What is osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

The article talks about what osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is in simple words - this information will allow you to understand what happens when the intervertebral discs are destroyed and how to perform effective and safe treatment.

According to medical statistics, more than 70% of the modern population knows what osteochondrosis is.A sedentary lifestyle, lack of regular physical activity, unnecessary calorie intake in the diet with a deficiency of basic trace elements and vitamins in it - all this and much more leads to the fact that the intervertebral discs begin to get worse at a young age.First there is a dumb, unobtrusive pain and then acute, constant pain in the lumbar region.One cannot move independently;Every movement causes severe pain and discomfort.The innervation of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity and the pelvis is impaired.

To find out what spinal osteochondrosis is, you need to have an idea of its structure and functions.Let's start with the second question.So, the spinal column is the supporting part of the human skeleton.The upper shoulder girdle, the lower limbs and the chest and the skull are attached to it.The most important function of the spine is to guarantee the safety of the spinal cord - the central part of the autonomic nervous system, which guarantees the work of the entire human body.

Anatomically, the spinal column consists of two structural parts: the bodies of the vertebrae with arc and spinish processes and intervertebral discs.The vertebral bodies represent 70-75% of the height of the spine and intervertebral discs (depending on the age of the patient) - from 25 to 30%.The shape of the intervertebral disc follows the shape of the vertebral body and arcuat processes.The disk provides a uniform distribution of the load, absorbing the impact transmitted by the lower limbs and other parts of the body.It also provides protection for radicular nerves, leaving the spinal cord.

What is lumbar osteochondrosis?It is a degenerative dystrophic destruction of the cartilage tissue of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral discs L5-L4, L4-L3, L3-L2, L2-L1.A total lumbar region contains five vertebrates and 4 intervertebral discs that separate them.Through the framinal openings in the bodies of the vertebrae, the radicular nerves go, responsible for the innervation of the following parts of the body:

• L1 and L2 - abdominal organs and upper thigh;
• L3 - genitals, knees and bladder;
• L4 - legs, legs and prostate gland;
• L5 - toes, legs, legs.

The branches of these radicular nerves form the sciatic nerve, which passes from the lower back through the gluteal region to the poplial well.There it is divided into the tibial and fibular branches and further innervates the lower legs and legs.Also, the individual branches of the radicular nerves of the lumbar spine are part of a nerve plexus called Cauda Equina.

With the development of osteochondrosis, a gradual disruption of innervation occurs.Diseases of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity and pelvis may develop.In severe cases, atrophy of the muscle fibers of the lower limbs develop, partial paresis of the legs, etc.

You can understand more information about what osteochondrosis is, what are its symptoms and treatment in this article.Here are some tips on what to do when such a diagnosis is made and which doctor you need to contact to undergo complete effective treatment.

What is osteochondrosis and what are the causes?

Modern science knows the answers to the questions about what osteochondrosis is and what are its reasons, but unfortunately the application of this knowledge is practically difficult to effectively prevent it is difficult due to the fact that the patient will have to make every effort to combat the disease.

Anatomically and physiologically, the body of the intervertebral disc consists of almost 80% fluid.It is this circumstance that makes it possible to distribute the load that absorbs the impact on the surface of the separated vertebrae bodies.But neither the annulus fibrosis nor the pulp of the nucleus of the intervertebral disc has its own capillary network.Therefore, there is no blood supply here.All fluid intake and the necessary components dissolved in it occur by diffuse exchange.It is performed only if adequate physical stress is applied to the surrounding muscles.If the muscle frame on the back and lower back does not work, then the diffuse feeding stops.

Pathology begins to develop:

• First, the fibrous ring simply dehydrates and loses its elasticity;
• Then its surface begins to undergo primary destruction, leading to inflammation (exacerbation of osteochondrosis) and the deposition of calcium salts to restore the integrity of the damaged tissues;
• The calcificate film prevents a more diffuse diet, and therefore, even with active work of the surrounding muscles, no spontaneous repair of the tissue of the fibrous ring occurs;
• The next stage is the collection of fluid from the nucleus pulpose located in the fibrous ring;
• At this stage, the nuclear pulp loses its mass, ceases to distribute the impact load evenly, and the height of the intervertebral disc decreases;
• At the stage of convexity, the intervertebral disc extends beyond the bodies of the vertebrae and begins to put pressure on the surrounding soft tissues and radicular nerves, this causes constant pain and stiffness of the movement;
• The third stage is the rupture of the fibrous ring (extrusion) and the release of part of the nuclear pulp on the outside (disc herniation).

What causes can provoke the development of this pathology of the spine:

1. lack of adequate and regular physical activity on the muscle frame of the back and lower back;
2. improper organization of bedrooms and work spaces when located, in which the microcirculation of the blood and lymphatic fluid in the spine is impaired;
3. Interruption of metabolic processes in the body, the first sign of which is excess body weight;
4. Poor posture and curvature of the spine, which leads to a change in the distribution of impact-absorbent load on the spine;
5. maintaining a sedentary lifestyle and stuck work;
6. Endocrine diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus with accompanying angiopathy;
7. Back injuries (dislocated ligaments and tendons, muscle tears, movements and subluxations of vertebrae bodies, compression fractures and cracks).

There are other reasons, but they are less common and do not pose as pronounced danger as the above.

What is lumbar osteochondrosis

In general, what is explained to the osteochondrosis of the disease is explained above.Now let's look at the question of what lumbar osteochondrosis is and why it is so common.In recent decades, the disease has quickly become more yard.If it was previously diagnosed in people who have passed the threshold for 40 years, now the first signs of degenerative dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs are found not only in 20-year-old people, but also in adolescents aged 14-16.

Of course, expanding the options for early diagnosis plays a role in this.With the onset of MRI examinations, early cases of the disease begin to detect more frequently.Therefore, patients have learned of intervertebral osteochondrosis due to the onset of severe pain.And now that you take exams, it is possible to capture pathology at an early stage of development.

The lower back is the most vulnerable location of the spine.This is where the maximum load of impact-absorbently loads when performing any movement of the body.During pregnancy, there are significant changes with the displacement of the vertebrae bodies, the changes in the posture and the extension of the intervertebral spaces.Therefore, pregnancy for a woman almost always becomes the period during which the spinal column begins to worsen.

What is second -degree spinal osteochondrosis?This is a condition in which constant clinical manifestations are already occurring and the patient is forced to seek medical attention.As a rule, in the second stage of the development of degenerative dystrophic pathology there is a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc and thinning of the tissue of the fibrous ring.

What is osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region 

What is osteochondrosis of the sacral region can only be felt by patients under the age of 25.At this age, a complete fusion of the bodies of the vertebrae in the sacral spine occurs.Atrophy of the intervertebral discs.Therefore, clinical signs of inflammation may show completely different pathologies.

Much more often, they ask what lumbosacral osteochondrosis is because it affects the intervertebral disc located between the sacral and lumbar regions.This is the L5-S1-It takes into account the conditional center of the gravity of the human body and the maximum physical and enhancement load.

It is important to understand what osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region is and how it can be treated effectively.First, all possible causes of pathology must be ruled out.Then it is necessary to strengthen the tone of the muscles surrounding the lower back.Treatment is best performed with the help of manual therapy and therapeutic exercises.

Signs and symptoms of osteochondrosis

You now understand what spinal osteochondrosis is and when its symptoms occur, you will be able to identify and eliminate the potential cause of pathological changes.

Many patients ask what are the signs of osteochondrosis of X -rays and in the results of a MRI examination.So, in the photos, the doctor can see cracks on the surface of the fibrous ring, reduce the height of the intervertebral disc, and change in its shape.These are the main signs of osteochondrosis.

Clinical symptoms include: 

• lumbar pain;
• spreading pain on the surface of the thigh, legs and foot;
• decreased muscle strength in the lower limbs;
• change in the posture with straightening the physiological curve of the spine in the lumbar region;
• Stiffness of movement and limiting their amplitude;
• Muscle tension in the lumbar region.

In advanced cases, tingling of the lower limbs, convulsions, lumbago and more may occur.

What is polysegmental or ordinary osteochondrosis?

The question of what is brief for polysegmental osteochondrosis can be answered briefly.These are degenerative dystrophic changes that affect not one but several intervertebral discs.The same can be said about what common osteochondrosis of the spine is.This is a condition in which pathological changes are detected not in one but in several parts of the spine.For example, if a person has only two lumbar discs affected, it is a polysegment form of the disease.If a disc is affected in the lumbar and lumbosacral areas, then this is a common form.

What is radicular osteochondrosis (in simple language)

And now a few words about what radicular osteochondrosis is and why this condition is dangerous to human health.So, speaking in simple words about what it is - osteochondrosis, it can be noted that this is literally flattened on the mucous membrane between the bodies of the vertebrae.

In the movement or in the static position of the body, due to the action of gravity, colossal pressure is observed on the spine.Each vertebrae exerts pressure on the lower.The intervertebral discs that separate them are compressed.If they do not have enough fluid, they lose the ability to resist and are subject to equalization.At the same time, they lose the ability to provide sufficient height of the intervertebral space so that the radicular nerves extending from the spinal cord are not compressed.

If the disc has lost its height and shape, the radicular nerve is pinched.Osteochondrosis occurs with radicular syndrome.It is accompanied by pronounced neurological manifestations in the form of numbness, paresis, paralysis, decreased muscle strength, the appearance of paresthesia, etc.

Effective treatment of osteochondrosis

We have understood what osteochondrosis is, now we can talk about effective treatment of the disease.As it has already become clear, it is necessary to restore the disturbed diffuse diet of the cartilage tissue of the fibrous ring.This can only be done with the help of manual therapy and therapeutic exercises.There are no pharmacological drugs to restore the diffuse feeding of cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs.And injection of chondroprotectors in the absence of diffuse metabolism is useless.They do not penetrate the cartilage tissue.

Effective treatment is required:

• Change your lifestyle, make it more active with sufficient physical activity and a proper diet;
• Avoid extreme physical activity on the posterior muscles;
• performs several procedures for gripping the spine to restore the physiological height of the intervertebral spaces;
• Visit osteopath to restore the elasticity of cartilage tissue and its ability to diffuse muscle tissue exchange;
• Perform several massage sessions to improve tissue permeability, elasticity, restoration of blood and lymphatic fluid microcirculation;
• Develop an individual course of therapeutic exercises with a vertebologist.

Physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy, laser therapy and many others are also indicated.Treatment of osteochondrosis should be performed under the supervision of a vertebologist or neurologist.