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 of its manifestations at various stages.And it's no wonder that the entire lower back is the lower part of the spine and bears the heaviest load.
Is it possible to avoid the “price of walking upright”, what is necessary for its early diagnosis and how to stop or slow down the course of the disease?Let's look at this in the article.
What is lumbosacral osteochondrosis
In addition to the 33 bones that make up the spinal 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 the back bends.Along with muscles and ligaments, they are involved in the human body adopting different positions.Without these cartilage “spacers,” we wouldn’t be able to run, jump, and walk without suffering excruciating headaches and injuries.However, over time, they tend to wear out - this is facilitated by the genetic “weakness” of cartilaginous tissue and uneven distribution of the load (for example, with poor posture), poor nutrition and many other factors related 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 gives an almost 100% effect and returns to normal life.
Degenerative changes in the cartilaginous tissue of the spine lead to degeneration of the intervertebral discs.It is expressed in discomfort when moving, muscle hypertonicity, sharp stitches or constant pain.The consequence of abrasion of 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 called a disease of the whole body - it is capable of triggering a chain of metabolic disorders that affect the abdominal and pelvic organs (mainly the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system), the spinal cord and brain, and so on.The radicular syndrome, or radiculopathy, caused by this disease can cause neuralgic pain in the heart and even the stomach.Leg paresis and other severe symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine are sometimes observed.
When the disease is located in the lower back, vertebral displacements often occur due to sudden everyday movements.In this case, it becomes difficult for the patient to walk and sit, an inflammatory process begins, the relief of which requires drug treatment, physiotherapy, a special physiotherapy program for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine and observation by an orthopedist.In some cases, it is necessary to realign the vertebrae - a rather painful procedure, after which significant relief occurs after 1-2 days.It can only be performed by a chiropractor - an osteopath and a vertebroneurologist.
Signs of lumbar osteochondrosis
Having experienced back pain, older - and sometimes young - people who do not know how lumbar osteochondrosis manifests themselves, often look for completely rational explanations for it.I caught a cold, pulled it out, lay down... 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 already passed the first stage and requires not only symptomatic, but also supportive treatment.
- 1st degree osteochondrosisThe lower back is characterized by mild pains in the sacrum and above, which sound like a kind of echo and do not attract special attention.Discomfort may only occur after sleeping or sitting for a long time in an uncomfortable position, or after significant physical activity.In this case, patients attribute discomfort to the “numbness” of the limbs, but hardware examination and modern diagnostics help to identify even a slight displacement of the spinal disc and the appearance of a crack in the fibrous ring of the spine.
- Osteochondrosis 2 degreesThe lumbar spine manifests itself through a feeling of chronic fatigue and discomfort and a decrease in load capacity.Pain and discomfort (“chills”, sensitivity to cold, etc.) in the lower back become constant companions of patients;Sometimes spasmodic contractions of the muscles located below the affected area appear - gluteal, femoral and spinal muscles.A partial decrease in sensitivity or, conversely, the appearance of neuralgia may also occur, which is difficult to alleviate with conventional analgesics due to its neurogenic nature.During exercise, sharp pains are observed, the so-called."shots".A feeling of stiffness appears in cases where you have to sit in one position for at least 10-15 minutes and is especially pronounced after sleep or a working day.At this stage, conservative treatment is still effective - the disease responds well to therapy, stable remission without acute periods of the disease can be achieved for many months.
- Osteochondrosis 3 degreesThe lumbar spine is already a complicated disease, characterized by gradual destruction of the tissue of nearby fibrous rings and intractable pain.Signs of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine reach their peak, reducing working capacity and leading to disability.This phase 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 mobility limitations, up to paralysis and paresis, may already appear.Stage 3 lumbar osteochondrosis significantly affects quality and life expectancy and may require additional support when walking (e.g. a cane).
Various experts also distinguish stages 4 and 5, where in the 4th stage there is scarring of the cartilage, and the 5th stage is considered incompatible with life, however, with timely treatment and changes in lifestyle, such cases are rare in practice.
Prevention of lumbar osteochondrosis
Exacerbation of the disease can be triggered by infectious diseases or colds, stress, hormonal disorders, weight gain, pregnancy, age-related changes, intoxication of the body, overwork, dehydration, hypovitaminosis, smoking, high physical activity, unbalanced diet, uncomfortable workplace or bed, injury.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, turn or lifting of the leg is sufficient.
Therefore, chondroprotectors for lumbar osteochondrosis are included in the mandatory preventive course, as well as taking multivitamin complexes, immunomodulators and gymnastic exercises.It is also advisable, if possible, to eliminate or compensate for the above-mentioned factors.
How to treat lumbar osteochondrosis
The question of how to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine - with medication or non-drug therapy - 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 cartilaginous and bone tissues (maintenance of the muscular corset, general tone, etc.).
Cartilage is devoid of nerve endings and blood vessels - this determines the specifics of diagnosis and treatment of osteochondrosis.Firstly, the cartilage cannot hurt and therefore self-diagnosis of the disease is difficult and the vast majority of patients turn to an orthopedist or vertebroneurologist with 2nd or 3rd degree lumbar osteochondrosis.The further the cartilage destruction goes, the more stress already worn out discs experience, the faster the disease progresses and the harder 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 in a diffuse manner.Therefore, a general 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, as well as special gymnastic exercises.When exercising, a separate time is set aside for warm-ups, which stimulate the nutrition of the adjacent tissues and therefore the cartilage.Warm-ups should alternate between exercise episodes, whether sitting in front of the computer or long walks.
Sometimes the doctor may prescribe the use of compression devices - for example, corsets, bandages to support the spine in the correct position.This measure is effective for concomitant postural disorders.
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
Medicines for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine include oral and external anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, analgesics, chondroprotectors, as well as drugs to improve metabolism (B vitamins and others) and blood circulation, glucocorticosteroids, neurotransmitters, 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 experiences convulsions or swelling, anticonvulsants and diuretics are also prescribed.Pills for lumbar osteochondrosis, suspensions, injections, gels and applicators do not need to be used constantly - usually the doctor prescribes an individual maintenance course at significant intervals.In the acute phase, with extremely severe pain, a specialist can call you.paravertebral block - an injection of an anesthetic into 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, remaining the most successful conservative treatment methods.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 shock wave therapy sessions, electrophoresis, mud and paraffin baths, hot stone therapy, acupuncture, therapeutic baths, etc.Therapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine occupy a special place - like massage, it mainly includes stretching of the spine, designed to release compressed nerve roots.For example, traction during rotation can change the angle of curvature of the spine during lordosis, which reduces pain.
Therapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine should take into account the presence of excess weight and other diseases and injuries, gender and age characteristics, and pain intensity.The best effect is achieved with constant exercise.
In advanced osteochondrosis, the 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 must be answered by a doctor in all cases without exception.Self-medication and lack of a complete diagnosis lead to incorrect determination of the boundaries of the pathological process and its stage and, consequently, an incorrect treatment program.In some cases, there is even a deterioration in the condition, which is caused by improper performance of therapeutic exercises, unprofessional selection of analgesics and NSAIDs.After clarifying the symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine with your doctor.
You can start taking the chondroprotector Artracam - this domestic medicine improves metabolic processes and prevents new deformations of cartilage, and with complex treatment it even demonstrates positive dynamics and increases cartilage tissue without injections!