Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms and treatment

14 January 2021

A large mass of a person falls on the lower back, and when lifting the load, twisting, from a long static position, additional stress is created. Excessive load, incorrect lifestyle regularly leads to degradation of the musculoskeletal system: the vertebrae and the discs between them, which function as shock absorbers. From this moment, it is worth seeking information about osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms and treatment. Why is there a degradation of the joints of the spine?

The degradation of the musculoskeletal system occurs as follows: the natural shock absorber of the spine loses its elasticity, shrinks, spreads beyond its natural limits, the pressure from other vertebrae, organs andligaments also increases. Let us describe those who are inclined to acquire such a pathology. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine can be seen in people:

Whose early generations suffered from a similar affliction;
having hormonal disorders;
Individual propensity to develop such diseases (eg, congenital structure of the spine);
Those who neglect good nutrition. On the table every day, a person should receive a balanced diet with healthy fats, vitamins and proteins;
Those who have a sedentary job: sitting for a long time or standing for a long time in one place;
To experience a strong and heavy load on the spine, for example: weightlifters, loaders, people during gardening work;
having diseases of digestion, metabolism, pelvic organs;
Traumatized (pulled too hard in the back, hit on the side, fell, bent over);
Have reached the age of 30;
Diabetes.

If there are signs of lumbar osteochondrosis, which are described in the section below, then certain habits should be avoided:

slumped;
smoke;
takes a bent pose for a long time;
move a little;
drink alcohol;
to sit down without taking breaks at work;
dress not for the weather, let the body cool down.

Important. Any ligament disorder is made worse by the presence of excess weight. With excess weight, the load on the lower body increases, and the lumbar region, overgrown with fat, is strongly massaged.

Stages in the course of the disease, its signs

At first there are periodic mild pains which increase with physical exertion. This discomfort suggests that it is time to pay attention to osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. Currently, the intervertebral discs (the disc in the spine is the channel through which the spinal cord and the ring of fibers that surrounds it) are breaking down. In addition, the distance between the vertebrae is reduced, the nerves are pinched. The pains become severe, seize not only the back, but also the hips, gluteal muscles. In the third stage, the fibrous rings are destroyed, which leads to the formation of a hernia of the spine, irreversible curvature, and pain is constantly present. The fourth step leads to disability. The special classification of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine includes:

pain;
;
;
;
ossification of the invaded tissue.

Pain sensations vary in degree and character of severity: lumbago, for example, is called lumbago; constant, aggravated by stress, lumbodynia; the spread along the lower parts of the body is called lumboischialgia. In the event that back diseases are left untreated, the vertebrae acquire too much freedom of movement in the spine. There is compression of the nerve roots when lifting loads and sudden actions, then the pain leaves the lower back, but moves to other parts of the body, for which the nerve is responsible. Unconsciously, we change our position, adjusting so that the pain occurs less in the back, but at the same time the gait and the flexion of the spine inevitably change. This all refers to radicular syndrome, which begins with irritation and then becomes inflammatory. Signs of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine with radicular syndrome:

The back muscles are excessively tired;
change of back curvature;
changes in gait;
swelling of the lower limbs;
pain in one or both legs;
severe pain;
temporary loss of sensation in the legs;
periodically long constipation;
men have problems with excitability;
menstrual irregularities in women;
intoxication of the body;
blood stagnation.

You may notice that during the breaks painful sensations arise and when you do exercises on the back they disappear. Already at this stage, it is worth looking for a doctor: a chiropractor, a surgeon, a neurologist, a traumatologist (since the causes of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine include trauma). If you let the disease take its course, the problem will increase, supplemented by different companions:

heat;
numbness;
sweating;
tingling;
chills;
goosebumps;
impotence;
intestinal colic.

The back muscles lose their tone, which leads to a general loss of human motor functions. With a particularly dangerous course of radicular syndrome, paralysis will occur. Ischemic syndrome is associated with the radicular. At first, the compression of blood flow is periodic, but such compression leads to spasms. You can notice them during normal walking - you walk in pain, if you stop it does not hurt. The main degradation occurs internally and is not visible to the naked eye - blood flow does not provide all pelvic organs with the necessary supply. There may be pain in the buttocks, thighs and, subsequently, paralysis of the gluteal muscles may occur. Vertebral syndrome includes a change in the skeleton, the blood vessels themselves.

Important. Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis in women are inextricably linked with the hormonal background, physiological features of the body. The appearance of pain, poor posture is affected by wearing improper shoes: on too hard or too soft soles; heel too high or heel too low.

Diagnosis of the stages of the disease

It can be very difficult even for a doctor to classify and name the stage of the disease on an external examination. Initially, a neurologist can diagnose:

persistent curvature of the spine;
pain when touching;
decreased leg movement;
asymmetry of the buttock area;
Michaelis diamond change.

But the most accurate diagnosis can only be done with the results:

computed tomography (CT). The most optimal option for determining the degree of development of the disease, allowing to assess the stage of degradation of the spine.
Radiographic shooting. According to them, it is possible to establish the presence of a disease, but it is not always possible to determine the degree of development of damage to nerve fibers and blood vessels.
. Quite long (from half an hour to an hour), an expensive procedure, which additionally provides the most complete detail of what is happening with the nerve roots and blood vessels.

So, the doctor can finally judge osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms and treatment only with the results of the research on the devices. Low back pain that is not associated with an intervertebral disc disorder is caused by a cold, a cold kidney, a menstrual cycle, or back pain.

Important. CT, x-ray examinations are unacceptable for pregnant women. CT scans are not safe for: 1) children under 14 years of age; 2) people allergic to iodine.

Medical treatment

The causes of the onset of the disease, its features have been discussed above, now let's move on to the second point of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine - symptoms and treatment. The more you ignore the body's signals, the faster the disease will go. The more drugs and procedures there will be from the start. Purposes of processing:

identify, eliminate the causes of pinching of the roots, blood vessels of the spine;
restore the sensitivity of the skin;
to prevent further development of the pathology;
start the body's self-healing processes;
to strengthen a person's muscle tone;
restore the function of the internal organs of the small pelvis;
returns the normal course of the lumbar vertebrae.

If you experience any discomfort, see your doctor. The first thing to do at the first symptoms is to pay attention to: a bed (a wide choice of orthopedic mattresses which must be selected individually), a pillow (may not suit you in size or softness), position during sleep, motor activity. At home, without a medical examination, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine can only be treated with bed rest. Therefore, a visit to a doctor is mandatory. In the stage of remission and in the acute phase of the disease, different drugs are taken. In the last phase, drugs are used to relieve pain, free the nerves from spinal mites, and remove inflammation. Prescribe: - blockages; - glucocorticoids; - chondroprotectors; - myo-laxatives; - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The last group of drugs, in addition to pain relief, combats excessive body temperature, edema and inflammation. These funds can be: rectal, for internal use, injectable, external. Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine most often begins with NSAIDs:

Diklofenak;
Piroksikam;
Ibuppofen;
Himeculide;
Hapoxy;
Decketoprofen;
Meloksikam;
Aceclofenac.

Anti-inflammatory drugs on this list are various ointments, tablets, gels. Some NSAID tablets have contraindications for people with ulcers or gastritis. This group of drugs includes tizanidine, tolperisone hydrochloride. When it is possible to save the intervertebral disc, chondroprotectors are prescribed, which should serve to restore the fibrosus ring. Taking such a group of drugs is very long - at least 1, 5 months, and the results can be seen only after a year. They try to avoid the appointment of glucocorticoids, as they have side effects from taking them, since this group of drugs belongs to steroid hormones. They should be taken under the supervision of the attending physician with the fulfillment of all prescriptions, since only a specialist knows how to cure lumbar osteochondrosis. An example of such a drug is hydrocortisone. Blockages are not drugs in themselves, but they are a strong local pain reliever. The technique is as follows: the introduction of an analgesic by injection (IO) or a combination of IO with a drug from the group of glucocorticoids in the area of pain. Blockages do not have medicinal properties, but they can be addictive, which will lead to loss of sensitivity to these drugs. With frequent injection, the muscles around the injection may atrophy. Therefore, with a decrease in acute pain by this method of treatment, the patient is prescribed drugs designed to restore damaged tissue, blood circulation, and help improve the tone of muscles and nerve fibers. This:

Chondroprotectors, which have a general strengthening effect on bone tissue, normalize the metabolism of cartilage tissue.
Vitamins that help restore nerve permeability.
Biogenic preparations that encourage the body to heal itself;
Vascular drugs that thin the blood to improve the nutrition of internal organs.

During treatment, in addition to the main intake of medication, antidepressants are prescribed. Here's how to treat lumbar osteochondrosis while reducing acute pain:

apply external heating, analgesic, anti-inflammatory agents;
do special exercises for the back;
go for a massage;
leads a life that is gentle on the back;
put on a belt corset when exercising.

Massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapy and alternative treatments.

Effective and comparatively inexpensive methods of combating shock absorber degradation are physiotherapy exercises, massage, and physiotherapy. A real massage can only be done by a professional with medical training, so a simple visit to a beauty salon is not suitable for patients. Each stage of the disease requires different pressure and technique. With proper therapy, muscle spasms go away, the muscle structure of the back is strengthened, and the pain gradually subsides. Physiotherapy is applicable only in the process of alleviating painful processes or when they are absent (to maintain mobility of the vertebrae). Gymnastics is selected individually, depending on the age, condition of the person and the stage of development of the disease. The productivity of therapeutic exercises directly depends on the quality of performance and frequency: they must be performed systematically. It is recommended to rest at home, lying on your back, bending your legs, placing a small roller under the lower back. The healing process is monitored using X-ray tomographic investigations. Physiotherapy treatments are prescribed during remission and exacerbation. Methods such as:

acupuncture. An ancient method of treating pain, based on the stimulation of acupuncture points with fine needles. The procedure relieves spasms, reduces pain, completely eliminates it, reduces tissue edema;
ultraviolet irradiation, which stimulates the body to absorb calcium;
ampilpus, named from corresponding device. The treatment procedure is as follows: the plates of the device are fixed on the back, and the corresponding therapeutic current with different parameters flows through the plates;
. Laser beams relieve pain, heal, stop inflammation in lumbar vertebrae;
darsonvalization. The method is designed to improve blood circulation, widen blood vessels, stimulate nerve endings;
treats with ultrasound, stimulating blood flow to the muscle part of the dorsal region.

Each method has its own contraindications. It is more difficult with traditional medicine. Official medicine still does not recognize that the grandmothers of midwives know how to treat lumbar osteochondrosis. Therefore, if a friend advises you to apply compresses based on burdock broth, take coniferous baths, you should consult your doctor. For anesthesia, a method such as hirudotherapy is used, but behind this name there are leeches, so doctors advise to approach this method of treatment with caution.

Resolving surgical problems

In some cases it is no longer possible to do without surgery. With advanced intervertebral hernia, neurosurgeons use microdiscectomy. The operation removes the damaged disk. If there are no contraindications, doctors can perform nucleoplasty, which has many advantages:

Does not require cuts;
The operation takes up to 30 minutes;
No restrictions on surgical procedures.

Important. To maintain the mobility of the spine, strengthen the back muscles, it is recommended to do yoga, swimming, Pilates. Running produces a shock load on the vertebrae, so at the first sign of lower back pain, jogging should be discontinued.