Pain in the lower back may indicate a displacement of the vertebrae of the lumbar. Such a disease is called spondylolisthesis. The disease itself is quite dangerous. If you do not deal with its timely treatment, this can lead to a limitation of motor capabilities, in more severe cases - and to disability.
Symptoms
Signs of vertebral displacement depend on the stage of the disease. Each of them has its own symptoms. Displacement of the vertebrae in the lumbar occurs gradually. The disease progresses in this way:
- Prolapse. The initial stage of the development of the disease, in which the displacement of the spinal disc is not more than 2 mm. This degree is characterized by the absence of obvious signs - pain only bothers with sudden movements, lifting heavy objects, and performing physical exercises.
- Protrusion. With this form, the disease of the disc is displaced by 10 mm or more. There are pulling pains in the lower region of the spine, which begin to disturb during movements.
- Extrusion. It implies a half-vertebral displacement of the vertebrae. As a result of the weakening of the intervertebral discs, subsidence of the spinal column occurs. When the disease goes to the third stage, a person begins to worry about intolerable pain in the lumbar region, movements become constrained. Against the background of such a disease, a displacement of several lumbar vertebrae can occur. It is also possible damage to nerve endings.
- Sequestration. Joint distortion occurs, lower back pain begins to become chronic. It is difficult for a person to be in a standing position for a long time, he complains of a constant feeling of tiredness, the appearance of convulsions is possible. In addition, the gait becomes uncertain, there is pain in the fingers, toes, and knees.
What triggers the pathological process
The reasons for the displacement of the vertebrae of the lumbar are different:
- Anomalies of the development of the spine. This form of the disease is called dysplastic spondylolisthesis.
- Injuries. In this case, we are talking about bruises, dislocations, falls. Athletes, in particular gymnasts, who have to regularly perform movements with stretching, causing displacement, are more at risk.
- Injuries during extreme sports (moto, auto racing, skiing, snowboarding, etc.). In such situations, a fifth vertebra of the lumbar spine often occurs.
- Operations on the spinal cord or spine. They can harm the supporting functions of the named part of the skeleton.
- Muscle pathology or tumor formation in the vertebrae.
- Frequent physical activity.
How to treat lumbar vertebral displacement depends on the results of a full examination, which involves an x-ray and an MRI. From the pictures, the doctor will be able to determine the degree of displacement of the vertebrae and the nature of the inflammatory process. In addition, he finds out in which place a degenerative-dystrophic change is common.
The choice of treatment depends on the stage of the disease. The doctor may resort to conservative therapy. And in a severe case, surgical intervention is required.
Conservative treatment
After a complete examination, the doctor will be able to make a final diagnosis and tell you how to treat displacement of the lumbar vertebrae. Depending on the stage of development of the disease, massage, physiotherapy, orthopedic appliances may be prescribed.
The goal of therapy is to eliminate pain, relieve inflammation, improve lumbar mobility, and relieve cramping. But if after 6 months the patient does not begin to feel better, the doctor may decide to resort to a surgical method for the treatment of vertebral displacement.
Preparations
The complex therapy of vertebral displacement in the lower part may include drugs of various groups:
- Analgesics. As a rule, they are prescribed for pathological processes of mild to moderate severity. At the 4th degree, they are combined with NSAIDs.
- NSAIDs. With unbearable pain, these drugs significantly facilitate the patient’s condition, relieve inflammation, and improve the trophism of affected tissues. At the initial stage, injections are first carried out, after which the patient switches to tablets and capsules. Ointments with anti-inflammatory effect are applied to the lumbar region.
- Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants. The doctor prescribes these drugs in the third stage, when the limited movement of the lumbar region joins the pain syndrome. The action of antispasmodics is similar to muscle relaxants, but the drug in tablets is more convenient for home use. To relieve muscle cramps, "Midokalm", "Combilipen" can be prescribed.
- Peripheral blockade. It is prescribed when the disease proceeds in a neglected form. A glucocorticoid solution should be administered extremely carefully, since these agents can provoke an adverse reaction.
Folk remedies
To reduce pain in the lower region of the spine, you can use traditional medicine. So, warm compresses with medicinal decoctions can be applied to the sore spot. The most effective recipes include:
- Horse chestnut pulp compress. For cooking, you will need these fruits. They need to grind into powder. Mix 30 g of the product with 2 tbsp. l honey and mix well. Place the mixture in a dark container and store in the cold for three days. Before using the infusion, it must be thoroughly shaken.
- Potato compress. Grate one raw potato with honey in a 1: 1 ratio and let it brew for about 15 minutes. Apply a compress to the affected area for several hours. Wrap your back with a warm scarf.
- A compress of horseradish leaves. Pour a couple of leaves of horseradish with boiling water and boil for about 5 minutes, then remove and attach to a sore spot.
- Ointment. Connect 2 tbsp. l kidneys of black poplar with the same amount of liquid honey, add nutria to the mixture and mix well. As a result, an ointment of a thick consistency should be obtained. When the mass has cooled, 1 tsp can be added to it. camphor oil. The shelf life of such a natural medicine is no more than 7 days.
Massage
This procedure has a therapeutic effect in the early stages of the disease. A positive result will be achieved if you do not deviate from the rules for its implementation. It is advisable to entrust the massage only to a specialist. And its advantages include:
- increased blood circulation;
- strengthening the muscular corset of the back;
- relieving muscle spasm.
Traction
Such a plan procedure involves stretching the spine, so that you can achieve the correct location of all vertebrae. Its holding may be in dry or underwater form.
The first method involves carrying out the procedure in an office on an equipped table, on which the patient is fixed with straps, as in the photo.
Displacement of the vertebrae of the lumbar can also be corrected in another way. In this case, the patient is lowered into the bath, and a load is attached to his body, which helps to stretch. The session can be held in a standing or lying position. After this procedure, the pain disappears, the vertebrae begin to take a natural position.
To achieve a therapeutic effect, the traction course should consist of 7-10 sessions; upon completion of each of them, the result will be fixed by massage or by performing exercises prescribed for displacement of the vertebrae of the lumbar spine.
Physiotherapy
The goal of physiotherapy exercises is to strengthen the back corset. An attending physician should make up a set of exercises, which is based on the severity of the disease and the patient’s condition.
Physiotherapy exercises should be carried out taking into account certain recommendations:
- It is necessary to monitor the state and feelings at the time of the exercise. If you experience pain or discomfort, you should not continue to train.
- Do not include exercises in the complex, the safety of which was not discussed with the doctor.
Orthopedic appliances
If the patient has severe pain, he may be advised to wear a special corset. A doctor should select such a device. Wearing a corset will allow you to unload the problem department, prevent compression of the nerve roots. How long to wear a corset to prevent muscle wasting, should also be decided by a specialist.
Manual therapy
When severe pain in the lower back is disturbing, you can resort to alternative methods of treatment. In this case, a visit to a vertebrologist is required, the manipulation of which helps to relieve tension in muscle tissue.
It is worth noting that the effect will depend on the qualifications and experience of the specialist. When the course of procedures is completed, the body begins to heal itself, numbness of the extremities goes away, and the patient is no longer disturbed by headache and drowsiness. If you entrust this procedure to a person without certain skills, the procedures may entail numbness of the limbs, damage to the vertebrae and restrictions on movement.
Operation
As mentioned earlier, if for 6 months the patient adhered to the principles of traditional therapy, but the positive result did not occur, surgical intervention may be required. With a displacement of the vertebrae of the lumbar region, the operation can be carried out in two ways:
- When moving forward, surgery is performed through a dissection from the back.
- Offset back allows you to make an incision in the body wall.
When the resection is over, in the area of displacement of the vertebral discs, the surgeon sets up a fixing transplant - a metal plate.
As for the risks of complications after surgery, they make up only 1%. So, the patient may experience shortness of breath, frequent constipation, problems with urination.
After surgery, the patient is under the supervision of a doctor, so the risk of complications is minimal. Recovery after surgery takes about 2 months. During this period, a person is forbidden to move, he must always be in a supine position, in bed.
Complications
For medical help with the described ailment, you need to contact on time. Its neglected form can lead to a constant pain syndrome that cannot be stopped even with the help of potent drugs. And if the nerves are too transmitted, a person will not be able to control the bowel movement. In addition, he develops muscle weakness, and his gait changes.
Prevention
To prevent displacement of the vertebrae, it is necessary to adhere to preventive measures:
- Do not lift heavy objects.
- Do not supercool.
- Keep your back from drafts.
- Do not injure her.
- Eat properly, take vitamin complexes, which are designed to strengthen cartilage.
- Eat gelatin dishes.
- Exercise regularly for the back.
- Timely treat diseases that contribute to degenerative-dystrophic destruction of the intervertebral discs.
- Do not ignore the symptoms of osteochondrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, intervertebral hernias.
- Do not neglect the treatment of flat feet and scoliosis.
- Follow your posture.
- Regularly visit an orthopedic traumatologist to timely identify the initial stage of pathological processes. And if the first signs are detected, the specialist will tell you what to do when the vertebrae of the lumbar spine are displaced.