What is the lumbar spine osteochondrosis

The lumbar spine osteochondrosis

The article is about how simple words of lumbar spine osteochondrosis - this information allows you to understand what happens when 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.Sedient lifestyle, lack of regular physical activity, excess calorie intake of the diet, which lacks basic micronutrients and vitamins - all and many more leads to intervertebral discs deteriorate at a young age.First, a boring, disturbing pain appears, then sharp, lasting pain in the lumbar region.One cannot move independently;Any movement causes severe pain and discomfort.Innervation of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis is interrupted.

In order to understand what the spine is osteochondrosis, it must prepare its structure and functions.Let's start with the second question.So the spinal column is a supportive part of the human skeleton.The upper shoulder belt, lower limbs and chest and skull are fixed.The most important function of the spinal column is to ensure the safety of the spinal cord - the central part of the autonomic nervous system that ensures the performance of the entire human body.

From anatomically, the spinal column consists of two structural parts: the spinal bodies with curved and spinous processes and intervertebral discs.The spinal bodies account for 70-75% of the height of the spine and intervertebral discs (depending on the age of the patient) to 25-30%.The shape of the intervertebral disk follows the shape of the spinal body and the shape of the curved processes.The disk provides a steady distribution of shock abrasion load from the lower limbs and other parts.It also provides protection for radical nerves from the spinal cord.

What is lumbar osteochondrosis?This is L5-L4, L4-L3, L3-L2, L2-L1.Overall, the lumbar region contains five spinal bodies and 4 vertebrae discs that separate them.Through the foraminal openings in the spinal bodies, radical nerves leave and are responsible for innervation of the following parts of the body:

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

The branches of these radicular nerves are the sciatic nerve, which moves from the lower part to the gluteal region to the popliteal fossa.There, the tibia and fibular branches are distributed and continues to innerviate the lower leg and leg.In addition, some branches of the radicular nerves of the lumbar spine are part of the nerve plexus called Cauda equina.

Osteochondrosis occurs gradually interrupt.Diseases of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis may develop.In severe cases, the atrophy of the lower limbs, the partial paresis of the legs, etc.

You can find out more about what osteochondrosis is, what the symptoms and treatment in this article.Here are some tips on what to make if you make such a diagnosis and which doctor you should contact with full effective treatment.

What is osteochondrosis and what is the cause?

Modern science knows the answers to questions that are causes of osteochondrosis and causes, but unfortunately this knowledge is difficult to apply to effective prevention and treatment as the patient has to make every effort to overcome the disease.

Anatomically and physiological, the body of the intervertebral dial consists of almost 80% fluid.This circumstance allows efficient distribution of shock absorbing load on the surface of the separated spinal bodies.But neither the ring fibrosus nor the intervertebral disc have its own capillary network.Therefore, there is no blood supply here.All fluid intakes and the dissolved parts occur through diffuse replacement.It is performed only when proper physical stress is used to the surrounding muscles.If the muscle frame of the back and lower back does not work, the diffuse diet stops.

Pathology develops:

  • First of all, the fibrous ring simply dries and loses elasticity;
  • The surface then undergoes primary destruction, which results in inflammation (aggravation of osteochondrosis) and calcium salts to restore the integrity of damaged tissues;
  • The film of calcification prevents further diffuse nutrition, so even with the active work of the surrounding muscles, spontaneous restoration of the fibrous ring tissue does not occur;
  • The next section of the liquid collection from the Nucleus Pulposus located inside the fiber ring;
  • At this stage, the Nucleus Pulposus loses its weight, eliminates shock absorbing load evenly, and the height of the intervertebral disc decreases;
  • During the outstanding stage, the intervertebral dial goes beyond the spinal bodies and exerts pressure on the surrounding soft tissues and radical nerves, which triggers constant pain and stiffness of movement;
  • The third stage is the fiber (extrusion) fracture and the release of part of the nucleus pulposus to the exterior (disc).

Which reasons can provoke this pathology of the spinal column:

  1. lack of appropriate and regular physical activity in the lower back and back;
  2. Inadequate organization of sleep and work areas when microcirculation of blood and lymphatic fluid is interrupted in the spinal column;
  3. Interruption of metabolic processes in the body, the first sign of which is excessive body weight;
  4. poor posture and curvature of the spinal column, which should change the distribution of shock-absorbing load along the spine;
  5. maintaining a sedentary lifestyle and sedentary work;
  6. endocrine diseases such as diabetes mellitus accompanying angiopathy;
  7. Back injuries (spinal bodies, muscle tears, displacements and subluxations, compression fractures and cracks).

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

What is lumbar osteochondrosis

In general, the osteochondrosis of the disease is described above.Now let's live a little bit about what lumbar osteochondrosis is and why it is so common.In recent decades, the disease has quickly become younger.If you have previously been diagnosed with people who have crossed the 40 -year threshold, then the first signs of degenerative dystrophic changes in intervertebral discs find the first signs of degenerative dystrophic not only in 20 -year -olds, but also for adolescents aged 14-16.

Of course, expanding the potential of early diagnosis plays a certain role in this.Early cases of the disease were detected more often with the appearance of MRI tests.Therefore, patients used to learn about intervertebral osteochondrosis due to the appearance of severe pain.And now, at the time of examinations, pathology is possible at an early stage of development.

The lower back is the most vulnerable spine.The maximum impact reduction load occurs when the exercise is performed.During pregnancy, there are significant changes here with the displacement of the spinal bodies, changes in posture and the expansion of intervertebral spaces.Therefore, a woman's pregnancy will almost always be the time when the spinal column deteriorates.

What is degrees 2 osteochondrosis?This is a condition in which persistent clinical manifestations are already appearing and is forced to seek medical attention.As a general rule, in the second phase of the formation of degenerative distrophical pathology, the reduction of the height of the vertebrae and thinning of the fibrous ring tissue can be observed.

What is the lumbosacral region osteochondrosis 

Osteocondrosis of the sacred region can only be felt by patients under the age of 25.At this age, the total fusion of the spinal bodies occurs in the sacral spine.Interactive discs of the vertebrae atrophy.Therefore, clinical symptoms of inflammation may indicate completely different pathologies.

More often, the question is what lumbosac with osteochondrosis, as it affects the vertebral disc between sacred and lumbar regions.This L5-S1 This is the conditional center of gravity of the human body and the maximum physical and shocking load.

It is important to understand what lumbosacral region is osteochondrosis and how to treat it effectively.Above all, all possible causes of pathology should be excluded.The sound of the muscles surrounding the lower back should then be confirmed.Treatment is best done by manual therapy and therapeutic exercises.

Signs and symptoms of osteochondrosis

You now understand what the spine is osteochondrosis, and when its symptoms appear, you will be able to identify and eliminate the possible causes of pathological changes.

Many patients ask the signs of osteochondrosis in X-rays and the results of MRI.Thus, in the pictures, a doctor can see cracks on the surface of the fibrous ring, a reduction in the height of the intervertebral disk and a change in shape.These are the primary signs of osteochondrosis.

Clinical symptoms are as follows: 

  • pain in the lumbar region;
  • The spread of pain on the surface of the thigh, leg and leg;
  • Decreased muscle strength in the lower limbs;
  • Change of posture by straightening the physiological curve of the spine in the lumbar region;
  • stiffness of movements and restrictions on their amplitude;
  • Muscle tension in the lumbar region.

In advanced cases, lower limbs, cramps, lumbago, etc.His numbness appears.

What is multi -segmental or general osteochondrosis?

We can briefly answer the question of what is multi -segmental osteochondrosis.These are degenerative dystrophic changes that affect not one but several vertebrae discs.The same can be said about what the spinal column is common osteochondrosis.This is a condition in which the abnormal changes are detected in many parts of the spine, not in one.For example, if a person has only two lumbar discs affected, this is a polynomite form of the disease.If one of the discs is affected by lumbar and lumbosacral regions, this is a general 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, simply to mention what osteochondrosis is, it can be noted that the lining of the spine is literally smoothing.

When moving or in the static position of the body, colossal pressure is observed on the spinal column due to the effect of gravity.Each vertebrae puts pressure on the lower part.The vertebral discs that separate them are in compressed condition.If they are not liquid enough, they will lose their ability to resist and are exposed to flat.At the same time, they lose their ability to have sufficient heights in the intervertebral space so that the spinal cord is not compressed by compression.

If the dial lost its height and shape, the radical nerve was pinched.Osteochondrosis involves radicular syndrome.Accompanied by pronounced neurological manifestations, numbness, paresis, paralysis, reduced muscle strength, appearance of paraesthesia, etc.

Effective treatment of osteochondrosis

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

Effective treatment requires:

  • Change your lifestyle, make it more active with proper physical activity and proper diet;
  • Avoid extreme physical activity of the back muscles;
  • Perform several procedures for traction towing the spinal column to restore the physiological height of the intervertebral spaces;
  • Visit an osteopath to restore the elasticity of the cartilage and its ability to diffuse the muscle tissue;
  • More massages to improve tissue permeability and elasticity, to restore blood and lymphatic fluid microcirculation;
  • Develop a unique therapeutic exercises with a vertebra.

Physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy, laser therapy and much more are indicated.Osteochondrosis should be treated under the supervision of a spine or neurologist.