Lumbar cartilage degeneration is one of the most common forms of the underlying disease, which is osteoarthritis.Lumbar osteoarthritis, the symptoms of which are identified equally in both men and women, presents as pain concentrated in the sacral region, reflected in lower extremity symptoms, often independently defined by the patient as “lumbar nerve compression.”
General description
Most often, the form of osteoarthritis under consideration develops against the background of back injuries and a sedentary lifestyle;Accordingly, people whose specific occupational activities involve loads affecting the back are automatically at risk of developing this disease.And of course, these are not only office workers, who belong to this group, but also porters, construction workers, service workers (such as waiters), drivers, etc.
Genetic factors also play an important role in the context of considering thoracic osteochondrosis.Here, not much, not less, but about a 60% chance if a loved one has the disease.The rest is influenced by environmental factors that, to one degree or another, affect the spine.
Lumbar cartilage degeneration, like its other forms, is characterized by pain of varying severity, can be aching, occurs after sleep or after being in the same position for a long time (when sitting, standing for a long time), as well as when shooting and aching.In the second version, they arise due to long-term adoption of an uncomfortable posture and at the same time the inability to perform actions aimed at standing upright in such a situation, thereby eliminating the posture along with the load it brings.The pain itself arises due to compression under the corresponding influence of the nerve roots, as well as irritation of the nerves in the spine, irritation of the ligaments and muscles (concentrated in the area of innervation, that is, the actual location of the nerves of the area that controls it) and swelling.
It is important to note that in isolated form, this type of osteoarthritis is extremely rare, and therefore most often the course of the disease is combined with the inherent symptoms of cervical osteoarthritis, which we will consider in the next article.
The general and earliest symptom, associated with all forms of osteoarthritis, as we have already noted, is the manifestation of pain, which in this case is determined by a specific location, i.e. pain in the lumbar region.Spreading (irradiation) of pain can be noted in the thighs and buttocks, as well as in the legs (from their outer surface).
The term used to define chondrosis in its more extended version (degenerative-dystrophic lesion), in relation to the intervertebral disc, actually implies a diverse complex of pathological conditions directly related to different types of structures of the vertebral column (spinal column), specifically the intervertebral discs, joints and osteophytes.Similar problems directly related to disc damage are disc protrusion and pain.Types of osteonecrosis and areas of focus.
Protrusions in lumbar osteoarthritis
These protrusions in our area of interest develop most frequently;Furthermore, the protruding parts themselves cause pain in the lower back.The lumbar region itself, due to its location and characteristics, is most susceptible to the appearance of certain functional problems.
That is, considering this statement from one side, we can emphasize that our center of gravity is specifically directly related to the lumbar region and, therefore, it bears a significant part of the load.When viewed from the other side, one can notice that a significant range of movements falls precisely on this lumbar region.Taking this into account, the greatest tendency for damage (as well as the protrusions we are interested in) occurs precisely on the intervertebral discs concentrated in the lumbar region.In addition, we must not forget that changes in the intervertebral disc in this and, of course, other areas also occur due to age-related degenerative processes.
Let us remind our readers what protrusions actually are.The connection of intervertebral discs to each other in the spine is ensured by intervertebral discs based on cartilage tissue.The main components of the intervertebral disc are the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus, thereby ensuring fixation within the disc.The influence of certain factors and conditions will cause the possibility of rupture of this ring, leading to nuclear protrusion to occur.As a result of this process, a hernia develops.As for the protrusion, it has grown by a similar process, but without accompanying ring rupture - in this case it has only thinned, not broken, because the nucleus protrudes directly through the ring.In fact, this protrusion is defined as an overhang.
As for protruding symptoms, it manifests itself as follows:
- feeling of stiffness in the lower back;
- pain in the lumbar region;
- chronic back pain;
- lumbosacral radiculitis;
- numbness, pain, tingling in toes and feet;
- urinary dysfunction (in rare cases of the mentioned pathology).
Conservative treatment is mainly used for lumbar disc protrusion.Meanwhile, significant protrusions during development are often accompanied by severe symptoms that are difficult to treat;In this case, surgical intervention is no longer possible.
Lumbar osteoarthritis: symptoms
Pain in this form of osteoarthritis manifests in many different levels.Therefore, these can be aches and pains that appear mainly after sleeping or after a long period of sitting, or they can also be aches and pains that have obvious manifestations.Moreover, the manifestation of the latter condition is often noted at a time when you are in an uncomfortable position without the ability to stand upright.Any type of pain is directly related to the impact on nerve endings, muscle swelling, irritation and compression to which the nerve roots are exposed.Pain is also associated with irritation of the lumbar ligament in the area that innervates its nerve endings.
Increased pain in the lower back in this form of osteoarthritis is observed when coughing and sneezing, and also when moving the body (especially when bending forward).
Lumbar cartilage degeneration can also manifest itself, in addition to lower back pain, in the form of sensory disturbances noted in certain areas (skin, lower half of the body, leg muscles).It is also possible that tendon reflexes in the legs will weaken or disappear completely.As a rule, it is osteoarthritis that stimulates the development of curvature in the lumbar spine.
Based on the specific plane of actual curvature, cartilage degeneration is divided into the following types:
- kyphosis - in this case, the lumbar region is flattened and the back is often curved;
- Lordosis - the spine bends forward;
- Scoliosis - curvature of the spine to the left or right.
Compression of the roots belonging to the spinal cord due to the development of osteonecrosis in the lumbar region is often identified in terms of certain specific disorders, in particular, disorders of defecation or urination, disorders associated with sensitivity in the genital area or perineum.
As a rule, pain appears (and also worsens) due to impacts during physical activity.The painful reaction in this case can be observed after this load and after some time from the moment of its impact.Basically, patients' complaints in this regard originate from the presence of a dull and aching pain in the lumbar region, and in some cases it radiates to the legs, which is defined as lumbago.Additionally, there may be complaints of increasing pain in the legs when trying to lift heavy objects (lumbar pain).The same applies to sneezing and coughing, driving with tremors, changing body positions as well as maintaining the same body position for long periods of time.
Due to the severity of the disease in question, the back muscles experience constant and pronounced tension, which is manifested in the inability to perform actions aimed at standing upright or moving.Any movement is accompanied by increased pain.Additionally, even when patients are exposed to cold conditions for short periods of time, they still experience acute low back pain (also defined as “low back pain”).
Symptoms of lumbar osteoarthritis also appear as follows:
- decreased sensitivity in the thighs, buttocks, legs and feet (noted less often);
- spasm of the arteries in the feet, increased feeling of chills in the legs;
- tingling sensation in the legs, "goosebumps";
- peeling and dry skin in areas that are often insensate or painful;
- sweating disorders.
The most unpleasant complication that occurs in the setting of osteoarthritis is vertebral instability, in which the intervertebral disc no longer properly stabilizes the vertebrae.This, in turn, causes a “slip” under the influence of gravity of the lumbar region off the sacrum when a load is placed on the lumbar region.As a result of this, not only unpleasant disorders can develop, but also dangerous disorders that affect the functioning of internal organs.In particular, the reproductive system is “affected”;this manifests in men as potency problems, and in women as problems related to the adnexa, uterus and ovaries.
Symptoms of lumbar spondylosis
According to the most complete classification, a number of specific syndromes associated with lumbar osteoarthritis have been identified.In particular, they include the following syndromes:
- reflex syndrome - includes low back pain, low back pain and low back pain;
- radicular syndrome – inflammation of the vertebral nerve root (or intervertebral disc), this process is mainly accompanied by damage to the first sacral root or fifth lumbar root;
- radicular vascular syndrome - ischemia manifests itself as a process of compression of blood vessels (especially compressed veins or arteries), while compression is carried out simultaneously with the roots.
Let's briefly outline what the listed syndromes are.
migraine headachein particular, it means chronic pain that occurs gradually after a long period of keeping the body in an uncomfortable position or after sitting for a long time, as well as after impact on the body and a specific area after physical activity.
Low back painmanifests itself in the form of acute low back pain, characterized as “lumbar pain”;Low back pain mainly occurs when lifting heavy objects or when the movement is unsuccessful.Sometimes low back pain is also observed after coughing or sneezing.
Diseases associated with lumbar spondylosis
Lumbar osteoarthritis occurs not only in combination with pain and other listed symptoms, but also in combination with a number of characteristic diseases of internal organs.
So, approximately more than 30% of patients with clinical symptoms related to lumbar osteoarthritis note the presence of some problems related to the liver or the functions of the gastrointestinal tract.The fact is that the presence of a specific disease in the digestive tract, pancreas or liver causes pain, tension in blood vessels and muscles and spasms, leading to hypoxia and the development of degenerative processes in certain areas of the body.This process is aggravated by the metabolic disorders inherent in this type of disease.
In addition, as we noted earlier, lower back pain can provoke the development of diseases of the pelvic organs.Women can encounter a disease such as adnexitis (defined as inflammation of the adnexa), and men, in turn, experience all the "pleasures" of prostatitis, that is, inflammation of the prostate.
Symptoms of lumbar spondylosis are also accompanied by pelvic congestion, which develops due to the above diseases, including chronic colitis, hemorrhoids and constipation.
Treatment
Mostly, the treatment of osteoarthritis has many components and is quite complex in implementation.Almost all treatments focus on the following points:
- drug treatment;
- if necessary, surgical treatment;
- diet;
- physical therapy.
The severity of the disease requires that the patient first remain in bed.The main tip for this section is a hard/difficult sleeping area.Extremely pronounced attacks require minimal physical activity and timely consultation with an appropriate specialist.The appearance of symptoms suggesting a possible association with lumbar osteoarthritis requires contact with a neurologist.