Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a common disease of the musculoskeletal system. It is characterized by the development of degenerative-dystrophic processes in joint and bone tissue. Lumbar osteochondrosis implies that tissue damage has occurred in the lumbar region and sacrum, so the patient will feel the appropriate symptoms. Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine causes a person significant discomfort. It negatively affects the condition of not only the back but also the lower limbs. You need to consult a specialist - a neurologist or traumatologist - about how to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. This complex disease should not be treated alone or on the advice of relatives and friends. Self-medication can only worsen the process and cause even more damage to the spine.
Quality treatment of osteochondrosis is carried out in a hospital. There are experts who specialize in removing this problem.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: causes
Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region is considered a disease of the elderly. Recently, however, lumbosacral osteochondrosis has been increasingly diagnosed in young people (aged 25–30 years). This is due to the fact that many young people lead a sedentary lifestyle 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. Combined with an inadequate diet, the predominance of fast food, it leads to a 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 that is localized in the lumbar region. This is one of the most common types of osteochondrosis. The exact causes of the development of the disease are not fully known, but there are causes, the presence of which significantly increases the likelihood of developing osteochondrosis. This includes:
- sedentary work;
- posture curvature;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- excessive stress on the spine (professional sports, regular weight lifting, hard physical work);
- overweight;
- back injuries;
- age (with age, spinal tissues undergo natural processes of aging and thinning);
- inflammatory diseases of the joints (arthritis, arthrosis, 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 identify lumbosacral osteochondrosis. The symptoms and treatment of the disease will depend on the extent of the damage to the spinal tissue. Signs of lumbar spine osteochondrosis appear gradually, starting with less discomfort and, in advanced cases, the appearance of acute pain. It is impossible to delay treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis. As the disease progresses, the symptoms will only intensify, causing the person greater discomfort. In the severe acute period, it hurts even to get up, so it is necessary to treat lumbar osteochondrosis immediately. The symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- pain in osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is the most striking sign of pathology. They can gradually accumulate, strengthen during movement (bending or lifting weights). As the disease progresses, the intensity of the pain will increase, and during an attack of acute osteochondrosis it will be unbearable;
- violation of lumbar spine mobility. Pathological processes in the spine affect the ability to perform any movements of this department: it is difficult for a person to bend over, turn to the sides, sit straight back;
- lower extremity disorder. There is a violation of gait, numbness, tingling, a feeling of "shivering", weakness of the muscles in the legs;
- pallor of the skin is observed, which is associated with a violation of the blood supply to the affected area;
- sexual dysfunction (possible in severe cases).
Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine: symptoms and degrees
There are four stages according to which lumbar osteochondrosis develops. Symptoms and treatment directly depend 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 consider when designing a course of therapy.
Intervertebral osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is classified as follows:
- Grade 1 osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is manifested by mild discomfort in the lumbar region. They can appear after strenuous physical exertion or a long working day. The person may feel pain in the back or buttocks as well as a tingling sensation in the lower back;
- osteochondrosis of the second degree of the lumbar spine is felt more pronounced. In stage 2, the destruction of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc begins. The space between the vertebrae narrows or stretches, and the intervertebral disc begins to expand beyond the vertebrae. Compression of the nerve roots of the spine occurs, which is expressed in significant pain in the lower back, which is reflected in the area of the buttocks, thighs and lower legs. The person may also feel a burning or chilling sensation in the lower back;
- grade 3 lumbar spine osteochondrosis is characterized by the final destruction of the fibrous ring. The contents of the intervertebral disc come out - a hernia is created. The nerve roots are more strongly compressed, an inflammatory process occurs which is accompanied by severe constant pain in the lumbar region;
- stage IV osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is accompanied by complete atrophy of cartilage and pathological proliferation of the vertebrae. This is a compensatory reaction of the body to the injury of the intervertebral disc. At this stage, the pain usually disappears, however, this indicator does not indicate an improvement in the condition. Spinal proliferation significantly impairs spinal mobility and can lead to disability.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms and treatment of exacerbation
Exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine can be triggered by sharp movements, lifting weights, hypothermia. Acute pain in lumbar osteochondrosis may gradually increase or appear suddenly. Most often, the worsening of lumbar osteochondrosis is accompanied by acute severe pain. During the attack, muscle spasms occur in the lumbar and thoracic spine, which interferes with back movement to prevent increased pain. The pain in the acute period extends to the buttocks and legs, which are transmitted by nerve fibers to the affected part of the spine. The person is forced to take a certain position and not change it (usually it is a horizontal position with a bent sore leg). Even minor movements, such as coughing, can cause a new attack of pain.
Exacerbation of lumbar spine osteochondrosis, whose treatment must begin immediately, can last for days or weeks (depending on how quickly appropriate therapy is started). In a specialized hospital, acute osteochondrosis is treated immediately after treating the patient. The hospital's admission department is open non-stop, so the patient can get help at any time. To alleviate acute pain, blockades are performed - the introduction of analgesics in the affected area, which contributes to a significant improvement in the condition. After the removal of the acute period, the main course of treatment begins.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms and diagnosis
Treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis begins with diagnosis. It is necessary to find out whether it is true osteochondrosis and what is the extent of tissue damage. Lower back osteochondrosis is diagnosed by X-ray. The image will clearly show the condition of the intervertebral disc and vertebrae. The doctor determines the location of the lesion and assesses the stage of disease development. If necessary, additional MRI or CT may be prescribed to clarify the details.
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is made in the hospital’s diagnostic center, which has everything needed for an accurate diagnosis. Experienced staff use modern equipment that allows you to quickly and correctly identify the patient's disease. The results of the diagnosis will determine how neurologists and physiotherapists will treat lumbar osteochondrosis.
Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms and medications
After diagnosis, each patient is interested in the question "How to cure osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine? " The treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region will be complex and will consist of medication and physiotherapy. In the hospital, each component of treatment is determined by an appropriate specialist based on the individual characteristics of the patient. The symptoms and signs of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine allow you to choose the most optimal therapy that will be most effective.
Medical treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis includes several types of drugs, each of which performs its function:
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: relieve pain and inflammation;
- painkillers: relieve severe pain that the previous group of medications cannot cope with;
- muscle relaxants: relieve muscle cramps;
- chondroprotectors: stop the degenerative process, stimulate the regeneration of spinal tissues;
- vitamin complexes: normalize nerve conduction, improve the protective properties of the body.
All drugs, their dose and duration of administration are strictly determined by the doctor.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: physiotherapy treatment
Treatment of lumbar spine osteochondrosis involves a course of physiotherapy. It is also an important part of treatment, just like drug therapy. Some patients are interested in how to treat lumbar spine osteochondrosis without physiotherapy. However, it will not be possible to eliminate the disease only with the use of medication. Medication will reduce the pain, which will return anyway, and fast enough.
At the hospital, physiotherapy for osteochondrosis is performed in the rehabilitation department by qualified professionals. The patient is prescribed a course of rehabilitation, taking into account his capabilities and needs. Physiotherapy includes:
- massage for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine;
- stretching of the spine;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- reflexology (acupuncture);
- hardware methods of exposure (electrophoresis, amplipulse, phonophoresis, etc. ).
Only by applying a complex treatment can osteochondrosis be cured. Back pain usually disappears within a few days after starting therapy (depending on the degree of the disease). However, this is not a reason to discontinue treatment. In order to achieve the best result and exclude the rapid recurrence of pathology, it is necessary to complete the entire course compiled by experts. By using effective methods of treatment, professional doctors achieve a significant improvement in the patient's condition, which enables him to return to a fulfilled life.