Osteochondrosis is a disease in which degenerative processes occur in the tissues of the spine.Damage to the intervertebral discs, adjacent joint surfaces, vertebral bodies and ligaments develops.As a rule, in osteochondrosis, initially pathological changes occur in the bones and ligaments.In addition, a person notices the development of the disease only when he suffers from the complications of this condition - back pain, tenderness, 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.The disease mainly affects people over the age of 30.Nowadays, lumbar osteochondrosis is most often observed (in about half of the cases).
Stages of osteochondrosis
The disease develops in humans in stages.In the first stage of disease progression, the process of drying out the nucleus pulposus begins.As a result, the plate height decreases and cracks appear in the fibrous ring.Apart from the intervertebral disc, however, pathological changes do not occur.
In the second stage, the convergence of two adjacent vertebrae is observed due to the decrease in the height of the disc, the attachment point of the muscles and ligaments.Due to sagging ligaments and muscles, excessive mobility of the vertebrae appears, which leads to the development of instability of the vertebral movement segment.During this period, the vertebrae can slip or shift, leading to spondylolisthesis.
The third stage of the development of osteochondrosis is characterized by pronounced morphological changes of the intervertebral discs.Prolapses and protrusion of discs occur, subluxations develop in the intervertebral and uncovertebral joints.
When the fourth stage occurs, adaptive changes are observed in the affected vertebrae.In this case, the human body adapts to the excessive mobility of the vertebrae, overcoming it.As a result of immobilization of the spine, osteophytes appear - marginal bone growth on the adjacent surfaces of the vertebral bodies.The osteophyte can damage the nerve root.Progressive fibrous changes occur in the intervertebral discs and joints.As a result, a kind of armor is formed on the vertebral-motor segment, and the manifestations gradually disappear.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Experts make different assumptions about the causes that contribute to the development of osteochondrosis.Such causes include mechanical injuries to the spine, disturbances in the body's metabolic processes, and a predisposition to diseases of a hereditary nature.But it is difficult to determine the clear cause of the development of the disease due to the prevalence of the disease.It often occurs in the young and the elderly;the physically strong and the less fit.
Sometimes you can hear the opinion that the symptoms of osteochondrosis arise due to the deposition of salts in the human spine.Patients often talk about salt deposits when they hear creaking and cracking in the joints.In fact, the disease develops as a result of tissue malnutrition.As a result, their structure gradually degenerates.Bone and cartilage tissues are constantly undergoing a renewal process.If a person has regular and adequate physical activity, the tissue becomes more elastic.But for those who lead a mostly sedentary lifestyle, this fabric is less durable.
In addition, the development of osteochondrosis can be caused by excess weight, bad posture, negative environmental conditions, peculiarities of the body position during work, an unevenly developed musculoskeletal system, pregnancy, stress, hypothermia, infections.
Thus, the range of factors provoking the development of the disease is very wide.The characteristics of the blood flow and nutrition of the cartilage and bone tissue play an important role in this process.Discs in adults have no blood vessels, so the discs receive oxygen and all the nutrients they need from the adjacent tissues.Therefore, for the normal nutrition of the discs, the blood circulation of the surrounding tissues must be continuously activated.This process can be accelerated by ensuring active muscle work.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
The manifestation of the disease can be varied and directly depends on the stage of development of the disease.The most pronounced symptoms of the disease appear when the pathological process spreads to the posterior part of the annulus fibrosus and the posterior longitudinal ligament.In the process of activating the pathological process, the patient develops reflex and compression neurological syndromes.
Osteochondrosis can manifest itself in different parts of the body, so the symptoms of the disease are very broad.A patient with osteochondrosis may experience pain or numbness in the limbs, sometimes pain in the chest, dysfunction of the genitals, and headaches.At the same time, the person does not even notice that the cause of such manifestations is osteochondrosis.
If the patient develops osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, the symptoms may resemble the manifestations of heart disease: angina pectoris, heart attack.Therefore, sometimes incorrect treatment is used, which leads to further progression of osteochondrosis.Therefore, if you suspect the development of the disease, immediately consult a doctor and carry out the necessary tests.
Osteochondrosis mainly manifests itself in pain and strong discomfort in the back.In some cases, the pain occurs intermittently, not continuously.It may disappear for a while.But for any person, the occurrence of pain is a very alarming symptom and cause for concern.It is important to think about and determine what exactly caused the pain.This can be, for example, intense physical activity, weight lifting.
The next indicative symptom of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is numbness and pain in the arms and legs.Similar symptoms are characteristic of other types of osteochondrosis.Most often, the pain develops in the left leg or arm, sometimes it radiates to the heart, under the ribs.If such symptoms appear, you should not immediately rush to take medicines for heart or other diseases, but you should carefully observe and evaluate the nature of the pain and its changes depending on what the person is doing at the moment.All your observations must be told in detail to the doctor, after which the patient is prescribed massage, gymnastics and other treatment methods.Contacting a specialist at an early stage of the disease will ensure more effective treatment.
Therefore, patients diagnosed with osteochondrosis most often complain of discomfort in different places in the spine, pain of different intensity and nature.Their fatigue is greater, which manifests itself during both physical and mental work.Sensation can be damaged in different areas of the body, most often in the limbs.Patients may also experience coldness in their arms and legs.Dizziness and headache are often a manifestation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Visual acuity may also be noticeably reduced.
If the patient has osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, then in this case various disorders of the human reproductive system may occur.After treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region, men often notice an improvement in potency.At the same time, if a woman develops osteochondrosis of the sacral spine, it can complicate the process of conception, as well as pregnancy.In addition to these symptoms, other manifestations of osteochondrosis are also possible: muscle spasms, movement difficulties, shooting pains, etc.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
The most important point in the process of diagnosing osteochondrosis is the collection of anamnesis, and the most important point in this process is the interview of the patient, who must describe all 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 for distinguishing it from the manifestations of other diseases.Dysfunction of many organs, manifested in osteochondrosis, is often similar to the symptoms of gastritis, angina pectoris and gastric ulcer.Therefore, all symptoms of osteochondrosis are subjected to detailed examination and analysis.
During the diagnosis, the doctor takes into account the age of the patient and the development of symptoms.In order to clarify the diagnosis, additional research methods are used.Most often, in this case, an X-ray examination is performed.To determine the patient's condition, the spine is assessed.In the case of more specific complaints, targeted radiography is performed, which is aimed at the location of the lesion.
Myelography is considered a relatively complex diagnostic method.This test involves injecting contrast fluid into the spinal canal.In this case, there is a risk of damage to the spinal cord, as well as an allergic reaction.At the same time, this method is considered informative when it is necessary to determine the presence of a spinal hernia.
In addition, they practice the use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.However, they are relatively expensive, so they are mainly used when it is necessary to carry out a differential diagnosis and to determine the presence of a spinal tumor.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine requires not only an accurate diagnosis, but also an integrated approach to the problem.The doctor usually prescribes treatment methods depending on which part of the spine is affected.The main methods of therapy for the cervical spine and 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 a treatment that ensures the elimination of the symptoms that bother the patient, as well as the causes of the pathology of the spine.Alleviation of pain through the use of physiotherapy methods and drugs.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.Special rehabilitation devices are used for this purpose.By regularly performing exercises individually selected by a specialist, you can improve blood circulation and activate metabolism.As a result, the nutrition of the intervertebral discs improves and the load on the spine decreases.
The method of physiotherapy includes the effect of various physical factors on the body.With the help of low-frequency current, magnetic field, and laser, pain is effectively alleviated, inflammation is reduced, and parallel drug treatment is more effective.With the help of massage, you can relieve tension and muscle pain, and activate blood circulation.Manual therapy makes it possible to relieve acute and long-lasting chronic joint and spinal pain, increase the range of motion, and has an overall positive effect on the body.The spinal traction procedure is used to relieve severe pain.It is performed on special equipment.During this, the intervertebral space increases and the shape of the spine is restored.Drug treatment is mainly used during the exacerbation period.
But in most cases, even effective treatment only slows the progression of the disease and prevents it from getting worse.Only in the initial stages of osteochondrosis can it be completely cured.It is important to take into account that the duration of the treatment depends on the progress of the disease, the methods of therapy, and the extent to which the patient complies with all the prescriptions and recommendations of the doctor.The duration of active treatment typically lasts one to three months.After the operation, the person recovers for about a year.If conservative therapy does not bring the expected results and there are special indications, the doctor prescribes surgical treatment.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
People who already suffer from the manifestations of osteochondrosis should try not to overload the spine and minimize the pressure on the intervertebral discs.It is advisable to always keep your back straight and avoid spinal injuries.A comfortable bed is important for a good night's sleep: you should choose an individual orthopedic mattress.You should not lift more than 10 kg, and to lift an object, you must first sit down, pick up the object, and then stand up with it.Women should not wear shoes with high heels.Also, people with back pain should do exercises every day to strengthen their core muscles.Swimming is recommended if possible.