Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is the main cause of low back pain in 3 out of 4 cases.If left untreated, it often leads to a herniated disc, causing patients to have difficulty walking and significant limitations in mobility.The disease is widespread: more than 50% of people complain about its manifestations at various stages.And no wonder, the entire lumbar area is the lower part of the spine and bears the heaviest load.
Is it possible to avoid the “price of walking upright”, what is needed for its early diagnosis and how to stop or slow down the course of the disease?Let's see it in the article.
What is lumbosacral osteochondrosis?
In addition to the 33 bones that make up the vertebral column, the human spinal cord also includes cartilaginous intervertebral discs.They provide stability to the spine against vertical loads and also play the role of a spring, smoothing movements;It is thanks to them that our bones do not rub against each other and our backs bend.Together with muscles and ligaments, they intervene in the human body adopting various positions.Without these cartilage "spacers" we would not be able to run, jump and walk without suffering from excruciating headaches and injuries.However, over time, they tend to wear out;This is facilitated by genetic "weakness" of cartilage tissue and uneven distribution of load (for example, with poor posture), poor nutrition and many other factors that relate to the lifestyle of a modern person.The disease is characterized by a chronic course with periodic relapses.A complete cure is impossible, but timely treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine produces an almost 100% effect and allows a return to normal life.
Degenerative changes in the cartilaginous tissue of the spine cause degeneration of the intervertebral discs.It is expressed in discomfort when moving, muscle hypertonicity, sharp stabs or constant pain.The consequence of abrasion of the intervertebral discs is the deterioration of tissue trophism, the appearance of microcracks in the bones and osteophytes, protrusion of the spinal cord and compression of internal organs.For this reason, lumbar osteochondrosis is considered a disease of the whole body: it is capable of triggering a chain of metabolic disorders affecting the abdominal and pelvic organs (mainly the gastrointestinal tract and the genitourinary system), the spinal cord and the brain, etc.Radicular syndrome, or radiculopathy, caused by this disease can cause neuralgic pain in the heart and even the stomach.Sometimes paresis of the legs and other serious symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine are observed.
When the disease is located in the lumbar region, vertebral displacements often occur due to sudden daily movements.In this case, patients find it difficult to walk and sit, an inflammatory process begins, the relief of which requires drug treatment, physiotherapy, a special exercise therapy program for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine and observation by an orthopedist.In some cases, realignment of the vertebrae is required - a rather painful procedure, after which significant relief occurs after 1 to 2 days.It can only be performed by a chiropractor: an osteopath and a vertebroneurologist.
Signs of lumbar osteochondrosis.
Feeling pain in the back, older, and sometimes young people, who do not know how lumbar osteochondrosis manifests itself, often look for completely rational explanations for this.I caught a cold, I threw myself, I went to bed... In fact, pain and pain syndrome often indicate that compression of a nerve, root or even a segment of the spinal cord has already occurred, which means that the disease has passed the first stage and requires not only symptomatic, but also supportive treatment.
- Osteochondrosis 1st degreeThe lumbar region is characterized by mild pain in the sacrum and above, which feels like a kind of echo and does not attract much attention.Discomfort may only occur after sleeping or sitting for a long time in an uncomfortable position or performing significant physical activity.In this case, patients attribute unpleasant sensations to "numbness" of the limbs, but physical examination and modern diagnostics help to identify even a slight displacement of the intervertebral disc and the appearance of a crack in the annulus fibrosus of the spine.
- Osteochondrosis 2 degreesThe lumbar spine manifests itself through a feeling of chronic fatigue and discomfort, and a decrease in bearing capacity.Pain and discomfort (“goosebumps”, sensitivity to cold, etc.) in the lumbar region become constant companions of patients;Sometimes spasmodic contractions of the muscles located under the affected area appear: glutes, femoral and spinal muscles.There may also be a partial decrease in sensitivity or, on the contrary, the appearance of neuralgia, which is difficult to relieve with conventional analgesics due to its neurogenic nature.When exercising, a sharp pain is observed, the so-called."shots."The feeling of stiffness appears in cases where it is necessary to sit in one position for at least 10-15 minutes, and is especially pronounced after sleeping or after a working day.For this stage, conservative treatment remains effective: the disease responds well to therapy and stable remission can be achieved without acute periods of the disease for many months.
- Osteochondrosis 3 degreesThe lumbar spine is already a complicated disease, characterized by gradual tissue destruction of nearby fibrous rings and intractable pain.Signs of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine reach their peak, reducing work capacity and causing disability.This stage is dangerous due to the appearance of intervertebral hernias and other irreversible changes in the spine, which can affect large nerves and vessels.At this stage, serious functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system and significant limitation of mobility, up to paralysis and paresis, may already appear.Stage 3 lumbar osteochondrosis significantly affects the quality and expectancy of life and may require additional support when walking (for example, a cane).
Several experts also distinguish stages 4 and 5, where in stage 4 there is scarring of the cartilage and in stage 5 it is considered incompatible with life;However, with timely treatment and lifestyle changes, these cases are rare in practice.
Prevention of lumbar osteochondrosis.
Exacerbation of the disease can be provoked by infectious diseases or colds, stress, hormonal disorders, weight gain, pregnancy, age-related changes, intoxication of the body, overwork, dehydration, hypovitaminosis, smoking, intense physical activity, unbalanced diet, uncomfortable workplace or bed, injuries.At the same time, osteochondrosis is characterized by constant microtraumatization: sometimes damage to the lower back does not require a hematoma, but an excessively sharp tilt, twist or lifting of the leg is enough.
Therefore, the mandatory preventive course includes chondroprotectors for lumbar osteochondrosis, as well as the reception of multivitamin complexes, immunomodulators and gymnastic exercises.It is also advisable, if possible, to eliminate or compensate for the aforementioned factors.
How to treat lumbar osteochondrosis
The question of how to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, with or without drug treatment, cannot be answered unequivocally.Treatment of the disease is carried out in several directions:
- elimination of symptoms that reduce the patient's quality of life;
- partial regeneration of connective tissue;
- Implementation of a preventive program that prevents the progression of destructive processes in cartilage and bone tissues (maintenance of the muscle corset, general tone, etc.).
Cartilage lacks nerve endings and blood vessels;This determines the specific features of the diagnosis and treatment of osteochondrosis.First of all, cartilage cannot hurt, and therefore self-diagnosis of the disease is difficult and the vast majority of patients turn to an orthopedist or vertebroneurologist who already have lumbar osteochondrosis of the second or third degree.The more cartilage destruction progresses, the more stress the already worn discs experience, the faster the disease progresses and the more difficult it is to achieve positive changes.The reason for this lies in the fact that cellular restoration of cartilage occurs very slowly: tissue nutrition occurs mainly diffusely.Therefore, an overall improvement in the patient's condition plays an important role on the path to remission.Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis necessarily includes diet, maintenance medications for 1 to 3 months and special gymnastic exercises.During exercise, a separate time is reserved for warming up, which stimulates the nutrition of adjacent tissues and, therefore, cartilage.Warm-ups should alternate between bouts of exercise, whether sitting at the computer or long walks.
Sometimes the doctor may prescribe the use of compression devices, for example, corsets or bandages to keep the spine in the correct position.This measure is effective for concomitant postural disorders.
Pharmacological treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.
Medications for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine include oral and external anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, analgesics, chondroprotectors, as well as drugs to improve metabolism (vitamin B and others) and blood circulation, glucocorticosteroids, neurotransmitters and enzymes.With reduced immunity and susceptibility to infectious diseases, immunomodulators are used.Constant pain can lead to depression, which also requires treatment.If the patient suffers from seizures or bloating, anticonvulsants and diuretics are also prescribed.It is not necessary to constantly use tablets for lumbar osteochondrosis, suspensions, injections, gels and applicators;Usually the doctor prescribes an individual maintenance course at significant intervals.In the acute phase, with extremely intense pain, a specialist can place the so-called.Paravertebral block: injection of an anesthetic at the place where the nerve root exits the spine.
Physiotherapy for lumbar osteochondrosis.
Physiotherapy and massage are effective both in the acute form of the disease and in remission, and remain the most successful methods of conservative treatment.They help improve nutrition and blood supply to problem areas, improve muscular support of the spine, help relax the back and stabilize the condition.Physiotherapy for lumbar osteochondrosis includes sessions of shock wave therapy, electrophoresis, mud and paraffin baths, hot stone therapy, acupuncture, therapeutic baths, etc.Therapeutic exercise for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine occupies a special place;Like massage, it primarily includes stretching of the spine, designed to release pinched nerve roots.For example, traction during rotation can change the angle of curvature of the spine during lordosis, reducing pain.
Therapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine should take into account the presence of excess weight and other diseases and injuries, sex and age characteristics, and the severity of pain.The best effect is achieved with constant exercise.
With advanced osteochondrosis, a neurosurgeon may find indications for surgical treatment: microdiscectomy or installation of an expandable titanium implant.
The question of how to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine should be answered by a doctor in all cases, without exception.Self-medication and lack of complete diagnosis leads to incorrect determination of the boundaries of the pathological process and its stage and, as a consequence, to an incorrect treatment program.In some cases, there is even a deterioration of the condition, which is caused by improper performance of therapeutic exercises, unprofessional selection of pain relievers and NSAIDs.Having clarified the symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine with your doctor.
You can start taking the Artracam chondroprotector - this domestic drug improves metabolic processes and prevents further deformation of cartilage, and with complex treatment it even demonstrates positive dynamics and increases cartilage tissue without injections.