Osteochondrosis forces the body to keep the muscles of the lower back tense, reducing 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:
- in the first stage, there is pronounced discomfort and unobtrusive 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 disability of patients: the destruction becomes more intense, precedes sharp pains and difficulty in movement.
At any stage, the picture of development and further treatment of osteochondrosis depends on the localization of the disease in a certain part of the lumbar region. Therapy is aimed at relieving pain, eliminating inflammation, normalizing metabolic processes in the cartilaginous tissue of spinal discs.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is a dangerous degenerative disease of the spine, leading to degenerative processes. It is located in the corresponding area and is characterized by ossification of the cartilage or destruction of the crestal discs. More than 80% of the course is accompanied by pain radiating to the leg. The pain symptoms are caused by compression of the roots of the spinal nerves by the overgrown tissue, in medicine they are called lumbosciatic pain.
Signs in the early stage
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are accompanied by dull pains, which, as a rule, go unnoticed. Unpleasant sensations appear on the back or buttocks after moving weights and sudden movements. The processes of initial degradation of the intervertebral lumbar region begin.
The spinal crest works without any special changes, but the morphological processes of drowning cartilaginous tissue continue to progress, accompanied by the following signs:
- enlargement of uncinate processes;
- Minimal disc displacement with rupture of the fibrous capsule.
Clinical symptoms - acute pain after physical exertion and prolonged (frequent) stay in an uncomfortable position.
Sometimes the first stage is called preclinical, since lumbar osteochondrosis can practically not manifest itself.
second stage
The symptoms of this phase 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 phase
Progressive processes lead to the formation of a hernia with all the consequences:
- neurological symptoms (dizziness, headaches, fainting, tinnitus and loss of consciousness);
- problems with the kidneys and genitourinary system (uncontrolled urination);
- problems with the cardiovascular system (arrhythmia).
In the third phase, treatment, in addition to drug methods and physical therapy, may include surgery to prevent spinal cord compression and the development of unwanted complications.
fourth step
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, begins the processes of ossification, 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.
Prolonged complex treatment and surgical intervention are required.
How to distinguish where the lesion is located
Compression of certain nerve endings and segments has its own manifestations and symptoms of osteochondrosis:
- with damage to the roots of the spine L1, L2 - severe pain, numbness of the inguinal zone and inner thighs. The progression of osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, accompanied by hernia, is characterized by lumbosciatic pain in both lower extremities;
- when located in the L5 lumbar region, a characteristic stabbing pain radiating to the thumb, decreased sensitivity;
- with numbness from the outer side of the thigh to the bottom of the leg and sharp 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 myeloid claudication. The lower spinal cord receives a limited blood supply, which causes weakness in the legs when walking and 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 from the legs to the inguinal region of Organs genitals;
- strength in the legs is restored after rest.
Lifting heavy objects in the presence of lumbar osteochondrosis can cause pinching of the Adamkevich artery and complicate the course of the disease of the spine. There is paralysis - from mild to severe, incontinence of waste, 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 gradually progresses as a result of bipedalism, but additional triggering factors play an important role in the formation of diseases of the spine, which include: physical inactivity, impaired metabolic processes, excess pounds, lifting loads.
The complex interplay of adverse factors, prolapse formation (disc protrusion) leads to a narrowing of the epidural space and pinching of the neural roots.
Medical methods of dealing with the 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, drug support aimed at reducing pain and stopping inflammation, herbal medicine. If treatment is ineffective or impossible without surgery due to neglect of the disease, surgical intervention is required.