Exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine causes severe pain. Therefore, treatment with this condition should be comprehensive. First of all, it is necessary to remove the pain syndrome, because in some cases the patient can not even move. In addition, it is very important to release the nerve roots and blood vessels, compressed due to muscle spasm and deformation of the vertebral discs. In many cases, injections are the most effective option to help deal with this problem. With osteochondrosis of the lumbar, they are used most often, since the pain in this place is usually the most severe. The main feature of this treatment is that a doctor should prescribe it, and injections should be done in a medical facility.
Features of osteochondrosis of the lumbar
Due to a sedentary lifestyle, excess weight and malnutrition, deformation of the cartilage and bone tissue of the spine gradually occurs. The lumbar region is particularly prone to this. The vertebrae in this place of the spine are the largest and most powerful, the distance between them is small. Therefore, even with a small degree of destruction of the disk or vertebral body, severe pain occurs. There are many nerve endings in the lumbar region. And the presence of the sciatic nerve here leads to the fact that often the pains become unbearable and give to the legs. Therefore, for many, the appointment of injections becomes salvation.
The benefits of this treatment
Injections for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine are the most effective and fastest way to alleviate the patient's condition. Compared with the use of tablets, ointments and other injection methods, there are several advantages:
- act quickly, since the medicine enters the bloodstream immediately, it does not need to be absorbed in the stomach for some time;
- injections are much more effective, because they do not pass through the digestive tract and are not exposed to gastric juice, because of which the tablets often reduce their effectiveness;
- with the injection of drugs, it is easier to calculate their exact dosage;
- Do not irritate the digestive system, like most medicines in tablets.
Disadvantages of injections
But such treatment is not always prescribed for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. Injections may have disadvantages:
- long-term use of this method is highly traumatic, since abscesses or bumps may develop at the injection site;
- treatment of osteochondrosis takes a long time, and injections should be given by medical workers, but not everyone has the opportunity to visit a medical institution so often;
- drugs administered intravenously or intramuscularly act quickly, but for a short time, and much more often cause systemic side effects.
Types of injections
Depending on the type of drug chosen and the purpose of their use, various methods of administering drug solutions are practiced.
- In most cases, injections for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine are done intramuscularly. This allows the drug to quickly enter the bloodstream and provide the necessary effect.
- With severe pain, intravenous injections are given. Their effect is almost instantaneous, therefore, such injections are resorted to in emergency cases.
- For the treatment of chronic osteochondrosis, vitamins are often prescribed that are best absorbed by subcutaneous administration.
- In a medical institution, sometimes severe pain is stopped with the help of a medical blockade. The introduction of the drug at the exit point of the nerve endings or between the vertebrae allows you to relieve pain in a severe attack of osteochondrosis.
The main groups of drugs
The choice of medication depends on the general condition of the patient, the intensity of the pain syndrome, the presence of contraindications and the characteristics of the disease. Complex treatment is usually prescribed, except for injections, these are tablets, ointments, physiotherapy. For injection, several groups of drugs are often used. What are the best injections for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine?
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers and antispasmodics. These drugs quickly enter the bloodstream and block nerve cell signals. They relieve inflammation, muscle spasm, thereby freeing the nerve roots. Therefore, drugs from this group are most often used for emergency care to the patient.
- Chondroprotectors help restore cartilage. The use of such drugs prevents further destruction of the discs and vertebrae, and also returns the mobility of the spine.
- Vitamin preparations restore blood circulation and metabolic processes in tissues. Most often, with osteochondrosis, vitamins of group B are used.
- Homeopathic remedies are rarely used, as not everyone trusts them, but they are the safest way to stop the destruction of spinal tissues.
Pain relievers
Most often, injection of drugs is required to stop a pain attack. Anesthetic injections for osteochondrosis should relieve inflammation, muscle spasm and reduce pain. For this, different drugs are used.
- Medications of the group of analgesics are the most affordable and effectively relieve pain. Most often, with osteochondrosis they use "Analgin" (costs about 50 rubles) or "Baralgin" - 120-130 rubles. They stop pain receptors, alleviating the patient's condition.
- To make the treatment more effective, analgesics are used together with antispasmodics. They relax the muscles, removing pain due to their spasm. The most inexpensive are Tizanidin and Tizalud, which cost 120-140 rubles. Baklosan (250 rubles) and No-Shpa (200 rubles) are also used. A more expensive drug, but considered the most effective, is Midokalm, which costs about 400 rubles.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs not only relieve pain, but also reduce the inflammatory process. Therefore, these are the most effective injections for osteochondrosis. Reviews note that the best drugs are Ketonal, Diclofenac, Voltaren and Movalis. They all cost about 250 rubles.
Milgamma (injections): instructions for use
The price of this drug is 400-500 rubles per 10 ampoules. But Milgamma is now considered the most effective remedy for osteochondrosis. This is a new combination drug. In addition to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components, it contains B vitamins. This helps relieve soft tissue swelling and restore blood circulation. Therefore, recently the drug Milgamma (injections) has increasingly been prescribed to patients with osteochondrosis. Instructions for use, price and numerous positive reviews of patients - everything speaks about the effectiveness of this drug. It not only relieves pain and inflammation, but also restores metabolic processes in the tissues, calms and normalizes the general well-being of the patient.
Injections "Kombilipen": instructions for use
The price of this drug is about 200 rubles, which is almost half the price of Milgamma. But in composition and effectiveness, they are almost identical. "Combilipen" is also a complex of B vitamins and lidocaine. Therefore, it has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and sedative effects. When osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is often prescribed injections "Combilipen". Instructions for use, price and reviews characterize the drug as inexpensive and effective. He helped many get rid of bouts of pain and restore mobility of the spine.
What to do with a severe pain attack
Often with osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the pain is so severe that patients lose consciousness. With such an attack, it is necessary to deliver the patient to a medical facility. The attack of pain there is removed most often with the help of medical blockade. These are anesthetic injections that are made around the affected area. They temporarily turn off nerve impulses from a sore spot. This method instantly relieves pain and muscle cramps.
Most often, blockades are done with Novocain or Lidocaine. To enhance the effect, they can be mixed with Hydrocortisone or Prednisolone. This method of pain relief is very effective, since the action of the injection occurs almost instantly and lasts several hours. But only medical personnel can perform such injections, since there is a high risk of infection or damage to the spine.
For severe pain in hospitals, Boyko's mixture is also used for intramuscular injections. This is a combination of several drugs: Diphenhydramine, Analgin, Novocain and Vitamin B 12 . Sometimes Novocaine is replaced by Papaverine or No-Shpo. All drugs are drawn into one syringe and injected intramuscularly. Thanks to this composition, the Boyko mixture has an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and sedative effect. Despite the quick effect and low cost of drugs, such treatment is carried out only in emergency cases.
Rehabilitation treatment
After removing the attack of acute pain, rehabilitation of the spine continues. Most often chondroprotectors are used for this. These are preparations containing glucosamine, which is obtained from the bone marrow of fish and animals, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid. Such injections for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine use for a long time - 1-1.5 months. All chondroprotectors are quite expensive - they cost from 250 to 450 rubles. But they restore the mobility of the spine, prevent the destruction of the disc, relieve pain. Most often prescribed "Aflutop", "Don" or "Rumalon."
Vitamin preparations for osteochondrosis are used both in the acute period and to restore spinal mobility. Injections are done mainly subcutaneously or intramuscularly. The most effective injections of vitamins B 1 , B 2 , B 6 and B 12 .
Often with osteochondrosis homeopathic remedies are also used. They have proven themselves to relieve pain and inflammation, restore cartilage and metabolic processes in the tissues of the spine. The most effective are Traumeel, Target T and Coenzyme.
Injections for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is the best way to relieve pain and restore blood circulation in the tissues. But to use them yourself is unacceptable. Only a doctor can choose the right drug and its dosage.