Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms, causes, degrees

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a pathology that is accompanied by degenerative processes in 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 immediately consult a doctor. If you do not do this, the pathology will lead to serious complications.

What is lumbar osteochondrosis?

This term refers to a disease that provokes damage to the intervertebral discs. They are a gel-like substance that is located in the annulus fibrosus. The upper and lower parts of the discs are covered with thin cartilage tissue.

After some time, the gel-like mass loses moisture, becomes thinner and less elastic. Under the influence of loads, deformation of cartilage tissue occurs. The consequence of these processes is the formation of a protrusion or hernia. The formations provoke 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 for lumbar osteochondrosis is not started in time, the pathology will lead to dangerous health consequences. The disease can cause reactive spondylosis. It also provokes the appearance of osteoarthritis 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 provoke problems with potency.

In addition, the lack of adequate and timely therapy provokes 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 severe manifestations are present. That is why it is so important to identify signs of lumbar osteochondrosis in time. These include the following:

• Lower back pain. At the initial stage of the disease, this symptom is present only after lifting weights. As the pathology progresses, the pain syndrome becomes unbearable.
• Decreased physical activity. This symptom is caused by compression of nerve fibers. When bending or turning, discomfort occurs that radiates to the legs.
• Loss of sensation in the lower extremities. With the development of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms of numbness are caused by permanent damage to the nerve roots. This symptom waxes and wanes periodically. In this case, the patient experiences a burning sensation, numbness, tingling in the lumbar region and below.
• 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 occurrence of osteochondrosis is caused by increased loads on the spine. Excessive pressure on the lower back provokes a breakdown of the cartilage structure. The risk of developing the disease increases under the influence of the following factors:

• Poor posture.
• Physical inactivity. Lack of physical activity leads to muscle weakening.
• Calcium metabolism disorder.
• Chronic lack of micro- and macroelements. This may be due to dietary disturbances.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Hypothermia.
• Stress factors.
• 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 the disks. The person experiences a burning and tingling sensation. Sometimes these symptoms radiate to the buttocks.
• Second, at this stage the distance between the vertebrae decreases and the destruction of the fibrous ring occurs. The person experiences sharp pain. When moving, it radiates to the hips, buttocks, and legs. The affected area may feel cold or burning. During an attack, the patient is forced to lean in the opposite direction.
• Third, at this stage the fibrous ring is completely destroyed. Vertebral tissues are severely deformed. This provokes 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 growth of discs and bone destruction. At this stage, cartilage tissue atrophies greatly. This causes disruption of a person’s motor activity and even causes disability.

When should you see a doctor?

If you experience any discomfort in the lumbar region, 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 prescribes x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging.

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 progression of pain. At the initial stages, the use of tablet analgesics is sufficient. In advanced situations, it is impossible to do without injectable medications.

Drug therapy includes 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 pathology, which is 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 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 medications, the following therapy methods are used:

• Physiotherapy. Performing special exercises helps strengthen muscles. This helps to form 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. 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 lymph 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 avoid the appearance of lumbar osteochondrosis, you should follow the basic recommendations:

• avoid hypothermia of the lower back;
• control 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 provokes dangerous complications. To reduce the symptoms of the disorder, it is necessary to consult a neurologist in a timely manner. The doctor will conduct diagnostic tests and select adequate therapy.

How is treatment carried out in a modern clinic?

Doctor's consultation: medical history, myofascial diagnostics, functional diagnostics.

How does it go?

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

Myofascial diagnostics is a manual diagnostic method in which the doctor assesses the range of joint movements, determines painful tightness, swelling, hypo- or hypertonicity of 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, what range of motion he can work with, what movements cause pain, what weight the patient can work with, how the cardiovascular system reacts. vascular system. Problem areas are identified. The data is entered into the card. Accents are set.

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

It is advisable to have with you:

• for pain in the spine - MRI or CT (magnetic resonance 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 card;
• comfortable (sports) clothes and shoes

Lessons with an instructor

At the beginning of the treatment cycle, 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 accurately 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 one 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 class. Teaches the technique of performing exercises and monitors the correct execution. Every 6th lesson, 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 disease)
• How is your body prepared for physical activity (do you do gymnastics or any sport)

If the disease is in its early stages and the body is prepared, one treatment cycle is sufficient. (example - young people 20-30 years old who go in for 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 skill of "caring for your body", receive recommendations in case of exacerbation and continue to study on their own).

If the problem has been around for a long time, you don’t 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 certain work without effort, stay motionless for a long time while traveling, improve the condition in general. Three or more treatment cycles may be needed

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