Lumbar osteochondrosis

According to medical statistics, back pain in 80% of patients is caused by osteochondrosis of the spine. This occurs as a result of degenerative-dystrophic changes in this segment, when the intervertebral discs and adjacent vertebrae are affected. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine (OBOP) manifests itself in a variety of symptoms: pain of a different nature, limited mobility, impaired sensitivity of the lower body, etc. With long-term treatment, degenerative processes spread to the vertebrae, reduce the ability to work, and then the patient may become disabled.

To prevent dangerous complications of lumbar osteochondrosis (LP), you should begin complex treatment in stages 1-2 of the pathology. In advanced cases, when there are irreversible changes in the disc or spine, an operation is performed. It is necessary to prevent lumbar osteochondrosis and related complications.

Development of lumbar osteochondrosis

To understand what osteochondrosis of the LBP is, you need to learn the structure of the spine. It consists of vertebrae with intervertebral discs between them. Inside the disc is a hard fibrous membrane (annulus fibrosus) with a nuclear pulposus. This structure has the function of a shock absorber and makes the spine more elastic.

Help. The lumbar segment of the spine is subjected to great stress on a daily basis because it can support the weight of the upper body. Therefore, osteochondrosis of the lower spine is diagnosed more often than cervical and thoracic.

With regular tension in the spine, the discs shrink, lose a lot of fluid, shrink, and the distance between the vertebrae decreases. The cartilaginous lining becomes brittle, and micro-cracks appear on the surface over time, from which the pulposus nucleus emerges. With further compression of the intervertebral discs, the outer shell breaks off and the gelatin falls into the body, thus forming a hernia. Then there is the pathological mobility of the vertebrae, the load on the adjacent segments of the spine increases.

After a while, bone growths (osteophytes) begin to form at the edges of the vertebral bodies. Thus, the body tries to stabilize the spine.

Doctors distinguish 4 stages of lumbar osteochondrosis:

• 1st degree - disc problems begin, the central part becomes dehydrated, flattened, cracks appear in the outer shell. There is a deleted current.
• 2 degrees - the cartilaginous lining shakes, the vertebrae get closer to each other, they become more mobile, the muscles and ligaments around the waist shake. The pain appears.
• Grade 3 - vertebral protrusions, hernias and subluxations. The pain increases, mobility is limited, the sensitivity of the lower body is impaired.
• Grade 4 osteochondrosis is characterized by the appearance of osteophytes that can damage the spinal nerves and adjacent vertebrae. There is constant pain, severe neurological diseases and other complications, the risk of disability increases.

The easiest way to treat lumbar chondrosis (stage 1), but at this stage it is very difficult to diagnose the disease. Grade II intervertebral osteochondrosis is treated conservatively. Surgery may be required in 3-4 stages.

Help. According to statistics, OBO is more common in patients after 30 years. After 20 years, people often have pathological development. About 80% of patients over the age of 60 suffer from the manifestations of this disease.

Reasons

To understand how osteochondrosis fights PKOP (lumbosacral spine), you need to know its causes:

• Regular static or dynamic load in the lumbar segment. The risk group for the development of osteochondrosis includes office workers, professional athletes (weightlifters), mobiles, builders, etc.
• Weak posture, inappropriate posture for a long time.
• Genetic predisposition, abnormalities in the formation of vertebral bodies. This category includes curvature of the spine caused by pathologies of the vertebral bodies - a young program.
• Spinal cord injuries.
• Disorders of hormonal balance in the lumbar region, metabolic disorders, diseases of the endocrine glands.
• Age-related changes in the body cause disc wear.
• Bone tuberculosis, osteomyelitis (purulent inflammation of bone tissue), ankylosing spondylitis (inflammation of the vertebrae and joints), rheumatoid arthritis, etc.

A disease is often caused by several reasons.

In addition, there are factors that contribute to the development of osteochondrosis of the spine:

• Overweight.
• Passive lifestyle, sitting for a long time.
• Regular consumption of unhealthy foods (fatty, fried foods, confectionery, semi-finished products, etc. ).
• Dehydration, dehydration.
• Congenital disorders of the spinal structure, such as the extra vertebrae.
• Constantly wear uncomfortable heels.
• During pregnancy, then the load on the spine increases.
• Abrupt refusal to train a professional athlete or extreme sports in people who have previously led a passive lifestyle.
• Smoking, frequent and excessive drinking.

There are more factors that can trigger degenerative-dystrophic processes in the lower back. For example, straight legs, frequent hypothermia of the lower back, frequent stress, sleep disorders, etc.

Symptoms

The symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis vary, depending on the pathological stage and the localization of the affected area.

Doctors distinguish reflex and compression syndromes (symptom complex) in OBOR. The first occurs when the receptors on the outer shell of the discs, ligaments, and joint capsules are irritated, and the second occurs when the nerve ligaments, blood vessels, and spinal cord are constricted.

Low osteochondrosis has the following reflex syndromes:

• Lumbago. Shooting pain in the back with a sudden movement or effort. At the slightest attempt to move, the pain syndrome intensifies, so the patient freezes in one position. The muscles in the affected area are very tense, and on palpation the painful sensations become more pronounced. These manifestations are associated with the movement of the pulposus nucleus inside the outer cortex.
• Lumbodinia. Aching pain develops over a period of hours or days. Anxiety increases with movement, changes in body position. Weakness occurs when a person takes a horizontal position with a roller under the lower back. In this case, the pain increases when lifting a straight leg (Lassegh symptom). The rate of muscle tension is lower compared to lumbago. Low back mobility is limited.
• Lumboischialgia. Painful sensations (sharp or painful) spread from the waist down to the body. There is an increase in this constellation during the movements. The pain is relieved by leaning back. The muscles in the affected area are tense, and the pain syndrome manifests itself on palpation.

The symptoms of compression syndromes depend on which parts of the lumbar segment are damaged. Characteristic symptoms are associated with compression of the spinal nerves by hernias, osteophytes, displaced vertebrae. This condition is called radiculopathy, in which the slightest movement increases the pain, the lumbar muscles tense and the mobility is limited.

Clinical manifestations of compression syndromes depending on the damaged spine:

• L1 - L3 - pain and numbness in the lumbar, anterior and inner thighs, difficulty in bending / flexing the patient's knee.
• L4 - pain syndrome extends to the front of the thigh, descends to the knee (back). Sensitivity is impaired in the same area.
• L5 - painful sensations spread to the thighs, the outer part of the thigh, along the front of the lower leg to the inner part of the foot and the big toe. There is numbness in the same area, it is difficult for the patient to bend the thumb.
• S1 - pain, spreads from the waist to the thighs, the outside and back of the thigh, descends to the lower leg, the outer part of the foot. There is numbness in the same areas, the muscles of the lower leg are weakened, so it is difficult for the patient to stand on his feet.

There is a risk of damage to several nerve bundles at once, for example, L5, S1. If the hernia moves backwards, it can compress the spinal cord.

Increases the likelihood of constriction of blood vessels in the back, weakening of the leg muscles, numbness of the lower extremities, loss of control over the process of urination and defecation. In men with OBO, the erection is disturbed, and in women the main symptoms may be exacerbated by inflammation of the ovaries or uterus.

Diagnostic measures

To diagnose OBO, the doctor examines the patient, palpates the patient to determine the condition of the muscles and the curvature of the spine. To make the diagnosis easier, it is important to give the specialist detailed information about your symptoms.

Instrumental examinations will help detect intervertebral osteochondrosis:

• Lumbar radiography (frontal and lateral projection).
• Calculated and magnetic resonance imaging.

X-ray allows you to assess the structure of the EPP. X-rays are taken in the flexion and extension position to detect abnormal vertebral mobility. This study allows us to see that the intervertebral fracture narrows, the vertebral bodies change, and osteophytes appear at the edges. However, this diagnostic method is considered obsolete.

Today, CT and MRI are increasingly used to detect degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine. These highly informative studies allow us to assess the condition of the vertebrae, discs, intervertebral foramen, and spinal cord. They are used to detect protrusions, the direction of the hernia, the degree of compression of nerve bundles, spinal cord and blood vessels.

Treatment

GODS FOR LUMBAR OSTEOCHONDROSIS

Treatment of osteochondrosis EPP lasts from 1-3 months to 1 year. The success of therapy depends on the patient himself, who must strictly follow the doctor's recommendations. With self-medication, the patient's condition generally worsens.

Treatment goals:

• Stop or reduce program symptoms.
• Determine the cause of the disease, try to eliminate it from life.
• Eliminate the inflammatory process.
• Restore blood circulation, metabolic processes in the lower back.
• Try to improve the condition of the damaged cartilage lining, stop more degenerative changes.

It is recommended to carry out a complex therapy to achieve such goals. It usually starts with medication:

• Muscle relaxants. They relax muscles and relieve pain and inflammation.
• QSİAP. They have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic effect.
• Antispasmodics. They help to stop smooth muscle spasms and relieve pain.
• Anesthesia. Used for severe pain syndrome in the form of a therapeutic blockade.
• Glucocorticosteroids. They also help to cope with the pain. However, these drugs are capable of destroying bones, so they are taken for a short time and only after a doctor's approval.
• Sedatives. They relieve nervous and muscular tension and improve sleep.
• Vitamins (group B, E, C, A). Restores the condition of the affected nerves, relieves pain.

Attention. NSAIDs should not be taken for gastritis or peptic ulcer because they cause more damage to the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.

In case of exacerbation, the patient is injected and takes oral medication after the main symptoms have resolved.

In addition, external substances are used (gels, ointments, creams, rubs).

The question of what to do in chronic lumbar osteochondrosis is very relevant. If OBOP becomes chronic, the patient is prescribed chondroprotectants, blood-restoring drugs, B-vitamin-based drugs, which help to restore innervation, normalize blood supply to the affected area and prevent further development of pathology.

Treatment of lumbar chondrosis (stage 1) is carried out with the use of chondroprotectors, which slow down the development of degenerative processes and accelerate the recovery of cartilage. In addition, the patient is prescribed vitamin and mineral complexes. This osteochondrosis is the easiest to treat.

OTHER CONSERVATIVE TECHNIQUES

The following treatment procedures will help to stop the development of 1-2 degrees of acute chronic disease (osteochondrosis):

• Ultrasound treatment relieves pain and inflammation and normalizes blood flow to the affected area.
• Detensor therapy is a reliable stretching of the spine according to the weight of your body, after which muscle tone normalizes and mobility improves.
• Magnetotherapy reduces pain and inflammation of the muscles around the spine.
• Reflexology (insertion of needles into bioactive points of the body) accelerates blood circulation, eliminates inflammation and edema.
• Manual therapy (affecting the affected area with the doctor's hands) and massage normalizes muscle tone, reduces compression of nerve bundles, improves nutrition of intervertebral discs and restores spinal structure.
• Electrophoresis allows drug delivery to bone and cartilage tissues.
• Drasonvalization improves blood circulation, metabolic processes, reduces pain, restores skin sensitivity.

There are more effective procedures to help improve the patient's condition in 5-15 sessions. The key is to get a doctor's approval before performing them.

Home Software Treatment

If you are wondering if it is possible to treat OBO at home, consult your doctor. If the specialist allows, start therapy, which usually consists of the following points:

• Diet. Osteochondrosis of the spine is caused by impaired blood flow or metabolism, fatty, fried, spicy foods, eggs, etc. Remove from menu. Fill the menu with fresh vegetables, fruits, lean meats, fish and dairy products. Avoid alcohol, tonic drinks (tea, coffee). Drink filtered water, compotes, herbal teas.

• Exercise or rub to restore blood circulation.
• Lie on an orthopedic mattress, low pillow. If you have a sedentary job, get a chair that supports your back. Wear a special corset or belt from time to time.
• Sports therapy will help strengthen the muscle corset, relieve some of the burden on the lower back. The complex is developed individually for each patient by a doctor or instructor.
• Massage the lumbar region yourself. However, ask an expert how to do it properly.
• Friction, compresses, baths, etc. Use folk remedies in the form of.
• The needle applicator is a multi-spike plastic plate that improves blood circulation, metabolic processes in the affected area, reduces muscle pain and relaxes.

You can also use lotions with herbal solutions, plasters at home.

Help. An innovation in the treatment of osteochondrosis is a massage bed suitable for even the most irregular patients.

But keep in mind that home treatment can only be done with your doctor's permission.

SURGICAL TREATMENT

When conservative methods prove to be ineffective for a long time, an operation is prescribed for osteochondrosis of the spine. Surgery is also indicated for involuntary urination, defecation, and cauda equina syndrome (compression of the lower spinal nerves).

The following surgical methods are used in the treatment of OBO:

• Spondylodysis - a combination of adjacent vertebrae.
• Facetectomy - removal of intervertebral joints that compress the spinal nerve.
• Laminectomy is the removal of the lamina that covers the spinal canal that compresses the spinal cord.
• A discectomy is the complete or partial removal of an intervertebral disc that causes compression of a nerve root or spinal cord.
• Corpectomy - removal of the spinal cord and adjacent cartilage pads. The cavity is then filled with a bone graft and 3 vertebral segments are joined.

Help. There is a risk of complications after surgery: spinal cord injuries, nerve connections, broken vaccines, infections, etc.

After treatment, you need to undergo rehabilitation to speed recovery.

Complications

In the absence of appropriate therapy, the risk of such complications of lumbar osteochondrosis increases:

• Herniated disc, compressed nerve root or spinal cord.
• Long-term inflammation increases the likelihood of developing radiculitis (inflammation of the nerve roots).
• Sciatica (inflammation of the sciatic nerve) with severe pain and numbness in the lower extremities.
• In case of circulatory disorders in the spinal cord, the likelihood of compression myelopathy increases (compression of the spinal cord by various formations: bone fragments, hernias, tumors, hematomas).
• Cauda equina syndrome - compression of the roots of the lower spinal cord, which leads to dysfunction of the intestines, pelvic organs and lower extremities.

You should start treatment as soon as possible to prevent such complications.

Prevention

Follow these rules to prevent lumbar osteochondrosis:

• Maintain a moderately active lifestyle (walk more, exercise regularly, go to the pool).
• Heat every 1, 5 hours for idle work.
• Sleeping on an orthopedic mattress.
• Avoid excessive physical exertion, lift weights only in a semi-bent position, and wear a special belt around your waist beforehand.
• Buy orthopedic shoes.
• Eat right, take vitamin and mineral complexes as prescribed by your doctor.
• Learn to relax.
• Try hypothermia.
• Treat diseases that can cause OBO in a timely manner.
• Get rid of bad habits.

By following these tips, you can avoid degenerative changes in the spine and improve your health.

Most Important

If you notice signs of osteochondrosis of the spine, consult a doctor immediately. Self-medication can worsen your condition and cause complications. Lumbar chondrosis (stage 1) is treated with exercise therapy, physiotherapy and chondroprotectors. In the later stages, medications, massage, manual therapy, etc. Is used. In the absence of positive dynamics for a long time or if neurological symptoms occur, the doctor may prescribe surgery. The patient should strictly follow the doctor's recommendations to speed recovery.