Lumbar spine degeneration The lumbar spine is the pivot of the human trunk and almost all physical activities increase the burden on the lumbar spine. Lumbar degeneration is primarily a physiological process that changes with age, but many factors can accelerate the process of aging degeneration of the lumbar spine, causing a range of diseases and symptoms. A large percentage of people say they have lumbar pain. Most of the people say that they have back pain, but there are many who do not know exactly what disease is causing the back pain. In fact, a large proportion of patients with low back pain originate from degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine. A. Degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine? When the human body is upright and bending activities, the load force is mainly concentrated in the lumbosacral segment. The spine has its own ligaments and muscles to maintain stability. The main causes of lumbar degenerative diseases 1, acute and chronic trauma; 2, bacterial or aseptic inflammation; 3, tumors; 4, congenital disorders. Lumbar disc herniation Lumbar disc herniation is a syndrome caused by degeneration of the intervertebral disc, rupture of the annulus fibrosus and protrusion of the nucleus pulposus to stimulate or compress the nerve roots and cauda equina nerve, and is the most common cause of lumbar leg pain. According to studies, when the spinal load is calculated as 100% in the upright position, the disc pressure is 150% in the seated position and 270% in the seated forward bending position. This is why certain occupations such as drivers and computer operators have a high incidence of disc disease. The onset of the disease is often concentrated in the lumbar spine near the sacral spine: lumbar 4/5 and lumbar 5 sacral 1. Main symptoms: 1. Low back pain and radioactive leg pain are the first symptoms of most patients with this disease, with an incidence of about 91%. Most patients have low back pain first and then leg pain, some have low back pain and leg pain at the same time, a few patients only have leg pain. 2. Numbness and weakness When the affected nerve roots are heavily damaged, the strength of the innervated muscles will be weakened and sensation will be diminished. 3, changes in urinary and fecal function paresthesia When the herniated disc compresses the dural sac more heavily, damage to the cauda equina nerve may cause constipation, defecation difficulties, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, urinary retention or incontinence, perineal sensation decreases or disappears, and sexual dysfunction. 4. Lumbar manifestations Lumbar stiffness, restricted movement or scoliosis deformity. Lumbar spinal stenosis Lumbar spinal stenosis is caused by hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the ligamentum flavum, hyperplasia and coalescence of the small joints, bulging and protruding discs, and bony degeneration resulting in narrowing of the central canal of the lumbar spine, nerve root canal or lateral saphenous fossa causing compression of its contents – cauda equina and nerve root and corresponding neurological dysfunction. In clinical practice, lumbar spinal stenosis is one of the most common diseases causing low back pain or low back pain. It mainly occurs after middle age and is more common in men than women. The main symptoms: 1. low back pain The pain is often lighter than that of lumbar disc herniation; 2. intermittent claudication The most characteristic symptom, walking for tens of meters can cause lower limb soreness, weakness, pain or even numbness, unstable gait, and the symptoms are relieved after resting. Recurrent episodes; 3. Cauda equina syndrome When the cauda equina nerve is severely compressed, it is manifested as numbness and tingling in the perineum, urinary and fecal function and sexual dysfunction, etc. Fourth, lumbar spine slippage The normal human lumbar vertebrae are neatly aligned. If, for congenital or acquired reasons, the vertebrae of one of the lumbar vertebrae slip forward relative to the neighboring lumbar vertebrae and cause compression of the cauda equina or nerve root in the spinal canal, it is lumbar spine slippage. The degenerative factors causing lumbar spine slippage account for more than 60%. The age of onset of the disease is 20~50 years old more. The etiology of lumbar spondylolisthesis is still not very clear, a large number of studies have shown that congenital developmental defects and chronic strain or stress injury are two possible important causes, and it is generally believed that the latter is the main cause. After early lumbar spondylolisthesis, patients do not have any symptoms, which are only visible when the film is taken. Later, low back pain, lower limb pain, numbness, weakness, and in severe cases, urinary and fecal disorders may occur. Severe patients may develop lumbar depression, abdominal foreshortening, and even trunk shortening and walking sway. V. Prevention of lumbar degenerative diseases Lumbar degeneration is mainly a physiological process that increases with age, but many factors can accelerate the process of aging degenerative changes in the lumbar spine, causing a series of diseases and symptoms. Therefore, it is vital to prevent this lumbar degeneration! Maintain good living habits to avoid cold and keep warm, prevent the waist and legs from getting cold, and prevent overexertion. Stand or sit in the correct posture. The spine is not correct, which will cause uneven force on the intervertebral discs, which is the hidden root cause of disc herniation. The correct posture should be “standing like a pine, sitting like a bell”, chest up, waist straight. The same posture should not be maintained for too long, appropriate in situ activities or low back activities, can lift the low back muscle fatigue. Exercise leg bending amplitude should not be too large otherwise not only will not achieve the desired purpose, but also cause disc protrusion. Eat a balanced diet, protein, vitamin content should be high, fat, cholesterol should be low, prevent obesity, quit smoking and control alcohol. Bed rest, preferably with a hard bed, to maintain the physiological curvature of the spine. Usually should strengthen the back muscle exercise.