Osteochondrosis forces the body to keep the muscles of the lumbar region tense, which reduces the load on the spine. The patient seeks a more comfortable position and tries not to change it to alleviate discomfort.
main steps
The disease is progressive, therefore, at different stages it has corresponding signs, the diagnosis of which helps the doctor to prescribe the correct treatment. Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis:
- at the first stage, there is pronounced discomfort and inconspicuous pain in the lumbar spine;
- the second stage is accompanied by the destruction of the fibrous ring, which leads to the convergence of the vertebrae with each other;
- this is followed by the formation of an intervertebral hernia and a significant deformation of the spine, accompanied by severe pain;
- the fourth stage of osteochondrosis of the lumbar region leads to the complete inability of patients: the destruction becomes more intense, precedes sharp pains and difficulty in movement.
At any stage, the picture of the development and subsequent treatment of osteochondrosis depends on the localization of the disease in a particular part of the lower back. The therapy is aimed at relieving pain, eliminating inflammation and normalizing the metabolic processes of the cartilage tissue of the spinal discs.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is a dangerous degenerative disease of the spine that leads to degenerative processes. It is located in the corresponding area and is characterized by ossification of the cartilage or destruction of the crest discs. More than 80% of the course is accompanied by pain radiating to the leg. The pain symptoms are caused by the pinching of the roots of the spinal nerves by too large tissue, in medicine they are called lumboischialgia.
Signs at the initial stage
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are accompanied by dull aches, which, as a rule, go unnoticed. Unpleasant sensations in the back or buttocks appear after moving weights and sudden movements. The initial degradation processes of the intervertebral lumbar region begin.
The spinal ridge works without any special changes, but the morphological processes of drowning cartilage tissue continue to progress, accompanied by the following signs:
- increase in uncinate processes;
- Minimal disc displacement with rupture of the fibrous capsule.
Clinical symptoms: shooting pain after physical exertion and prolonged (frequent) sitting in an uncomfortable position.
Sometimes the first stage is called preclinical, since lumbar osteochondrosis practically does not manifest itself.
Second stage
The symptoms of this stage are chronic pain that radiates to the pelvic organs, buttocks, or legs. Both relapses and remissions are characteristic. Basically, deterioration is observed after physical exertion.
third stage
Progressive processes lead to the formation of a hernia with all the ensuing consequences:
- neurological symptoms (dizziness, headaches, fainting, tinnitus, and loss of consciousness);
- problems with the kidneys and the genitourinary system (uncontrolled urination);
- problems with the cardiovascular system (arrhythmia).
At the third stage, treatment, in addition to pharmacological methods and physiotherapy, may include surgery to prevent compression of the spinal cord and the development of unwanted complications.
fourth stage
The final stage is accompanied by calcification of the damaged disc. The pains become much weaker, but the deformation of the spine continues. The body, activating the defense mechanism, initiates ossification processes, which leads to a decrease in the epidural space, increased compression of the spinal cord and disruption of the work of all systems controlled by it. In simple terms, cartilage turns into bone and grows. From here, numerous dangerous symptoms appear, characteristic of the third stage, but in a more acute form.
Long complex treatment and surgical intervention is required.
How to distinguish where the lesion is located.
Pinching of certain nerve endings and segments has its own manifestations and symptoms of osteochondrosis:
- with damage to the roots of the spinal column L1, L2 - severe pain, numbness of the inguinal zone and the inner part of the thighs. The progression of osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, accompanied by a hernia, is characterized by lumboischialgia in both lower extremities;
- when localized in the L5 lumbar region, shooting pain is characteristic with irradiation to the thumb, decreased sensitivity;
- with numbness from the outer thigh to the lower leg and shooting pain, the problem is pinching the S1 nerve root.
Treatment is prescribed after diagnosis by MRI.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region.
The location of the disease has a direct impact on its course and symptoms. Degradation of the lumbar spine can cause myelogenous lameness. The lower spinal cord receives a limited blood supply, which causes weakness in the legs when walking and a frequent urge to urinate. After adequate rest, the symptoms disappear.
Ischemia of cauda equina neurons is the main cause of caudogenic intermittent claudication:
- anemia of the peripheral parts of the legs;
- tingling and tingling sensation when walking;
- over time the symptoms move up from the legs to the inguinal region of the genitals;
- the strength in the legs is restored after rest.
Heavy lifting in the presence of lumbar osteochondrosis can cause impingement of the Adamkevich artery and complicate the course of spinal disease. There is paralysis, mild to severe, incontinence of waste products, atrophy of muscle tissue, formation of bedsores.
Reasons contributing to the development of osteochondrosis
In most cases, it is believed that the development of osteochondrosis progresses gradually as a result of bipedalism, but additional trigger factors play an important role in the formation of spinal disease, including: physical inactivity, disturbed metabolic processes , excess kilograms, lifting loads.
The complex interaction of adverse factors, the formation of prolapse (protrusion of the disc) leads to a narrowing of the epidural space and impingement of the neural roots.
Medical methods to treat disease.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis at different stages is carried out after an accurate diagnosis of the location, stage and individual characteristics of the patient. The main methods are physiotherapy, reflex effects, pharmacological support aimed at reducing pain and stopping inflammation, herbal medicine. If the treatment turned out to be ineffective or impossible without surgery due to neglect of the disease, surgical intervention is necessary.