Spinal health is the foundation for the normal functioning of the musculoskeletal system.There are many diseases that destroy the structure of the vertebrae and surrounding tissues.This article describes the symptoms and treatment of lumbar osteoarthritis.
Spine structure
Before talking about osteoarthritis, you need to understand how the spine works.I will say a few words about this.
The spine consists of vertebrae, between which there are cartilaginous discs.Thanks to them, a person can bend and turn.The entire spine is S-shaped, giving it elasticity.
The intervertebral disc consists of a nucleus pulposus surrounded by a fibrous ring.It is the destruction of the intervertebral disc that causes osteonecrosis.
Clinical picture of lumbar spondylosis
Lumbar spondylosis is a damage to the vertebrae, intervertebral discs and surrounding tissues, which progresses over a long period of time, often becoming chronic.The disease is often complicated by disc herniation, neuritis and other unpleasant pathologies.
Clinical manifestations of the disease vary at different stages.There are 4 main stages of development of lumbar osteoarthritis:
- Stage I. Symptoms are eliminated.In most cases, mild pain in the lower back or buttocks is cause for concern, gradually increasing with physical activity.Patients tend to attribute symptoms to fatigue.
- Phase II.The annulus fibrosus begins to be destroyed, the distance between the vertebrae decreases.During this stage, nerve endings may be compressed, characterized by a feeling of “severe pain”.At this stage, the symptoms are obvious, so the patient goes to a medical facility.
- III.At this stage, the annulus fibrosus is significantly destroyed and intervertebral herniation may occur.Constant pain.
- IV.The spine is seriously deformed.The patient has difficulty moving.Irreversible disorder leading to disability.Lumbar osteoarthritis develops under unfavorable conditions: physical activity, hypothermia, forced professional postures.
Symptoms and signs
Description of the clinical picture tells a little about the symptoms, but not about all of them.Signs of lumbar osteoarthritis are very diverse:
- Painful.The most common symptom of the disease.In the early stages, the pain is mild and gradually increases with exercise.In the following stages, the pain becomes stronger and does not subside without painkillers.Characterized by sharp painful “blows” - short, unbearable pain.
- Temperature.When lumbar cartilage degeneration is accompanied by inflammation of the nerves or surrounding tissues, increased temperature appears.Normally it does not exceed 38°C.
- Nutritional ulcers.They occur when there is a disruption in the nutrition of the tissues surrounding the spine due to compression of blood vessels.
- Characteristic pose.The person takes a position in which he feels the least pain and almost always stays in this position.
- Change in position of the spine: scoliosis, kyphosis, etc.
- Limited movement.Occurs in the last two stages of lumbar osteoarthritis.Numbness of limbs.As osteonecrosis progresses, numbness of the limbs may occur.This is due to compression of certain nerves in the lumbar region.Symptoms appear from stage 2 of the disease.
Lumbar osteonecrosis is characterized by an increase in symptoms, depending on the progression of the disease.
Reason
Many patients believe that the only cause of lumbar osteoarthritis is improper physical activity.This opinion is fundamentally wrong.In fact, there are more than a dozen factors that can cause the development of the disease:
- Genetic predisposition.This factor is given top priority, because if it exists, nothing can be done.All that remains is supportive therapy and treatment.
- Poor posture during the period of active growth.This can happen due to poor posture at the desk or carrying a school bag on one shoulder.
- Excess weight is a constant companion of osteoarthritis.Under the weight of extra pounds, the intervertebral discs are destroyed, which leads to the appearance of diseases.
- Injury.They can be household, professional, sports.
- Endocrine diseases.Metabolic failure is a common cause of disc destruction.
- Sedentary lifestyle.Insufficient movement and physical activity will lead to muscular dystrophy, leading to increased stress on the spine.
- Heavy work puts strain on your back.
- Congenital malformations of the spine.
- When combining many stimulating factors, the disease will develop faster.
Diagnose
Diagnosing lumbar spondylosis is quite simple, especially in clinics with modern equipment.Diagnosis is performed in the following sequence: survey, inspection, test order and hardware test.
Diagnosis begins with collecting historical data.The doctor clarifies the patient's age (this is very important), the time when the first symptoms appeared and the working conditions.Based on the information collected, the specialist can draw conclusions about the cause of the disease.
Next, the doctor conducts an examination.The doctor feels the spine and asks the patient to perform some movements: bending, stretching, and turning.Based on this, it is possible to determine the degree of limitation of the patient in motor activities.
Tests are done to rule out bone tuberculosis and some other diseases.From the blood, a specialist can assess the presence of inflammation.
X-ray examination is an accessible and informative way to determine the presence of osteonecrosis.Usually, photos are taken in two projections.But in some cases, X-ray images can be obtained in the form of additional projections or overview images of a specific area of the spine.
Magnetic resonance imaging.Examination of the spine with this device is the gold standard for diagnosing osteoarthritis.This procedure helps determine annulus fibrosus destruction, spina bifida, displacement of individual vertebrae, and more.
Treatment
Osteoarthritis may be treated by an orthopedist, neurologist, or spine specialist.It depends on the cause of this disease.
Treatment varies significantly depending on the stage of the disease.
Orthopedists are required to improve the condition of the spine and correct misalignments (if possible).Proper massage will increase blood supply to the spine area.Physical therapy and wearing a corset will correct the signs of scoliosis (this is especially important for children).Medication is needed to replenish the supply of substances necessary for the building of disc tissue.
In the second stage of the disease, intensive drug treatment is indicated.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be used as prescribed to reduce inflammation.For severe pain, strong painkillers are prescribed.Muscle relaxants will help reduce muscle tension.
In rare cases, anticonvulsants and antidepressants may be prescribed.
Additional treatment includes the use of physiotherapy, exercise, massage (if this does not aggravate the patient's condition).
The third stage of the disease is characterized by destructive processes of the intervertebral disc.For hernias, surgical treatment is indicated.Medical treatment is the same as in the second stage of the disease.
With significant destruction of the intervertebral disc in the fourth stage of the disease, restoration with artificial implants is possible.In the postoperative period, drug treatment and additional treatments are carried out.
Treatment of symptoms and signs of osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine should occur only with the participation of a specialist.Self-medication is unacceptable.
Complications of lumbar osteoarthritis
Complications of lumbar spondylosis are mainly associated with the formation of hernias between the vertebrae, which negatively affects the spinal cord and neighboring tissues.
Below is a list of the most common complications:
- Numbness in limbs or back muscles.Occurs due to spinal compression.
- Urinary and defecation disorders (to the point of complete loss of urge).
- Nutritional ulcers.
- Depression.It seems like this cannot be a complicated problem.But in reality, constant pain leads to mood changes.There have even been cases of suicide on this basis.Complications of lumbar osteoarthritis arise due to inadequate treatment or non-compliance with the treatment regimen.As a rule, with timely treatment, complications will not arise.
Risk group
There are people at high risk of developing lumbar osteoarthritis.These individuals are at risk.
People who have relatives with similar diseases should take care of their spine.
The risk group includes obese patients.Excess weight puts a lot of pressure on the discs.People with a sedentary lifestyle are also at high risk.
There is no doubt that athletes should take care of their spine.At the same time, it doesn't matter what sport they play.
The spine must be protected if the job requires lifting heavy objects or being in uncomfortable positions for long periods of time.
Prevention of lumbar spondylosis
Treatment of osteoarthritis requires a long time, the disease is often chronic.That is why preventing spinal diseases is of great importance.
To avoid problems with the lumbar spine, it is necessary to adhere to a regime of physical activity and rest.The load on the spine should be uniform and not excessive.Rest should be regular and preferably in a lying position.
If you are overweight, you need to lose it.
Preventive measures include timely treatment of endocrine diseases and postural disorders (especially for children).
Spinal problems significantly reduce the quality of life, so you need to pay attention to even minor pain or discomfort in this area.