Lumbar osteochondrosis is one of the most common and frequently diagnosed types of osteochondrosis, which is also known as "sciatica".The frequency of this disease is extremely high - in approximately 82% of cases, patients who go to the doctor with complaints of severe pain in the lower back are diagnosed with radiculitis of the lumbosacral region.
Description of the disease
Osteochondrosis in the sacral or lumbar region occurs with equal frequency in women and men, most often in middle and older age.Medical practice shows that this particular disease is in the first place among the main causes of temporary or permanent incapacity, and in some cases even disability.That is why the treatment of the pathology should be treated with the greatest care, since osteochondrosis can pose a serious danger to human health.
The lumbar region is the name given to the part of the spine consisting of 5 vertebrae designed to connect the sacral and thoracic regions.Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a pathological change in which there is a rapid decrease in flexibility and a change in the natural anatomical structure of the intervertebral discs.Their gradual deformation occurs.
At the root of radiculitis is the slow destruction of the vertebrae, their loss of moisture and elasticity and a decrease in shock-absorbing abilities.Gradually, the space between the vertebrae decreases, the intervertebral disc can harden, resulting in pinching of the nerve roots.This process is accompanied by severe and spasmodic pain in the lower back.
How dangerous is osteochondrosis, its stages?
The process of disease progression is accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic changes, which over time can provoke complications such as protrusions and disc herniation.Such degenerative changes can be the main cause of leg paralysis.
Lumbar osteochondrosis can be accompanied not only by the development of a protrusion or herniation of the intervertebral disc, but also by other, no less serious diseases of internal organs and systems.One of the most common complications is pinching of the sciatic nerve, which is accompanied by severe pain in the lower back and a feeling of numbness in the limbs.
Radiculitis can cause other serious consequences - spondyloarthrosis, osteophytosis, spondylosis, stenosis, lameness, spinal curvature.The disease can also provoke a pathological process in the genitourinary and reproductive sphere;in women, inflammation of the uterus and ovaries;in men it causes various potency problems.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is divided into several stages:
- The first stage of radiculitis is a "mild" stage, in which the pain in the lumbar or sacral area is still mild and occurs only with physical exertion.In the first stage, the process of destruction of the vertebrae is in the initial stage.
- The second stage is accompanied by active destruction of the fibrous rings and reduction of the intervertebral space.This leads to pinching of the nerves and causes severe pain.
- The third stage - the destruction of the fibrous rings ends, intervertebral hernias appear.The spine is noticeably deformed and twisted, losing its normal anatomical shape.
- The fourth stage of the disease is the most severe.At this stage, a person can no longer walk normally;often the fourth stage ends in disability.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
Symptoms and treatment are determined depending on the stage of development of the disease.
At the first stage, a person, as a rule, does not pay attention to the first signs of the disease.With sharp turns or walking, slight pain and discomfort may occur in the lumbar region.In addition, pain often occurs after prolonged sitting or standing in one place.
The main danger of this period is that the symptoms are not yet pronounced enough, a person can simply ignore them, which is why osteochondrosis quickly progresses.
The second stage of radiculitis is accompanied by a decrease in the space between the vertebrae and, accordingly, severe pain in the lower back and sacrum, which can radiate to the groin and lower limbs.
At the third stage, osteochondrosis is characterized by pronounced symptoms - severe pain, back spasms, reduced mobility of the vertebrae and the onset of pathologies of internal organs and systems.This can lead to problems with the genitourinary system and gynecological inflammations.
The symptoms of the fourth, most severe stage of the disease are expressed in the form of a noticeable deformation of the spine, which can bend to the side or forward, constant, severe pain, which is especially intensified when trying to make a physical movement.Also at this stage, swelling of the muscles and ligaments, loss of sensitivity and numbness of the lower extremities may occur.
Modern methods of treatment
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine is recommended to be carried out comprehensively - with the help of drugs, physiotherapy methods, exercises and herbal medicine.In the most severe cases, surgical treatment is applied.
Treatment is aimed at achieving goals such as:
- Reduction of pain in the lumbar and sacral region.
- Removal of inflammatory processes in the diseased area.
- Removal of pathological tension in muscle tissue.
- Activation of blood circulation in the lumbosacral region of the back.
- Improving the mobility of the vertebrae, normalizing sensitivity in the lower limbs.
Medicinal treatment of radiculitis is a mandatory element in the complex therapy of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine.For therapeutic purposes, several drugs are most often prescribed:
- Pain relievers are used to relieve pain.But we must remember that by removing pain, analgesics do not treat the cause of the disease.
- In most cases, the doctor prescribes chondroprotectors designed to improve the metabolic processes in cartilage fibers and prevent their further deformation.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - are used to eliminate pain and swelling, release compressed nerve endings and relieve the inflammatory process in the affected tissues.
- Medicines from the category of muscle relaxants are used to normalize muscle tone.
- In some cases, drugs with a diuretic effect can be prescribed, which help to relieve the swelling of the affected tissues.
- To activate blood circulation in the lumbosacral spine, drugs with vasodilating properties can be prescribed.
- Calcium supplements are often used to increase the strength of bone and cartilage tissue.
In the first and second stages of the disease, drugs for external use, produced in the form of ointments, creams and lotions, are very effective.
Traditional methods
Traditional medicine offers a wide range of different recipes for effective treatment of osteochondrosis.The most effective methods are considered to be various frictions, massages and compresses.But it should be remembered that traditional methods can be effective only in the initial stages of the disease.
- One of the most famous recipes is cabbage compresses.To do this, all the veins are cut off from the surface of the cabbage leaf, then the leaf is lightly hammered and applied to the lower back.The compress is fixed with a wide scarf, handkerchief or gauze.It is recommended to change the cabbage leaves several times a day.
- Grind 3-4 large cloves of garlic using a garlic press, squeeze the juice from the resulting mass through cheesecloth, separately melt 100 g of pork fat in a water bath.Combine the resulting components in a ratio of 1: 2 and mix.The composition is used for therapeutic massage and rubbing.
- A tablespoon of ground red pepper is poured with 250 ml of vodka, after which the container with the medicine is left in a dry and dark place for a week.The folk remedy is used for rubbing.
- Horseradish rub is prepared in the same way.The horseradish root, grated, is squeezed and the resulting juice is mixed with the same amount of vodka.The mixture is used for regular rubbing.
Exercise therapy (physical therapy)
Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine allows you to eliminate pain, improve the condition of muscle and cartilage tissue, restore the mobility of the spine, significantly strengthen the locomotor corset and "unload" the lumbar spine.
Exercises for osteochondrosis can be performed only if the person is not bothered by severe back pain.Exercises can be very diverse - bending forward and backward, left and right from a standing position, raising the arms up, behind the head and tension of the abdominal muscles.At the same time, absolutely all therapeutic exercises are performed under the supervision of a specialist.
What to do if you suspect osteochondrosis?
Radiculitis is an extremely dangerous disease that most often begins unnoticed by a person.The danger of radiculitis lies in the fact that in the absence of the necessary treatment, the disease can have the most unpleasant consequences - even paralysis of the legs and curvature of the spine.
Therefore, when the first signs of the disease appear, it is necessary to consult an orthopedist, who will prescribe the optimal course of treatment.Remember that the sooner you start treatment, the faster you can achieve positive results and restore the health of your spine.