What is osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine?

The article tells about what osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is in simple words: this information will allow you to understand what happens when the intervertebral discs are destroyed and how to carry out effective and safe treatment.

According to medical statistics, more than 70% of the modern population knows what osteochondrosis is.A sedentary lifestyle, lack of regular physical activity, excess caloric intake in the diet with a deficiency of essential microelements and vitamins - all this and much more leads to the fact that the intervertebral discs begin to deteriorate at an early age.First a dull, discrete pain appears and then a sharp, persistent pain in the lumbar region.A person cannot move independently;any movement causes severe pain and discomfort.The innervation of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis is disturbed.

To understand what spinal osteochondrosis is, it is necessary to have an idea of its structure and functions.Let's start with the second question.So, the spine is the supporting part of the human skeleton.The upper shoulder girdle, lower limbs, chest and skull are attached to it.The most important function of the spine is to ensure the safety of the spinal cord - the central part of the autonomic nervous system, which ensures the functioning of the entire human body.

Anatomically, the spine consists of two structural parts: the vertebral bodies with the arcuate and spinous processes and the intervertebral discs.The vertebral bodies represent between 70% and 75% of the height of the spine and the intervertebral discs (depending on the patient's age) - between 25 and 30%.The shape of the intervertebral disc follows the shape of the vertebral body and the arcuate processes.The disc ensures an even distribution of the shock-absorbing load transmitted from the lower extremities and other parts of the body.It also provides protection to the root nerves leaving the spinal cord.

What is lumbar osteochondrosis?It is a degenerative dystrophic destruction of the cartilage tissue of the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral discs L5-L4, L4-L3, L3-L2, L2-L1.In total, the lumbar region contains five vertebral bodies and 4 intervertebral discs that separate them.The radicular nerves, responsible for the innervation of the following parts of the body, depart through the foraminal orifices of the vertebral bodies:

• L1 and L2 – abdominal organs and upper thigh;
• L3 – genitals, knees and bladder;
• L4 – legs, feet and prostate;
• L5 – toes, legs, feet.

The branches of these root nerves form the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the gluteal region to the popliteal fossa.There it divides into the tibial and fibula branches and further innervates the lower leg and foot.Additionally, the individual branches of the radicular nerves of the lumbar spine are part of a nerve plexus called the cauda equina.

With the development of osteochondrosis, a gradual disturbance of innervation occurs.Diseases of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis may develop.In severe cases, atrophy of the muscle fibers of the lower extremities, partial paresis of the legs, etc. develops.

You can find more information about what osteochondrosis is, what its symptoms and treatment are in this article.Below are some tips on what to do when such a diagnosis is made and which doctor you should contact to undergo fully effective treatment.

What is osteochondrosis and what are its causes?

Modern science knows the answers to the questions about what osteochondrosis is and what its causes are, but, unfortunately, applying this knowledge in practice for effective prevention and treatment is difficult because the patient will have to do everything possible to combat the disease.

Anatomically and physiologically, the body of the intervertebral disc is made up of almost 80% fluid.It is this circumstance that allows the shock-absorbing load to be effectively distributed over the surface of the separated vertebral bodies.But neither the annulus fibrosus nor the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc have their own capillary network.That's why there is no blood supply here.All intakes of liquid and the necessary components dissolved in it occur through diffuse exchange.It is performed only if adequate physical tension is applied to the surrounding muscles.If the muscular structure of the back and lower back does not work, diffuse nutrition stops.

Pathology begins to develop:

• Firstly, the annulus fibrosus simply dehydrates and loses its elasticity;
• then its surface begins to undergo primary destruction, resulting in inflammation (exacerbation of osteochondrosis) and deposition of calcium salts to restore the integrity of damaged tissues;
• the film of calcifications prevents further diffuse nutrition, therefore, even with the active work of the surrounding muscles, spontaneous restoration of the annulus fibrosus tissue does not occur;
• The next stage is the collection of fluid from the nucleus pulposus located inside the annulus fibrosus;
• at this stage, the nucleus pulposus loses its mass, stops evenly distributing the shock absorption load, and the height of the intervertebral disc decreases;
• in the protrusion stage, the intervertebral disc extends beyond the vertebral bodies and begins to put pressure on the surrounding soft tissues and root nerves, this causes constant pain and stiffness of movement;
• The third stage is the rupture of the annulus fibrosus (extrusion) and the release of part of the nucleus pulposus to the outside (herniated disc).

What reasons can cause the development of this spinal pathology:

1. lack of adequate and regular physical activity in the muscular structure of the back and lumbar area;
2. inadequate organization of sleeping and working spaces when they are located in which the microcirculation of blood and lymphatic fluid in the spinal area is disturbed;
3. disturbance of metabolic processes in the body, the first sign of which is excess body weight;
4. poor posture and curvature of the spine, resulting in a change in the distribution of shock absorption load along the spine;
5. maintaining a sedentary lifestyle and sedentary work;
6. endocrine diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus with accompanying angiopathy;
7. Back injuries (ligament and tendon sprains, muscle tears, displacements and subluxations of vertebral bodies, compression fractures and cracks).

There are other reasons, but they are less common and do not pose as pronounced a danger as those listed above.

What is lumbar osteochondrosis?

In general terms, what the disease osteochondrosis is is explained above.Now let's look a little into the question of what lumbar osteochondrosis is and why it is so common.In recent decades, the disease has become increasingly younger.If it was previously diagnosed in people who had passed the threshold of 40 years of age, now the first signs of degenerative dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs are found not only in people aged 20 years, but also in adolescents between 14 and 16 years old.

Of course, expanding the possibilities of early diagnosis plays an important role in this.With the advent of MRI tests, the first cases of the disease began to be detected more frequently.Therefore, patients used to know about intervertebral osteochondrosis due to the appearance of severe pain.And now, by conducting examinations, it is possible to detect pathology at an early stage of development.

The lumbar area is the most vulnerable place in the spine.This is where the maximum shock absorption load occurs when performing any body movement.During pregnancy, important changes occur with displacement of the vertebral bodies, changes in posture and widening of the intervertebral spaces.Therefore, pregnancy for a woman is almost always the period during which the spine begins to deteriorate.

What is second degree spinal osteochondrosis?This is a condition in which persistent clinical manifestations already appear and the patient is forced to seek medical help.As a rule, at the second stage of the development of degenerative dystrophic pathology, a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc and thinning of the annulus fibrosus tissue is observed.

What is osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region? 

What osteochondrosis of the sacral region is can only be felt by patients under 25 years of age.At this age, complete fusion of the vertebral bodies of the sacral spine occurs.Atrophy of the intervertebral discs.Therefore, clinical signs of inflammation can indicate completely different pathologies.

Much more often the question is what lumbosacral osteochondrosis is, since it affects the intervertebral disc located between the sacral and lumbar regions.This is L5-S1: it represents the conditional center of gravity of the human body and the maximum physical and shock absorption load.

It is important to understand what osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region is and how it can be treated effectively.First of all, all possible causes of pathology must be excluded.Then it is necessary to strengthen the tone of the muscles surrounding the lower back.Treatment is best carried out through manual therapy and therapeutic exercises.

Signs and symptoms of osteochondrosis.

Now you understand what spinal osteochondrosis is, and when its symptoms appear, you will be able to identify and eliminate the possible cause of pathological changes.

Many patients ask what the signs of osteochondrosis are on x-rays and in the results of an MRI examination.Thus, on the images the doctor can see cracks on the surface of the annulus fibrosus, a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc and a change in its shape.These are the primary signs of osteochondrosis.

Clinical symptoms include: 

• pain in the lumbar region;
• extension of pain along the surface of the thigh, leg and foot;
• decreased muscle strength in the lower extremities;
• change in posture by straightening the physiological curve of the spine in the lumbar region;
• rigidity of movements and limitation of their amplitude;
• Muscle tension in the lumbar region.

In advanced cases, numbness of the lower extremities, seizures, lumbago, etc. may appear.

What is polysegmental or common osteochondrosis?

The question of what polysegmental osteochondrosis is can be answered briefly.These are degenerative dystrophic changes that affect not one, but several intervertebral discs.The same can be said about how common osteochondrosis of the spine is.This is a condition in which pathological changes are detected not in one, but in several parts of the spine.For example, if a person only has two affected lumbar discs, then this is a polysegmental form of the disease.If a disc is affected in the lumbar and lumbosacral regions, then this is a common form.

What is radicular osteochondrosis (in simple language)?

And now a few words about what radicular osteochondrosis is and why this condition is dangerous for human health.So, speaking in simple terms about what it is: osteochondrosis, you can see that it is literally a flattening of the lining between the vertebral bodies.

When moving or in a static position of the body, due to the action of gravity, colossal pressure is observed on the spine.Each overlying vertebra exerts pressure on the lower one.The intervertebral discs that separate them are compressed.If they do not have enough liquid, they lose the ability to resist and are subject to flattening.At the same time, they lose the ability to provide sufficient height of the intervertebral space so that the root nerves extending from the spinal cord are not subject to compression.

If the disc has lost its height and shape, the root nerve becomes compressed.Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome occurs.It is accompanied by pronounced neurological manifestations in the form of numbness, paresis, paralysis, decreased muscle strength, the appearance of paresthesia, etc.

Effective treatment of osteochondrosis.

We have found out what osteochondrosis is and now we can talk about effective treatment of the disease.As it already became clear, for the complete restoration of the intervertebral discs, it is necessary to restore the disturbed diffuse nutrition of the cartilaginous tissue of the annulus fibrosus.This can only be done with the help of manual therapy and therapeutic exercises.There are no pharmacological drugs that can restore diffuse nutrition of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs.And injecting chondroprotectors in the absence of diffuse metabolism is useless.They do not penetrate cartilage tissue.

For effective treatment it is necessary:

• change your lifestyle, make it more active with sufficient physical activity and proper diet;
• avoid extreme physical activity on the back muscles;
• perform various spinal traction procedures to restore the physiological height of the intervertebral spaces;
• visit an osteopath to restore the elasticity of cartilage tissue and its ability to diffuse exchange with muscle tissue;
• perform several massage sessions to improve the permeability and elasticity of tissues, restore microcirculation of blood and lymphatic fluid;
• Develop an individual course of therapeutic exercises with a vertebrologist.

Physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy, laser therapy and much more are also indicated.Treatment of osteochondrosis should be carried out under the supervision of a vertebrologist or neurologist.