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 adjacent 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 lumbar region, sacrum, legs caused by osteochondrosis and its complications. Among all the causes of loss of the ability to move normally, this disease occupies one of the first places.
The reasons
One of the causes of the disease is bad 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 manifests itself more often in those whose work activity is related to physical labor and lifting weights.
- Another factor that provokes the disease is excess weight, which increases the pressure on the spine.
- Lack of load and lack of physical activity 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 region, the symptoms of which bring a lot of inconvenience to the patient's life, can be an injury. They happen during sports, doing exercises without proper preparation, improper lifting of heavy weights, fall injury.
- 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 particular impact: over the years, the segments of the spine 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 from 25 to 30 years old.
- A predisposing factor can 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 reason for 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 begins to worry about pain:
- First degree occurs when the disc ruptures, which is provoked by sudden movements. It manifests itself in the form of a strong 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 worsens with 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, fatigue in the lower limbs are disturbed.
- The third degree manifests itself in the form of symptoms of disc herniation: numbness of the limbs, changes in posture and gait, headache and discomfort along the affected nerve. Symptoms can resemble kidney disease, gastrointestinal tract, disorders in the reproductive system.
- 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 continue. In addition, growths can appear on the vertebral bodies, which often press on the spinal nerves or block the canal, pressing the brain with its back. This degree can be attributed to the consequences of the operation, if the hernia was surgically removed.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms of which cause 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 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 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 heavy physical exertion or a long stay in one position, for example, a person often spends time sitting in front of the 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 normal life. The complex of symptoms can 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;
- shots in the back, which most often appear after a person has been in the cold for a long time;
- sensory disturbances in the lower part of the patient's body;
- tingling in the legs, often tingling in the fingers;
- numbness in 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 limbs. A person tries to find the most optimal position in order to relieve his condition and not feel the unpleasant discomfort caused by the disease.
Diagnostic methods
Initially, before starting the diagnosis, the doctor must collect the patient's history, carefully examine him, assess the state of health. In addition, instrumental research methods may be necessary.
A complete history will allow the doctor to suggest what causes the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine, as well as to assess the risks of its occurrence. The examination of the patient consists of palpation of painful areas, percussion, external examination of the skin. In some patients, the doctor may test sensitivity using acupuncture.
Based on the data collected by the doctor, the patient is recommended to undergo additional instrumental tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the degree of damage to the spine and other organs. The patient is advised to undergo:
- radiography;
- MRI;
- CT.
All these diagnostic methods help to determine some characteristics 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 us to take 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 therapy only by external examination, it is important to conduct a comprehensive examination and prevent complications.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis
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, since the symptoms cannot be tolerated, they are so strong and unpleasant. Therapy is aimed at:
- decrease in the intensity of pain in the lumbosacral region;
- removal of muscle tension that prevents a person from relaxing;
- strengthening the muscles of the back, buttocks and lower limbs;
- normalizes blood flow and metabolic processes in the affected area;
- elimination of the inflammatory process;
- restoring the normal range of motion in the lumbar region and increasing the sensitivity of the legs;
- improving the functioning of the organs of the reproductive and excretory system.
Among the drugs, the doctor prefers the following:
- I definitely recommend pain relievers. Analgesics help relieve pain, but cannot eliminate the causes of the disease.
- To eliminate 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.
- Paravertebral blocks are used for local anesthesia. The drug is administered in the lumbar region. They are more often 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 slow down their deformation.
- B vitamins 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 affected area, which are administered through an intravenous drip.
Complementary therapies
The doctor may additionally recommend physical therapy methods. Only drugs for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar sacral region, the symptoms of which cause pain to the patient, will not be enough. To eliminate pain and relieve muscle spasm, the following physiotherapeutic procedures are recommended to improve metabolic processes:
- amplipulse;
- electrophoresis;
- diadynamic currents;
- magnetic resonance therapy;
- magnetic therapy;
- laser treatment.
Therapeutic gymnastics will also not be superfluous, because with its help you can not only eliminate 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 a hernia. During the operation, disc herniations 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 do not differ much 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 may be recommended. The patient must coordinate all his actions with the doctor. Such herbal products gave good results in complex treatment:
- 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 should lubricate the painful places at night. Place a dry woolen compress on the treated area.
- Mix equal amounts of oil and cones of hops, this composition is applied to the lumbar region when there is no strength to withstand 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 feels discomfort. If measures are not 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 back and legs, perhaps even numbness of the limbs. To try to relieve the 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 is accelerated.
The most dangerous complication can be considered instability of the vertebrae. The intervertebral discs cannot cope with the function of fixing the vertebrae, and the lumbar region, subjected to a heavy load, begins to slide down from the sacrum. This condition can lead to disruption of internal organs. Women can get inflammation of the uterus, appendages, and men have problems with potency.
Precautions
You can prevent the disease if you use the following methods:
- removal of heavy loads in the lower back;
- strengthening the back muscles;
- maintain proper posture;
- strengthening the spine with regular physical activity;
- adhere to proper nutrition;
- rest regulation;
- treatment of 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.