Degenerative changes of the lumbar spine: treatment

Today, the most common are diseases of the spine. Sedentary work, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, excessive exercise — all this leads to degenerative dystrophic changes of the lumbar sacral spine. It is necessary to consider in more detail what it is. Дегенеративно-дистрофические изменения поясничного отдела: лечение

Possible complications

This condition is observed in pathology of the intervertebral disc that is accompanied by pain in the lower back. The intervertebral disc has no blood vessels, therefore, is not perfused. For this reason, he cannot recover as do other tissues of the body. Despite the seriousness of this condition, it is found in 30% of individuals after the age of 30 years. Although it is possible earlier cases. Such spinal injury is not always associated with pain. After 60 years, degenerative changes of the lumbar sacral spine are already regularity.

If time does not cure this condition, it will lead to complications. Because of the infringement of intervertebral channels in damaged nerves. Then the nerve endings become swollen, reduced their conductivity (therefore, there are numbness of limbs, fatigue in the back). The vertebrae change the pattern of growth in order to reduce the load, they expand. This leads to more low back pain and the pinched nerve. If this process is added the infection (bacteria, fungi), are developing diseases such as arthrosis, arthritis, osteochondropathy. Degenerative changes in the muscle lead to scoliosis, displacement of the vertebrae. Heavy conditions are accompanied by ischemia, blood circulation, paresis, paralysis of the limbs. A person can become disabled.

The causes of disease

There are several causes of this syndrome:

Дегенеративно-дистрофические изменения поясничного отдела: лечение

Characteristic changes in spinal cord at different spinal diseases

A sedentary way of life. In a healthy organism the load on the spine is distributed evenly. But due to the sedentary lifestyle weakens the muscles. The muscles do not create a reliable support to the backbone, resulting in even small load can be fraught with dislocation and fracture of the vertebrae.

Active sports. Not only the absence of stress can lead to degenerative dystrophic changes of the lumbar spine. Excessive workload also affect health status. Many athletes have problems with joints.

Injury. At a young age, the presence of diseases such as arthritis, pinched nerve, intervertebral hernia, usually related to injury. This includes birth injuries.

Degenerative changes are often associated with the aging process. In this case, the changes are irreversible. And treatment does not imply drastic measures (surgery): is only supportive therapy.

An improper diet. As a result of disturbed metabolism cells of the body do not get enough food. Restriction of certain foods affects the state of the whole organism. Abuse of junk food leads to obesity. This creates an additional load on the spine.

Inflammatory diseases of the spine. For example, arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis.

Hypothermia.

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The causes of pain are 2 factors:

When herniation between vertebrae proteins in the inter disc space begin to irritate the nerve endings. This causes the inflammation.

Excessive mobility of the vertebrae in the affected area.

Signs of degenerative changes of the spine

The following symptoms: Дегенеративно-дистрофические изменения поясничного отдела: лечение

The main symptom is pain in the lower back. It may radiate to the legs and buttocks (sciatica). Lower back pain is usually aching, dull.

Numbness or tingling in the lower extremities.

Dysfunction of the pelvic organs (voiding, defecation), and reproductive disorders, weakness in the legs.

The feeling of restricted movement. This is especially felt in the morning when getting out of bed. A patient needs a «break» to fully move.

The local increase in temperature. Hot to become the area where there are degenerative changes.

Redness, swelling.

Asymmetry of the buttocks.

Usually spinal disorders are chronic in nature, characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission.

When aggravation of the symptoms are very pronounced, especially pain. During remission, the person may feel healthy.

Types of diagnostics

Initially recommended examination by a neurologist. Based on this, the doctor will prescribe the examination. Usually assigned the following treatments:

x-rays;
CT (computed tomography);
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

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In the picture discovered the pathology of the vertebrae

The first of these methods is the most accessible, but at the same time the most informative. X-ray provides information about the location of the bones and spine deformation. It can detect the disease at later stages. CT and MRI more modern methods. MRI allows us to see the destruction of the disk space, dehydration of the disc, erosion of the cartilage endplate of a vertebral body, the presence of intervertebral hernia, a tear in the fibrous ring. But such procedures are usually expensive.

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Comprehensive treatment

Treatment involves the use of drugs, exercises and methods of folk medicine. Often surgical intervention is required. In any case treatment should be complex:

For pain used ointments, injections, tablets with analgesic effects. Often apply ice to the affected area. Prescribed diclofenac, indomethacin, ibuprofen, Ketoprofen.

For recovery and remission treatment with muscle relaxants (to relax muscles), cartilage protectors (to restore cartilage tissue), vitamins (especially B vitamins).

Physiotherapy, massage, LFK. Often helps beznagruzochnyh stretching the spine. It allows you to eliminate the root cause (displacement of vertebrae), but is considered the most dangerous method.

Acupuncture, apitherapy, hirudotherapy. With these methods you run the recovery mechanisms of damaged tissues.

Treatment involves a diet. For cartilage repair recommended is a jelly-like foods (jelly, jelly, etc.). Prohibited alcoholic beverages, strong coffee, fatty and spicy dishes. The doctor usually makes recommendations on nutrition.

If the pain persists and the process of degeneration does not stop, then schedule the surgery. Surgery usually removes the damaged disc. Absolute indications for surgical treatment are the development of caudal syndrome, the presence of a sequestered herniation of intervertebral disk, expressed radicular pain syndrome, not decreasing, despite treatment.

Prevention of spinal diseases

Treatment involves securing effect with the help of preventive measures.

You need to play sports (in moderation) for the formation of a muscular corset. If you have problems with excess weight, it is necessary to get rid of. It is an extra burden on the spine. Be sure to follow the dietary guidelines (discussed above). Most importantly — relaxation. Many diseases are a signal of congestion in the body.

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Thus, degenerative dystrophic changes of the lumbar sacral spine (and neck) are treatable. The main thing — time to consult a doctor and follow all his recommendations.