Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms, causes, degrees

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a pathology accompanied by a degenerative process in the cartilage tissue.

This disorder leads to damage to all joints, but the intervertebral discs are mostly affected.

If you experience back pain, you should see a doctor immediately. If you do not do this, the pathology will lead to serious complications.

What is lumbar osteochondrosis?

This term refers to a disease that causes damage to the intervertebral disc. They are a gel-like substance located in the annulus fibrosus. The top and bottom of the disc are covered with thin cartilage tissue.

After some time, the gel-like mass loses moisture, becomes thinner and less elastic. Under the influence of load, cartilage tissue deformation occurs. The result of this process is the formation of a protrusion or hernia. The formation causes compression of the nerve root, which causes the disease.

Lumbar osteochondrosis is quite common and causes negative health consequences. With this disorder, pinching of the sciatic nerve often occurs. As a result, there is a risk of severe pain.

Possible complications of the disease

If treatment for lumbar osteochondrosis is not started in time, the pathology will lead to dangerous health consequences. This disease can cause reactive spondylosis. It also causes the appearance of osteoarthritis of the knee or hip joints.

In women, damage to the lumbar vertebrae can cause complications during pregnancy. This is especially dangerous in the third trimester, which is characterized by a high load on the spine. In men, the degenerative process causes problems with potency.

In addition, the lack of adequate and timely therapy causes the following consequences:

• sciatica;
• spinal deformity;
• loss of sensation in the limbs;
• vertebral instability;
• pathology of internal organs;
• radiculitis;
• complete loss of motor activity.

Main symptoms and signs of lumbar osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is characterized by slow progression. Often the diagnosis is made in an advanced situation, when severe manifestations are present. That is why it is very important to identify the signs of lumbar osteochondrosis in time. This includes the following:

• Lower back pain. In the early stages of the disease, these symptoms are present only after lifting weights. As the pathology develops, the pain syndrome becomes unbearable.
• Decreased physical activity. These symptoms are caused by compression of nerve fibers. When bending or twisting, discomfort occurs that radiates to the legs.
• Loss of sensation in the lower legs. With the development of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, symptoms of numbness are caused by permanent damage to the nerve roots. These symptoms wax and wane periodically. In this case, the patient experiences a burning sensation, numbness, tingling in the lumbar region and below.
• A local decrease in skin temperature. It becomes pale, dry and limp.
• Excessive sweating.
• Spine syndrome. These symptoms appear in advanced cases. Often people experience sexual dysfunction and urinary problems.

Causes of lumbar osteochondrosis

The occurrence of osteochondrosis is caused by increased load on the spine. Excessive pressure on the lower back causes damage to the cartilage structure. The risk of developing the disease increases under the influence of the following factors:

• Poor posture.
• Physical inactivity. Lack of physical activity leads to muscle weakness.
• Disorders of calcium metabolism.
• Chronic deficiency of micro and macro elements. This may be due to eating disorders.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Hypothermia.
• Stress factors.
• Strength or extreme sports.
• Damage to the musculoskeletal system.
• Overweight.

What is the stage of the disease?

The disease develops gradually. Doctors distinguish the following stages of lumbar osteochondrosis:

• First, at this stage there is acceptable pain in the lumbar region, which increases after exercise. These symptoms indicate a destructive process in the disk. The person experiences a burning and tingling sensation. Sometimes these symptoms radiate to the back.
• Second, at this stage the distance between the vertebrae decreases and the destruction of the fibrous rings occurs. The person experienced sharp pain. When moving, it radiates to the hips, buttocks, and legs. The affected area may feel cold or burning. During an attack, the patient is forced to lean in the opposite direction.
• Third, at this stage the fibrous ring is completely destroyed. Vertebral tissue is severely deformed. This causes the appearance of an intervertebral hernia. With the development of this level of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, constant pain of high intensity is present.
• The fourth is accompanied by abnormal disc growth and bone destruction. At this stage, cartilage tissue undergoes atrophy. This causes disruption of a person's motor activity and also causes disability.

When should you see a doctor?

If you experience any discomfort in the lumbar region, you should immediately see a doctor. To make an accurate diagnosis, the specialist prescribes diagnostic tests. To do this, surveys and examinations of patients are carried out. Doctors also prescribe x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging.

To overcome pathology, complex therapy is used. It must solve the following problems:

• stop inflammation;
• strengthens leg muscle tissue;
• eliminate pain syndrome;
• improve metabolic processes and blood circulation;
• normalizes the function of pelvic organs;
• restore sensitivity.

Pathology is characterized by the development of pain. In the initial stages, the use of tablet analgesics is sufficient. In advanced conditions, it is impossible to do without injectable drugs.

Drug therapy includes the use of the following drugs:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They help with swelling and inflammation. Thanks to this, it is possible to eliminate compression of blood vessels and fibers and reduce pain. The most effective drugs include Diclofenac, Nimesil.
• Analgesic. They are prescribed during the period of pathological exacerbation, which is accompanied by severe pain. Such drugs have many side effects. Therefore, they must be prescribed by a doctor. Most often, Baralgin or Pentalgin is prescribed.
• Relax the muscles. Such medicine helps to overcome muscle spasms. This allows you to get rid of discomfort. This category includes Mydocalm, Sirdalud.
• Glucocorticosteroids. This is a hormonal agent that helps to overcome inflammation and improve the function of the nervous system. Ambene is very effective.

In addition to drugs, the following methods of therapy are used:

• Physiotherapy. Doing special exercises helps strengthen muscles. This helps to form the correct posture, increases the flexibility of the ligaments, and prevents the complications of osteochondrosis. Gymnastics improves blood circulation, normalizes metabolic processes, increases the distance between the vertebrae and reduces the load on them.
• Manual therapy. It involves the use of individual manual techniques to help manage pain and improve posture. This type of treatment restores motor activity, normalizes blood flow, strengthens the immune system and activates metabolic processes.
• massageThis procedure can have a relaxing or tonic effect on the body. With its help, it is possible to reduce the load on the muscles, stimulate blood flow, and activate lymphatic drainage. Massage also relieves pain and has a restorative effect.
• Physiotherapy. For lumbar osteochondrosis, ultrasound, low-frequency current, and magnetic fields are used. This helps to relieve pain, relieve inflammation, and normalize blood circulation. Physiotherapy products stimulate the recovery process and increase the effectiveness of drugs.

Prevention of lumbar osteochondrosis

To avoid the appearance of lumbar osteochondrosis, you should follow the basic recommendations:

• avoid hypothermia of the lower back;
• controlling posture;
• exercise;
• change body position when doing boring work;
• refuse to lift heavy objects;
• Nutritious food.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is a common pathology that causes dangerous complications. To reduce the symptoms of the disorder, it is necessary to consult a neurologist in a timely manner. The doctor will carry out diagnostic tests and choose an adequate therapy.

How is treatment carried out in modern clinics?

Doctor's consultation: medical history, myofascial diagnostics, functional diagnostics.

How is it going?

Collection of anamnesis - analysis of the disease, limitations and contraindications are identified, explanation of the principles of kinesitherapy, characteristics of the recovery period.

Myofascial diagnostics is a manual diagnostic method in which the doctor assesses the range of motion of the joints, determines painful tightness, swelling, hypo- or hypertonicity of the muscles and other changes.

Functional diagnostics (carried out in the recovery room) - the doctor explains how to perform certain exercises on the equipment and observes: how the patient performs them, the range of movements he can perform, what movements cause pain, how much weight the patient can work with, how the cardiovascular system reacts. vascular system. Problem areas are identified. Data is entered into the card. Accents are set.

Based on the results of the initial examination by the doctor and functional diagnostics, an initial individual treatment program is prepared.

It is advisable to have with you:

• for pain in the spine - MRI or CT (magnetic resonance or computed tomography) of the problem area;
• for joint pain - x-ray;
• in the presence of concomitant diseases - extract from the medical history or outpatient card;
• comfortable clothes and shoes (sports).

Lessons with an instructor

At the beginning of the treatment cycle, the doctor and the patient draw up a treatment plan, including the date and time of the treatment session, follow-up visits to the doctor (usually 2-3 times a week).

The basis of the treatment process is a treatment session in the recovery room using a simulator and a session in the gym.

The recovery simulator allows you to precisely dose the load on individual muscle groups, providing an adequate physical activity regimen. The treatment program is prepared by the doctor individually for each patient, taking into account the characteristics of the body. Supervision is conducted by qualified instructors. At all stages of recovery, it is important to follow the correct movements and breathing techniques, know your body weight standards when working on exercise machines, adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen and follow the recommendations of specialists.

Joint gymnastics sessions help restore visual coordination, improve joint mobility and spine elasticity (flexibility) and are an excellent preventive system for self-use.

Each treatment cycle consists of 12 sessions. Each lesson is supervised by an instructor. The duration of one treatment session is from 40 minutes to 1. 5 hours. The instructor designs the program, taking into account co-morbidities and the patient's condition on the day of the class. Teach the technique of performing exercises and monitor correct execution. Every 6th lesson, a second consultation with the doctor is held, changes and additions are made to the program, depending on the dynamics.

How many cycles will it take? - individually for everyone

It is important to know:

• How long have you had this problem (stage of disease)
• How is your body prepared for physical activity (do you do gymnastics or any sport)

If the disease is at an early stage and the body is ready, one cycle of treatment is enough. (example - young people aged 20-30 who do sports. We focus their attention on the technique of doing exercises, breathing, stretching, excluding "wrong" exercises that are harmful to problem areas. Such patients undergo training and receive training in the skills of "taking care of your body", accept suggestions in case of aggravation and continue learning on your own).

If the problem has existed for a long time, you do not do gymnastics, or you have a concomitant disease, then you need a different time period:

• Relieves aggravation? One or two cycles is enough
• Restore function, walk without stopping (climbing stairs), stoop, perform certain tasks without effort, remain motionless for a long time while traveling, improve the condition in general. Three or more treatment cycles may be required

Each organism is individual, and the program for each patient is individual.