Osteochondrosis is the most severe form of degenerative lesions of the spine, 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 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 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 ailment 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 a lot of inconvenience to the patient, occurs most often due to increased stress on the spine. That is why the disease is more often manifested in those whose labor activity is associated with physical labor and weight lifting.
- Another factor that provokes the disease is excess weight, which increases pressure on the spinal column.
- The absence of any load and physical inactivity worsen the nutrition of disc tissues and slow down blood flow, metabolic processes in the spine. The muscular corset is significantly weakened and creates a favorable background for the development of pathological changes.
- Incorrect body position, if the patient likes to sit with a hunched 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 large weights, injury when falling.
- Some experts believe that osteochondrosis is predetermined even at the level of genetics, regardless of which particular department degenerative changes are observed.
- The age of the patient also has a special influence: as the years pass, the segments of the spinal column lose their mobility, elasticity, and therefore are subject to destruction and deformation. Previously, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms of which are rather unpleasant, was considered a disease of the elderly, but today it occurs in young people from 25 to 30 years old.
- A predisposing factor may be some pathologies that are 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 regime of work and rest;
- bad 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 in order 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 disturbed by pain:
- The first degree occurs when the disc ruptures, which is provoked 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 tense.
- The second degree of symptoms resembles 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 stays in one position for a long time, frequent headaches, discomfort in the arm and shoulder, and fatigue in the lower extremities disturb.
- 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 may resemble kidney disease, gastrointestinal tract, disorders in the reproductive system.
- The fourth degree begins with the fact that the hernia does not make itself 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 degree can be attributed to the consequences of surgery, if the hernia was removed surgically.
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 monitoring by a specialist.
Symptoms of pathology
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 there are often problems that occur in different parts of the body that are in no way connected with the back.
In the early stages of the disease, pain may appear after heavy physical exertion 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 complex of symptoms can be as follows:
- pain in the lumbar region, 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;
- shootings in the back, which most often occur after a person has been in the cold for a long time;
- sensory disturbances in the lower part of the patient's body;
- numbness of the legs, frequent tingling in the fingers;
- chilliness of the legs;
- sweating dysfunction;
- dryness of the skin in the area of the appearance of pain.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine can worsen if no measures are taken to cure the patient or if one of the provoking factors becomes more intense. In this case, the pain syndrome passes to the lower extremities. A person tries to find the most optimal position in order 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 an anamnesis of his patient, carefully examine him, assess the state of health. Additionally, 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 in 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 doctor, the patient is recommended to 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;
- MRI;
- 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 only a few projections and do not allow a closer look at the whole problem.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which begin to disturb 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 conduct 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 required, because the symptoms cannot be tolerated, they are so strong and unpleasant. Therapy is directed to:
- 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 lumbar region and increase the sensitivity of the legs;
- improve the functioning of the organs of the reproductive and excretory systems.
Among the drugs, the doctor prefers the following:
- Definitely recommend painkillers. Analgesics help relieve pain, but they cannot remove the causes of the disease.
- To remove swelling and radicular 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, paravertebral blockades are used. The medicine is administered along the lumbar region. More often they are recommended for patients with 3-4 degrees of the disease.
- Muscle relaxants are recommended in order to eliminate spastic muscle contraction.
- Chondroprotectors improve metabolic processes in cartilage tissue, stimulate regenerative processes and significantly slow down their deformation.
- Vitamins belonging to group B help improve cellular metabolism, reduce inflammation, and help remove excess fluid from the body.
- Diuretics help 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 additionally recommend physiotherapy methods. Medications alone for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar sacral region, the symptoms of which 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 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
In 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, herniated discs are removed, after which plastic surgery is performed, and the displaced vertebrae are reliably strengthened.
Folk methods of treatment
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine in men are not much different from those observed 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 can be recommended. The patient must coordinate all his actions with the doctor. Good results in complex treatment were given by 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 painful places at night. Put a dry woolen compress on top of 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 early stages of treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms of this pathology gradually disappear. It is better to use such 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 normally, sleep well and constantly experience discomfort. 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 lumbar and leg, perhaps even numbness of the limbs. To try to alleviate the pain, many patients walk, bending over to 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 heavy load, begins to slide down from the sacrum. This condition can result in disruption of the internal organ systems. Women may experience inflammation of the uterus, appendages, and men have problems with potency.
Preventive measures
You can prevent the disease if you use the following methods:
- eliminate heavy loads on the lower back;
- strengthen 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 a chance to prevent complications and return to the previous way of life.