The lumbar part of the spine is quite mobile and at the same time experiences great loads, regardless of the person's lifestyle and the work he does. That is why 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 is significantly rejuvenated. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, without treatment, constantly progresses and can eventually even lead to disability.
reasons
Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease, as a result of which the intervertebral discs begin to collapse, there is a change in the distance between the vertebrae and the discs, displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other, followed by irritation or compression of the spinal cord, nerve. endings and blood vessels running along the spine.
The reasons that lead to the development of osteochondrosis, as a rule, are the result of excessive load on the spine: lifting weights, excess weight, back injuries, sedentary lifestyle. The situation is significantly worsened by diseases leading to metabolic disorders, lack of sleep, stress and improper nutrition.
Symptoms
A common symptom of lumbar osteochondrosis is pain in the lower back. They can appear during physical activity, at rest, when changing posture, etc. Pain sensations can radiate, i. e. spread further from the place where the nerve is pinched, for example toradiate to the leg.
As the deformity of the vertebrae worsens, it becomes painful to perform even very simple movements: bending, turning, etc. , which significantly impairs the quality of life. Symptoms of genitourinary disorders, including involuntary urination, may also occur.
Complications
Without timely and adequate treatment, progressive deformations of the intervertebral discs can lead to serious complications: the spine loses flexibility, and due to pain it becomes impossible to perform simple actions such as bending and turning. With a long course of the disease, due to pinching of the nerves by bone growths, complications involving the genitourinary region and inflammation of the sciatic nerve are possible. The pain can appear even with coughing or little physical activity.
Treatment
Medicines for osteochondrosis, as a rule, bring only temporary relief, pain relief. Some of them heat up the muscles, locally increase surface blood circulation, but this is obviously not enough for the complete recovery of cartilage tissue. Especially if there is pinching of nerves and blood vessels. Because of this, 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 osteopath is not aimed at treating the external symptoms of the disease, but at identifying and eliminating the main 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 every stage of the disease. Especially for problems with the internal organs, which are the result of pinching the spinal cord and its roots. In addition, osteopathic treatment is necessarily indicated for patients with herniated and bulging discs. It is completely safe and extremely effective. According to our observations, this is probably the most effective method of treatment.
Lumbar pain, numbness spreading to the legs, a feeling that the legs literally fall off, inability to bend, turn and walk normally - these are the common symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
Lumbar osteochondrosis is a "disease of civilization", which is directly related to a person's upright posture. The disease causes stiffness of movements and back pain. These symptoms prevent you from leading an active lifestyle and can cause more serious diseases, including internalorgans With osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, any sharp movement or weight lifting can cause severe pain in the lower back.
No two patients are the same. Everyone is unique. In our practice, we have encountered diagnoses where the list of diseases looked like a quote from a medical encyclopedia. For example, patient Anastasia, 69 years old: coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, hypertension in stage II, chronic cholecystitis, cyst of the left kidney, hyperplastic process of the endometrium. Finally, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, polyosteoarthrosis, osteoporosis. How can we help such a patient? With so many serious neglected diseases? And what does lumbar osteochondrosis have to do with it?
The point 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 successive exercises on the first, second and third floor of the body: i. e. legs, abdomen 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 organism, with an emphasis on the internal organs of the small pelvis. Hence a whole host of diseases from the internal organs to the cardiovascular system.
As a rule, when we examine patients with lumbar osteochondrosis, we identify excessive tension in the paravertebral muscles of the thoracic and spinal regions, a lack of elasticity in the muscles of the thigh and lower limbs in general - that is, muscle rigidity - they are stiff.
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, let alone perform simple household chores.
Every day, the lumbar spine, as the most loaded part, is subjected to a number of static and dynamic loads, which is why it is quite 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 after the age of 35.
Lumbar osteochondrosisis a pathology that is characterized by the development of dystrophic disorders in the intervertebral discs of the lumbosacral spine. Discs provide flexibility and mobility of the spine, but as a result of the influence of a number of factors, their structure is disturbed, they lose their hardness, elasticity, turgor, which can lead to the appearance of protrusion, and subsequently - spinal hernia, as well as pinchingof nerve endings and roots.
You can undergo a course of treatment for lumbar osteochondrosis in the clinic. Timely search for professional medical help is an opportunity to stop the destructive processes and restore the health of the spine.
reasons
Lumbar osteochondrosis can occur due to a number of factors:
- spinal injuries;;
- static and dynamic overloads of the spine;
- incorrect distribution of the load on the spine;
- mobility of the vertebrae;
- intense physical activity;
- sedentary way of life;
- age-related changes.
Clinical manifestations
Clinical manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis in the initial stage are not clearly expressed in the form of limited mobility and stiffness. However, with the development of the disease, symptoms of pain appear, localized in the lumbar region and the back. The pain radiates to the sacrum, legs and (sometimes) to the pelvic organs. The pain increases when bending and bending and often becomes unbearable. In addition, the following symptoms are observed:
- limited movement;
- curvature, "distortion", scoliosis in the lumbar spine;
- muscle spasms;
- lameness in one or both legs;
- feeling of weakness, impaired sensitivity of the skin of the legs, reduced 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 correctly diagnose, determine the degree 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.
A sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work, improper nutrition, constant stress - all these factors eventually lead to wear and tear of the intervertebral cartilage.
Cartilage loses elasticity, becomes brittle and the disease progresses, significantly worsening the quality of life.
Patients with osteochondrosis experience problems of varying complexity: from pain to disruption of the functioning of internal organs.
The reasons for the development of osteochondrosis are also:
- Age-related changes
- Spinal injuries
- Postural disorders
- Rachiocampsis
- Flat steps
- Hereditary predisposition
- 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 buttocks and legs, anterior abdominal wall, groin area, accompanied by burning, tingling, tingling, and the appearance of "goosebumps".
In addition, with lumbar osteochondrosis, a decrease in skin sensitivity is observed in the thighs, buttocks and legs, and less often in the legs. There is increased coldness 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 low back pain 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 progress, which can lead to internal organ dysfunction and disability.
Modern restorative medicine can significantly improve the condition of patients with lumbar osteochondrosis. Significant improvement can be achieved using a range of methods including physical therapy, acupuncture, medication, therapeutic massage and more as per individual prescriptions.
Lumbar osteochondrosis- a very common form of osteochondrosis. It occurs in both men and women. The patients themselves often misdiagnose it as a "pinched lumbar nerve" because the pain that occurs in lumbar osteochondrosis is concentrated in the sacral region.
In general, pain is the main symptom of this disease. Available in different intensities. Some people suffer from pains that appear after sitting or sleeping for a long time, others suffer from "shooting" and sharp pains. In this case, the pain occurs when the patient takes an uncomfortable position. Due to severe pain, a person cannot stand up.
Pain in the sacral regionoccur due to pinched nerve endings, muscle swelling and pinched nerve roots. The pain can also start due to irritation of the lumbar ligaments.
Backacheit increases with almost any movement of the body, especially when bending forward. Even a simple sneeze or cough causes the pain to increase.
However, lumbar osteochondrosis has other symptoms. First of all, these are disorders in the sensitivity of the skin, muscles of the legs and the lower half of the body. Some patients also experience a weakening of the tendon reflexes of the legs, and in particularly 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 osteochondrosisand at the same time its most unpleasant complication is the instability of the vertebrae. The disc stops fixing the vertebra. As a result, under load, the lumbar part of the spine practically "slips" from the sacrum, which leads to severe, excruciating pain. In addition, with this pathology, the functioning of the internal organs is disturbed. First of all, this concerns the genitourinarysystem Lumbar osteochondrosis affects a man's potency and provokes gynecological problems in women.
Unfortunately, modern medicine has not yet invented a drug that can quickly and easily solve this problem. Treatment of osteochondrosis is very complex and long-term. It must be comprehensive, only in this case good results can be achieved.
Lumbar osteochondrosis treatment measures include:
In particularly severe cases, surgical intervention may be performed.
INtreatment of osteochondrosisSanatorium-resort treatment is very effective.
In case of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, the patient is prescribed bed rest. In addition, the patient should lie on a firm mattress.
In 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 found, 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% affects the lumbar region, consisting of 5 vertebrae. In 40% of people, the first signs of the disease appear at the age of 30-35. In old age, spinal osteochondrosis is diagnosed in 90% of people. Pain sensations are experienced by 7 out of 10 people, the exacerbation can last from 6 to 16 months.
Stages of development
1st – appearance of degenerative diseases affecting nerve endings and disrupting blood supply. The inflammatory process causes pain that radiates to the legs. The patient experiences intermittent tingling in the back and buttocks. Appears after heavy physical exertion.
2nd – the outer shell of the intervertebral disc (fibrous ring) is destroyed. The distance between the vertebrae is reduced, the nerve endings are compressed, which provokes strong, sharp pain. The symptoms are especially pronounced when walking.
3rd - due to the excessive mobility of the vertebrae, muscle fibers and nerve endings are pressed. Spasms, numbness, burning pain, hernia - displacement of the intervertebral disc in the spinal cord appear.
4th – growth of pathological exostoses on the bone structure. The spine literally "turns to stone". Progressive arthrosis and the lack of treatment immobilize the patient.
Reasons for development
The disease develops slowly, due to 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 (inactivity), sedentary work, low level of physical activity. At first glance, they are not dangerous. However, with prolonged exposure, the muscle tone, the so-called "muscle corset", is weakened. It supports the spine and internal organs. Thus, the lack of physical activity provokes a disruption in the work of a number of systems - blood circulation, breathing, digestion.
Overweight. With a BMI (Quetelet body mass index) over 25 kg/m2, excess weight creates additional stress on the body: it puts pressure on the spine, overloads the joints and disrupts the blood supply.
Endocrine pathological processes. Hormonal imbalance, disorders in the work of the adrenal glands and the thyroid gland "slow down" the body's metabolism. Frequent hormonal changes "wash" calcium from the bone tissue, making it weak and fragile.
An unbalanced diet. Popular and affordable fast food fully satisfies the energy needs of the body, but from the point of view of saturating the body with the necessary vitamins and trace elements, it is absolutely useless.
Lumbar osteochondrosis occurs many times more often in men whose profession involves significant physical exertion.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
Pain is the main marker for the onset of the disease and its localization. Based on the nature of occurrence, frequency and duration, a tentative diagnosis can be made. Most often, patients with lumbar osteochondrosis experience pain radiating to the leg, groin area, and coccyx. In a horizontal position, the discomfort disappears.
Spinal nerves extend from the trunk of the spine to various parts of the body. Each nerve is responsible for a specific area. This is called "segmental innervation". For this reason, the affected nerve "reacts" in a certain area: this is how the "radicular syndrome" manifests itself.
The spinal nerve map allows you to identify pain with a certain area 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 depending on the segmental innervation:
L3-L4 – a weak knee reflex, partial numbness, episodic loss of sensitivity is noted on the front surface of the thigh;
L4-L5 – muscle weakness, the patient cannot fix the body while standing on the heels, pain and sensory disturbances spread in the area from the lower back to the buttock, as well as over the entire lateral surface of the thigh (from top to bottom).
L5–S1 – calf muscle tremors, inability to straighten toes, pain in back of thigh.
In rare cases, the radicular arteries are also involved in the destructive process, provoking a spinal stroke - a dangerous pathology in which the patient experiences paresis and paralysis and dysfunction of the pelvic organs.
Pain reflex symptoms
Lumbago or lumbago (not sciatica in this case! ) – sharp pain. Any uncomfortable movement, even sneezing and coughing, provokes a spasm. The patient spontaneously changes the position of his body, moving it to the side. Attempting to assume a vertical position provokes new lumbago.
Lumbodynia is a dull and aching pain that occurs on one side. Periods of remission are followed by exacerbations, which gradually develop into severe pain.
Lumboschialgia - painful sensations appear in the leg.
Side signs of the disease are not so typical and can easily be mistaken for symptoms of another problem: impaired sweating (hypohidrosis), paleness of the skin of 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 should be supplemented by the conclusions of a surgeon, orthopedist, neurologist and rheumatologist. Specialists subject the patient to a visual examination to assess changes in posture, muscle tone and skin sensitivity.
Radiography is performed for the primary diagnosis of lumbar osteochondrosis of the 1st degree, it is used to study the condition of the intervertebral discs, pathologies of the spinal cord, as well as 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 examination using a beam of ionizing rays. CT records the degree of disc deformation, inflammatory processes in the membrane of the spinal cord and nerve endings in a layer-by-layer image.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) informatively shows the general condition of the 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 substance using 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.
The neurological examination of sensitivity and reflexes for pathologies is a complex of studies that includes a screening method for examining the symmetry of the limbs, testing vibrational sensitivity and evaluating Babinski, Chadock and Oppenheim reflexes.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis
The effectiveness of conservative treatment is achieved through a combination of drugs from different groups, massage and manual therapy. However, at stage 3 lumbar osteochondrosis can no longer be cured by conservative methods, surgical intervention is required. One of the methods of surgery for osteochondrosis is microdiscectomy. This is a neurosurgical operation to remove a hernia without damaging the nerve structures. It is performed under general anesthesia. The patient can walk on the third day.
Drug therapy (for stages 1-2)
- Analgesics for pain relief: local (ointments, gels), oral (tablets, suspensions), intramuscular (injection solutions).
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to prevent the development of the inflammatory process. Reduces temperature, removes swelling. Gels and tablets are most often used, in more serious cases (inflammation of the sciatic nerve) - injections. The primary course is 7-14 days.
- Muscle relaxants. It is prescribed in the acute period for muscle spasms, as well as in the remission period to consolidate the effect.
- Chondroprotectors. They block the destructive processes in the intervertebral discs, promote regeneration, improve the metabolism in cartilaginous tissues.
- Vitamin complexes of group B. Improve nerve conduction.
- Diuretics. Reduces swelling.
As an emergency aid during an exacerbation, powerful injections are used - paravertebral blockade, which causes a temporary loss of sensitivity.
Prevention
- An active lifestyle combined with moderate physical activity;
- Selection of comfortable or optionally orthopedic shoes;
- Body weight control;
- Sleep only on an orthopedic mattress and pillow;
- Office furniture with flat backs only;
- Rejection of heavy loads on the back and spine. When carrying heavy objects, the load should be distributed evenly in both hands.