Osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine in which the intervertebral discs and therefore the joints are subject to degenerative disorders.The distance between them decreases, as a result of which the nerve endings and roots are compressed, which leads to the development of severe pain.Pathological changes often occur in the lumbar region.
Your doctor will tell you how to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, since self-medication can only worsen the condition.The difficulty lies in the fact that symptoms of osteochondrosis can also manifest themselves in other diseases, the treatment of which has fundamental differences.
Basic information about the disease
Not everyone knows what osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is.To understand the essence of the disease, it is necessary to study anatomy.
The vertebra is a solid, dense structure in the form of a cylinder with an arch from which processes extend.The vertebral body is attached to them via arches, and there is a vertebral hole in the middle.It is these openings that form the spinal canal.
Not all processes are involved in joint formation, but only the upper and lower ones, where small rocking movements are possible.Between the vertebrae there are openings bordered by processes;They create the nerve roots of the spinal nerves.
Pathological changes initially occur in the nucleus pulposus (a semi-fluid structure with a jelly-like center at the disc opening).The nucleus pulposus has maximum elasticity and is the main shock absorber.And then the pathological process develops in the vertebral joints, which leads to narrowing of the intervertebral foramina.
The sacrum is a large, triangular bone located at the base of the spine.It consists of five vertebrae fused together and has anterior and posterior surfaces.In this section there are no intervertebral discs and osteochondrosis does not develop.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is often diagnosed in people after 30 years of age.The degenerative process occurs after a disruption of the water-salt metabolism in the intervertebral disc.This causes the bone structure to become thinner and more brittle.The nucleus pulposus expands its boundaries and moves towards the spinal canal.This compresses the fluid in the canal and nerves and causes swelling.This leads to the appearance of painful sensations and dysfunction of the organs to which these areas belong.
The compression causes bone cells to divide more quickly and osteophytes (abnormal growths) form on the vertebrae.Regeneration of the intervertebral disc is not possible because it is cartilage and this further impairs the functionality of the organs.
Lumbar osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment of which are described further, often arises due to a weakening of the muscle corset.That's why it's so important to train the abdominal, side and back muscles.
Many people wonder whether osteochondrosis can be treated or not.This disease is easiest to eliminate at an early stage.
Degrees of illness
Sacral osteochondrosis progresses gradually.
There are 4 stages of the disease:
- 1st degreecharacterized by the manifestation of mild painful sensations that intensify after physical activity.There is often a dull pain that radiates to the buttocks;
- Stage 2.The distance between the vertebrae decreases and they begin to collapse along with the surrounding tissue.At the same time, the nerve endings are compressed.Intervertebral osteochondrosis causes sharp, radiating pain.Painful sensations force a person to bend forward.This leads to displacement and stretching of the intervertebral discs;
- Stage 3Osteochondrosis of the lower spine is manifested by complete destruction of the vertebrae and the manifestation of an intervertebral fracture;
- Stage 4.The vertebrae grow and the cartilage atrophies, making it difficult for the patient to move.The spine in the lumbosacral area loses its flexibility, becomes less mobile and the patient is often disabled.
It is important to monitor your health and begin treatment if the symptoms described above occur.
Causes of the disease
Lumbar osteochondrosis occurs due to constant and uneven stress on the lower back.Sometimes the causes of the disease are autoimmune in nature.In some cases, the disease is preceded by an injury, especially if multiple vertebrae are affected.
Causes of lumbar osteochondrosis:
- The disease is caused by severe stress.People who constantly do heavy physical work suffer from this more often.
- Lower back pain is caused by being overweight.And this is because the spine is under constant pressure in the lumbosacral area.
- Due to low physical activity, the nutrition of bone tissue deteriorates, blood circulation slows down, and muscles weaken.
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, the causes of which vary, is often caused by poor posture.When a person is hunched over while sitting, the intervertebral discs deform and wear out prematurely due to the uneven load.
- Osteochondrosis often occurs as a result of back injuries.Which can be damaged during training if the level of athletic training is low.To avoid problems, it is important to learn how to lift heavy objects correctly.A fall can result in back injuries.
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a natural consequence of aging of the body and reduced ability to recover.As a result, the mobility of the intervertebral discs decreases, they lose flexibility and therefore deform.
- This disease often occurs due to rheumatoid arthritis, scoliosis, etc.
In rare cases, osteochondrosis occurs due to hypothermia, severe depression, poor nutrition, chronic fatigue and poor environmental conditions.
Symptoms
The signs of osteochondrosis in women and men are very similar.The only difference is that the disease manifests itself earlier in the beautiful half of humanity.At an early stage, the disease does not manifest itself in any way, the person, without suspecting anything, continues to live a full life.However, there are symptoms that can lead you to make the right decision, which consists of a full diagnosis and a visit to the doctor.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine:
- Lower back pain.After training, painful sensations initially appear, which become permanent as the disease progresses.
- With lumbar osteochondrosis, mobility in the affected area decreases.When the patient attempts to bend over, turn around, or sit down, severe radiating pain occurs that spreads down the leg to the foot.
- When nerves are pinched, the sensitivity of the legs changes (increases or decreases).Sometimes there is a burning or numbness in the limbs.
- The skin in the affected area becomes pale, dry and the temperature drops.
- Sweating increases, especially at night.
- With osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the function of the urogenital organs is disrupted.
These are the main signs of lumbar osteochondrosis.
The disease is chronic but can get worse.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis in acute and subacute forms:
- Lumbago – pain occurs after muscle tension.Due to muscle spasms, the patient bends forward;
- During the exacerbation, pain occurs even after slight movement.Pain sensations increase sharply and radiate to the buttocks or leg.The patient's condition is alleviated if he lies on his back and bends the affected limb at the knee.After a few weeks, these signs of lumbar osteochondrosis gradually disappear, motor activity is restored and the muscles relax;
- The subacute phase of the disease is characterized by dull, aching, radiating pain.
If a person notices such manifestations, it is worth seeing a doctor.
Diagnostic measures
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine should begin after a thorough diagnosis.
First, a neurologist or vertebrologist conducts a visual examination based on the patient's complaints and palpates the affected part of the body.If the patient feels pain when palpating certain points, the mobility of the legs is limited, or the buttocks are placed asymmetrically, the diagnosis is confirmed.In addition, the doctor assesses the patient's posture.
Lumbosacral osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which are described above, can be identified using the following studies:
- X-rays will further confirm the diagnosis.This method cannot assess the condition of the spine.The images only show a narrowing of the openings between the vertebrae and the growth of osteophytes.
- Computed tomography of the lower back makes it possible to make a diagnosis and view the affected area on a computer monitor from a different angle or section.However, the technique is effective in diagnosing bone structures;For soft tissue formations, including intervertebral discs, the use of magnetic resonance imaging is recommended.
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine shows a complete picture of the condition of bone tissue and soft structures in the lumbosacral region.
After conducting the above studies, you can start treating lumbar osteochondrosis.
Treatment methods
Many patients are interested in whether it is possible to completely cure osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.Unfortunately, the answer will be negative.If you start treatment at the first or second stage of the disease, you can stop its development.
Therefore, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a long and complex process that helps to achieve the following goals:
- relieve pain;
- eliminate cramps;
- strengthen the abdominal, back, side, buttocks and leg muscles;
- Restoration of blood circulation and metabolism in the affected area;
- eliminate inflammation;
- Restoration of motor function of the lower back;
- normalize the sensitivity of the legs;
- Improving the functionality of the pelvic organs.
Conservative treatment
The process of treating osteochondrosis begins with taking various medications.They are prescribed only by a doctor, as self-medication can have negative consequences.The doctor can use several groups of drugs, only in this case a positive result can be expected.
For this purpose, drugs are used:
- painkillers used to relieve discomfort;
- The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs eliminates radicular pain and swelling.For osteochondrosis, drugs containing steroid hormones are also prescribed.They relieve inflammation or completely eliminate it;
- Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis in later stages is of interest to many patients.Paraspinal blocks are used to relieve pain.To do this, painkillers are injected into the lower back;
- With the help of muscle relaxants you can eliminate muscle spasms;
- To restore metabolism in cartilage, start regeneration processes and stop dystrophic changes, the attending physician prescribes chondroprotectors;
- Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is carried out with B vitamins.They improve metabolism in cells, eliminate inflammation and remove excess fluid.
- With the help of diuretics, swelling is eliminated;
- Immunomodulatory drugs strengthen the immune system;
- To improve blood circulation in the affected area, the doctor prescribes medications that reduce blood viscosity.Medication is injected into a vein using a pipette or taken in tablet form.
Physiotherapy
The use of physiotherapy can lead to success in the treatment of osteochondrosis.There are many techniques that can be used;Your doctor will help you choose the optimal solution if there are no contraindications.Physiotherapy relieves pain, relieves muscle spasms and activates metabolic and recovery processes.
To solve these problems, the following procedures are prescribed:
- amplifierThe affected area is exposed to sinusoidal module currents;
- Sonophoresis– simultaneous exposure to ultrasound and medication;
- diadynamic therapy– treatment with low voltage electricity;
- darsonvalization.The damaged area is exposed to alternating current of low magnitude but high frequency and voltage;
- inductance– Treatment with high-frequency magnetic fields;
- Laser therapy– Treatment with optical radiation coming from a laser.
The therapeutic effect of these procedures can hardly be overestimated.
If you want to know how to get rid of pain, strengthen and relax muscles, then let it be said that this is possible with the help of physiotherapy.Reflexology and massage only increase the effectiveness of therapy.Massage techniques and gymnastics are carried out outside the period of inflammation, otherwise the disease will worsen.It is useful to swim and do gymnastics in the water.In this case, the load on the spine is minimal.
Surgical treatment
Surgery is the last measure and is only carried out if previous methods have been ineffective and the disease has progressed to such an extent that the patient can only resume physical activity.The procedure is carried out in cases of significant movement disorders and the presence of intervertebral hernias.Therefore, it is better not to know how to cure lumbar osteochondrosis surgically, since it is considered the most radical.
The surgeon removes herniated discs and strengthens the misaligned vertebrae.The doctor may also perform spinal fusion, in which part of the spine is completely immobilized using a special metal structure.This is followed by long-term rehabilitation.
Special instructions
If lumbosacral osteochondrosis remains untreated, inflammation of the sciatic nerve can occur, which can lead to severe pain.To reduce discomfort, a person bends forward, but this only worsens the condition of the spine in the damaged area.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms of which can be different, threatens vertebral instability.The disc is unable to support the vertebra and the lumbar region is displaced from the sacrum due to compression.The functionality of the urogenital organs is impaired.
To prevent complications, you must adhere to the following rules:
- avoid intense physical activity;
- strengthen the muscle corset;
- Maintain proper posture;
- exercise daily;
- establish nutrition, maintain a balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates;
- adhere to the optimal rest regime;
- Treat back diseases in the early stages.
You should also not self-medicate - then the disease will disappear as quickly as possible.It makes sense to wear a corset that relieves the lumbar spine.