression of nerves and blood vessels, swelling in the area of defeat of blood circulation and innervation – decreases pain; and reducing the defence of the muscles decreases the tension of the ligaments of the device decreases bulge (protrusion) disc – soothes pain, increases the amount of movement.

The muscle relaxants for the treatment of degenerative disc disease of the spine are available in the form of tablets and solution for intramuscular injection, to achieve the therapeutic effect of taking them should be sustainable, by increasing the dose gradually. Also NSAIDS, muscle relaxants have a number of contraindications and may cause adverse side effects, which is why, despite the free sale in pharmacies of networks, before you buy it, you must consult your doctor.

Local anesthetics or medications for local analgesia are used pharmacologically for the treatment of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine in the form of so-called paravertebral blockade, when the solution of drug was administered first subcutaneously, then in the root zone reached a vertebra, with the projection of the presumed compression of the nerve root.

By accumulating in the membranes of nerve fibers, medicinal product that effectively blocks the signal of pain. The doctor, the therapist will certainly make the blockade will not be able to do so, you need to speak to a neurologist or neurosurgeon.

Also for paraspinal the introduction are sometimes used solutions of glucocorticoids (GCS) - hormonal drugs, having pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. Local their use allows to obtain a maximum effect, while minimizing the risk of occurrence of adverse effects of the action of the drug. These blockade-going changes 2-3 times per year, to make their needs a doctor, neurologist, or a doctor, a neurosurgeon.

Vitamins of the b group. In any pharmacy, you will be able to find a variety of drugs of this group, as in the forms of the receipt to the inside, and for the intramuscular. They are believed to have neurotrophic and easy analgetic action, but faithful to the rationale for their use in osteochondrosis of the spine probative of the medicine is not received.

Physiotherapy osteochondrosis of the lumbar region

the doctor looks at the lower back of the patient

Unfortunately, sometimes, the integrated treatment with the modern technology of drugs, physiotherapy, massage and PHYSIOTHERAPY ineffective – man continues to feel the pain limitation of physical activity, suffers greatly the quality of life. It is in the last stages of the disease, when form large, often multiple gryzenia rough of the intervertebral disc. In such a situation shows the surgical treatment. In addition, the rapid response shown during the so-called "the fall of the hernia defect", when a strong compression of the spinal canal causes nekupirutayasa pain, static-dynamic of the violation and the blockade of the functions of the bladder and of the intestine. In such cases, the operation is carried out in an emergency. The purpose of surgical interventions osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is manual decompression spinal canal and nerve roots.

At the present time in the surgical treatment of degenerative disease of the disk apply to both long-known volumetric methods operational, as well as proposals of modern medicine minimally invasive endoscopic intervention with the application of laser and radio frequency exposure, a portion of which may be under local anesthesia.

After reviewing the main methods of treatment of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, I want to note once again that the patient is asking "how to cure lumbar pain in the lower back?", must count on the assistance of doctors, but also on our own forces, in recognition of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, which is encouraged to a good diet is applied properly dosed physical activity, but the main thing is this faith in the victory over the disease.