Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms, causes, degrees

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a pathology that is accompanied by degenerative processes in cartilaginous tissues.

This disorder causes damage to all joints, but the intervertebral discs are mainly affected.

If you experience lower back pain, you should seek medical attention immediately. If you do not do this, the pathology will lead to serious complications.

What is lumbar osteochondrosis?

This term refers to a disease that causes damage to the intervertebral discs. It is a gelatinous substance located in the annulus fibrosus. The upper and lower parts of the discs are covered with thin cartilaginous tissue.

After a while, the gelatinous mass loses moisture, becomes thinner and less elastic. Under the influence of loads, deformation of the cartilaginous tissue occurs. The consequence of these processes is the formation of a protrusion or hernia. The formations cause compression of the nerve roots, which causes the disease.

Lumbar osteochondrosis is quite common and leads to negative health consequences. With this disorder, pinching of the sciatic nerve often occurs. As a result, there is a risk of severe pain.

Possible complications of the disease

If treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is not started on time, the pathology will lead to dangerous health consequences. The disease can cause reactive spondylosis. It also causes the appearance of osteoarthritis of the knee or hip.

In women, injuries to the lumbar vertebrae can lead to complications during pregnancy. This is especially dangerous in the third trimester, which is characterized by a high load on the spine. In men, degenerative processes cause potency problems.

In addition, the lack of adequate and timely therapy causes the following consequences:

• sciatica;
• spinal deformity;
• loss of sensation in the limbs;
• spinal instability;
• pathologies of internal organs;
• radiculitis;
• complete loss of motor activity.

Main symptoms and signs of lumbar osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is characterized by slow development. The diagnosis is often made in advanced situations, when serious manifestations are present. That is why it is so important to identify the signs of lumbar osteochondrosis in time. These include the following:

• Lower back pain. At the initial stage of the disease, this symptom appears only after lifting weights. As the pathology progresses, the pain syndrome becomes unbearable.
• Decrease in physical activity. This symptom is caused by compression of nerve fibers. When you bend or turn, discomfort occurs and radiates to the legs.
• Loss of sensation in the lower extremities. With the development of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, symptoms of numbness are caused by permanent damage to the nerve roots. This symptom waxes and wanes periodically. In this case, the patient feels a burning sensation, numbness, tingling in the lumbar region and below.
• Local decrease in skin temperature. It becomes pale, dry and flabby.
• Excessive sweating.
• Spine syndrome. This symptom appears in advanced cases. People often suffer from sexual dysfunction and urination problems.

Causes of lumbar osteochondrosis

The appearance of osteochondrosis is caused by increased loads on the spine. Excessive pressure on the lower back causes breakdown of the cartilage structure. The risk of developing the disease increases under the influence of the following factors:

• Bad position.
• Physical inactivity. Lack of physical activity leads to muscle weakening.
• Calcium metabolism disorder.
• Chronic lack of micro and macroelements. This may be due to eating disorders.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Hypothermia.
• Stress factors.
• Strength or extreme sports.
• Damage to the musculoskeletal system.
• Overweight.

What are the stages of the disease?

The disease develops gradually. Doctors distinguish the following stages of lumbar osteochondrosis:

• Firstly, at this stage there is tolerable pain in the lumbar region, which increases after exercise. This symptom indicates destructive processes in the disks. The person experiences a burning and tingling sensation. Sometimes these symptoms radiate to the buttocks.
• Secondly, at this stage the distance between the vertebrae decreases and the destruction of the annulus fibrosus occurs. The person experiences sharp pain. During movement, it radiates towards the hips, buttocks and legs. The affected area may be cold or hot. During a seizure, the patient is forced to lean in the opposite direction.
• Third, at this stage the annulus fibrosus is completely destroyed. The spinal tissues are severely deformed. This causes the appearance of an intervertebral hernia. With the development of this degree of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, constant pain of high intensity is present.
• The fourth is accompanied by abnormal disc growth and bone destruction. At this stage, the cartilage tissue atrophies considerably. This causes a disruption in a person's motor activity and even leads to disability.

When should you consult a doctor?

If you feel any discomfort in your lower back, you should immediately consult a doctor. To make an accurate diagnosis, a specialist prescribes diagnostic tests. To do this, a survey and examination of the patient is carried out. The doctor also orders x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging.

To cope with the pathology, complex therapy is used. It must resolve the following issues:

• stop inflammation;
• strengthen the muscle tissue of the legs;
• eliminate pain syndrome;
• improve metabolic processes and blood circulation;
• normalize the functioning of the pelvic organs;
• restore sensitivity.

The pathology is characterized by a progression of pain. In the early stages, the use of pain relievers in tablets is sufficient. In advanced situations, it is impossible to do without injectable drugs.

Drug therapy includes the use of the following drugs:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They help deal with swelling and inflammation. Thanks to this, it is possible to eliminate compression of blood vessels and fibers and reduce pain. The most effective remedies include Diclofenac, Nimesil.
• Painkillers. They are prescribed during a period of exacerbation of the pathology, which is accompanied by severe pain. These medications have many side effects. They must therefore be prescribed by a doctor. Most often, Baralgin or Pentalgin are prescribed.
• Muscle relaxers. Such remedies help to cope with muscle spasms. This allows you to eliminate discomfort. This category includes Mydocalm, Sirdalud.
• Glucocorticoids. These are hormonal agents that help to cope with inflammation and improve the functions of the nervous system. The drug Ambene is very effective.

In addition to medications, the following therapeutic methods are used:

• Physiotherapy. Performing special exercises helps strengthen muscles. This helps to adopt correct posture, increase the flexibility of ligaments and prevent complications of osteochondrosis. Gymnastics improves blood circulation, normalizes metabolic processes, increases the distance between the vertebrae and reduces the load on them.
• Manual therapy. This involves the use of individual manual techniques to help manage pain and improve posture. This type of treatment restores motor activity, normalizes blood flow, strengthens the immune system and activates metabolic processes.
• Massage. This procedure can have a relaxing or toning effect on the body. With its help, it is possible to reduce the load on the muscles, stimulate blood circulation and activate lymphatic drainage. Massage also relieves pain and has a restorative effect.
• Physiotherapy. For lumbar osteochondrosis, ultrasound, low-frequency currents and a magnetic field are used. This helps to cope with pain, relieve inflammation and normalize blood circulation. Physiotherapy products stimulate recovery processes and increase the effectiveness of medications.

Prevention of lumbar osteochondrosis

To prevent the occurrence of lumbar osteochondrosis, you must follow the basic recommendations:

• avoid hypothermia of the lower back;
• control posture;
• exercise;
• changing body position when performing monotonous work;
• refuse to lift heavy objects;
• Healthy food.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is a common pathology that causes dangerous complications. To reduce the symptoms of the disorder, it is necessary to consult a neurologist in a timely manner. The doctor will perform diagnostic tests and select adequate treatment.

How is treatment carried out in a modern clinic?

Medical consultation: medical history, myofascial diagnosis, functional diagnosis.

How it works?

History collection - analysis of the disease, limitations and contraindications are identified, explanation of the principles of physiotherapy, features of the recovery period.

Myofascial diagnosis is a manual diagnostic method in which the doctor assesses the range of joint motion, determines painful tightness, swelling, hypo or hypertonicity of muscles and other changes.

Functional diagnosis (carried out in the rehabilitation room) - the doctor explains how to perform certain exercises on the equipment and observes: how the patient performs them, what range of movement he can work, what movements cause pain, what weight the patient can workwith how the cardiovascular system responds. Problem areas are identified. The data is entered into the card. The accents are set.

Based on the results of the initial examination carried out by a doctor and functional diagnosis, a preliminary individual treatment program is drawn up.

It is advisable to have with you:

• for pain in the spine - MRI or CT scan (magnetic resonance or CT scan) of the problem area;
• for joint pain – x-rays;
• in the presence of concomitant diseases - extracts from medical history or outpatient card;
• comfortable clothing and (sports) shoes

Classes with an instructor

At the beginning of the treatment cycle, the doctor and the patient establish a treatment plan, which includes the date and time of the treatment session, follow-up visits to the doctor (usually 2-3 times a week).

The basis of the treatment process is treatment sessions in the rehabilitation room using simulators and sessions in the gym.

Rehabilitation simulators allow you to accurately dose the load on individual muscle groups, thereby providing an adequate physical activity regime. The treatment program is developed by the doctor individually for each patient, taking into account the characteristics of the body. Supervision is provided by qualified instructors. At all stages of recovery, it is important to follow the correct technique of movement and breathing, know your weight norms when working on exercise machines, adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen and follow the recommendations ofspecialists.

Joint gymnastics sessions help restore visual coordination, improve joint mobility and elasticity (flexibility) of the spine and are an excellent preventive system for self-use.

Each treatment cycle consists of 12 sessions. Each class is supervised by an instructor. The duration of a treatment session is 40 minutes to 1. 5 hours. The instructor draws up a program taking into account concomitant diseases and the patient's condition on the day of the lesson. Teaches the technique of performing exercises and monitors their correct execution. Every 6 courses, a second consultation with the doctor takes place, changes and additions are made to the program, depending on the dynamics.

How many cycles will this take? – individually for each

It is important to know :

• How long have you had this problem (stage of the disease)
• How is your body prepared for physical activity (do you do gymnastics or another sport)

If the disease is in its early stages and the body is prepared, one course of treatment is enough. (example - young people aged 20-30 who play sports. We focus their attention on the technique of performing exercises, breathing, stretching, excluding "bad" exercises that harm problem areas. Thesepatients undergo training and receive the skill to "take care of your body", receive recommendations in case of exacerbation and continue to study on your own).

If the problem has existed for a long time, you do not do gymnastics or you have concomitant diseases, then you will need a different period of time:

• Relieve the aggravation? One or two cycles are enough
• Restore function, walk non-stop (climb stairs), bend over, perform some work without effort, stay still for a long time while traveling, improve general condition. Three or more treatment cycles may be necessary

Each organism is individual, and the program for each patient is individual.