Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine - treatment, symptoms, degrees

Pain in the back and lumbar region is one of the most common complaints in medicine.They occupy second place in terms of the number of requests, just behind respiratory diseases.A wide variety of pathologies can cause pain in the lower back, but very often it is caused by osteochondrosis of the lumbar region.How to treat such a disease, what are its symptoms and signs, will be discussed below.

Not so long ago, medical science believed that osteochondrosis in the lumbosacral region was caused solely by age-related changes that led to wear of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.However, today the symptom of age is not exclusive;Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is diagnosed in patients of different age groups.Today, the age limit is considered to be over 25 years old.

Causes of lumbar osteochondrosis

It is impossible to name the exact reason;it will almost always be the complex impact of various destructive factors, among which the most important can be identified:

• Commitment to a passive lifestylefrom the point of view of motor activity.Of their own accord, immobilized people, for example, spending many hours at a computer, do not receive enough payload, which is why the muscles of the “corset” relax and the load on the vertebrae increases.Moreover, such a hobby is almost always associated with prolonged exposure to incorrect and unnatural positions.
• Problems with hormonal levels, leading to metabolic disorders that affect the metabolism of spinal tissue in the lumbar region and contribute to destructive processes.This also includes diseases of an endocrine nature.
• Presence of congenital or acquired anomalieswhen the musculoskeletal system undergoes certain changes.This can result in increased loads on the spine, for example in a patient with flat feet, curvature of the legs or spine.
• Chronic increased loadson the lower back.Risks here include people engaged in certain types of professional activities, usually associated with heavy lifting.This also includes professional athletes who constantly subject their body to maximum loads.
• Disturbed food intake and daily routine.This also includes regular exposure to stress.These factors affect metabolic processes and influence the periodic restoration of the body's strength.

Degrees of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

The above pathological factors gradually lead to the manifestation of the disease.However, it can manifest itself in different ways, being practically asymptomatic at first or causing pain that is difficult to tolerate during later development.Let's consider the main degrees of development of osteochondrosis:

1. Situation in which the nucleus pulposus moves inside the intervertebral disc.It is characterized by pain caused by irritation of the nerve roots of the annulus fibrosus and longitudinal ligaments.Discomfort is felt locally in the area where the defective disc is located.The pain can be either sharp, accompanied by shooting, or constant dullness.
2. When the fibrous layer of the intervertebral disc is destroyed, the mobility of the spinal elements in this area increases, they become unstable relative to each other.To eliminate these pathological manifestations, it is necessary to constantly keep the muscles in this area tense, which ultimately leads to chronic fatigue in the lower back.
3. Then, a breakthrough occurs in the annulus fibrosus, causing the nucleus to escape beyond the edge of the disc, forming an intervertebral herniation.Such a case will be accompanied by pinching of the nerve endings, called “radicular syndrome”.
4. The next degree of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region occurs with severe deformation of the spine in this part.Mobility problems appear, but the pain syndrome, oddly enough, disappears at this stage.However, you should not rejoice;This does not mean that the disease is disappearing.
5. The last degree is characterized by pathological growth of bone tissue and general deterioration of health.

Depending on the degree of lumbar osteochondrosis, certain treatment methods are used.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis in the lower back

The main symptom is combat syndrome of the lumbar spine.At the same time, painful sensations, the area of their localization and the direction in which they spread may vary.This is due to the fact that, depending on the degree of damage to the intervertebral disc and surrounding tissues, certain nerve receptors are irritated.In addition, the presence of a protrusion or hernia itself, the direction of its protrusion and many other factors play a role.

The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine include:

• The presence of aching pain in the lower back, which tends to intensify with sharp movements or, on the contrary, to remain for a long time without changing position.The pain subsides if you take a horizontal position.
• Additionally, weakness in the area of the body below the abdomen, including the lower extremities, is likely, as well as a blunted tendon reflex in the legs.
• There is a high probability of curvature of the lumbar spine.There is a classification of these curvatures, for example, when the emphasis is on the right or left side, it is called scoliosis, lordosis is a situation of forward bending, and kyphosis is the case when the natural lumbar curve is, so to speak, smoothed out.
• With a severe degree of development of the disease, pinching of the spinal cord channels is possible, which can provoke its dysfunction and lead to uncontrolled urination and bowel movements.

Additional symptoms include:

• The presence of numbness and “coldness” of the skin of the lower back and buttocks.
• Scaly, dry, blue skin in the same places.
• Impaired urination.
• Erection problems.

The presence of these symptoms should alert a person;we must not abandon them, this will only lead to greater neglect.In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor for accurate diagnosis and treatment.By the way, treatment can take place either in a hospital setting or at home, but we'll talk about that a little later.

Diagnosis of the disease

When making a diagnosis, it is important to understand how far the disease has progressed.The simplest way is palpation in the lumbar region to identify painful areas.Generally, this method is not very informative and in addition, examinations are carried out that give a more detailed clinical picture:

• By x-ray, an inexpensive and widespread method, it is possible to assess the condition of both the spine as a whole and certain vertebrae, for example, the lumbar region in question.The technique is not very precise;this only allows us to indirectly understand how intact the intervertebral discs and spinal canals are.
• CT scana more accurate method that allows you to assess the level of damage to the discs between the vertebrae, nerve roots and canals with the spinal cord.
• Magnetic resonance imagingthe most accurate method gives a complete picture of the lesion in detail, but it is quite expensive and inaccessible.

It should be noted that the diagnostic process is very important, since all the details of the developed osteochondrosis are important for the doctor when prescribing treatment tactics.

Complications of osteochondrosis

The main complications of the pathology are hernias and protrusions, which inevitably arise if treatment is neglected and the development of the disease is left to chance.Other complications may include:

• Inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
• Spondyloarthrosis.
• Schmorl's hernia.
• Spondylosis.
• Problems caused by pinched spinal canals.
• Functional disorders of the pelvis.
• Development of lameness.

Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis

When osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is diagnosed, a wide range of therapies is required, the main aspects of which will be:

• Application of moderate loads.
• Special medications.
• Spinal traction.
• Manual therapy sessions.
• Physiotherapy.
• Therapeutic massages.

The concept of “treatment” of osteochondrosis implies:

• Suppression of inflammation.
• Relieve pain syndrome.
• Complex for strengthening lumbar and adjacent muscle groups.
• Relief from chronic muscle tension.
• Increase the functionality of the pelvic organs.
• Normalization of blood circulation and metabolism in the pathological area.

Treatment with medications

A similar approach to the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis includes taking medications, injections of special drugs and the use of ointments and gels for external use.The main task of these drugs is to neutralize pain and inflammation.

Depending on the degree of osteochondrosis of the spine in the lumbar region, the doctor may prescribe the following medications:

• Painkillers that have an analgesic effect.
• Medicines against inflammation of non-steroidal origin.
• For muscle spasms, antispasmodic.
• Medicines for the restoration of cartilage tissue, called chondroprotectors.Their effectiveness has not been proven, so they are rarely used in traditional medicine.
• For serious pathologies, when the above remedies do not help, resort to corticosteroids.
• Vitamin complexes.

In addition to these drugs, drugs are prescribed in the form of tablets, the purpose of which is to calm the nervous system and combat stress and depression.

Physiotherapy treatment for lumbar osteochondrosis

The treatment process is rarely limited to just taking pills.The pathology in question cannot be cured without stimulating the restoration processes of the spine.For these purposes, a wide range of physiotherapeutic procedures are used, the most popular of which are:

• Phonophoresis.
• Therapy with diadynamic currents.
• Laser therapy.

Additionally, the spine must receive payloads while stretching it.Different types of therapeutic massages are ideal for this.It should be remembered that massage is only used when the pain is relieved.As a rule, it is carried out for restorative purposes when the process of remission of the disease has begun or in cases of chronic osteochondrosis.After a massage, the muscles affected by the disease are very relaxed;its effect will be significantly enhanced when heated simultaneously, for example, in a bathhouse or sauna.In the latter case, we will achieve maximum effect through additional stimulation of blood circulation in the pathological area and adjacent areas.

Another method of physiotherapy is manual therapy.Its benefits are generally the same as massage, but in addition, thanks to such techniques, a specialist is able to return the displaced vertebrae to their normal position.

Therapeutic gymnastics

Therapeutic exercises are also used as a restorative and preventive measure during the period when pain and inflammation have already been relieved.The key to the high effectiveness of therapeutic exercises is the regularity of the exercises;in this case, the damaged area will permanently receive the physical activity necessary for the self-generation of new tissues and recovery.

Surgical operations for lumbar osteochondrosis

Surgery is a last resort, prescribed in the event of serious complications.The most common of these is intervertebral herniation, when a “discectomy” or removal of the affected intervertebral disc is performed.The operation is very effective, but being a measure of last resort, it is only prescribed if other therapeutic methods have failed for more than 6 months.Modern medicine also offers less traumatic methods of performing such an operation, for example, microsurgical or endoscopic methods.