How to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine

Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine is a disease with quite pronounced symptoms, which manifests itself in the later stages of the development of the disease. Pathological changes begin to occur in the intervertebral discs, but then spread to other parts: joints, ligaments and vertebral bodies. Lumbosacral osteochondrosis rarely occurs in young people, and its symptoms and treatment are always strictly individual, depending on the specific clinical case. However, there are a series of specific signs from which this pathology can be diagnosed. It is extremely important to recognize the disease in the early stages in order to exclude the possibility of complete destruction of the intervertebral disc and surgical intervention.

Typical symptoms of pain in the spine.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine leads to gradual destruction of the disc, therefore it is characterized by quite vivid symptoms. The most common manifestations include:

• Intense pain located in the lumbar region.
• Sensation of fullness and rigidity.
• The pain may be stabbing in nature and may also be localized along the entire lower extremity.
• Sensation of numbness in the back and legs.

There are other, less obvious signs of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine. The anatomical features of the structure of the female body influence the manifestations of this disease, which are somewhat different from the symptoms in men. In addition to pain, the following symptoms can be observed:

• Urinary incontinence.
• Frequent need to empty the bladder.
• Exacerbation of diseases of the genitourinary system.

Main features of the pathology of the disease in osteochondrosis.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar sacral spine is an extremely dangerous disease, so it is important to know its symptoms and the treatment that will avoid surgery. This disease has the following characteristics:

• This type of pathology is the most common among all types of osteochondrosis. It is diagnosed in approximately 65% of all registered cases.
• There is a clear connection between this disease and natural age-related changes. Statistics show that after 70 years, almost 80% of people suffer from manifestations of this disease.
• The disease can appear at a much younger age. The risk group includes people who do intense physical work or are in a monotonous position for a long time.
• The cause of osteochondrosis can be congenital anomalies, as well as provoking factors of various types.

Causes of spinal disease

Before answering how to treat lumbosacral osteochondrosis, it is important to know the main reasons that influenced the progression of the pathological process:

• Over weight. Overweight people are at risk because their extra weight puts greater pressure on the spine.
• Injuries and damage to the back.
• Passive lifestyle. There is even a certain list of professions whose representatives most often suffer from this disease: drivers, office workers and other types of jobs that are characterized by prolonged exposure to the same positions.
• Lifting heavy objects and loads. There are certain rules, if they are not followed, this disease can develop.
• Frequent stress on the back. They can be associated not only with a person's professional activity, but also with sports.
• Eating the wrong foods. If the diet lacks nutritional elements that are important for normalizing metabolic processes and improving bone structure, the disease will progress. That is why diet is one of the methods of complex therapy.
• Genetic factors.
• Hypothermia of the body.
• Low physical activity of a person.
• Flat feet and scoliosis.

Loss of elasticity of the intervertebral discs can also be caused by various diseases of the cardiovascular system and diseases of an infectious nature.

Lumbar-sacral osteochondrosis

Main stages of the disease:

It has a clear tendency to significantly worsen the clinical picture if adequate treatment is not started in time. The severity of the symptoms depends on the stage of the disease, of which there are only four:

• First stage. At an early stage, pain appears, which arises under the influence of various loads. This condition is characterized by lumbodynia and lumbago; These are certain types of pain that can be stable or stabbing.
• Second stage. There is a violation of the stability of the intervertebral disc, which causes muscle spasms. The structure of the annulus fibrosus is destroyed and the gelatinous contents protrude. The pain syndrome becomes more constant and pronounced.
• Third stage. The disc prolapses, causing pinched nerves. This condition causes severe pain in the back and legs, altered sensitivity, dysfunction of the pelvic organs and muscle atrophy may occur.
• Fourth stage. At this stage, bone growths in the lesions and changes in the structure of the spine are diagnosed. It becomes much more difficult for the patient to move, the pain becomes constant, unbearable, which in the future can lead to complete disability.

Methods for diagnosing back diseases.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine is based on making an accurate diagnosis. If you experience the first symptoms of this disease, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor to get appropriate help, which will help prevent the condition from worsening. Diagnosis begins with a preliminary history, after which a number of diagnostic measures are prescribed to the patient:

• X-ray examination. With its help, it is possible to evaluate the condition of the vertebrae for abnormalities. A decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs can be observed, osteophytes and narrowing of the space between the joints can be identified.
• Computed tomography. Allows you to view the structure status of the entire column and its individual components. Allows you to determine the stage of the disease and the presence of pathology of bone structures.
• magnetic resonance. This method is the most informative of all the previous ones. With its help, you can see an intervertebral hernia, determine compression of the nerve roots and other pathologies. If this diagnostic method is contraindicated for the patient, CT is used.

Consultation with specialized specialists may also be indicated to clarify the diagnosis.

The main methods of treatment of the lumbosacral spine.

If you want to know how to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine, the following information will be useful to you. This pathology is characterized by a gradual course of the disease, which can be replaced by periods of remission and exacerbation. Initially, it is necessary to get rid of pain and relieve the inflammatory process. For these purposes, appropriate drug therapy is used using modern injections and oral agents. The first category of drugs is used if you need to quickly get rid of severe pain. As for oral medications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are used. The above medications are good for relieving pain of varying degrees of intensity. Drugs from other groups are also effective in the treatment of the disease:

• Chondroprotectors. They have a positive effect on cartilage tissue and promote regeneration processes.
• Muscle relaxants. Its goal is to get rid of muscle spasms.
• External media. Creams, gels and ointments are aimed at eliminating severe symptoms of the disease, but their effectiveness is not as high compared to injections and oral agents.

Physiotherapy

Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is a long process, which requires an integrated approach. After you have gotten rid of the primary symptoms, you can proceed to the use of various physiotherapeutic procedures:

• UHF therapy.Exposure to high frequency electromagnetic fields. It has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect and also promotes the start of regenerative processes.
• Amplipulse.Low frequency currents are applied to problem areas of the body. There is dilation of blood vessels, relief of pain and spasms.
• Phonophoresis and electrophoresis.Introduction of drugs into deep tissues using ultrasound and direct current.

Massage procedures are also widely used, which are possible only after the inflammatory process has been relieved. Massage promotes muscle relaxation and relief of spasms.

Diet: comprehensive treatment of osteochondrosis.

With this disease it is necessary to act comprehensively, so changing the diet is a completely effective treatment method. The diet corresponds to the generally accepted concept of healthy eating, so try to add the following types of foods to your diet:

• Citrus fruits (in the absence of allergies).
• Olive oil.
• Fresh herbs and vegetables.
• Mineral water.
• Fish and foods that contain large amounts of phosphorus, protein, magnesium and calcium.
• Dairy and fermented milk products.

An excellent help would be ready-made vitamin complexes, which can be found in large assortments in pharmacy chains. Remember that all medications should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor.

Back pain prevention methods.

Everyone knows that preventing a disease is much easier than treating it and getting rid of its consequences. Furthermore, effective preventive measures are quite easy to implement in practice if you really want to. Top recommendations include:

• Correct organization of the workplace.Control your body position, trying to avoid uncomfortable positions. If you spend a lot of time at the computer, buy a comfortable chair with a backrest that supports your spine.
• Take breaks from work.Get up from your seat more often and warm up your body with regular body twists. Squats and push-ups are also helpful.
• Normalize your day.First of all, we are talking about rest, so try to go to bed early, excluding long sitting at the computer. It is important to choose the right orthopedic mattress that supports your spine while you sleep.
• Get rid of bad habits.
• Avoid intense workouts and heavy lifting.An excellent alternative would be swimming, yoga and regular walks in the fresh air.

Conclusion:

Now you know how to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region without resorting to surgery. Surgery is the most radical treatment method when the disease is already advanced and there is no other way out. But it is in your power to ensure that your health does not deteriorate to such a state.