The lumbar spine is very mobile and at the same time experiences great stress, regardless of a person's lifestyle and work. Therefore, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is one of the most common cases of this disease. It affects both men and women, most commonly after ages 25 to 30, but recently the disease has become much younger. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region progresses steadily without treatment and can ultimately even lead to disability.
causes
Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease in which the intervertebral discs begin to collapse, there is a change in the distance between the vertebrae and the intervertebral discs, there is a displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other, followed by irritation or compression of the spinal cord, nerve endings and blood vessels, which run along the spine.
The reasons that lead to the development of osteochondrosis are usually a consequence of excessive load on the spine: heavy lifting, excess weight, back injuries, lack of exercise. Diseases that lead to metabolic disorders, lack of sleep, stress and poor nutrition significantly worsen the situation.
Symptoms
A common symptom of lumbar osteochondrosis is pain in the lower back. They can occur during physical activity, at rest, when changing posture, etc. Pain sensations can radiate, i. e. spread further than the area 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. , significantly worsening the quality of life. Symptoms of a genitourinary disorder may also occur, including involuntary urination.
Complications
Without timely and adequate treatment, progressive deformation of the intervertebral discs can lead to serious complications: the spine loses flexibility and simple movements such as bending and turning are no longer possible due to the pain. If the disease progresses for a long time, complications extending into the urogenital area and inflammation of the sciatic nerve are possible due to the pinching of nerves by bone growths. Pain can occur even when coughing or doing little physical activity.
Treatment
As a rule, drugs for osteochondrosis only provide temporary relief and reduce pain. Some of them warm the muscles and locally increase superficial blood circulation. However, this is clearly not enough for the complete restoration of cartilage tissue. Especially if nerves and blood vessels are pinched. Therefore, the symptoms of the disease usually reappear 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 focused not on treating the external symptoms of the disease, but on identifying and eliminating the root cause of its occurrence.
Osteopathic treatment has no contraindications for the treatment of osteochondrosis and is comfortable and safe for patients of all ages. In 90% of cases it helps to avoid surgical treatment and, moreover, is equally effective at any stage of the disease. Especially with problems with internal organs that are due to entrapment of the spinal cord and its roots. In addition, osteopathic treatment is mandatory for patients with herniated and herniated discs. It is completely safe and extremely effective. Based on our observations, this is probably the most effective treatment method.
Lumbar pain, numbness spreading to the legs, the feeling that the legs are literally falling down, the inability to bend, turn and walk normally - these are the most common symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
Lumbar osteochondrosis is a "disease of civilization" that is directly related to the upright posture of humans. The 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 spine, any sudden movement or lifting weights can cause severe pain in the lower back.
No two patients are alike. Everyone is unique. In our practice, we encountered diagnoses where the list of diseases looked like a quote from a medical encyclopedia. For example, patient Anastasia, 69 years old: coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, stage II hypertension, chronic cholecystitis, cyst in the left kidney, hyperplastic endometrial process. And 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 meaning of the treatment, from the point of view of 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 floors of the body, i. e. H. targeted at the legs, stomach and back.
In the absence of normal blood circulation in the lumbar spine, as well as the spine, there is a lack of oxygen, which affects the normal functioning of the entire body, with an emphasis on the internal organs of the small pelvis. Hence a whole range of diseases from internal organs to the cardiovascular system.
When examining patients with lumbar osteochondrosis, we usually note excessive tension of the paravertebral muscles of the thoracic and spinal areas, a lack of elasticity of the thigh muscles and the lower extremities in general, that is, muscle stiffness.
Most patients cannot reach the tips of their toes with their hands, and often even their knees. The muscles are so weakened that they can no longer handle their own body weight well, let alone do simple housework.
The lumbar spine, as the most stressed part, is exposed to numerous static and dynamic loads every day and is therefore rightly considered one of the most vulnerable parts. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms and treatment of which will be discussed in this article, is a real "scourge" for patients over 35 years old.
Lumbar osteochondrosisis a pathology characterized by the development of dystrophic disorders in the intervertebral discs of the lumbosacral spine. The intervertebral discs ensure flexibility and mobility of the spine. However, due to the influence of a number of factors, their structure is disrupted, they lose their strength, elasticity and turgor, which can lead to the appearance of protrusions, and subsequently - a vertebral fracture, as well as pinching of nerve endings and roots.
In the clinic you can undergo treatment for lumbar osteochondrosis. Timely seeking professional medical help is an opportunity to stop destructive processes and restore the health of your spine.
causes
Lumbar osteochondrosis can occur due to a number of factors:
- Spinal acid injuries;
- static and dynamic overloads on the spine;
- incorrect distribution of the load on the spine;
- vertebral mobility;
- intense physical activity;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- age-related changes.
Clinical manifestations
Clinical manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis in the initial 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 regions. The pain radiates to the sacrum, legs and (sometimes) to the pelvic organs. When twisting and bending, the pain increases and often becomes unbearable. In addition, the following symptoms are observed:
- limited movement;
- Curvature, "crookedness", scoliosis in the lumbar spine;
- muscle cramps;
- Lameness in one or both legs;
- a feeling of weakness, impaired sensitivity of the skin of the legs, reduced reflexes - with compression of nerve endings.
diagnosis
Before prescribing treatment for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, specialists conduct comprehensive diagnostic examinations, which allow them to make a correct diagnosis, determine the degree of development of the pathology and its consequences for the spine and the entire body of the patient. They include:
Osteochondrosis– one of the most common diseases of the 21st century.
A sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work, poor nutrition, constant stress - all these factors eventually lead to wear and tear of the intervertebral cartilage.
The cartilage loses its elasticity, becomes brittle and the disease progresses, which significantly worsens 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
- Injuries to the vertebral acid
- Postural disorders
- Rachiocampsis
- Flat feet
- Hereditary predisposition
- Excessive exercise
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are, in particular, aching pain in the back or lower back, aggravated by sudden movements and changes in posture, radiating to the buttocks and legs, anterior abdominal wall and groin, accompanied by burning, tingling, numbness, and theAppearance of "goosebumps".
In addition, with lumbar osteochondrosis there is reduced skin sensitivity on the thighs, buttocks and legs, and more rarely on the feet. There is increased chilliness in the legs, a feeling of weakness in the legs and a curvature of the lumbar spine.
You need to know that in most cases the cause of complaints about pain in the lower back is precisely osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.
Patients with osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine require timely and adequate treatment. Otherwise, the destruction of cartilage, ligaments and vertebrae progresses, which can lead to dysfunction of internal organs and disability.
Modern restorative medicine can significantly improve the condition of patients with lumbar osteochondrosis. Significant improvement can be achieved through the use of a number of methods, including physiotherapy, acupuncture, taking medications, therapeutic massage and much 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" a "pinched lumbar nerve", since the pain that occurs with lumbar osteochondrosis is concentrated in the sacral area.
Generally, pain is the main symptom of this disease. It comes in different intensities. Some people suffer from aching pain that occurs after sitting or sleeping for a long time, others suffer from "shooting" and stabbing pain. In this case, pain occurs when the patient takes an uncomfortable position. Due to severe pain, a person cannot sit up.
Pain in the sacral areacaused by pinched nerve endings, muscle swelling and pinched nerve roots. Pain can also occur due to irritation of the lumbar ligaments.
Lower back painit increases with almost every movement of the body, especially when bending forward. Even a simple sneeze or cough leads to increased pain.
However, lumbar osteochondrosis has other symptoms. These initially involve disorders of the sensitivity of the skin, the leg muscles and the lower half of the body. Some patients also experience a weakening of the tendon reflexes in the legs and, in particularly severe cases, even their complete disappearance. 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:
Symptom of lumbar osteochondrosisand at the same time the most unpleasant complication is vertebral instability. The intervertebral disc stops fixing the vertebra. As a result, the lumbar spine practically "slips" from the sacrum under stress, which leads to severe, excruciating pain. In addition, with this pathology, the function of the internal organs is disrupted. This primarily affects the urogenital system. Lumbar osteochondrosis affects a man's potency and leads toa woman with gynecological problems.
Unfortunately, modern medicine has not yet invented a remedy that could quickly and easily solve this problem. The 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 particularly severe cases, surgical intervention may be performed.
INTreatment of osteochondrosisTreatment in the sanatorium is very effective.
In case of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, the patient is prescribed bed rest. In addition, the patient must lie on a hard mattress.
In the event of severe attacks, the patient must move as little as possible and see 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 spine, consisting of 5 vertebrae. In 40% of people, the first signs of the disease appear between the ages of 30 and 35. In old age, 90% of people are diagnosed with spinal osteochondrosis. Painful sensations occur in 7 out of 10 people; exacerbation can last from 6 to 16 months.
Stages of development
1. – the appearance of degenerative diseases that affect nerve endings and disrupt blood supply. The inflammatory process causes pain that radiates to the legs. The patient occasionally feels a tingling sensation in the back and buttocks. Appears after heavy physical exertion.
2. – The outer covering of the intervertebral disc (fibrous ring) is destroyed. The distance between the vertebrae decreases and the nerve endings are compressed, resulting in severe, acute pain. The symptoms are particularly pronounced when walking.
3. Due to excessive mobility of the vertebrae, muscle fibers and nerve endings are compressed. There are cramps, numbness, burning pain, hernia - displacement of the intervertebral disc into the spinal cord.
4. – the growth of pathological exostoses on the bone structure. The spine literally "petrifies". Progressive osteoarthritis and lack of treatment lead to immobilization of the patient.
Reasons for development
The disease develops slowly and under the interaction of several circumstances, that is, the development of the disease depends on the influence of not one, but several factors:
Lack of exercise (physical inactivity), sedentary work, low physical activity. At first glance they are not dangerous. However, with prolonged exposure, muscle tone, the so-called "muscle corset", is weakened. It supports the spine and internal organs. So physical inactivity leads to dysfunction of a number of systems - blood circulation, breathing, digestion.
Overweight. With a BMI (Quetelet Body Mass Index) above 25 kg/m2, being overweight puts additional strain on the body: it puts pressure on the spine, overloads the joints and impairs the blood supply.
Endocrine pathological processes. Hormonal imbalance, dysfunction of the adrenal glands and 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 covers the body's energy needs, but is absolutely useless in terms of saturating the body with the necessary vitamins and microelements.
Men whose jobs involve significant physical activity are many times more likely to develop lumbar osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
Pain is the main marker of the onset of the disease and its localization. A preliminary diagnosis can be made based on the type of occurrence, frequency and duration. Most often, patients with lumbar osteochondrosis experience aching pain that radiates to the leg, groin and tailbone. In a horizontal position the symptoms disappear.
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 in a specific area of the spine: C1-C8 - 8 cervical spine, T1-T12 - 12 thoracic spine, L1-L5 - 5 lumbar spine, S1-S5 - 5 sacral area, C0 - 2 coccyx area. Signs of osteochondrosis depending on segmental innervation:
L3-L4 – weak knee reflex, partial numbness, episodic loss of sensation along the front of the thigh;
L4-L5 – muscle weakness, the patient is unable to fix the body when standing on the heels, pain and sensory disturbances spread to the area from the lower back to the buttocks, as well as along the entire lateral surface of the thigh (from top tobelow).
L5-S1 – Tremor of calf muscles, inability to stand on toes, pain in back of thigh.
In rare cases, the root arteries are also involved in the destructive process, which triggers a spinal stroke - a dangerous pathology in which the patient suffers from paresis and paralysis, as well as dysfunction of the pelvic organs.
Pain reflex symptoms
Lumbago or lumbago (not sciatica in this case! ) – acute pain. Any unpleasant movement, even sneezing and coughing, triggers a cramp. The patient spontaneously changes his posture and moves it to the side. Attempting to assume a vertical position triggers a new lumbago.
Lumbodynia is a dull and aching pain that occurs on one side. Periods of remission are followed by an exacerbation that gradually develops into severe pain.
Lumboischialgia – painful sensations occur in the leg.
Side effects of the disease are not so typical and can easily be confused with symptoms of another problem: decreased sweating (hypohidrosis), pallor of the skin in the affected area due to poor blood circulation, severe dryness and flaking.
diagnosis
In the initial stage, a complete medical history of the patient is taken. The overall 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.
X-ray is performed for the primary diagnosis of grade 1 lumbar osteochondrosis; it is used to examine 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 radiation. The CT scan records the degree of intervertebral disc deformation, inflammatory processes in the spinal cord membrane and nerve endings in a slice-by-slice image.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows the general condition of muscle mass, blood vessels and ligaments. Detects tumors and inflammatory processes.
Myelography is a way to visually assess the condition of the spinal cord and nerve roots by injecting a contrast agent with a needle into the cerebrospinal fluid-filled cavity between the pia mater and the arachnoid mater of the spine. Similar to CT, MTP and X-ray, the procedure takes place in real time.
Neurological examination of sensitivity and reflexes for pathologies is a complex of studies that includes a screening method for studying the symmetry of the limbs, testing vibration sensitivity and assessing Babinsky, Chaddock and Oppenheiman reflexes.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis
The effectiveness of conservative treatment is achieved through a combination of drugs of different 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 the nerve structures. It is performed under general anesthesia. The patient can walk already on the 3rd day.
Drug therapy (for stages 1-2)
- Analgesics to relieve pain: local (ointments, gels), oral (tablets, suspensions), intramuscular (injection solutions).
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to prevent the development of the inflammatory process. Reduces temperature, eliminates swelling. Gels and tablets are most often used, and in more serious cases (inflammation of the sciatic nerve) injections. The Prima course lasts 7-14 days.
- Muscle relaxants. Prescribed in the acute phase for muscle cramps, as well as during the remission phase to consolidate the effect.
- Chondroprotectors. Block destructive processes in the intervertebral discs, promote regeneration and improve metabolism in the cartilage tissue.
- Vitamin complexes of group B. Improve nerve conduction.
- Diuretics. Reduces swelling.
As an emergency aid at the time of exacerbation, strong injections are used - a paravertebral blockade, which leads to a temporary loss of sensitivity.
prevention
- Active lifestyle combined with moderate physical activity;
- Choice of comfortable or, if necessary, orthopedic shoes;
- control of body weight;
- Sleep only on an orthopedic mattress and pillow.
- Office furniture with flat back only;
- Rejection of heavy strain on the back and spine. When carrying heavy objects, the load should be distributed evenly between both hands.