Osteochondrosis forces the body to keep the muscles in the lumbar region tense, reducing the load on the spine. The patient seeks a more comfortable position and tries not to change it in order to alleviate discomfort.
Main steps
The disease is progressive, therefore, at different stages it has corresponding signs, the diagnosis of which helps the doctor to prescribe the correct treatment. Lumbar osteochondrosis symptoms:
- at the first stage, there is a pronounced discomfort and unobtrusive pain in the lumbar spine;
- the second stage is accompanied by the destruction of the annulus fibrosus, which leads to the convergence of the vertebrae among themselves;
- this is followed by the formation of an intervertebral hernia and a significant deformation of the spine, accompanied by intense pain;
- the fourth stage of osteochondrosis of the lumbar region leads to complete disability of patients: the destruction becomes more intense, precedes sharp pains and difficulty in movement.
At any stage, the picture of development and further treatment of osteochondrosis depends on the localization of the disease in a particular part of the lower back. The therapy is aimed at relieving pain, eliminating inflammation, normalizing the metabolic processes of the cartilaginous tissue of the spinal discs.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is a dangerous degenerative disease of the spine, leading to degenerative processes. It is localized in the corresponding area and is characterized by ossification of the cartilage or the destruction of the discs of the ridge. More than 80% of the course is accompanied by pain that radiates to the leg. Pain symptoms are caused by pinching of the roots of the spinal nerves by overgrown tissue, in medicine they are called lumboischialgia.
Signs at the initial stage
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are accompanied by dull pains, which, as a rule, go unnoticed. Unpleasant sensations appear in the back or buttocks after moving weights and sudden movements. The processes of initial degradation of the intervertebral lumbar region begin.
The spinal ridge functions without any special changes, but the morphological processes of cartilage tissue drowning continue to progress, accompanied by the following signs:
- increase in uncinate processes;
- minimal disc displacement with fibrous capsule rupture.
Clinical symptoms - shooting pain after physical exertion and prolonged (frequent) sitting in an uncomfortable position.
Sometimes the first stage is called preclinical, since lumbar osteochondrosis may practically not manifest itself.
Second stage
Symptoms of this stage are chronic pain that radiates to the pelvic organs, buttocks or legs. Both relapses and remissions are characteristic. Basically, deterioration is observed after physical exertion.
Third stage
Progressive processes lead to the formation of a hernia with all the ensuing consequences:
- neurological symptoms (dizziness, headaches, blackouts, tinnitus and loss of consciousness);
- problems with the kidneys and the genitourinary system (uncontrolled urination);
- problems with the cardiovascular system (arrhythmia).
At the third stage, treatment, in addition to drug methods and physiotherapy, may include surgery to avoid compression of the spinal cord and the development of unwanted complications.
Fourth stage
The final stage is accompanied by calcification of the damaged disc. The pains become much weaker, but the deformation of the spine continues. The body, activating the defense mechanism, starts the processes of ossification, which leads to a decrease in the epidural space, increased compression of the spinal cord and disruption of the work of all systems controlled by it. In simple terms, cartilage turns into bones and grows. From here, numerous dangerous symptoms appear, characteristic of the third stage, but in a more acute form.
Prolonged complex treatment and surgical intervention is required.
How to distinguish where the lesion is localized
Pinching of certain nerve endings and segments has its own manifestations and symptoms of osteochondrosis:
- with damage to the roots of the spine L1, L2 - severe pain, numbness of the inguinal zone and inner thighs. The progression of osteochondrosis of the lower back, accompanied by a hernia, is characterized by lumboischialgia in both lower extremities;
- when localized in the lumbar region L5, shooting pain is characteristic with irradiation to the thumb, decreased sensitivity;
- with numbness of the outer side of the thigh up to the lower leg and shooting pain, the problem is pinching the nerve root S1.
Treatment is prescribed after diagnosis by MRI.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region
The localization of the disease has a direct impact on its course and symptoms. Degradation of the lumbar spine can cause myelogenous lameness. The lower spinal cord receives a limited blood supply, which causes weakness in the legs when walking and frequent urge to urinate. After proper rest, the symptoms disappear.
Ischemia of cauda equina neurons is the main cause of caudogenic intermittent claudication:
- anemia of the peripheral parts of the legs;
- tingling and tingling sensation when walking;
- in time the symptoms rise from the legs to the inguinal region of the genitals;
- strength in the legs is restored after rest.
Lifting heavy objects in the presence of lumbar osteochondrosis can cause pinching of Adamkevich's artery and complicate the course of spinal disease. There is paralysis - from mild to severe, incontinence of waste products, atrophy of muscle tissue, the formation of bedsores.
Reasons contributing to the development of osteochondrosis
In most cases, it is believed that the development of osteochondrosis gradually progresses as a result of bipedalism, but additional provoking factors play an important role in the formation of spinal disease, which include: physical inactivity, impaired metabolic processes, excess kilograms, lifting loads.
The complex interaction of adverse factors, the formation of prolapse (protrusion of the disc) leads to a narrowing of the epidural space and pinching of the neural roots.
Medical methods of dealing with the disease
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar at different stages is carried out after an accurate diagnosis of the location, stage and individual characteristics of the patient. The main methods are physiotherapy, reflex effects, drug support aimed at reducing pain and stopping inflammation, herbal medicine. If the treatment turned out to be ineffective or impossible without surgery due to the neglect of the disease, surgical intervention is necessary.