One of the most common problems of the spine is non -specific pain in the back.According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 26-32% of adults suffer from chronic back pain.The same cause of pain is osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis is wearing premature and aging intervertebral and vertebral discs.Osteochondrosis can occur anywhere in the spine: cervix, chest, lumbar or lumbar.The lumbar segment is most often affected and lumbar osteochondrosis is growing.If you do not start treating in time, the disease can affect some departments at once.
Lumbar area osteochondrosis is a chronic degenerative disease in which the intervertebral disc cartilage tissue in the lumbar region is destroyed.There are two main parts in the intervertebral disc: core and fibrous rings.With increased load, the structure is destroyed, leading to nerve compression and the appearance of acute pain.
As the disease develops slowly, the signs are difficult to observe at first.The patient does not pay attention or does not understand exactly where it hurts.Because of this, they often come to doctors at this time as the intervertebral hernia develops.
The cause of osteochondrosis
Lumbar osteochondrosis, like most diseases of the musculoskeletal system, has non -contagious etiology.Risk factors for the development of osteochondrosis are mainly associated with one's motor activity, lifestyle, professional working conditions, and heredity.Let us live in the main part and maybe the most important factor.
A violation of posture and reduction of motor activity.Given the rhythm of modern life, people should be in a position for a long time, whether office work, driving a car or studying.Therefore, a large number of people have problems with posture violations, including scoliosis.When the posture is broken, the load on the spinal column is distributed unevenly: some disc is loaded more than others.The lumbar region suffers more than others.And in the case of the lumbar department, this burden is many times more than any other department.
Excessive physical activity.When a person does not play sports and his back muscles is weak, intense training can be dangerous.Exercise with additional loads and excessive loads in the lumbar region cause injury, intervertebral discs use earlier than time.
Excess weight and obesityIncreases the axial load on the spine.At the same time, intervertebral disc nutrition is disrupted as the dystrophic process develops.
Changes related to age.After 60 years, the tissue recovery process is slow, so in older people the probability of developing higher intervertebral hernia.
Descendant.If a person is naturally disturbed by the properties of cartilage and bone tissue, then his osteochondrosis develops earlier and will develop faster.
The first signs and the main symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
The intervertebral disc softened the surprise while walking, running and jumping.Due to the structural changes that accompany lumbar osteochondrosis, this function suffers.
When the intervertebral disc for osteochondrosis becomes thinner, this leads to increased nerve and blood vessels.Nerves -nerves are pinched and their nutrition is disrupted, acute pain and other symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis appear.
Back pain sharp and chronic- This is a major complaint with lumbar osteochondrosis.Personal activities, hypothermia, uncomfortable pose can cause pain.Sometimes the pain extends throughout the back and feet.
Tingling, burning and numbness (paresthesia) in the lower back and feet-Lumbar osteochondrosis, which arises due to nerve compression.
Increase back muscle tone in the lumbar areaIt can increase pain and cause decreases in mobility.
Stage of lumbar osteochondrosis
Changes in cartilage and bone tissue occur slowly.Depending on the prevalence of the pathological process, four stages of lumbar osteochondrosis are distinguished.
Stage 1.This is the onset of disease (chondrosis).The location of the nucleus gelatin disk relative to fiber changes in fibrous ring.This leads to nerve irritation and pain.Sometimes nothing hurts at this stage.
Level 2.Due to the displacement of the disc, the intervertebral gap is reduced, cracks appear in the disc.The nerves are compressed, and the patient suffers from acute lower back pain.
Stage 3.The intervertebral disc is completely damaged, the fibrous ring is destroyed.At this stage, the risk of developing intervertebral hernia is high.The pain is increasing, it looks more frequent and has different characters: from acute to chronic pain.
The 4th stage.The disease applies to nearby tissues.In the lumbar region, mobility is reduced, pain occurs even with small changes in the body's position.At this stage, the intervertebral hernia is developing and the risk of nerve compression and blood vessels in the lumbar region is high.
Diagnosis of lumbar osteochondrosis
If you are tortured by acute lower back pain while moving and resting, numbness - contact a neurologist.He will conduct an examination, determine the possibility of pain and prescribe the required diagnosis.
The main research methods are radiography and tomography.
- Functional vision, vision and radiography of the spine in two projections.This method allows you to evaluate the condition of the spine, but the soft tissue (for example, the muscles) and the cartilage in the picture are not displayed.
- Calculated tomography allows you to get more information, as pictures are obtained in different projections.Based on the results of the study, the doctor can determine the degree of damage to the lumbar spine.
- Magnetic resonance imaging is a "gold standard" for accurate diagnosis of "lumbar osteochondrosis".According to MRI, doctors can evaluate the condition of the soft tissue and identify the hernia between the vertebrae.
Lumbar osteochondrosis treatment
After making a diagnosis, neurologists individually choose treatment.It depends on the level of the disease and the severity of the symptoms.Most patients are assisted by comprehensive conservative treatment (drug therapy, physiotherapy training, physiotherapy).If the patient is not better and serious complications develop, surgery is prescribed.
Conservative treatment
Conservative treatment tasks:
- Stopped sick.
- Reduces inflammation.
- Prevents the development of complications.
- Reduce the burden on the spine by strengthening the back muscles.
- Reduces nerve compression.
- In intervertebral hernia - creates conditions for natural absorption and healing.
In the acute phase of the disease, doctors primarily reduce pain and inflammation with analgesic and anti -anti -inflammation.Subsequently, neurologists attract individual programs consisting of physiotherapy, manual therapy and physiotherapy training.
PhysiotherapyIt is based on the use of physical factors: cold, heat, electrical current, magnetic radiation, laser, and others.They help reduce the intensity of pain and improve tissue nutrition, which contributes to their natural recovery.
KinesitherapyIt is active (exercise therapy) and passive (massage, attractiveness).It allows you to strengthen the back muscles, relieve muscle tension, improve micro -circulation and activate the recovery process.
Therapy and manual massageRemove increased muscle tone in the lower back, restoring mobility.Because of this, the dietary diet is improved and the nerve pinching level decreases.
RecordingOr kinesiological recording is based on the use of elastic plaster, which is glued to the skin to weaken or improve muscle tone.Therefore, muscle frames are strengthened, micro circulation in the lumbar region improved and the distribution of load on the spine was normalized.
Laser therapyIt is based on the use of low laser radiation -intensity and its positive effects on cell function.It contributes to the natural recovery of intervertebral discs by improving their nutrition.
Plasma therapy(PRP therapy) -a method of improving the regeneration process.Purified plasma injection of the patient stimulates its immunity.
Reflexotherapy, acupunctureIncreases blood supply to affected areas, reducing pain.
Shock wave therapy- This is the effect of high frequency waves in the affected area.It stimulates the natural process of tissue regeneration and improves tissue nutrition.
Orthopedic- Selection of individual corsets for additional spine support.Allows partially balance the load on the spine.When wearing a corset, the pain decreases, the movement and quality of life of the patient increases.
Lumbar osteochondrosis is a chronic disease.It is important that patients change their lifestyle and learn to live with this disease.To do this, there are special education programs that can improve the quality of life of the patient.
The positive effects of conservative treatment are achieved in 2-3 months.If such treatment is ineffective, the operation is set.
Operation
With the development of the lumbar department's intervertebral hernia, a slight invasive surgery is carried out.The choice of neurosurgical treatment is made with special, severe, life -threatening patients.
Operations are complex invasive treatment methods associated with risk.During or after surgery, complications can develop.And the success of the treatment also depends on postoperative recovery, which includes conservative therapy methods and orthopedic correction.
Do not delay the treatment
Lumbar osteochondrosis is a progressive disease.If it is not detected in time and does not begin to treat it, it can cause defects and decreased quality of life.Over time, some parts of the spine are affected, pain made of acute to chronic.
Preventing timely symptoms and the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis in the early stages can prevent the development of disease and deterioration in conditions.