Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is expressed in dystrophic lesions in the mentioned back, lesions in the nucleus of the intervertebral discs and deformation of the intervertebral joints in the context of disorders of the ligament apparatus. In this pathological process of the most advanced stages of the disease, vessels are involved and even the nervous system.

What is lumbar osteochondrosis?

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system in the world. Irregular pain syndromes in the designated area are experienced by up to sixty percent of the population, and every tenth resident is diagnosed with osteochondrosis of one form or another, nearly half of cases are due to defeat of the lumbar and sacral regions.

This disease is rapidly "rejuvenating", occasionally occurring even in teenagers and children - this is blamed on a sedentary lifestyle / work as well as an excessive passion for computer games, lack of full physical activity - sports and active games are supplanted by a long stay on the PC.

However, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine can also occur due to excessive stress, especially if it is made worse by being overweight. The problem is caused by poor posture as well as back injuries, non-compliance with the daily routine and systematic malnutrition.

The negative factors that accelerate the formation of prerequisites for the emergence of this type of osteochondrosis are chronic lack of sleep, stress, and the deceleration of the body's metabolic processes. A separate category is professional athletes.

Several experts note that, in some cases, osteochondrosis is a consequence of a person's genetic predisposition: the intervertebral discs at the same time have a loose porous structure and under the influence of negative pathogenic factors are rapidly destroyed, the disease progresses rapidly and it is diagnosed only in late, sometimes irreversible stages.

A special risk group are people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis as well as ankylosing spondyloarthritis, which trigger the development and complicate the course of the aforementioned autoimmune disease.

First signs. Lumbar osteochondrosis symptoms

The main symptoms of the disease described above, of course, include the pain syndrome. Prolonged low back pain of moderate intensity in the lumbar region can be replaced by strong "lumbago" after active physical work or being in an uncomfortable position. As a rule, in the supine position, the painful syndrome practically does not appear or disappear completely.

With an exacerbation, in addition to great physical exertion, hypothermia or non-physiological movements, the painful syndrome loses its location in the lower back and moves to the pelvic region and even to the legs.

In detail, the patient develops the following pathologies:

Nerve Root Compression

1. Root injuries L 1-2: pain in local locations, loss of sensation in inner thigh and groin.
2. L-5 lesion: low back pain in the lower back, radiating to the thumb.
3. S-1 lesion: pain and numbness of the outer surface of the thigh, foot, temporary disappearance of reflexes in the sole of the foot and leg.

arterial injury

Local damage in DH artery causes:

1. Regular numbness of leg/buttocks.
2. Loss of sensation in the genital area.
3. In rare cases, loss of pelvic motor function.

Vascular compression ischemia

Violation of the blood supply to the spinal cord and additional peripheral structures leads to a "thinning" of the structure of the intervertebral discs and, consequently, abnormal spinal mobility, osteophyte formation and neoarthrosis.

compression myelopathy

Spinal canal narrowing causes periodic paroxysmal weakness in the extremities, painful "lumbar" syndrome of the lower back with indentation to the back of the thighs. In this context, hypotrophy / hypotension of the gastrocnemius / gluteal muscles develops, the disappearance of plantar, anal and Achilles reflexes, paresis of the foot.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

It is possible and necessary to treat the disease. Naturally, in this case, only complex therapy, which aims to reduce the symptoms of an autoimmune disease, restore the structure of the spine, and prevent the problem from recurring, will help.

The complex therapy of the disease above includes:

1. Taking medications.
2. Blocking injections.
3. Gymnastics and exercise therapy.
4. Massages and manual therapy.
5. Physiotherapy.

Preparations for lumbar osteochondrosis

1. Analgesics.
2. Restoring chondroprotectors.
3. Vitamins. Great - group B.
4. Injections. Anesthetics, cartilage restorers and blood microcirculation normalizers.
5. Local funds. Corticosteroids as well as anti-inflammatories.

Gymnastics for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

An important element of spinal rehabilitation. All procedures are developed individually, with the aim of relieving muscle pain and spasms, normalizing blood circulation and restoring the functioning of the intervertebral discs.

Massage for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

Massage is an indispensable component of complex disease therapy. It helps to relax and train the muscles in the lower back, induces the cartilage tissue repair process and relieves pain.

Most of the time, with the disease described above, therapeutic, acupressure, hardware, can-vacuum and connective tissue massages are used.

Physiotherapy

As a rule, physiotherapy is prescribed for patients with osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine only in the phase of disease remission, after the period of exacerbation of the problem is overcome.

Modern and classic techniques:

1. Acupuncture. Exposure to acupuncture points on the back with special needles.
2. Stretching. The classic technique of stretching the spine on a massage table, performed by a qualified chiropractor.
3. Electrophoresis. Known since the 1960s, a complex non-operative method of influencing external problem affected areas.
4. Traction decompression. Automated hardware spinal in a special medical complex.
5. Shockwave therapy. The use of infrasound waves for the treatment of osteochondrosis.
6. Osteopathy. A complex technique that combines elements of chiropractic, massage and therapeutic orthopedics.
7. Magnetopuncture. Direct effect of an alternating magnetic field in the spine.
8. Laser puncture. Treatment of acupuncture points with induced radiation beam.
9. Electrical stimulation. The use of small alternating currents in the affected areas.

Prevention of lumbar osteochondrosis

After undergoing complex treatment and physiotherapy, supportive therapy is needed for a long period of time: during this period, the spine is still weakened and requires support. Furthermore, prevention aims to prevent the occurrence of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. Main activities:

1. Regular balanced exercises, preferably under the supervision of a qualified podiatrist.
2. Normalization of body weight: often, excess weight is an aggravating factor that affects the formation of osteochondrosis.
3. Diet correction. A regular diet should include foods rich in elements such as calcium and magnesium. In this case, it is worth excluding very fatty and unhealthy foods as well as other foods that do not fit the definition of healthy foods.
4. Rejection of bad habits. Alcohol and tobacco intensify all of the body's destructive processes, which also apply to the occurrence of osteochondrosis.
5. Correct posture. Be sure to monitor your posture, especially if your job involves constantly being at the computer or other sitting activity. Also pay attention to your child - how and how long he sits. Correct normal posture will prevent the appearance of scoliosis and, consequently, in the future, osteochondrosis.
6. Wear correct shoes, clothes and accessories, avoiding the regular use of weights. The wrong shoes, a heavy shoulder bag, act like a carrier - all these factors sometimes have a decisive influence on the beginning of the formation of destructive processes in the spine.

Question answer

What kind of pain occurs with this type of osteochondrosis?

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is characterized by several types of pain. First, they are unpleasant sensations located in the lower back, which continue for a long period of time and increase significantly with an increase in a person's motor activity and physical work. This type of pain disappears if the body is in a horizontal position for at least 15-20 minutes.

If the disease is exacerbated due to hypothermia, prolonged physiological stress or sudden "everting" movements, then, in addition to the aforementioned background pain, there is also a "shooting" effect, located in the pelvic region and radiating to the lower extremities. .

Is gymnastics useful for this osteochondrosis?

Therapeutic gymnastics with therapeutic exercises allows to consolidate the good effect of the complex therapy of the disease, to partially develop the intervertebral components of the joints, and also to relax / train the muscles of the lumbar region. Also, proper regular massage helps to get rid of the unpleasant pain associated with osteochondrosis.

A specific set and list of exercises, the number of approaches and frequency of exercises are developed for you by the treating physician: he will take into account the current stage of the disease, a possible list of contraindications and restrictions, the condition of the patient and recommending methods for using exercise therapy in practice.