Osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. Symptoms and treatment. Exercise, drugs

Lumbar spondylosis is diagnosed not only in elderly patients. Recently, the disease also occurs in young people under 30 years old. Ignoring symptoms can lead to complications. Therefore, it is necessary to know the signs of the disease to begin treatment promptly.

What is lumbar osteoarthritis?

This pathology is associated with unhealthy changes of the vertebrae located in the lumbar region. During the disease, the elasticity of the intervertebral disc decreases due to a lack of nutrients at the cellular level. The localization of the disease is due to the fact that this area of the spine is subjected to the greatest load.

reason

Among the main factors leading to pathology are:

• Genetics.Doctors warn that if one of the parents has this disease, the risk of lumbar spondylosis in the younger generation will be much higher. Therefore, in such a situation, children need to participate in prevention from an early age.
• Lift weights regularly.This point applies not only to those who earn money through manual labor, but also to athletes who ignore safety precautions.

• Injury.Any injury to the back can lead to pathology. If they are present, you should consult a chiropractor or neurologist. It should be noted that many people are not even aware of their injuries. For example, when braking suddenly while driving, a person can misalign the vertebrae.
• Fat.The spine can withstand normal loads. If a person is overweight, the lumbar region of this organ may become deformed.
• Bad posture.Curvature of the spine leads to a violation of proportional load distribution and subsequently leads to osteoarthritis.
• Chronic physical inactivity,lack of exercise in lifestyle. Minimal physical activity leads to the spine not being loaded. At this time, the muscles and ligaments begin to weaken, blood circulation is interrupted, leading to lack of nutrition in the intervertebral discs and loss of elasticity over time. In this case, the entire load and weight are transferred to the intervertebral discs, which squeeze and then form a hernia.
• Flat feet.This pathology indicates a lack of normal shock absorption in the legs. This results in the spine having to work harder than during normal gait. Accordingly, the vertebrae wear out faster.
• Emphasize.The human body is designed so that when there is any psycho-emotional stress, first of all, the neck becomes tense. This is a biological apathy. After all, when a predator attacks a mammal, it immediately grabs it by the neck. Chronic stress causes the transfer of spasmodic reflexes to the entire spine. Ultimately, this can lead to nerve compression, including in the lumbar spine. Therefore, after stress, it is important to relieve stress with special gymnastics.

• Active obstetric practice. When the birth process is stimulated, the baby will cross the line faster and may be injured. This condition can occur during cesarean section when the baby's head tilts sharply to the right or left. The baby was then diagnosed with vegetative-vascular dystonia. The true cause of the pathology is often determined in adolescence.

Degree

Lumbar spondylosis, the symptoms and treatment of which are described in detail in this article, has 4 stages of development. Their detailed description is presented in the table.

Degree	Physiology	Painful feeling
Firstly	The process of destruction of the intervertebral discs located in this area begins.	Manifested by a burning sensation, dull pain or tingling in the lumbar region. Sometimes the localization of unpleasant symptoms moves to the buttocks. Pain syndrome becomes more pronounced after manual labor.
Monday	The discs are increasingly susceptible to destruction, so the distance between them is significantly reduced. At this stage, protrusions may appear.	Pain becomes a constant ache. They can radiate to the buttocks, thighs and knees.
The third day	The tissues in this location of the spine are completely susceptible to destruction. Form of intervertebral hernia.	The pain is very strong and constant. However, they do not depend on physical activity levels.
Wednesday	The cartilage completely atrophies and the vertebrae begin to grow. The spine loses mobility, leading to disability.	The feeling of discomfort may disappear completely or partially.

Diagnose

For an accurate diagnosis, the doctor performs the following operations:

• Investigate.At the first appointment, the specialist will visually assess the patient's physique, weight and height ratio. In addition, the characteristics of gait, posture and performance of simple exercises are studied. The back skin is examined for inflamed areas.
• Palpation.The doctor carefully palpates the patient's back to determine the location of tension and pain. In some cases, a special hammer is used.

• X-ray.This diagnostic method is performed in two locations, posterior and lateral. If functional studies were required, radiation was performed in the flexed and unflexed state. This method of diagnosis has become popular in the CIS countries and requires the least amount of money. However, it does not allow to identify pathology at the initial stages of development. In addition, X-rays are harmful radiation.
• CT scan.Unlike radiography, it can obtain images of the best quality. This process is performed using a CT scanner and takes about 10 minutes. Thanks to this, it is possible to study in detail not only the condition of bone tissue, but also changes in blood vessels and nerves. This method is not suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women. It should be noted that, despite the ability to obtain more detailed information, the patient is exposed to five times more radiation than with an X-ray. Such an inspection should be carried out no more than once a year.
• Magnetic resonance imaging.It is the most informative way to make a diagnosis. During the procedure, the patient is placed on a flat surface, rolled into a special chamber, where, using magnetic waves passing through the patient's body, detailed images of the spine are obtained. The main disadvantage of this diagnosis is that the patient needs to stay in the chamber for about 30 minutes. For people of a certain spiritual nature, this process can be a difficult challenge. In addition, MRI is contraindicated in patients with pacemakers or metal parts in the body, as well as in women in early pregnancy. However, this diagnostic method has many advantages, the main one of which is that it does not cause harm to the human body. The resulting image will clearly show not only changes in the vertebrae themselves, but also the direction of blood circulation, the condition of nerve endings and blood vessels. Unlike previous diagnostic methods, MRI can detect any adverse changes in the spine at the earliest stages of lumbar osteoarthritis.
• Blood and urine tests.These procedures should not be fully referred to as diagnostics. They are needed as an additional examination, performed to exclude or confirm rheumatic pathologies.

Treatment

Degenerative lumbar spine, symptoms at different levelsThe development of the disease described above, suggests the following treatment tactics:

• take medication as prescribed by your doctor;
• a course of physical therapy;
• regularly perform a special set of exercises;
• Massage.

In some cases, experts recommend surgery.

Treatment medicine

All drugs prescribed for lumbar osteoarthritis can be divided into the following groups:

• analgesic;
• muscle relaxants;
• chondroprotector;
• vitamin.

Drugs that perform an analgesic function can be divided into two components: hormonal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They all have the ability to eliminate not only pain but also reduce inflammation.

However, the first group of drugs is used in special cases. Ultimately, they can lead to an imbalance in the endocrine system and reduce immunity. Therefore, hormonal drugs can be purchased only with a prescription at a pharmacy.

Lumbar spondylosis, the symptoms and treatment of which are described in detail in this article, involves the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by oral or intramuscular injection.

However, using them for more than 3 days is not recommended. Otherwise, side effects may occur. Next, you can use a variety of ointments and creams.

Oral medications are available in tablet, injection, and suppository form.

Injections are used to reduce inflammation and acute pain. It is forbidden to make them for more than 2 days.

Muscle relaxants help relax muscles. However, the danger in using them lies in the fact that this drug blocks impulses from going from the nerves to the muscles.

It should be clarified that motor nerves pass from the spinal cord to all muscle fibers through the spine.

When using muscle relaxants, the impulse transmission mechanism is blocked. Due to compression and overwork in lumbar osteoarthritis, the connection between nerves and muscles has been disrupted. The use of these drugs further weakens this system.

Taking chondroprotectors stimulates the recovery of cartilage tissue.

However, there is a theory that chondroprotectants cannot repair intervertebral discs because they are composed of fibrous tissue. In this case, the drug acts only on cartilage tissue.

Vitamin B is necessary for the maintenance of nerve fibers.

Physical therapy

All procedures related to physiotherapy affect the local pathological area, while neighboring tissues and organs remain unchanged.

This includes the following treatments for lumbar osteoarthritis:

• Electrophoresis with anesthetics.Special medications are injected into the patient's lower back. The whole process is stimulated by electric current.
• Supersonic.The purpose of this treatment is microscopic. This procedure helps reduce inflammation and also relieves pain. Blood circulation improves and metabolism is activated accordingly.
• Magnetic therapy. This method involves the use of a magnetic field. There are many types of devices that have similar effects, allowing you to use them at home.
• Vibration effect.The devices create certain vibrations in the desired area of the body.
• Detensor therapy.The procedure is performed on a special mattress. The goal is to straighten the spine.

Physical therapy

Lumbar spondylosis, symptoms and treatment should be examined by a doctor, which requires following certain rules when performing exercises. The main rule is to stop acting immediately when pain occurs. Move carefully and gently to avoid damage.

The combination assumes the following algorithm:

1. Lie on your back and lift each leg up.

2. Turn to one side with arms extended straight forward. Pull your top leg back. Then flip to the other side and repeat the steps in a mirror manner.
3. Lie on your stomach and pull your legs and arms back at the same time.
4. Get up on all fours. Take turns withdrawing each hand one by one.
5. In the same position, pull your right arm and leg up. Then repeat the same on the left.

Massage

When performing massage, you must comply with the following rules:

• Action should be directed from the upper back to the lower;
• Massage movements can only affect soft tissues and not the spine;
• Before the procedure, the patient should go to the bathroom.

Massage algorithm:

1. Make strokes in the right direction;
2. Perform rubbing movements first with one palm, then with two palms. In this case, it is necessary to monitor the pressure that the masseur puts on the patient's back.
3. Gently pull and then squeeze the muscle tissue.
4. Create vibrations with your hands or a special preparation.
5. Complete the process by gently swiping.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine involves the use of medicinal herbs. The primary action is aimed at pain relief.

Homemade pain relief ointment

For this recipe you will need hop cones and tallow. The first ingredient is crushed and mixed with the second ingredient.

Next, the ointment needs to sit for a bit and can be rubbed into the lower back. The composition can be supplemented with chamomile if desired. It has soothing properties and can reduce inflammation.

Compress honey and potatoes

Raw potatoes must be chopped with a blender. Next, mix the ingredients in equal proportions. The resulting mass will be distributed over the painful area of the back. The patient should stay in this position for several hours, then wash everything off. This compression temporarily relieves the patient's condition.

Ginger pain reliever

Grind equal amounts of ginger and garlic on a fine grinder. Then you should add a small amount of butter. Mix everything thoroughly and rub into the lower back. Ointment must be prepared immediately before use.

Lilac tincture

Pour a small handful of lilacs into a glass jar. Then fill the neck of the bottle with vodka, wine or moonshine. The jar must be tightly covered with a lid and kept in a cool, dark place. After a week and a half, the product is ready for use.

In this case, there is no need to pass the alcohol through the filter. You can rub your back with the resulting product. However, the dosage should be minimal. If the product is stored the same way as when infused after use, it can be used for a whole year.

herbal bath

Lumbar spondylosis, the symptoms and possible treatment of which are studied in this article, is often accompanied by severe pain. You can remove it by bathing. Warm water helps soft tissues relax, spasms subside, and pain subsides for a while.

In some cases, experts recommend using contrast temperatures to reduce inflammation. It should be noted that taking a warm bath will accelerate the body's metabolism. Another advantage of this method of treating pathology is the possibility of use at home. In addition, this procedure also helps reduce nervous and emotional stress.

You can increase the effectiveness with the help of herbal baths, in which the following should be emphasized:

• Coniferous tree.It is better to use needles from 3 trees - pine, fir and cedar. You can also add cones. About 5 handfuls of collected material should be boiled for about 15 minutes. After that, without opening the lid, leave for 2 hours, then filter the broth through a filter and pour into the bath.
• Chrysanthemum.For this recipe, it is not necessary to use fresh flowers, you can use a ready-made medicinal mixture. A glass of chamomile should be filled with water and heated over low heat. You cannot boil the decoction. When the highest temperature is reached, the heating system must be turned off. Do not open the lid, let it incubate for another 3 hours, then you can use the product. Such a bath will be useful not only for osteoarthritis, but also when redness and inflammatory processes are present on the skin.
• Juniper.Boil a few handfuls of the mixture for about 20 minutes. Then the broth must be filtered through a filter. In this case, there is no need to wait until the composition cools completely, you can immediately pour it into the bath. This procedure provides additional aromatherapy effects, helping to reduce stress and relieve insomnia.

After bathing in any of the above ways, you should lie down and rest for about an hour. It is better to carry out the procedure before going to bed in the evening.

Surgical intervention

Despite the fact that the disease can be effectively treated with conservative treatment, in some cases surgery is recommended for patients. It is important to note that it must be done in a timely manner. After all, sometimes it happens that a person becomes disabled simply because he did not consult a doctor in time about complications.

The following indications are necessary for surgical intervention:

• pain lasting two months, eliminated with non-steroidal drugs;
• Progressive problems with motor function.

There are the following types of surgeries performed for lumbar osteoarthritis:

• Discectomy.Represents a replacement disk. It can be partial or complete.

• Cut the hole.During surgery, part of the damaged tissue is removed. The operation is performed under local anesthesia.
• Cut off the membrane.The surgeon removes part of the bone spur.
• Facial excision surgery.This operation is aimed at removing the joint. It is performed under general anesthesia.
• Cut off the thin layer.This surgery is performed to remove part of the spine. At the same time, the remaining parts are fixed.

What to do during an exacerbation

During the period of exacerbation of the disease, it is better to adhere to the following recommendations:

• prefer hard chairs to soft chairs;
• sleep on an orthopedic mattress;
• Avoid lifting heavy objects;

• change your body position every quarter of an hour;
• perform massage.

symptoms

Lack of treatment for lumbar osteoarthritis can lead to changes in the normal position of the disc. A hernia forms between the 5th vertebra and the sacrum. In addition, this pathology disrupts blood circulation in the pelvic area. In men, this leads to erectile dysfunction and possibly impotence.

For women, this disease threatens problems in the reproductive system. However, the most serious complication is disability, which begins with a gradual decline in mobility.

Lumbar spondylosis has specific symptoms. The above complications show that ignoring them is very dangerous. After all, modern medicine offers many treatment options that yield effective results.