Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is recorded among the pathological processes of axial skeletal tissues, the symptoms and treatment of which have specific characteristics. The frequency of diagnosis of the disease does not decrease over time. What is lumbar spine osteochondrosis? This is a special type of degenerative-dystrophic change in the tissues of the intervertebral plates of the axial bone, with subsequent damage to the joints and ligaments. The photo shows the appearance of the affected vertebrae.
Lumbar spine osteochondrosis, what is it?
The lumbar region of the axial skeleton is under maximum stress. As a result, the high frequency of diagnosis of osteochondrosis in this area of the spine is not accidental.
The causes of lumbar osteochondrosis have long been identified and well studied. The disease can occur in patients from the age of 30 years. But representatives of the older generation and a strong half of the world community are much more likely to encounter pathology.
Timely treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine provides an opportunity to avoid a reduction in work capacity, quality of life, and disability.
Patients are strictly prohibited from hypothermia and intense physical activity. Weightlifting, speed skating, jogging, jumping, horseback riding, aerobics, motor sports are contraindications against osteochondrosis.
Causes of the disease
A number of external and internal factors cause symptoms of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the tissues of the intervertebral plates of the axial bone. Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, including posterior dorsalgia, cause discomfort, discomfort, and stiffness in movement.
The causes of the pathology should be mentioned:
- increased spinal load in the lumbar spine due to certain working conditions, repair work, weight lifting of professional athletes and amateurs during training;
- Perform sharp, complex movements;
- obesity, which predetermines the symptoms of lumbar pathology in women and men;
- hypothermia;
- incorrect posture, resulting in uneven load distribution on the axial skeleton;
- sedentary lifestyle, which negatively affects the elasticity and blood supply of individual vertebrae;
- lack of ability to sit and move properly;
- congenital back diseases or back injuries due to sports, falls from a height, traffic accidents;
- Lack of a balanced diet enriched with vitamins, minerals and microelements, as well as the organization of the correct order of eating, work, rest;
- regular stressful situations;
- hormonal disorder in the female body during pregnancy and menopause;
- violation of metabolic processes in the patient's body;
- a genetic predisposition that determines the porous-loose structure of spinal tissues and accelerates their degenerative-dystrophic changes;
- Addiction to alcoholic beverages, smoking tobacco products, which accelerate the aging process of the human body.
Flat feet, constant wearing of uncomfortable shoes, lack of vitamins, poor environmental conditions in the surrounding space are also causes of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. Excluding a number of factors helps to avoid the development of pathology. Immediate treatment is recommended when confirming the diagnosis of lumbar osteochondrosis without waiting for complications. Ignoring the advice of trained professionals will lead to dorsalgia and other complications. Spine doctors know how to cure osteochondrosis of the lumbar axial skeleton and provide first aid quickly in case of severe pain.
Symptoms of the disease
The lower spine is an important part of the spine. Early diagnosis of lumbar osteochondrosis, which should be started as early as possible, eliminates the risk of unpleasant consequences. Degenerative-dystrophic disease of the axial skeleton has certain symptoms.
Signs of lumbar spine osteochondrosis are on a special list. The most common are
- inability to perform posterior bends, torso turns;
- a decrease in the flexibility and mobility of the lumbar spine, which can be treated at home, based on the doctor's recommendation;
- depression;
- increased fatigue, irritability, nervousness manifested in osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms and treatment of which have specific characteristics;
- dorsalgia in the lumbar region, which causes problems with urination, emptying, performing daily hygiene procedures;
- appearance of problems during night rest;
- increased sweating;
- Appearance of tingling and coldness in the lower extremities.
Such signs of lumbar osteochondrosis indicate the need for the help of a trained professional. Spine healers always help to cure this disease, to improve the lives of the patients, relieving them from dorsalgia, discomfort, stiffness and discomfort.
Complications of the disease
The long duration of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the tissues of the intervertebral plates of the axial skeleton causes the development of complications and concomitant pathologies of the patients' internal organs without appropriate treatment. Early diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms of which suggest that the help of a vertebrologist should be sought, eliminates the risk of their occurrence. Ignoring the advice of your doctor will lead to new problems in terms of health, well-being and quality of life.
Complications of lumbar spine osteochondrosis that should be treated after confirmation of diagnosis without waiting for dorsalgia include:
- Violation of the menstrual cycle in women and sexual activity in men;
- varicose veins and spasms of the arteries of the foot;
- dysfunction of the urogenital system;
- sciatic nerve irritation and neuralgia;
- pain manifested in the kidney area and resembling dorsalgia in the lumbar spine;
- protrusions and hernial protrusions of the intervertebral discs and the spine itself;
- radiculitis, acute and chronic lumbodynia, disability.
The unpleasant consequences of lumbar osteochondrosis, in the absence of proper treatment, lead to mental disorders, depressive states and deterioration in quality of life not only for the patient himself, but also for those around him, relatives and close people. It is also desirable to have information on the definition of osteochondrosis.
Stages of the disease
Spinal physicians give a positive answer to the question of whether it is possible to cure osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, provided they seek medical help in a timely manner. They distinguish four stages of the development of the disease, each of which manifests itself at a certain time and has its own distinctive features. These are the following:
- Stage 1pathology characterized by mild pain, exacerbated by physical exertion, lumbar region discomfort, onset of destruction of intervertebral discs;
- Stage 2a disease characterized by a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae due to abnormal changes in the fibrous rings, pinched nerve processes, the appearance of severe pain in lumbar osteochondrosis;
- Stage 3a disease characterized by severe destruction of fibrous rings, formation of hernial protrusions, noticeable deformation of the axial skeleton; Stage 4 of the disease
- is characterized by severe problems with the motor ability of a patient who is forced to treat lumbar osteochondrosis at home or within the walls of a hospital and is at risk of disability.
Diagnosis of pathology
Patients are advised to know which doctor is treating osteochondrosis of the spine and how to treat lumbar osteochondrosis at home. The vertebrologist orders the transfer of diagnostic measures after collecting the medical history and external examination of the sick people. Their list includes:
- clinical, biochemical blood test;
- X-ray, which provides an opportunity to obtain information about the condition of the axial skeleton and to prescribe the correct treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis at home or in a hospital; Computed tomography
- , characterized by lower radiation exposure to the body, allows a more thorough examination of the abnormal zone of the axial skeleton and answers the question of whether osteochondrosis can be treated at this stage of development;
- magnetic resonance imaging, which is based on electromagnetic radiation and provides a complete painless, harmless examination of the back in osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.
Modern diagnostic methods are among the most informative research methods. Their results form the basis for confirming the diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms of which indicate the presence of a back problem, and also provide an opportunity for the correct treatment of the pathology of the axial skeleton.
How to treat osteochondrosis and get rid of its symptoms
Vertebrologists who know how to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar axial skeleton at home will always be helpful to patients. After receiving the results of the examination of the abnormal zone of the spine, a number of measures are prescribed to alleviate the symptoms of the disease and prevent the development of complications. Treatment regimens for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine are developed taking into account the age category of the patient, the structural characteristics of the axial skeleton. They also identify allergies that may manifest themselves in the background of taking medications.
The main measures to effectively treat osteochondrosis are:
- medications based on the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hodroprotectors, muscle relaxants, vitamin complexes, phytopreparations;
- Execution of blockades that eliminate severe pain in lumbar osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which have specific characteristics;
- water treatments and axial skeletal stretching, which are recommended to be performed regularly;
- medical massage;
- Movement therapy prescribed to strengthen the muscle frame makes the vertebrae more mobile and does not raise the question of how to cure lumbar osteochondrosis;
- using recipes from traditional medicine.
Lumbar osteochondrosis is treated with a balanced diet and diet in the background. Quitting bad habits is also a necessary measure to prevent the disease from progressing. Orthopedic prevention of lumbar spine osteochondrosis provides an opportunity to avoid surgery.