The lumbar spine is quite mobile and at the same time supports heavy loads, regardless of a person's lifestyle and the work he does. Therefore, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is one of the most common cases of this disease. It affects both men and women, most often after 25 to 30 years, but recently the disease has become significantly younger. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, without treatment, progresses steadily and, ultimately, can even lead to disability.
Causes
Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease, as a result of which the intervertebral discs begin to collapse, a change in the distance between the vertebrae and the discs occurs, the displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other, followed by irritation or compression of the spinal cord , nerves. endings and blood vessels that run through the spine.
The reasons leading to the development of osteochondrosis, as a rule, are a consequence of excessive load on the spine: lifting heavy objects, excess weight, back injuries, sedentary lifestyle. The situation is significantly aggravated by diseases that cause metabolic disorders, lack of sleep, stress and poor diet.
Symptoms
A common symptom of lumbar osteochondrosis is lower back pain. They can occur during physical activity, at rest, when changing posture, etc. Pain sensations can radiate, that is, spread beyond the place where the nerve is pinched, for example, radiate to the leg.
As the deformation of the vertebrae worsens, it becomes painful to perform even very simple movements: bending, twisting, etc. , which significantly worsens the quality of life. Symptoms of genitourinary disorders may also occur, including involuntary urination.
Complications
Without timely and adequate treatment, progressive deformations of the intervertebral discs can cause serious complications: the spine loses flexibility and, due to pain, it becomes impossible to perform simple actions such as bending and twisting. With a long course of the disease, due to pinching of the nerves by bone growths, complications spreading to the genitourinary area and inflammation of the sciatic nerve are possible. Pain may occur even with coughing or minor physical activity.
Treatment
Medications for osteochondrosis, as a rule, only provide temporary relief and relieve pain. Some of them warm up the muscles, locally increasing superficial blood circulation, but this is clearly not enough for the complete restoration of cartilage tissue. Especially if there are pinched nerves and blood vessels. Therefore, the symptoms of the disease usually reappear quickly.
Due to the development of the disease, not only the spine itself suffers, but also the muscles, blood vessels and even internal organs. The work of an osteopathic doctor does not focus on treating the external symptoms of the disease, but on identifying and eliminating the fundamental cause of its appearance.
Osteopathic treatment has no contraindications for the treatment of osteochondrosis and is comfortable and safe for patients of any age. In 90% of cases it helps avoid surgical treatment and, furthermore, it is equally effective in any phase of the disease. Especially with problems with internal organs, which are the result of pinching of the spinal cord and its roots. Furthermore, osteopathic treatment is necessarily indicated for patients with herniated and protruded discs. It is completely safe and extremely effective. Based on our observations, this is probably the most effective treatment method.
Lower back pain, numbness spreading to the legs, a feeling that the legs are literally falling off, the inability to bend, turn and walk normally - these are the common symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis.
Lumbar osteochondrosis is a "disease of civilization" that is directly related to the upright posture of a human being. The disease causes stiffness of movement and back pain. These symptoms prevent an active lifestyle and can lead to more serious diseases, including internal organs. In osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, any sudden movement or lifting of weight can cause severe pain in the lower back.
No two patients are alike. Each one is unique. In our practice, we have encountered diagnoses where the list of diseases looked like a quote from a medical encyclopedia. For example, the patient Anastasia, 69 years old: coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, stage II hypertension, chronic cholecystitis, cyst in the left kidney, endometrial hyperplastic process. And finally, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, polyosteoarthrosis, osteoporosis. How can we help a patient like this? With so many serious diseases neglected? And what does lumbar osteochondrosis have to do with it?
The meaning of the treatment, as seen by the doctors of our centers, is to restore the speed and volume of blood flow through the systemic circulation by performing sequential exercises of the first, second and third floor of the body: i. e. directed at the legs, abdominals and back.
In the absence of normal blood circulation in the lumbar spine, as well as in the spine, oxygen starvation occurs, which affects the normal functioning of the entire body, with special attention to the internal organs of the small pelvis. Hence a large number of diseases, from internal organs to the cardiovascular system.
As a rule, when examining patients with lumbar osteochondrosis, we identify excessive tension in the paravertebral muscles of the thoracic and spinal regions, lack of elasticity in the muscles of the thigh and lower extremities in general, that is, muscle rigidity, they are hard .
Most patients cannot reach the tips of their toes with their hands and often even reach their knees. The muscles are so weakened that they cannot support their own body weight well, much less perform simple household tasks.
Every day, the lumbar spine, as the most heavily loaded part, is subjected to a series of static and dynamic loads, which is why it is rightly considered one of the most vulnerable. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms and treatment of which are discussed in this article, is a real "scourge" for patients over 35 years of age.
Lumbar osteochondrosisIt is a pathology that is characterized by the development of dystrophic disorders in the intervertebral discs of the lumbosacral spine. The discs provide flexibility and mobility to the spine, however, as a result of the influence of a number of factors, their structure is altered, they lose firmness, elasticity, turgor, which can lead to the appearance of protrusions and, subsequently, a hernia. vertebral, as well as pinching of nerve endings and roots.
You can undergo treatment for lumbar osteochondrosis in the clinic. Timely seeking professional medical help is an opportunity to stop destructive processes and restore the health of your spine.
Causes
Lumbar osteochondrosis can appear due to several factors:
- spinal injuries; ;
- static and dynamic overloads of the column;
- inadequate load distribution on the column;
- vertebral mobility;
- intense physical activity;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- age-related changes.
Clinical manifestations
Clinical manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis at the initial stage are not clearly expressed in the form of limited mobility and stiffness. However, as the disease progresses, symptoms of pain appear, located in the lumbar and back areas. The pain radiates to the sacrum, legs and (sometimes) the pelvic organs. The pain intensifies when twisting and bending and often becomes unbearable. Additionally, the following symptoms are observed:
- limited movement;
- curvature, "skew", scoliosis in the lumbar spine;
- muscle spasms;
- lameness in one or both legs;
- feeling of weakness, altered sensitivity of the skin of the legs, decreased reflexes, with compression of the nerve endings.
Diagnosis
Before prescribing treatment for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, specialists conduct comprehensive diagnostic studies that allow them to make a correct diagnosis, determine the degree of development of the pathology and its consequences for both the spine and the patient's body in his set. They include:
osteochondrosis– one of the most common diseases of the 21st century.
A sedentary lifestyle, a sedentary job, a poor diet, constant stress: all these factors end up causing the wear of the intervertebral cartilage.
The cartilage loses elasticity, becomes fragile and the disease progresses, significantly worsening the quality of life.
Patients with osteochondrosis experience problems of varying complexity: from pain to impaired functioning of internal organs.
The reasons for the development of osteochondrosis are also:
- Age-related changes
- spinal injuries
- Posture disorders
- rachiocampsis
- Flatfoot
- hereditary predisposition
- excessive exercise
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis.
The symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are, in particular, pain in the back or lower back, aggravated by sudden movements and changes in body position, radiating to the buttocks and legs, the anterior abdominal wall and the area of groin, accompanied by burning, tingling, numbness. and the appearance of "goosebumps".
In addition, with lumbar osteochondrosis, a decrease in skin sensitivity occurs on the thighs, buttocks and legs, and less often on the feet. There is increased chills in the legs, a feeling of weakness in the legs and curvature of the lumbar spine.
You should know that in most cases the cause of complaints of lower back pain is precisely osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.
Patients with osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine require adequate and timely treatment. Otherwise, the destruction of cartilage, ligaments and vertebrae will progress, which can lead to dysfunction of internal organs and disability.
Modern restorative medicine can greatly improve the condition of patients with lumbar osteochondrosis. Significant improvements can be achieved using a variety of methods, including physiotherapy, acupuncture, taking medications, therapeutic massages and much more, depending on individual prescriptions.
Lumbar osteochondrosis- a very common form of osteochondrosis. It occurs in both men and women. Patients themselves often mistakenly "diagnose" it as a "pinched lumbar nerve", since the pain that arises with lumbar osteochondrosis is concentrated in the sacral region.
In general, pain is the main symptom of this disease. It comes in different intensities. Some people suffer from pain that occurs after sitting or sleeping for a long time, others suffer from sharp, stabbing pain. In this case, pain occurs when the patient adopts an uncomfortable position. Due to severe pain, a person cannot straighten up.
Pain in the sacral area.They occur due to pinched nerve endings, muscle swelling, and pinched nerve roots. Pain may also begin due to irritation of the lumbar ligaments.
Low back painIt intensifies with almost any movement of the body, mainly when leaning forward. Even a simple sneeze or cough causes increased pain.
However, lumbar osteochondrosis has other symptoms. First of all, these are alterations in the sensitivity of the skin, the muscles of the legs and the lower half of the body. Some patients also experience a weakening of the tendon reflexes in the legs and, in especially severe cases, their complete disappearance. Osteochondrosis is a factor in the development of scoliosis of the lumbar spine, mainly in children and the elderly.
Lumbar osteochondrosis also has the following clinical symptoms:
Symptom of lumbar osteochondrosis.and at the same time, its most unpleasant complication is spinal instability. The disc stops fixing the vertebra. As a result, when under load, the lumbar spine practically "slides" from the sacrum, causing severe, unbearable pain. In addition, with this pathology the functioning of internal organs is altered. First of all, it concerns the genitourinary system. Lumbar osteochondrosis affects the potency of a man and causes gynecological problems in a woman.
Unfortunately, modern medicine has not yet invented a remedy that can quickly and easily solve this problem. The treatment of osteochondrosis is very complex and long-term. It must be comprehensive, only then can good results be achieved.
Treatment measures for lumbar osteochondrosis include:
In particularly severe cases, surgical intervention may be performed.
INosteochondrosis treatmentSanatorium-resort treatment is very effective.
In case of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, the patient is prescribed bed rest. Additionally, the patient should lie on a hard mattress.
In case of severe attacks, the patient should move as little as possible and seek help from a specialist. A neurologist is involved in the diagnosis and treatment of osteochondrosis.
If any of the above symptoms are detected, a neurologist should be consulted.
You can make an appointment by calling 8 (928) 337-60-60.
Osteochondrosis of the lower back.
Of all diseases of the peripheral nervous system, osteochondrosis of the spine accounts for 80%, of which 60-80% affects the lumbar region, which consists of 5 vertebrae. In 40% of people, the first signs of the disease appear between the ages of 30 and 35. In old age, spinal osteochondrosis is diagnosed in 90% of people. 7 out of 10 people experience painful sensations; The exacerbation can last from 6 to 16 months.
Stages of development
1st – the appearance of degenerative disorders, which affect nerve endings and alter blood supply. The inflammatory process causes pain that radiates to the legs. The patient experiences occasional tingling in the back and buttocks. It appears after intense physical effort.
2nd – The outer layer of the intervertebral disc (annulus fibrosus) is destroyed. The distance between the vertebrae is reduced, the nerve endings are compressed, which causes intense, sharp pain. The symptoms are especially pronounced when walking.
3rd – due to excessive mobility of the vertebrae, muscle fibers and nerve endings are compressed. Spasms, numbness, burning, hernias occur - displacement of the intervertebral disc towards the spinal cord.
4th – the growth of pathological exostoses in the bone structure. The spine literally "turns to stone. "Progressive osteoarthritis and lack of treatment immobilize the patient.
Reasons for development
The disease develops slowly, under the confluence of a number of circumstances, that is, the development of the disease depends on the influence of not one, but several factors:
Sedentary lifestyle (physical inactivity), sedentary work, low level of physical activity. At first glance they are not dangerous. However, with prolonged exposure, muscle tone, the so-called "muscle corset", weakens. Supports the spine and internal organs. Therefore, physical inactivity causes an alteration in the functioning of several systems: blood circulation, breathing and digestion.
Over weight. With a BMI (Quetelet body mass index) greater than 25 kg/m2, excess weight creates additional stress on the body: it puts pressure on the spine, overloads the joints and impairs blood supply.
Endocrine pathological processes. Hormonal imbalance, disturbances in the functioning of the adrenal glands and thyroid "slow down" the body's metabolism. Frequent hormonal changes "wash out" calcium from bone tissue, leaving it weak and brittle.
Unbalanced diet. Popular and affordable fast food fully satisfies the energy needs of the body, while from the point of view of saturating the body with the necessary vitamins and microelements, it is absolutely useless.
In men whose profession involves significant physical activity, lumbar osteochondrosis occurs many times more often.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis.
Pain is the main marker of the onset of the disease and its location. Depending on the nature of the occurrence, frequency and duration, a preliminary diagnosis can be made. Most often, patients with lumbar osteochondrosis experience pain that radiates to the leg, groin and tailbone. In a horizontal position, the discomfort disappears.
Spinal nerves extend from the trunk of the spine to different parts of the body. Each nerve is responsible for a specific area. This is called "segmental innervation. "That is why the affected nerve "responds" in a specific area: this is how the "radicular syndrome" manifests itself.
The spinal nerve map allows you to identify pain in a specific area of the spine: C1-C8 - 8 cervical, T1-T12 - 12 thoracic, L1-L5 - 5 lumbar, S1-S5 - 5 sacral, C0 - 2 coccygeal . Signs of osteochondrosis depending on segmental innervation:
L3-L4 – weak knee reflex, partial numbness, episodic loss of sensation are observed along the anterior surface of the thigh;
L4-L5 – muscle weakness, the patient cannot fix the body while standing on the heels, pain and sensory disturbances extend to the area from the lumbar area to the buttocks, as well as along the entire lateral surface of the thigh (from top to bottom).
L5–S1: Calf muscle tremors, inability to stand on tiptoe, pain in the back of the thigh.
In rare cases, the root arteries also participate in the destructive process, causing a spinal stroke - a dangerous pathology in which the patient experiences paresis and paralysis, as well as dysfunction of the pelvic organs.
Pain reflex symptoms.
Lumbago or lumbago (in this case not sciatica! ): acute pain. Any uncomfortable movement, including sneezing and coughing, causes a spasm. The patient spontaneously changes the position of his body, moving it to the side. An attempt to adopt a vertical position causes new lumbago.
Lumbodynia is a dull, aching pain that occurs on one side. Periods of remission are followed by an exacerbation, which gradually turns into severe pain.
Lumboischialgia: painful sensations appear in the leg.
Secondary signs of the disease are not so typical and can be easily confused with symptoms of another problem: poor sweating (hypohidrosis), pale skin in the affected area due to poor blood circulation, severe dryness and peeling.
Diagnosis
At the initial stage, a complete medical history of the patient is collected. The general picture must be supplemented by the conclusions of a surgeon, orthopedist, neurologist and rheumatologist. Specialists subject the patient to a visual examination to evaluate changes in posture, muscle tone, and skin sensitivity.
X-ray is performed for the primary diagnosis of lumbar osteochondrosis of the first degree, it is used to examine the condition of the intervertebral discs, pathologies of the spinal cord, and also to assess the general condition of the spine. However, this type of diagnosis does not provide complete information about the affected tissues.
Computed tomography (CT) is a highly sensitive test that uses a beam of ionizing rays. Computed tomography records the degree of disc deformation, inflammatory processes in the spinal cord membrane and nerve endings in a layer-by-layer image.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) informatively shows the general condition of muscle mass, blood vessels and ligaments. Detects tumors and inflammatory processes.
Myelography is one of the ways to visually assess the condition of the spinal cord and nerve roots by injecting a contrast agent with a needle into the cavity between the pia mater and the spinal arachnoid, filled with cerebrospinal fluid. Like CT, MTP and X-ray, the procedure is performed in real time.
Neurological examination of sensitivity and reflexes in pathologies is a complex of studies that includes a screening method for studying the symmetry of the limbs, testing sensitivity to vibrations and evaluating Babinsky, Chaddock and Oppenheiman reflexes.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis.
The effectiveness of conservative treatment is achieved through a combination of drugs from various groups, massage and manual therapy. However, at stage 3, lumbar osteochondrosis can no longer be cured with conservative methods, surgical intervention is required. One of the surgical methods for osteochondrosis is microdiscectomy. This is a neurosurgical operation to remove a hernia without damaging nerve structures. It is performed under general anesthesia. The patient can walk on the third day.
Drug therapy (for stages 1-2)
- Analgesics to relieve pain: local (ointments, gels), oral (tablets, suspensions), intramuscular (injectable solutions).
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to prevent the development of the inflammatory process. Reduces temperature, eliminates swelling. Most often gels and tablets are used, in more severe cases (inflammation of the sciatic nerve) - injections. The Prima course is 7 to 14 days.
- Muscle relaxants. It is prescribed in the acute period for muscle spasms, as well as during the period of remission to consolidate the effect.
- Chondroprotectors. Blocks destructive processes in intervertebral discs, promotes regeneration, improves metabolism in cartilage tissues.
- Group B vitamin complexes. They improve nerve conduction.
- Diuretics. Reduces swelling.
As emergency help at the time of an exacerbation, powerful injections are used - paravertebral blockade, which causes a temporary loss of sensitivity.
Prevention
- Active lifestyle combined with moderate physical activity;
- Choose comfortable footwear or, if indicated, orthopedic;
- Body weight control;
- Sleep only on an orthopedic mattress and pillow;
- Office furniture with flat backrest only;
- Rejection of heavy loads on the back and spine. When carrying heavy objects, the load should be distributed evenly between both hands.