Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region.

Lumbar osteochondrosis is one of the most common and frequently diagnosed types of osteochondrosis, also known as "sciatica."The frequency of this disease is extremely huge: in about 82% of cases, patients who come to the doctor with complaints of severe lower back pain are diagnosed with radiculitis of the lumbosacral region.

Description of the disease.

Osteochondrosis in the sacral or lumbar region occurs with the same frequency in women and men, more often in middle and older age.Medical practice shows that this disease ranks first among the main causes of temporary or permanent disability, and in some cases, disability.That is why the treatment of pathology must be carried out with extreme care, because osteochondrosis can pose a serious danger to human health.

The lumbar region is the name given to the part of the spine that consists of 5 vertebrae designed to connect the sacral and thoracic regions.Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is a pathological change, during which there is a rapid decrease in flexibility and a change in the natural anatomical structure of the intervertebral discs.Its gradual deformation occurs.

The basis of radiculitis is the slow destruction of the vertebrae, their loss of moisture and elasticity and a decrease in shock absorption capacity.Gradually, the space between the vertebrae decreases, the intervertebral disc can harden, and as a result, the nerve roots become pinched.This process is accompanied by intense, spasmodic pain in the lower back.

How dangerous is osteochondrosis, its stages?

The process of disease progression is accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic changes, which over time can lead to complications such as bulges and herniated discs.These degenerative changes may be the main cause of leg paralysis.

Lumbar osteochondrosis can be accompanied not only by the development of a protrusion or herniation of the intervertebral disc, but also by other no less serious diseases of internal organs and systems.One of the most common complications is a pinched sciatic nerve, which is accompanied by severe pain in the lower back and a feeling of numbness in the extremities.

Radiculitis can also cause other serious consequences: spondyloarthrosis, osteophytosis, spondylosis, stenosis, lameness, curvature of the spine.The disease can also cause a pathological process in the genitourinary and reproductive spheres;in women, inflammation of the uterus and ovaries;In men, it causes various potency problems.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is divided into several stages:

• The first stage of radiculitis is a "mild" stage, in which the pain in the lumbar or sacral region remains mild and appears only during physical exertion.In the first stage, the process of destruction of the vertebrae is in the initial stage.
• The second stage is accompanied by active destruction of the fibrous rings and a decrease in the intervertebral space.This causes pinching of the nerves and causes severe pain.
• The third stage: the destruction of the fibrous rings ends and intervertebral hernias appear.The spine is noticeably deformed and twisted, losing its normal anatomical shape.
• The fourth stage of the disease is the most serious.At this stage, a person can no longer walk normally;Often the fourth stage ends in disability.

Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis.

Symptoms and treatment are determined depending on the stage of development of the disease.

In the first stage, a person, as a rule, does not pay attention to the first signs of the disease.When making sharp turns or walking, minor pain and discomfort may occur in the lower back region.Additionally, pain usually occurs after sitting or standing for a long time in one place.

The main danger of this period is that the symptoms are not yet pronounced enough, a person can simply ignore them, so osteochondrosis progresses rapidly.

The second stage of radiculitis is accompanied by a decrease in the space between the vertebrae and, consequently, severe pain in the lower back and sacrum, which can radiate to the groin and lower extremities.

In the third stage, osteochondrosis is characterized by pronounced symptoms: severe pain, spasms in the back, decreased mobility of the vertebrae and the onset of pathologies of internal organs and systems.This can lead to problems with the genitourinary system and gynecological inflammation.

The symptoms of the fourth stage, the most severe of the disease, are expressed in the form of a noticeable deformation of the spine, which can bend to the sides or forward, and severe, constant pain, which intensifies especially when trying to perform any physical movement.Also at this stage, swelling of muscles and ligaments, loss of sensation and numbness of the lower extremities may occur.

Modern methods of treatment

It is recommended that the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine be carried out comprehensively, with the help of medications, physiotherapy methods, exercise therapy and herbal medicines.In the most serious cases, surgical treatment is resorted to.

Treatment is aimed at achieving goals such as:

• Reduce pain in the lumbar and sacral areas.
• Elimination of inflammatory processes in the diseased area.
• Elimination of pathological tension in muscle tissue.
• Activation of blood circulation in the lumbosacral region of the back.
• Improvement of vertebral mobility, normalizing sensitivity in the lower extremities.

Drug treatment of radiculitis is an obligatory element in the complex therapy of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine.For therapeutic purposes, various medications are most often prescribed:

• Analgesics are used to relieve pain.But we must remember that by eliminating pain, pain relievers do not treat the cause of the disease.
• In most cases, the doctor prescribes chondroprotectors designed to improve metabolic processes in cartilage fibers and prevent further deformation.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - are used to eliminate pain and swelling, free pinched nerve endings, and relieve the inflammatory process in the affected tissues.
• Medicines from the category of muscle relaxants are used to normalize muscle tone.
• In some cases, medications with a diuretic effect may be prescribed to help relieve swelling of the affected tissues.
• To activate blood circulation in the lumbosacral spine, medications with vasodilating properties can be prescribed.
• Calcium supplements are often used to increase the strength of bone and cartilage tissue.

In the first and second stages of the disease, medications for external use, produced in the form of ointments, creams and lotions, are very effective.

Traditional methods

Traditional medicine offers a wide range of different recipes for the effective treatment of osteochondrosis.The most effective methods are considered to be various rubbing, massage and compresses.But it must be remembered that traditional methods can only be effective in the initial stages of the disease.

1. One of the most famous recipes is cabbage compresses.To do this, all the veins are cut from the surface of the cabbage leaf, after which the leaf is lightly tapped with a hammer and applied to the lower back.The compress is fixed with a wide scarf, handkerchief or gauze.It is recommended to change the cabbage leaves several times a day.
2. Grind 3-4 large cloves of garlic with a garlic press, squeeze the juice from the resulting mass through cheesecloth and separately melt 100 g of pork fat in a water bath.Combine the resulting components in a 1:2 ratio and stir.The composition is used for therapeutic massages and rubbing.
3. A tablespoon of ground red pepper should be poured into 250 ml of vodka, after which the container with the medicine should be left in a dry, dark place for a week.The folk remedy is used for rubbing.
4. Horseradish dough is prepared in the same way.The grated horseradish root is squeezed and the resulting juice is mixed with the same amount of vodka.The mixture is used for regular rubbing.

Exercise therapy (physical therapy)

Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine allows you to eliminate pain, improve the condition of muscle and cartilaginous tissue, restore spinal mobility, significantly strengthen the musculoskeletal corset and "unload" the lumbar spine.

Exercises for osteochondrosis can only be performed if the person is not bothered by severe pain in the back.Exercises can be very varied: bending forward and backward, left and right from a standing position, raising your arms behind your head and tensing your abdominal muscles.In addition, absolutely all therapeutic exercises are performed under the supervision of a specialist.

What to do if you suspect osteochondrosis?

Radiculitis is an extremely dangerous disease that often begins unnoticed by a person.The danger of radiculitis lies in the fact that in the absence of the necessary treatment, the disease can lead to the most unpleasant consequences, including paralysis of the legs and curvature of the spine.

Therefore, when the first signs of the disease appear, it is necessary to consult an orthopedic doctor who will prescribe the optimal treatment.Remember, the sooner you start treatment, the faster you can achieve positive results and return your spine to health.