Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms and treatment

Lumbar osteochondrosis is a common disease of the musculoskeletal system. It is characterized by the development of the process of degenerative dystrophy of joints and bone tissue. Lumbar osteochondrosis means that tissue damage has happened to the lumbar spine and sacrum, so the patient will have corresponding symptoms. Osteochondrosis in the lumbosacral region can cause significant discomfort. It not only negatively affects the back, but also negatively affects the lower limbs. On how to treat lumbar osteochondrosis, you need to consult an expert-a neurologist or traumatologist. This complex disease should not be treated on its own or according to the recommendations of relatives and friends. Self-medication will only aggravate this process and cause more damage to the spine.

The high-quality treatment of osteochondrosis is carried out in the hospital. There are experts who specialize in solving this problem.

Lumbar Osteochondrosis: Causes

Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region is considered a disease of the elderly. However, recently, more and more young people (25-30 years old) are diagnosed with lumbosacral osteochondrosis. This is because many young people live a sedentary lifestyle and spend a lot of time on computers. Another factor is the constant pressure young people are under in the modern world. Coupled with improper nutrition, fast food dominates, which will not only cause the deterioration of the condition of the spine, but also the condition of the entire body.

Lumbar osteochondrosis of the spine is a pathological type located in the lumbar region. This is one of the most common types of osteochondrosis. The exact cause of the development of the disease is not clear, but there are predisposing factors, and the existence of these factors significantly increases the possibility of osteochondrosis. These include:

• Sedentary work
• Posture curvature
• A sedentary lifestyle;
• Excessive spine pressure (professional sports, regular weight lifting, heavy physical labor);
• overweight;
• Back injury
• Age (for many years, spinal tissue has undergone natural aging and thinning process);
• Arthritic diseases (arthritis, joint disease, scoliosis, etc. );
• Diseases accompanied by metabolic disorders;
• Unhealthy lifestyle;
• Genetic predisposition.

Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms

In the early stages, it is difficult to identify lumbosacral osteochondrosis. The symptoms and treatment of the disease will depend on the degree of damage to the spinal tissue. Signs of lumbar osteochondrosis gradually appear, starting with mild discomfort and acute pain in advanced cases. The treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis cannot be postponed. As the disease progresses, the symptoms will only worsen, making people more uncomfortable. In the severe acute stage, it hurts even to get up, so it is necessary to treat lumbar osteochondrosis immediately. The symptoms of the disease are as follows:

• Lumbar osteochondrosis pain is the most significant pathological sign. They can gradually strengthen and become stronger during exercise (bending or lifting weights). With the development of the disease, the intensity of the pain will increase, and it will be unbearable during the onset of acute osteochondrosis;
• Violation of the mobility of the lumbar spine. Pathological processes in the spine can affect the ability of the department to perform any exercise: it is difficult for a person to bend over, turn to the sides, and sit flat;
• Destruction of lower limbs. Feeling of gait violation, numbness, tingling, "goose bumps", and muscle weakness in the legs;
• Noticed pale skin, which is related to impaired blood supply in the affected area;
• Sexual dysfunction (possibly in severe cases).

Lumbosacral Osteochondrosis: Symptoms and Degree

There are four levels of development of lumbar osteochondrosis. Symptoms and treatment directly depend on the degree of osteochondrosis: the intensity of the disease manifestation increases with the progress of the malnutrition process, which is important when formulating the treatment process.

The classification of lumbar intervertebral osteochondrosis is as follows:

1. 1 degree osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine showed mild lumbar discomfort. They may occur after intense physical exertion or a full day of work. A person may feel pain in the back or buttocks, as well as a tingling sensation in the lower back;
2. Second-degree osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is more obvious. At level 2, the destruction of the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc begins. The distance between the vertebrae narrows or lengthens, and the intervertebral discs begin to extend beyond the vertebrae. Compression of spinal nerve roots occurs, which is manifested as obvious low back pain, which is reflected in the hip, thigh and calf area. The person may also feel burning or cold in the lower back;
3. Third-degree osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is characterized by the final destruction of the fibrous annulus. The contents of the intervertebral disc come out-a hernia is formed. Nerve roots are more intensely compressed, inflammatory process occurs, and accompanied by severe continuous pain in the waist;
4. Lumbar 4th degree osteochondrosis is accompanied by complete cartilage atrophy and pathological hyperplasia of vertebrae. This is the body's compensatory response to intervertebral disc violations. At this stage, the pain usually disappears, but this indicator does not mean that the condition has improved. The hyperplasia of the vertebrae can significantly impair the mobility of the spine and may cause disability.

Lumbar osteochondrosis: worsening symptoms and treatment

Strenuous exercise, weight lifting, and hypothermia can cause the deterioration of lumbar osteochondrosis. The acute pain of lumbar osteochondrosis may gradually worsen or appear suddenly. In most cases, the deterioration of lumbar osteochondrosis is accompanied by acute severe pain. During the attack, muscle spasms in the lumbar and thoracic spine will interfere with the back movement to prevent the pain from getting worse. The acute pain extends to the hip and leg areas, which are connected to the affected area of the spine by nerve fibers. A person is forced to adopt a certain posture without changing it (usually this is a horizontal posture with a curved sore leg). Even minor movements, such as coughing, can cause new pain.

Deterioration of lumbar osteochondrosis, which must be treated immediately, can last for days or weeks (depending on how quickly adequate treatment is started). In specialist hospitals, patients are treated for acute osteochondrosis immediately after treatment. The admission department of the hospital is open 24 hours, and patients can get help at any time. In order to relieve acute pain, a blockade is performed-analgesics are introduced into the affected area, which helps to significantly improve the condition. After the acute phase is over, the main course of treatment begins.

Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms and diagnosis

The treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis begins with the diagnosis. It is necessary to find out whether this is a real osteochondrosis and the extent of tissue damage. Lower back osteochondrosis is diagnosed by X-ray. The picture will clearly show the state of the intervertebral discs and vertebrae. The doctor specifies the location of the lesion and evaluates the degree of disease development. If necessary, additional MRI or CT scans may be prescribed to clarify details.

The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is carried out in the hospital's diagnosis center, which has everything needed for an accurate diagnosis. Experienced staff use modern equipment, allowing you to quickly and accurately identify the patient's disease. The diagnosis will determine how neurologists and physical therapists will treat lumbar osteochondrosis.

Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms and medical treatment

After the diagnosis, every patient was very interested in the question "How to treat lumbar osteochondrosis? "The treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis is complex, including medication and physical therapy. In a hospital, each component of treatment is determined by appropriate experts based on the individual characteristics of the patient. The signs and symptoms of lumbosacral osteochondrosis allow you to choose the most effective and best treatment.

The drug treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis includes several types of drugs, each of which has its own function:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: relieve pain and inflammation;
• Analgesics: relieve severe pain that the previous group of drugs cannot cope with;
• Muscle relaxants: relieve muscle spasms;
• Chondroprotective agents: stop the degeneration process and promote the regeneration of spinal tissue;
• Vitamin complex: normalizes nerve conduction and improves the body's protective performance.

All drugs, their dosages and time of administration are strictly determined by the attending physician.

Lumbar Osteochondrosis: Physical Therapy

The treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis includes a physical therapy process. It is also an important part of treatment, just like medication. Some patients are interested in how to treat lumbar osteochondrosis without physical therapy. However, it is impossible to eliminate this disease by using drugs alone. The medicine will relieve the pain, and it will recover quickly anyway.

In the hospital, physical therapy for osteochondrosis is performed by qualified specialists in the rehabilitation department. Taking into account the patient's abilities and needs, he was prescribed a course of rehabilitation. Physical therapy includes:

• Massage lumbar osteochondrosis;
• Spinal extension
• Physical therapy exercises;
• Reflexology (acupuncture);
• Hardware exposure methods (electrophoresis, amplipulse, sonic import, etc. ).

Only through comprehensive treatment can osteochondrosis be cured. Low back pain usually disappears within a few days after starting treatment (depending on the severity of the disease). However, this is not a reason to stop the treatment process. In order to achieve the best results and rule out the rapid recurrence of pathology, it is necessary to complete a complete course formulated by experts. Professional doctors use effective treatment methods to significantly improve the patient's condition and enable him to return to a fulfilling life.