Symptoms and methods of treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

The most common cause of back pain is the development of a disease of the musculoskeletal system such as osteochondrosis. If earlier this pathology was found mainly in older people and less often in middle age, now osteochondrosis has become much younger, it is often diagnosed in people whose age is 20-30 years.

According to medical statistics, most often the disease affects the lumbar and lumbosacral spine.

Characteristics of the disease

Osteochondrosis is a pathology of the musculoskeletal system that affects its most important component: the vertebral column. It arises due to the fact that dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs begin to develop.

The disease affects not only the tissue of the intervertebral discs, but negative changes begin to occur in the surrounding tissues, affecting the ligaments and muscles.

The reason for the prevalence of the lumbar form of osteochondrosis is that this particular part of the spine is subjected to maximum physical stress.

With this disease, characteristic changes occur in the nucleus pulposus, which is part of the intervertebral disc. This disc performs depreciation functions.

If the water exchange in the intervertebral discs is disturbed, they become thinner and their fragility increases.

People of advanced age are more susceptible to the pathological process, as the metabolic processes in the tissues of the intervertebral discs begin to deteriorate when they reach a certain age.

Under the influence of negative changes, the boundaries of the nucleus pulposus gradually expand, it tends to enter the intervertebral space. This usually ends with the displacement of the nucleus into the spinal canal, as a result of which it is compressed and pinched by nerve fibers and blood vessels.

Pinched nerves are the cause of pain in osteochondrosis. There may also be a deterioration in the functioning of internal organs.

With the progression of the disease, the force of pressure on the vertebrae increases. The body tries to compensate for the defect, and the growth of the bone tissue in the spine is greatly accelerated. As a result, pathological growths - osteophytes - are formed on the vertebrae. Ultimately, this further disrupts the functionality of the affected spine.

With advanced forms of osteochondrosis, the patient may experience paralysis of the lower extremities. Due to late access to medical care, a person can become disabled.

Causes of osteochondrosis of the lumbar and lumbosacral spine

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar and lumbosacral spine develops due to improper distribution of the load on the spine. If this is combined with other negative factors, the progression of osteochondrosis is accelerated, it can take on more severe forms.

The disease can be caused by:

• regularly perform heavy physical work, lift heavy objects (people with certain professions, as well as athletes involved in weightlifting, are at risk);
• insufficient physical activity, which adversely affects the condition of the muscles and leads to a deterioration of blood circulation, metabolic processes and a decrease in the amount of nutrients entering the tissues;
• the patient is overweight, which leads to the fact that the spine is constantly exposed to heavy loads;
• poor posture and gait problems;
• the presence of congenital deformities or other defects of the spine or the entire skeleton;
• flat feet can also cause the development of osteochondrosis, since in patients with foot deformities, its arch cannot fully absorb the load during movement, which leads to increased loads on the intervertebral discs;
• traumatic spinal injury;
• genetically determined disorders of bone formation;
• age-related changes;
• infections affecting the bone tissue (tuberculosis, osteomyelitis);
• inflammatory processes affecting bones and joints (including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis);
• vitamin and mineral deficiency;
• exposure to harmful and toxic substances.

The most common cause of pathology is heavy loads on the spine in patients with poor posture.

Symptoms of the disease

The manifestation and severity of symptoms of osteochondrosis depend on the stage of the disease.

There are 4 stages of the disease:

1. The first stage is characterized by the appearance of pain in the lumbar region (low back pain), spasms of the surrounding muscle tissues and swelling in the affected area. During this period, a change and displacement of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral discs begins, which causes irritation of the nerve endings.
2. In the second stage, the process of destroying the fibrous rings of the intervertebral discs begins. The vertebrae become unstable, their mobility increases, as a result of which there is constant tension of the neighboring muscles. Pain is noted along the sciatic nerve. At this stage of the disease, disruptions in the work of internal organs can sometimes begin.
3. During the third phase, the rupture of the fibrous rings and the release of the contents of the nucleus pulposus are observed. As a result, herniated discs are formed. All this contributes to further deformation of the spine (the development of scoliosis, kyphosis or lordosis can be observed). Sharp pains become permanent, this is due to radicular syndrome, in which the nerve roots are compressed by fragments that have fallen from the fibrous rings.
4. The fourth stage is characterized by severe deformities of the spine, pathological growths appear on the vertebrae. There may be significant pain relief, but this does not mean improvement in the patient's condition. Conversely, a person's movements become severely limited. Usually, patients with stage 4 osteochondrosis require disability registration.

One of the main symptoms of the disease is pain in the lower back, which can also spread to the coccyx and lower limbs. It is divided into 3 types:

1. Low back pain- acute pain attacks that begin when making sudden movements or lifting heavy objects.
2. Lombodynia- severe regular pain associated with damage to the intervertebral cartilage and muscle fibers.
3. Lumboishalgia- characterized by a sensation of pain, sensation of cold or heat in the lumbar region, as well as in the legs.

Even a person's psychological state can cause pain.

In addition to pain, osteochondrosis is characterized by:

• feeling of weakness in the lower half of the body and legs;
• deterioration of the tendon reflexes of the lower limbs;
• tingling, which may be felt from the lower back to the foot;
• curvature of the spine;
• with lumbosacral osteochondrosis, there is often a malfunction in the functioning of the pelvic organs (urination disorder, fecal incontinence, erectile dysfunction);
• skin problems (dryness, peeling, bluish tinge) and changes in sweating can also occur in the lower back and buttocks.

If you find the symptoms listed, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible to promptly start treatment and prevent serious consequences.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar and lumbosacral spine

Medical

For a patient diagnosed with osteochondrosis, the doctor may prescribe the following types of therapy (including several at the same time):

• drug treatment;
• physiotherapeutic procedures;
• medical massage and manual therapy;
• perform a surgical operation.

Let's take a closer look at each of these methods.

Medicines are prescribed to relieve pain, fight inflammation and improve the regeneration of diseased tissues. The patient can be assigned:

• analgesics (help relieve pain);
• muscle relaxants (used to relax muscle fibers and relieve spasms);
• chondroprotector (promotes the regeneration of cartilage and bone tissues and protects them from negative influences);
• anti-inflammatory drugs;
• in case of edema, diuretics (diuretics) are prescribed;
• medicines that improve blood circulation;
• vitamin and mineral complexes.

In common forms of osteochondrosis, when conventional analgesics are ineffective, blockades may be prescribed. Which specific drugs should be used, as well as the scheme and duration of treatment, are determined by the doctor, taking into account the stage of the disease and the severity of symptoms.

It is recommended to prescribe physiotherapy together with drugs to increase the effectiveness of treatment. With osteochondrosis, the following procedures are indicated:

• laser therapy;
• magnetic resonance therapy;
• phonophoresis;
• shock wave therapy.

These treatments help relieve pain, reduce inflammation and help repair damaged tissue. The use of a laser beam is very effective, this allows you to achieve a stable remission.

When prescribing phonophoresis, additional topical drugs are used (this method allows the drug to penetrate deep under the skin directly into the lesion). To maximize tissue enrichment with oxygen, the doctor may also prescribe ozone therapy.

It should be borne in mind that physiotherapy is contraindicated in some pathologies. It should not be prescribed to patients with oncological diseases, thyrotoxicosis, diabetes, tuberculosis, infectious diseases.

Massage and manual therapy can be prescribed simultaneously with drugs and physiotherapeutic procedures, which increases the therapeutic effect.

These methods affect the conduction of nerve impulses and help normalize muscle tone.

Surgical intervention is indicated only in the later stages of the disease, when other methods of treatment are useless. Surgery is necessary if:

• the patient suffers from severe pain that cannot be controlled by drugs;
• herniated disc;
• the patient is diagnosed with spinal cord compression (this leads to impaired sensitivity and motor functions - from a feeling of weakness to paralysis);
• the development of ponytail syndrome is noted.

Nowadays, modern high-tech and low-traumatic operations are increasingly performed, making it possible to significantly shorten the rehabilitation period. In the absence of complications, the patient will be able to move normally within a few months of surgery.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine treatments help relieve pain, reduce inflammation and improve mobility. Here are several ways to treat osteochondrosis with folk remedies.

1. You need to take raw potatoes, grate them and mix them with natural honey. The resulting mixture should be placed on the back and fixed with a bandage for at least 2 hours. Applying hot boiled potatoes to the affected area also helps.
2. Grate the garlic and mix it in equal parts with the ginger. Then add a drizzle of olive oil. The resulting drug should be rubbed into the back overnight to improve blood circulation and reduce muscle tension.
3. Mix a tablespoon of menthol oil with a tablespoon of fir oil. The mixture should be rubbed on the back.
4. Take chopped pine or spruce needles in the amount of ½ tablespoon per 200 ml (1 glass) of boiling water and let it brew for 30 minutes. Drink half a glass 2 times a day.
5. Mix a tablespoon of cranberry and mint herbs, boil with boiling water (1 glass), let it brew and strain. Drink the broth gradually throughout the day.

It is important to understand that treatment with folk remedies cannot replace a visit to a doctor. Alternative methods temporarily relieve symptoms, but do not completely eliminate the disease.

Also, they may not be suitable for all patients, so it is highly recommended that you consult a specialist before using them.

Physiotherapy exercises

Physiotherapy exercises aim to strengthen the muscles of the lower back, buttocks and thighs, which helps relieve pain, reduce the degree of pinching of nerves and blood vessels, and restore flexibility.

In order for the exercises to be as effective as possible and not cause harm, it is necessary to follow some guidelines:

• Exercises should be performed with natural fabric clothing that does not restrict movement;
• the lumbar region during physical education should not be hypothermic;
• if you have to take a lying position to perform the exercise, it is best to put a round roller under the lower leg;
• you should start exercising no earlier than one hour after eating;
• to achieve a sustainable positive effect, it is necessary to regularly engage in physiotherapy exercises;
• exercises should be performed smoothly, slowly, focusing on muscle work;
• you need to monitor your breathing, it should be regular and deep;
• It is helpful to keep a journal that includes the changes since the day you start exercising.

The exercises to be performed depend on the severity of the symptoms of osteochondrosis.

In acute lumbar osteochondrosis, the spine should not be loaded, you should adhere to bed rest (preferably using an orthopedic mattress), and you can do physical education lying on your back, repeating each movement 8-10 times. Here are some suggestions:

1. Lying on your back, put a roller under your shins and bend your knees. The patient must bend his arms into a fist and bend, and he must also bend the legs at the ankle. These movements are performed alternately with each arm and leg.
2. You have to bend and straighten your legs alternately, moving only your knees. At the same time, the back shouldn't move.
3. Rotate each foot in turn.
4. Extend your arms and legs, then begin flexing and extending the elbows of both arms at the same time. During flexion, you need to inhale and during extension, exhale. Keep your palms up.

Recommended exercises for subacute lumbar osteochondrosis:

1. With your knees bent in the supine position, place your feet on the mattress. As you inhale, gently raise the sacrum, while the lower thoracic spine should rest on the mattress. After 1-2 seconds, gently lower the lower half of your back.
2. Lying on a mattress, inhaling, you need to lift your head and contract your abdominal muscles. On exhalation, return to the starting position.
3. In the supine position, pull the heel towards the buttocks in a smooth motion, without lifting it off the mattress. After a few seconds, straighten your leg. The movements should be repeated for each leg separately and for both legs at the same time.
4. From a position on all fours, sit with your buttocks on your heels, making sliding movements with your hands on the mattress. Then take the starting position.
5. Get on all fours, relax your neck. Tighten your chin to your chest, bend your back in the lower back like a cat, fix this position for a few seconds. It is necessary to ensure that the head does not rise and that the back maintains the accepted position.

Patients who have achieved remission can perform any of the above exercises.

Physiotherapy exercises, if possible, should be done 3-4 times a day for any form of lumbar osteochondrosis, but before starting to perform them, you should definitely consult a doctor.

Preventive measures

Osteochondrosis, like most other ailments, is much easier to prevent than trying to get rid of its consequences later. To minimize the likelihood of developing the disease, we recommend:

• to ensure that the diet is healthy and balanced;
• lead an active life, move as much as possible;
• do not subject the spine to excessively heavy loads;
• do exercises to strengthen the back muscles.

It is also necessary to promptly treat diseases and injuries that can lead to the development of osteochondrosis. If even minor symptoms appear that may signal spinal problems, do not delay your visit to the doctor.

Conclusion

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a disease that must be taken as seriously as possible to avoid serious consequences. If you adhere to a healthy lifestyle and follow the recommended preventive measures, the likelihood of developing pathologies will be minimal.

If symptoms of the disease appear, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Timely medical care is the key to stable remission, which allows you to stop the pathological process, preserve the patient's working capacity and, to some extent, restore the previous state of the musculoskeletal system.