Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine - signs, diagnosis and treatment

Signs and symptoms of an osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

The osteochondrosis lumbar is a common disease of the musculoskeletal system.The lumbar spine is most susceptible to injuries due to good mobility.The accelerated wear of cartilage tissue occurs in combination with a low lifestyle, which ultimately leads to osteochondrosis in combination with a low lifestyle.

You should know how to recognize the first signs to get qualified medical care in good time.

Short information about osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine

Back pain is one of the most common symptoms of patients with a traumatologist.The second name of the syndrome is the dorsalgy of the intervertebral discs.According to statistics, an average of 8 out of 10 people in their lives complain at least once about discomfort in the lumbar zone.About a third of the patients who saw the doctor, pain syndrome acquires a persistent pathological character that causes serious symptoms and painful illnesses in the patient.Long back pain can not only cause physical agony, but also causes mental instability.

Since cartilage tissue loses its strength and elasticity, it gradually begins thinner and collapses.As a result, cracks occur in fibrous rings of the intervertebral discs.Over time, the fiber ring extends under pressure, protrudes, rises and breaks.If the content of the fibrous ring is a pulp core, it goes out, a hernia forms.For this reason, osteochondrosis increases the chances of the occurrence of such impressive complications.

The causes of the occurrence of the disease

In most cases, osteochondrosis has an inherited nature.It has been proven that when direct relatives suffered from degenerative diseases of the movement apparatus system, their children encounter pathologies of the spine more often.

Other cases have extrovertebral reasons:

  1. Maintaining an improper attitude.
  2. Excessive muscle overvoltage in connection with great physical exertion at work or in sports.
  3. Wrong and frequent weightlifting.
  4. One of the most common reasons is hypodynamy.Lack of movement and minimal physical activity often leads to problems with the spine than to sports.
  5. Previously transmitted inflammatory infections - tuberculosis or osteomyelitis, contribute to the manifestation of degenerative processes in the spine.In this case, osteochondrosis will have a contagious nature and a complication.
  6. Hormonal perestroika can provoke a lumbosacral sacred osteochondrosis.This phenomenon is more often associated with certain times of age.A common example is to enter the menopause.After the end of monthly cycles, a woman has a decline in sexual steroid hormones, which means that calcium is practically absorbed by the body.The reserves in the bones are washed intensively.If you do not put a woman in the GZT, she will not only earn osteochondrosis of the lower back, but also osteoporosis.The risk of osteochondrosis increases with the frequent use of synthetic glucocorticosteroids.The risk is increased with a lack of nutrition during puberty, with physical exertion in combination with a hard diet and in old age.
  7. The presence of congenital pathologies of the ridge, including an anomaly of tropism.
  8. Flat feet and scoliosis.
  9. The weak structure of the bones caused by a deficit of nutrition or against the background of amenorrhea in women.
  10. Born -born wear of the vertebrates and joints.
  11. Premorbid hypermobility of the mobile spine, which significantly increases the risk of injury.
  12. Weak abdominal muscles.
  13. The presence of rare pathologies, including a tight spine canal, a peridural fusion, a spondylolist, oncology or tumor of the spine, neuromyositis.
  14. The presence of endocrine disorders - obesity and non -compensated hypothyroidism.
  15. Previously, injuries to the ridge, the ligaments, the joints and tendons suffered.
  16. Bad power and frequent psycho -emotional stress.
  17. Degenerative age changes.

There are also certain risk groups associated with harmful professional activities.Examples include builders, moving companies, computer scientists, waiters, teachers.In order to minimize the risk of such diseases, you must correctly distribute the load on the back and deal with modern physical activity.

Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis

The disease has many symptoms, so it is necessary to highlight the classification according to the type of pain:

  1. Ischemic syndromeAssociated with the compression of the arteries that flow through the vertebrae.As a result of the occurrence, a continued deterioration of the blood circulation, on which the diet in the lower extremities is disturbed.It is possible to increase blood pressure.
  2. Vertack syndromein connection with deformations that occur in nerves and vessels.With longer negative effects, changes in attitude, the back leans, the gear changes and the muscles without physical activity are atrophy.As a result, the patient begins to have severe pain.
  3. Static syndrome.The vertebrae develops pathological mobility that can occur kyphosis or lordosis.During the development of the pathology, the spine is gradually deformed, since in addition to the curvature in the vertebrae, false muscle fixation occurs in the affected areas.The consequences of a static syndrome - the back is twisted and a person can no longer straighten it alone.
  4. Neurological syndromein connection with the clamping of nerve roots.When the nerve -wracking pressure occurs, the patient's sensitivity decreases, the occurrence of weakness in the limbs can occur.In severe cases, paralysis, chills and complete loss of conductivity are determined against the background of the damage to the nerve fibers.

General symptoms of osteochondose of the lumbar spine include the following manifestations:

  1. Severe pain at the end of the back, including the entire lumbar spine, with a possible return to the sacrum.
  2. With the development of the radicular syndrome, there is sharp pain that gives the lower limbs bastards.Legs usually catch cramps.There is deafness and paraesthesia in the fingers.The pain gives the hands less often.
  3. The radiation of kidney pain is possible.The patient can complain about problems from the urine system that is not confirmed during the diagnosis.
  4. The patient is tortured by a bad dream because it is uncomfortable in the lumbar spine.
  5. The patient feels tension and tiredness in the lumbar region.
  6. If you turn your back and tendencies, stiffness and tension can be felt.
  7. Feets occur regularly in the back.
  8. After slight physical activity, the patient feels severe fatigue.There is also chronic fatigue in everyday life.
  9. With the further progression of the disease, the patient has pain in the lumbar region.
  10. The limbs often become deaf, and the patient often has a pathological crunch in the back.
  11. Violation of the motor function due to symptoms at the end of the back.
  12. Muscle cramps and cramps.
  13. Dizziness and headache.
  14. Reduction of the tone of the muscles of the back and the lower extremities.

All similar symptoms require the doctor.There are also certain signs associated with gender.Men have problems in the genitarian area that can negatively influence potency.Women have severe pain in perineum and pelvis, which also indicates damage to the nerve endings.In advanced cases, the internal organs are prolapse, including the uterus and the attachments.This is due to strong atrophic processes in the muscles that support the spine.

Varieties of syndromes and symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

Through the type and nature of the pain, such pathological conditions share:

  1. lumbago- It is characterized by an acute state.Characteristic signs are the inability to move from the pain that occur against the background of the bastards.This condition develops more often against the background of muscle atrophy, injuries, clamping nerve roots and intervertebral discs.
  2. Lumbargia- Pathology, which is characterized by long and painful pain.Lumbalgia is more common against the background of osteochondrosis, hernia, spondylos or lead.The syndrome is more common.
  3. Sciatica.This type of pain syndrome is characteristic of the lumbar zone.The syndrome is often confused with Ishias, which is characterized by a pain caused by a clamping of nerve roots.Pain syndrome is more often connected to a clamping of the sciatic nerve, which significantly worsens mobility in the lumbar spine.The patient cannot usually bend because the mobility of the lumbar region deteriorates.It is also difficult to run and sit normally.The clamping of the sciatic nerve leads to another unpleasant deterioration - cramp of the pear led by pears.As a result, a person has shots from behind to the calf muscles that flow through the thigh.The course becomes paralyzed, the legs socks turn to the sides, and in the buttocks they feel pain when walking, running and sitting.A comprehensive approach to treatment is required.
  4. Discogenic changesConnected with the progress of dorsopathy.The first sign of such deterioration is the loss of sensitivity and deafness in the lower extremities.The back, buttocks, the hips and the lower abdomen suffer.All of these zones are penetrated by constant symptoms.With a severe deterioration, there are signs of an inflammatory process - body temperature, weakness occurs in the body, incontinence in the urine occurs.The patient also worsens the appetite, which leads to a decrease in body weight.In this situation, an integrated approach is also required when treating the disease.
  5. RadiculopathyIt is also associated with the restriction of the motor skills of the spine and the clamp of the nerve endings.As a result of the occurrence of this type of pain syndrome, the patient feels pain in the lower body, a decrease or violation of motor reflections.There is a deterioration in the mobility of the joints and a decrease in muscle tone against a background of compression due to radiculitis.

All pain syndromes mentioned above require urgent treatment, starting in the early stages of the manifestations.In fact, pathology has worsened over time, which leads the course of the disease to a strong deterioration in the quality of life.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine - stages of development

The general classification of the disease in stadiums includes such development levels of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine:

  1. The first degree does not cause physiological deterioration from the spine.The patient feels good and does not suspect the presence of problems with the spine.Active destructive processes are created in the initial phase.The pulpoose edge changes its position and gradually seeps through the microrises of the fibrous ring.At the beginning of the article it was mentioned that the patient has a violation of metabolic processes before the disease occurs, which weakens the cartilage shell and covered with microricises.As a result, the irritation of the nerve end appears over time, which means that the patient feels the first signs of symptoms in the lumbar spine.
  2. Osteochondrosis of the second stage is characterized by the appearance of signs of instability of the lumbar region.There are dynamic shifts in the vertebrae in relation to the section lying above.The patient has signs of compression syndrome and reflex disorders.
  3. In the patient, in event 3 of the stage of the pathology, there is already a deterioration that is connected to the lead of the content of the fiber ring.Propes, prolapse or hernia appear.In the case of the 3rd stage of the pathology, the roots of the spine canal and blood vessels are pressed.At this stage there are already severe pain associated with priests and inflammation.Strong mobility is also limited, accommodations arise in the lower limbs.
  4. The terminal level is the fourth.In this stage, irreparable pathophysiological changes are already being created.The patient has pathologies of the bone system, which is connected to the growth of bone-chry swivel bodies.As a result, reactions with the answer compensation arise - the load is transferred to other, weaker vertebrates.Existing, restriction of mobility in the amplitude of the spine.Pathological bone growth press on the vascular channel and the nerve ends, which significantly stresses the symptomatic course of the pathology.

Lumbarosteochondrosis - diagnosis

When the patient comes to the doctor, he prescribes a number of laboratory tests based on the assembled anamnesis to identify osteochondrosis of the lumbar certificate of the spine:

  1. X -Ray.This is a fundamental analysis with which you can generally evaluate the condition of the spine.X -Ray does not show small and initial pathological changes, but identifies gross violations in the bone tissue.If the image shows signs of deletion of vertebrates or darkening that do not correspond to the normal size, other studies are required.
  2. Computer tomography.This is a more advanced version of the X -Ray image, with which you can see the smallest negative changes in the bone tissue at the destruction point, since the images are taken in a three -dimensional image.
  3. Magnetic resonance imaging.This type of diagnosis is close to CT, but enables you to better consider soft tissues.The MRI differentiates between deterioration in osteochondrosis, including hernia and lead.This type of diagnosis is sufficient to precisely make a diagnosis with a degenerative destruction of the bone -bundle tissue.
  4. Carry out shop testsBased on biomaterial.Patients often have a general blood and urine test to control the basic indicators.This data enables you to superficially evaluate the patient's state of health.
  5. Delivery of rheumatological samples.It is necessary to analyze to eliminate the rheumatoid nature of pathology.

After the inspection and implementation of the necessary tests, make a final diagnosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

An integrated approach is required when treating the pathology.In 1-2 stadiums, conservative treatment using medicines and physiotherapy is used in the recreational period.In the presence of 3 or 4 stadiums, surgical intervention is required if the patient has serious indicators for health deterioration.

Drug treatment of the pathological process

In the event of damage to the intervertebral discs that were created against the background of the osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral department, the use of an extensive list of medicinal products is displayed.Some products serve for symptomatic therapy, others to maintain health.

What drugs prescribe:

  1. Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory medication, analgesics.These drugs considerably make the patient's condition, especially in the acute period.Thanks to the pronounced effect of this type of medication, it is possible to calm the pain quickly within 1-2 days.Typically, patients are prescribed by NSAIDs of the selective effect because they less damage the mucous membrane of the stomach.If the indifferent old NSAIDs cannot be used for more than 5 days, the medication of the new generation can be drunk for a healthy gastrointestinal tract for 2-3 weeks without fear of the consequences.In the presence of gastritis or ulcers, it is better to be safe and to use guest protectors, proton pump inhibitors.
  2. Musorelaxants- Medicines to remove painful muscle cramps.In the case of osteochondrosis, the load on the muscle corset, which is connected to the weakness of the spine, takes place in an improper distribution.As a result, some muscles are clamped while others are in hypotonus.To relieve painful cramp, muscle relaxation is prescribed.The duration of the course of the treatment and the system for taking pills is selected by the treating doctor.
  3. Neurotrope vitamins.These funds include biamin vitamins, tiamin, cyanocobalamine and pyridoxin.In combined use B1, B6 and B12 in large doses, an analgesic effect occurs.The components have a positive effect on the nerve endings and nourish them.These vitamins also take part in the construction of myelin shells that cover the nerves.Such drugs are mainly prescribed for radicular syndrome if it is necessary to relieve pain associated with nerve patients.Injections are used for 2-3 weeks and then switch to oral forms of release.
  4. Chondroprotectors.These drugs have protective properties in terms of cartilage.If there are clear signs of cartilage regeneration, chondroprotectors must be prescribed with a long course.First injections are used for 2-3 months and then switch to tablets.The minimum use of use is six months with a break of several months.The electricity components in the composition are chondroitine sulfate and glucosea hydrohydrochloride.The reception and dosage systems are selected individually.
  5. Calcium in combination with vitamin D3.These components serve to strengthen the bone tissue.The buds of the bones are reinforced with age due to bone wear, malnutrition and hormonal deficiency.The main tree material is calcium.Without them, it is impossible to get a strong bone corset.In order for calcium preparations to be absorbed, it is necessary to take vitamin D3.In order to avoid the lack of cholecalciferol, it is necessary to regularly visit the sun in summer and take additional vitamins in winter.
  6. Complex polyvitamins.There is research data that the constant absorption of vitamins in a natural or synthetic form in physiological doses strengthens immunity in seasonal exacerbations of SARS, acute respiratory infections.People with diseases of the lumbosacral spine should carefully monitor their own health.
  7. Blockade with anestheticsThey are carried out with a poorly cut pain syndrome with NSAIDS.Injections of corticosteroids relating to blockages are also effective.This means calming inflammation, which accelerates recovery in acute time.The performance of the blockade should be carried out by a highly qualified doctor with a comprehensive experience in your use.It is advisable to carry out the blockade under the control of the ultrasound so as not to get into other parts of the spine.Such treatment methods will help to get rid of chronic pain quickly.
  8. Special ointments and gels.With the help of local funds, you can also successfully fight chronic pain syndrome with moderate and weak strength.Various products are cooled or heated, which generally can regularly consume external medication.By using medication on the skin surface, you can use them for a long time.Such drugs are practically not included in systemic bloodstream so that they do not cause any side effects.It is important to pay attention to the skin condition after using the drug.If there is a rash or itching, you have to cancel the medication.

Homeopathy or anti -spas modos can also be prescribed.The doctor's diagram of taking medication is individually determined by the doctor.

Conservative non -Drug treatment methods

In the recovery period, physiotherapy methods must be used to improve blood circulation and to normalize metabolic processes in those affected.Active recovery methods are used exclusively after the termination of acute pain.The support of conservative treatment is the chronic course of the disease, which prevents deterioration attacks.

The methods of active rehabilitation include:

  1. Implementation of physiotherapy sports lessons.With the development of lumbar osteochondrosis, special exercises are required that improve blood flow, which supports the keeping and support of the muscles in tone.LFK must first be carried out under the supervision of an instructor, including safety rules.Exercises are carried out in a standing position, sitting or lying, depending on the assigned complex on a specialist.When the patient has experienced, he can do gymnastics at home.You should not ignore the useful part of the lesson - warm -up and hooks.After a good warm up, the muscles are protected from tears and sprains.The last phase of the execution accelerates the restoration processes in the muscles.With regular exercises, the muscles become strong, which weakens the pain in the back.
  2. massage- An opportunity to relax tense muscle tissue under contact conditions.A specialist with the help of hands improves blood flow in the muscles so that you can remove a strong overvoltage.Massages in combination with muscle relaxants are most effective.These drugs eliminate cramp and spasticity.Additional stimulation with hands potentiates the effect of the drug.It is recommended to visit the masseur several times a year in courses so that a constant effect occurs.
  3. Manual therapy.Using this exposure method, it is possible to rewind the muscles without taking into account the degree of your resistance.In contrast to the massage, this method is violent, albeit effective.With neglected lumbar osteochondrosis, it is dangerous to use manual treatment practices if the specialist does not experience enough.Before you contact a manual therapist, you must familiarize yourself with the list of contraindications, including high blood pressure, heart disease and the presence of a hernia in the lumbar industry.
  4. Physiotherapeutic methods.With the help of physiotherapy, it is possible to improve local blood flow in the affected area without influencing other zones of the back.The essence of physiotherapy is simple: you combine hardware treatment methods and medication.Examples are electrophoresis.Medicines are administered via the skin under the influence of a laser of a certain frequency.Use Group B. Injection vitamins more often With the device you can get into the skin of the skin to medication without creating a systemic effect on the body.Magnetic therapy and shock wave therapy are also related to physiotherapy methods.Radiation frequencies accelerate the regeneration processes in the joints and ligaments without causing side effects.

In the context of complex treatment, acupuncture, hirudotherapy or homeopathy can be prescribed.

When a surgical intervention is carried out

Operations are required in advanced cases in which the patient is tortured by severe neurological syndromes that have arisen the background of the lumbar osteochondrosis.If the patient has a complication in the form of a hernia, the limbs were taken away and the sensitivity of the intestine or the bladder was disturbed, she is urgently hospitalized.In this case, the operation is carried out according to life indicators.

There are also relative signs of the operation.Examples are frequent deafness of limbs, constant complaints in the back, which is not accessible to conservative treatment, a partial loss of sensitivity to the fingers.In this case, you can opt for surgical treatment independently.

The osteochondrosis lumbar is a serious pathology that requires an integrated approach to therapy.Medicines and physiotherapy are prescribed in the first stages.If the disease progresses quickly, surgery may be necessary.