Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a common disease of the musculoskeletal system. It is characterized by the development of degenerative-dystrophic processes of articular and bone tissue. Lumbar osteochondrosis indicates that the tissue injury occurred precisely in the lumbar region and sacrum, so the patient will experience appropriate symptoms. Lumbosacral lumbar osteochondrosis is a significant concern. It has a negative effect not only on the waist, but also on the condition of the lower extremities. You should consult a specialist - a neurologist or traumatologist on how to treat lumbar osteochondrosis. This complex disease should not be treated alone or on the advice of relatives and friends. Self-medication can only aggravate the process and cause more damage to the spine.
High-quality treatment of osteochondrosis is carried out in the hospital. There are specialists who can solve this problem.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: causes
Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region is a disease of the elderly. Recently, however, lumbosacral osteochondrosis has been increasingly diagnosed in young people (25-30 years old). This is due to the fact that many young people lead a sedentary lifestyle and spend a lot of time on the computer. An additional factor is the constant stress that young people experience in the modern world. Inadequate nutrition, combined with the predominance of fast food, leads to the deterioration of not only the spine, but the whole organism.
Lumbar osteochondrosis of the spine is a pathological type localized in the lumbar region. This is one of the most common types of osteochondrosis. The exact causes of the disease are not known, but there are triggers that significantly increase the likelihood of developing osteochondrosis. These include:
- sedentary work;
- posture curvature;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- excessive stress on the spine (professional sports, regular weight lifting, heavy physical labor);
- overweight;
- back injuries;
- age (over the years, the tissues of the spine undergo natural aging and thinning processes);
- inflammatory diseases of the joints (arthritis, osteoarthritis, scoliosis, etc. );
- diseases accompanied by metabolic disorders;
- Unhealthy lifestyle;
- hereditary tendency.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms
It is very difficult to diagnose lumbosacral osteochondrosis at an early stage. The symptoms and treatment of the disease will depend on the degree of damage to the spinal tissues. Symptoms of lumbar lumbar osteochondrosis begin gradually, with minor discomfort and, in advanced cases, the appearance of sharp pain. It is impossible to delay the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis. As the disease progresses, the symptoms will only intensify and cause more discomfort to the person. In a severe acute period, even a person is painful to stand up, so osteochondrosis of the spine should be treated immediately. The symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- Pain in lumbar osteochondrosis is the most striking sign of pathology. They can be strengthened and gradually established during movements (bending or lifting weights). As the disease progresses, the intensity of the pain will increase and become unbearable during an attack of acute osteochondrosis;
- impaired lumbar mobility. Pathological processes in the spine are reflected in the ability of this department to perform any movement: it is difficult for a person to bend, turn to the sides, sit with an equal back;
- violation of the lower extremities. There are gait disturbances, numbness, tingling, a feeling of "gas bumps", muscle weakness in the legs;
- pale skin associated with impaired blood supply to the affected area;
- sexual dysfunction (possible in severe cases).
Lumbosacral lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms and degrees
There are four degrees in 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 treatment.
Lumbar intervertebral osteochondrosis is classified as follows:
- Grade 1 osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine manifests itself with a slight discomfort in the lumbar region. They can occur after strenuous physical work or a long working day. A person may experience pain in the lower back or hips, as well as tingling in the lower back;
- Grade 2 osteochondrosis of the lower back is more pronounced. In grade 2, the intervertebral disc begins to destroy the fibrous ring. The distance between the vertebrae narrows or lengthens, and the intervertebral disc begins to protrude beyond the vertebrae. Compression of the nerve roots of the spine occurs, which is characterized by significant back pain, which is reflected in the lower back, thighs and lower legs. The person may also feel a burning sensation or coldness in the back;
- Grade 3 osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is characterized by the final destruction of the annulus fibrosis. The contents of the intervertebral disc come out - a hernia is formed. Nerve roots are compressed more strongly, an inflammatory process occurs in the lumbar region, accompanied by severe constant pain;
- Grade 4 osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is accompanied by cartilage atrophy and pathological spread of the vertebrae. This is the body's compensatory response to intervertebral disc damage. At this stage, the pain usually disappears, but this does not mean that the condition has improved. Sprains of the vertebrae significantly impair the mobility of the spine and can lead to disability.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms and treatment of inflammation
Exacerbation of lumbar lumbar osteochondrosis can be triggered by sharp movements, weight lifting, hypothermia. Acute pain in lumbar osteochondrosis may gradually increase or appear suddenly. Exacerbation of lumbar osteochondrosis is often accompanied by severe pain. During an attack, muscle spasms occur in the lumbar and thoracic lumbar region, which impede lumbar movement to prevent increased pain. In the acute period, the pain extends to the hip and leg area, which are connected to the affected area of the lower back by nerve fibers. A person is forced to hold a certain position and does not change it (usually this is a horizontal position with the leg bent). Even small movements such as coughing can cause new pain.
Exacerbation of lumbar osteochondrosis, which requires immediate treatment, can last several days or weeks (depending on how quickly adequate treatment is started). In a private hospital, acute osteochondrosis is treated immediately after the patient's treatment. The hospital's admission department is open 24 hours a day, so the patient can get help at any time. Blockages are performed to relieve acute pain - an analgesic is applied to the affected area, which helps to significantly improve the condition. After the acute period is eliminated, the main course of treatment begins.
Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms and diagnosis
Treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis begins with diagnosis. It is important to find out if this is true osteochondrosis and the extent of the tissue damage. Low spine osteochondrosis is diagnosed by X-ray. The picture will clearly show the condition of the intervertebral disc and vertebrae. The doctor determines the location of the lesion and assesses the degree of disease. If necessary, additional MRI or CT scans may be scheduled to clarify the details.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis is made at a hospital diagnostic center that has everything you need for an accurate diagnosis. Experienced staff uses modern equipment that allows you to quickly and accurately diagnose the patient's disease. The results of the diagnosis will determine how neurologists and physiotherapists will treat osteochondrosis of the spine.
Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms and medications
After diagnosis, every patient is interested in the question "How to treat lumbar osteochondrosis? "Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region will be complex and will consist of medication and physiotherapy. Each component of hospital treatment is prescribed by an appropriate specialist based on the individual characteristics of the patient. The symptoms and signs of lumbosacral lumbar osteochondrosis allow you to choose the most optimal treatment that will be most effective.
Medical treatment for lumbar osteochondrosis includes several types of drugs, each of which performs its function:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: relieve pain and inflammation;
- painkillers: to relieve severe pain that the previous group of drugs could not cope with;
- muscle relaxant: relieves muscle spasms;
- chondroprotectors: stop the degenerative process, promote the regeneration of spinal tissues;
- Vitamin complexes: normalize nerve conduction, improve the body's protective properties.
All medications, their dosage and duration of administration are strictly determined by the attending physician.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: treatment with physiotherapy
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis includes a course of physiotherapy. Like medication, it is an important part of treatment. Some patients are interested in how to treat lumbar osteochondrosis without physiotherapy. However, it will not be possible to eradicate the disease with the use of drugs alone. The drug will turn back the pain already and quickly enough.
Physiotherapy of osteochondrosis in the hospital is carried out by qualified specialists in the rehabilitation department. The patient is prescribed a course of rehabilitation, taking into account their abilities and needs. Physiotherapy includes:
- massage for lumbar osteochondrosis;
- spinal elongation;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- reflexology (acupuncture);
- apparatus exposure methods (electrophoresis, amplipulse, phonophoresis, etc. ).
Osteochondrosis can be treated only with complex treatment. Back pain usually disappears a few days after starting treatment (depending on the severity of the disease). However, this is not a reason to stop the course of treatment. To get the best results and to rule out a rapid recurrence of the pathology, it is necessary to take a full course prepared by specialists. Using effective treatment methods, professional doctors achieve a significant improvement in the patient's condition, which allows him to return to a satisfied life.