The lumbar spine is quite mobile and at the same time experiences 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 25-30 years, but recently the disease has become significantly younger. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, without treatment, continues to develop and can eventually cause disability.
Cause
Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease, as a result of which the intervertebral disc begins to collapse, a change in the distance between the vertebrae and the disc occurs, displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other, followed by irritation or compression of the spinal cord, nerves. the ends and blood vessels that run along the spine.
The reasons that lead to the development of osteochondrosis, as a rule, are the result of excessive load on the spine: heavy lifting, overweight, back injury, inactive lifestyle. This condition is significantly aggravated by diseases that lead to metabolic disorders, lack of sleep, stress and poor nutrition.
symptoms
A common symptom of lumbar osteochondrosis is lower back pain. They can occur during physical activity, while resting, when changing posture, etc. Pain sensations can radiate, that is, spread further from the place where the nerve is pinched, for example, radiating to the leg.
When the deformation of the vertebrae worsens, it becomes painful to perform very simple movements: bending, turning, etc. , which significantly worsens the quality of life. Symptoms of genitourinary disorders may also appear, including involuntary urination.
Complications
Without timely and adequate treatment, progressive deformation of the intervertebral disc can lead to serious complications: the spine loses flexibility, and as a result of pain it becomes impossible to perform simple actions such as bending and turning. With a long course of the disease, as a result of pinching the nerve by bone growth, complications extending to the genitourinary area and inflammation of the sciatic nerve are possible. Pain can occur even with coughing or minor physical activity.
Treatment
Medicines for osteochondrosis, as a rule, bring only temporary relief, relieving pain. Some of them warm the muscles, improve local superficial blood circulation, but this is clearly not enough for the full recovery of cartilage tissue. Especially if there is pinching of nerves and blood vessels. Therefore, the symptoms of the disease usually recur quickly.
Due to the development of the disease, not only the spine itself suffers, but also muscles, blood vessels and even internal organs. The work of an osteopathic doctor is not focused on treating the external symptoms of disease, but on identifying and eliminating the cause of its occurrence.
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 to avoid surgical treatment, and moreover, it is equally effective at any stage of the disease. Especially with problems with internal organs, which are the result of pinching the spinal cord and its roots. In addition, osteopathic treatment is necessarily indicated for patients suffering from hernias and disc protrusions. It is completely safe and very effective. According to our observations, this is probably the most effective method of treatment.
Back pain, numbness that spreads to the legs, the feeling that the legs are completely falling off, the inability to bend, turn and walk normally - these are common symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
Lumbar osteochondrosis is a "disease of civilization" directly related to the upright posture of humans. This disease causes stiffness of movement and back pain. These symptoms prevent you from leading an active lifestyle and can cause more serious diseases, including internal organs. With osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, any sudden movement or heavy lifting can cause severe pain in the lower back.
No two patients are the same. Everyone is unique. In our practice, we have come across diagnoses where the list of diseases looks like a quote from a medical encyclopedia. For example, patient Anastasia, 69 years old: coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, stage II hypertension, chronic cholecystitis, left kidney cyst, endometrial hyperplastic process. And finally, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, polyosteoarthrosis, osteoporosis. How can we help such patients? With so many serious diseases being neglected? And what does lumbar osteochondrosis have to do with it?
The purpose of the treatment, as seen by our central doctor, is to restore the speed and volume of blood flow through the systemic circulation by performing sequential exercises on the first, second and third levels of the body: that is, aimed at the legs, abs and back.
In the absence of normal blood circulation in the lumbar spine, as well as the spinal column, oxygen starvation occurs, which affects the normal functioning of the entire body, with a focus on the internal organs of the small pelvis. Therefore, many 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 spine areas, a lack of elasticity in the muscles of the thighs and the lower part in general - that is, muscle rigidity - they are hard.
Most patients cannot reach the tip of their toes with their hands, often reaching the knee. Muscles are so weak that they cannot support their own body weight, let alone do simple housework.
Every day, the lumbar spine, as the most loaded part, is subjected to a number of static and dynamic loads, so it is 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 "disease" of patients after 35 years.
Lumbar osteochondrosisis a pathology characterized by the development of dystrophic disorders in the intervertebral discs of the lumbosacral spine. Discs provide flexibility and mobility of the spine, however, due to the influence of several factors, their structure is disturbed, they lose firmness, elasticity, turgor, which can cause the appearance of protrusions, and subsequently - herniation of the vertebrae, as well as pinching nerve endings and roots.
You can undergo a course of treatment for lumbar osteochondrosis in the clinic. Getting professional medical help in time is an opportunity to stop the destructive process and restore the health of your spine.
Cause
Lumbar osteochondrosis can occur due to several factors:
- spinal cord injury; ;
- static and dynamic overload on the spine;
- improper load distribution on the spine;
- vertebral mobility;
- intense physical activity;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- age-related changes.
Clinical manifestation
Clinical manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis in the early stages are not clearly expressed in the form of limited mobility and stiffness. However, as the disease progresses, pain symptoms appear, localized in the lumbar and back areas. Pain radiates to the sacrum, legs and (sometimes) to the pelvic organs. The pain increases during turns and turns and often becomes unbearable. In addition, the following symptoms are observed:
- limited movement;
- curvature, "skew", scoliosis in the lumbar spine;
- muscle cramp;
- lameness in one or both legs;
- weakness, impaired sensitivity of the skin of the feet, decreased reflexes - with compression of the nerve endings.
Diagnostics
Before prescribing treatment for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, specialists conduct a comprehensive diagnostic study that allows them to make a correct diagnosis, determine the level of development of the pathology and its consequences for both the spine and the patient's body as a whole. They include:
Osteochondrosis– one of the most common diseases of the 21st century.
Sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work, poor diet, constant stress - all these factors eventually lead to wear and tear of the intervertebral cartilage.
Cartilage loses elasticity, becomes brittle, and the disease develops, significantly worsening the quality of life.
Patients with osteochondrosis experience problems of varying complexity: from pain to dysfunction of internal organs.
The reasons for the development of osteochondrosis are also:
- Age-related changes
- Spinal cord injury
- Postural disorders
- Rachiocampsis
- Flat feet
- Hereditary tendency
- Excessive exercise
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
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 back and legs, anterior abdominal wall, groin area, accompanied by burning, tingling, numbness, and the appearance of "goosebumps. "
In addition, with lumbar osteochondrosis, there is a decrease in skin sensitivity in the thighs, buttocks and legs, and less often in the legs. There is increased coldness in the legs, weakness in the legs, and curvature of the lumbar spine.
You need to know that in most cases the cause of back pain complaints is precisely osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.
Patients with osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine need timely and adequate treatment. Otherwise, the destruction of cartilage, ligaments and vertebrae will develop, which can cause internal organ dysfunction and disability.
Modern rehabilitation medicine can improve the condition of patients with lumbar osteochondrosis. Significant improvement can be achieved by using a set of methods, including physical therapy, acupuncture, taking medications, therapeutic massage and more according to individual prescription.
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, " because the pain that occurs 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 experience pain that occurs after sitting or sleeping for a long time, others experience "shooting" and sharp pain. In this case, pain occurs when the patient takes an uncomfortable position. Due to severe pain, a person cannot stand upright.
Pain in the sacral areaoccurs due to pinched nerve endings, muscle swelling and pinched nerve roots. Pain can also begin due to irritation of the lumbar ligaments.
Lower back painit gets stronger with almost any body movement, especially when bending forward. Even a simple sneeze or cough leads to increased pain.
However, lumbar osteochondrosis has other symptoms. First of all, this is a disturbance in the sensitivity of the skin, leg muscles, and lower body. Some patients also experience weakness of tendon reflexes in the legs, and in severe cases, their complete loss. Osteochondrosis is a factor in the development of scoliosis of the lumbar spine, especially in children and the elderly.
Lumbar osteochondrosis also has the following clinical symptoms:
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosisand at the same time, the most unpleasant complication is vertebral instability. The disc stops fixing the vertebrae. As a result, when under load, the lumbar spine practically "slides" from the sacrum, which leads to severe and excruciating pain. Moreover, with this pathology, the function of internal organs is disturbed. First of all, this 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 created a drug that can solve this problem quickly and easily. Treatment of osteochondrosis is very complex and long-term. It must be comprehensive; only in this case good results can be achieved.
Treatment measures for lumbar osteochondrosis include:
In severe cases, surgical intervention may be performed.
INSIDEtreatment of osteochondrosisSanatorium-resort treatment is very effective.
In case of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, the patient is prescribed bed rest. Moreover, the patient must lie on a hard mattress.
In case of a severe attack, 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, you should consult a neurologist
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% affect the lumbar region, which consists of 5 vertebrae. In 40% of people, the first signs of the disease appear at the age of 30-35 years. In old age, osteochondrosis of the spine is diagnosed in 90% of people. Painful sensations are experienced by 7 out of 10 people, the aggravation can last from 6 to 16 months.
Stage of development
First - the onset of degenerative disorders, affecting nerve endings and disrupting blood supply. The inflammatory process causes pain that radiates to the leg. The patient experiences occasional tingling in the back and buttocks. Appears after heavy physical exercise.
2nd - the outer skin of the intervertebral disc (fibrous ring) is destroyed. The distance between the vertebrae is reduced, the nerve endings are compressed, which causes severe and acute pain. Symptoms are mainly expressed while walking.
Third - due to excessive vertebral mobility, muscle fibers and nerve endings are compressed. Cramps, numbness, burning pain, hernia occurs - displacement of the intervertebral disc into the spinal cord.
4th - the growth of pathological exostoses on bone structures. The spine literally "turns into stone. "Progressive arthrosis and lack of treatment cripples the patient.
Because of development
The disease develops slowly, under the confluence of several conditions, 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 harmless. However, with prolonged exposure, muscle tone, called "muscle corset, " becomes weak. It supports the spine and internal organs. Therefore, physical inactivity causes disturbances in the functioning of several systems - blood circulation, breathing, digestion.
Overweight. With a BMI (Quetelet's body mass index) above 25 kg/m2, excess body weight puts additional stress on the body: it puts pressure on the spine, strains the joints and affects the blood supply.
Endocrine pathological process. Hormonal imbalances, disturbances in the functioning of the adrenal glands and the thyroid gland "slow down" the body's metabolism. Frequent hormonal changes "wash" calcium from bone tissue, making it weak and brittle.
Unbalanced diet. Popular and affordable fast food fully meets the body's energy needs, while from the point of view of saturating the body with the necessary vitamins and microelements, it is completely 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 localization. Based on the nature of the event, frequency and duration, a preliminary diagnosis can be made. Often, patients with lumbar osteochondrosis experience pain that radiates to the legs, groin area, and tailbone. In a horizontal position, the discomfort disappears.
Spinal nerves extend from the spinal cord to different parts of the body. Each nerve is responsible for a specific area. This is called "segmental innervation. "It is for this reason that the affected nerve "reacts" in a certain area: this is how "radicular syndrome" manifests itself.
The spinal nerve map allows you to identify pain with specific regions of the spine: C1-C8 - 8 cervical, T1-T12 - 12 thoracic, L1-L5 - 5 lumbar, S1-S5 - 5 sacral, C0 - 2 coccyx. Signs of osteochondrosis depend on the preservation of segments:
L3-L4 - weak knee reflex, partial numbness, episodic loss of sensation noted along the anterior surface of the thigh;
L4-L5 – muscle weakness, the patient cannot correct the body while standing on the heels, pain and sensory disturbances spread to the area from the lower back to the back, as well as along the lateral surface of the thigh (from top to bottom).
L5–S1 – tremors in the calf muscles, inability to stand on toes, pain in the back of the thigh.
In rare cases, the radicular artery is also involved in a destructive process, triggering a spinal stroke - a dangerous pathology in which patients experience paresis and paralysis, and pelvic organ dysfunction.
Pain reflex symptoms
Lumbago or lumbago (in this case not sciatica! ) – acute pain. Any awkward movement, even sneezing and coughing, causes spasms. The patient spontaneously changes the position of his body, moving it to the side. An attempt to take a vertical position gives rise to a new lumbago.
Lumbodynia is a dull, aching pain that occurs on one side. A period of remission is followed by an exacerbation, which gradually develops into severe pain.
Lumboischialgia - painful sensations appear in the legs.
The side effects of this disease are not very typical and can easily be mistaken for symptoms of other problems: impaired sweating (hypohidrosis), pale skin in the affected area due to poor blood circulation, severe dryness and peeling.
Diagnostics
At the initial stage, a complete medical history of the patient is collected. The overview should be supplemented with the conclusions of surgeons, orthopedists, neurologists, and rheumatologists. The specialist is subjected to a visual examination of the patient to assess changes in posture, muscle tone and skin sensitivity.
X-ray is carried out for the primary diagnosis of lumbar osteochondrosis of the 1st degree; it is used to check the condition of the intervertebral disc, pathology of the spinal cord, and also evaluate the general condition of the spine. However, this type of diagnosis does not provide complete information about the affected tissue.
Computed tomography (CT) is a very sensitive examination using ionizing radiation. CT scans record 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. Detect 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 using a needle into the cavity between the pia mater and the spinal arachnoid, which is filled with cerebrospinal fluid. Just like CT, MTP and X-ray, the procedure is carried out in real time.
Neurological examination of sensitivity and reflexes for pathology is a complex study that includes examination methods to study limb symmetry, test vibration sensitivity, and assess Babinsky, Chaddock and Oppenheimer reflexes.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis
The effectiveness of conservative treatment is achieved through a combination of drugs of various groups, massage and manual therapy. However, at stage 3, lumbar osteochondrosis can no longer be cured using conservative methods; surgical intervention is required. One of the surgical methods for osteochondrosis is microdiscectomy. This is a neurosurgery to remove the hernia without damaging the nerve structure. It is performed under general anesthesia. The patient can already walk on the 3rd day.
Drug therapy (for stages 1-2)
- Analgesics for pain relief: local (ointment, gel), oral (tablet, suspension), intramuscular (injection solution).
- 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 serious cases (inflammation of the sciatic nerve) - injections. The prime course is 7-14 days.
- Relax the muscles. Prescribed in the acute period for muscle spasms, as well as during the remission period to consolidate the effects.
- Chondroprotectors. Blocks destructive processes in intervertebral discs, promotes regeneration, improves metabolism in cartilage tissue.
- B group vitamin complex. Improves nerve conduction.
- Diuretic. Reduces swelling.
As an emergency aid at the time of exacerbation, strong injections are used - paravertebral blockade, which causes a temporary loss of sensitivity.
Prevention
- An active lifestyle combined with moderate physical activity;
- Choose comfortable orthopedic shoes or, if indicated;
- Weight control;
- Sleep only on orthopedic mattresses and pillows;
- Office furniture only with a flat back;
- Rejection of heavy loads on the back and spine. When carrying heavy objects, the load should be distributed evenly on both hands.