Osteochondrosis is a disease in which a degenerative process occurs in the spinal tissue.Damage to the intervertebral disc, the articular surface adjacent to it, the vertebral body, and ligaments develop.As a rule, initially with osteochondrosis, pathological changes occur in the bones and ligaments.Moreover, a person realizes the onset of the disease only when he begins to experience complications of this condition - back pain, impaired sensitivity, muscle atrophy, dysfunction of internal organs.
This disease is widespread among modern people: according to various sources, up to 90% of the world's population suffers from osteochondrosis.This disease mainly affects people over the age of 30.Today, lumbar osteochondrosis is most often detected (in about half of cases).
Stages of osteochondrosis
This disease develops in humans in stages.In the first stage of disease development, the process of dehydration of the nucleus pulposus begins.As a result, the disc height decreases, and cracks form in the fibrous ring.However, pathological changes do not occur outside the intervertebral disc.
In the second stage, convergence of two adjacent vertebrae is observed due to a decrease in the height of the disc, the point of attachment of muscles and ligaments.Due to lax ligaments and muscles, excessive vertebral mobility appears, which leads to the development of instability of the vertebral motion segment.During this period, the vertebrae may slip or shift, resulting in spondylolisthesis.
The third stage of the development of osteochondrosis is characterized by significant morphological changes in the intervertebral disc.Formation of disc prolapse and protrusion occurs, subluxation develops in intervertebral joints and unco-vertebral joints.
When the fourth stage occurs, adaptive changes are observed in the affected vertebrae.In this case, the human body adapts to too much vertebral mobility, overcoming it.As a result of immobilization of the spine, osteophytes appear - marginal bone growth on the adjacent surface of the vertebral body.Osteophytes can injure nerve roots.Fibrous changes gradually occur in the intervertebral discs and joints.As a result, a kind of shield is formed on the vertebral-motor segment, and the manifestation gradually disappears.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Experts make different assumptions about the reasons that contribute to the development of osteochondrosis.These reasons include mechanical injuries to the spine, disturbances in the body's metabolic processes, and predisposition to diseases of a hereditary nature.But it is difficult to determine a clear cause for the development of the disease because of the prevalence of the disease.It often occurs in young and old people;in the physically strong and in the less trained.
Sometimes you can hear the opinion that the symptoms of osteochondrosis arise due to the deposition of salt in the human spine.Patients often talk about salt deposits if they hear creaking and throbbing in the joints.In fact, this disease develops due to a lack of tissue nutrients.As a result, their structure gradually deteriorates.Bone and cartilage tissues are constantly undergoing a renewal process.If a person has enough physical activity, the tissue becomes more elastic.But for people who lead mostly sedentary lifestyles, these fabrics are less durable.
In addition, the cause of the development of osteochondrosis may be excess body weight, poor posture, negative environmental conditions, strange body position during work, uneven musculoskeletal system, pregnancy, stress, hypothermia, infection.
Therefore, the various factors that trigger the development of this disease are very wide.An important role in this process is played by the characteristics of blood flow and nutrition of cartilage and bone tissue.There are no blood vessels in the adult spinal disc, so the disc receives oxygen and all the nutrients it needs from neighboring tissues.Therefore, for the normal nutrition of the spinal disc, blood circulation in the surrounding tissue must be constantly activated.This process can be accelerated by ensuring active muscle work.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
Manifestations of the disease can vary and directly depend on the stage of development of the disease.The most noticeable symptoms of the disease appear when the pathological process spreads to the back of the fibrous ring and the posterior longitudinal ligament.In the process of activation of the pathological process, the patient develops reflexes and compression neurological syndrome.
Osteochondrosis can manifest itself in various parts of the body, so the symptoms of this disease are very wide.Patients with osteochondrosis may experience pain in the limbs or numbness, sometimes pain in the chest, genital dysfunction, and headaches.At the same time, the person does not realize that the cause of the manifestation is osteochondrosis.
If the patient has osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, the symptoms may resemble manifestations of heart disease: angina pectoris, myocardial infarction.That is why the wrong treatment is sometimes practiced, which leads to the further development of osteochondrosis.Therefore, if you suspect the development of this disease, one should immediately see a doctor and undergo the necessary tests.
Osteochondrosis is mainly manifested by pain and strong discomfort in the back.In some cases, the pain occurs periodically, not continuously.It may disappear momentarily.But for everyone, the occurrence of pain should be a very alarming and worrying symptom.It is important to think and determine what exactly is causing the pain.For example, it can be intense physical activity, lifting weights.
The next indicative symptom of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is numbness in the arms and legs, as well as pain in them.The same symptoms are characteristic of other types of osteochondrosis.Often, the pain develops in the left leg or arm, sometimes radiating to the heart, under the ribs.If such symptoms appear, you do not need to immediately rush to take medicine for the heart or other diseases, but you should listen carefully and evaluate the nature of the pain, the change depends on what exactly the person is doing at the moment.All your observations should be told in detail to the doctor, after which the patient is given a massage, gymnastics, and other treatment methods are practiced.Contacting a specialist at an early stage of the disease will ensure more effective treatment.
Therefore, often, patients diagnosed with osteochondrosis complain of discomfort in the spine in different places, pain of varying intensity and nature.They have a higher level of fatigue, which manifests itself during physical and mental work.Sensation may be affected in different parts of the body, often in the limbs.Patients may also notice coldness in their arms and legs.Dizziness and headache are often manifestations of cervical spine osteochondrosis.Visual acuity may also be significantly reduced.
If the patient has osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, then in this case various disorders of the human reproductive system may appear.After the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region, men often note an increase in potency.At the same time, if osteochondrosis of the sacral spine develops in a woman, this can complicate the conception process, as well as pregnancy.In addition to these symptoms, other manifestations are possible with osteochondrosis: muscle spasms, difficulty moving, shooting pains, etc.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
The most important point in the process of diagnosing osteochondrosis is collecting anamnesis, and the most important thing in this process is interviewing the patient, who must explain all the complaints to the doctor in detail.If some symptoms of the disease are characteristic manifestations of osteochondrosis, then there are also many signs that are important to distinguish from the manifestations of other diseases.The dysfunction of many organs that manifests itself in osteochondrosis is often similar to the symptoms of gastritis, angina pectoris, and gastric ulcers.That is why every symptom of osteochondrosis is subject to detailed study and analysis.
During the diagnosis, the doctor takes into account the age of the patient and the development of symptoms.To clarify the diagnosis, additional methods are used for research.Often in this case, X-ray examination is practiced.To determine the condition of the patient, radiographic survey of the spine is performed.If there are more specific complaints, targeted radiography is practiced, aimed at the site of the lesion.
Myelography is considered a rather complex diagnostic method.This test involves injecting a contrast liquid into the spinal canal.In this case, there is a risk of damage to the spinal cord, as well as allergic reactions.But at the same time, this method is considered informative if it is necessary to determine the presence of a spinal hernia.
In addition, the use of computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance is practiced.However, they are quite expensive, so they are practiced mainly when it is necessary to carry out differential diagnosis, as well as determine the presence of spinal tumors.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
For the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine to have an effect, it is necessary to provide not only an accurate diagnosis, but also an integrated approach to the problem.Doctors, as a rule, prescribe treatment methods depending on the affected part of the spine.The main methods of therapy for the cervical spine, as well as the thoracic and lumbar spine are massage, manual therapy, acupuncture, electrical stimulation, therapeutic exercises, vacuum therapy, traction, and other methods.Parallel treatment with folk remedies can also be practiced.
The doctor prescribes treatment in such a way as to ensure the elimination of the symptoms that disturb the patient, as well as the causes that cause spinal pathology.Relieve pain through the use of physiotherapy methods and medicines.Special exercises are also practiced for osteochondrosis of the spine.
One of the main methods of treating osteochondrosis of the spine and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system is the use of physical therapy.For this purpose, special recovery equipment is used.By regularly doing exercises individually selected by experts, you can improve blood circulation and activate metabolism.As a result, nutrition of the intervertebral disc improves, and the load on the spine decreases.
Physiotherapy methods involve the effects on the body of various physical factors.With the help of low-frequency currents, magnetic fields, lasers, pain is effectively eliminated, inflammation is reduced, and parallel drug treatment is more effective.With the help of massage you can relieve muscle tension and pain and activate blood circulation.Manual therapy makes it possible to relieve acute and persistent chronic pain in the joints and spine, increase the range of motion, and also has an overall positive effect on the body.Spinal traction procedures are used to relieve severe pain.It is done on special equipment.In the process, the intervertebral space increases and the shape of the spine is restored.Drug treatment is practiced mainly during the period of exacerbation.
But in most cases, even effective treatment can only slow the progression of the disease and prevent exacerbation.It is possible to fully recover only in the early stages of osteochondrosis.It is important to take into account that the duration of treatment depends on the advanced stage of the disease, the method of therapy, as well as how carefully the patient follows all the doctor's prescriptions and recommendations.Usually, the period of active treatment lasts from one to three months.After the operation, a person recovers for about one year.If conservative therapy does not bring the expected results, and there are special signs, the doctor prescribes surgical treatment.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
People who already experience manifestations of osteochondrosis should try not to overload the spine and minimize the pressure in the intervertebral disc.It is advisable to always try to keep your back straight and avoid spinal injuries.A comfortable bed for a good night's sleep is important: you need to choose an individual orthopedic mattress.You cannot lift a load weighing more than 10 kg, and to lift an object, you must first sit down, pick up the object, and then stand with it.Women should not wear shoes with high heels.Also, people who complain of back pain should do exercises every day to strengthen their core muscles.It is recommended to go swimming whenever possible.