Lumbar osteochondrosis is one of the most frequent and most 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 back pain 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, more often in middle and old age.Medical practice shows that this particular disease ranks first among the main causes of temporary or permanent disability, and in some cases of disability.That is why the treatment of the pathology should be treated with the utmost care, because osteochondrosis can pose a serious risk to human health.
The lumbar region is the name given to the part of the spine that consists of 5 vertebrae designed to connect the sacral and thoracic regions.Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a pathological change, during which there is a rapid decrease in flexibility and a change in the natural anatomical structure of the intervertebral discs.Their gradual deformation is done.
The basis of radiculitis is the slow destruction of the vertebrae, the loss of their moisture and elasticity, and the reduction of shock-absorbing abilities.Gradually, the space between the vertebrae decreases, the intervertebral disc can harden, resulting in scratching of the nerve roots.This process is accompanied by severe and spasmodic pain in the lower back.
How dangerous is osteochondrosis, its stages?
The course of the disease is accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic changes, which over time can provoke complications such as protrusions and herniation of discs.Such degenerative changes can be the main cause of leg paralysis.
Lumbar osteochondrosis can be accompanied not only by the development of protrusion or herniation of the intervertebral disc, but also by other, no less serious diseases of internal organs and systems.One of the most frequent 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 also cause other serious consequences - spondyloarthrosis, osteophytosis, spondylosis, stenosis, lameness, curvature of the spine.The disease can also provoke a pathological process in the genitourinary and reproductive spheres;in women, inflammation of the uterus and ovaries;in men it causes various problems with potency.
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 region is still mild and appears only during physical exertion.In the first stage, the process of destruction of the vertebrae is in the initial stage.
- The second stage is associated with active destruction of the fibrous rings and a decrease in the intervertebral space.This leads to compression of the nerves and causes severe pain.
- The third stage - the destruction of fibrous rings ends, intervertebral hernias appear.The spine is visibly 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.
In the first stage, a person, as a rule, does not pay attention to the first signs of the disease.When making sharp turns or walking, minor pain and discomfort may appear in the lumbar region.In addition, pain often occurs after sitting or prolonged 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, due to which osteochondrosis progresses rapidly.
The second stage of radiculitis is associated with a decrease in clearance between the vertebrae and, accordingly, severe pain in the lower back and sacrum, which can radiate to the groin and lower extremities.
In the third stage, osteochondrosis is characterized by pronounced symptoms - severe pain, spasms in the back, decreased mobility of the vertebrae and the onset of pathologies of internal organs and systems.This can result in problems with the genitourinary system and gynecological inflammation.
The symptoms of the fourth stage, the most severe disease, are expressed in the form of a visible deformation of the spine, which can bend to the side or forward, constant, strong pain, which intensifies especially when you try to make any physical movement.Also at this stage swelling of muscles and ligaments, loss of sensitivity and numbness of the lower extremities can occur.
Modern methods of treatment
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine is recommended to be carried out comprehensively - with the help of medicines, physiotherapeutic methods, exercise therapy and herbal medicine.In the most severe cases, surgical treatment is used.
Treatment aims to achieve goals such as:
- Reduction of pain in the lumbar and sacral areas.
- Removal of inflammatory processes in the diseased area.
- Elimination of pathological tension in muscle tissue.
- Activation of blood circulation in the lumbosacral region of the back.
- Improvement of vertebral mobility, normalization of sensitivity in the lower extremities.
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:
- Painkillers are used to relieve pain.But we must remember that by eliminating pain, analgesics do not treat the cause of the disease.
- In most cases, the doctor prescribes chondroprotectors designed to improve metabolic processes in cartilage fibers and prevent their further deformation.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - 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, medications with a diuretic effect may be prescribed to help relieve swelling in the affected tissues.
- To activate blood circulation in the lumbosacral spine, medications 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, medications 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 the effective treatment of osteochondrosis.The most effective methods are considered to be friction, massages and various 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 from the surface of the cabbage leaf, after which the leaves are slightly beaten with a hammer and applied to the lower back.The compress is fixed with a wide scarf, scarf 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 ingredients in a 1:2 ratio and mix.The composition is used for therapeutic massage and rubbing.
- A tablespoon of ground red pepper should be poured into 250 ml of vodka, after which the container with the medicine should be 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.Horseradish root, grated, is squeezed and the resulting juice is mixed with the same amount of vodka.The mixture is used for regular rubbing.
Physical 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 mobility of the spine, significantly strengthen the musculoskeletal system 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 different - bending forward and backward, left and right from a standing position, raising your arms up, behind your head and straining your abdominal muscles.At the same time, absolutely all therapeutic exercises are performed under the supervision of a specialist.
What should you do if you suspect osteochondrosis?
Radiculitis is an extremely dangerous disease that most often starts 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.
That is why, when the first signs of the disease appear, it is necessary to consult an orthopedic doctor who will prescribe the optimal course of treatment.Remember, the sooner the treatment is started, the sooner you can achieve positive results and restore the health of the spine.