Lumbar spine osteochondrosis is the leading cause of back pain in 3 of 4 cases.If left untreated, it often leads to a hernia disc, making patients have difficulty walking and significant restrictions on mobility.The disease is widespread - more than 50% of people complain about its manifestations at different stages.And no wonder, the entire lower back is the lower part of the spine, and it holds the most heavy load.
Is it possible to avoid the "price for straight walking", what is necessary for its early diagnosis, and how to stop or slow the course of the disease?Let's see it in the article.
What is lumbosacral osteochondrosis
In addition to the 33 bones that make up the vertebral column, the human spinal cord also includes intervertebral cartilage discs.They provide stability for the spine against vertical loads, and also play the role of a spring, softening movements - it is thanks to them that our bones are not rubbed against one another, and the back curves.Along with muscles and ligaments, they are involved in the human body by adopting different positions.Without these "spacers" cartilage, we would not be able to run, jump and walk without suffering from harassing headaches and injuries.However, over time, they tend to get tired - this is facilitated by the genetic "weakness" of cartilage tissue, and unequal load distribution (for example, with poor behavior), and poor nutrition, and many other factors related to a modern person's lifestyle.The disease is characterized by a chronic course with periodic relapses.A full cure is impossible, but timely treatment of lumbar spine osteochondrosis gives an almost 100% effect and returns to normal life.
Degenerative changes in the spine cartilage tissue lead to degeneration of the intervertebral discs.It is expressed when it moves, muscle hypertonicity, sharp purpose or constant pain.The consequence of the erosion of the intervertebral discs is the deterioration of tissue trophism, the appearance of micrococks in bones and osteophytes, spinal cord extension and compression of the internal organs.For this reason, lumbar osteochondrosis is called a disease of the whole body - it is capable of causing a chain of metabolic disorders affecting the abdominal and pelvis organs (mainly the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system), spinal cord and brain, and so on.Radicular syndrome, or radiculopathy, caused by this disease can cause nerve pain in the heart and even in the stomach.Sometimes leg paresis and other severe symptoms of lumbar spine osteochondrosis are observed.
When the disease is located in the lumbar region, vertebral displacements often occur due to unexpected daily movements.In this case, it becomes difficult for patients to walk and sit, an inflammatory process begins, whose relief requires drug treatment, physiotherapy, a special program of exercising therapy for lumbar spine osteochondrosis and observation by an orthopedist.In some cases, the reorganization of the vertebrae - a very painful procedure, after which a significant relief occurs after 1-2 days.It can only be performed by a chiropractor - an osteopath and a verteboneurologist.
Signs of lumbar osteochondrosis
Feeling pain in the back, older people - and sometimes young - who do not know how lumbar osteochondrosis manifests itself often requires fully rational explanations for this.It got a cold, drawn, paved ... In fact, pain and pain syndrome often indicate that compression of a nerve, root or even a segment of the spinal cord has occurred, which means that the disease has passed the first stage and requires not only symptomatic but also supportive treatment.
- Osteochondrosis first degreeThe lumbar region is characterized by mild pain in the sacrum and above, which feels like a kind of echo and does not attract special attention.Discomfort can only occur after sleep or prolonged landing in an unpleasant position or significant physical activity.In this case, patients attribute the unpleasant sensations to "numbness" of the limbs, but the examination of the hardware and modern diagnosis help to identify even a slight displacement of the spinal disc and the appearance of a crack in the fibrous spine ring.
- Osteochondrosis 2 degreesThe lumbar spine manifests through a feeling of chronic fatigue and disturbance, and a decrease in load bearing capacity.Pain and discomfort ("goosebumps", sensitivity to the cold, etc.) in the lumbar region become constant friends of patients;Sometimes spasmodic contractions of the muscles located under the affected area - gluteal, femoral and spine appear.There may also be a partial decrease in sensitivity or, conversely, the appearance of neuralgia, which is difficult to relieve with conventional sedative due to its neurogenic nature.When exercised, sharp pain is observed, the so -called."Shots".A feeling of rigidity appears when you need to sit in a position for at least 10-15 minutes, and is especially pronounced after sleep or a working day.For this stage, conservative treatment is still effective - the disease responds well to therapy, stable forgiveness without acute periods of the disease can be achieved for many months.
- Osteochondrosis 3 degreesThe lumbar spine is already a complex disease, which is characterized by the gradual destruction of the tissue of near fibrosis rings and interactive pain.Signs of lumbar back osteochondrosis reach their peak, reducing the ability to work and leading to disability.This stage is dangerous due to the appearance of intervertebral hernias and other irreversible changes in the spinal column, which can affect large nerves and vessels.At this stage, severe functional disorders of the skeletal muscular system and significant restriction of mobility, to paralysis and paresis can already appear.Phase 3 of lumbar osteochondrosis significantly affects quality and longevity and may require additional support when walking (for example, a cane).
A number of experts also distinguish stages 4 and 5, where in 4 there are cartilage, and 5 is considered incompatible with life, however, with timely treatment and lifestyle changes, such cases are rare in practice.
Prevention of lumbar osteochondrosis
Determination of the disease can be driven by infections or colds, stress, hormonal disorders, weight gain, pregnancy, age changes, body intoxication, excessive work, dehydration, hypovitaminosis, smoking, high physical activity, unpleasant diet, unpleasant work or workplace.At the same time, osteochondrosis is characterized by constant microtraumatization - sometimes damage to the lower back does not require a bruising, but a slope, twist or excessive leg lift is sufficient.
Therefore, chondroprotectors for lumbar osteochondrosis are included in the mandatory preventive course, in addition to obtaining multivitamin, immunomodulators and gymnastics complexes.Also advisable, if possible, to eliminate or compensate the aforementioned factors.
How to treat lumbar osteochondrosis
The question of how to treat osteochondrosis of the spine - with medicines or non -drug therapy - cannot respond vaguely.The treatment of the disease is performed in several directions:
- elimination of symptoms that reduce the quality of life of the patient;
- partial regeneration of connective tissue;
- Implementing a preventive program that prevents the advancement of destructive processes in the cartilage and bone tissue (maintaining a muscle corset, general tone, etc.).
Cartilage has no nerve endings and blood vessels - this determines the specifics of the diagnosis and treatment of osteochondrosis.First, the cartilage cannot damage, and therefore self-diagnosticing the disease is difficult and most patients turn into an orthopedist or verteboneurologist with lumbar osteochondrosis of 2 or 3rd degree.The further destruction of the cartilage goes, the more stress the experience already tired of the drives, the faster the disease progresses and the harder it is to achieve positive changes.The reason for this lies in the fact that the cellular restoration of the cartilage occurs very slowly - tissue food occurs mainly in a diffuse way.Therefore, a general improvement in the patient's condition plays an important role in the path of forgiveness.The treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis necessarily includes diet, maintenance medicines for 1-3 months, as well as special gymnastics exercises.In exercise, the special time is separated for heating, which stimulate the nutrition of adjacent tissue, and therefore cartilage.Heating should alternate between the episodes of the exercise, whether sitting on a computer or long walking.
Sometimes the doctor can prescribe the dressing of compression equipment - for example, corset, bandage to support the spine in the right position.This measure is effective for simultaneous postural disorders.
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
Drugs for the treatment of lumbar spine osteochondrosis include oral and external anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, analgesics, chondroprotectors, as well as medicines to improve metabolism (B vitamins and others) and blood circulation, glucocorticosteroids, neurotransmitters.With reduced immunity and sensitivity to infectious diseases, immunomodulators are used.Constant pain can lead to depression, which also requires treatment.If the patient suffers from convulsions or swelling, anticonvulsants and diuretics are also prescribed.Tablets for lumbar osteochondrosis, suspensions, injections, gels and applicants do not need to be used constantly - usually the doctor prescribes an individual maintenance course at considerable intervals.In the acute phase, with extremely severe pain, a specialist can set the so -called.Paraavertebral block - an injection of an anesthesia in the place where the nerve root comes out of the spine.
Physiotherapy for lumbar osteochondrosis
Physiotherapy and massage are effective both in the acute form of the disease and in forgiveness, remaining the most successful methods of conservative treatment.They help improve nutrition and blood supply to problems with problems, improve spinal column muscle support, help relax the back and stabilize the condition.Physiotherapy for lumbar osteochondrosis includes sessions of shock wave therapy, electrophoresis, mud and paraffin baths, hot stone therapy, acupuncture, therapeutic baths, etc.Therapeutic exercises, designed for cheap PINCED ROOTS of the lumbar spine conquer a special place - as massage, mainly involves the stretch of the spinal column, designed for the cheap PINCED roots of the pinced wheels.For example, withdrawal during the rotation may change the curvature angle of the spine during lordosis, which reduces the pain.
Therapeutic exercises for lumbar back osteochondrosis should consider the presence of excess weight and other diseases and damage, gender and age characteristics, and severity of pain.The best effect is achieved with constant exercises.
With advanced osteochondrosis, a neurosurgeon may find indications for surgical treatment - microdiscectomy or the installation of an extendable titanium implant.
The question of how to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine should respond by a doctor in all cases without exception.Self-medication and lack of a thorough diagnosis lead to the inaccurate determination of the boundaries of the pathological process and its phase, and, consequently, an incorrect treatment program.In some cases, there is also a deterioration in the condition, which is caused by the improper performance of therapeutic exercises, the unprofessional choice of sedatives and NSAIDs.Clarifying the symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine with your doctor.
You can start taking arthracam chondroprotector - this home medicine improves metabolic processes and prevents further cartilage deformity, and with complex treatment even demonstrates positive dynamics and increases cartilage tissue without injections!