Osteochondrosis is the most severe form of degenerative spinal lesions, 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 early as possible, then this condition leads to deformation of the bodies of the adjacent vertebrae, the intervertebral joints. The blood 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 felt discomfort in the lumbar region, sacrum, legs, which is caused by osteochondrosis and its complications. Among all the reasons for the loss of the ability to move normally, it is this condition 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 cause great suffering to the patient, occurs most often 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 labor and lifting weights.
- Another factor that causes the disease is excess weight, which increases the pressure on the spine.
- The absence of any load and physical inactivity worsen the nutrition of the disc tissues and slow down the blood flow, metabolic processes in the spine. The muscle corset weakens significantly and creates a favorable background for the development of pathological changes.
- The incorrect position of the body, if the patient wants 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 spine, the symptoms of which bring great suffering to the patient's life, can be injuries. They happen during sports, doing exercises without proper preparation, improper lifting of heavy weights, injury during a fall.
- Some experts believe that osteochondrosis is predetermined even at the genetic level, regardless of which part degenerative changes are observed.
- The age of the patient also has a special effect: as the years pass, the segments of the spine lose their mobility, elasticity and therefore are subject to destruction and deformation. In the past, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms of which are rather unpleasant, was considered a disease of the elderly, but today it appears in young people from 25 to 30 years old.
- A predisposing factor can be some pathologies accompanied by inflammation in the joints of the spine or changes in its 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;
- poor environmental conditions.
At the first appearance of discomfort in the lumbar region, it is better to seek the advice of a doctor.
Classification by degrees of osteochondrosis
The classification of osteochondrosis by degrees is used to systematically characterize the clinical manifestations of the disease. The classification allows you to describe the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis and determine exactly at what point the patient began to be bothered by pain:
- The first degree occurs when the disc ruptures, which is caused by sudden movements. It manifests itself in the form of severe sudden pain, in the spine there is a feeling that a person has been shocked, the muscles are reflexively stretched.
- The second degree of symptoms looks like intervertebral protrusion and instability of the spinal trunk. The pain is aggravated by physical activity. Constantly alternating exacerbations and remissions. If osteochondrosis occurs in the cervical region, then the pain intensifies when a person remains in one position for a long time, frequent headaches, discomfort in the arm and shoulder, and fatigue in the lower limbs are disturbed.
- The third degree manifests itself in the form of symptoms of a herniated disc: numbness of the extremities, changes in posture and gait, headaches and discomfort along the affected nerve. Symptoms may 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, often compressing the spinal nerves or blocking the canal, compressing 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 great suffering, is a rather unpleasant disease. It requires urgent complex treatment and constant monitoring by a specialist.
Symptoms of pathology
Depending on the symptoms, the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis can be different. This is due to the fact that the disease affects the nervous system, which is why there are often problems that appear in various parts of the body that are in no way connected to the back.
In the early stages of the disease, pain may appear after heavy physical exercise or a long stay in one position, for example, a person often spends time sitting at a computer. As the disease progresses, the pain becomes chronic. If the pain syndrome does not manifest itself, then in its place there may be discomfort that interferes with a normal life. The symptom complex may be as follows:
- pain in the lumbar region, often radiating to the buttock or leg.
- muscle spasms with a long stay in a statistical position.
- constant tension of the back muscles.
- shootings in the back, which occur more often 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 feet;
- sweating dysfunction;
- dryness of the skin in the area of pain.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine can worsen if no measures are taken to treat the patient or if one of the precipitating factors becomes more pronounced. In this case, the pain syndrome passes to the lower extremities. A person tries to find the most optimal position to relieve his condition and not feel the unpleasant discomfort caused by the disease.
Diagnostic methods
First, before starting the diagnosis, the doctor must collect a history of his patient, carefully examine him, assess his health condition. In addition, instrumentation methods may be required.
A complete history will allow the doctor to suggest what is causing the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine, as well as to 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 check for tenderness using acupuncture.
Based on the data collected by the doctor, the patient is recommended to undergo additional organic studies to confirm the diagnosis and determine how much the spine and other organs are affected. It is recommended that the patient undergo:
- x-ray?
- MRI?
- CT.
All these diagnostic methods help to determine certain features of the development of the disease. Magnetic resonance imaging is considered the most informative of them, and all because other methods take pictures of the human body in just a few views and do not allow a closer look at the whole problem.
The treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which begin to bother a person, is chosen by a doctor. It is impossible to make a diagnosis and determine the course of treatment only by external examination, it is important to conduct a comprehensive examination and avoid 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 required, because the symptoms are unbearable, they are so strong and unpleasant. The treatment is aimed at:
- reduce the intensity of pain in the lumbosacral region.
- eliminate muscle tension that does not allow a person to relax.
- strengthening the muscles of the back, buttocks and lower limbs.
- normalization of blood flow and metabolic processes in the affected area.
- eliminate the inflammatory process.
- restoring the normal range of motion in the lumbar region and increasing the sensitivity of the legs.
- improve the functioning of the organs of the reproductive and excretory system.
Among the drugs, the doctor prefers the following:
- I definitely recommend pain meds. Analgesics help relieve pain, but they cannot remove the causes of the disease.
- To remove swelling and root pain, NSAIDs are used, and in severe cases, steroid-based drugs are used to get rid of the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine in women and men. Their action is aimed at reducing and eliminating inflammation.
- For local anesthesia, paraspinal blocks are used. The drug is administered along the lumbar region. They are most often recommended to patients with 3-4 degrees of the disease.
- Muscle relaxants are recommended to eliminate spastic muscle contraction.
- Chondroprotectants improve metabolic processes in cartilage tissue, stimulate regenerative processes and significantly slow down their deformation.
- Vitamins belonging to group B contribute to improving cellular metabolism, reducing inflammation and removing excess fluid from the body.
- Diuretics help eliminate edema.
- Immunostimulants increase the activity of the immune system and improve the body's defenses.
- Means to improve blood flow to the area affected by the disease, which are given by intravenous drip.
Complementary Therapies
The doctor can also recommend physiotherapy methods. Medicines alone for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region, the symptoms of which cause 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:
- Enhancement?
- electrophoresis?
- potential 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 back muscles. 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 drug treatment does not give the desired results, with the appearance of serious neurological and motor disorders and the appearance of hernias. During the operation, the herniated discs are removed, after which plastic surgery is performed and the displaced vertebrae are reliably strengthened.
Folk methods of treatment
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine in men do not differ much from those seen in women. Therapeutic measures are selected individually for each patient, depending on the stage of the disease. In addition to traditional treatment methods, traditional medicine may be recommended. The patient must coordinate all his actions with the doctor. Good results in complex treatment gave such 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 woolen compress over the treated area.
- Mix equal amounts of butter and hop cones, this composition is applied to the lumbar region, when there is no strength to endure pain and discomfort.
Folk remedies show good results in the initial stages of treating osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms of this pathology gradually disappear. It is best to use such recipes immediately after the first signs of the disease appear.
Consequences of the disease
The symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis in men and women cause severe discomfort, a person cannot sit normally, sleep well and constantly experience discomfort. If timely measures are not taken 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 extremities. To try to relieve the pain, many patients walk, leaning on the healthy side, but this position only aggravates 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 the instability of the vertebrae. The intervertebral discs cannot cope with the function of fixing the vertebrae, and the lumbar region, under a heavy load, begins to slide down from the sacrum. This condition can lead to disruption of internal organ systems. Women may experience inflammation of the uterus, appendages, and men have problems with potency.
Precautionary measures
You can prevent the disease if you use the following methods:
- eliminate heavy loads on the lower back.
- strengthening back muscles;
- Maintain proper posture.
- strengthen the spine with regular physical activity.
- follow a proper diet.
- regulate rest;
- treat back pain early.
Only a timely visit to the doctor and comprehensive treatment will give the opportunity to avoid complications and return to the previous lifestyle.