How is chondrosis of the lumbar spine manifested? Symptoms, treatment, signs of the disease will be discussed below. You will also learn how this disease is diagnosed, why it even develops.
basic information
How to treat lumbar chondrosis, and what is this disease? You will receive answers to these questions in the materials of this article.
Chondrosis is a disease that is associated with degenerative-dystrophic destruction of cartilage in the intervertebral discs located in different parts of the spine. This disease is the initial stage of osteochondrosis. The latter develops if destructive processes spread and pass to nearby bones and tissues.
So what is chondrosis of the lumbar spine (symptoms, treatment are presented below)? The main difference between this disease and osteochondrosis is that such a pathology develops, but does not go beyond the cartilage tissue of the joints.
Features of the disease
What to do if you develop chondrosis of the lumbar spine? Symptoms, treatment of this disease should be identified and determined only by an experienced doctor. At the first signs of the disease, you should immediately consult a specialist. This is due to the fact that with untimely treatment, dystrophic pathology can lead to thinning of cartilage discs and, as a result, to the subsequent transformation of the hyaline structure into a fibrous one.
It should be noted that the gradual development of the disease in question causes the formation of fibrous tissue type, as well as ossification and calcification of the cartilaginous layers that are adjacent to the vertebrae. As a result of this pathological process, a rather serious lesion of the intervertebral discs can occur.
Causes of the disease
Why does this disease occur? What are its reasons? Chondrosis of the lumbar spine (symptoms, treatment of the disease are known to few) develops due to:
- overweight, obesity;
- age features (more often in people over 53 years old);
- frequent and severe psychological stress;
- abnormal posture;
- lifting weights, especially with weak muscles;
- hypothermia of the lower back or the whole body;
- heavy work with dynamic and static overloads;
- abnormal diet and diet;
- hypotension;
- uneven muscle load from different sides;
- frequent being in an uncomfortable position;
- diseases leading to abnormal nutrition of the vertebral discs;
- congenital or acquired pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.
Clinic
How does chondrosis of the lumbar spine begin? Symptoms (only a doctor should determine the treatment of the disease) this disease does not immediately concern patients. The development of chondrosis begins with a decrease in the turgor of the fibrous ring and the gelatinous nucleus, which subsequently leads to a protrusion of the disk forward and a change in its shape (makes it slightly slanted). Such a pathological process is determined only by x-ray.
According to experts, discs that have lost turgor are subject to overload, which leads to microtrauma and accelerate nuclear atrophy. Thus, dense and loose fibrous tissues grow and gradually form a flattening of the cartilage. In this case, the disk height is significantly reduced. There is also a displacement of the vertebrae. The load on them increases, which leads to the gradual formation of arthrosis.
In the process of all dystrophic changes, a person begins to feel a strong pain in the lower back.
Chondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms
Treatment, diagnosis of the disease in question are carried out only by experienced specialists. After all, improper and untimely therapy of this disease can aggravate the patient's difficult situation.
So how is chondrosis of the lumbar spine manifested? Symptoms (treatment of the disease described below) of this disease depend on the stage of its development. Experts say that they can manifest themselves with varying degrees of severity.
At the very beginning of the disease, its symptoms appear only after a significant load (physical). In this case, a person feels lower back pain, which can go to the legs, buttocks and sacral region.
The transition of the disease to other stages almost always leads to the development of more pronounced sensations. As a rule, they are noted in the process of walking up the stairs, with a long stay in an uncomfortable position, sneezing, severe coughing and so on.
Also, a person feels problems with the lower back in the morning, after getting out of bed. To bring their condition back to normal, patients need a little workout.
Other symptoms
How else is chondrosis of the lumbar spine manifested? Symptoms (treatment, signs of the disease are described in this article) in the form of pain occur when trying to bend or straighten the body. The patient also has numbness of the lower extremities.
At stages 3 and 4, the patient manifests more serious symptoms. These include violations in the work of the genitourinary organs, protrusion, vascular pathology of the legs, hernia, abnormal bowel function.
The acute type of this disease is usually triggered by hypothermia or a rise in gravity. At the same time, it manifests itself with severe pain, which gives to the buttock and sacral region. Such sensations are amplified in the process of fast walking or long standing.
As for the chronic disease, it is characterized by prolonged aching lower back pain, which becomes more intense with bending and physical exertion.
How is it diagnosed?
Chondrosis is diagnosed quite easily. First, doctors interrogate and examine the patient, and then refer him to general tests. Also, the patient is prescribed an MRI and an x-ray of the lumbar region. These research methods are quite enough to detect dystrophic changes.
Chondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms, treatment
The medicine for the treatment of the disease in question should be prescribed by the doctor only after the correct diagnosis.
As mentioned above, with chondrosis, a person experiences rather severe lumbar pain. At the same time, they can give to the lower limbs and pelvis. Therefore, first of all, the patient should ensure complete rest (including bed rest).
To reduce pain, the patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and potent analgesics, which are administered intramuscularly. Also, an ointment with a warming and analgesic effect can be recommended to the patient. These creams include Ketonal, Indomethacin, Nurofen, Voltaren and Fastum. The main goal of these ointments is to transfer the attack to the stage of remission. During this period, the entire treatment of the disease is aimed at normalizing blood supply and metabolism, suppressing pain, strengthening muscle and repairing damaged tissues. This may require the following techniques:
- Drug treatment (taking painkillers, using ointments, as well as NSAIDs, vitamin complexes, sedatives and antispasmodics).
- Physiotherapy, including electrophoresis, electromagnetic methods, laser therapy, vibration, magnetic wave methods, ultraviolet radiation.
- Massotherapy.
- Manual methods, including spinal traction, relaxation massage, visceral therapy.
- Physiotherapy.