Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is the main cause of lower 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 in various stages.And no wonder, the entire lower back is the lower part of the spine, and it bears the heaviest load.
Is it possible to avoid the “price for upright walking,” what is needed for its early diagnosis, and how to stop or slow down the course of the disease?Let's look at 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, softening movements - it is thanks to them that our bones do not rub against each other, and the back bends.Together with muscles and ligaments, they are involved 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 the genetic “weakness” of cartilage tissue, and uneven distribution of load (for example, with poor posture), and 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 gives an almost 100% effect and returns to normal life.
Degenerative changes in the cartilage tissue of the spine lead to degeneration of the intervertebral discs.It is expressed in discomfort when moving, muscle hypertonicity, sharp shooting or constant aching pain.The consequence of abrasion of the intervertebral discs is 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 (primarily the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system), the spinal cord and brain, and so on.Radicular syndrome, or radiculopathy, caused by this disease can cause neuralgic pain in the heart and even the stomach.Sometimes leg paresis and other severe symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine are observed.
When the disease is localized in the lumbar region, vertebral displacements often occur due to sudden everyday movements.In this case, it becomes difficult for patients 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 1-2 days.It can only be carried out by a chiropractor - an osteopath and a vertebroneurologist.
Signs of lumbar osteochondrosis
Having felt 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.Got a cold, pulled, 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 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 special attention.Discomfort can only occur after sleep or prolonged sitting in an uncomfortable position or significant physical activity.In this case, patients attribute the unpleasant sensations to “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-carrying 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 below the affected area appear - the gluteal, femoral, and spinal.There may also be a partial decrease in sensitivity or, conversely, the appearance of neuralgia, which is difficult to relieve with conventional painkillers due to its neurogenic nature.When exercising, sharp pain is observed, the so-called."shots".A feeling of stiffness appears in cases where you need to sit in one position for at least 10-15 minutes, and is especially pronounced after sleep or a working day.For this stage, conservative treatment is still effective - the disease responds well to therapy, stable remission without acute periods of illness can be achieved for many months.
- Osteochondrosis 3 degreeslumbar spine is already a complicated disease, which is 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 ability to work and leading to disability.This stage is dangerous due to the appearance of intervertebral hernias and other irreversible changes in the spinal column, which can affect large nerves and vessels.At this stage, severe functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system and significant limitation of mobility, up to paralysis and paresis, may already appear.Stage 3 of lumbar osteochondrosis significantly affects the quality and life expectancy and may require additional support when walking (for example, a cane).
A number of experts also distinguish stages 4 and 5, where in the 4th there is scarring of the cartilage, and the 5th is considered incompatible with life, however, with timely treatment and lifestyle changes, such cases are rare in practice.
Prevention of lumbar osteochondrosis
Exacerbation of the disease can be triggered by infectious 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 bruise, 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, in addition to 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 drugs or non-drug therapy - cannot be answered unambiguously.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 (maintaining a muscle corset, general tone, etc.).
Cartilage is devoid of nerve endings and blood vessels - this determines the specifics of diagnosis and treatment of osteochondrosis.Firstly, cartilage cannot hurt, and therefore self-diagnosis of the disease is difficult and the vast majority of patients turn to an orthopedist or vertebroneurologist already with lumbar osteochondrosis of the 2nd or 3rd degree.The further the destruction of cartilage goes, the more stress the already worn out 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 - nutrition of the tissue occurs mainly in a diffuse manner.Therefore, a general improvement in the patient’s condition plays an important role on the path to remission.The treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis necessarily includes diet, maintenance medications for 1-3 months, as well as special gymnastic exercises.In exercise, separate time is allocated for warm-ups, which stimulate the nutrition of adjacent tissues, and therefore cartilage.Warm-ups must alternate between episodes of exercise, be it sitting at the computer or long walking.
Sometimes the doctor may prescribe the wearing 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
Drugs 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 suffers from convulsions or swelling, anticonvulsants and diuretics are also prescribed.Tablets 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 place the so-called.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 methods of conservative treatment.They help enhance nutrition and blood supply to problem areas, improve muscle support of the spinal column, 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 the spinal column, designed to free the pinched 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 must take into account the presence of excess weight and other diseases and injuries, gender 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 the lack of a full diagnosis leads to incorrect determination of the boundaries of the pathological process and its stage, and, as a consequence, 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 painkillers and NSAIDs.Having clarified the symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine with your doctor.
You can start taking the chondroprotector Artracam - 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!