People with osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine always avoid sudden movements, carefully lean and turn away, slowly sit, become.In this way, they try to prevent acute, piercing pain in the lower back, forcing them to freeze in one position of the body.Osteochondrosis is also manifested by crunching, clicks, restriction of mobility.Its treatment is more often conservative, but with severe damage to the discs and vertebrae, surgery is required.
What is osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
Lumbar osteochondrosis is a degenerative dystrophic pathology that initially affects the intervertebral discs.Due to insufficient nutrient intake, they lose the ability to retain moisture.The regeneration processes are slowed, the discs become flat, fragile.The distance between the adjacent vertebrae is reduced, therefore, bone tissues grow to stabilize the lumbar segment affected by osteochondrosis.Osteophytes are formed - bone growth, with displacement of which are injured structures of soft tissues, nerve roots, blood vessels.
Stages of pathology
The stage of osteochondrosis is the stage of development of the disease, which is characterized by some destructive changes in the discs and bodies of the vertebrae.It is established with the help of X -ray examination.The images obtained are clearly visible specific signs of the destruction of the vertebrae structures.Each stage corresponds to the severity of osteochondrosis, a set of symptoms.The higher it is, the more difficult the disease succumbs to conservative treatment.
| Stage of lumbar osteochondrosis | X -Rei Characteristics and Clinical Manifestations |
| First (preclinical) | There are no signs of osteochondrosis of radiographs.Sometimes there are uncomfortable sensations in the lower back after physical exertion or long -term stay of the legs |
| Second | There is a correction of lordosis, less often - the scenes of the vertebrae, the deformation of the semi -mono processes.The height of the discs is slightly reduced.Painful sensations occur more frequently, their duration increases |
| Third | Subchondral sclerosis of the closing plates, damage to a large number of semi -munic processes and a moderate decrease in the height of the disc.In addition to the pain in the lumbar region, the clinic contains crunching, stiffness of movement |
| Fourth | The semi -ludic processes are rejected outwards and back.There is a compensatory growth of bone tissue, the formation of multiple osteophytes.The pain occurs at movement and at rest |
The causes of the disease
The causes of the development of osteochondrosis are often increased loads of the lumbar spine.The disks are constantly the microtraum without time to recover in a timely manner.A significant part is gradually damaged by firing the deformity of the bone bone of the vertebrae.Such pathological conditions are also capable of provoking the destruction of the lumbar segment:
- Congenital or acquired anomalies - flat legs, scoliosis, kyphosis, deformation of valgus on the foot, TBS dysplasia;
- Systemic pathologies - rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, red lupus;
- Endocrine and metabolic diseases- gift, diabetes mellitus, hypo- and hyperthyroidism, obesity;
- Previous injuries - subluxation of the vertebrae and their fractures, damage to the spinal cord;
- blood circulation, including against the background of a sedentary lifestyle.
One of the main causes of osteochondrosis is the natural aging of the body.After 50 years, the recovery processes are delayed, the production of collagen decreases, the condition of the relationships worsens.
Characteristic signs and symptoms of the disease
In the initial stage of development, osteochondrosis does not occur clinically.A person accepts poor soreness of the lower back for muscle surge after a working day and does not consult a doctor.But the severity of the symptoms is slowly increasing - it soon joins the slopes and turns of the case, disorders of sensitivity and stiffness are joined in pain.
Rook syndrome
This is the name of the defeat of the spinal roots, leading to motor, vegetative and severe disorders.Rotor syndrome develops with osteochondrosis at 3-4 severity.At these stages, intervertebral hernia is formed, compressing the spinal roots.The pathology takes place according to the type of Lumbago, Lumbalgia and Lumbar -Ilgia.In addition to severe pain, radicular syndrome is characterized by sensations of tingling, numbness, crawl of geese, decreased or complete absence of sensitivity.
Ischemic syndrome
In the late stages of lumbar osteochondrosis, it is possible to compress herniation of large blood vessels.The pelvic organs cease to receive sufficient nutrients, leading to impaired functioning.The cerebral cerebral trophy is also upset, a neurological deficiency develops - a periodic limb, the temperature, the sensitivity to the pain falls.
Spine syndrome
As a result of a decrease in the distance between adjacent vertebrae bodies, bone tissue growth, lumbar vertebrae segments gradually deform.The situation is worsened by constant compensatory stress of the posterior muscles with their subsequent atrophy.Pathologically changes the gait and posture of a person, including due to incorrect redistribution of loads.The likelihood of other parts of the spine and the joints of the legs in the destructive depressive process is significantly increased.
Pain syndrome
In the lower back is a large seat nerve formed by sacral spinal roots.When it is impaired with hernial convexity, bone growth, spasmodic muscles, and needles appear - a typical symptom of lumbar osteochondrosis.There is acute pain, spread over the sciatic nerve to the thighs, knees, lower legs (lumbar -ilgia).Another specific characteristic of the pathology - lumbago or "shots" in the lower back after a sharp slope or bend, hypothermia.
Diagnostic methods
When diagnosed, radiographs taken in two projections are most information.In order to study the lumbar segment more detailed, an MRI is performed.The study allows you to evaluate the condition of the spinal cord, the structures of the soft tissues, blood vessels, and nerve roots.It is possible to determine the degree of damage to the nerve trunks using the potentials caused, electrography, electromyography.A discography is used to target the examination of the affected discs.
How the treatment is performed
A comprehensive approach to lumbar osteochondrosis is made.Treatment is aimed at eliminating pain, restoring the volume of movement, preventing the spread of pathology to healthy disks and vertebrae.
Medication
The use of non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs, glucocorticosteroids, muscle relaxants allows you to get rid of pain in the lower back.In therapy, drugs are used to improve blood circulation.Patients should be prescribed B vitamins, chondroprotectors.
Medical physical education
This is the most effective and affordable treatment for osteochondrosis.After 1-2 months of daily treatment for physiotherapy exercises, the muscles of not only the lower back, but the entire part of the back, improves posture, accelerates blood supply to damaged connective tissue structures.LFK doctors recommend that patients recommend slow smooth turns and torso slopes, shallow squats and strokes.
Massage
Patients with lumbar osteochondrosis show all types of massage - vacuum, acupunte, connective, segmental.But the most in demand is classic.During the session, the massage therapist performs the main movements of the massage: repayment, rubbing, mixing, vibration.The goals of the procedures are to eliminate muscle cramps, improve blood circulation in the affected segment and increase skeletal muscles.
Physiotherapy
In the acute and subacute period, patients are prescribed by electrophoresis or ultra -phonophoresis with glucocorticosteroids, anesthetics, group B vitamins. Laser therapy, magnetotherapy, stressed wool therapy and UHF therapy are often performed.Ozokeritoling, paraffin applications, hirudotherapy, mud, radon, hydrogen sulfide baths are also used.
Surgery
The main indication of surgery is disruption of the spinal cord with hernial convexity.During the surgery, the intervertebral hernia is removed, decompression of the spinal canal is performed.The most commonly used surgical intervention methods for lumbar osteochondrosis are microdiscectomy, drilling or laser disk reconstruction, implant installation, stabilization of the spinal segment.
Traditional medicine
After the basic therapy, the achievements of stable remission in treatment, homemade ointment, herbal teas, compresses, rubbing of oil and alcohol are used.Folk remedies do not affect the cause of osteochondrosis, therefore they are used to eliminate mild, sick pain, heaviness in the lower back after hypothermia, sharp change in time or increased physical activity.
The consequences of the lack of treatment
The development of almost all complications of lumbar osteochondrosis is provoked by the formed intervertebral hernia.Discogenic myelopathy is particularly dangerous, which does not always prove even surgical treatment.It is manifested through pelvic disorders, including disorders of bowel movements, urination.Osteochondrosis complications also include Rooser syndrome, a common cause of acute, piercing lower back pain.
Prevention and prediction measures
The prognosis is favorable in the diagnosis of pathology at 1-2 degrees of weight.It lends itself well to conservative treatment, and in young patients it is possible to even partially restore the tissues of the intervertebral discs.With the development of complications, the prognosis for full recovery is less favorable.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is to control body weight, exclusion of excess loads, timely treatment of endocrine, metabolic diseases.Neurologists and vertebrologists recommend that they visit the pool, join aquaerobics, Pilates, Scandinavian walking.