Osteochondrosis is the most serious form of degenerative spinal injuries, which is based on damage to the structure of the intervertebral disc located between the vertebrae. If the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are not recognized as soon as possible, then this condition will lead to deformation of the bodies of neighboring vertebrae, intervertebral joints. Vessels and the nervous system are involved in the pathological process.
One of the most common forms of this disease is lumbar osteochondrosis, the symptoms in women and men are very similar. Many adults have repeatedly experienced discomfort in the lower back, sacrum, legs, caused by osteochondrosis and its complications. Among all the reasons for the loss of the ability to move normally, it is this disease that occupies one of the first places.
The reasons
One of the causes of the disease is poor posture, but there are others:
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine, the symptoms and treatment of which bring many inconveniences to the patient, most often occurs due to increased stress on the spine. That is why the disease manifests itself more often in those whose work activity is associated with physical work and weight lifting.
- Another factor that causes the disease is excess weight, which increases pressure on the spine.
- The absence of any load and physical inactivity worsen the nutrition of the disc tissues and slow down blood flow, metabolic processes in the spine. The muscular corset is significantly weakened and creates a favorable scenario for the development of pathological changes.
- Incorrect body position, if the patient likes to sit with a curved spine, leads to the fact that the load on the discs and vertebrae is uneven, the discs are deformed and wear out quickly.
- Often, the cause of osteochondrosis of the lumbar, the symptoms of which bring a lot of inconvenience to the patient's life, can be injuries. They happen during sports, doing exercises without proper preparation, improper lifting of heavy weights, injuries from falling.
- Some experts believe that osteochondrosis is predetermined even at the level of genetics, regardless of which specific department degenerative changes are observed.
- The patient's age also has a special influence: over the years, spinal segments lose their mobility, elasticity, and are therefore subject to destruction and deformation. Previously, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms of which are quite unpleasant, was considered a disease of the elderly, but today it occurs in young people aged 25-30 years.
- A predisposing factor can be some pathologies that are accompanied by inflammation in the joints of the spine or changes in their structure and shape: ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis, scoliosis, disc instability.
In rare cases, the cause of the development of osteochondrosis can be:
- hypothermia;
- stress;
- malnutrition;
- violations of the work and rest regime;
- bad environmental conditions.
At the first appearance of discomfort in the lower back, it is best to seek the advice of a doctor.
Classification by degrees of osteochondrosis
The classification of osteochondrosis in grades is used to systematically characterize the clinical manifestations of the disease. The classification makes it possible to describe the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis and determine exactly at what point the patient began to be disturbed by pain:
- The first degree occurs when the disc ruptures, which is caused by sudden movements. It manifests itself in the form of sudden and severe pain, in the spine there is a feeling that a person has been shocked, the muscles are tense by reflex.
- The second degree of symptoms resembles intervertebral protrusion and spinal trunk instability. The pain is made worse by physical activity. Constantly alternating exacerbations and remissions. If osteochondrosis occurs in the cervical region, pain intensifies when a person remains in one position for a long time, frequent headaches, arm and shoulder discomfort, and lower extremity fatigue.
- The third degree manifests itself in the form of symptoms of a herniated disc: numbness of the limbs, changes in posture and gait, headaches and discomfort along the affected nerve. Symptoms can resemble kidney disease, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive system disorders.
- The fourth degree begins with the fact that the hernia is not felt, the manifestations may weaken, but the symptoms of instability of the spinal trunk, twisting of the vertebrae still persist. In addition, growths of the vertebral bodies may appear, which often compress the spinal nerves or block the canal, compress the brain with the back. This grade can be attributed to the consequences of surgery if the hernia was surgically removed.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms of which bring a lot of inconvenience, is a rather unpleasant disease. It requires urgent complex treatment and constant follow-up by a specialist.
pathology symptoms
Depending on the symptoms, the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis may be different. This is due to the fact that the disease affects the nervous system, which is why problems often occur that occur in different parts of the body that are in no way related to the back.
In the early stages of the disease, pain may appear after intense physical exertion or a long stay in one position, for example, a person usually spends time sitting at a computer. As the disease progresses, the pain becomes chronic. If the pain syndrome does not manifest itself, in its place there may be discomfort that interferes with a normal life. The symptom complex may be as follows:
- pain in the lower back, often radiating to the buttock or leg;
- spasms in the muscles with a long stay in a statistical position;
- constant tension of the back muscles;
- shots in the back, which most often occur after a person has been in the cold for a long time;
- sensory disturbances in the patient's lower body;
- numbness of the legs, frequent tingling in the fingers;
- coldness of the legs;
- sweating dysfunction;
- dryness of the skin in the area of the onset of pain.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine can worsen if steps are not taken to cure the patient or if one of the triggering factors becomes more intense. In this case, the pain syndrome passes to the lower extremities. A person tries to find the most optimal position to alleviate his condition and not feel the unpleasant discomfort caused by the disease.
diagnostic methods
Initially, before starting the diagnosis, the doctor needs to collect a history of his patient, carefully examine him, assess the state of health. In addition, instrumental examination methods may be required.
A complete history will allow the doctor to suggest what causes the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine, as well as assess the risks of its occurrence. Examination of the patient consists of palpation of painful areas, percussion, external examination of the skin. In some patients, the doctor may test for sensitivity using acupuncture.
Based on the data collected by the physician, it is recommended that the patient undergo additional instrumental studies to confirm the diagnosis and determine how affected the spine and other organs are. The patient is advised to undergo:
- radiography;
- magnetic resonance;
- CT
All these diagnostic methods help to determine some features of the development of the disease. MRI is considered the most informative of them, and all because other methods take pictures of the human body in just a few projections and do not allow a more detailed view of the whole problem.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which begin to bother a person, is selected by a doctor. It is impossible to make a diagnosis and determine the course of therapy only by external examination, it is important to carry out a comprehensive examination and prevent complications.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lower back
It is impossible to completely cure osteochondrosis. Good results can be achieved if the patient has 1 and 2 degrees of the disease. But in any case, long-term treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region will be necessary, because the symptoms cannot be tolerated, they are so strong and unpleasant. Therapy is aimed at:
- reduce the intensity of pain in the lumbosacral region;
- eliminate muscle tension that does not allow a person to relax;
- strengthen the muscles of the back, buttocks and lower extremities;
- normalize blood flow and metabolic processes in the affected area;
- eliminate the inflammatory process;
- restore normal range of motion in the lower back and increase leg sensitivity;
- improve the functioning of the organs of the reproductive and excretory systems.
Among the drugs, the doctor prefers the following:
- I definitely recommend pain relievers. Analgesics help relieve pain, but they cannot remove the causes of illness.
- To remove swelling and radicular pain, NSAIDs are used and, in severe cases, steroid-based medications are used to get rid of the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine in both women and men. Its action aims to reduce and eliminate inflammation.
- For local anesthesia, paravertebral blocks are used. The drug is administered along the lower back. More often, they are recommended for patients with 3-4 degrees of the disease.
- Muscle relaxants are recommended to eliminate spastic muscle contraction.
- Chondroprotectors improve metabolic processes in cartilage tissue, stimulate regenerative processes and significantly delay their deformation.
- Vitamins belonging to the B group help improve cellular metabolism, reduce inflammation and help remove excess fluid from the body.
- Diuretics help to eliminate swelling.
- Immunostimulants increase the activity of the immune system and improve the body's defenses.
- Means to improve blood flow in the area affected by the disease, which are administered by drip intravenously.
Complementary Therapies
The doctor may also recommend physical therapy methods. Medications alone for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar sacral region, whose symptoms bring pain to the patient, will not be enough. To eliminate pain and relieve muscle spasm, the following physiotherapy procedures are recommended to improve metabolic processes:
- amplipulse;
- electrophoresis;
- diadynamic currents;
- magnetic resonance therapy;
- magnetotherapy;
- laser treatment.
Therapeutic gymnastics will also not be superfluous, because with its help you can not only remove the pain syndrome, but also strengthen and relax the muscles of the back. Physical exercises can be done not only during the period of exacerbation of the pathology, but also during recovery. Massage and reflexology give excellent results.
Surgery
For some patients with stage 4 disease, surgery may be recommended. This measure is used in cases where the drug treatment does not present the desired results, with the appearance of serious neurological and motor disorders and the appearance of hernias. During the operation, herniated discs are removed, after which plastic surgery is performed, and the displaced vertebrae are reliably reinforced.
Folk methods of treatment
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine in men are not very different from those seen in women. Therapeutic measures are selected individually for each patient, depending on the stage of the disease. In addition to traditional methods of treatment, traditional medicine may be recommended. The patient must coordinate all his actions with the doctor. Good results in complex treatment were given by these herbal products:
- To prepare an ointment that improves blood circulation in the affected area, you need to take five red peppers and 1/2 cup of kerosene and vegetable oil. After receiving a therapeutic infusion, they need to lubricate the sore spots at night. Place a dry wool compress over the treated area.
- Mix equal amounts of butter and hop cones, this composition is applied to the lower back, when there is no strength to bear pain and discomfort.
Folk remedies show good results in the early stages of treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms of this pathology gradually disappear. It is best to use these recipes immediately after the first signs of the disease appear.
Consequences of the disease
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis in men and women cause serious inconvenience, a person cannot sit up normally, sleep well and feel discomfort constantly. If no measures are taken in time at the first manifestations of the disease, then osteochondrosis can lead to serious complications in the form of inflammation of the sciatic nerve. This disease is characterized by severe pain in the lower back and leg, perhaps even numbness of the limbs. To try to relieve pain, many patients walk, leaning to the healthy side, but this position only worsens the disease: the degree of curvature of the spinal trunk increases and the process of disc destruction accelerates.
The most dangerous complication can be considered instability of the vertebrae. The intervertebral discs cannot cope with the fixation function of the vertebrae and the lumbar region, under heavy load, begins to slide down the sacrum. This condition can result in disruption of internal organ systems. Women can have inflammation of the uterus, appendages and men have potency problems.
Preventive measures
You can prevent the disease if you use the following methods:
- eliminate heavy loads on the lower back;
- strengthen the back muscles;
- maintain correct posture;
- strengthen the spine with regular physical activity;
- adhere to proper nutrition;
- regulate rest;
- treat back pain in a timely manner.
Only a timely visit to the doctor and comprehensive treatment will give you a chance to prevent complications and return to your previous way of life.