According to world statistics, about 80% of adult inhabitants of our huge planet have 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 most of those who have discomfort in this area, bypassing the doctor and not understanding the reasons, start intensively using various ointments and other "home lotions".With these methods, you can easily achieve the opposite result than expected.
Reasons: established, excluding
The success of any treatment directly depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis;when the symptoms are eliminated, the likelihood of recurrence increases.After that, such treatment can only make the situation worse.Therefore, first of all, you must carefully check the condition of all organs, the symptoms of which can be pain in the lumbar region.
Digestive system
Exacerbations of diseases of the digestive system (pancreatitis, ulcers, colitis, cholecystitis, enteritis, appendicitis) often cause pain in the lumbar region.
Urinary system
Most often, pain in the kidneys is mistaken for symptoms of lumbar spine disease, because their nature is identical.Diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract of various etiologies are accompanied not only by "distraction" in the lower back, but also by urination disorders (frequency, discomfort, presence of blood in the urine and its turbidity), increase in body temperature.
Reproductive system
With problems with the reproductive organs in men and women in the acute phase, the pain often radiates to the lumbar region, coccyx, or to the side.The nature of these pains is often circling without pronounced localization.
If any disease of an organ that is not related to the musculoskeletal system is detected, it is treated, because it is the real cause of the pain syndrome.If no problems with the above-mentioned organs are detected after a detailed examination, then the problem is most likely with the spine.
Osteochondrosis
The most mobile part of the spine, which takes the lion's share of the load, is the lumbosacral part.With a sedentary lifestyle, excessive loads and insufficient supply of cartilage tissue of the spine with nutrients, degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in the intervertebral cartilage in the lumbar region - osteochondrosis.
Symptoms and stages of the disease
The main alarming symptom of osteochondrosis is pain in the lumbar region.In the initial phase, it is localized and directed to the sacrum, its character is pulling (pain).In that period, the destructive processes affected the nucleus pulposus (its dehydration occurs), as well as the spines (the height of their standing decreases).Discomfort is observed with heavy loads, and the pain itself is mild.
After some time, if the problem is ignored and no measures are taken, lumbago begins to radiate to the thigh 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 phase is characterized by morphological changes on the discs, the spine itself is severely deformed, and disc protrusion and prolapse occur.The pain in this phase becomes more intense and long-lasting.Every movement brings excruciating pain.It is possible that areas of the spinal cord, blood vessels and nerve endings adjacent to the painful point may be compressed due to the fact that the annulus fibrosus protrudes 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 to disability.
An integrated approach to treatment
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis must be comprehensive, regardless of the stage of disease development.In mild cases, the prognosis of treatment is favorable;deformation processes can be completely stopped, and the consequences reduced to a minimum.In the last stage of the disease, the goal of treatment is to eliminate all symptoms and consequences, normalize the nutrition of spinal tissues and strengthen the muscular corset of the entire back, especially its lower part.
Medicines
To relieve pain in lumbar osteochondrosis, analgesics are used in tablets or injections;the second option is preferable, because it is more efficient.Anti-inflammatory drugs (non-steroidal) are prescribed to alleviate the inflammatory process.Muscle spasms that occur simultaneously with pain are eliminated with muscle relaxants.Chondroprotectors are used to restore damaged cartilage tissue.
All of the above-mentioned drugs sometimes do not have the desired effect, because the damage prevents the penetration of the drug to the site of action.
Blockade is used to alleviate an acute attack of pain.It should only be carried out by a specialist.
A suitable analgesic is injected into the space between the spinous processes using a long needle.After such a procedure, the pain disappears very quickly, but for some time, because there is no therapeutic effect.
Effective use of local complex products - ointments, gels.They have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, warming effect;many preparations for local use contain a chondroprotector.These remedies, when used properly and in combination with massage, are quite effective.
Physiotherapy procedures
In combination with medical treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis, physiotherapeutic procedures are used - balneotherapy, laser and magnetic therapy, treatment with weak currents, light and vibrations.They practically have no side effects or contraindications.
Alternative Methods
Increasingly, alternative (non-traditional) methods are used simultaneously with traditional treatment - hirudotherapy, acupuncture, bee stings, manual therapy.These methods provide the long-awaited relief, but some of them have contraindications, so a consultation with your doctor is necessary.
Along with all the mentioned treatment methods, physical therapy helps to overcome the disease.Properly distributed loads of the required intensity will help to restore blood circulation in the damaged areas, form or strengthen the muscle corset and thus relieve the load on the spine.
When treating osteochondrosis, it is important to properly combine treatment methods, first of all, acute pain attacks are alleviated, then inflammatory processes, and only when the acute period of the disease ends, non-traditional methods and physical exercises can be used.
Complexes of yoga and pilates 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, nutrition of the disc tissue occurs, its strength decreases and, as a result, the disc ruptures.The process of destruction can drag on for years and go unnoticed all this time, but with one unsuccessful movement, the mechanism is set in motion and all the symptoms begin to appear one after another.
General symptoms and course of the disease
Lumbar hernia symptoms include decreased tendon reflexes, pain of varying intensity, muscle weakness and limb numbness.Pain from a hernia does not always occur;lumbago is possible, which gradually spreads in the direction of the pinched nerve.
Distortion of the body is a characteristic sign of lumbar hernia.This phenomenon occurs unintentionally, because the body needs to find the most comfortable position in which the pain is minimal.In severe disease that progresses rapidly, the consequences can be paralysis of the lower extremities (partial or complete).This phenomenon is usually accompanied by disorders in the work of the abdominal organs, especially the intestines and bladder.
Clinical manifestations of a hernia of the lumbosacral zone are expressed in the constant increase in pain and its intensification during specific physical activities (lifting weights, bending, sudden strong muscle tension, coughing), dull aching pain localized in one point that does not disappear, the direction of pain in the buttock or leg, or numbness of this area.
Diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation
It is difficult to diagnose a hernia visually or just based on the symptoms the patient describes.In order to more precisely determine the presence of the disease, several methods are used that help in precisely determining the location of the disease.Computed tomography, nuclear magnetic and radiography - thanks to these methods, the doctor will be able to clearly determine the location of the pathologically changed vertebra and see the deformed disc.
In order to determine the severity of the disease and its consequences, doctors use several tests: elevation of the straight leg, tendon reflexes, sensitivity (reaction) of the leg at all levels (from the toes to the hip joint) to several types of stimuli - pain, vibrations and temperature.
Treatment methods
Depending on the weight and condition of the patient, different methods of hernia treatment are used.In case of exacerbation, first of all, you must immediately limit physical activity to bed rest and relieve pain with medication.After 5-7 days, when the acute period has passed and the pain subsides, drug treatment is supplemented with other restorative procedures (massage, physiotherapy, physical culture).
Medicinal and conservative treatment of lumbar hernia is the same as for osteochondrosis.
Operation
In case of severe disease and the presence of many serious consequences, surgical treatment is advised.
Indications for surgical intervention:
- hernia sequestration - entry of the area of the disc damaged by the hernia into the spinal canal;
- dysfunction of all or one organ in the pelvis;
- the patency of the spinal canal is disturbed (determined by MRI);
- lack of results when using medication and conservative therapy for three or more months;
- inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
Today, surgical treatment of hernia is carried out by gentle, minimally invasive endoscopic operations.
The laser reconstruction method involves vaporizing the fluid from the protruding nucleus pulposus using a laser.Thanks to this, the nerve root is "released", that is, its compression is eliminated.But this type of intervention has a number of contraindications, such as early spine surgery, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthritis, obstruction 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 it is impossible to restore the damaged disc by any method, starting with drugs and ending with minimally invasive surgery, or all applied methods do not give any 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 sets must be created by a specialist individually for each patient and must include exercises for muscle stretching, tension and light aerobic exercises.
In the case of herniated lumbar spine, doctors recommend wearing a special fixation belt.From the outside, it resembles a capsule, its width is about 30 cm, it is attached to the body with Velcro and has several degrees of stiffness.
This product is needed to evenly distribute the load (from the patient to the healthy) and relieve tension (relief).With constant wearing of the belt, the injured segments of the spine are corrected and returned to their anatomical position.
Lumbodynia with radicular syndrome
Against the background of osteochondrosis and hernia of the lumbar spine, lumbago develops as a consequence - lumbago lumbago (acute paroxysmal pain).This is the "simplest" scenario.Since hernias and osteochondrosis are characterized by deformation and frequent prolapse of the damaged disc and displacement of the spinal column, pinching of nearby nerve roots, called radicular syndrome, is observed.
It is aggravated by pinching the veins, which causes tissue (soft) swelling and blockage.The symptoms of lumbodynia with radicular syndrome are similar to the symptoms of a lumbar hernia (sharp shooting pains radiating downwards, loss of sensitivity and impaired reflexes), and since it is a consequence, the cause must initially be treated with an integrated approach, otherwise disability may occur.
Sciatica
Another consequence of hernia and osteochondrosis is inflammation of the sciatic nerve - sciatica and accompanying pain that spreads to the leg or buttocks.Despite the ability to clearly identify the "painful" place, the reason lies in the spine.
Sciatica is not an independent disease;this term refers to a series of symptoms that accompany certain diseases of the spine.Feelings of pain can be different, in some cases it is only mild discomfort when staying in the same not very comfortable position for a long time, and sometimes the pain leads to loss of consciousness and analgesics do not help in this case.
It is not enough to diagnose sciatica or lumbago for effective treatment;in any case, it is necessary to conduct a complete comprehensive examination by various specialists and accurately identify the cause, because it is a provoking factor.By removing only a few symptoms, the probability of the progression of the underlying disease and the appearance of many complications increases.Paying attention to your health, early recognition of problems and timely treatment are the keys to good health.