According to world statistics, about 80% of the adult inhabitants of our vast planet are united by the same health problem - periodically, or even constantly, back pain in the lower back. Low back pain is the main symptom of many diseases of the spine and internal organs located in the abdominal cavity. And it is completely in vain that most of those who experience discomfort in this area, ignoring the doctor and not understanding the reasons, begin intensively applying various ointments and other "home lotions". With these methods, you can easily achieve the opposite result than you expected.
Reasons: determine, exclude
The success of any treatment directly depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis, with the elimination of the symptoms felt, the probability of relapse increases. Subsequently, such treatment can only worsen the situation. Therefore, first of all, you need to carefully check the condition of all organs, symptoms of which can be pain in the lower back.
digestive system
Exacerbations of diseases of the digestive system (pancreatitis, ulcers, colitis, cholecystitis, enteritis, appendicitis) often cause pain in the lower back.
urinary system
Most often, kidney pain is confused with symptoms of diseases of the lumbar spine, as their nature is identical. Diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract of various etiologies are accompanied not only by "indentation" to the lower back, but also by disturbances of urination (increased frequency, discomfort, presence of blood in the urine and its turbidity) and increased body temperature .
reproductive system
With problems with the reproductive organs in men and women in the acute phase, the pain usually radiates to the lower back, tailbone or side. The nature of these pains is often brace without pronounced localization.
If any disease is detected in an organ that is not associated with the musculoskeletal system, it is he who is treated, as he is the real cause of the pain syndrome. If, after a thorough examination, problems with the above organs have not been identified, then the problem is most likely in the spine.
osteochondrosis
The most mobile part of the spine, which assumes most of the loads, is the lumbosacral. With a sedentary lifestyle, excessive stress and insufficient intake of nutrients in the cartilaginous tissues of the spine, degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in the intervertebral cartilage in the lumbar region - osteochondrosis.
Symptoms and stages of the disease
The main alarming symptom of osteochondrosis is pain in the lower back. At the initial stage, it is located and directed to the sacrum, its character is pulling (pain). During this period, the destruction processes affected the nucleus pulposus (its dehydration occurs), as well as the vertebral discs (their standing height decreases). Discomfort is seen with heavy loads, and the pain itself is mild.
After some time, if the problem is ignored and no action is taken, the shots start in the thigh and buttocks. Due to the narrowing of the intervertebral spaces, the muscles and ligaments "give in" and the spine becomes unstable. This leads to loss of sensation and numbness.
The third stage is characterized by morphological changes in the discs, the spine itself is severely deformed, disc protrusion and prolapse develop. The pain at this stage becomes more intense and prolonged. Every movement brings excruciating pain. It is possible to pinch areas of the spinal cord, vessels and nerve endings adjacent to the sore spot due to the fact that the annulus fibrosus protrudes and affects the spinal canal.
The last stage of osteochondrosis of the lumbar "forces" the body to adapt to the changes that have occurred due to the disease in the following way. In order for the supporting and protective functions to be preserved, bone tissue grows in the diseased area. This often leads to various microtraumas and later disability.
Comprehensive approach to treatment
The treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis must necessarily be comprehensive, regardless of the stage of development of the disease. With a mild form, the treatment prognosis is favorable, the deformation processes can be completely stopped and the consequences minimized. At the last stage of the development of the disease, the task of treatment is to eliminate all symptoms and consequences, to normalize the nutrition of the tissues of the spine, to strengthen the muscular corset of the entire back, and its lower part in particular.
Medicines
To relieve pain in lumbar osteochondrosis, analgesics are used in pills or injections, the second option is preferable as it is more effective. To relieve the inflammatory process, anti-inflammatory drugs (non-steroidal) are prescribed. Muscle spasm that occurs simultaneously with pain is eliminated by muscle relaxants. Chondroprotectors are used to restore damaged cartilage tissue.
All these remedies sometimes do not have the desired effect, as the damage prevents the drug from penetrating the site of action.
Blocking is used to relieve an acute attack of pain. Only an expert should carry it out.
A suitable analgesic is injected into the space between the spinous processes with a long needle. After such a procedure, the pain disappears very quickly, but for a while, because there is no therapeutic effect.
Effective use of local complex means - ointments, gels. They have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and warming effect, many topical preparations contain a chondroprotector. These remedies, when used correctly and combined with massage, are quite effective.
physiotherapy procedures
In combination with drug treatment for lumbar osteochondrosis, physiotherapeutic procedures are used - balneotherapy, laser and magnetotherapy, treatment with weak currents, light and vibrations. They practically have no side effects and contraindications.
Alternative methods
Increasingly, alternative (non-traditional) methods are used simultaneously with traditional treatment - hirudotherapy, acupuncture, bee stings, manual therapy. These methods give long-awaited relief, but some of them have contraindications, so consultation with the attending physician is necessary.
In addition to all the above treatment methods, physical therapy helps to overcome the disease. Loads properly distributed at the required intensity will help restore blood circulation to damaged areas, form or strengthen the muscular corset, and thus unload the spine.
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, it is important to correctly combine treatment methods, first of all, attacks of acute pain are relieved, then inflammatory processes, and only when the acute period of the disease ends, non-traditional methods and physical exercises can be used.
Yoga and Pilates complexes have proven to be excellent as rehabilitation programs for spinal disorders.
lumbar spine hernia
Against the background of undertreated or neglected osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, a hernia often develops - a disease in which, due to insufficient physical activity or excessive load, nutrition of the disc tissue occurs, its strength decreases and, as a result, rupture of the disc. disco. The destruction process can drag on for many years and go unnoticed all this time, but with a single unsuccessful movement, the mechanism is triggered and all the symptoms begin to appear one after the other.
General symptoms and course of the disease
Symptoms of a lumbar spine hernia include decreased tendon reflexes, pain of varying intensity, muscle weakness, and numbness in the extremities. Pain with a hernia does not always occur, it is possible back pain, which gradually spreads in the direction of the pinched nerve.
Body distortion is a characteristic sign of a lumbar hernia. This phenomenon occurs involuntarily, as the body needs to find the most comfortable position in which pain is minimal. In the severe and rapidly progressive course of the disease, the consequences can be paralysis of the lower extremities (partial or complete). This phenomenon is usually accompanied by disturbances in the functioning of Organs abdominal organs, in particular the intestines and bladder.
The clinical manifestations of a hernia of the lumbosacral zone are expressed in a constant increase in pain and its intensification during specific physical exertion (weight lifting, bending, strong and sharp muscle tension, cough), uncomfortable pain localized to a point that is not go away, the direction of pain in the buttock or leg, or numbness in that area.
Diagnosis of a hernia of the lumbar spine
It is difficult to diagnose a hernia visually or by the symptoms described by the patient alone. To more accurately determine the presence of the disease, various methods are used that will help to accurately determine the location of the disease. Computed tomography, nuclear magnetic and radiography - thanks to these methods, the doctor will be able to visually determine the location of the pathologically altered vertebra and see the deformed disc.
To determine the severity of the disease and the consequences, doctors use various tests: straight leg lifting, tendon reflexes, sensitivity (reaction) of the leg at all levels (from the toes to the hip joint) to various types of stimuli - pain, vibration and temperature.
treatment methods
Depending on the severity and condition of the patient, different hernia treatment methods are used. In case of exacerbation, first of all, it is necessary to immediately limit motor activity until bed rest and relieve pain with medication. After 5-7 days, when the acute period ends and the pain subsides, drug treatment is supplemented with other restorative procedures (massage, physiotherapy, physical education).
Medical and conservative treatment for lumbar hernia is the same as for osteochondrosis.
Surgery
In the event of a severe course of the disease and the presence of many serious consequences, surgical treatment is advisable.
Indications for surgery:
- kidnapping of a hernia - a part of the disc damaged by a hernia enters the spinal canal;
- dysfunction of all or one organ in the pelvis;
- spinal canal permeability is impaired (determined by MRI);
- lack of results when using a medical and conservative treatment method for three or more months;
- inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
Surgical treatment of a hernia is now performed with the help of sparing and minimally invasive endoscopic operations.
The laser reconstruction method consists of evaporating fluid from the protruding nucleus pulposus by means of a laser. Thanks to this, the nerve root is "released", that is, its compression is eliminated. But this type of intervention has several contraindications, they are early operations on the spine, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthritis, impaired permeability of the spinal canal (stenosis) and protrusion of the nucleus pulposus into the canal.
To remove the damaged part of the intervertebral disc, the percutaneous discectomy method is used. Evaporation and removal of damaged tissues is performed with a needle inserted into the skin.
In the event that it is impossible to restore the damaged disc in any way, starting with medication and ending with a minimally invasive operation, or all the methods used do not bring any results, the deformed disc is replaced by a prosthesis.
Preventive measures
To prevent the progression of the disease, special exercises are prescribed. Exercise complexes should be developed by a specialist individually for each patient and should contain muscle stretching, tension and light aerobic exercises.
With a hernia of the lumbar spine, doctors recommend using a special fastening belt. Externally, it resembles a capsule, its width is about 30 cm, it is attached to the body with Velcro and has varying degrees of rigidity.
This product is needed to evenly distribute the load (from the diseased to the healthy area) and relieve stress (unload). Injured segments of the spine with constant use of the belt are corrected and returned to their anatomical position.
Lumbodynia with radicular syndrome
Against the background of osteochondrosis and hernia of the lumbar spine, as a result, lumbago - lumbar back pain (acute paroxysmal pain) develops. This is the most "simple" scenario. Since hernias and osteochondrosis are characterized by frequent deformation and prolapse of the damaged disc and displacement of the spine, there is a violation of the nearby nerve roots, which is called radicular syndrome.
It is amplified by the violation of the veins, which causes tissue (soft) edema and congestion. The symptoms of lumbodynia with radicular syndrome are similar to the symptoms of a lumbar hernia (sharp shooting pains that radiate downwards, loss of sensation and impaired reflexes), and as this is a consequence, the cause must be treated initially with an integrated approach. , otherwise, the deficiency threatens.
Sciatica
Another consequence of hernia and osteochondrosis is inflammation of the sciatic nerve - sciatica and the pain that radiates to the leg or buttock that accompanies it. Despite the ability to clearly define the "painful" place, the reason lies in the spine.
Sciatica is not an independent disease, this term refers to a series of symptoms that accompany certain diseases of the spine. Pain sensations can be different, in some cases it is just a slight discomfort when staying in the same position not very comfortable for a long time, and sometimes the pain leads to loss of consciousness and painkillers in this case do not help.
For effective treatment, it is not enough to diagnose sciatica or lumbago; in any case, it is necessary to carry out a thorough and comprehensive examination by several specialists and accurately identify the cause, because it is the triggering factor. With the elimination of only a few of the symptoms, the likelihood of progression of the underlying disease and the appearance of many complications increases. Attentive attitude to your health, early recognition of problems and prompt treatment is the key to good health.