Surely every adult person has heard such a word as “osteochondrosis”, but not everyone finally understands what it really is. We will help you to figure out what lumbar spine osteochondrosis is and the ways of its treating.
Osteochondrosis is the most common spinal disease, in which degenerative-dystrophic processes develop directly in the intervertebral discs. In the initial stage of spinal osteochondrosis, the cartilaginous tissue begins to collapse; the disks lose their necessary moisture and elasticity, and they become thinner and thickened. At the same time, intervertebral disks cease to perform their physiological depreciation function.
Usually the osteochondrosis develops in the lower spinal region (in its lumbar part), since it experiences maximum body weight. Cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis develop much rarer than the lumbosacral osteochondrosis.
Developmental stages of lumbar spine osteochondrosis
At the first stage, the pulpous nucleus of the intervertebral disc is destroyed; it decreases and spreads to the sides.
The second stage is a spreading of surrounding disc tissues; nerve roots infringing and formation of protrusions (protrusions) are possible. At this stage, person experience lumbar pain with possible irradiation (spreading) in the buttocks, thighs or shins.
The third stage is characterized by the outer fibrous membrane rupture of the intervertebral disc and release of pulpous nucleus beyond its borders. This is how the disc herniation is formed. This stage is accompanied by severe acute pain in the lumbar spine with possible spreading to the legs.
At the 4th (final) stage, bone protrusions (osteophytes) form on the vertebral bodies, leading to stiffness and soreness during movements in the lumbar spine.
Causes of lumbar spine osteochondrosis
- Hereditary predisposition (many people have a genetically determined loose-porous disk structure, more susceptible to deformation).
- Multiple spinal injuries.
- Overweight
- A sedentary lifestyle and inadequate physical exertion or, on the contrary, their overabundance.
- Sedentary work.
- Regular weight
- Flat foot.
- Incorrect formation of the musculoskeletal system and various spine diseases.
- Constant stress factors, lack of sleep.
- Hypothermia
- Improper feeding, metabolic disorders.
- Bad environmental conditions.
As we see, for the development of lumbar and sacral osteochondrosis there exist many prerequisites, and quite often this disease has a pluricausal nature. In addition, if earlier spine osteochondrosis was considered to be an elderly pathology then in recent decades, osteochondrosis has greatly “looked younger” and now occurs among young people.
“A burden of own choice is not felt” is a proverb that harms the spine. People from childhood are accustomed to lift weight, and the spine ends its formation in 22 years. Therefore, you can load the spine up to 22, but you cannot overload it!
Symptoms of lumbosacral osteochondrosis
The pain symptoms of varying intensity prevail in the clinical findings of osteochondrosis: from blunt pain to lumbago.
They do not appear immediately, – but only at the second stage of osteochondrosis. It is characterized by lumbar pain with a possible spread to the lower limbs (thigh, shin, knee, foot, fingers).
Dull aching pain is called lumbalgia, acute pain – lumbago, and pain with irradiation in the legs – lumbar ischialgia. Painful symptoms intensify with sudden movements and physical exertion. Lumbosacral spine osteochondrosis can cause gynaecological diseases in women and disorders of potency, chronic prostatitis in men. There may be disorders of defecation and urination.
More details about symptoms, development options and complications of osteochondrosis you can read in our special article “Symptoms of lumbosacral spine osteochondrosis” in the section “It’s interesting”.
Treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis
In case of lumbosacral osteochondrosis, patients often complain of lower back pain. Moreover, many people visit doctors too late, at the final stages of the disease development, and there will be practically no effect of the treatment in this case.
If we promptly refer to specialists and begin a comprehensive osteochondrosis treatment, there are good chances to get rid of back pain forever and return to active life.
But the lumbar osteochondrosis treatment implies the intensive work of the patient himself, because treatment should begin with lifestyle revision, body weight correction, and correct posture control during the day, etc. It is necessary to go on a healthy lifestyle, eat a balanced and high-quality food, to conduct active physical activity, not to be nervous, and not to lift weights.
By no means should you engage in self-medication, because many people make a common mistake, doing gymnastics during exacerbation osteochondrosis period. It is not right. After all, physical exercises, massage and physiotherapeutic measures are acceptable only during the period of remission (the period of attenuation of pain). All methods of rehabilitation should be performed according to the purpose and under neurologist or relevant specialist supervision.
The lack of proper and comprehensive treatment of osteochondrosis can lead to negative consequences in the form of reduced muscle strength in the lower extremities, disruption of organs of the urogenital system, tendon reflexes decrease, and complete intervertebral discs destruction. Therefore, it is not recommended to delay the visit to a neurologist.
Specialists of the Bersenev’s Medical Centre have been treating lumbosacral osteochondrosis for many years, including its complications (protrusions, hernias, deforming spondylosis, stenosis of the spinal canal, etc.).
The most important point in the treatment of osteochondrosis is not the painkillers and hormonal blockades prescription, as is often practiced by other neurologists. Such treatment can cause a peptic ulcer, disruption of the cardiovascular system, osteoporosis.
The main goal of osteochondrosis treatment is the elimination of painful sensations, restoration of the damaged nerve roots work, and the suspension of intervertebral disc destruction in future.
The metameric method of treatment, developed by Dr. Bersenev, allows to successfully suppressing the back pain and restores the damaged intervertebral disks; normalize the metabolism and circulation in a specific spinal segment, and avoid further osteochondrosis progression and the neurodystrophic syndromes development.
If you feel pain in the lower back – do not hesitate. Contact our medical centre, where our specialists will help you to cope with osteochondrosis and teach you how to avoid the repeating exacerbations of this disease in future.
Take care of your health and the health of your family members. Our specialists know how to treat lumbar osteochondrosis and are always ready to help you!
To make an appointment for the consultation, diagnostics and treatment session, please call (044) 238-22-31.
We are located at: Kiev, Bul’varno-Kudriavs’ka Str., 10-B.
by bus No. 7 (on weekdays)
by bus No. 181
by trolleybus No. 6, 16, 18