Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine symptoms

Lumbar osteochondrosis is one of the most common ailments of the spine. This ailment damages cartilage and intervertebral disks, because of what the patient feels aching pains in the back. As a rule, people over 30 are exposed to the disease, regardless of gender.

Features of the appearance of osteochondrosis of the back

Osteochondrosis of the waist is observed more often, because it is on it that most of the loads fall during walking, running or even sitting.

The main function of the lumbar is the connection of the thoracic region with the sacrum. The loin includes 5 vertebrae, separated by intervertebral discs. By the way, the spine is so mobile and flexible due to these disks. Each of them is a semi-liquid core, enclosed in a solid fibrous ring.

In the case of osteochondrosis, there are failures in providing intervertebral disks with useful substances. The elasticity of the discs decreases, they shrink and decrease. As a result, the fibrous ring, already unable to tolerate the load, bulges and cracks. The gap between the vertebrae narrows, thereby jamming the nerve roots. As a result - pain in the lower back or, in medical terms, lumboschialgia. And if you do not start treatment on time, it can lead to the most serious consequences, including even disability.

Because of what appears the osteochondrosis of the waist

There are several reasons why this disease can develop.

To those it is possible to carry:

• aging;
• lack of mobility, sedentary work;
  

  It is known that sedentary work of health does not add, but on the contrary - worsens its

• metabolic disorder;
  

  Metabolic disorders and osteochondrosis

• heart disease, endocrine system or digestive tract;
• heavy physical labor( including intensive weightlifting);
  

  Heavy physical labor - the cause of osteochondrosis

• back injury( especially the lower back);
• joint diseases - such as, for example, rheumatoid arthritis;
• flat feet;
  

  Flat-footed - photo

• congenital or acquired spine defects.

In addition, there are risk factors that catalyze the development of osteochondrosis, among which:

• subcooling;
• lack of sleep, stressful situations;
  

  Failure can trigger back disease

• excess weight;
• genetic predisposition;
• incorrect posture;
  

  Incorrect posture, which should be corrected as soon as possible

• unbalanced nutrition;
• long stay in unnatural positions.

Please note! This disease is mainly caused by waiters, office workers, loaders, drivers, employees of IT-technologies and builders.

Osteochondrosis of lumbar spine symptoms

The main sign of ailment, as already noted above, is pain in the lower back. Pain can manifest immediately or after a day after physical activity. Below are the main signs of osteochondrosis.

1. There are pains in the lower back( they often give in the leg).
2. The skin there is peeling, it becomes dry and loses sensitivity.
3. If a person tries to lift heaviness, coughs, sneezes or simply changes the position of the trunk, the pain from this only increases.
4. Sweating of the body is impaired.
5. When the patient is in a long position, the patient can neither move nor straighten, as the pain increases with the slightest movement( see point 3).
   

   Long stay in one pose strengthens pain

6. Cramps appear in the arteries of the feet, sometimes the pulse disappears.
7. Muscles permanently tighten.
8. A person feels "creepy" in the lower limbs, a slight tingling.
9. Loin sweeps even after a short stay in the cold.
   

   Loin sweeps

10. The shins, thighs and buttocks( in some cases - feet) lose sensitivity.

Because of the risk factors, the disease can become worse, and not only the lower back but also the legs begin to hurt. The body, trying to reduce the load on the lumbar region, causes the muscles to strain heavily. The patient, in turn, always looks for the most comfortable pose, in which the symptoms disappear, and tries not to change it.

The main stages of the development of the disease

Lumbar osteochondrosis develops slowly. Experts divided this process into four stages.

1. The first stage of .The pulpous nucleus is destroyed, because of which a person suffers from low back pain, which usually occurs with sudden movements or heavy loads.
   

   1st stage - damage to the pulpous nucleus of the intervertebral disc

2. Second stage. Fabrics that are around the core are beginning to change. Also protrusion may form, sometimes spinal nerves become entrapped. There are severe pains, which, as already noted, spread to the legs.
   

   2nd stage - damage to the fibrous ring of the

3. disc. The third stage is .The fibrous ring breaks, resulting in a hernia. Because of this, a person experiences particularly acute permanent pains.
   

   Stage 3 - disc hernia

4. Fourth stage of .On the vertebrae, bone growths are formed, all movements are constrained and cause severe pain.
   

   Stage 4 - degenerative spine repair

Possible consequences

Hernia is not the only consequence of the development of the disease. So, with long-term inflammation of the spinal nerve, radiculitis may appear.

Another possible complication is sciatica, i.e., an inflammatory process in the sciatic nerve. It hurts and dies not only the back, but also the leg, and the patient moves, leaning on the healthy side. As a result, the curvature of the spine is only aggravated, and the speed of destruction of disks is increased.

The development of the disease can also be a violation of the stability of the vertebrae, which makes the loin "slide" from the sacral area. In men, this leads to erectile dysfunction, in women - to violations of the uterus or appendages.

Infringements of blood flow to the spinal cord can also occur. In addition, the dorsal canal can narrow, which often results in compression myelopathy.

. The most severe consequence of the disease is the "horse tail" syndrome, which occurs if the nerve roots are affected, beginning with the vertebra №1.

In advanced form, the syndrome causes paralysis of the lower extremities and buttocks, paresis.

How osteochondrosis is treated

Productive treatment of the disease consists in the cardinal change of a number of habits of the patient,he will have to work every day for his own health throughout the rest of his life. If the patient does not do this, even after completely eliminating the signs of osteochondrosis, the disease may sooner or later return and will have to be re-treated. Although repeated attacks of illness can occur even if the patient complies with all recommendations regarding physical activity.

Please note! Traditional methods of treatment are aimed at stopping development and gradually restoring the correct position of the spine from the anatomical point of view.

This disease requires a comprehensive approach. This includes a variety of stretch techniques, special exercises, manual therapy, massage, diet and other supportive techniques / procedures. The duration of traditional treatment does not exceed two to three months. And if after that there are no improvements or, as an option, the ailment continues to develop, then it's time to think about the operation.

Video - Occupations for osteochondrosis of the back of the

Sometimes doctors resort to surgery only after the manifestation of the intervertebral hernia. The operation itself in this case consists in removing the deformed disk. This operation( or, in the language of medicine, a discectomy) is the most effective treatment for the disease to date. Now for this, mainly endoscopic treatment and microsurgery are used.

The beginning of the medical process

As a rule, with osteochondrosis of the waist, the hospital is being treated because of permanent pain in the back.

The treatment itself begins with a change in the patient's lifestyle. To properly distribute the load, you must first of all pick up an orthopedic bed, refrain from significant loads, or, if the patient has a low-activity lifestyle, strengthen them, but moderately.

It should not be excluded that the disease can result in such a way that the pain will appear as a symptom quite late, ie, after the pronounced changes( spondylolisthesis, hernia, etc.) occur in the spine..

Very often, drug treatment begins after the first visit to the doctor. Drugs that are used in such cases, stop inflammation( ibuprofen, indomethacin, diuretics) and eliminate pain( baralgin, analgin).

Along with pharmacology, folk remedies are also used - various herbal infusions intended for internal and external use, effectively relieve inflammation and reduce pain.

But it should be remembered that both medicines and folk methods only stop the manifestations of osteochondrosis, but the underlying cause does not disappear anywhere - it can be eliminated only by complex rehabilitation measures, otherwise the effect will be of a short-term nature.

The disease is also treated with special exercises that should be performed under the supervision of an experienced specialist. The set of exercises is selected by the doctor, and the first lessons should be conducted under the supervision of the instructor.

Please note! If a patient suffers from excess weight, then during the treatment he is given a special diet and physical activity increases.

Other methods of treatment of the disease

Traditional medicine provides for different methods of traction. Typically, such procedures should be performed in specialized institutions using appropriate equipment. Excellent massage proved to be aimed at relieving muscle tension in the affected department - if you eliminate the spasm, the severity of the pain is markedly reduced even without medication.

A controversial method of treating osteochondrosis is wearing a special fixing corset. The fact is that thanks to the corset the back is really supported in the right position, but the muscles at this time often atrophy. Therefore, it is recommended to wear it only during seizures, only two to three hours a day in order to maintain the correct position of the back.

The corset should be selected by the vertebrologist, since not all constructions can bring relief. Even with exacerbations, wool belts are appointed, which will naturally warm the unhealthy area.

Please Note! To heat the loin with the help of heaters is strictly prohibited!

Preventative measures

In order to maintain a healthy lumbar area, the following rules should be adhered to.

1. Sitting at the computer, the back should be kept exactly, the position of the body should change as often as possible.
   

   How to sit at a computer

2. Drafts and hypothermia should be avoided.
3. Swimming is welcome.
4. It is not desirable to wear high-heeled shoes.
   

   Correct posture - prevention of osteochondrosis

5. Chairs in the house should support the spine.
6. All gravity must be distributed immediately to both hands.
7. It is recommended to use an orthopedic mattress for sleep.
8. Before lifting a heavy object, it is necessary to sit down, keeping your back as flat as possible.
   

   Prevention of osteochondrosis

In addition, in order to avoid the development of an ailment, one should lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right, conduct active physical activity, but avoid excessive loads.

Video - How to treat osteochondrosis