What is osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine already know many, the disease is getting younger and becomes more and more common.The main sign of the disease is a dystrophy of intervertebral discs.Gradually, the discs wear out, becoming flat, as a result of this, the work of blood vessels begins to break, they are pinched, nerve roots are also injured, and the distance between the vertebrae is gradually reduced.All this is accompanied by pain.Lumbar osteochondrosis is accompanied by very characteristic manifestations regular pain and after some time limitations in movements.
For what reasons the disease develops
Adverse factors that stimulate the development of the disease are quite common, simply some do not pay attention to them, aggravating the whole situation.Experts identified a number of basic factors that provokes the development of the disease:
- A sedentary lifestyle.People who most of their time spend without movement, being at work or even at home, are faced with the fact that gradually the muscles of the spinal corset are relaxed, and the load on the spine increases significantly
- inflammatory processes that are localized directly in the joints
- Incorrect work of the endocrine system
- infectious diseases that affect the joints
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and heart
- exorbitant physical exertion on the back
- violation of posture
- hereditary diseases
- overweight
- Congenital diseases
- Chemical intoxication
- back injuries
- flat feet
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are also directly related to age, this factor should also be taken into account.Gradually, the joints and cartilage wear out, deform, the lumbar pillar loses its mobility.Factors that also negatively affect the general condition of the joints are malnutrition, bad habits, but, unfortunately, many forget about it.The lifestyle as a whole affects the health and condition of the spine.
Symptoms of the disease
The treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis should be correct, timely - this is the main condition under which the disease will retreat.In order not to miss the moment of development of the problem, you should not ignore the first alarming symptoms.The disease develops slowly, but if you ignore it, then at the later stages to correct the situation will be much problematic, harder.Treatment should be provided on time.
- The first, most striking sign of developing illness is pain in the lower back.Pain begins to periodically appear in the lumbar region, more often this occurs during motor or physical activity gradually the disease progresses, degenerative changes appear more and more, the pain does not appear periodically, but almost constant.In some cases, the attacks are so strong that the pain becomes unbearable.
- Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar region are manifested not only in pain, but even in limiting movements.Gradually, the mobility of the spine is disturbed, a person cannot do elementary exercises, or they are given to him with difficulty.Movements are accompanied by pain, spreading from thigh to the heel.Sometimes the pain is so sharp that a person simply cannot move.
- Important symptoms for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine - loss or decrease in sensitivity in the lower extremities.This is due to the fact that the nerve roots are damaged.The sensitivity of the legs can periodically worsen or improve.Sometimes there is a sensation of tingling, there is numbness.You can also observe muscle weakness.
- Intervertebral osteochondrosis is accompanied by dry skin, body temperature in some areas that affects the disease can decrease.
- In men, the disease in a neglected state may be accompanied even by sexual dysfunction.
- In some cases, increased sweating and impaired urination function are observed.
Symptoms of the disease are manifested slowly, but quite brightly.If a person does not ignore them, then you can begin to fight with the problem at the initial stage.In this case, the treatment will be effective, fast.If the disease is neglected, then it will be very difficult to cure it, the process can drag on for a long time.A timely visit to a specialist will help get rid of the disease and stop it at an early stage.
Stages of development of the disease
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine should be immediate, for this you need to begin to deal with the problem when it only develops and is in the first stage.If the disease is launched, then it will go to the chronic stage and will be difficult to succumb to treatment.Experts identified the main stage of development of lumbosacral osteochondrosis:
- With lumbar osteochondrosis at the initial, first stage, pain in the lower back appears, which periodically intensify or disappear.The pain is most strong in physical activity.Such a symptom suggests that the process of destruction in the intervertebral discs has begun.In addition to pain in the lower back, tingling and burning can occur.
- The disease in the second stage is characterized by a reduction in the interdiscity space, a fibrous ring and fabrics that are around is destroyed.The pain at this stage is severe and sharp, it gives to the gluteal muscles and intensifies when walking.At this stage, the protrusion of the discs begins to develop.
- At 3 stages of the development of the disease, all fiber rings are destroyed.Intervertebral hernia develops.The pain becomes much more intense and this no longer depends on physical activity or motor activity.
- It is very difficult to treat osteochondrosis at 4 stages, the pathological growth of the vertebrae is already taking place, the cartilage is simply atrophy, to move becomes more difficult.At this stage, the patient can sit in a wheelchair, because he will lose the opportunity to move in general.
Timely treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis will relieve the danger of being in a wheelchair and retaining the opportunity to move.
Diagnosis
In order to timely determine the symptoms and begin the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, a full diagnosis of the body should be carried out.The specialist will first conduct an inspection and after that will prescribe the necessary diagnostics, the results of which will display in what condition the vertebra is to be.After a visual inspection, a detailed survey, the specialist prescribes a general blood test, computed tomography and radiography if necessary.Based on the results, the specialist can give an objective assessment of the state in which the spinal column is located.
Crowning osteochondrosis develops as a result of the disease of the lumbar and therefore the doctor examines in detail each vertebra.The load on the sacrum during the deformation of the joints of the lower back increases and that the joints of the joints and fabrics in this department does not occur, doctors work as ahead.Such a technique will not allow the disease to develop rapidly.With a complex approach to diagnosis, sacral osteochondrosis will be detected at the initial stage and the problem will be solved by correct and effective treatment.An examination of the abdominal organs is additionally prescribed, because osteochondrosis very often imitates pain in other systems and organs.
Therapeutic measures
How to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar department will tell a specialist in detail, it is necessary to comply with all his recommendations, in which case the disease will begin to retreat.It is worth remembering that the way to cure lumbar osteochondrosis is completely simply does not exist.The disease will recede if you begin to engage in it when the first symptoms occur, in the later stages only comprehensive events will help to alleviate the condition.All of them are aimed at:
- reduce the pain of the lower spine;
- relieve pathological tension in the muscles;
- strengthen muscles in the pelvis, buttocks and legs;
- improve blood circulation in the area that was struck by the disease;
- minimize the manifestation of the inflammatory process;
- return freedom of movement in the lower back and increase the sensitivity of the lower extremities;
- Restore the full work of the pelvic organs.
How to treat lumbar osteochondrosis, a specialist will tell in detail.But the therapeutic effect depends on how accurately the patient will follow the recommendations.
Drug treatment
Lumbar osteochondrosis, the treatment of which provides, first of all, a decrease in the intensity of pain, is accompanied by an analgesics.Sometimes a doctor prescribes even Dimedrol.It must be remembered that the drugs only relieve pain, but do not affect the cause of its occurrence.Also, osteochondrosis of the sacral spine is treated with non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs.Medicines can be based on steroid hormones.In a fairly short time, the medicine removes the inflammatory process.If you ask the doctor if osteochondrosis is treated only with such drugs, then the specialist will answer that no.For an effective struggle with the disease, a set of procedures is needed and the patient’s clear fulfillment of all the doctor's recommendations.
Most often, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine is not complete without paravertebral blockade.The procedure is used at 3-4 stages of the development of the disease.This method eliminates pain, but does not act on the cause of their occurrence.Experts also prescribe chondroprotectors, which should stimulate metabolic processes and restoration of cartilage tissue, which destroys the disease.It is impossible to cure intervertebral osteochondrosis with such drugs, but you can slow down the process of destruction of cartilage.Also, the specialist prescribes drugs to improve blood circulation in the area that was striking the disease.The drugs are administered intramuscularly or using droppers, everything is individually.
Surgery
Sometimes the only way to cure osteochondrosis of the lumbar is surgery.Of course, it will eliminate only the consequences of the disease, remove the arising intervertebral hernia.During surgery, the specialist completely removes disc hernias, and the vertebrae are strengthened.The operation is prescribed in cases where traditional methods of treatment did not give any result or the patient turned for help too late and surgical intervention - this is the only chance of restoration.
Massage
Lumbar osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment of which are delivered by a lot of problems, can begin to be eliminated using massage sessions and manual therapy.The therapeutic massage helps to relax the muscles, and during the sessions of manual therapy, the spine takes the correct position.No one will say for sure whether it is possible to cure osteochondrosis with massage, but the properly carried out complex of procedures will accurately improve the back, will contribute to muscle relaxation and improve blood circulation in the area affected by the disease.It is worth remembering that lumbar osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which have just begun to manifest the masseur can be corrected, but if the disease is launched, then the effect may not be.In addition, a qualified specialist should be engaged in manual therapy and massage, otherwise he can only make it worse during the session, aggravate the state of a person.The masseur can start working with the patient only after it looks at the results of examinations, tests, radiological pictures.
Physical training
Using physiotherapy exercises, you can significantly improve the condition of the lumbar spine.After the inspection, the specialist will show how to get rid of periodic pain using a complex of special exercises.The complex is separately selected for each stage of the disease, as well as taking into account the health of the patient.Regular visits to the pool positively affects the condition of your vertebrae.
If only the first signs of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine appeared, then regular classes will help reduce the pain and relieve the general condition.Often osteochondrosis in women exacerbates during pregnancy, the load on the back increases and discomfort occurs, the manifestation of the disease can be periodic or constant.The doctor can also choose a special complex that will help stabilize the condition.Signs of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine cannot be ignored, otherwise the disease will progress, and it will be very difficult to cure it.The doctor will say that it can save such an ailment as osteochondrosis, will alleviate the condition and return the joy of movements without pain and discomfort.