Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms and treatment

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a common disease of the musculoskeletal system. It is characterized by the development of degenerative-dystrophic processes of joint and bone tissue. Lumbar osteochondrosis suggests that the tissue damage has occurred in the lumbar region and sacrum, so the patient will experience the corresponding symptoms. Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine causes a person significant discomfort. It negatively affects the condition not only of the back but also of the lower limbs. About how to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, you should consult a specialist - a neurologist or traumatologist. This complex disease should not be treated alone or on the advice of relatives and friends. Self-medication can only worsen the process and cause even more damage to the spine.

The hospital provides high-quality treatment for osteochondrosis. There are specialists who specialize in eliminating this problem.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: causes

Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region is considered a disease of the elderly. Recently, lumbosacral osteochondrosis is increasingly being diagnosed in young people (aged 25-30 years). This is due to the fact that many young people lead a sedentary lifestyle and spend a lot of time in front of the computer. An additional factor is the constant stress that the young person experiences in the modern world. In combination with improper nutrition, the predominance of fast food, this leads to deterioration of the condition not only of the spine, but also of the whole organism.

Lumbar osteochondrosis of the spine is a type of pathology localized in the lumbar region. This is one of the most common types of osteochondrosis. The exact causes of the disease are not fully known, but there are provoking factors, the presence of which significantly increases the likelihood of developing osteochondrosis. They include:

• sedentary work;
• distortion of the posture;
• sedentary way of life;
• excessive stress on the spine (professional sports, regular weightlifting, hard physical labor);
• Overweight;
• back injuries;
• age (over the years, the tissues of the spine undergo natural processes of aging and thinning);
• inflammatory diseases of the joints (arthritis, osteoarthritis, scoliosis, etc. );
• diseases accompanied by metabolic disorders;
• Unhealthy lifestyle;
• hereditary predisposition.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms

It is quite difficult to identify lumbosacral osteochondrosis at an early stage. The symptoms and treatment of the disease will depend on the degree of damage to the tissues of the spine. The signs of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine appear gradually, starting with mild discomfort and in advanced cases the appearance of acute pain. It is impossible to delay the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis. As the disease progresses, the symptoms will only get worse, causing the person more discomfort. In a severe acute period, a person even hurts to get up, so it is necessary to treat lumbar osteochondrosis immediately. The symptoms of the disease are the following:

• pain in osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is the most striking sign of pathology. They can accumulate gradually, becoming stronger during movements (bending or lifting weights). As the disease progresses, the intensity of the pain will increase and during an attack of acute osteochondrosis will be unbearable;
• impaired mobility of the lumbar spine. Pathological processes in the spine affect the ability to perform any movements of this department: a person is difficult to bend, turn sideways, sit with a flat back;
• violation of the lower extremities. There is a gait disorder, tingling, numbness, a feeling of "goosebumps", muscle weakness appears in the legs;
• there is pallor of the skin, which is associated with impaired blood supply to the affected area;
• sexual dysfunction (possible in severe cases).

Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine: symptoms and degrees

There are four stages in which lumbar osteochondrosis develops. The symptoms and treatment directly depend on the degree of osteochondrosis: the intensity of the manifestations of the disease increases with the progression of the dystrophic process, which is important to take into account when preparing a course of therapy.

Intervertebral osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is classified as follows:

1. Grade 1 osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is manifested by mild discomfort in the lumbar region. They can occur after strenuous exercise or a long working day. One may feel pain in the back or buttocks, as well as a tingling sensation in the lower back;
2. Grade 2 osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is more pronounced. At the 2nd degree, the destruction of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc begins. The distance between the vertebrae narrows or stretches, and the intervertebral disc begins to extend beyond the vertebrae. Compression of the nerve roots of the spine occurs, which is expressed in significant low back pain, which is reflected in the buttocks, thighs and lower legs. The person may also feel burning or cold in the lower back;
3. Grade 3 osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is characterized by definitive destruction of the fibrous ring. The contents of the intervertebral disc come out - a hernia is formed. Nerve roots are compressed more, an inflammatory process occurs, which is accompanied by severe constant pain in the lumbar region;
4. Grade 4 osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is accompanied by complete atrophy of cartilage and pathological proliferation of the vertebrae. This is a compensatory reaction of the body to the violation of the intervertebral disc. At this stage, the pain usually disappears, but this indicator does not show improvement. Propagation of vertebrae significantly impairs the mobility of the spine and can lead to damage.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms and treatment of exacerbations

Exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine can be caused by sudden movement, weight lifting, hypothermia. Acute pain in lumbar osteochondrosis may increase gradually or appear suddenly. Most often, exacerbation of lumbar osteochondrosis is accompanied by severe pain. During an attack, muscle spasm occurs in the lumbar and thoracic spine, which impedes back movement to prevent increased pain. The pain in the acute period extends to the area of the buttocks and legs, which are communicated by the nerve fibers with the affected area of the spine. A person is forced to take a certain position and not change it (usually this is a horizontal position with a folded wound leg). Even minor movements, such as a cough, can cause a new bout of pain.

Exacerbation of lumbar spine osteochondrosis, which should be treated immediately, can last for days or weeks (depending on how quickly adequate therapy is started). In a specialized hospital, acute osteochondrosis is treated immediately after the patient's treatment. The hospital's admission ward is open 24 hours a day, so the patient can receive help at any time. To relieve acute pain, blockades are performed - the introduction of an analgesic in the affected area, which contributes to a significant improvement in the condition. After removal of the acute period, the main course of treatment begins.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms and diagnosis

Treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis begins with diagnosis. It is necessary to determine whether this is true osteochondrosis and what is the extent of tissue damage. Osteochondrosis of the lower back is diagnosed by X-ray examination. The picture will clearly show the condition of the intervertebral disc and vertebrae. The doctor specifies the location of the lesion and assesses the extent of the disease. If necessary, additional MRI or CT may be prescribed to clarify the details.

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis is performed in the diagnostic center of the hospital, which has everything you need for an accurate diagnosis. Experienced staff uses modern equipment that allows you to quickly and correctly identify the patient's disease. The results of the diagnosis will determine how neurologists and physiotherapists will treat lumbar osteochondrosis.

Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms and medications

After the diagnosis, each patient is interested in the question "How to cure osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine? " The treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region will be complex and will consist of medication and physiotherapy. In the hospital, each component of treatment is determined by the appropriate specialist based on the individual characteristics of the patient. The symptoms and signs of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine allow you to choose the most optimal therapy that will be most effective.

Medical treatment for lumbar osteochondrosis includes several types of drugs, each of which performs its function:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: relieve pain and inflammation;
• painkillers: relieving severe pain that the previous group of drugs could not cope with;
• muscle relaxants: relieve muscle spasm;
• chondroprotectors: stop the degenerative process, promote the regeneration of spinal tissues;
• vitamin complexes: normalize nerve conduction, improve the protective properties of the body.

All drugs, their dose and duration of administration are strictly determined by the attending physician.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: treatment with physiotherapy

Treatment of lumbar spine osteochondrosis includes a course of physiotherapy. It is also an important part of treatment, as is drug therapy. Some patients are interested in how to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine without physiotherapy. However, with the use of drugs alone, it will not be possible to eliminate the disease. The medication will dull the pain, which will return anyway, and fast enough.

In the hospital, the physiotherapy of osteochondrosis is performed in the rehabilitation department by qualified specialists. The patient is prescribed a course of rehabilitation, taking into account his capabilities and needs. Physiotherapy includes:

• massage for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine;
• spinal stretching;
• physiotherapy exercises;
• reflexology (acupuncture);
• hardware methods of exposure (electrophoresis, amplipulse, phonophoresis, etc. ).

Only by applying a complex treatment can osteochondrosis be cured. Low back pain usually disappears within a few days of starting treatment (depending on the severity of the disease). However, this is not a reason to stop the course of treatment. In order to achieve the best result and to exclude a rapid recurrence of the pathology, it is necessary to complete a full course, which is prepared by specialists. Using effective methods of treatment, professional physicians achieve significant improvement in the patient's condition, which allows him to return to a full life.