Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms, causes, degrees

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

This disorder leads to damage to all joints, but the intervertebral discs are predominantly affected.

If you experience lower back pain, you should consult a doctor 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. They are a gelatinous substance found in the annulus fibrosus. The upper and lower parts of the discs are covered with thin cartilaginous tissue.

After some time, 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 causes 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 arthrosis of the knee or hip joint.

In women, damage to the lumbar vertebrae can cause 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.

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

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

Main symptoms and signs of lumbar osteochondrosis

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

• Lumbar back pain. In the initial stage of the disease, this symptom is present only after weight lifting. As the pathology progresses, the pain syndrome becomes unbearable.
• Decreased physical activity. This symptom is caused by compression of the nerve fibers. When bending or turning, discomfort occurs that radiates to the legs.
• Loss of sensation in the lower limbs. 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 and lower region.
• Local decrease in skin temperature. It becomes pale, dry and flabby.
• Excessive sweating.
• Spinal syndrome. This symptom appears in advanced cases. Often people experience sexual dysfunction and problems with urination.

Causes of lumbar osteochondrosis

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

• Bad posture.
• Physical inactivity. Lack of physical activity leads to muscle weakness.
• Calcium metabolism disorder.
• Chronic deficiency of micro and macro elements. This could be due to dietary disorders.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Hypothermia.
• Stressors.
• Strength or extreme sports.
• Damage to the musculoskeletal system.
• Excess weight.

What are the stages of the disease?

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

• First, at this stage there is tolerable pain in the lumbar region, which increases after exercise. This symptom indicates destructive processes in disks. The person feels a burning and tingling sensation. Sometimes these symptoms radiate to the buttocks.
• Secondly, at this stage the distance between the vertebrae decreases and destruction of the fibrous ring occurs. The person feels sharp pain. When you move, it radiates to your hips, buttocks and legs. The affected area may feel cold or burn. During an attack, the patient is forced to lean in the opposite direction.
• Thirdly, at this stage the fibrous ring is completely destroyed. The vertebral 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 cartilaginous tissue atrophies considerably. This causes disruption of a person's motor activity and even causes disability.

When should you see a doctor?

If you feel discomfort in the lumbar region, you should consult a doctor immediately. 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 prescribes x-rays and MRI.

To cope with the pathology, complex therapy is used. It must solve the following problems:

• 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 the progression of pain. In the initial stages, the use of analgesic tablets is sufficient. In advanced situations, it is impossible to do without injectable drugs.

Drug therapy involves the use of the following drugs:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They help cope 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.
• Analgesics. They are prescribed during a period of exacerbation of the pathology, accompanied by severe pain. Such drugs have many side effects. Therefore, they must be prescribed by a doctor. Most often Baralgin or Pentalgin are prescribed.
• Muscle relaxants. Such remedies help to cope with muscle spasms. This allows you to eliminate discomfort. This category includes Mydocalm, Sirdalud.
• Glucocorticosteroids. These are hormonal agents that help cope with inflammation and improve the functions of the nervous system. The drug Ambene is highly effective.

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

• Physiotherapy. Performing special exercises helps strengthen muscles. This helps to form correct posture, increase the flexibility of the 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. It 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 tonic effect on the body. With its help it is possible to reduce the load on the muscles, stimulate blood flow 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 drugs.

Prevention of lumbar osteochondrosis

To avoid the appearance of lumbar osteochondrosis, you should follow the basic recommendations:

• avoid hypothermia of the lower back;
• check your posture;
• exercise;
• change 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 promptly consult a neurologist. The doctor will carry out diagnostic tests and select the appropriate therapy.

How is treatment carried out in a modern clinic?

Medical examination: medical history, myofascial diagnostics, functional diagnostics.

How is it going?

Collection of medical history: analysis of the disease, identification of limitations and contraindications, explanation of the principles of kinesitherapy, characteristics of the recovery period.

Myofascial diagnostics is a manual diagnostic method in which the doctor evaluates the range of joint movements, determines painful tension, swelling, hypo- or hypertonicity of the muscles and other changes.

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

Based on the results of the first medical examination and functional diagnostics, a preliminary individual therapeutic program is developed.

It is advisable to have with you:

• for pain in the spine - MRI or CT (magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography) of the problem area;
• for joint pain – x-rays;
• in the presence of concomitant diseases - extracts from the medical history or outpatient record;
• comfortable (sports) clothes and shoes.

Lessons with instructor

At the beginning of the course of treatment, the doctor and the patient draw up 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 precisely dose the load on individual muscle groups, providing an adequate regime of physical activity. The treatment program is compiled by the doctor individually for each patient, taking into account the characteristics of the body. Supervision is carried out by qualified instructors. At all stages of recovery, it is important to follow the correct movement and breathing technique, know your weight standards when working on exercise machines, adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen and follow the recommendations of specialists.

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 lesson is supervised by an instructor. The duration of a treatment session is from 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. She teaches the technique of performing the exercises and monitors correct execution. Every 6 lessons a second consultation with the doctor is held, changes and additions are made to the program, depending on the dynamics.

How many cycles will it take? – individually for everyone

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 gymnastics or any sport)

If the disease is in its initial stages and the body is prepared, one course of treatment is sufficient. (example: young people of 20-30 years old who play sports. We focus their attention on the technique of performing exercises, breathing, stretching, excluding "wrong" exercises that are harmful to problem areas. Such patients undergo training and receive the ability to "take care of your body", get advice in case of a flare-up 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 pathologies, then you will need a different period of time:

• Relieve the aggravation? One or two cycles are sufficient
• Restore functionality, walk continuously (climb stairs), bend over, perform certain work without effort, remain immobile for a long time while traveling, improve the condition in general. Three or more courses of treatment may be needed

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