According to world statistics, about 80% of the adult population of our vast planet suffers from the same health problem - periodic or even constant back pain in the lumbar region.Lumbar pain is the main symptom of many diseases of the spine and internal organs located in the abdominal cavity.And it is completely in vain that the majority of those who experience discomfort in this area, bypassing the doctor and without understanding the reasons, begin to intensively use various ointments and other "home creams".With these methods, you can easily achieve the opposite of the expected result.
Reasons: definite, exclusionary
The success of any treatment directly depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis;when symptoms disappear, the likelihood of relapse increases.After that, such treatment can only make the situation worse.Therefore, first of all, you should carefully check the condition of all organs whose symptoms may appear in the lumbar region.
Digestive system
Aggravation of diseases of the digestive system (pancreatitis, ulcers, colitis, cholecystitis, enteritis, appendicitis) often provoke the appearance of pain in the lumbar region.
Urinary system
Most often, kidney pain is confused with the symptoms of diseases of the lumbar spine, since their nature is the same.Diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract of various etiologies are accompanied not only by the "kicking back" of the lower back, but also by urinary disorders (frequency, discomfort, presence of blood in the urine and its turbidity), and an increase in body temperature.
Reproductive system
In the case of male and female genital problems in the acute stage, the pain often radiates to the lumbar region, the tailbone, or the side.The nature of these pains is often encircling, without specific localization.
If a disease of an organ that is not related to the musculoskeletal system is detected, it is treated, since it is the real cause of the pain syndrome.If no problems with the above organs are identified after a thorough examination, then the problem is probably with the spine.
Osteochondrosis
The most mobile part of the spine, which takes the lion's share of the load, is the lumbosacral.With a sedentary lifestyle, excessive loads and insufficient nutrition of the cartilage tissue of the spine, degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in the intervertebral cartilages in the lumbar region - osteochondrosis.
Symptoms and stages of the disease
The main warning symptom of osteochondrosis is pain in the lumbar region.In the initial stage, it is localized and directed to the sacrum, its character is pulling (painful).During this period, the destruction processes affected the nucleus pulposus (it dries out) and the discs (the standing height decreases).In case of heavy load, discomfort is observed, and the pain itself is mild.
After a while, if the problem is ignored and no measures are taken, lumbago will start to radiate to the thighs and buttocks.Due to the narrowing of the intervertebral spaces, the muscles and ligaments "sag" and the spine becomes unstable.This leads to loss of sensation and numbness.
The third stage is characterized by morphological changes in the discs, the spinal column itself is severely deformed, disc protrusion and prolapse develop.The pain at this stage becomes more intense and prolonged.Every movement causes excruciating pain.The spinal cord, blood vessels, and nerve endings adjacent to the painful spot may be compressed as the annulus fibrosus extends and impinges on the spinal canal.
The last stage of lumbar osteochondrosis "forces" the body to adapt to the changes caused by the disease in the following way.In order to preserve the supporting and protective functions, bone tissue grows in the diseased area.This usually leads to various microtraumas and then disability.
An integrated approach to treatment
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis should be comprehensive, regardless of the stage of development of the disease.In mild cases, the treatment prognosis is favorable;Deformation processes can be stopped completely and the consequences can be minimized.In the last stage of the disease, the goal of treatment is to eliminate all symptoms and consequences, to normalize the nutrition of the spinal tissues, and to strengthen the muscle ligaments of the entire back and especially its lower part.
Medicines
To relieve the pain of lumbar osteochondrosis, pain relievers are used in tablets or injections;the second option is preferable as it is more efficient.Anti-inflammatory drugs (non-steroidal) are prescribed to relieve the inflammatory process.Muscle spasms that occur simultaneously with pain are eliminated by muscle relaxants.Chondroprotectors are used to repair damaged cartilage tissue.
All of the above remedies sometimes fail to have the desired effect, as damage prevents the drug from penetrating the site of action.
A blockade is used to relieve an acute pain attack.It can only be done by a specialist.
A suitable pain reliever is injected into the space between the spinal processes using a long needle.After such a procedure, the pain goes away very quickly, but for a while, since there is no therapeutic effect.
The use of local complex products - ointments, gels - is effective.They have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and warming effect;many topical preparations contain chondroprotectors.These remedies are quite effective when used correctly and combined with massage.
Physiotherapy procedures
In combination with drug treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis, physiotherapy procedures are used - balneotherapy, laser and magnet therapy, treatment with weak current, light and vibration.They have practically no side effects or contraindications.
Alternative methods
Alternative (non-traditional) methods are used more and more often at the same time as traditional treatment - hirudotherapy, acupuncture, bee stings, manual therapy.These methods provide long-awaited relief, but some of them have contraindications, so consultation with a doctor is necessary.
In addition to the above treatment methods, physical therapy helps to overcome the disease.The correct distribution of loads of the right intensity helps to restore blood circulation in the damaged areas, form or strengthen the muscle ligament, and thereby relieve the load on the spine.
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, it is important to correctly combine treatment methods, first acute pain attacks are alleviated, then inflammatory processes, and non-traditional methods and physical exercises can be used only after the acute period of the disease has passed.
Yoga and pilates complexes have proven to be excellent rehabilitation programs for spinal diseases.
Hernia of the lumbar spine
Against the background of untreated or neglected osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, a hernia often develops - a disease in which, due to insufficient physical activity or excessive stress, the disc tissue is nourished, its strength decreases, and as a result, the disc ruptures.The process of destruction can drag on for years and remain unnoticed until then, but with one unsuccessful move, the mechanism is triggered and all the symptoms appear one after the other.
General symptoms and course of the disease
Symptoms of a herniated lumbar spine include decreased tendon reflexes, pain of varying intensity, muscle weakness, and numbness in the extremities.Pain from a hernia is not always present;lumbago is possible, which gradually spreads in the direction of the pinched nerve.
Distortion of the body is a characteristic sign of a lumbar hernia.This phenomenon occurs involuntarily, as the body must find the most comfortable position in which the pain is minimal.In the case of a severe, rapidly progressing disease, the consequences may be paralysis of the lower limbs (partial or complete).This phenomenon is usually accompanied by disturbances in the functioning of the abdominal organs, especially the intestines and bladder.
The clinical manifestations of a hernia of the lumbosacral zone are expressed in the constant increase and intensification of pain during certain physical activities (weight lifting, bending, sudden strong muscle tension, coughing), a dull aching pain localized at a point that does not go away, the direction of pain in the buttocks or legs, or numbness of this area.
Diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation
It is difficult to diagnose a hernia visually or solely based on the symptoms described by the patient.To more accurately determine the presence of the disease, a number of methods are used to help determine the exact location of the disease.Computed tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance and radiography - thanks to these methods, the doctor can clearly determine the location of the pathologically changed vertebra and see the deformed disc.
To determine the severity and consequences of the disease, doctors use several tests: straight leg elevation, tendon reflexes, the sensitivity (reaction) of the leg at all levels (from the toes to the hip joint) to various stimuli - pain, vibration and temperature.
Treatment methods
Depending on the severity and condition of the patient, different methods are used to treat the hernia.In case of exacerbation, first of all, you should immediately limit physical activity to bed rest and relieve pain with medications.After 5-7 days, when the acute period has passed and the pain has subsided, the drug treatment is supplemented with other restorative procedures (massage, physical therapy, physical education).
Drug and conservative treatment of lumbar hernia is the same as for osteochondrosis.
Surgery
Surgical treatment is recommended in case of severe disease and several serious consequences.
Indications for surgical intervention:
- hernia isolation - entry of the disc area damaged by the hernia into the spinal canal;
- dysfunction of all or one organ of the pelvis;
- the patency of the spinal canal is impaired (determined by MRI);
- lack of results in the case of drug and conservative treatment for three or more months;
- inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
The surgical treatment of the hernia is now performed with gentle, minimally invasive endoscopic surgeries.
The laser reconstruction method involves vaporizing the fluid from the protruding nucleus pulposus using a laser.Thanks to this, the nerve root is "released", i.e. its compression ceases.But this type of intervention has many contraindications, such as early spinal surgery, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthritis, blockage of the spinal canal (stenosis) and protrusion of the nucleus pulposus into the canal.
The percutaneous discectomy method is used to remove the damaged part of the intervertebral disc.Vaporization and removal of damaged tissue is performed with a needle inserted through the skin.
In cases where the damaged disc cannot be repaired by any method, from drug treatment to minimally invasive surgery, or all the methods used do not bring results, the deformed disc is replaced with a prosthesis.
Preventive measures
In order to prevent the progression of the disease, special exercises are prescribed.Exercise sequences should be developed individually by a specialist for each patient and should include stretching, stretching and light aerobic exercises.
In the case of lumbar herniated disc, doctors recommend wearing a special fastening belt.It looks like a capsule, has a width of about 30 cm, is attached to the body with Velcro and has several degrees of stiffness.
This product is necessary for the even distribution of the load (from the diseased area to the healthy one) and the release of tension (unloading).By constantly wearing the belt, the damaged parts of the spine are corrected and restored to their anatomical position.
Lumbodynia with radicular syndrome
Against the background of osteochondrosis and hernia of the lumbar spine, as a result, lumbago develops - lumbar lumbago (acute paroxysmal pain).This is the "simplest" scenario.Since hernias and osteochondrosis are characterized by deformation and frequent prolapse of the damaged disc, as well as displacement of the spinal column, pinching of nearby nerve roots, the so-called radicular syndrome, can be observed.
It is aggravated by pinching of the veins, which causes tissue swelling (tenderness) and congestion.The symptoms of lumbodynia with radicular syndrome are similar to the symptoms of lumbar hernia (sharp shooting pains radiating downward, loss of sensitivity and reflex disturbances), and since it is a consequence, the cause must be treated initially with an integrated approach, otherwise disability may develop.
Sciatica
Another consequence of hernia and osteochondrosis is inflammation of the sciatic nerve - sciatica and the accompanying pain that radiates to the leg or buttocks.Despite the fact that you can clearly identify the "painful" place, the cause lies in the spine.
Sciatica is not an independent disease;this term refers to a number of symptoms that accompany certain diseases of the spine.Pain sensations can be different, in some cases it is only a matter of mild discomfort if we stay in the same not very comfortable body position for a long time, and it happens that the pain leads to loss of consciousness, and in such cases painkillers do not help either.
A diagnosis of sciatica or lumbago is not enough for effective treatment;in any case, you need to do a full comprehensive examination from various specialists and accurately identify the cause, because this is the provoking factor.Eliminating only a few symptoms increases the likelihood of the underlying disease progressing and the appearance of many complications.Paying attention to health, early recognition of problems and quick treatment are the keys to good health.