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Lumbar osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

Lumbar osteochondrosisis ​​one of the most common spinal diseases.

It is characterized by deformation of the vertebral cartilage tissue.

The spine remains flexible and moving as long as the spine is healthy.

If the condition worsens, the intervertebral disc loses elasticity and begins to dry out.

As a result, the patient experiences severe pain in the lumbar region.

What is it?

When degenerative changes of dystrophy appear in the vertebral tissues, they begin to collapse gradually. If mainly the vertebrae located in the lumbar region are affected, then lumbar spine osteochondrosis is diagnosed.

Clinical presentation

In osteochondrosis, the vertebral cartilage tissue begins to lose moisture, the elasticity of the intervertebral disc decreases. Over time, the height between the vertebrae decreases. Under increased load, the fibrous ring begins to crack, the intervertebral disc protruding.This causes pinching of the nerve endings and the onset of pain.

In the absence of adequate treatment, osteochondrosis develops. The intervertebral disc hardens, its protective properties deteriorate. Growth is formed in the bone tissue of the vertebrae, which presses on the nerve endings. As a result, the patient experiences constant pain.

Degrees and Classification

Specialists distinguish 4 degrees of spinal osteochondrosis:

  1. The process of destruction of the intervertebral disc begins, the symptoms of the disease are mild, burning sensation, tingling, pain only appears after physical exercise. Patients talk about the appearance of dull back pain, sometimes they radiate to the back.
  2. The distance between the vertebrae gradually decreases, and the annulus fibrosus begins to collapse. The intervertebral disc is compressed, beyond the physiological limits, there is pressure on the nerve roots. The patient complains of obvious pain, which in the process of walking is given to the back, thighs, and legs. In addition to pain, burning sensation, coldness is also possible.
  3. The fibrous ring is destroyed, during examination, an intervertebral hernia is expressed in the patient. Pain is always annoying, regardless of the load.
  4. Bone growth from the spine is visible. Cartilage atrophy, making it difficult for the patient to move. As a result, the lumbar spine loses movement and flexibility, and the patient becomes disabled.
They classify osteochondrosis also according to the type of course of the disease:
  • repeated;
  • chronic;
  • repeats chronically.
  • is ​​reduced again (with exacerbations, the clinical manifestations of the disease decrease);
  • progressive (progressive);
  • is ​​not progressive.

Specialists distinguish such periods of osteochondrosis:

  • debut;
  • irritability;
  • forgiveness;
    • stabilization
  • .

The treatment chosen depends on the stage of the disease, the nature of the disability and the severity of the symptoms of the disease.

ICD Code 10

In accordance with the international classification of diseases, spinal osteochondrosis has been coded M42. Separately, there are adolescents (M42. 0), adults (M42. 1) and unspecified osteochondrosis (M42. 9).

Common and Important

The lumbar region is more prone to the development of osteochondrosis than other parts of the spine. This is due to the increased load in this area, as it must support the weight. With a weak muscle corset, the condition of the intervertebral disc begins to deteriorate rapidly, it is destroyed.

Often, people who have reached the age of 30suffer from lumbar spine osteochondrosis. Although can be found in younger patients. Nearly 80% of patients who come to the doctor with a complaint of pain in the lumbar region are diagnosed with osteochondrosis.

Examination of patients over the age of 40 shows that most of them experience characteristic changes in the intervertebral disc. But in the absence of clinical manifestations, a person is not considered ill.

If there is no adequate therapy, the disease persists. In neglected form, it leads to patient disability.

Risk factors and causes

Often, representatives of such professions face osteochondrosis: programmers, office workers, developers, loaders, servers, drivers.

Long stays in an uncomfortable position are a risk factor for the development of lumbar osteochondrosis

Risk factors, in which the likelihood of increased osteochondrosis increases, including:

  • overweight;
  • unhealthy diet;
  • posture problems;
  • genetic predisposition;
  • lack of sleep;
  • frequent stress;
  • persistent hypothermia;
  • should be in an uncomfortable position for the long term;
  • low physical activity.

Causes of the development of lumbar spine osteochondrosis include:

  • the body's natural aging process;
  • metabolic problems;
  • back injury;
  • back problems;
  • flat feet;
  • intense physical activity, such as weightlifting;
  • problems in the spinal joints (rheumatoid arthritis);
  • endocrine diseases;
  • problems with the digestive and cardiovascular systems.

Some experts believe that the tendency to develop osteochondrosis is transmitted at the genetic level.

As a result

Changes in the cartilage tissue located between the vertebraecause deterioration of the annulus fibrosus and the appearance of hernias. The patient begins to complain of severe pain in the lumbar region, which radiates to the gluteal muscles, thighs, and lower legs. But this is not the only complication of osteochondrosis that may occur.

Prolonged irritation of the spinal cord causes inflammation. Patients with lumbar sciatica.

With osteochondrosissciatica can develop(sciatic nerve inflammation). The disease leads to severe pain, numbness in the lower back, legs. The patient begins to walk, leaning on one side. This causes curvature of the spine and destruction of the intervertebral disc.

Osteochondrosis causes spinal instability. The lumbar region, under the influence of weight, begins to move from the sacrum. In women, such instability leads to the emergence of problems with internal organs (uterus, ovaries, sufferers complement), in men - with potential.

When the intervertebral disc is damaged, the blood supply to the spinal cord is disrupted, vertebral displacement leads to compression myelopathy.

The most dangerous complication is "cauda equina syndrome". This consists of the fact that the nerve roots are affected. In severe cases, osteochondrosis causes paresis in the lower limbs or paralysis of both legs.

It is possible to prevent the development of negative consequences if, when the first symptoms appear, see a doctor and do not ignore the need for treatment.

Symptoms

Osteochondrosis does not appear immediately. In the early stages, patients do not experience pain or discomfort. Complaints usually occur when the disease progresses to stage 2.

The main symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis include:

  • back pain worsens as the disease progresses;
  • impaired mobility: problems arise when trying to bend, twist, sensation when changing body position is described by the patient as an "electric shock", pain in many of them radiates to the legs;
  • changes in extremity sensitivity, which appear against the background of damage to nerve roots, in the affected area there is a burning sensation, numbness, crawling crawling, tingling;
  • muscle weakness, lack of tendon reflexes;
  • local temperature drop;
  • increased sweating;
  • pale, dry skin in problem areas;
  • urinary disorders, sexual dysfunction (in severe osteochondrosis).

Some patients experience arterial spasm in the legs. But symptoms are expressed only in the form of acute osteochondrosis. Exacerbations can occur suddenly with hypothermia, awkward movements, or after intense physical activity.

Which doctor treats?

If you have back pain, you shouldsee an orthopedist and neurologist. Examination assesses the patient's neurological condition, examining how the spine performs its function. Doctors also assess the condition of the back and gluteal muscles.

For an experienced specialist, one examination is enough to make an initial diagnosis. But to confirm it, the patient is sent to a hardware diagnostic.

Diagnostic Methods

The simplest and easiest method to detect osteochondrosis isradiography. But to get a more accurate picture, a computer or magnetic resonance imaging is prescribed.

MRImakes it possible to check the condition of the spine as accurately as possible. Indeed, during the procedure, a step-by-step picture of the problem area is taken.

Treatment

Physiotherapy for the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis

The therapy tactics chosen by the doctor depend on the patient's condition, the degree of osteochondrosis and the clinical manifestations of the disease.

Doctors can prescribe:

  • drug therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormone medications, analgesics selected;
  • drug restrictions, analgesics, hormone medications are injected into the affected area or muscles located around the problem vertebrae, which almost relieves inflammation and relieves pain;
  • manual therapy, massage, physiotherapy, is recommended after stopping the acute stage of the disease, with the help of physiotherapy, you can increase the effectiveness of drug treatment;
  • medical gymnastics;
  • acupuncture.

Operation is required in advanced cases. Surgical intervention is prescribed in situations when conservative treatment does not bring the expected results.

Conclusion

With the development ofdystrophic degenerative changes in the cartilage tissue of the lumbar spine, osteochondrosis is diagnosed. In advanced forms, the disease can cause not only the appearance of persistent pain, but also cause paresis, paralysis of the lower limbs.

  • You may suspect the development of osteochondrosis by emerging lower back pain. With the development of the disease, the pain increases significantly, the lower back loses mobility.
  • Depending on the degree of destruction of the intervertebral discthere are 4 stages of this disease.
  • More often this diagnosis is made in people over the age of 30. Nearly 80% of patients who go to the doctor for back pain are diagnosed with osteochondrosis.
  • People who lead a sedentary lifestyle are prone to osteochondrosis, are in an inappropriate position for a long time, and experience frequent physical exertion.
  • The main symptoms of osteochondrosis are pain and impaired mobility in the lower back.
  • Due to the destruction of the intervertebral disc in the lumbar spine, the patient has leg problems.
  • If left untreated, pain increases,sciatica, vertebral instability, compressive myelopathy may developIn advanced cases, paralysis of the lower limbs.
  • In case of painit is necessary to see a neurologist and orthopedist. Patients are sent for x-rays, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.
  • Depending on the condition,is ​​given medication, restrictions, massage, manual therapy, physiotherapy, physiotherapy training or surgery.