According to world statistics, about 80% of the adult inhabitants of our vast planet share the same health problem - periodically, or even constantly, back pain in the lumbar region.Lumbar pain is the main symptom of many diseases of the spine and internal organs located in the abdominal cavity.And it is completely in vain that the majority of those experiencing discomfort in this area, bypassing the doctor and without understanding the reasons, begin to intensively use various ointments and other “homemade lotions”.With these methods you can easily achieve the opposite of the expected result.
Reasons: determined, excluding
The success of any treatment directly depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis; when the symptoms are eliminated, the likelihood of relapse increases.Subsequently, such treatment can only worsen the situation.Therefore, first of all, you need to carefully check the condition of all organs, the symptoms of which may be pain in the lumbar region.
Digestive system
Exacerbations of diseases of the digestive system (pancreatitis, ulcers, colitis, cholecystitis, enteritis, appendicitis) often provoke the appearance of pain in the lumbar region.
Urinary system
Most often, kidney pain is mistaken for symptoms of diseases of the lumbar spine, since their nature is identical.Diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract of various etiologies are accompanied not only by “recoil” to the lower back, but also by urination disorders (frequency, discomfort, the presence of blood in the urine and its cloudiness), and an increase in body temperature.
Reproductive system
With problems with the reproductive organs in men and women in the acute stage, the pain often radiates to the lumbar region, tailbone or to the side.The nature of these pains is often girdling without pronounced localization.
If any disease of an organ not related to the musculoskeletal system is detected, it is it that is treated, since it is this that is the true cause of the pain syndrome.If, after a thorough examination, no problems with the above organs are identified, then most likely there is a problem with the spine.
Osteochondrosis
The most mobile part of the spine, which takes on the lion's share of the load, is the lumbosacral part.With a sedentary lifestyle, excessive loads and insufficient supply of nutrients to the cartilage tissue of the spine, degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral cartilage in the lumbar region occur - osteochondrosis.
Symptoms and stages of the disease
The main alarming symptom of osteochondrosis is pain in the lumbar region.At the initial stage, it is localized and directed to the sacrum, its character is pulling (aching).During this period, destruction processes affected the nucleus pulposus (its dehydration occurs), as well as the vertebral discs (the height of their standing decreases).Discomfort is observed with heavy loads, and the pain itself is mild.
After some time, if the problem is ignored and no measures are taken, lumbago begins to radiate to the thigh and buttocks.Due to the narrowing of the intervertebral spaces, the muscles and ligaments “sag” and the spine becomes unstable.This leads to loss of sensation and numbness.
The third stage is characterized by morphological changes in the discs, the spine itself is severely deformed, and disc protrusion and prolapse develop.Pain at this stage becomes more intense and prolonged.Every movement brings unbearable pain.It is possible that areas of the spinal cord, blood vessels and nerve endings adjacent to the sore spot may be compressed due to the fact that the fibrous ring protrudes and affects the spinal canal.
The last stage of lumbar osteochondrosis “forces” the body to adapt to the changes that have occurred due to the disease in the following way.In order for the supporting and protective functions to be preserved, bone tissue grows in the diseased area.This usually leads to various microtraumas, and subsequently to disability.
An integrated approach to treatment
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis must be comprehensive, regardless of the stage of development of the disease.In mild cases, the prognosis for treatment is favorable; deformation processes can be completely stopped and the consequences can be minimized.At the last stage of the disease, the goal of treatment is to eliminate all symptoms and consequences, normalize the nutrition of spinal tissues, and strengthen the muscle corset of the entire back and its lower part in particular.
Medicines
To relieve pain in lumbar osteochondrosis, analgesics are used in tablets or injections; the second option is preferable, as it is more effective.To relieve the inflammatory process, anti-inflammatory drugs (non-steroidal) are prescribed.Muscle spasms that occur simultaneously with pain are eliminated by muscle relaxants.Chondroprotectors are used to restore damaged cartilage tissue.
All of the above remedies sometimes do not have the desired effect, since damage prevents the medicine from penetrating to the site of action.
To relieve an acute attack of pain, a blockade is used.It should only be carried out by a specialist.
A suitable analgesic is injected into the space located between the spinous processes using a long needle.After such a procedure, the pain goes away very quickly, but for some time, because there is no therapeutic effect.
The use of local complex products - ointments, gels - is effective.They have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, warming effect; many preparations for topical use contain a chondroprotector.These remedies, when used correctly and combined with massage, are quite effective.
Physiotherapeutic procedures
In combination with drug treatment for lumbar osteochondrosis, physiotherapeutic procedures are used - balneotherapy, laser and magnetic therapy, treatment with weak currents, light and vibrations.They have virtually no side effects or contraindications.
Alternative Methods
Increasingly, alternative (non-traditional) methods are used simultaneously with traditional treatment - hirudotherapy, acupuncture, bee stings, manual therapy.These methods provide long-awaited relief, but some of them have contraindications, so consultation with your doctor is required.
In addition to all of the above treatment methods, physical therapy helps to overcome the disease.Properly distributed loads of the required intensity will help restore blood circulation in damaged areas, form or strengthen the muscle corset, and thereby relieve the load on the spine.
When treating osteochondrosis, it is important to correctly combine treatment methods, first of all, acute attacks of pain are relieved, then inflammatory processes, and only when the acute period of the disease is over can non-traditional methods and physical exercises be used.
Yoga and Pilates complexes have proven themselves to be excellent rehabilitation programs for spinal diseases.
Hernia of the lumbar spine
Against the background of untreated or neglected osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, a hernia very often develops - a disease in which, due to insufficient physical activity or excessive stress, the nutrition of the disc tissue occurs, its strength decreases and, as a result, disc rupture.The process of destruction can drag on for many years and go unnoticed all this time, but with one single unsuccessful movement the mechanism starts, and all the symptoms begin to appear one after another.
General symptoms and course of the disease
Symptoms of a hernia of the lumbar spine include decreased tendon reflexes, pain of varying intensity, muscle weakness, and numbness of the limbs.Pain from a hernia does not always occur; lumbago is possible, which gradually spreads in the direction of the pinched nerve.
Body distortion is a characteristic sign of lumbar hernia.This phenomenon occurs involuntarily, since the body needs to find the most comfortable position in which pain is minimal.In severe, rapidly progressing disease, the consequences may be paralysis of the lower extremities (partial or complete).This phenomenon is usually accompanied by disturbances in the functioning of the abdominal organs, in particular the intestines and bladder.
Clinical manifestations of a hernia of the lumbosacral zone are expressed in a constant increase in pain and its intensification during specific physical activities (lifting weights, bending, sudden strong muscle tension, coughing), dull aching pain localized at one point that does not go away, direction of pain in the buttock or leg, or numbness of this area.
Diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation
It is difficult to diagnose a hernia visually or based solely on the symptoms described by the patient.To more accurately determine the presence of the disease, several methods are used to help accurately determine the location of the disease.Computed tomography, nuclear magnetic and radiography - thanks to these methods, the doctor will be able to clearly determine the location of the pathologically changed vertebra and see the deformed disc.
To determine the severity of the disease and the consequences, doctors use several tests: straight leg elevation, tendon reflexes, sensitivity (reaction) of the leg at all levels (from the toes to the hip joint) to several types of stimuli - pain, vibration and temperature.
Treatment methods
Depending on the severity and condition of the patient, different methods of treating hernia are used.In case of exacerbation, first of all, you need to immediately limit physical activity up to bed rest and relieve pain with medications.After 5-7 days, when the acute period is over and the pain has subsided, drug treatment is supplemented with other restorative procedures (massage, physiotherapy, physical education).
Drug and conservative treatment of lumbar hernia is the same as for osteochondrosis.
Surgery
In case of severe disease and the presence of many serious consequences, surgical treatment is advisable.
Indications for surgical intervention:
- sequestration of a hernia - entry of a disc area damaged by a hernia into the spinal canal;
- dysfunction of all or one organ in the pelvis;
- patency in the spinal canal is impaired (determined using MRI);
- lack of results when using medicinal and conservative treatment for three or more months;
- inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
Surgical treatment of hernia is now carried out using gentle, minimally invasive endoscopic operations.
The laser reconstruction method involves evaporating liquid from the protruding nucleus pulposus using a laser.Thanks to this, the nerve root is “released”, that is, its compression is eliminated.But this type of intervention has a number of contraindications, such as early spinal surgery, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthritis, obstruction of the spinal canal (stenosis) and protrusion of the nucleus pulposus into the canal.
To remove the damaged part of the intervertebral disc, the method of percutaneous discectomy is used.Vaporization and removal of damaged tissue is carried out with a needle inserted through the skin.
In cases where it is impossible to restore a damaged disc by any method, starting with medication and ending with minimally invasive surgery, or all the methods used do not bring any results, the deformed disc is replaced with a prosthesis.
Preventive measures
In order to prevent the progression of the disease, special exercises are prescribed.Sets of exercises must be developed by a specialist individually for each patient and must contain exercises for muscle stretching, tension and light aerobic exercise.
For a herniated lumbar spine, doctors recommend wearing a special fixation belt.Outwardly, it resembles a capsule, its width is about 30 cm, it is attached to the body with Velcro and has several degrees of rigidity.
This product is needed in order to evenly distribute the load (from the diseased area to the healthy one) and relieve tension (unload).With constant wearing of the belt, injured segments of the spine are corrected and returned to their anatomical position.
Lumbodynia with radicular syndrome
Against the background of osteochondrosis and hernia of the lumbar spine, lumbago develops as a consequence - lumbar lumbago (acute paroxysmal pain).This is the “simplest” scenario.Since hernias and osteochondrosis are characterized by deformation and frequent prolapse of the damaged disc and displacement of the spinal column, pinching of nearby nerve roots, called radicular syndrome, is observed.
It is intensified by pinching of the veins, which provokes swelling of tissues (soft) and congestion.The symptoms of lumbodynia with radicular syndrome are similar to the symptoms of a lumbar hernia (sharp shooting pains radiating downwards, loss of sensitivity and impaired reflexes), and since this is a consequence, the cause must initially be treated with an integrated approach, otherwise disability may result.
Sciatica
Another consequence of hernia and osteochondrosis is inflammation of the sciatic nerve - sciatica and the accompanying pain radiating to the leg or buttock.Despite the ability to clearly identify the “sore” spot, the reason lies in the spine.
Sciatica is not an independent disease; this term refers to a number of symptoms that accompany certain diseases of the spine.Pain sensations can be different, in some cases it is just mild discomfort when staying in the same not very comfortable position for a long time, and sometimes the pain leads to loss of consciousness and analgesics do not help in this case.
For effective treatment, it is not enough to diagnose sciatica or lumbago; in any case, you need to conduct a full comprehensive examination from different specialists and accurately identify the cause, because it is the provoking factor.By eliminating just a few symptoms, the likelihood of the underlying disease progressing and the appearance of many complications increases.Paying attention to your health, early recognition of problems and prompt treatment is the key to good health.