Lumbar osteochondrosis is one of the most common and most frequently diagnosed osteochondrosis, which is also called "sciatica".The frequency of this disease is extremely high - in approximately 82% of cases, patients who consult a doctor with severe lower back pain are diagnosed with radiculitis of the lumbosacral region.
Description of the disease
Osteochondrosis of the sacral or lumbar region occurs with equal frequency in women and men, most often in middle and older age.Medical practice shows that this disease ranks first among the main causes of temporary or permanent disability and, in some cases, disability.That is why the treatment of pathology should be handled with the greatest possible care, since osteochondrosis can pose a serious threat to human health.
The lumbar region is the part of the spine that consists of 5 vertebrae that connect the sacral and thoracic regions.Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a pathological change during which the elasticity rapidly decreases and the natural anatomical structure of the discs changes.Their gradual deformation takes place.
The basis of radiculitis is the slow destruction of the vertebrae, the loss of their moisture and elasticity, and the reduction of the ability to absorb shock.The space between the vertebrae gradually decreases, the intervertebral disc can harden, which results in pinching of the nerve roots.This process is accompanied by severe and cramping pain in the lower back.
How dangerous is osteochondrosis, its stages?
The progression of the disease is accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic changes, which over time can cause complications such as protrusions and disc herniation.Such degenerative changes can be the main cause of leg paralysis.
Lumbar osteochondrosis can be associated not only with the protrusion or herniation of the intervertebral disc, but also with other, no less serious diseases of the internal organs and systems.One of the most common complications is pinching of the sciatic nerve, which is accompanied by severe lower back pain and a feeling of numbness in the limbs.
Radiculitis can also cause other serious consequences - spondyloarthrosis, osteophytosis, spondylosis, stenosis, lameness, spinal curvature.The disease can also trigger a pathological process in the urogenital and reproductive sphere;inflammation of the uterus and ovaries in women;causes various potency problems in men.
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 occurs only during physical exertion.In the first stage, the process of destruction of the vertebrae is in the initial stage.
- The second stage is accompanied by the active destruction of the fibrous rings and the reduction of the intervertebral space.This leads to pinching of the nerves and causes severe pain.
- The third stage - the destruction of fibrous rings ends, intervertebral hernias appear.The spine is noticeably deformed and twisted, losing its normal anatomical shape.
- The fourth stage of the disease is the most serious.At this stage, the 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 usually does not pay attention to the first signs of the disease.Minor pain and discomfort may occur in the lumbar region during sharp turns or when walking.In addition, pain often appears after prolonged sitting or standing.
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 develops quickly.
The second stage of radiculitis is accompanied by 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 limbs.
In the third stage, osteochondrosis is characterized by pronounced symptoms - intense pain, spasms in the back, reduced mobility of the vertebrae, and the beginning of pathologies of internal organs and systems.This can cause problems in the urinary system and gynecological inflammation.
The symptoms of the fourth, most severe stage of the disease are manifested in a noticeable deformation of the spine, which can bend to the side or forward, in constant, severe pain, which is especially aggravated during any physical movement.Swelling of the muscles and ligaments, loss of sensitivity and numbness of the lower limbs may also occur at this stage.
Modern treatment methods
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine is recommended to be carried out comprehensively - with the help of drugs, physiotherapy methods, exercise therapy and medicinal herbs.In the most severe cases, surgical treatment is used.
The aim of the treatment is to achieve goals such as:
- Pain reduction 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.
- Improving the mobility of the vertebrae, normalizing the sensitivity of the lower limbs.
Medicinal treatment of radiculitis is a mandatory element of the complex therapy of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine.A number of drugs are most often prescribed for therapeutic purposes:
- Analgesics are used to relieve pain.But we must remember that by eliminating pain, painkillers do not treat the cause of the disease.
- In most cases, the doctor prescribes chondroprotectors, which aim to improve the metabolic processes of cartilage and prevent their further deformation.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - used to eliminate pain and swelling, release pinched nerve endings, and relieve the inflammatory process in the affected tissues.
- Medicines belonging to the category of muscle relaxants are used to normalize muscle tone.
- In some cases, diuretic drugs may be prescribed to reduce the swelling of the affected tissues.
- Medicines with vasodilating properties can be prescribed to activate the blood circulation of the lumbosacral spine.
- Calcium supplements are often used to increase the strength of bone and cartilage tissue.
In the first and second stages of the disease, drugs for external use in the form of ointments, creams and lotions are extremely effective.
Traditional methods
Traditional medicine offers a wide range of different recipes for the effective treatment of osteochondrosis.Various types of rubbing, massage and poultices are considered to be the most effective methods.But it must not be forgotten that traditional methods can only be effective in the initial stages of the disease.
- One of the most famous recipes is cabbage poultice.To do this, all the veins are cut from the surface of the cabbage leaf, then the leaf is slightly beaten with a hammer and placed on the lower part of the back.The poultice is fixed with a wide scarf, handkerchief or gauze.It is recommended to change the cabbage leaves several times a day.
- Grind 3-4 large cloves of garlic with a garlic press, squeeze the juice out of the obtained mass through cheesecloth, melt 100 g of pork fat separately in a water bath.The resulting components are mixed and mixed in a ratio of 1:2.The composition is used for therapeutic massage and rubbing.
- A tablespoon of ground red pepper should be poured into 250 ml of vodka, and then the container containing the medicine should be left in a dry and dark place for a week.The folk remedy is used for rubbing.
- The horseradish rub is prepared in the same way.Squeeze out the grated horseradish root and mix the resulting juice with the same amount of vodka.The mixture is used for regular rubbing.
Exercise therapy (physiotherapy)
Practical therapy of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine makes it possible 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 only be performed if a person is not bothered by severe back pain.The exercises can be very varied - bending forward and backward, left and right from a standing position, raising the arms, behind the head and stretching the abdominal muscles.At the same time, absolutely all therapeutic exercises are performed under the supervision of a specialist.
What to do if you suspect osteochondrosis?
Radiculitis is an extremely dangerous disease that often begins 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 leg paralysis or spinal curvature.
That is why, when the first signs of the disease appear, you should consult an orthopedic doctor, who will prescribe the optimal treatment.Remember that the sooner treatment begins, the faster you can achieve positive results and restore spinal health.