Lumbar back osteochondrosis - signs, diagnosis and treatment

Lumbar osteochondrosis is a common disease of the muscular system.Lumbar spinal column is more susceptible to damage due to good mobility.Also, with improper and elongated places in combination with a low -impact lifestyle, accelerated coating of cartilage tissue occurs, which eventually leads to osteochondrosis.

You need to know how to know the first signs in order to get qualified medical care in a timely manner.

Short information about lumbosacral back osteochondrosis

Back pain is one of the most common complaints of patients with a traumatologist.The second name of the syndrome is the intervertebral discs.According to statistics, an average of 8 out of 10 people during their lifetime complained about discomfort in the lumbar area.Approximately one -third of patients who have seen a doctor, pain syndrome acquires a continuous pathological character, causing severe discomfort and painful condition in the patient.Long back pain can not only cause physical torment but also provoke mental instability.

Since the cartilage fabric loses its strength and elasticity, it begins to gradually become thinner and collapse.As a result, the cracks occur in fibrous rings of the intervertebral disc.Over time, under pressure, the fibrous ring extends, lasts and explosions.If the content of the fibrous ring is a pulpic nucleus, it goes out, forms a hernia.For this reason, osteochondrosis increases the chances of developing such scary complications.

Causes of the occurrence of the disease

In most cases, osteochondrosis has an inherited nature.It is established that if direct relatives suffered from degenerative diseases of the muscular system, then their children most often encounter spinal pathologies.

Other cases have extrovertebral reasons:

1. Keeping improper behavior.
2. Excessive muscle overload associated with great physical exercises at work or when playing sports.
3. Incorrect and frequent weight lifting.
4. One of the most common reasons is hypodynamia.Lack of movement and minimal physical activity often leads to spine problems rather than playing sports.
5. Previously transferred inflammatory infections - tuberculosis or osteomyelitis, contribute to the manifestation of degenerative processes in the spine.In this case, osteochondrosis will have an infectious nature and will be a complication.
6. Hormonal perestroika can provoke a lumbosacral sacral osteochondrosis.This phenomenon is most often associated with certain periods of age.A frequent example is to enter menopause.After termination of the monthly cycles, a woman has a decrease in sexual steroid hormones, due to which calcium is virtually ceased to adopt by the body.Reserves in the bone are washed intensively.As a result, if you do not put a woman in GZT, she will gain not only the lower back osteochondrosis but also osteoporosis.The risk of osteochondrosis increases with the frequent use of synthetic glucocorticosteroids.The risk has increased during puberty with a lack of food, with the exhaustion of physical exercise in combination with a difficult diet and when old age occurs.
7. The presence of congenital ridge pathologies, including an abnormality of tropism.
8. Flat feet and scoliosis.
9. The poor bone structure caused by a deficit in the food or against the background of amenorrhea in women.
10. Premature coating of vertebrates and joints.
11. Premorbide hypermobility of the removable spine, which significantly increases the risk of damage.
12. Weak abdominal muscles.
13. The presence of rare pathologies, including a narrow spinal canal, peridural thaw, spondylolist, oncology or spine tumor, neuromyosis.
14. The presence of endocrine disorders - overweight and uncompensated hypothyroidism.
15. Previously suffered injuries to the ridge, ligaments, joints, tendons.
16. Poor power and frequent psycho -emotional stresses.
17. Degenerative age -related changes.

There are also certain risk groups associated with harmful professional activities.Examples are builders, motors, computer scientists, waiters, teachers.To minimize the risk of such diseases, you must accurately distribute the load in the back and get involved in average active physical activity.

Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis

The disease has many symptoms, so it is especially necessary to emphasize classification by type of pain:

1. Ischemic syndromeIt is associated with the compression of the arteries passing through the beads.As a result of the occurrence, there is a constant deterioration in the bloodstream, due to which the food is disturbed to the lower extremities.Posible possible to increase blood pressure.
2. Vertebral syndromeare associated with deformities that occur in the nerves and vessels.With prolonged negative effects, behavioral changes, the back is standing, walking changes and muscles without physical activity are atrophy.As a result, the patient begins to experience severe pain.
3. Static syndrome.Pathological mobility develops in vertebrae, which can occur kyphosis or lordosis.During the development of the pathology, the spine is gradually deformation, as in addition to bending in the beads, improper muscle fixation in the affected areas occurs.The consequences of a static syndrome - the back is twisted, and a person is no longer able to fix it himself.
4. Neurological syndromeis associated with the tip of the nerve roots.If the pressure occurs in the nerve endings, the patient's sensitivity decreases, the occurrence of weakness in the limbs may occur.In severe cases, paralysis, chills and complete loss of conductivity are observed against the backdrop of nerve fibers damage.

General symptoms of lumbar back osteochondrosis include the following manifestations:

1. Severe back pain, including the entire lumbar region with possible return to the sacrum.
2. With the development of radical syndrome, there are sharp pains that give bastards to the lower extremities.The legs usually catch abdominal cramps.There is numbness and paresthesia on the fingers.Less often, the pain gives his hands.
3. Radiation of kidney pain is possible.The patient may complain of problems from the urinary system, which are not confirmed during the diagnosis.
4. The patient tries by a bad dream due to disturbance in the lumbar region.
5. The patient feels tension and fatigue in the lumbar region.
6. When you turn your back and tendencies, stiffness and tension feel.
7. The legs occur in the back periodically.
8. After minor physical activity, the patient feels severe fatigue.There is also chronic fatigue in everyday life.
9. With further progression of the disease, the patient has pain at rest in the lumbar region.
10. The limbs often fall numb, and the patient often has a pathological crisis in the back.
11. Violation of engine function due to discomfort at the bottom of the back.
12. Muscle cramps and spasms.
13. Dizziness and headaches.
14. Reduce muscle tone of the rear and lower extremities.

Any similar symptoms require an appeal to the doctor.There are also specific gender -related signs.Men have problems in the genitourinary realm, which can adversely affect power.Women have severe pain in the perineum and pelvis, which also indicates damage to nerve endings.In advanced cases, the prolapse of the internal organs occurs, including the uterus and supplements.This is due to strong atrophic processes in the muscles that support the spine.

Varieties of syndromes and symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine

By the type and nature of the pain, such pathological conditions share:

1. Lumbago- characterized by an acute state.Characteristic signs are the inability to move from the pain that occurs against the bastard background.This condition most often develops against the backdrop of muscle atrophy, damage, pinching of nerve roots and intervertebral discs.
2. Lumbalgia- Pathology characterized by long and painful pain.Most often lumbalgia occurs against the backdrop of osteochondrosis, hernia, spondylosis or extension.With the extension of the ligamentous apparatus, the syndrome is more common.
3. Sciatica.This type of pain syndrome is characteristic of the lumbosacral area.The syndrome is often confused with Ishias, which is characterized by a fire pain caused by a tip of the nerve roots.Pain syndrome is most often associated with a top of the sciatica, which significantly exacerbates movement in the lumbar region.The patient cannot bend normally, as the mobility of the lumbar region deteriorates.It is also difficult to walk and sit normally.Pinching sciatica leads to another unpleasant deterioration - pear -shaped muscle spasm.As a result, a person has shots from the back to the calf muscles passing through the thighs.The newspaper becomes lame, the socks turn to the sides and you feel pain when walking, running and sitting.A comprehensive approach to treatment is required.
4. Discogue changesis associated with the progress of dorsopathy.The first sign of such deterioration is the loss of sensitivity and numbness in the lower extremities.The back, buttocks, hips and lower abdomen suffers.All of these areas are permeated by continuous discomfort.With a strong deterioration, signs of an inflammatory process occur - body temperature rises, weakness occurs in the body, urinary incontinence occurs.The patient also exacerbates appetite, which leads to a decrease in body weight.In this situation, an integrated approach to the treatment of the condition is also required.
5. RadiculopathyIt is also associated with the restriction of spinal cord motor skills and tightening nerve endings.As a result of the appearance of this type of pain syndrome, the patient begins to feel pain in the lower body, a decrease or violation of motor reflexes.There is a deterioration in joint mobility and a decrease in muscle tone against a compression background due to radiculitis.

All of the above pain syndromes require urgent treatment, starting in the early stages of manifestations.Indeed, over time, the pathology worsens, due to which the course of the disease leads to a strong deterioration in the quality of life.

Osteochondrosis of the stages of the back - stages of development

The general classification of the disease in the phase includes such degrees of development of lumbar osteochondrosis:

1. The first degree does not cause any physiological deterioration from the spine.The patient feels good and does not doubt the presence of spinal problems.In the initial phase, active destructive processes arise.The pulposal nucleus changes its position, gradually penetrating the microcraces of the fibrous ring.Previously in the article it was mentioned that before the occurrence of the disease, the patient has a violation of metabolic processes, due to which the cartilage shell is weakened and covered with micrococks.As a result, over time, the irritation of the nerve endings occurs, due to which the patient may feel the first signs of disturbance in the lumbar region.
2. The second phase osteochondrosis is characterized by the appearance of signs of instability of the lumbar region.There is dynamic displacement in the beads, with respect to the predominant and basic section.The patient has signs of compression syndrome and reflex disorders.
3. In the patient, at the 3th phase of the pathology phase, the exacerbations associated with the extension of the fibrous ring content already occur already.Propes, prolapse or hernia appear.In the case of the 3rd phase of the pathology, the roots of the spinal canal and the blood vessels are squeezed.At this stage, severe pain associated with pinches and inflammation already occur.Strong mobility is also limited, shelters arise in the lower limbs.
4. The terminal phase is the fourth.At this stage, irreparable pathophysiological changes arise.The patient has bone system pathologies associated with the growth of vertebral bodies of bone cherry.As a result, compensating response reactions arise - the load is transferred to other, weaker vertebrates.Stock, restriction of mobility to spinal amplitude.Pathological bone growths suppress the vascular canal and nerve endings, which significantly aggravate the symptomatic flow of pathology.

Lumbar osteochondrosis - Diagnosis

When the patient gets to the doctor, he prescribes a number of laboratory examinations based on the story collected to identify osteochondrosis of the spinal lumbar sacrum:

1. X -Ray.This is a basic analysis that allows you to evaluate the condition of the spine in general terms.X -Ray will not show minor and initial pathological changes, but will identify major violations in bone tissue.If the picture shows signs of deletion of vertebrates or darkening that do not correspond to normal size, other studies are needed.
2. Calculated tomography.This is a more advanced version of the X -Ray figure, which allows you to see the smallest negative changes in bone tissue at the site of destruction, as the pictures are taken in a three -dimensional image.
3. Magnetic resonance tomography.This type of diagnosis is close to CT, but allows you to better consider soft tissue.MRI distinguishes between the deteriorations of osteochondrosis, including hernia and extension.This type of diagnosis is sufficient to accurately make a diagnosis associated with degenerative destruction of free bone tissue.
4. Performing laboratory testsBased on biomaterial.Patients often pass a general blood and urine test in order to control the underlying indicators.These data allow you to supervise the patient's health status.
5. Delivery of rheumatological samples.It is necessary to analyze in order to eliminate the rheumatoid nature of the pathology.

After inspecting and bringing the necessary tests, they make a final diagnosis.

Lumbar osteochondrosis treatment

In the treatment of pathology, an integrated approach is needed.In stages 1-2, conservative treatment is used with the use of medicines and physiotherapy in the recovery period.In the presence of 3 or 4 stages, if the patient has serious indicators of deteriorating health, surgical intervention is required.

Drug treatment of the pathological process

In the event of damage to the intervertebral discs, which were raised against the background of lumbosacral department osteochondrosis, the use of a wide list of medicines is indicated.Some products serve for symptomatic therapy, others to maintain health.

Which medicines describe:

1. Josteroidal anti -inflammatory drugs, analgesics.These medicines greatly facilitate the patient's condition, especially in the acute period.Thanks to the pronounced effect of this type of drug, it is possible to quickly relieve pain within 1-2 days.Typically, patients are prescribed by the selective type NSAIDs, as they less damage the mucous membrane of the stomach membrane.If old indifferent NSAIDs cannot be used for more than 5 days, then new generation medicines can be drunk for 2-3 weeks without fear of the consequences for a healthy gastrointestinal tract.In the presence of gastritis or ulcers, it is best to be safe and use gastroprotectors, proton pump inhibitors.
2. Musorexant- the drug designed to eliminate painful muscle cramps.With osteochondrosis, an improper distribution of load on the muscle corset associated with the weakness of the spine.As a result, some muscles are caught while others are on the hypoton.To relieve painful spasm, muscle relaxation is described.The duration of the course of treatment and the pills schemes are selected by the attending physician.
3. Neurotropic vitamins.Such remedies include biamine, thiamin, cyanocobalamin and pyridoxine vitamins.With combined use B1, B6 and B12 in large doses, an analgesic effect occurs.The components positively affect the nerve endings, feeding them.These vitamins also participate in the construction of myelin shells that cover the nerves.Such drugs are mainly prescribed for radical syndrome, when it is necessary to relieve pain associated with nerve pinches.For 2-3 weeks, the injection agents are used, and then switch to oral forms of release.
4. Chondroprotectors.These medicines have protective properties in relation to cartilage.If there are clear signs of cartilage degeneration, it is necessary to describe chondroprotectors with a long course.First, injection agents are used for 2-3 months, and then switch to tablets.The minimum course of use is six months with a few months break.The current components in the composition are chondroit sulfate and hydrochloride glucoseamin.The reception and dosage schemes are individually selected.
5. Calcium in combination with vitamin D3.These ingredients serve to strengthen bone tissue.With age, due to bone wearing, malnutrition and hormonal deficiency, the fragile bone has improved.The main building material is calcium.Without it, it is impossible to get a strong bone corset.In order for calcium preparations to be absorbed, it is necessary to take vitamin D3.To avoid the lack of collector, it is necessary to visit the sun regularly during the summer, and in winter to get additional vitamins.
6. Complex polyvitamines.There is research data that continuous intake of vitamins in natural or synthetic form in physiological doses strengthens immunity during seasonal sars irritation, acute respiratory infections.People with lumbosacral back disease should carefully monitor their health.
7. AnestheticThey are performed with a poorly cut pain syndrome using NSAIDs.Intra -articular injections of corticosteroids related to blockages are also effective.One means helping to calm inflammation, which accelerates recovery in the acute period.The performance of the blockade should be performed by a highly qualified physician with extensive experience in their use.It is advisable to block the ultrasound control so as not to enter other parts of the spine.Such methods of treatment will help to get rid of chronic pain quickly.
8. Ointments and special gel.With the help of local funds, you can also successfully fight chronic pain syndrome of moderate and weak power.Various products are cooled or warmed, which generally allows the use of external medicines regularly.Using medication on the surface of the skin allows you to use them for a long time.Such drugs are practically not absorbed in the systemic blood flow, so they do not cause side effects.It is important to pay attention to the condition of the skin after applying the medicine.If there is a redness or itching, you should cancel the medicine.

Homeopathy or antispasmodics can also be described.The medication diagram is determined by the doctor on an individual basis.

Conservative Methods Non -Drug of Treatment

In the recovery period, physiotherapeutic procedures that help improve blood circulation and normalization of metabolic processes in the affected tissues should be used.Active recovery methods are used exclusively after stopping acute pain.Supporting conservative treatment mitigates the chronic flow of the disease, which prevents irritation attacks.

Active rehabilitation methods include:

1. Performing physical education of physiotherapy.With the development of lumbar osteochondrosis, special exercises are needed that improve blood flow that behavioral levels and muscle support in tone.The LFK must first be carried out under the supervision of an instructor, including safety rules.The exercises are performed in the standing position, sitting or lying, depending on the complex designated by a specialist.If the patient is experienced, he can perform gymnastics at home.You should not ignore the useful part of the lesson - warm and stroke.After a good warm heat, the muscles are protected from tears and sprains.The last stage of execution accelerates the recovery processes in the muscles.With regular exercises, the muscles become severe, due to which the pain in the spine weakens.
2. Massage- a way to relax the tense muscle tissue under contact conditions.A specialist with the help of hands improves blood flow to the muscles, which allows you to remove strong overlap.Massages in combination with muscle relaxants are more effective.These medicines eliminate spasm and spasticity.Additional stimulation with hands emphasizes the effect of the medicine.It is recommended to visit the massage several times a year in courses in order for a sustainable effect to occur.
3. Manual therapy.Using this method of exposure, it is possible to unlock the muscles, ignoring the degree of resistance.Unlike massage, this method is violent, though effective.With a neglected lumbar osteochondrosis, it is dangerous to use manual treatment practices if the specialist is not experienced enough.Before contacting a manual therapist, you should be familiar with the list of contraindications, including hypertension, heart disease and the presence of a hernia in the lumbar region.
4. Physiotherapeutic procedures.With the help of physiotherapy, it is possible to improve local blood flow to the affected area without affecting other areas of the back.The essence of physiotherapy is simple: they combine hardware treatment methods and medicines.Examples are electrophoresis.Under the influence of a laser of a certain frequency, medicines are administered through the skin.Most often use group B vitamins. The device allows you to get into the skin of the skin without creating a systemic effect on the body.Magnetotherapy and shock wave therapy are also associated with physiotherapeutic methods.Radiated frequencies accelerate regeneration processes in the joints and ligaments without causing side effects.

As part of complex treatment, acupuncture, hiruterape or homeopathy can be prescribed.

When surgical intervention is performed

Operations are indispensable in advanced cases when the patient is striving by serious neurological syndromes that have given birth to the background of lumbar osteochondrosis.If the patient has a complication in the form of a hernia, the limbs began to be removed, and the intestinal sensitivity or bladder was disturbed, she is in hospital urgently.In this case, the operation is performed according to life indicators.

There are also relative indications for surgery.Examples are frequent limb numbness, constant discomfort in the back, which is not suitable for conservative treatment, partial loss of sensitivity to the fingers.In this case, you can independently decide for surgical treatment.

Lumbar osteochondrosis is a serious pathology that requires an integrated approach to therapy.In the early stages, medicines and physiotherapy are prescribed.If the disease is progressing rapidly, surgery may be required.