Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms and treatment

Author

: Grachev Ilya Illarionovich
Editor
: Efremov Mikhail Mikhailovich

Date of publication: 05.13.2014 Date of update: 12.11.2020

This disease causes deformation and weakening of the intervertebral discs, as a result the distance between the vertebrae decreases, which leads to severe pain.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine occurs quite often; people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and often spend time driving a car or at the computer are susceptible to it. It is necessary to start treatment as early as possible, before the disease progresses to a serious stage, threatening loss of working capacity and disability.

Each type of osteochondrosis has serious complications, so you should not delay treatment.
See how easy it is to cure diseases in 10 sessions

Degrees of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

The dynamics of spinal osteochondrosis distinguishes four degrees (stages):

Grade 1 – primary occurrence of disorders in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc of the spine. The process of dehydration of the intervertebral disc occurs due to heavy loads, it is compressed, reduced, and cracks in the membrane of the fibrous ring appear. At this stage, the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar region are blurred, practically undetectable;
Grade 2 – a noticeable decrease in the intervertebral distance caused by a decrease in the height of the discs. As a result of this, the muscles and ligaments of the spine are weakened, and unnatural mobility of the vertebrae along with the discs occurs. There is a feeling of discomfort, pain appears, especially during lifting weights and performing certain movements;
3rd degree – the formation of protrusions and prolapses of intervertebral discs, which are accompanied by the development of arthrosis. At this stage, signs of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine appear more clearly. Stiffness, numbness and tingling in the lower extremities, pain in the back, lumbosacral spine or tailbone area are the main sensations of such a patient;
Stage 4 osteochondrosis of the spine is characterized by the body’s attempt to adapt to stiffness and pain. New bone formations (growths or osteophytes) are formed, improving the fixation of the vertebra. However, they can cause pinched nerves and injure the vertebrae.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies help cure the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis at home. Based on herbs, bee products, flowers and other natural ingredients, products are prepared that have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.

To treat the lower back prepare:

applications;
compresses;
rubbing;
gels;
decoctions;
tinctures

Compress recipes

A compress of honey and potatoes has a relaxing effect. It relieves muscle tension and improves blood circulation. To prepare, raw peeled potatoes are cut into small pieces and mashed. Add honey to the mixture and mix thoroughly. The compress is applied to the affected area of the lower back and covered with a film or thick cloth. The medications last for 1-2 hours.

To warm the muscles and remove salts, prepare a compress of horseradish and grated apples. The ingredients are turned into a pulp from which the juice is squeezed out. A cake is formed from the pulp and applied to the affected area. The product is covered with film or a scarf and kept for several hours.

A mixture of honey and aloe juice relaxes muscle tissue and relieves spasms. For preparation, take 1 part juice and 2 parts bee product. The ingredients are mixed and stirred until a homogeneous ointment is formed. A linen or paper towel is soaked in the liquid and then placed on the lower back, wrapped in fabric. Apply throughout the night before bedtime.

To relieve pain, prepare a compress from fresh bean leaves. They are doused with boiling water and applied to the sore area.

Rubbing

An effective remedy is rubbing alcohol. The product has an anesthetic effect

For preparation you need:

spoon of iodine;
30 ml ethyl alcohol;
a spoonful of camphor alcohol;
10 tablets of analgin.

The ingredients are mixed and brought to a homogeneous consistency. It is prohibited to treat with the product if there are open skin lesions on the lower back.

To prepare horseradish rub you need:

2 leaves of horseradish;
grated radish;
chopped half cayenne pepper;
walnut partitions with shell.

The ingredients are mixed and poured with alcohol or vodka. The container is stored in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks. After infusion, the medicine is filtered through gauze. They are used daily for 14 days. Use is prohibited on open wounds.

At home, a rub made from lilac flowers is prepared. For 200 g of plant take 700 ml of vodka or alcohol. Lilac is poured and infused in a glass jar for 10 days. The container is stored in a dark room and shaken daily. The product has an analgesic effect.

A similar remedy is prepared from Adam's root. For 1 liter of vodka, take 300 g of the plant and leave for 7 days.

Products for internal use

To treat lumbar osteochondrosis, teas from chamomile or St. John's wort are prepared at home. Strawberry leaves, immortelle and birch buds are added to the product. It is drunk after meals for a month. Tea has an analgesic effect, eliminates inflammation and improves tissue nutrition.

An anesthetic infusion is prepared at home based on pine buds. The components are ground in a meat grinder or blender and mixed with honey. The product is infused for 2 weeks. The finished medicine takes on a dark brown tint. It is taken 100 g per day for 2 weeks.

Honey tincture with honey stimulates the process of tissue restoration. To prepare the lemon, cut it into small pieces or grate it, add honey and olive oil. After thorough mixing, the product is infused in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours. It is taken 150 g 2 times a day. The course lasts 2 weeks.

Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis

When lumbar osteochondrosis occurs, the symptoms can be varied:

feeling of discomfort in the spine area;
feeling tired, irritable;
difficult, constrained movement;
dry skin, sweating;
numbness of the limbs, burning sensation in the pinched area;
muscle spasms.

Also, osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine is accompanied by pain of varying strength, which can radiate to the lower back, buttock and leg (radiate to the upper thigh) or to the pelvic organs.

Spinal syndrome

Spinal syndrome is a set of symptoms that occur when working at a computer. An incorrect position at the desk leads to curvature of the spine, changes in the musculoskeletal system, destruction of intervertebral discs, and subsequently to osteochondrosis. All this negatively affects the condition of the intervertebral disc and can lead to a herniated disc.

Ischemic syndrome

Ischemic syndrome occurs when the main blood arteries and vessels are compressed, which disrupts the blood circulation of the spinal column and surrounding tissues. Spinal ischemic stroke is the most severe manifestation of a violation of the spinal circulation of the spine, complicated by the formation of an intervertebral hernia.

Radicular syndrome

Radicular (compression) syndrome develops when a herniated disc of the L4-L5 and L5-S1 vertebrae occurs. Depending on what type of hernia appears (posterolateral, foraminal, etc.), one or another nerve ending can be affected.

Pain syndrome

There are several main types of pain syndromes, depending on the causes of their occurrence:

Radiculopathy. Occurs when the radicular structures of the spine are pinched (compressed).
Compressive myelopathy. Caused directly by compression of the spinal cord.
Compression-vascular myelischemia. It is caused by pinching or compression of the supply blood vessels (arteries and veins) that feed the tissues of the spinal column.
Sciatica. Pinching of the sciatic nerve.

Gymnastics

At home, the patient is prescribed a set of physical procedures to relieve symptoms of the disease and strengthen segments of the spinal column and muscle corset. The required set of procedures is prescribed by the doctor.

Execution rules:

Comfortable clothes. For exercise, choose a comfortable and loose suit made of natural material.
Regularity. Practice daily, morning and evening.
Moderate loads. It is forbidden to immediately load the spine as much as possible. The loads are gradually increased.
Slow pace. Doing exercises quickly is ineffective. A moderate pace works the muscles better.
Fresh air. Before starting classes, the room is ventilated.
Breath control. This improves endurance and allows you to do more sets.
Control of back deflection. Prevents injuries.

Before starting the workout, warm up the muscles. To do this, take a hot shower or bath, and also use warming ointments and gels.

Classification of exercises

Exercises while lying on your back:

stretching while inhaling with arms raised;
bending your knees without lifting your heels off the floor;
breathing with the diaphragm;
simultaneous raising of arms and legs;
deflections of the lower back, leaning on the elbows;
bending and raising legs;
ankle flexion.

Exercises while lying on your side:

alternately raising straight arms while inhaling;
simultaneous raising of bent legs;
bending the legs at the knees;
abducting the legs behind the back;
simultaneous raising of straight legs and arms.

Exercises while lying on your stomach

bending the legs at the knee;
raising and lowering the head;
circular rotations with legs;
keeping your legs elevated for as long as possible.

For treatment at home, bending and bending of the body on a chair with a backrest is also performed. Effective tools are a roller and a gymnastic stick.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

The doctor decides how to treat osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine based on the diagnostic results. Treatment usually consists of complex therapy, which includes:

massage and physiotherapy;
treatment with medications;
Exercise therapy and gymnastics.

Exercise therapy and gymnastics

Therapeutic physical training for lumbosacral osteochondrosis is aimed at strengthening the back and abdominal muscles. It improves blood circulation, helps stretch ligaments, and prevent deterioration of the intervertebral discs. All exercise therapy exercises for lumbosacral osteochondrosis are performed in a warm room without drafts. Movements should be smooth, without sudden transitions from one pose to another.

Massage

When the doctor has diagnosed lumbar osteochondrosis, massage treatment is carried out in the clinic. Massage techniques can relieve muscle tension and pain. This improves blood circulation and restores the flexibility of the spine.

Drug treatment for lumbar osteochondrosis

The purpose of drug treatment is:

pain relief;
elimination of inflammation;
improving blood circulation in spinal tissues;
restoration of cartilage tissue;
restoration of mobility;
relieving stress caused by severe pain.

For these purposes, anti-inflammatory (non-hormonal) drugs (diclofenac, ibuprofen, dolobene-gel), painkillers (ketanov), vasodilators, vitamins, muscle relaxants, chondroprotectors, sedatives in the form of tablets, ointments and injections are used.

Surgical intervention

Surgical intervention for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is performed only in severe cases of compression syndrome when all methods of conservative treatment are ineffective.

There are emergency indications for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine:

complete prolapse of the disc into the lumen of the spinal canal;
acute radiculomyeloischemia;
hyperalgic syndrome.

ethnoscience

To relieve pain and inflammation in osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, mustard plasters, various alcohol rubs based on herbs, and ointments based on bee venom are used. These products have local (external) use.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapeutic procedures are aimed at reducing pain, increasing the effect of drug treatment, and improving well-being during the rehabilitation period. Most often, UHF is prescribed, as well as procedures using a magnetic field or low-frequency currents, laser beams, etc.

Proper nutrition for osteochondrosis

To prevent the problem from developing and help eliminate it, the clinic doctor develops an individual diet. Basic principles of proper nutrition for osteochondrosis:

increase the amount of fresh fruits in the diet;
eat more greens and vegetables (tomatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage);
include dairy products in the area;
drink only purified and still water;
consume more foods containing calcium (sesame, almonds);
increase the consumption of wheat, eggs, barley, which contain a lot of proteins;
eat more seafood.

In addition, it is necessary to maintain the level of vitamins A, B and D in the body.

At the same time, it is necessary to reduce consumption or completely abandon:

spicy foods and foods high in salt;
strong coffee and tea;
alcohol, including low-alcohol drinks (beer);
fried, dried and smoked products (fish, meat);
products with artificial inclusions (GMO).

Proper nutrition will protect intervertebral discs from premature damage and reduce the risk of their displacement.

Disease prevention

The best means of preventing osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine are daily gymnastics and a five-minute physical break at the workplace consisting of 6-8 basic exercises, preferably swimming in the pool. All bad habits are eliminated. Particular importance is attached to the choice of mattress. It must be orthopedic, rigid and hard. Meals should be balanced and include more protein foods. The exceptions are fatty foods and mushrooms. Salt consumption is kept to a minimum.

Self-massage

You can do the massage yourself

Treatment of the lower back at home is carried out using manual therapy. Self-massage does not require additional products. The main rules include moderate pressure and regularity. Massage stimulates blood flow to the affected area and relaxes the muscles. Its action also improves the absorption of medications.

The first procedure is stroking the lower back with your fingertips and the surface of your palm. Do not apply too much pressure, the goal is to prepare and warm up the outer layer of muscle tissue.

Then knead the muscle corset by pressing with your fingers. Perform weak taps on the back with the edge of the palm or fist.

For massage, use your own body weight. The patient sits on a hard surface and clasps his knees with his hands, then rolls onto his back and back. This action allows you to massage all areas.

For home manual therapy, special massagers, mats and belts are used. The treatment is complemented by sleeping on orthopedic mattresses and pillows.

Physiotherapy

What other doctor should you contact for osteochondrosis?

As part of comprehensive treatment, the patient receives a referral to a physiotherapist's office. Physiotherapy is designed to stop or at least slow down the destructive processes in the intervertebral discs.

Within its framework, the following procedures are carried out:

phonophoresis;
laser phoresis;

darsonvalization;
amplympulse treatment;

diadynamic current treatment;
magnetic resonance effect.

Possible complications

A frivolous attitude towards the problem of osteochondrosis will not bring anyone any good. This insidious enemy of your health entails a number of complications that have a very negative impact on the quality of life, the ability to perform everyday activities and fulfill a wide variety of needs.

The most common consequences that occur with osteochondrosis:

sciatica – inflammation of the sciatic nerve caused by its pinching in the sacrolumbar region;
hernia formations
osteophytosis – pathological proliferation of bone tissue;
spondyloarthrosis – destructive changes in the facet joints;
stenosis – narrowing of the spinal canal, leading to dysfunction of the spinal cord;
lameness and gait disturbance as a result of thinning of the ilium;
paresis of the legs, that is, a decrease in their muscle activity.

Diagnostics

So, having secured medical recommendations, the subject is sent to undergo diagnostic procedures using the following methods.

X-ray examination provides information about the condition of bones, joints, intervertebral discs, as well as the ability to detect hernial protrusions and protrusions. Computed tomography, in addition to information about the condition of the disc, shows whether there is damage to the spinal membrane. Finally, magnetic resonance imaging, as a most accurate research method, provides an almost complete picture of the disease; it is suitable for use to clarify the diagnosis and its details.

There are also a number of diagnostic tests that do not require the use of technically complex equipment. Most often they are used in practice by osteotherapists.

Among them are:

various passive and active checks;
fascial tension test (slight tissue tension in various directions);
stretch tests;
load-axial tests;
analysis of craniosacral rhythm.

The latter, in accordance with the knowledge that osteoscience carries, coincides with the pulsation rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid and signals various malfunctions inside.

During the above-mentioned diagnosis, the osteopathic therapist identifies the weakest points of the spine, determines changes in the position and size of internal organs, probes muscle strain and the level of wear of the intervertebral discs.

A rapidly growing disease

Osteochondrosis is a type of spinal pathology, its essence lies in dystrophic-degenerative changes in articular-cartilaginous tissue.

It affects the cervical, thoracic and lumbar areas, causing pain and limiting the dynamic activity of its victim.

More recently, it was believed that the above disease is an age-related inevitability. However, current statistical information suggests that among our contemporaries suffering from osteochondrosis, there are more and more very young people who have recently crossed the thirty-year age mark or are just approaching it.

At the same time, medical research confirms the fact that this disease can, if not be cured completely, then be prevented or its progress slowed down.