Translated from ancient Greek, osteochondrosis means ὀστέον - bone and χόνδρος - cartilage, and is characterized by complex degenerative changes in the articular elements of the bone skeleton. Almost every part of the skeletal structure is susceptible to this neurological disease. Thoracic and/or cervical vertebral discs may be in the affected area. However, it is osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, whose symptoms and treatment are more common in modern conditions, that raises the discussion and concern of practicing neuropathologists.
Pathogenesis, or development of the inflammatory process
Any organism in the process of growth changes its physiology. Therefore, due to this, diffuse changes occur in the vascular bed of the intervertebral discs of the bone skeleton. The supply of nutrients to the lumbar spine is complicated by various traumatic conditions and/or dynamic loads constant in this part of the spinal structure. The inadequacy of nutrition with the necessary microelements is further complicated by osteochondrotic processes that lead to loss of the elastic and strength characteristics of cartilage joints. With osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the symptoms of the disease are more active with the asymmetrical and irrational work of the spinal muscles, which are detected in various conditions:
- insufficient heating of muscle tissue;
- wrong posture;
- congestion of the intervertebral joints due to excess adipose tissue;
- use mattresses on a soft base while resting at night;
- strong mechanical and/or dynamic loads on the lumbar spine;
- physical stress;
- with exacerbation of chronic pathologies.
The supply of nutrients to the lumbar spine is complicated by various traumatic conditions and/or dynamic loads constant in this part of the spinal structure.
If lumbar osteochondrosis is detected, symptoms of a neurological disease due to premature medical intervention can lead to more serious neurological pathologies, eg sciatica, spinal hernia, intervertebral disc injury and other complications.
Why does lumbar osteochondrosis occur?
So far, the problem of diffuse transformations in the intervertebral space has not been fully studied. In osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, symptoms of manifestations of neurological pathology are often felt by middle-aged people aged 35 to 45 years.
Nervous overload, stressful situations can also lead to the onset of the disease.
It is at this most efficient age that static and dynamic stress occurs on the spine. However, according to expert observations, back pain is starting to bother more and more people in the younger age group. Therefore, already in the period of 18 to 25 years, young people become patients of neurological treatment departments. This is due to little physical activity, excess weight, poor posture and general deformation of the joints, which cause lumbar osteochondrosis.
Symptoms and treatment of neurological pathology, it is desirable to identify and adequately respond to it in the early stages of disease formation.
Other causal factors that lead to osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine include:
- hereditary forms;
- insufficient supply of cartilaginous vessels with micronutrients;
- violation of metabolic processes due to various circumstances;
- uneven development of musculoskeletal structure;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- disorders of the body associated with the functioning of the endocrine system;
- weakening of muscle structures due to the harmful effects of alcohol, smoking and other bad habits;
- a consequence of various chronic pathologies;
- segmental instability of spinal elements;
- nervous overload, stressful situations and other components.
However, when diagnosing osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine, symptoms of neurological pathology in women can be diagnosed due to disorganization or the development of disorders associated with hormonal changes. From 35 to 45 years old, the female body begins to undergo significant physiological changes, which affect the functional work of all bone and cartilaginous areas of the spine.
Symptomatic signs of the disease
With osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region, the symptoms of neurological pathology are felt with pain in the lower back, leading to numbness, discomfort and sensation of pain in the lower back. Lack of adequate therapy can complicate the situation and lead to complete atrophy of the muscular structures of the lumbosacral spine. Increased pain can be caused by several factors, for example, sneezing, coughing, sudden turns and lifting heavy objects. Cuts that occur in the lumbar region are most commonly made in the gluteal region and in the calf region of the lower limb. With lumbosacral osteochondrosis, the symptoms of a neurological disease can be determined by the following signs:
- exhaling sharp and painful pain in the sacrospinous region and in the organs of the pelvic region;
- loss of sensitivity;
- discomfort in the muscles innervated in the lumbar spine;
- hypotension and hypotrophy.
All of these symptomatic signs arise from damage to the nerve roots of the intervertebral discs in the lumbar spine.
Stages of the disease
In the diagnosis of lumbosacral osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment of the disease depend on the stage of the inflammatory process. Thus, according to the results of a diagnostic test, it is possible to determine several specific signs of inflammation of the lumbar spine:
- The first stage is determined by mild sensations of pain in the lower back, which intensify under the influence of physical exertion. Only with sudden movements, the patient feels a sharp, painful or dull pain in the lower back. In a relaxed state, pain does not occur.
- The second stage is determined when the distance between the vertebral discs decreases, due to compression, and the appearance of degenerative dystrophic formations in the annulus fibrosus. A sharp, sharp pain radiating to the ankle region of the lower limb, buttocks, and outer thigh is caused by compression of the nerve endings between the discs in the vertebral space.
- Destruction of the fibrous ring occurs in the third stage of the disease, which is the most favorable moment for the formation of an intervertebral disc hernia. Severe pain in the lower back is permanent due to the significant deformity in the lumbosacral spine.
- Final fourth stage of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, whose symptoms, treatment and rehabilitation are the most difficult in the entire process of destruction of the musculoskeletal system. This phase of the disease leads to the patient's incapacity, as well as his total or partial immobility.
However, any form of osteochondrosis should not cause fear and panic in a person, only proper medical treatment is needed.
Lumbar osteochondrosis: symptoms and medications
Based on the results of symptomatic signs and the establishment of an adequate diagnosis according to the stage and form of the disease, specialists select the appropriate drug treatment, which is based on the use of pharmacological combinations of various orientations. The main goals of treatment to solve the problem are:
- slowing down of the degenerative-dystrophic processes of the lumbar area, through the implementation of appropriate therapeutic and prophylactic measures;
- elimination of functional disorders of spinal nerve endings;
- neutralization of painful sensations;
- functional restoration of muscle tone in the lumbosacral region;
- patient's return to active life.
The patient's age and gender, as well as the state of their endocrine system, play a significant role in the choice of drug treatment method.
The main emphasis on drug exposure is placed on pain elimination with the proper selection of pharmacological analgesics. Anti-inflammatory drugs help to neutralize the destructive processes in muscle structures in the spinal region. The most effective pharmacological agents are the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory groups.
The most effective pharmacological agents are the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory groups.
With the ineffectiveness of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), anesthetics with hormonal additions and/or paravertebral block are used. In addition, the complex drug process includes other types of pharmacological drugs, eg sedative drugs, muscle relaxants, drug groups containing vitamins B1 and B12, which eliminate the compression effect and provide micronutrients to nervous tissues. After the end of the acute inflammatory period, drug treatment is completed, and other therapeutic and prophylactic measures are used during the period of remission.
Therapeutic prevention of lumbar osteochondrosis
You should be aware that the treatment of osteochondrosis is a complex process that requires strict discipline and strict adherence to all the prescriptions of the treating physician. A prerequisite for complete recovery of the body is to perform all steps of complex therapy, which includes:
- Massage that helps relieve muscle pain, restores blood circulation to problem areas of the lumbar spine, removes muscle tension in these areas of the body.
- Physical therapy is a great way to rehabilitate yourself after an illness. The absence of side effects, the elimination of residual tension in the lumbar region, are the advantages of physical therapy procedures.
- Manual therapy is able to mechanically act on the muscle tissues of the lumbar region in a measured way, providing an improvement in all vital processes.
It should be remembered that failure to comply with the neuropathologist's recommendations for the complex therapeutic treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is a possible meeting with the surgeon. In 90% of cases, surgical intervention in spinal sections is a consequence of the negligent state of the disease and failure to comply with the recommendations of the treating physician.