Radiculopathy of the lumbosacral spine is simply radiculitis. Among all types of radiculitis, this is the most common and most painful. In addition to radiculitis, the disease has another name - radicular syndrome. This means that the roots of the nerve processes or the outgrowths of the bones, or vertebral discs, or the intervertebral hernia are squeezed. The pain from this is quite strong. If the roots are compressed by soft tissues, for example, ligaments or muscles, the pain is not so pronounced. It has a growing character. Infringement of the roots leads to the fact that they are damaged and inflamed.
Discogenic radiculopathy of the lumbosacral spine
Most often, people suffer from discogenic radiculopathy of the lumbosacral spine. Acute piercing pain in the spine, in which the posture is curved in the side as in scoliosis - this is the main syndrome of sciatica. There are three types of radiculopathy of the waist:
- lumbulgia ("chamber");
- ischialgia;
- sciatica.
There are two characteristic features of this type of disease:
- Thinning of intervertebral discs is when the nucleus of the disc protrudes outward due to pathological changes, thus a hernia is formed.
- Intervertebral discs pinch the nerve endings in the spinal cord.
The main reasons for such phenomena include the following:
- weak back muscles due to sedentary lifestyle;
- curvature and violation of posture ;
- injuries;
- operations on the spine;
- congenital anomalies of the spine;
- prolonged physical overload, frequent lifting of weights;
- hormonal changes;
- changes in the body that occur with age;
- inflammatory processes in the body and others.
Treatment of radiculopathy of the lumbosacral spine
Treatment of the disease consists in the application of complex conservative measures:
- Bed rest on a hard bed.
- Medicamentous treatment - to relieve inflammation, pain, swelling.
- Physiotherapy - to normalize blood circulation.
- Massage - to relieve muscle spasms.
- Manual therapy .
- Medical gymnastics - to restore the mobility of the spine, strengthen the muscular girdle.
- Acupuncture.
- Surgical intervention, if all of the above methods are exhausted, and the pain does not go away.
Vertebral radiculopathy of the lumbosacral spine
The main factors for the appearance of vertebral radiculopathy of the lower back are:
- osteochondrosis of the spine - common in elderly women;
- osteoporosis and metastatic lesions of the spine.
Treatment of radiculitis of the spine should be carried out immediately, so that the disease does not become chronic.