Osteochondrosis is one of the most common problems associated with back disease.
This ailment means a change in the internal shape of the spine, as well as a decrease in the plasticity of the discs located between the vertebrae, during which disorders associated with cellular nutrition occur.
The lumbar spine suffers the most, as it is this part of the spine that bears most of the load. When you lift heavy objects, all the force your body is exposed to is directed at the distance between the vertebrae, which leads to compression of the nerve roots. That is why there are problems and pains associated with lumbar osteochondrosis.
Causes of lumbar osteochondrosis
These reasons can occur even in the younger generation, especially if there are various types of problems associated with the musculoskeletal system. These include:
- birth defects, for example, different lengths of limbs;
- flat feet of various types and stages;
- changes in the shape of the spine (scoliosis);
- change in the location of the lumbar vertebra, which can slide out of the sacrum in different directions.
These diseases have the ability to have a negative impact on the spine, cause violations of its functions. Doctors are often of the opinion that lumbar osteochondrosis can occur at the genetic level. For example, if your parents suffered from this disease, there is a high probability that your child will also suffer from such spinal diseases.
Furthermore, the most well-known cause of the disease is heavy physical work. In fact, when lifting objects that are too heavy, there is a large load on the lumbar spine, which leads to its violation.
The next cause of lumbar osteochondrosis is obesity. The extra kilos, as ballast, accumulate in the body and in the body, having a negative effect on the spine and vertebrae, causing heaviness and pain during movement. If at first glance it seems to you that a violation of the shape of the spine will not lead to negative consequences, then you are very wrong. This problem leads to wear of the discs located between the vertebrae, which leads to the further development of osteochondrosis. Therefore, it is imperative to monitor the state of your body and prevent excess body fat in it. Fat tissue interferes with movement, adding additional stress to your muscles, joints, ligaments, and spine.
Another not little known cause of spinal disease is back injury. The impacts, bruises, lifting of heavy loads and projectiles in athletes who are not prepared for such loads have a negative effect on the back. Injury to any of the spinal sections can have negative consequences in the future, for example, osteochondrosis of the spine.
And the most common cause of back disease is, as everyone knows, an inactive lifestyle, when a person spends most of their time sitting in one place, not playing sports or stretching. Most of the time, this applies to people who work in offices or just like to be in one place for a long time without moving, do not play sports or stretch. To keep the back and spine (and the whole body in general) healthy, it is necessary to carry out adequate physical activity. If you move around a little and sit constantly, this can lead to impaired blood circulation in the body. Due to this factor, back pain occurs, the body does not receive all the nutrients, a weakening of the spine and many other diseases occur.
A healthy lifestyle is one of the postulates of healthy blood vessels and joints. Take the time to exercise regularly and your body will respond positively.
Diseases caused by infections or inflammatory processes in the body adversely affect bone tissue and the condition of the ligaments, which can lead to weakening of the vertebrae. Most of the loads are absorbed by the lumbar region, which can cause a change in the shape of the vertebrae.
Stress also causes pain in the spine, especially in women, as they experience feelings and emotions more strongly. Stress negatively affects the health of the body as a whole, its nervous system. Against the background of stress, various types of diseases, including lumbar osteochondrosis, can worsen and become inflamed.
Help!You must carefully control your nerves and avoid situations associated with irritation or negative emotions.
Lumbar osteochondrosis symptoms
It is very difficult to identify the disease in the early stage. Most diseases are asymptomatic, however, everyone can feel abnormal sensations in the body. Therefore, it is extremely important to determine the early symptoms of spinal disease. Pains come gradually, you need to be able to correctly identify them and communicate with a specialist in a timely manner, because in the early stages it is easier to cure the disease.
Most symptoms share a single characteristic:
- Pain in the lumbar region. In total, two types are distinguished: neurogenic pain and muscle pain. The intervertebral disc itself does not feel pain, as it does not contain nerve endings. Painful sensations occur as a result of the destruction of the nerve root discs that emerge from the opening between the vertebrae.
- The pain is too sharp, as if shooting. A person grabs the lower back and cannot straighten out for fear of feeling pain again. Such pain occurs as a result of inflammation of the nerve root, which does not have enough room to stay.
- Also, the pain is caused by swelling in the back muscles. With edema, there is a problem with the delivery of glucose and air to the muscle fibers in the back. This is why the muscles get stressed. They experience hunger and also have the ability to remove lactic acid from the fibers that have been formed in them during muscle activity. Therefore, the muscle undergoes a contraction, causing pain and spasm. The person feels pain, stiffness, and uncomfortable sensations in the back and lower back.
- Since the disc has the ability to squeeze the motor root, an attack of paresis or paralysis is possible. There may be a feeling of weakness in the limbs, which contributes to a gait violation.
- Muscle atrophy may occur, in which one of the extremities decreases in volume. There are also sensations of numbness of the legs, goose bumps, the growth of stripes and nails on the extremities is disturbed.
Scoliosis can have serious consequences, including damage to and damage to internal organs.
So these are the general signs and symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis disease:
- radicular pain;
- muscle pain in the back;
- movement disorders;
- sensation disorder of the extremities;
- creepy sensations, numb legs, cessation of hair growth and nail plate.
Being overweight is another enemy of your joints and spine.
If your muscle corset is not strong enough, the joints will take the load on themselves, leading to your injury.
These symptoms are the main ones, however, it must be answered that there are also individual symptoms that do not occur in all patients. They depend on the individual characteristics of the person and are the most difficult to identify or define.
Stages of lumbar osteochondrosis
The disease develops in four stages.
First stage: the initial stage of the disease. With it, the patient has pain in the lumbar area, as well as spasms of her swelling in this area of the spine. Paying attention to symptoms and seeing a specialist early can help prevent further back problems. At this stage, the treatment is carried out quite easily and quickly, which allows you to get rid of problems and back pain.
Second stage: in this stage, the pains become more constant and severe than in the first. In the joints and ligaments of the spine, sensations of unusual mobility may appear, as a result of which the pain sensations intensify, become more acute and noticeable. Painful sensations are caused by contraction of the sciatic nerve. In some cases, violations of a person's internal organs may occur. It is imperative to consult a specialist for the correct selection of treatment.
Third stage: At this stage, the hernias between the vertebrae are already formed. The spine begins to bend, changing its shape in different directions (scoliosis, lordosis and other diseases of the spine are formed). Painful sensations are constant, sharp and torment a person. The total value of life becomes problematic, as a person is constantly limited by pain. Treatment at this stage may be delayed as the disease begins to progress.
Stage Fouris the most difficult stage. Back pain is regular, sometimes even constant. A person cannot move fully, pain makes movement difficult. If the treatment was not prescribed in time, the patient may remain disabled.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis
The treatment of this disease is very complex. Comprehensive treatment is needed. Includes:
- drug treatment;
- adherence to a therapeutic diet;
- for severe stages of the disease: surgical intervention;
- performing special physical activities selected by the treating physician.
To reduce swelling in the back muscles, a diet that does not contain salt is required, as it retains water in the body. In case of illness, it is necessary to use a special orthopedic corset to keep the muscles in the desired position.
Use of special ointments and plasters that have a warming effect. However, it is worth remembering that if inflammatory processes occur in your body, the use of warming drugs is unacceptable, as this will increase the symptoms of inflammation.
Acute pain is treated with intramuscular injections prescribed by the attending physician. If the pain is severe and unbearable, then it is possible to use intramuscular anesthetic drugs.
Physical therapy is a painless process to accelerate the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis. Do not forget that the treatment must be comprehensive and under the supervision of the attending physician.
Physiotherapy is essential in the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis. It takes place in medical institutions. Physical activity is carried out after preliminary warming up of the patient's muscle tissue.
The main principle of the treatment is the movement to tone the muscle fibers. It is imperative to restore the motor function of muscle tissue so that there is a full range of motion. Most often, in the early stages, osteochondrosis is treated for several weeks. In advanced stages with severe pain and symptoms, treatment may be delayed. That is why it is very important to pay attention to painful sensations in the back area in time and consult a specialist.
Important!The sooner you start treatment, the faster you can beat the disease.
Prevention of lumbar osteochondrosis
Prevention of this disease will never be superfluous.
Follow these guidelines to avoid this problem:
- Stay cool, dress for the weather to keep your back healthy.
- Avoid lifting heavy loads. If you need to move heavy objects, carry them in your backpack. Untrained athletes are strongly advised not to immediately pounce on heavy working weights.
- Avoid falling on your back, especially in winter when it's icy. Any type of back injury causes illness.
- Drink plenty of clean water and other fluids.
- Stay in shape so that excess weight does not cause this type of disease.
- Exercise and stretch your muscle fibers regularly.
- Stretch your back muscles. You can hang from the bar or go for a swim in the pool.
- Get regular checkups. You can do an X-ray of the spine or an MRI to check the condition and health of your back.
Hyperextension Back Extension is a great way to strengthen the muscles that support your spine.
By following these simple guidelines, you can avoid back problems, including lumbar osteochondrosis. If you suddenly feel unusual sensations in your back, you should immediately contact your doctor.
Conclusion
Monitor the health of your back and spine to avoid problems and diseases associated with them. To do this, you need moderate physical therapy exercises, which will help to tone the muscles, as well as prevent a number of diseases that occur in various parts of the back. If pain of various types is detected, it is necessary to contact a specialist in a timely manner to consult and get the correct and correct solution, because in the early stages the disease is easily treatable. Do not run yourself and your health, as your life and freedom of movement depend on the health of your back when performing standard activities in daily life.
We hope the article was useful to you, you have learned new points about lumbar osteochondrosis and now you can avoid this problem. Be healthy and take care of yourself, because a healthy back ensures the health of the whole body, a long and happy life without pain!