Lumbar osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine is a dystrophic spinal disease, in which the normal structure of the entire spinal column and intervertebral discs in particular is gradually destroyed.It should be said that not only the back suffers, but the whole organism, especially the pelvic organs and the lower limbs.

back pain with lumbar osteochondrosis

The reasons for the development

The lumbar region for a person’s life in connection with a directness experiences a colossal vertical load that cannot fully compensate even the large size of the vertebrae.Therefore, the slightest shifts in the human body, a decrease in the muscular corset of the lower back, excess weight, injuries, incorrect movements and much more can lead to the development of the disease.Also, you should always remember about age -related changes in the spine regarding each person.

The intervertebral disc is healthy and with lumbar osteochondrosis

By summarizing the above, the most frequent risk factors can be distinguished, the totality of which leads to osteochondrosis of the lumbar:

  • Uneven and irregular loads on the spine (lifting severity from an inclined position, etc.).
  • Excess weight (almost every kilogram is important).
  • Rumber injuries, including sports.
  • Weakening of the muscle corset (prolonged work in a monotonous position, etc.).
  • Infutable diet, poor in minerals and vitamins.

Symptoms

The symptoms of the disease can vary quite widely, however, the totality of the main signs of osteochondrosis develops, as a rule, in three syndrome:

  • Vertobroogenous lumbalgia (synonym Lumbago).
  • Vertro -carbon lumboyshialgia.
  • Vertro -carbon ischialgia (inflammation of the sciatic nerve).

However, in addition to pain in the lumbar region (with irradiation to the legs, gluteal, inguinal areas of or without such), tension of the lower back muscles, weakness in the legs, crunch during lower back movements and difficulties of movements in the lumbar region should be distinguished by a number of other important symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar:

  • Numbness in the legs and a sense of crawling goosebumps in the legs.
  • Cramps in the legs.
  • Pelvic disorders (delay or incontinence of urine, constipation or diarrhea).
  • Weakness in certain groups of the muscles of the legs.

These complaints can orient the neurologist to the level of damage to the spine, conduct a differential diagnosis with other diseases of the spine.

Diagnostics and X -ray signs

X -ray picture of the lumbar department of osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis should be diagnosed with only one type of instrumental methods - radiological.Visualize the entire structure of the spine in modern medicine allows the best MSCT or MRI study, however, simple radiography has not lost its estimated value (as a screening study).It is important to remember that the main stage in the diagnosis of problems with the spine will be a medical examination, which sometimes allows you to make a diagnosis without an examination at all.

In the neurological status, pain is detected on palpation of the spicy processes of vertebrae, tension of the lower back muscles, and if there is only osteochondrosis, then there should be no symptoms such as: decreased tendon reflexes, impaired sensitivity, symptoms of tension (signs of compression of the spinal cord roots), impaired muscle and muscle of the legs, weakness of movement of movement of motionIn the legs.In the presence of these symptoms, differential diagnostics with disc hernia and other, more serious diseases of the spine should be carried out.

Treatment

Treatment of the disease involves prolonged complete therapy.The directions in the treatment of several - drug removal of exacerbation, non -drug auxiliary methods, as well as the preventive method of physiotherapy exercises, partially used in the acute period, and does not lose its relevance to this day.

medication

It is a combination of myoorlaxing therapy, anti -inflammatory pathogenetic therapy, as well as the use of neuroprotective drugs.The choice of drugs and dosage calculations proceed from the weight of a person, gender, the presence of concomitant diseases.

In the acute period, it is advisable to inject drugs such as diclofenac, meloxicam.Also, in parallel, they begin to carry out therapy for the removal of muscle spasm and the protection of the nerve fiber from damage.

Non -drug

Massage in the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis

It is represented by physiode and manual influences.Given the massiveness of muscle groups, a fairly extensive level of the anatomical zone, physiotization can only be an auxiliary method.DDT, electrophoresis, magnetotherapy are used, which allow you to enhance the effect of drugs.

However, massage and manual therapy are sometimes able to completely stop the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis even without support for drugs.This is due to the fact that muscle spasm can be removed quite well, and the pain is not always provoked by the inflammatory process, sometimes only careless movement leads to pain, the consequences of which are eliminated effectively in the first hours after the development of pain.

Gymnastics for osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is aimed at stretching the muscles of the back and strengthening them.In the presence of the established diagnosis, lumbar osteochondrosis should be engaged in physiotherapy exercises daily.Subject to general rules (restriction of excessive physical activity, hypothermia), body weight control and exercise for osteochondrosis of the lumbar region about the disease can sometimes be forgotten for many years.