One of the most common problems of the spine is non -specific back pain.According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 26-32% of the adult population suffers from chronic lower back pain.A common cause of such pain is osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis is premature wear and aging of intervertebral discs and vertebrae.Osteochondrosis may occur anywhere in the spine: cervical, chest, lumbar or lumbar.The lumbar segment is most often affected and lumbar osteochondrosis is developing.If you do not start treating in time, the disease may affect various departments at once.
Lumbar osteochondrosis is a chronic degenerative disease in which intervertebral disc cartilage tissue is destroyed.There are two main pieces on the intervertebral disc: the core and the fibrous ring.With increasing load, these structures are destroyed, which leads to compression of the nerves and the appearance of acute pain.
As the disease develops slowly, its signs are difficult to perceive at first.The patient does not pay attention or understand exactly where it hurts.Because of this, they often arrive at the doctor the moment intervertebral hernia develops.
The causes of osteochondrosis
Lumbar osteochondrosis, like most diseases of the musculoskeletal system, have non-infectious etiology.Risk factors for the development of osteochondrosis are mainly associated with a person's motor activity, lifestyle, professional working conditions and heredity.Let's look at the main and perhaps the most important factors.
Violation of posture and reduction of motor activity.Given the modern rhythm of life, people need to be in one position for a long time, whether in office work, driving a car or study.For this reason, a large number of people have problems with posture back-a violation, including scoliosis.When the posture is broken, the load in the spine column is distributed unevenly: some discs are loaded more than others.The lumbar region suffers more than others.And in the case of the lumbar department, this load is often more than in other departments.
Excessive physical activity.When a person does not play sports and their back muscles are weak, intense training can harm.Exercises with additional load and excessive load in the lower back lead to injuries, intervertebral discs wear out ahead of time.
Excessive body weight and obesityIncrease the axial load in the column.At the same time, intervertebral disks nutrition is disturbed by which dystrophic processes develop.
Age -related changes.After 60 years, tissue restoration processes therefore decrease in the elderly the likelihood of developing higher intervertebral hernias.
Hereditary factors.If a person is naturally disturbed by the properties of cartilage and bone tissues, their osteochondrosis develops earlier and progress will be faster.
The first signs and the main symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
The intervertebral discs soften shocks as they walk, running and jumping.Due to the structural changes that accompany lumbar osteochondrosis, this function undergoes.
When intervertebral discs for osteochondrosis become thinner, this leads to an increase in nerve and blood vessel vulnerability.The nerves are compressed and their nutrition is disturbed, acute pain and other symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis.
Sharp and chronic lumbar pain- This is the main complaint with lumbar osteochondrosis.Personal activity, hypothermia, uncomfortable pose can cause pain.Sometimes the pain extends all over the back and leg.
Tingling, burning and numbness (paresthesia) in the lower back and legs-Frequent symptom of lumbar osteochondrosis, which appears due to nerve compression.
Increase in the tone of the muscles of the back in the lower backIt can increase pain and lead to a decrease in mobility.
Lumbar osteochondrosis stages
Changes in cartilage and bone tissue occur slowly.Depending on the prevalence of the pathological process, four stages of lumbar osteochondrosis are distinguished.
1st stage.This is the onset of the disease (chondrosis).The location of the gelatinous core of the disk in relation to the fiber fibers of fibrous ring.This leads to nerves and pain irritation.Sometimes nothing hurts at this stage.
Stage 2.Due to the displacement of the discs, the intervertebral gap is reduced, the cracks appear on the discs.The nerves are compressed and the patient suffers from acute lower back pain.
Stage 3.Intervertebral discs are completely damaged, a fibrous ring is destroyed.At this stage, the risk of developing intervertebral hernia is high.The pain intensifies, appears more often and has a different character: from acute to chronicle pain.
4th stage.The disease applies to nearby tissues.In the lower back, mobility is reduced, pain occurs even with minor changes in body position.At this stage, intervertebral hernias are developing and the risk of compression of nerve and blood vessels in the lower back is high.
Diagnosis of lumbar osteochondrosis
If you are tormented by acute lumbar pain as you move and at rest, the numbness of your legs - contact a neurologist.It will conduct an inspection, determine the probable cause of pain and prescribe the necessary diagnosis.
The main research methods are radiography and tomography.
- Vision, sighting and functional radiography of the spine in two projections.This method allows to evaluate the condition of the spine, but soft tissues (eg muscles) and cartilage in the images are not displayed.
- Computed tomography allows you to get more information as images are obtained in different projections.Based on the study results, the doctor can determine the degree of damage to the lumbar spine.
- Magnetic resonance imaging is the "standard" for the accurate diagnosis of "lumbar osteochondrosis".According to magnetic resonance imaging, the doctor can evaluate the condition of soft tissues and identify the hernia between the vertebrae.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis
After making a diagnosis, the neurologist individually selects treatment.It depends on the stage of the disease and the severity of symptoms.Most patients are helped by comprehensive conservative treatment (drug therapy, physical therapy, physiotherapy exercises).If the patient is no better and serious complications, the operation will be prescribed.
Conservative treatment
Conservative treatment tasks:
- Stop the pain.
- Reduce inflammation.
- Prevent the development of complications.
- Reduce the load in the spine, strengthening the muscles of the back.
- Reduce compression of the nerves.
- In intervertebral hernia - create conditions for its resorption and natural cure.
In the acute phase of the disease, the doctor mainly reduces pain and inflammation with painkillers and anti -inflammatory drugs.After that, the neurologist elaborates an individual program consisting of physiotherapy, manual therapy and physical therapy exercises.
PhysiotherapyIt is based on the use of physical factors: cold, heat, electric current, magnetic radiation, laser etc.They help reduce pain intensity and improve tissue nutrition, which contributes to its natural restoration.
CinerapeIt is active (exercise therapy) and passive (massage, traction).It allows you to strengthen your back muscles, relieve muscle tension, improve microcirculation and activate recovery processes.
Manual Therapy and MassageRemove an increased muscle tone in the lower back, restore mobility.Because of this, the nutrition of the damaged area improves and the degree of pinch of the nerves decreases.
RecordingOr kinesiological recording is based on the use of elastic plaster, which are glued to the skin to weaken or improve muscle tone.Therefore, muscle structure is strengthened, microcirculation in the lower back improves and the distribution of the load in the spine is normalized.
Laser therapyIt is based on the use of low intensity laser radiation and its positive effects on cell functioning.Contributes to the natural restoration of intervertebral discs, improving their nutrition.
Plasma therapy(PRP therapy)-A method for improving regeneration processes.The patient's purified purified plasma injections stimulate their immunity.
Reflex therapy, acupunctureImprove the blood supply to the affected areas, reduce pain.
Shockwave therapy- This is the effect of high frequency waves in the affected area.It stimulates the natural processes of tissue regeneration and improves tissue nutrition.
Orthopedics- Individual corset selection for additional spine support.Allows you to partially compensate the load in the column.When using a corset, the pain decreases, the mobility and quality of life of the patient increases.
Lumbar osteochondrosis is a chronic disease.It is important for the patient to change his lifestyle and learn to live with this disease.To do this, there are special educational programs that can improve the patient's quality of life.
The positive effect of conservative treatment is achieved in 2-3 months.If this treatment is ineffective, the operation will be prescribed.
Operation
With the development of intervertebral hernias from the Lumbar Department, minimally invasive surgical operations are performed.The choice in the direction of neurosurgical treatment is made with special indications, in severe, threatening the patient's life.
Operation is a complex invasive treatment method that is associated with risk.During or after surgery, complications can develop.And the success of treatment also depends on post -operative rehabilitation, which includes conservative therapy methods and orthopedic correction.
Do not postponed treatment
Lumbar osteochondrosis is a progressive disease.If not detected in time and is not starting to treat it, it can lead to disability and a decrease in quality of life.Over time, various parts of the spine are affected, acute pain enters chronic.
Oporttoless prevention of symptoms and treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis in early stages can prevent disease development and deterioration in the condition.