Stable, thoracic and sacral, the lumbar spine that connects the parts of the spine plays the most important role. Provides mobility of the spine.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis appear with the development of degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs. The presence of a serious illness can significantly complicate, lead to reduced ability to work and even disability.
Reasons
The disease is spreading all over the world. This is due to common factors such as physical inactivity, poor environmental conditions, nutrition and obesity. At the same time, the heaviest loads often fall on the back, so it is important to know the causes of lumbar osteochondrosis.
- More than half of the cases are associated with an inherited predisposition that determines the structure of easily deformed intervertebral discs.
- Exercise associated with regular physical activity is a negative factor that can cause problems with the spine.
- Wrong posture, aggravated by hypodynamics, the lumbar region is more stressed.
- In the future, spinal cord injury often causes the disease. Therefore, professional sports representatives are at risk.
- Many years ago, osteochondrosis was a disease of the elderly - it makes sense. Discs are more prone to deformation with age. Today, however, the disease can be observed in people in their thirties. The impetus for the development of osteochondrosis are errors in the independent performance of complex physical exercises.
- If there is any pathology of the joints, severe hypothermia and a sharp tension when lifting a heavy load can cause pain.
- Excess weight puts extra stress on all joints of the spine.
- Often the onset of the disease is associated with pathologies of some internal organs: liver, kidneys and others.
Symptoms
So, look at the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine.
- The first and main symptom of the disease is the first periodic pain in the lower back during heavy exercise. At first it passes after rest, but then becomes permanent, covering not only the lower back, but also the lower body. During further destruction of the spine, the pain intensifies, there is a feeling of heat or cold in the back.
- Sensitivity of the lower body skin decreases or even disappears completely, vascular spasm may occur. Failure to stabilize the spine by the disc is fraught with serious damage to internal organs.
- In women, the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are complemented by inflammation of the ovaries, appendages, and uterus. This condition can mask the main symptoms and lead to an error in diagnosis.
- Due to severe pain, a person often has to be in an unnatural position, resulting in the spine slipping to one side. Bending in posture, tension in gait is visible.
- The spine loses mobility and elasticity. The effect of lumbodynia is observed when the patient is difficult to correct after prolonged work in a bent position.
- Compression of the nerve root in the vertebrae is accompanied by severe pain and can lead to consequences in the form of impaired mobility.
- Lumbar lumbar osteochondrosis is also characterized by symptoms of ischemic syndrome, a group of symptoms associated with decreased blood flow in constricted arteries. Initially, vascular spasm occurs episodically, accompanied by pain during walking. They pass after rest. However, over time, the spasm lasts longer, and the pelvic organs stop feeding, which disrupts their function. Stopping blood flow can cause paralysis.
- The disease can cause pain in the coccyx. The symptoms of sacral osteochondrosis differ in some originality, so it is more difficult to diagnose. Despite the intense, even exploding pain, they are transmitted to the surrounding tissues, so the patient can not show the exact location of their localization. In addition, they are accompanied by inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system. Frequent urination or urinary incontinence, constipation, the patient has difficulty sitting and moving.
Complications
If the problem is not treated, a progressive disease can cause serious complications.
- The rupture of the fibrous ring will result in compression of the nerve endings by the protruding pulposus nucleus - an intervertebral hernia.
- Prolonged inflammatory processes in the spine can result in sciatica - a disease of the roots of the spinal nerves.
- A very serious complication is inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which is characterized not only by severe pain, but also numbness in the limbs.
- Impaired blood flow to the spinal cord can lead to depressive myelopathy.
- Horsetail syndrome is one of the most serious consequences of osteochondrosis. The bundle of nerve endings extending from a vertebra at the end of the spinal cord is responsible for transmitting impulses from the body and allows the brain to control the body's work. Their acute inflammation can lead to dysfunction of the genitourinary system and partial or complete paralysis of the limbs.
Treatment
Lumbar osteochondrosis, its symptoms and treatment depend on where the nerve endings are compressed and where pain and sensitivity are lost. If therapy is started on time, it will be very successful, but in any case, it will require an integrated approach.
Medications are used only to relieve acute pain. The main goal of therapy is to stop the development of the disease and return the spine to its proper position, to restore normal blood flow inside. This is a complex and lengthy process that requires the use of various rehabilitation methods.
Physiotherapy
Therapeutic gymnastics plays an important role in rehabilitation. It is prescribed a few days after the elimination of severe pain, is selected individually for each patient and depends on:
- stage of the disease,
- Causes of lumbar osteochondrosis,
- age of the patient,
- localization of pain,
- and other factors.
The main goal of therapeutic exercises is to create a reliable muscle corset that will help reduce the load on the intervertebral discs. Initially, several exercises are offered with a small load. It is gradually increasing. Special exercises are added to those that are common over time.
Gymnastics is first performed lying on his back. In this case, the load on the spine is minimal, there is no increase in pain. The next stage is exercise, lying on your side, and then on your stomach. You can put a pillow under it, a roller under the joints of the lower extremities.
At the initial stage, all exercises are performed very slowly and carefully. Gradually, as the amplitude of the movements increases, new ones are added to them. After the pain stops and the patient's condition improves, the complex is completed by standing on all fours, then sitting in a chair, and then standing exercises.
If the disease is chronic, then depending on the patient's well-being, it is allowed to engage in certain sports - swimming, skiing and others. The effectiveness of therapeutic exercises will increase many times with regular classes.
Manual therapy and massage
Manual therapy is one of the oldest and most effective methods as part of a complex of measures used to treat osteochondrosis of the spine and its symptoms. The course includes several procedures that eliminate the cause of pain and numbness in the limbs, relieve tension in the muscle fibers, and restore blood circulation and joint mobility. When using this technique, you can get a fast and positive effect that is comparable to the results of therapeutic exercises. However, there are some contraindications that need to be considered when incorporating a complex treatment.
Massage is an excellent tool in the fight against a serious illness. After a few sessions, the patient feels well, muscle stiffness disappears and joint mobility is restored. However, each case of the disease has its own characteristics, and only a qualified specialist should prescribe this procedure.
There are a number of contraindications, in the presence of which massage is prohibited for a certain category of patients:
- neoplasms of a different nature;
- third-degree hypertension;
- moles in the massage area;
- arrhythmias and other pathologies of the heart;
- blood diseases;
- gynecological diseases and others.
Usually a traditional type of massage is prescribed. The first procedures may be accompanied by mild pain, which will soon stop.
Severe pain during the session is unacceptable. Vacuum massage using boxes can be used to improve blood flow to the affected area.
A doctor will help you overcome the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis and choose the most effective treatment. Most likely, massage will be included in the list of recommendations.
Physiotherapy
The complex of therapeutic measures includes physiotherapeutic methods. They allow you to move locally in the affected area and eliminate unpleasant symptoms. The following types of physiotherapy are widely used:
- exposure to electric or electromagnetic fields allows to increase blood flow and metabolic processes in tissues;
- Ultraviolet light eliminates inflammation, stimulates the production of vitamin D, strengthens the body's defenses;
- ultrasound waves have a high anti-inflammatory effect;
- Balneotherapy is widely used both in the treatment and prevention of diseases of the spine due to the mild and effective therapeutic effect of mineral springs and therapeutic mud.
This method also has certain contraindications, which should be taken into account when determining such procedures.
As proven as an effective remedy, there are many folk recipes that are widely used for osteochondrosis of the spine. They can be a good addition to the basic treatment after consulting a specialist. Herbal ointments and compresses can be used to rub or take decoctions. Self-made products can cause allergic reactions. Poisonous plants can also be prescribed, so it is necessary to monitor the exact dose of such substances, check the body's reaction to their use and consult a doctor.
Prevention
Measures to prevent this serious disease should be comprehensive and include physical activity in the first place. It can be long walks at a slow pace, regular trips to the pool, sports. Walking and running help to attract the main muscle groups, and water helps them to relax better and increase the range of motion.
It is a balanced fractional diet that is of great importance for health, where a lot of attention should be paid to foods high in fiber. Vegetables and fruits will establish the normal functioning of the digestive system, metabolic products will not remain in the intestines, they will poison the body. Thanks to small portions, the food will be completely processed.
You need to rest well and sleep properly on a flat and hard base. Useful orthopedic mattresses that maintain the natural condition of the spine.
The first symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis require immediate medical attention, and then there is the possibility of successful treatment and restoration of spinal function.