Discogenic radiculopathy lumbar-sacral spine

Discogenic radiculopathy is one of the most difficult abnormalities of the cervical and lumbar of all vertebral pain syndromes. The disease leads to the formation of herniated discs of L5 S1. The main symptoms appearance of radiculopathy is a sharp, lasting pain, limiting the patient in motion.

In the area of risk are people whose work is associated with long periods of working or standing with raised hands above the shoulder girdle. The auxiliary factors of the disease include congenital abnormalities of development of the spine, metabolic disorders, injuries of back and Smoking.

The term radiculopathy in medicine

Common word in neurology, discogenic radiculopathy refers to the symptoms associated with the injury or a pinched spinal nerve endings. With careful diagnosis is not rarely reveals a few damaged roots. Signs are expressed in the appearance of piercing back pain, together with weakness of the muscles, colic and the occurrence of numbness in the zones of innervation of the human limb.

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Radicular syndrome of the disease is manifested by painful sensations in many parts of the body. The pain penetrates to the cervical, lower back, legs, arms and organs. Sometimes it appears in the layout area of the heart and stomach. Put the correct diagnosis based on medical history can only be experienced specialist.

Causes

Osteochondrosis of different forms, the main factor contributing to the emergence of a radiculopathy L5. Also, the disease may develop on the background of old injuries, abnormalities of internal organs, attacking the spine tumors occurring inflammatory processes. Provocateurs radiculopathy L5 are stress, metabolic disorder, hypothermia, various infections of the body, the weight lifting.

Disc herniation L5 S1 often contributes to the formation of pathology. The intervertebral disc acts as a shock absorber, and developing osteochondrosis breaks its elasticity and leads to degenerative dystrophic changes, which are moving to the convexity of the disk in a certain place. In the end, the protrusion promotes the formation of diseases such as intervertebral hernia, which obstructs and irritates the nerve roots in the area of pathology.

Irritation of the roots due to stenosis of the spinal passageway or channel from where originate the nerve endings. Formally stenosis affects the lumbar Department, which suffer from compression of the spinal cord that connects to the nerve of the sacral plexus.

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The constant irritation and inflammation of spinal roots leads to the formation of chronic radiculopathy. The patient experiences discomfort in the lumbar and cervical. Long pinched nerve endings develops difficulties in conduction of impulses, weakening of vital functions of man and to muscular dystrophy.

The types of the disease

Radiculopathy is of several types, depending on the lesion of nerve endings:

Cervical radiculopathy occurs in the background of herniation L5 S1 disc degeneration, protrusion of the spine, foraminal stenosis. The disease makes itself known suddenly, resulting in shooting pain, radiating into the limbs. The appearance of the disease there is partial or complete loss of sensitivity in the upper limbs accompanied by numbness and colic, reduction of muscle strength;

Breast occurs in the area of the thoracic vertebral Department. The movement of the torso and a deep breath increases the pain. Less common of all the types of sciatica. Factors of occurrence of diseases are degenerative transformation, herniated discs, various types of osteochondrosis;

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Lumbosacral – the most common form of radiculopathy danger of this disease in its advanced form it flows in the acquired form with recurring acute attacks. Torso twists andsudden movements cause the patient severe pain. It is felt in the lumbar region and buttocks, and her exposed feet, leg from knee to heel and your hip.

Lumbar radiculopathy there are 3 types:

• Lumbago is a disease provoked by the excessive physical activities that contribute to overexertion of the muscles of the lower back and sharp overcooling;
• Sciatica. With the variety radiculopathy discomfort extends to the hip part and gradually reaches the bottom of the leg. Also accompanied by a decrease in muscle strength caused by a pinched nerve sacral plexus. Pain caused by sciatica resemble an electric shock. Suffering from lumbar radiculitis has difficulty sleeping, feels unbearable pain in a sitting position, loses its ability to produce bending and twisting the torso.
• Lubiteli. Discogenic radiculopathy is diagnosed when the distortion of the connective tissue, increasing the intervertebral discs. Is pinched roots, accompanied by unbearable pain and does not subside within 24 hours.

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Treatment

Radiculopathy L5 well with timely treatment easy to treat.

The first step is to eliminate the pain. For this purpose, suitable anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal means (Ketorol, Movalis, Diclofenac, Ortophenum, Ibuprofen).

But do not forget about the side effects of these medicines. After the relief of pain, you must contact to pass a comprehensive examination by a specialist, in order to avoid negative consequences. It includes x-rays of the spine, spondylograms, lumbar puncture, CT, and myelography.

• Also read: diffuse disc protrusion l4-l5.

These studies allow us to osteochondrosis, inter-vertebral hernia S1 and the number of comorbidities. Examination by a neurologist is required to assess the natural reflexes. Only to establish a reliable cause, you can achieve excellent results in the suppression of discogenic radiculopathy.

Conservative treatment is based on the following techniques:

• Physiotherapy;
• Manual therapy and massage;
• The use of special patches (Nanoplast);
• Immobilization of the spinal unit;
• Rubbing;
• Blockade;
• Therapeutic exercises;
• Use of analgesics(Analgin, Baralgin);
• The hood of the spine;
• Acupuncture.

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In the first two or three days the patient was recommended bed rest. Surface for sleeping must be hard not to cave in. Any physical labor is strictly contraindicated. The greatest effect in the treatment give injections, if lubereckiy prescribe vitamins of group B. To achieve complete cure it is important to identify the underlying disease.

Rehabilitation phase involves performing complex physical therapy under the strict supervision of the instructor. Self-treatment may cause irreparable harm to the body. If proper compliance with the rules within 3 months the pain does not pass, surgical intervention is required. Neurosurgical treatment methods meet all the requirements of modern times.