Lumbar osteochondrosis is one of the most common forms of the underlying disease, osteochondrosis itself.Lumbar osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which are defined equally in men and women, manifests itself in the form of pain concentrated in the sacral area, reflected in its symptoms in the lower extremities, often independently defined by patients as "pinched lumbar nerve".
General description
Most often, the considered form of osteochondrosis develops in the context of back injuries and a sedentary lifestyle.Consequently, people whose specific occupational activities involve loads that affect the back are automatically at risk for the possibility of developing this disease.And it's not just office workers, who of course belong to this group, but also loaders, builders, service workers (waiters, for example), drivers, etc.
Heredity also plays an important role in the examination of thoracic osteochondrosis.Here, not much, not a little, but about 60% of the probability is present if the disease is present in close relatives.The rest are influenced by environmental factors that, to one degree or another, affect the spine.
Lumbar osteochondrosis, like its other forms, is characterized by pain of various degrees of severity, which can be pain, which occurs after sleep or after a prolonged stay in the same position (during prolonged sitting, standing), as well as shooting and sharp.In the latter version, they arise as a result of prolonged adoption of a not very comfortable posture with the simultaneous inability in such a situation to apply actions aimed at straightening, thereby eliminating such a posture along with the load it provides.The same painful sensations arise as a result of pinching under the corresponding influence of nerve roots, as well as irritation of spinal nerves, irritation of ligaments and muscles (concentrated in the area of innervation, that is, in the actual location of the nerves of the said area that control it) and nerves.
It is important to note that in an individual form, this type of osteochondrosis is extremely rare and, therefore, most often the course of the disease is combined with the symptoms inherent in cervical osteochondrosis, which we will consider in our next article.
The general and early symptom, relevant for all forms of osteochondrosis, as we have already noted, is the manifestation of pain, which in this case is determined by a specific localization, that is, pain in the lower back.The spread (radiation) of pain can be noted in the thighs and buttocks, as well as in the legs (from their outer surface).
The term used to define osteochondrosis in its most expanded version (degenerative-dystrophic damage), related to the intervertebral disc, actually indicates an important complex of pathological conditions directly related to various types of structures of the spinal column (spine), i.e. discs, joints and osteophytes.The same problems directly related to disc damage are its protrusion and discogenic pain.Types of osteochondrosis and areas of concentration.
Protrusions in lumbar osteochondrosis
Outcrops in this area of our interest develop more often.In addition, it is the protrusions that cause pain in the lower back.The lumbar region itself, given its location and characteristics, is more prone to the occurrence of certain functional problems.
That is, when we consider this statement from one side, we can point out that our center of gravity is directly related specifically to the lumbar region and, accordingly, carries a significant part of the loads.When viewed from the other side, one can notice that a significant range of motion, again, falls precisely in this lumbar region.Taking this into account, the greatest tendency to damage (as in the protrusions of interest to us) occurs precisely in the discs that are concentrated in the lumbar region.In addition, we must not forget that changes in the discs in this and, of course, in other areas also occur in the context of age-related degenerative processes.
Let's remind our readers what protrusions actually are.The connection of the discs to each other in the spine is ensured by discs based on cartilage tissue.The main components of the intervertebral disc are the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus, through which fixation is ensured within the vertebral disc.The influence of certain factors and conditions causes the possibility of rupture of this ring, in the context of which, in turn, a protrusion of the core appears.As a result of this process, a hernia develops.As for the protrusion, it already develops as a result of a similar process, but without the accompanying rupture of the annulus - in this case it simply undergoes thinning and not rupture, because the core protrudes directly through the annulus.In fact, this protrusion is defined as a protrusion.
As for the symptoms of protrusion, it manifests itself as follows:
- feeling of stiffness in the lower back.
- pain in the lumbar region;
- chronic lower back pain;
- lumbar radiculitis?
- numbness, pain, tingling in toes, feet.
- dysfunction of urination (in rare cases of said pathology).
Conservative treatment is mainly used for lumbar disc protrusion.Meanwhile, growth-significant protrusions are often accompanied by severe symptoms that are resistant to treatment.In this case, surgery is no longer possible.
Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms
Pain in this form of osteochondrosis manifests itself in various variations of intensity.So, they can be aching pains that appear mainly after sleeping or after a long period of sitting, or there can also be shooting pains that are intense in their manifestation.In addition, the manifestation of the latter is often noted at the time of occupying an uncomfortable position without the ability to straighten.Any type of pain is directly related to the effect on the nerve endings, muscle swelling, irritation and pinching that the nerve roots are exposed to.Pain is also associated with irritation of the lumbar ligaments in the area of innervation of its nerve endings.
Increased pain in the lower back in this form of osteochondrosis is observed during coughing and sneezing, including body movements (especially when bending forward).
Lumbar osteochondrosis can also manifest itself, in addition to back pain, in the form of sensory disturbances noted in certain areas (skin, lower half of the body, leg muscles).It is also possible for the tendon reflexes in the legs to weaken or disappear altogether.As a rule, it is osteochondrosis that causes the development of curvature in the lumbar spine.
Based on the specific level of actual curvature, osteochondrosis is divided into the following types:
- kyphosis - in this case, there is a flattening of the lumbar region and often the arch of the back.
- lordosis - the spine bends forward.
- scoliosis - the spine is curved to the left or right.
Pinching of the roots belonging to the spinal cord as a result of the development of osteochondrosis in the lumbar region is often determined in the form of certain specific disorders, that is, disorders of defecation or urination, disorders associated with sensitivity in the genital area or perineum.
As a rule, pain occurs (and worsens) as a result of the impact produced during physical activity.A painful reaction in this case can be observed both after this load and after some time from the moment of its impact.Basically, patients' complaints in this regard are summed up in the appearance of dull and aching pain in the lumbar region, and in some cases it radiates to the leg, which is defined as lumbago.In addition, there may be complaints of pain in the leg with its intensity when trying to lift something heavy (lumbago).The same goes for sneezing and coughing, jerky driving, changing body position, as well as staying in the same body position for a long time.
As a result of the aggravation of this disease, there is a constant and intense tension in the back muscles, which manifests itself in the inability to perform actions aimed at standing up or moving.Any movement is accompanied by increased pain.In addition, even if the patient spends a short time in cold conditions, he experiences acute lumbar pain (which is also defined as "lumbar").
Lumbar osteochondrosis symptoms also occur in the following:
- reduced sensitivity in the thighs, buttocks, legs and feet (which is noted somewhat less often);
- spasm of the arteries of the legs, increased coldness of the legs.
- tingling sensation in the legs, "goosebumps"
- peeling and dry skin in an area where there is usually loss of sensation or pain.
- sweating disorders.
The most unpleasant complication that occurs against the background of osteochondrosis is vertebral instability, in which the disc ceases to properly fix the vertebra.This, in turn, causes a "slip" under the influence of gravity of the lumbar region from the sacrum when the load is placed on the lumbar region.As a result of this, not only unpleasant disorders can develop, but dangerous disorders that affect the functioning of internal organs.The genitourinary system "suffers" particularly.This manifests in men as problems with potency and in women as problems related to the appendages, uterus and ovaries.
Manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis
According to the most complete classification, certain specific syndromes associated with lumbar osteochondrosis are identified.Specifically, these include the following syndromes:
- reflex syndromes - these include lumbar sciatica, sciatica and sciatica.
- root syndromes - spondylogenic (or discogenic) sacrolumbar radiculitis, the course of which is mainly accompanied by damage to the first sacral root or the fifth lumbar root.
- root-vascular syndromes - root ischemia is manifested as a process of vascular compression (in particular, veins or arteries are subject to compression), while the compression occurs simultaneously with the root.
Let us briefly describe what the mentioned syndromes are.
LumbodyniaSpecifically, it means chronic pain that occurs gradually after a long period of taking an uncomfortable position with the body or after prolonged sitting, as well as after the impact exerted on the body and in a specific area after physical activity.
Lubagomanifests itself in the form of acute lumbar pain, characterized as "lumbago".Back pain occurs mainly when lifting heavy objects or when a movement is unsuccessful.A low back pain is also sometimes seen after coughing or sneezing.
Diseases accompanying lumbar osteochondrosis
Lumbar osteochondrosis occurs not only in combination with pain and other mentioned symptoms, but also in combination with certain characteristic diseases of internal organs.
Thus, approximately more than 30% of patients with clinical symptoms related to lumbar osteochondrosis note the presence of some problems related to the liver or the functions of the gastrointestinal tract.The fact is that the presence of a specific disease of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas or liver causes, along with pain impulses, tension in blood vessels and muscles and spasm, resulting in a state of oxygen starvation with the simultaneous development of a degenerative process in certain areas of the body.The process is aggravated by metabolic disorders, which are inherent in this type of disease.
In addition, as we noted earlier, lower back pain can cause the development of diseases in the pelvic organs.Women can face a disease such as inflammation of the appendages (which is defined as adexitis), and men, in turn, experience all the "delights" of prostatitis, that is, inflammation of the prostate gland.
The manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis are also accompanied by congestive phenomena in the pelvic area, which develop as a result of the above diseases, such as chronic colitis, hemorrhoids and constipation.
Treatment
Mainly, the treatment of osteochondrosis is multi-component and quite complicated in its implementation.Mainly all therapeutic measures come down to the following points:
- drug treatment;
- if necessary, surgical treatment.
- diet;
- physical therapy.
The exacerbation of the disease requires, first of all, that the patient remains in bed.The main recommendation for this place is a firm/sound sleeper.Extremely intense attacks require minimal physical activity and immediate consultation with an appropriate specialist.The appearance of symptoms that indicate the possible importance of lumbar osteochondrosis requires communication with a neurologist.