Lumbar osteochondrosis is one of the most common forms of the underlying disease, osteochondrosis itself.Lumbar osteochondrosis, whose symptoms are equally defined in men and women, manifests itself in the form of pain concentrated in the sacral region, reflected in its symptoms in the lower extremities, which is often defined independently by patients as “compressed lumbar nerve”.
General description
Most often, the form of osteochondrosis in question develops against the background of back injuries and a sedentary lifestyle;therefore, people whose specific professional activities involve loads that affect the back are automatically at risk of developing this disease.And it's not just office workers, who, of course, belong to this group, but also loaders, bricklayers, service providers (waiters, for example), drivers, etc.
An important role is also played by the factor of heredity in the context of considering thoracic osteochondrosis.Here, not too much, not too little, but about 60% probability is present if the disease is present in close relatives.The rest is influenced by environmental factors that, in one way or another, influence the spine.
Lumbar osteochondrosis, like its other forms, is characterized by pain of varying degrees of intensity, which can be aching, occurring after sleep or after remaining in the same position for a long time (during prolonged sitting, standing), as well as sharp and sharp.In this last version, they arise as a result of the prolonged adoption of an uncomfortable posture with the simultaneous impossibility in such a situation of implementing straightening actions, thus eliminating such posture together 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 spinal nerves, irritation of the ligaments and muscles (concentrated in the innervation area, 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 isolation 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 earliest 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 location, that is, pain in the lower back.The spread (radiation) of pain can be observed 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 lesion), relevant to the intervertebral disc, actually implies a significant complex in its diversity of pathological conditions directly related to various types of spinal structures (vertebral column), namely discs, joints and osteophytes.The same problems that are directly related to disc damage are protrusion and discogenic pain.Types of osteochondrosis and areas of concentration.
Protrusions in lumbar osteochondrosis
The protrusions in this area that interest us develop more frequently;Furthermore, it is the protrusions that cause pain in the lower back.The lumbar region itself, given its location and characteristics, is the most susceptible to the occurrence of certain functional problems.
In other words, when considering this statement on the one hand, we can highlight that our center of gravity is directly related specifically to the lumbar region and, therefore, supports a significant part of the loads.When seen from the other side, it is clear that a significant range of movements, again, falls precisely on this lumbar region.Taking this into consideration, the greatest tendency to damage (as well as the protrusions that interest us) occurs precisely in the discs concentrated in the lumbar region.In addition, we must not forget that changes in the discs in this and, of course, other areas also occur against the background of age-related degenerative processes.
Let's remind our readers what bumps actually are.The connection of the discs to each other in the spine is guaranteed by discs based on cartilaginous tissue.The main components of the intervertebral disc are the nucleus pulposus and the fibrous ring, through which fixation within the vertebral disc is guaranteed.The influence of certain factors and conditions causes the possibility of rupture of this ring, against the backdrop of which, in turn, the protrusion of the nucleus 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 concomitant rupture of the ring - in this case it is simply subject to thinning and not rupture, as the nucleus projects directly through the ring.In fact, this protrusion is defined as protrusion.
As for protrusion symptoms, they manifest themselves as follows:
- feeling of stiffness in the lower back;
- pain in the lower back;
- chronic low back pain;
- lumbosacral radiculitis;
- numbness, pain, tingling in toes, feet;
- urinary dysfunction (in rare cases of the pathology in question).
Conservative treatment is mainly used for lumbar disc protrusion.Meanwhile, significant developmental bumps are often accompanied by severe symptoms that are resistant to treatment;in this case, surgical intervention is no longer possible.
Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms
Pain in this form of osteochondrosis manifests itself in several variations in intensity.Therefore, they can be aching pains that appear mainly after sleeping or after a long period of sitting, or they can also be sharp pains that are sharp in their manifestation.Furthermore, the manifestation of the latter is often noticed when occupying an uncomfortable position without being able to straighten up.Any type of pain is directly related to the effect on nerve endings, muscle swelling, irritation and pinching to which the nerve roots are exposed.Pain is also associated with irritation of the lumbar ligaments in the area of innervation of their 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 lower back pain, also in the form of sensory disturbances observed in certain areas (skin, lower half of the body, leg muscles).It is also possible for tendon reflexes in the legs to weaken or disappear completely.As a rule, it is osteochondrosis that 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 lower back and, often, an arching of the back;
- lordosis - the spine leans forward;
- scoliosis - the spine is curved to the left or right.
Compression 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 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 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 boil down to the appearance of dull, aching pain in the lower back and, in some cases, radiating to the leg, which is defined as lumbodynia.In addition, there may be complaints of leg pain that intensifies when trying to lift something heavy (low back pain).The same applies to sneezing and coughing, driving with tremors, changing body position, as well as remaining in the same body position for a long time.
As a result of the worsening of the disease in question, there is constant and pronounced tension in the back muscles, which manifests itself in the impossibility of carrying out actions aimed at straightening or moving.Any movement is accompanied by increased pain.Furthermore, even if the patient spends only a short time in the cold, he or she experiences acute lower back pain (also defined as “lumbago”).
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis also appear in the following cases:
- impaired sensitivity in the thighs, buttocks, legs and feet (which is observed less frequently);
- spasm of the arteries in the feet, increased cold in the legs;
- tingling sensation in the legs, “goosebumps”;
- peeling and dryness of the skin in areas where there is usually loss of sensitivity or pain;
- sweating disorders.
The most unpleasant complication that occurs against the background of osteochondrosis is vertebral instability, in which the disc ceases to adequately fix the vertebra.This, in turn, causes the lower back to “slip” under the influence of gravity from the sacrum when the load is placed on the lower back.As a result of this, not only unpleasant disorders can develop, but also dangerous disorders that affect the functioning of internal organs.The genitourinary system “suffers” in particular;this manifests itself in men as potency problems and in women as problems related to the appendages, uterus and ovaries.
Manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis
According to the most complete classification, several specific syndromes relevant to lumbar osteochondrosis are identified.In particular, these include the following syndromes:
- reflex syndromes - include lumbar iscalgia, lumbodynia and low back pain;
- radicular syndromes – vertebrogenic (or discogenic) sacral lumbar radiculitis, the course of which is accompanied mainly by damage to the first sacral root or the fifth lumbar root;
- radicular-vascular syndromes - radiculoischemia manifests itself as a process of vascular compression (in particular, veins or arteries are subject to compression), while compression is carried out simultaneously with the root.
Let's briefly describe the syndromes listed.
Lumbodíniain particular, it means chronic pain that occurs gradually after a long period of uncomfortable positioning with the body or after sitting for a long time, as well as after the impact exerted on the body and a specific area after physical activity.
Lumbagomanifests itself in the form of acute lumbar pain, characterized as “lumbago”;Low back pain occurs mainly when lifting heavy objects or when a movement is unsuccessful.Sometimes low back pain is also seen after coughing or sneezing.
Diseases accompanying lumbar osteochondrosis
Lumbar osteochondrosis occurs not only in combination with pain and other listed symptoms, but also in combination with some characteristic diseases of internal organs.
Thus, about more than 30% of patients with clinical symptoms relevant to lumbar osteochondrosis note the presence of certain problems associated with the liver or gastrointestinal tract functions.The fact is that the presence of a certain disease of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas or liver causes, along with painful impulses, tension in blood vessels and muscles and spasms, 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 inherent to this type of disease.
Furthermore, as we noted earlier, low back pain can provoke the development of diseases in the pelvic organs.Women can face such a disease as inflammation of the appendages (which is defined as adnexitis), 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 region, which develop as a result of the above diseases, including chronic colitis, hemorrhoids and constipation.
Treatment
Mainly, the treatment of osteochondrosis is multicomponent and quite complex in its implementation.Mainly all treatment measures boil down to the following points:
- drug treatment;
- if necessary, surgical treatment;
- diet;
- physiotherapy.
An exacerbation of the disease requires, first of all, that the patient remains bedridden.The main recommendation for this part is a hard/hard sleeping place.Extremely pronounced attacks require minimal physical activity and immediate consultation with an appropriate specialist.The appearance of symptoms that indicate the possible relevance of lumbar osteochondrosis requires contacting a neurologist.