Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a common disease of the musculoskeletal system. It is characterized by the development of degenerative-dystrophic processes of the joint and bone tissue. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region suggests that the tissue damage has occurred precisely in the lumbar region and the sacrum, so the patient will experience the corresponding symptoms. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine gives a person significant discomfort. It negatively affects the condition not only of the back, but also of the lower extremities. You should contact a specialist - neurologist or traumatologist about how to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. This complex disease should not be treated alone or with the advice of relatives and friends. Self-medication can only worsen the process and cause even more damage to the spine.
High quality treatment of osteochondrosis is performed in the hospital. There are experts who specialize in eliminating this problem.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: causes
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is considered a disease of the elderly. Recently, however, lumbar osteochondrosis is increasingly being diagnosed in young people (aged 25-30). This is because many young people are sedentary and spend a lot of time at the computer. An additional factor is the constant stress that a young person experiences in the modern world. In combination with improper diet, the predominance of fast food, this leads to deterioration of the condition not only of the spine, but also of the whole organism.
Lumbar osteochondrosis of the spine is a type of pathology located in the lumbar region. This is one of the most common types of osteochondrosis. The exact causes of the disease are not fully known, but there are risk factors, the presence of which significantly increases the likelihood of developing osteochondrosis. These include:
- sedentary work;
- curvature of posture.
- sedentary life?
- Excessive stress on the spine (professional sports, regular weight lifting, hard physical work).
- overweight;
- back injuries;
- age (over the years, the tissues of the spine undergo natural aging and thinning processes).
- Inflammatory diseases of the joints (arthritis, arthropathy, scoliosis, etc. ).
- diseases accompanied by metabolic disorders.
- Unhealthy lifestyle;
- hereditary predisposition.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms
At an early stage, it is quite difficult to detect lumbar osteochondrosis. The symptoms and treatment of the disease will depend on the extent of the damage to the tissues of the spine. The signs of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine appear gradually, starting with a slight discomfort and, in advanced cases, the appearance of acute pain. It is impossible to postpone the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis. As the disease progresses, the symptoms will only intensify, causing the person more discomfort. In a severely acute period, it hurts a person even to get up, so it is necessary to immediately treat lumbar spine flexion. The symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- Osteochondrosis pain in the lumbar spine is the most striking sign of the pathology. They can accumulate gradually, becoming stronger during movements (bending or lifting weights). As the disease progresses, the intensity of the pain will increase and during an attack of acute osteochondrosis will be unbearable.
- violation of the mobility of the lumbar spine. Pathological processes in the spine affect the ability to perform any movements from this part: it is difficult for a person to bend over, turn to the sides, sit with a straight back.
- lower limb disorder. There is a violation of gait, numbness, tingling, a feeling of "goose bumps", muscle weakness appears in the legs.
- There is paleness of the skin, which is associated with a violation of the blood supply to the affected area.
- sexual dysfunction (possible in severe cases).
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms and degrees
There are four degrees to which lumbar osteochondrosis develops. Symptoms and treatment depend directly on the degree of osteochondrosis: the intensity of the manifestations of the disease increases with the progression of the dystrophic process, which is important to take into account when drawing up a course of treatment.
Intervertebral osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is classified as follows:
- Grade 1 osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is manifested by slight discomfort in the lumbar region. They can occur after strenuous physical exercise or a tiring day at work. A person may feel pain in the back or buttocks area, as well as a tingling sensation in the lower back.
- Osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree of the lumbar spine becomes more intense. In stage 2, the destruction of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc begins. The distance between the vertebrae narrows or extends and the intervertebral disc begins to extend beyond the vertebrae. There is compression of the nerve roots of the spine, which is expressed in significant pain in the waist, which is reflected in the area of the buttocks, thigh and lower leg. The person may also feel a burning sensation or coldness in the lower back.
- Grade 3 osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is characterized by the final destruction of the fibrous ring. The contents of the intervertebral disc come out - a hernia is formed. The nerve roots are compressed more intensely, an inflammatory process occurs, which is accompanied by intense constant pain in the lumbar region.
- Grade 4 osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is accompanied by complete cartilage atrophy and abnormal proliferation of the vertebrae. This is a compensatory reaction of the body to the violation of the intervertebral disc. At this stage, the pain usually disappears, however, this indicator does not indicate an improvement in the condition. Proliferation of the vertebrae significantly affects the mobility of the spine and can lead to disability.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms and treatment of flare-ups
Exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine can be caused by sudden movement, weight lifting, hypothermia. Acute pain in the lumbar osteochondrosis may increase gradually or appear suddenly. Most often, the exacerbation of lumbar osteochondrosis is accompanied by acute severe pain. During an attack, a muscle spasm occurs in the lumbar and thoracic spine, which interferes with back movement to prevent increased pain. Acute pain extends to the buttocks and legs, which are connected by nerve fibers to the affected area of the spine. A person is forced to take a certain position and not change it (usually this is a horizontal position with bent leg pain). Even small movements, such as coughing, can cause a new period of pain.
An exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, treatment of which must begin immediately, can take several days or weeks (depending on how quickly appropriate treatment is started). In a specialized hospital, acute osteochondrosis is treated immediately after the patient is treated. The hospital admission department is open 24 hours a day, so that the patient can receive help at any time. To relieve acute pain, exclusions are made - the introduction of an analgesic into the affected area, which contributes to a significant improvement in the condition. After the elimination of the acute period, the main course of treatment begins.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms and diagnosis
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis begins with diagnosis. It is important to know if this is true osteochondrosis and what the extent of the tissue damage is. Osteochondrosis in the middle of the back is diagnosed by x-ray. The image will clearly show the condition of the intervertebral disc and the vertebrae. The doctor determines the location of the lesion and evaluates the degree of development of the disease. If necessary, an additional MRI or CT scan may be prescribed to clarify the details.
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is made in the diagnostic center of the hospital, which has everything you need for an accurate diagnosis. The experienced staff uses modern equipment, which allows you to quickly and accurately detect the patient's illness. The results of the diagnosis will determine how neurologists and physiotherapists will treat lumbar osteochondrosis.
Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms and medication
After diagnosis, every patient is interested in the question "How to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine? " The treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar region will be complex and will include medication and physiotherapy. In the hospital, each component of the treatment is determined by the appropriate specialist based on the individual characteristics of the patient. The symptoms and signs of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine allow you to choose the most optimal treatment that will be most effective.
The medical treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine includes several types of drugs, each of which performs its own function:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: relieve pain and inflammation.
- analgesics: relieve severe pain that the previous group of drugs can not treat.
- Muscle relaxants: relieve muscle spasm.
- chondroprotective: stop the degenerative process, promote the regeneration of spinal tissues.
- Vitamin complexes: normalizes nerve conduction, improves the protective properties of the body.
All drugs, dosage and duration of administration are strictly determined by the treating physician.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: physiotherapy
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine includes a physiotherapy course. It is also an important part of treatment, as is medication. Some patients are interested in how to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine without physiotherapy. However, only with the use of drugs, it will not be possible to eradicate the disease. Medication will alleviate the pain, which will return anyway, and fairly quickly.
At the hospital, osteochondrosis physiotherapy is performed in the rehabilitation department by specialized specialists. The patient is prescribed a rehabilitation course, taking into account his capabilities and needs. Physiotherapy includes:
- massage for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.
- spine dilation
- physiotherapy exercises;
- reflexology (acupuncture);
- methods of exposure material (electrophoresis, amplification, phonophoresis, etc. ).
Only with the application of complex therapy can osteochondrosis be cured. Low back pain usually disappears within a few days of starting treatment (depending on the degree of the disease). However, this is not a reason to stop the course of treatment. In order to achieve the best result and to exclude the rapid recurrence of the pathology, it is necessary to complete a complete course, which is written by specialists. Using effective treatment methods, professional doctors achieve a significant improvement in the patient's condition, which allows him to return to a full life.