Lumbar osteochondrosis is one of the most common forms of the underlying disease, osteochondrosis itself.Lumbar osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which are equally determined in both men and women, manifests itself in the form of pain concentrated in the sacral region, reflected in its symptoms in the lower limbs, which is often defined independently by patients as "a pinched lumbar nerve".
General description
The most commonly considered form of osteochondrosis develops against the background of back injuries and a sedentary lifestyle;accordingly, people whose specific occupational activity involves a load affecting the back are automatically at risk of developing this disease.And these are not only office workers, who, of course, belong to this group, but also loaders, builders, service workers (for example, waiters), drivers, etc.
An important role is played by the heredity factor in the context of consideration of thoracic osteochondrosis.Here, not a lot, not a little, but about 60% of the probability is present if the disease is present in close relatives.The rest is influenced by environmental factors that affect the spine to one degree or another.
Lumbar osteochondrosis, like its other forms, is characterized by pain of varying degrees of severity, which can be painful, occurring after sleep or after a long time in the same position (during prolonged sitting, standing position), 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 impossibility in such a situation to perform actions aimed at standing up, thus eliminating such a posture along with the load it provides.The painful sensations themselves arise as a result of pinching under the corresponding influence of the nerve roots, as well as irritation of the nerves in the spine, irritation of the ligaments and muscles (concentrated in the zone of innervation, i.e. the actual location of the nerves of the region in question that control it) and swelling.
It is important to note that in an isolated 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 common and earliest symptom applicable to 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 (irradiation) of pain can be noted to the hips and buttocks, as well as to the legs (from their outer surface).
The term used to define osteochondrosis in its more extended version (degenerative-dystrophic lesion), referring to the intervertebral disc, actually means a significant in its diversity complex of pathological conditions directly related to different types of structures of the spine (spinal column), namely discs, joints and osteophytes.The same problems that are directly related to disc damage are its protrusion and discogenic pain.Types of osteochondrosis and areas of concentration.
Protrusions in lumbar osteochondrosis
Most often, protrusions develop in this area of interest;in addition, the bulges cause pain in the lower back.The lumbar region itself, given its location and characteristics, is most susceptible to the occurrence of certain functional problems.
That is, when we consider this statement on the one hand, we can emphasize that our center of gravity is directly related specifically to the lumbar region, and accordingly, it takes a significant part of the loads.Viewed from the other side, it can be seen that a significant range of motion again falls squarely on this lumbar region.That being said, the discs concentrated in the lumbar region are most prone to damage (as well as to the protrusions we are interested in).In addition, we must not forget that disc changes in this and, of course, in other areas also appear against the background 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 provided by discs based on cartilage tissue.The main components of the intervertebral disc are the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus, which provide fixation in the spinal disc.The influence of certain factors and conditions provokes the possibility of rupture of this ring, against the background of which, in turn, a bulge of the core occurs.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, not rupture, because the core exits directly through the annulus.In fact, this protrusion is defined as a protrusion.
As for the symptoms of a bulge, it manifests itself in the following:
- feeling of stiffness in the lower back;
- pain in the lumbar region;
- chronic lower back pain;
- lumbosacral radiculitis;
- numbness, pain, tingling in the toes, feet;
- dysfunction of urination (in rare cases of the pathology in question).
Conservative treatment is mainly applied to lumbar disc protrusion.At the same time, protrusions that are significant in their development are often accompanied by severe symptoms that are resistant to treatment;in this case, surgical intervention is no longer possible.
Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms
The pain in this form of osteochondrosis manifests itself in different intensity.So these can be pains that occur mainly after sleeping or after a long period of sitting, or there can also be shooting pains that are sharp in onset.In addition, the manifestation of the latter is often noted at the time of taking an uncomfortable position without the opportunity to stand up.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.The 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 when coughing and sneezing, including during body movements (especially when bending forward).
Lumbar osteochondrosis can also manifest itself, in addition to pain in the lower back, also 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 of the legs to weaken or disappear altogether.As a rule, osteochondrosis provokes the development of curvature in the lumbar spine.
Based on the specific plane of the actual curvature, osteochondrosis is divided into the following types:
- kyphosis - in this case there is a flattening of the lumbar region and often the curvature of the back;
- lordosis - the spine bends forward;
- scoliosis - the spine is curved to the left or right.
Pinching of the roots of the spinal cord as a result of the development of osteochondrosis in the lumbar region is often determined in the form of a number of specific disorders, namely disorders of defecation or urination, disorders associated with sensitivity in the genital or perineal area.
As a rule, pain appears (and also worsens) as a result of the impact caused 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.Mainly, patients' complaints in this regard are reduced to the appearance of dull and aching pain in the lumbar region, and in some cases it also radiates to the leg, which is defined as lumbodynia.In addition, there may be complaints of pain in the leg with its intensification when trying to lift something heavy (lumbago).The same applies to sneezing and coughing, driving with tremors, changing the position of the body, as well as prolonged standing in the same position of the body.
As a result of an exacerbation of the disease in question, there is constant and pronounced tension in the muscles of the back, which is expressed 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 "lumbago").
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are also manifested in the following:
- impaired sensitivity of the hips, 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 spinal instability, in which the disc ceases to properly fix the vertebra.This, in turn, provokes "slipping" under the influence of gravity of the lumbar region from the sacrum when the load is placed on the lumbar region.As a result, not just unpleasant, but dangerous disturbances affecting the work of internal organs can develop.The genitourinary system "suffers" especially;this manifests in men as potency problems and in women as problems related to the appendages, uterus and ovaries.
Manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis
In accordance with the most complete classification, a number of specific syndromes have been identified that are relevant to lumbar osteochondrosis.In particular, they include the following syndromes:
- reflex syndromes - these include lumbar ischalgia, lumbago and lumbago;
- radicular syndromes - vertebrogenic (or discogenic) sacrolumbar radiculitis, the course of which is mainly accompanied by damage to the first sacral root or the fifth lumbar root;
- radiculo-vascular syndromes - radiculoischemia manifests itself as a process of vascular compression (in particular, veins or arteries are subjected to compression), while the compression occurs simultaneously with the root.
Let's briefly outline what the listed syndromes are.
Lumbodyniamore specifically, it means chronic pain that appears gradually after prolonged occupation of an uncomfortable position with the body or after prolonged sitting, as well as after impact on the body and a certain area after physical activity.
Lumbagomanifests itself in the form of acute lumbar pain, characterized as "lumbago";lumbago occurs mainly when lifting heavy objects or when moving unsuccessfully.Sometimes lumbago is also observed after coughing or sneezing.
Diseases that accompany lumbar osteochondrosis
Lumbar osteochondrosis manifests itself not only in combination with pain and other listed symptoms, but also in combination with some characteristic diseases of internal organs.
Thus, about 30% of patients with clinical symptoms related to lumbar osteochondrosis note the presence of certain problems related to the liver or the functions of the gastrointestinal tract.The fact is that the presence of a certain disease of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas or liver provokes, along with pain impulses, tension in blood vessels and muscles and spasm, which leads to 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 that are inherent in this type of disease.
In addition, as we noted earlier, pain in the lower back can provoke the development of diseases in the pelvic organs.Women can face a disease such as inflammation of the appendages (which is defined as adnexitis), and men, on the other hand, experience all the "pleasures" of prostatitis, that is, inflammation of the prostate gland.
Manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis are also accompanied by congestive phenomena in the pelvis, which develop as a result of the above diseases, including chronic colitis, hemorrhoids and constipation.
Treatment
In most cases, the treatment of osteochondrosis is multi-component and quite complex in its implementation.Most often, all treatment measures are reduced to the following points:
- drug treatment;
- if necessary, surgical treatment;
- diet;
- physical therapy.
Exacerbation of the disease requires, first of all, that the patient remains in bed.The main recommendation for this part is a hard/firm place to sleep.Severe attacks require minimal physical exertion and timely consultation with a suitable specialist.The appearance of symptoms indicating the possible significance of lumbar osteochondrosis requires contact with a neurologist.