Symptoms and methods of treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

The most common cause of back pain is the development of a disease of the musculoskeletal system such as osteochondrosis. If previously this pathology was found mainly in older people and less frequently in middle-aged people, now osteochondrosis has become much younger, often diagnosed in 20-30 year olds.

According to medical statistics, the disease most commonly affects the lumbar and lumbosacral spine.

Characteristics of the disease

Osteochondrosis is a pathology of the musculoskeletal system that affects its most important component - the spine. This is due to the fact that dystrophic changes begin to develop in the intervertebral discs.

The disease not only affects the tissue of the intervertebral discs, negative changes begin to occur in the surrounding tissues that affect the ligaments and muscles.

The reason for the prevalence of the lumbar form of osteochondrosis is that this part of the spine is exposed to the greatest physical stress.

This disease involves characteristic changes in the nucleus pulposus, which is part of the intervertebral disc. This plate performs depreciation functions.

If the water exchange in the intervertebral discs is disturbed, they become thinner and their fragility increases.

Older age groups are most susceptible to the pathological process, as metabolic processes in the tissues of the intervertebral discs begin to deteriorate when a certain age is reached.

As a result of the negative changes, the boundaries of the nucleus pulposus gradually dilate, tending to enter the intervertebral space. This usually ends with the nucleus moving to the spinal canal, resulting in compression and constriction from nerve fibers and blood vessels.

Pinched nerves cause pain in osteochondrosis. The functioning of the internal organs may deteriorate.

As the pathology progresses, the pressure on the vertebrae increases. The body tries to compensate for the error and the growth of spinal bone tissue is significantly accelerated. As a result, abnormal growths - osteophytes - form on the vertebrae. Ultimately, this further interferes with the functionality of the affected spine.

With advanced forms of osteochondrosis, the patient may experience paralysis of the lower extremities. Late access to medical care can cause a person to become disabled.

Causes of lumbar and lumbosacral spinal osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar and lumbosacral spine is caused by improper distribution of spinal load. When combined with other negative factors, the progression of osteochondrosis is accelerated and can take more severe forms.

The disease can be caused by:

• regular heavy physical work, lifting heavy objects (people in certain professions as well as athletes involved in weightlifting are at risk);
• Insufficient physical activity, which negatively affects the condition of muscles and leads to deterioration of blood circulation, metabolic processes and a decrease in the amount of nutrients entering the tissues;
• the patient is overweight, leading to a constant high load on the spine;
• posture and improper gait problems;
• the presence of congenital deformities or other defects in the spine or the whole skeleton;
• flat legs can also cause osteochondrosis, as patients with deformity of the foot are unable to fully absorb the load during movement, leading to increased load on the intervertebral discs;
• traumatic spinal cord injury;
• genetically determined disorders of bone formation;
• age-related changes;
• bone tissue infections (tuberculosis, osteomyelitis);
• Inflammatory processes affecting bones and joints (including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis)
• lack of vitamins and minerals;
• Exposure to harmful and toxic substances.

The most common cause of pathology is severe stress on the spine in patients with poor posture.

Symptoms of the disease

The manifestation and severity of the symptoms of osteochondrosis depend on the stage of the disease.

The disease has four stages:

1. The first stage is characterized by the appearance of pain in the lumbar region (lumbago), cramps in the surrounding muscle tissue, and swelling of the affected area. During this period, changes and displacements in the nucleus of the nucleus of the intervertebral discs begin, causing irritation of the nerve endings.
2. In the second stage, the process of destruction of the fibrous rings of the intervertebral plates begins. The vertebrae become unstable, their mobility increases, and as a result, the adjacent muscles cause constant tension. Pain is recorded along the sciatic nerve. Disorders of the internal organs can sometimes begin at this stage of the disease.
3. In the third stage, the rupture of the fibrous rings and the release of the contents of the nucleus pulposus are observed. As a result, herniated discs are formed. All this contributes to further deformity of the spine (development of scoliosis, kyphosis or lordosis is observed). Acute pain becomes permanent, caused by radical syndrome, in which nerve roots are compressed by fragments falling out of fibrous rings.
4. The fourth stage is characterized by severe deformity of the spine, abnormal growths appear on the vertebrae. The pain can be significantly relieved, but this does not mean an improvement in the patient’s condition. On the contrary, human movement becomes severely restricted. Generally, patients with stage 4 osteochondrosis need to have a disability record.

One of the main symptoms of the disease is pain in the lumbar region, which can spread to the tail bone and lower extremities. It is divided into 3 types:

1. Lumbago- Sudden pain attacks that start when you move suddenly or lift heavy objects.
2. Lumbodynia- severe, regular pain with damage to the intervertebral cartilage and muscle fibers.
3. Lumboishalgia- is characterized by pain, feeling cold or warm in the lumbar region as well as in the legs.

A person's mental state can also cause pain.

In addition to pain, osteochondrosis is characterized by:

• feeling of weakness in the lower half of the body and legs;
• deterioration of tendon reflexes in the lower extremities;
• tingling that can be felt from the lower back to the legs;
curvature of the spine
• ;
• In lumbosacral osteochondrosis, pelvic organ dysfunction often occurs (urinary incontinence, stool incontinence, erectile dysfunction);
• Skin problems (dryness, peeling, bluish tinge) and changes in sweating may also occur in the lower back and buttocks.

If you find any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor as soon as possible to start treatment immediately and prevent serious consequences.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar and lumbosacral spine

Medical

In a patient diagnosed with osteochondrosis, your doctor may prescribe the following types of therapies (including more than one at a time):

• medication;
• physiotherapy procedures;
• medical massage and manual therapy;
Perform
• surgery.

Let's take a closer look at these methods.

Medications are prescribed to relieve pain, fight inflammation, and improve the regeneration of diseased tissues. The patient can be assigned:

• painkillers (help relieve pain);
• muscle relaxants (used to relax muscle fibers and relieve cramps);
• chondroprotectors (promote cartilage and bone regeneration and protect them from negative effects);
• anti-inflammatory drugs;
• diuretics (diuretics) are prescribed for edema;
• blood circulation drugs;
• Vitamin and mineral complexes.

In common forms of osteochondrosis, if traditional painkillers are ineffective, blockages may be prescribed. The specific medications to be used and the schedule and duration of treatment will be determined by the physician, taking into account the stage of the disease and the severity of the symptoms.

To increase the effectiveness of your treatment, it is advisable to prescribe physiotherapy with medicines. In the case of osteochondrosis, the following procedures are indicated:

• laser therapy;
• magnetic resonance therapy;
• phonophoresis;
• shock wave therapy.

These treatments help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and repair damaged tissue. The use of a laser beam is very efficient, it allows to achieve a stable remission.

Additional topical medications are used when prescribing phonophoresis (this method allows the drug to penetrate deep under the skin just until the lesion). To maximize tissue oxygen enrichment, your doctor may also prescribe ozone therapy.

It should be borne in mind that physiotherapy is contraindicated in certain diseases. It should not be prescribed to patients with oncological diseases, thyrotoxicosis, diabetes, tuberculosis, infectious diseases.

Massage and manual therapy can be prescribed at the same time as medications and physiotherapy procedures, which enhances the therapeutic effect.

These methods affect the conduction of nerve impulses and help normalize muscle tone.

Surgery is indicated only in the later stages of the disease, when other treatments are useless. Surgery is required if:

• the patient suffers from severe pain that cannot be controlled with medication;
• disc herniation;
• the patient is diagnosed with spinal cord compression (this leads to impaired sensitivity and motor function - from a feeling of weakness to paralysis);
• Horse tail syndrome is detected.

Nowadays, modern high-tech and low-traumatic surgeries are being performed more and more often, which significantly shortens the rehabilitation period. In the absence of complications, the patient can move normally within a few months after surgery.

Folk remedies

Traditional medications help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and improve mobility. There are several ways to treat osteochondrosis with folk remedies.

1. Raw potatoes should be taken, grated and mixed with natural honey. The resulting mixture should be placed on your back and bandaged for at least 2 hours. Applying hot boiled potatoes to the affected area also helps.
2. Grate the garlic and mix in equal parts with ginger. Then add olive oil. The resulting drug should be rubbed into the back at night to improve blood circulation and reduce muscle tension.
3. Mix a spoonful of mint oil with a spoonful of pine oil. The mixture should be rubbed into the back.
4. Take chopped pine or pine needles ½ tablespoons / 200 ml (1 glass) of boiling water and let it boil for 30 minutes. Drink ½ glasses twice a day.
5. Mix a tablespoon of cranberry berry and mint herb, bring to a boil with hot water (1 cup), allow to cook and strain. Consume the broth gradually during the day.

It is important to understand that treatment with folk remedies cannot replace a doctor's visit. Folk methods temporarily relieve symptoms but do not completely eliminate the disease.

In addition, they may not be suitable for all patients, so it is strongly recommended that you consult a specialist before using them.

Physiotherapy exercises

Physiotherapy exercises are designed to strengthen the muscles of the lower back, buttocks and thighs to help relieve pain, reduce the degree of nerve and blood vessel entrapment, and restore flexibility.

In order for your practices to be as effective as possible and not cause harm, there are certain guidelines to follow:

Exercises
• should be performed in natural fabric that does not restrict movement;
• the lumbar area should not be hypothermic during physical education;
• if you need to lie down to perform the exercise, it is better to place a round roller under your lower leg;
• start exercising at the earliest one hour after a meal;
• regular participation in physiotherapy exercises in order to achieve a sustainable positive effect;
• exercises should focus smoothly, slowly, on muscle work;
• should monitor your breathing, be even and deep;
• It is useful to keep a log of changes that have taken place since the start of the exercises.

What exercises need to be performed depends on the severity of the symptoms of osteochondrosis.

In acute lumbar osteochondrosis, the spine should not be loaded, the bed should be rested (preferably using an orthopedic mattress), and exercise should be performed lying on your back, repeating each movement 8-10 times. Here are some suggestions:

1. Lying on your back, place a roller under your tibia and bend your knees. The patient should bend his arms and bend his fists, as well as bend his legs at the ankles. These movements are performed alternately with each arm and leg.
2. Alternately bend and bend your legs, just moving your knees. The back should not move at the same time.
3. Rotate both legs one after the other.
4. Extend your arms and legs, then start bending and stretching the elbows of both arms at the same time. Inhale during bending and exhale during extension. Hold your palm with your palm.

Recommended practices for subacute lumbar osteochondrosis:

1. Lean on your knees in a supine position and place your feet on the mattress. While inhaling, gently lift the sacrum while the lower part of the chest spine rests on the mattress. After 1-2 seconds, gently lower the lower back.
2. Lying on a mattress, you should lift your head and tighten your abdominal muscles while inhaling. When exhaling, return to starting position.
3. In a supine position, pull your heel toward the bottom with a sliding motion without lifting it off the mattress. After a few seconds, straighten your legs. The movements should be repeated for each leg separately and for both legs at the same time.
4. From a four-legged position, sit with your buttocks on your heels, placing your hands on the mattress with sliding movements. Then return to the starting position.
5. Stand on all fours, relax your neck. Pull your chin to your chest, bend your back to the lower back like a cat, fix this position for a few seconds. It must be ensured that the head does not rise and the back maintains its accepted position.

Patients who have achieved remission can perform any of the above exercises.

Physiotherapy exercises should be performed 3-4 times a day for any form of lumbar osteochondrosis, if possible, but be sure to consult your doctor before starting them.

Preventive measures

Osteochondrosis, like most other diseases, is much easier to prevent than trying to get rid of its consequences later. To minimize the likelihood of developing the disease, it is recommended that:

• to keep your diet healthy and balanced;
• live an active life the more you move;
• do not subject the spine to excessive load;
• Exercise to strengthen your back muscles.

There is also a need for rapid treatment of diseases and injuries leading to osteochondrosis. If you develop even minor symptoms that may indicate spinal problems, do not delay your visit to the doctor.

Conclusion

Lumbar spine osteochondrosis is a disease that should be taken as seriously as possible to avoid serious consequences. If you follow a healthy lifestyle and follow the recommended preventive measures, the likelihood of developing the pathology will be minimal.

If you still have symptoms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Timely medical assistance is the key to stable remission, which allows the pathological process to be stopped, the patient’s ability to work, and, to some extent, the musculoskeletal system to be restored to its previous state.