The number of patients suffering from osteochondrosis increases every year, and the disease is irrepressably young: a couple of decades ago, this problem refers mainly to the elderly, but now it is often felt even for those who do not even have 30. And one of its most common forms is osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, which daily has the maximum load in the vertegenerative processes in the processes and processes.vertebal and speeches of the maxim.In addition to the constant pain that interferes with normal life, osteochondrosis without timely medical attention is full of serious complications, which means that it is very important to recognize its first signs in time and begin the fight against it.
Where does osteochondrosis come from?
The question is far from simple, because there really are many factors capable of provoking this disease.It can be both the physiological characteristics of the body and an unhealthy lifestyle, a diet or even a genetically established program.In general, among the main reasons for the development of the osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, it can be distinguished:
- Incorrect distribution of the load in the column (incorrect posture, mattress of poor quality or office chair, etc.);
- sedentary lifestyle;
- frequent tensions;
- unhealthy habits;
- a scarce diet, which leads to a deficiency of the necessary vitamins and trace elements;
- hypothermia;
- Pathology of the structure of the musculoskeletal system, for example, curvature of the spine, flat feet, etc.;
- overweight;
- Metabolism violation;
- column injuries;
- Infectious diseases transferred;
- Chronic inflammatory processes, mainly associated with joint diseases;
- Genetic predisposition.
The risk group also includes people whose professional activities are associated with significant loads, for example, athletes, and those who have to be in the same pose for a long time: teachers, office workers, drivers, waiters, hairdressers, etc.
In addition, osteochondrosis often becomes the result of other diseases, for example, liver disorders or gastrointestinal tract (in approximately 30% of patients), the heart, as well as the inflammation of ovaries in women and prostatitis in men.In this case, existing pathologies cause muscle and vascular cramps, causing oxygen and distribution changes.Consequently, the fabrics that form the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, which suffer from a lack of nutrition, are gradually destroyed: the osteochondrosis of the lumbar region develops.
Symptoms of the disease
In what signs can be recognized in a person osteochondrosis of the lumbar column, and is it realistic to do this until the disease gained impulse?Unfortunately, in the early stages, this ailment in many cases proceeds almost asymptomatic, and a slight discomfort in the back that arises from time to time it is more frequently written to normal fatigue.This is its main danger: although osteochondrosis can still face without consequences, it is difficult to detect, and when the problem becomes obvious, it is much more difficult to slow down the pathological processes.
The most important sign of this pathology is severe low back pain, often extended throughout the back, buttocks and legs.In the early stages, it is hurting or pulling predominantly, and occurs only after physical effort or sudden movements.Over time, periods of relative calm, when the patient does not feel pain and discomfort, become shorter and gradually unpleasant sensations in the lower back become their permanent companions.In addition, there are exacerbations, when the pain becomes intense and sharp, and even the most insignificant load can cause an attack, to cough or sneezing.
There are additional lumbar osteochondrosis signs:
- rigidity of the movements;
- decrease in sensitivity and tingling in the legs;
- sweating violation;
- muscle weakness;
- Dry and peeled from the skin.
In the last stages, patients may have difficulties with the control of urination and defecation due to the spinal cord pinch, and male patients have erectile dysfunction.
Degree of lumbar osteochondrosis
In total, 4 main stages of the development of the disease are distinguished.For 1, the deformation of the intervertebral discs is expressed weakly: these are small cracks inside the fibrous ring, which cause unpleasant sensations.First grade osteochondrosis is characterized by paroxysmal pain, which occurs only with acute movements and elevation weights.We are talking about Lumbago, that is, bastards in the lower back in response to an attempt to change the uncomfortable position of the body.In addition, in 1 stage of the disease, patients often suffer muscle cramps and swelling.
The lumbar osteochondrosis of the second grade begins with low back pain: pain and discomfort increase and appear regularly, and to improve good, it is no longer enough to sleep a bit and relax.The process of destruction of the fibrous ring continues, and the vertebrae themselves acquire unhealthy mobility: the distance between them decreases and the nerve endings are pinched.As a result, the patient has intense pain, as well as an alternative sensation of heat and cold, greater sweating and numbness of the skin.
Stage 3 of osteochondrosis is the period of formation of intervertebral hernias.The fibrous ring is broken and the content of the nucleus, pushing the vessels and nerve roots, falls.At the same time, the patient is tormented by acute pains that pursue him almost without rest.Periodically, in the affected area, sensitivity decreases or disappears completely, and in other cases, on the contrary, it can increase painfully and accompanied by a sensation of tingling and burning.At this stage of osteochondrosis, even a non -specialist can notice the deformation of the spine: patients develop the spine curvature according to the type of lordosis, kyphosis or scoliosis.
The fourth degree of the disease is the most serious: the spine is very deformed, patients suffer from constant pain and any movement for them becomes a real problem.This is due to the almost complete destruction of the intervertebral discs, as a result of which the vertebrae are converging to the maximum or even in contact with each other.In this case, squeezing the spinal cord can cause the lower limb paralysis.If the treatment does not begin in time, going to the fourth stage, the osteochondrosis can make a person a person disabled by the rest of his life.
Osteochondrosis diagnosis
With low back pain, most patients first receive advice for the therapist, who, if there are appropriate symptoms, sends them for an additional exam to a neurologist.He, in turn, performs an inspection, collects an anamnesis and prescribes hardware studies to make a precise diagnosis and determine the degree of negligence of the disease.
During the collection of anamnesis, the main task of the specialist is to discover the nature of unpleasant sensations, their location, intensity and duration, and also understand how often the exacerbations of the disease occur, which, as a general rule, precedes and what measures provide relief to the patient.In addition, to make a diagnosis, the patient's lifestyle, their usual diet, the characteristics of the professional activity, the lesions and the existing diseases, including the hereditary are important.
The inspection allows you to evaluate the patient's motor capabilities (posture, march, volume of movements), the presence of tone and muscle cramps, as well as determine the level of sensitivity in the affected area.
However, you can get a complete image only with the help of hardware research: Radiography, CT and MRI.X -Ray allows you to see violations of the structures of the column, evaluate the condition of the intervertebral discs and, over time, recognize the tendency to reduce light between the vertebrae.Computed tomography in this case is more informative: it makes it possible to look literally inside the spine and study existing pathologies.And magnetic resonance, in turn, provides exhaustive information about the state of the spinal cord, nerve endings, muscles and blood vessels, which is extremely important not only to make the diagnosis of "lumbar osteochondrosis", but also to determine the degree of negligence of the disease.
Treatment methods
To successfully face lumbar osteochondrosis, patients need complex therapy, which necessarily include pharmacological treatment, physiotherapeutic procedures, special gymnastics, massage, as well as the use of traditional medication recipes that improve the effect of the use of traditional methods.
The priority task that must be resolved by beginning the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is the relief of pain syndrome, since during the exacerbation of the disease many therapeutic methods cannot be used, such as physiotherapy and exercise therapy.To this end, patients receive analgesics and injections, as well as non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs.It is the last one who is the main component of the pharmacological treatment of osteochondrosis: they handle not only with their symptoms, but also affect the causes that cause their appearance.In the most difficult cases, glucocortosteroids are used to combat the inflammatory process, which are most frequently introduced into deep tissues in the damage zone along with novocaine or lidocaine.
In addition, patients with osteochondrosis need preparations to eliminate muscle spasms: anticonvulsive and muscle relaxants, condoprotectors that restore damaged cartilaginous tissue and group B vitamins that strengthen the protective functions of the body and reduce inflammation.
After pain painting, physiotherapeutic procedures reach the avant -garde in the treatment of osteochondrosis.We are talking about the use of laser therapy, magnetotherapy, ultrasound, electrophoresis, acupuncture, mud baths, paraffin applications, etc., which effectively face the inconvenience and pain and fix the result obtained from taking medications.
An important place in the fight against osteochondrosis of the lumbar region deviates with physiotherapy exercises, subject to regular execution, the sets of exercises specially designed for such a case significantly improve the condition of the patient, returning the freedom of movement almost entirely.And professional massage will help consolidate successes that perfectly reach muscle cramps.Non -traditional medicine, which offers osteochondrosis, is playing a non -role in this matter, not only effective to combat this ailment, but also safer than many synthetic drugs.
Why is lumbar osteochondrosis dangerous?
In addition to intensive pain, which often makes the life of a patient with lumbar osteochondrosis really unbearable, people with such a diagnosis are limited by motor capacities, and in the last stages of the disease, some of them can be completely lost.We are talking about the paralysis of the lower extremities, which can be developed as a result of the compression of the spinal cord.In the most extreme case, osteochondrosis can even cause death if there is significant damage to the spinal cord deck.
But without even reaching 4 stages, lumbar osteochondrosis seriously undermines human health.It often ends with the formation of intervertebral hernias, which require prolonged and complex treatment, and in some cases and surgical intervention.In addition, squeezing blood vessels, which is characteristic of osteochondrosis, can lead to the formation of dangerous stagnation and violate the work of other internal organs.In patients with such a diagnosis, the genitourinary system often suffers: lumbar osteochondrosis can cause problems with ovaries, uterus and appendices in women and erectile dysfunction in men.
It is obvious that in time to recognize the symptoms of osteochondrosis, seek help and begin its complex treatment: the task is extremely important.But the role of prevention is no less important in this matter: with your help you can reduce the risk of developing the disease and maintaining good health.We are talking about regular but moderate physical effort, a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, compliance with the alcohol consumption regime and the exams of specialists who can identify possible problems in the early stages.
It should be remembered that the osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is a serious illness, which is extremely dangerous for health to ignore whose symptoms.Only by recognizing the disease in time and starting treatment, can slow the pathological processes and return the patient to take the opportunity to lead the usual lifestyle.Otherwise, the consequences can be the most deplorable, to disability, of which the patient can no longer get rid of.