The most common type of spine pathology is lumbar osteochondrosis.The highest percentage of patients with lumbar osteochondrosis falls in the age period after 30 years.The disease is caused by the degeneration of the cartilage tissue of the spine and intervertebral discs.The disease is characterized by severe attacks of pain in the lumbar region.
How does osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine occur?
Since most of the body is supported by the pelvic bone, lumbar osteochondrosis is the most common of all types of osteochondrosis.The spine consists of the main cancellous bone tissue and the intervertebral discs that connect the ridge areas.They consist of cartilage tissue, inside which there is a semi-liquid core.The purpose of the intervertebral discs is to act as hinges, allowing the spine to be flexible and bend in different directions.Osteochondrosis affects the circulatory system, when it is disturbed, the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs loses its strength.The process of tissue degeneration begins, the cartilage dries up and becomes brittle, begins to sag and protrude from the spinal column, unable to withstand the constant load of body weight.The affected part of the ridge begins to bend gradually and put pressure on the adjacent nerves, causing severe pain that radiates to the leg.This condition is called lumboischialgia.If left untreated, the patient risks serious consequences, including paralysis of the lower body.
Why is osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine dangerous?
The initial stage of development of lumbar osteochondrosis appearsis in the protrusion, when the intervertebral disc begins to go beyond its limits and acts as a root between the vertebrae.Furthermore, as the disease progresses, the integrity of the fibrous ring is broken, from which a gel-like nucleus emerges, this condition is called an intervertebral hernia.In the process of irritation and pinching of the spinal nerve, the nerve becomes inflamed, which causes severe pain, that is, lumbar osteochondrosis eventually turns into radiculitis.Another consequence that is likely in the absence of therapeutic measures for lumbar osteochondrosis is sciatica.Sciatica is inflammation of the sciatic nerve.In this condition, the patient feels severe pain in the lumbar region, which is reflected by pain in the leg, which may be accompanied by muscle numbness.Due to severe pain, a person tries to avoid pressure on the painful side, bending the spine, which further worsens the circulation of the discs, causing a further process of destruction.Another possible consequence of lumbar osteochondrosis is acquired compression myelopathy, in which the spinal canal narrows due to disc growth, which impairs blood circulation.Due to the acquired instability of the spine, the column begins to hang from the sacral area, affecting the adjacent organs.Women can get problems with the uterus, ovaries, men risk weakening potency.And finally, the most dangerous consequence of lumbar osteochondrosis is the acquisition of cauda equina syndrome.In an advanced form, the disease affects all nerves from the first to the last vertebra, resulting in complete or partial paralysis of the legs and buttocks.
Causes of lumbar osteochondrosis
The reasons why this disease is most often acquired include the following:
- low-intensity physical activity;
- diseases of the thyroid gland, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract;
- high physical activity, weight lifting;
- diseases of the vertebral joints, especially rheumatoid arthritis
- underdevelopment of vertebrae;
- flat feet;
- spinal injuries, especially those in the lumbar and sacral region;
- irregular metabolism;
- degeneration of the spine associated with age-related changes.
The risk group for lumbar osteochondrosis includes people who:
- have a curvature of the spine;
- suffer from obesity and metabolic disorders;
- they are in a bent position for a long time;
- have a hereditary predisposition;
- they are in an environment of increased stress;
- you have sleep disorders, get some rest;
- expose the body to hypothermia;
- are representatives of professions such as loaders, builders, drivers, and they also have specialties related to constant presence on the computer.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
In addition to the pain experienced by patients with lumbar osteochondrosis, especially during periods of severe stress, there are other symptoms of this disease that are manifested in the following:
- dull pain that moves from the source of inflammation to the leg;
- increased pain when lifting something heavy, changing body position, coughing, sneezing;
- when you stay in one position for a long time, blood accumulates in the lesion, and sharp pain occurs at the slightest attempt to change the position;
- constant tension in the back muscles;
- lumbar lumbago at the slightest hypothermia;
- numbness of the thigh, gluteal muscles, lower leg and foot;
- burning sensation in the legs;
- arterial spasm to the point of pulselessness;
- sweat gland pathology;
- drying of the skin in the area of pain and loss of sensitivity.
Description and causes of the disease
Lumbar osteochondrosis occurs for several reasons, one of the main ones being uneven loading of the spine.The disease is characterized by dystrophic lesions in the cartilaginous elements of this part of the spinal column, accompanied by changes in the structure of the intervertebral discs.Experts include the following provoking factors:
- physical inactivity with long-term irregular positions;
- hormonal imbalance;
- congenital problems in the form of leg curvature, dysplasia;
- significant loads on the lumbar region due to heavy lifting, especially among loaders and athletes;
- improper posture;
- injuries;
- heredity;
- poor nutrition.