Osteochondrosis of the lower back

A degenerative disease in which the body of the vertebrae is destroyed and the intervertebral disk is deformed is called osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.The causes of such a pathology can be diverse, and in order to be treated correctly, it is important to determine what exactly affected the progression of deformation in the lower back.If a person is concerned about the characteristic symptoms of osteochondrosis, you need to immediately contact the hospital.

At 1 stage, it will be possible to cure the problem with medicines and special exercises, but the conservative method does not always help at 2-3 degrees, so you have to resort to a surgical method of treatment.

The main reasons

Left-sided or right-sided lumbar osteochondrosis is a disease of a degenerative nature in which the intervertebral disc is destroyed, a fibrous ring breaks and a person has a hernia that causes acute pains and impaired functioning of the musculoskeletal system.The following factors can provoke osteochondrosis in the lower back:

• increased physical activity on the lower spine;
• incorrect body location when walking, sitting;
• sedentary, sedentary lifestyle;
• impaired posture;
• injuries, fractures or bruises that cause degenerative consequences in the spine;
• congenital pathologies of the structure of the musculoskeletal system, in which the signs of deformation can be seen already in the child;
• obesity;
• Stress, malnutrition.

Stages and symptoms

Signs of lumbar osteochondrosis develop as the disease progresses, and the larger the stage, the stronger the symptom is manifested.There are 4 degrees in total:

• At 1 stage, the fibrous ring is damaged, the pain is not pronounced and often bothers after prolonged walking.Soreness is manifested by 2 species - lumbalgia, when the symptom is constantly bothering, and Lumbago, in which signs occur suddenly.
• Osteochondrosis of POP 2 degrees is characterized by a large destruction of the fibrous ring and disk dystrophy.Such a violation leads to a decrease in the space between the vertebrae and squeezing of the nerve fibers.The progressive 2 stage is accompanied by severe lower back pain, in the morning there is a stiffness that does not pass for a long time.
• At 3 stages, the fibrous ring in the affected area is completely destroyed, which is why a hernia is formed, which compresses the vessels and roots of the spinal nerves.The back hurts constantly, the symptoms do not retreat after rest and reduction of loads, you feel tingling and heaviness in the legs.In the third degree, dystrophy of muscle fibers occurs, as a result of which the patient's movements are limited.
• At 4 stages, the spine is completely deformed, a person is worried about acute pain, due to which motor activity is completely limited.Due to impaired innervation and blood supply, swelling on the legs appears, bone formations grow between the vertebrae.At the last extent, the risk of disability is high.

Osteochondrosis syndromes of the lumbar spine

Lumbar osteochondrosis is manifested by the following syndromes:

• Pain.This is the main symptom that characterizes degenerative-dystrophic disorders in the spine.As pathology progresses, the symptoms become pronounced, attacks can last several days, negatively affecting human health.
• Koreshka.Due to the thinning of the damaged body of the disk, the height of the intervertebral space decreases, due to which the vertebrae become unstable, irritating and squeezing the nerve endings.A person is worried about acute pain, inflammation of the nerves, impaired blood supply.The muscle frame is atrophied, due to which the functionality of the lower extremities is disturbed.
• Ischemic.Progressive osteochondrosis of the lumbar region leads to the fact that blood vessels and arteries piercing the spine begin compress.This disrupts the blood supply and nutrition of internal organs and tissues, and also causes acute pain in the inside of the thighs, in the perineum.If the problem is not eliminated in a timely manner, paralysis or paresis is possible.

• Vertebrate.With the progression of pain, ischemic and radicular syndromes, the patient’s spine is gradually deformed, which significantly affects the condition and well -being.The muscles become weak, the gait changes, the person tries to distribute the load on the spine so that when moving to experience a minimum of discomfort.Such violations affect the work of internal organs, while the intervertebral discs continue to deform and be damaged even more.

If the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar region was inadequate or carried out in a timely manner, dangerous complications may develop.In women, when the vertebrae at the L1 - S1 level, complications may occur during pregnancy, especially in the last periods, when the load on the spinal column is maximum.In men, degenerative processes in the lumbar region often cause problems with potency.Untimely treatment threatens reactive spondylosis, as well as a high probability of developing osteoarthrosis of the knee, hip joint.Other consequences are also manifested:

• compression-vascular ischemia;
• protrusion;
• spondylarthrosis;
• paresis.

Diagnostics

In order for the doctor to choose effective methods of treatment, he needs to establish an accurate diagnosis.Diagnosis begins in the office of a neuropathologist, who conducts an initial examination, palpates the affected area, evaluates the nature of the changes in the spine.In the acute period, the patient can hardly move and perform any complex manipulations.For a more detailed study of the spinal column, instrumental diagnosis is prescribed, which includes:

• X -ray.It is performed in 3 projections, pictures show the degree of progression of pathology, the size of the intervertebral slit, saline deposits, the structure of the vertebrae.
• CT or MRI.Give a more detailed picture of the state of the spine and disks, show violations in the soft tissues, which cannot be considered during an X -ray examination.

How to treat the problem?

Medications

The disease is characterized by the progression of a pain symptom that not all drugs can cope with.In the initial stages to stop signs, you can take painkillers.And also the problem is treated using special ointments and gels.In advanced cases, such drugs will be ineffective, so the doctor will prescribe injections, thanks to which pain relief and first aid will be timely.

Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs help relieve swelling and inflammation, so that the nerve fibers and blood vessels will cease Compress, and pain symptoms will decrease.The group includes funds:

• Painkillers.With the progression of the acute period, when the pains are severely expressed, drugs of this group are prescribed.Since they have side effects, do not buy funds at your discretion.A safe and effective medicine should be prescribed by a doctor.
• Musorelaxants.Relieve muscle cramps, due to which pain and discomfort are reduced.
• Glucocorticosteroids.Eliminate inflammation, positively affect the nervous system, improve the patient's condition in a short time.

Exercises

If osteochondrosis L5 - S1 is diagnosed or disks at the L3 - S1 level are affected, therapeutic exercises are required.When performing the training complex, it is important to increase the load gradually so that there is no discomfort and pain.It is recommended to do the following exercises with osteochondrosis:

• In the standing position, make turns to the right and left, tilting back and forth.
• Standing on all fours, bend and align the back.
• Lying on the floor, lifting even legs, without tearing the lower back from the floor.
• In the lying position with the left hand, reach for the limb, which is located on the right and, conversely.

Massage and physiotherapy

Chronic osteochondrosis in the remission stage is successfully treated using massage procedures performed by a manual therapist.Massage will help normalize blood circulation in the affected area, establish nutrition.Physiotherapeutic procedures have a similar effect:

• electrophoresis;
• magnetot therapy;
• laser therapy;
• UHF.

If patients with left -handed or right -sided osteochondrosis did not help conservative methods, then you can’t do without surgical treatment.MicrodisCtomy is often used, in which the SEQUESTered hernia is removed using microsurgical tools.The Minime Psidium procedure, the next day after surgery, the patient may begin to move.

Prevention

Since adults and children suffer from osteochondrosis, it is important even from an early age to monitor the spine, control posture, pay attention to how the bending or movement looks like.If there is a suspicion of deformation, you should see a doctor.The sooner the ailment is diagnosed, the easier it will be to fight it later.