According to world statistics, about 80% of adults on our vast planet face the same health problem – periodic or even persistent lower back pain.Low back pain is a cardinal symptom of many disorders of the spine and abdominal visceral organs.Most people who experience discomfort in this area bypass the doctor without understanding the cause and start liberally using various ointments and other "homemade lotions", which is completely futile.With these methods, you can easily achieve the opposite of what you expected.
Reason: confirm, exclude
The success of any treatment depends directly on the accuracy of diagnosis; when symptoms resolve, the likelihood of recurrence increases.Subsequently, such treatment only makes the situation worse.Therefore, it is first necessary to carefully check the condition of each organ, the symptom of which may be pain in the lower back.
digestive system
Exacerbation of diseases of the digestive system (pancreatitis, ulcers, colitis, cholecystitis, enteritis, appendicitis) often causes pain in the lower back.
urinary system
Most often, kidney pain is mistaken for a symptom of lumbar spine disease, since they are identical in nature.Diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract of various origins can lead not only to "kickback" in the waist, but also to urinary disorders (frequent urination, discomfort, the presence of blood and cloudiness in the urine) and to an increase in body temperature.
reproductive system
When there are problems with male and female reproductive organs in the acute stage, pain often radiates to the waist, tailbone or sides.These pains are often circumcised in nature and have no obvious localization.
If any organ disease is detected that is not related to the musculoskeletal system, this organ should be treated, since this is the real cause of the pain syndrome.If no problems are found with the above organs after a thorough examination, then there is likely a problem with the spine.
osteochondrosis
The most flexible part of the spine is the lumbosacral region, which bears most of the load.Osteochondrosis, a degenerative and dystrophic change in the lumbar intervertebral cartilage, occurs due to a sedentary lifestyle, overloading and insufficient nutrient supply to the spinal cartilage tissue.
Symptoms and stages of disease
The main symptom of osteochondrosis is lower back pain.It is initially localized to the sacrum and is characterized by traction (soreness).During this time, the destructive process affects the nucleus pulposus (dehydration occurs) and the intervertebral disc (its standing height decreases).Discomfort occurs with heavy loading, and the pain itself is mild.
After a while, if the problem is ignored and no action is taken, the low back pain will begin to radiate to the thighs and buttocks.As the intervertebral spaces narrow and muscles and ligaments "sag," the spine becomes unstable.This causes loss of sensation and numbness.
The third stage is characterized by changes in the shape of the intervertebral disc, severe deformation of the spine itself, and the occurrence of disc herniation and prolapse.The pain during this stage becomes more severe and persistent.Every movement brought excruciating pain.As the annulus fibrosus protrudes and affects the spinal canal, areas of the spinal cord, blood vessels, and nerve endings near the site of pain may become compressed.
The final stages of lumbar osteochondrosis "force" the body to adapt to the changes that occur due to the disease in the following ways.In order to retain its supporting and protective functions, bone tissue grows over the diseased area.This often results in various microtraumas that can lead to disability.
Comprehensive treatment approach
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis must be comprehensive, regardless of the stage of disease progression.In mild cases, treatment has a good prognosis; the deformation process can be completely stopped and the consequences minimized.In the final stages of the disease, the goal of treatment is to eliminate all symptoms and consequences, normalize the nutrition of spinal tissues and strengthen the muscle bundles of the entire back, especially the lower part.
drug
To relieve the pain of lumbar osteochondrosis, tablet or injectable analgesics are available; the second option is better because it is more effective.To relieve the inflammatory process, anti-inflammatory drugs (non-steroidal) are taken.Muscle relaxants can eliminate muscle spasms that occur along with pain.Chondroprotectants are used to restore damaged cartilage tissue.
All the above remedies sometimes do not have the desired effect because damage prevents the drug from penetrating to the site of action.
To relieve acute pain attacks, blockers may be used.It can only be performed by experts.
Use a long needle to inject an appropriate analgesic into the space between the spinous processes.After such an operation, the pain disappears quickly but persists for a while because there is no therapeutic effect.
The use of local complex products - ointments, gels - is effective.They have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and warming effects; many topical preparations contain chondroprotective agents.These treatments are very effective when used properly and combined with massage.
physical therapy procedures
In conjunction with the medical treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis, physical therapy methods are used - balneotherapy, laser and magnetic therapy, weak current, light and vibration therapy.They have few side effects or contraindications.
Alternative method
Increasingly, alternative (non-traditional) methods are used alongside traditional treatments - leech therapy, acupuncture, bee stings, manual therapy.These methods provide long-awaited relief, but some of them have contraindications, so consultation with a doctor is required.
In addition to all the treatments mentioned above, physical therapy can also help in overcoming the disease.Appropriate distribution of the load of the required intensity will help restore blood circulation to the damaged area, form or strengthen muscle bundles, and thereby reduce the load on the spine.
When treating osteochondrosis, it is important to correctly combine treatments that first relieve acute pain, then the inflammatory process, and only after the acute phase of the disease is over can non-traditional methods and physical exercises be introduced.
The yoga and Pilates complex has proven to be an excellent rehabilitation program for spinal disorders.
Lumbar hernia
Hernias often occur against the background of untreated or neglected lumbar osteochondrosis - due to insufficient physical activity or excessive pressure, nutrition of the intervertebral disc tissue occurs, its strength decreases, which leads to disc rupture.The process of destruction may go on for many years and remain ignored, but with one unsuccessful move the mechanism is set in motion and all the symptoms begin to appear one after another.
General symptoms and course of disease
Symptoms of lumbar hernia include weakened tendon reflexes, varying degrees of pain, muscle weakness, and numbness in the limbs.Pain from a hernia doesn't always occur.Lower back pain is possible, gradually spreading in the direction of the pinched nerve.
Body distortion is a typical symptom of lumbar disc herniation.This phenomenon occurs involuntarily because the body needs to find the most comfortable position with the least pain.In severe, rapidly progressive disease, the consequence may be paralysis (partial or complete) of the lower limbs.This phenomenon is often accompanied by disturbances in the function of the abdominal organs, especially the intestines and bladder.
The clinical manifestations of lumbosacral hernia are that the pain continues to increase and intensifies during specific physical activities (weightlifting, bending, sudden strong muscle tension, coughing), there is a dull pain at a certain point in the local area that does not disappear, the direction of the pain is the buttocks or legs, or numbness in this area.
Diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation
Hernias are difficult to diagnose with the naked eye or based solely on the symptoms described by the patient.To more accurately determine the presence of disease, a variety of methods are used to help pinpoint the location of the disease.Computed tomography, MRI, and radiography – With the help of these methods, doctors will be able to clearly identify the location of diseased vertebrae and see deformed discs.
To determine the severity and consequences of the disease, doctors use several tests: straight leg raise, tendon reflexes, sensitivity (reaction) to several stimuli (pain, vibration and temperature) at all levels of the leg (from toes to hip joints).
Treatment
Different methods of treating hernias are used depending on the severity and condition of the patient.If the condition worsens, you first need to immediately limit physical activity until bed rest, and use medication to relieve pain.After 5-7 days, when the acute phase is over and the pain subsides, medical treatment is supplemented by other recovery procedures (massage, physiotherapy, sports).
Medication and conservative treatment for lumbar hernia are the same as for osteochondrosis.
Operation
If the condition is severe and has many serious consequences, surgical treatment is recommended.
Indications for surgical intervention:
- Hernia Isolation - The area of the disc damaged by the hernia enters the spinal canal;
- Dysfunction of all or one organ in the pelvis;
- Impaired patency of the spinal canal (determined using MRI);
- Drugs and conservative treatments have been used for three months or more but still have no effect;
- Inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
Today, surgical treatment of hernias is performed through mild, minimally invasive endoscopic procedures.
The laser reconstruction method involves using a laser to evaporate fluid from the herniated nucleus pulposus.In this way, the nerve root is "released", that is, its compression is eliminated.However, there are many contraindications to this type of intervention, such as early spinal surgery, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthritis, spinal canal obstruction (stenosis), and herniation of the nucleus pulposus into the spinal canal.
To remove the damaged portion of the disc, percutaneous discectomy is performed.Damaged tissue is vaporized and removed by inserting a needle into the skin.
If nothing from medications to minimally invasive surgery can restore the damaged disc, or all methods are ineffective, the deformed disc is replaced with a prosthesis.
Precautions
To prevent the progression of the disease, special exercises are required.The specialist must develop a set of exercises individually for each patient and must include exercises for muscle stretching, toning and light aerobic exercise.
For lumbar herniation, doctors recommend wearing special straps.From the appearance, it looks like a capsule, about 30 cm wide, fixed to the body with Velcro, and has a certain degree of rigidity.
The product is needed to evenly distribute the load (from diseased to healthy areas) and relieve tension (unloading).By continuing to wear the belt, the injured portion of the spine is corrected and returned to its anatomical position.
Low back pain with radicular syndrome
In the context of osteochondrosis and lumbar hernia, low back pain can develop into lumbar pain (acute paroxysmal pain).This is the "easiest" scenario.Since hernias and osteochondrosis are characterized by deformation and frequent prolapse of damaged discs and displacement of the spine, extrusion of nearby nerve roots, termed radicular syndrome, is observed.
This condition can be aggravated by venous compression, causing tissue (soft) swelling and congestion.The symptoms of low back pain with radicular syndrome are similar to those of a lumbar hernia (sharp stabbing pain radiating downward, loss of sensitivity, and impaired reflexes), and since this is the result, the cause must be treated first with a comprehensive approach, otherwise disability may result.
sciatica
Another consequence of hernias and osteochondrosis is inflammation of the sciatic nerve - sciatica and accompanying pain radiating down the leg or buttocks.Although the location of the "pain" can be clearly identified, the cause lies in the spine.
Sciatica is not a stand-alone disease; the term refers to a collection of symptoms that accompany certain spinal conditions.The sensation of pain can vary, in some cases it is just mild discomfort from staying in the same uncomfortable position for a long time, sometimes the pain can lead to loss of consciousness and analgesics will not help in this case.
For effective treatment, simply diagnosing sciatica or low back pain is not enough; in any case, a comprehensive and comprehensive examination by doctors from various specialists is required to pinpoint the cause, since it is the triggering factor.By eliminating some symptoms, the likelihood of progression of the underlying disease and the development of its many complications increases.Paying attention to your own health, identifying problems early and treating them promptly are the keys to good health.