Chondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms, treatment, causes and diagnosis

How does chondrosis develop in the lumbar spine? Symptoms, treatment, signs of the disease will be discussed below. Also you will learn about how this disease is diagnosed, why it develops at all.

basic information

How to treat lumbar chondrosis, and what is this disease? You will receive answers to these questions in the materials of this article.

Chondrosis is a disease that is associated with degenerative-dystrophic destruction of cartilaginous tissues in intervertebral discs located in different parts of the spine. This disease is the initial stage of osteochondrosis. The latter develops in the event that destructive processes spread and pass to nearby bones and tissues.

So what is chondrosis of the lumbar spine (symptoms, treatment presented below)? The main difference of this disease from osteochondrosis is that such a pathology develops, but it does not go beyond the cartilaginous tissues of the joints.

Features of the disease

What if you develop chondrosis of the lumbar spine? Symptoms, treatment of this disease should identify and determine only an experienced doctor. At the first signs of the disease, you should immediately consult a specialist. This is due to the fact that in untimely treatment, dystrophic pathology can lead to thinning of the cartilaginous discs and, as a consequence, to the subsequent transformation of the hyaline structure into a fibrous one.

It should also be noted that the gradual development of the disease under consideration causes the formation of fibrous-type tissues, as well as the stasis and calcification of the cartilaginous layers that adjoin the vertebrae. As a result of such a pathological process, a fairly serious lesion of intervertebral discs can occur.

Causes of the disease

Why does this disease occur? What are its causes? Chondrosis of the lumbar spine (symptoms, treatment of the disease are known to a few) develops due to:

• Overweight, obesity;
• Age characteristics (more often in people older than 53 years);
• Frequent and severe psychological stress;
• Abnormal posture;
• Lifting of weights, especially with weak muscles;
• Supercooling of the waist or the whole body;
• Heavy work with dynamic and static overloads;
• Abnormal diet and diet;
• Hypotension;
• Uneven muscle load from different sides;
• Frequent in an uncomfortable position;
• Diseases that lead to abnormal feeding of vertebral discs;
• Congenital or acquired pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.

Clinic

What causes chondrosis of the lumbar spine? Symptoms (treatment of the disease should be determined only by the doctor) of this disease do not immediately disturb patients. The development of chondrosis begins with a decrease in the turgor of the fibrous ring and the gelatinous nucleus, which subsequently leads to protrusion of the disc forward and changes in its shape (makes a little sloping). Such a pathological process is determined only by X-ray.

According to experts, discs that lost the turgor are subject to overload, which leads to microtraction, as well as acceleration of nuclear atrophy. Thus, dense and loose fibrous tissues grow and gradually form a flattening of the cartilage. The height of the disc is significantly reduced. Also, the vertebrae are displaced. The load on them increases, which leads to the gradual formation of arthrosis.

In the course of all dystrophic changes a person begins to feel a strong pain syndrome in the lower back.

Chondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms

Treatment, diagnosis of the disease in question are carried out only by experienced specialists. After all, incorrect and untimely therapy of this disease can aggravate the patient's difficult situation as well.

Since chondrosis of the lumbar spine is manifested? Symptoms (treatment of the disease described below) of this disease depend on the stage of its development. Experts argue that they can manifest themselves with varying degrees of severity.

At the very beginning of the disease, its symptoms manifest only after a considerable load (physical). In this case, a person feels pain in the lower back, which can go to the legs, buttocks and the sacral region.

The transition of the disease to other stages almost always leads to the development of more pronounced sensations. As a rule, they are noted during walking on the stairs, with a long time in an uncomfortable position, sneezing, a strong cough and so on.

Also, a person feels problems with the lower back in the morning, after lifting from the bed. To bring their condition back to normal, patients need a little warm-up.

Other signs

How is chondrosis of the lumbar spine still manifested? Symptoms (treatment, signs of the disease described in this article) in the form of pains arise when trying to bend or unbend the trunk. The patient also experiences numbness of the lower extremities.

At the 3rd and 4th stages, the patient shows more serious signs. These include disorders in the work of the urino-genital organs, protrusion, pathology of the vessels of the legs, a hernia, abnormal bowel work.

An acute type of this disease is usually provoked by overcooling or lifting of gravity. At the same time, it is manifested by severe pain, which gives to the buttock and sacral region. Such feelings are intensified in the process of fast walking or prolonged standing.

As for the chronic disease, it is characterized by prolonged aching pain in the lower back, which becomes more intense with tilting and physical activity.

How is it diagnosed?

Chondroz is diagnosed quite easily. First, doctors are questioned and examined by the patient, and then sent to general tests. Also, the patient is assigned an MRI and an x-ray of the lumbar region. These methods of research are sufficient to detect dystrophic changes.

Chondrosis of the lumbar spine: symptoms, treatment

The medicine for the treatment of the disease in question should be prescribed by a doctor only after the correct diagnosis has been made.

As it was said above, with chondrosis a man experiences rather strong lumbar pains. In this case, they can give to the lower limbs and pelvis. Therefore, in the first place, the patient should ensure complete rest (including bed rest).

To reduce the pain syndrome, the patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and potent analgesics, which are injected intramuscularly. Also, an ointment with a warming and anesthetic effect can be recommended to the patient. Such creams include Ketonal, Indomethacin, Nurofen, Voltaren and Fastum. The main purpose of these ointments is to transfer the attack to the stage of remission. During this period, all treatment of the disease is aimed at normalizing blood supply and metabolism, suppressing pain, strengthening muscle and restoring damaged tissues. For this, the following techniques may be required:

• Drug treatment (taking anesthetics, using ointments, as well as NSAIDs, vitamin complexes, sedatives and antispasmodics).
• Physiotherapy, including electrophoresis, electromagnetic methods, laser therapy, vibration, magnetic-wave methods, ultraviolet action.
• Massotherapy.
• Manual methods, including stretching the spine, relaxation massage, visceral therapy.
• Physiotherapy.