The number of patients suffering from osteochondrosis increases every year and the disease is unrefinibly young - a couple of decades ago this problem mainly concerned the elderly, but now it is often felt even for those who do not even have 30. And one of its most common forms is lumbar osteochondosis.In addition to the constant pain that interferes with normal life, osteochondrosis without timely care is full of serious complications, which means that it is very important to recognize its first signs over time and start the fight against it.
Where the osteochondrosis comes from
The question is far from simple, because there are really many factors capable of causing this disease.It may be both the physiological characteristics of the body, and an unhealthy lifestyle, a diet or even a genetically put program.In general, among the main reasons for the development of osteochondosis of the lumbar region, it can be distinguished:
- Wronty distribution of the load on the spine (incorrect posture, mattress or office chair with poor quality, etc.);
- sedentary lifestyle;
- frequent stress;
- unhealthy habits;
- A scarce diet, which leads to a lack of vitamins and the necessary trace elements;
- hypothermia;
- pathology of the structure of the musculoskeletal system, for example curvature of the spine, flat feet, etc.;
- overweight;
- violation of the metabolism;
- spine injuries;
- transferred infectious diseases;
- chronic inflammatory processes, mainly associated with joint diseases;
- Genetic predisposition.
The risk group also includes people whose professional activities are associated with significant loads, for example athletes and those who must be in the same laying for a long time: teachers, employees, drivers, waiters, hairdressers, etc.
In addition, osteochondrosis often becomes the result of other diseases, for example, disorders in the tract and liver or gastrointestinal (in about 30% of patients), the heart and inflammation of the ovaries in women and prostatitis in men.In this case, existing pathologies cause muscle and vascular cramps, causing oxygen hunger and dystrophic changes.Consequently, the tissues that form the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, which suffer from a lack of nutrition, are gradually destroyed - the osteochondosis of the lumbar region develops.
Symptoms of the disease
On which signs can the osteochondosis of the lumbar column be recognized in a person and is it realistic to do it until the disease has gained momentum?Unfortunately, in the early stages, this disorder in many cases proceeds almost asymptomatic and a slight discomfort in the rear deriving from time to time is often written to normal fatigue.This is its main danger: while osteocondrosis can still be addressed without consequences, it is difficult to detect and when the problem becomes obvious, it is much more difficult to slow down the pathological processes.
The most important sign of this pathology is a strong back pain, often spreading to the whole back, buttocks and legs.In the early stages, it is mainly sore or pulled, and occurs only after physical effort or sudden movements.Over time, the relative pause periods, when the patient does not feel pain and discomfort, become shorter and gradually unpleasant sensations in the lower back are transformed into his permanent companions.In addition, there are exacerbations, when the pain becomes intense and acute, and even the most insignificant load can cause an attack, up to cough or sneezing.
There are further signs of lumbar osteochondrosis:
- rigidity of movements;
- decrease in sensitivity and tingling in the legs;
- violation of sweating;
- muscle weakness;
- Dry and peeling of the skin.
In the last stages, patients may have difficulties with the control of urination and defecation due to the pinch of the spinal cord and male patients have erectile dysfunction.
Degree of lumbar osteochondosis
In total, 4 main phases of the development of the disease are distinguished.For 1, the deformation of the intervertebral discs is weakly expressed: these are small cracks within the fibrous ring, which cause unpleasant sensations.The osteochondrosis of the 1st degree is characterized by paroxysmal pain, which occurs only with acute movements and lifting weights.We are talking about Lumbago, that is bastards in the lower back in response to an attempt to change the uncomfortable position of the body.In addition, in 1 stage of the disease, patients often suffer from muscle cramps and swelling.
The lumbar osteochondosis of the 2nd degree begins with low back pain: pain and discomfort increase and appear regularly and to improve well -being, it is not already sufficient to lie down and relax.The process of destruction of the continuous fibrous ring and the vertebrae themselves acquire unhealthy mobility: the distance between them decreases and the nerve endings are pinched.Consequently, the patient has intense pains, as well as an alternative feeling of heat and cold, increased sweating and numbness of the skin.
Phase 3 of osteochondrosis is the training period of intervertebral hernias.The fibrous ring breaks and the content of the nucleus, pushing the ships and nerve roots, falls.At the same time, the patient is tormented by acute pain that pursues him almost without a break.Periodically, in the area concerned, sensitivity decreases or disappears completely and, in other cases, on the contrary, it can increase painfully and accompanied by a feeling of tingling and combustion.In this phase of the osteocondrosis, even a non -specialist may note the deformation of the spine - patients develop the curvature of the spinal column based on the type of lordosis, cifosis or scoliosis.
The 4th degree of the disease is the most serious: the spine is very deformed, patients suffer from constant pain and any movement for them transforms into a real problem.This is due to the almost complete destruction of the intervertebral discs, due to which the vertebrae are converging to the maximum or even in contact with each other.In this case, squeezing the spinal cord can cause paralysis of the lower ends.If you do not start treatment in time, going to the fourth phase, osteochondosis is able to make a person a disabled person for the rest of his life.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
With back pain, most patients go for the first time for advice to the therapist, who, if there are appropriate symptoms, sends them for a further exam to a neurologist.In turn, he leads an inspection, collects an anamnesis and prescribes hardware studies to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the degree of abandonment of the disease.
During the collection of the Amanese, the main task of the specialist is to discover the nature of the unpleasant sensations, their location, intensity and duration and also understand what frequency the exacerbations of the disease occur, which, as a rule, precede and what measures bring relief to the patient.In addition, to make a diagnosis, the patient's lifestyle, its usual diet, the characteristics of the occupational activity, the existing injuries and diseases, including hereditary ones, are important.
The inspection allows you to evaluate the patient's motor skills (posture, pace, volume of movements), presence of tone cramps and muscles, as well as determining the level of sensitivity in the affected area.
However, you can get a complete picture only with the help of hardware research: radiography, coach and magnetic resonance imaging.X -Ray allows you to see the violations of the structures of the spine, evaluate the conditions of the intervertebral discs and in time to recognize the tendency to reduce the light between the vertebrae.The computerized tomography in this case is more information: it allows you to literally look inside the spine and study existing pathologies.And magnetic resonance imaging, in turn, provides exhaustive information on the state of the spinal cord, ends nervous, muscles and blood vessels, which is extremely important not only to make the diagnosis of "lumbar osteochondosis", but also to determine the degree of abandonment of the disease.
Treatment methods
In order to successfully face lumbar osteochondrosis, patients need complex therapy, necessarily including pharmacological treatment, physiotherapy procedures, special gymnastics, massage and the use of traditional medicine recipes that improve the effect of the use of traditional methods.
The priority task that must be resolved by starting the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is the relief of pain syndrome, since during the exacerbation of the disease many therapeutic methods, such as physiotherapy and operating therapy cannot be used.To this end, patients are painkillers and prescribed injections, as well as non -pounded anti -inflammatory drugs.It is the latter that is the main component of the pharmacological treatment of osteochondrosis: they face not only with its symptoms, but also influence the causes that cause their appearance.In the most difficult cases, glucocorticosteroids are used to combat the inflammatory process, which are often introduced directly into the deep tissues in the damage area together with novocaine or lidocaine.
In addition, patients with osteochondrosis need preparations for the removal of muscle spasms: anticonvulsants and relaxing muscle, chondroprotectors who restore damaged cartilage tissue and group B vitamins that strengthen the protective functions of the body and reduce the flu.
After pain painting, the physiotherapy procedures come to the front line in the treatment of osteocondrosis.We are talking about the use of laser therapy, magnetotherapy, ultrasound, electrophoresis, acupuncture, mud baths, paraffin applications, etc., which effectively face the discomfort and pain and fix the result obtained from taking drugs.
An important place in the fight against osteochondosis of the lumbar region is diverted with physiotherapy exercises - subject to regular execution, the sets of exercises specially designed by this case significantly improve the patient's conditions, returning it the freedom of movement almost entirely.And the professional massage will help to consolidate the successes that perfectly reach muscle cramps.Non -traditional medicine, which offers osteochondrosis, plays a non -elastic role in this matter, not only effective in the fight against this disorder, but also safer than many synthetic drugs.
Why is lumbar osteochondosis dangerous?
In addition to the intensive pain, which often makes the life of a patient with truly unbearable lumbar osteochondrosis, people with this diagnosis are limited by motor skills and in the last stages of the disease, some can be completely lost.We are talking about the paralysis of the lower ends, which can develop due to the compression of the spinal cord.In the most extreme case, osteochondrosis is able to lead to death if there is significant damage to the shell of the spinal cord.
But without even reaching 4 phases, the lumbar osteochondrosis seriously undermines human health.It often ends with the formation of intervertebral hernias, which requires prolonged and complex treatment and in some cases and surgery.In addition, squeezing blood vessels, which is characteristic of osteocondrosis, can lead to the formation of dangerous stagnation and violate the work of other internal organs.In patients with this diagnosis, the parental parent system often suffers: lumbar osteochondrosis is able to cause problems with ovaries, uterus and appendages in women and erectile dysfunction in men.
It is obvious that over time to recognize the symptoms of osteocondrosis, seek help and start its complex treatment: the task is extremely important.But the role of prevention is no less important in this subject - it is with its help that it is possible to reduce the risk of developing the disease and maintaining good health.We are talking about a regular, but moderate physical effort, a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, respect for the drinking regime and the exams of specialists who can identify possible problems in the early stages.
It should be remembered that the osteochondosis of the lumbar region is a serious illness, which is extremely dangerous for health ignoring whose symptoms.Only by recognizing the disease over time and starting the treatment, is it possible to slow down the pathological processes and bring the patient back to conduct the opportunity to guide the usual lifestyle.Otherwise, the consequences can be the most deplorable, until the disability, of which the patient will no longer be able to get rid of.