Osteochondrosis is a disease in which degenerative processes occur in the tissues of the spine.Damage to intervertebral discs, articular surfaces adjacent to them, vertebral bodies and ligaments develops.As a rule, pathological changes in the bones and ligaments appear initially in osteochondrosis.In addition, a person realizes the beginning of the disease only when he begins to suffer from 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.The disease mainly affects people over 30 years old.Today, lumbar osteochondrosis is most often detected (in about half of the cases).
Stages of osteochondrosis
The disease develops in humans in stages.At the first stage of the progression of the disease, the process of dehydration of the nucleus pulposus begins.As a result, the height of the disc decreases and cracks form in the annulus fibrosus.Pathological changes, however, do not occur outside the intervertebral disc.
In the second stage, convergence of two adjacent vertebrae is observed as a result of a decrease in the height of the disc, the point of attachment of muscles and ligaments.Due to sagging ligaments and muscles, excessive mobility of the vertebrae occurs, which provokes the development of instability of the spinal segment of movement.During this period, the vertebrae can slip or shift, resulting in spondylolisthesis.
The third stage of development of osteochondrosis is characterized by pronounced morphological changes in the intervertebral discs.Disc prolapses and protrusions form, 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 too much mobility of the vertebrae, overcoming it.As a result of the immobilization of the spine, osteophytes appear - marginal bone growths on adjacent surfaces of the vertebral bodies.The osteophyte can damage the nerve root.Fibrous changes gradually 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 reasons that contribute to the development of osteochondrosis.Such causes include mechanical injuries to the spine, disturbances in metabolic processes in the body and a predisposition to disease that is hereditary in nature.But it is difficult to determine a clear reason for the development of the disease due to the spread of the disease.It is common 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 salts in the human spine.Patients often talk about salt deposits if they hear creaking and crunching 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 adequate physical activity, the tissue becomes more elastic.But for people who lead a mostly sedentary lifestyle, this fabric is less durable.
In addition, the reason for the development of osteochondrosis can be excess weight, bad posture, negative environmental conditions, peculiarities of the position of the body during work, unevenly developed musculoskeletal system, pregnancy, stress, hypothermia, infections.
Thus, the set of factors that provoke the development of the disease is very wide.An important role in this process is played by the characteristics of the blood flow and nutrition of cartilage and bone tissue.There are no blood vessels in the spinal discs of adults, so the discs receive oxygen and all the necessary nutrients from the neighboring tissues.Therefore, for the normal nutrition of the spinal discs, blood circulation in the surrounding tissues must be constantly activated.This process can be accelerated by providing active muscle work.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
The manifestations of the disease can be different and directly depend on the stage of development of the disease.The most pronounced 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 activating the pathological process, the patient develops reflex and compressive neurological syndromes.
Osteochondrosis can manifest itself in different parts of the body, so the symptoms of the disease are very wide.A patient with osteochondrosis may feel pain in the limbs or numbness, sometimes pain in the chest area, dysfunction of the genital organs and headache.At the same time, a person does not even realize that the cause of such manifestations is osteochondrosis.
If the patient develops osteochondrosis of the chest, the symptoms may resemble manifestations of heart diseases: angina pectoris, myocardial infarction.That is why the wrong treatment is sometimes practiced, which leads to further progression of osteochondrosis.Therefore, if you suspect the development of this disease, a person should immediately consult a doctor and undergo the necessary tests.
Osteochondrosis mainly manifests itself with pain and a strong feeling of discomfort in the back.In some cases, the pain occurs intermittently rather than constantly.It may disappear for a while.But for any person, the appearance of pain should be a very alarming symptom and cause for concern.It is important to think and determine what exactly caused the pain.For example, it can be intense physical activity, lifting weights.
The next telltale symptom of osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae is numbness in the hands and feet, as well as pain in them.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 listen and evaluate the nature of the pain, its changes depending on what exactly 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 methods of treatment.Contacting a specialist in the early stages of the disease will ensure more effective treatment.
So, most often, patients with a diagnosis of osteochondrosis complain of a feeling of discomfort in the spine in different places, pain of different intensity and character.They have a higher level of fatigue, which manifests itself in both physical and mental work.Sensation can be disturbed in different parts of the body, most often in the limbs.Patients may also notice coldness in the hands and feet.Dizziness and headache are often manifestations of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Visual acuity can 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 occur.After treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region, men often note an improvement in potency.At the same time, if osteochondrosis of the sacral spine develops in a woman, it 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 moment in the process of diagnosing osteochondrosis is the collection of anamnesis, and the most important moment in this process is interviewing the patient, who must describe in detail all the complaints to the doctor.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.Dysfunctions of many organs that manifest themselves in osteochondrosis are often similar to the symptoms of gastritis, angina pectoris and stomach ulcers.That is why every symptom of osteochondrosis is subjected to a detailed study and analysis.
During the diagnosis, the doctor takes into account the age of the patient and the development of symptoms.Additional research methods are used to clarify the diagnosis.X-ray examination is most often practiced in this case.In order to determine the patient's condition, an overview X-ray of the spine is performed.In case of more specific complaints, targeted X-rays directed at the site of the lesion are practiced.
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.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 relatively expensive, so they are mainly practiced when it is necessary to carry out a differential diagnosis, as well as to determine the presence of a spinal tumor.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
In order for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine to be effective, not only an accurate diagnosis is needed, but also an integrated approach to the problem.The doctor, as a rule, prescribes treatment methods depending on which part of the spine is affected.The main methods of treating the cervical spine, as well as the thoracic and lumbar spine are massage, manual therapy, acupuncture, electrostimulation, therapeutic gymnastics, 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 bother the patient, as well as the cause that causes the pathology of the spine.Pain relief 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 physiotherapy.Special rehabilitation equipment is 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 is improved and the load on the spine is reduced.
The method of physiotherapy involves the impact on the body of various physical factors.With the help of low-frequency current, magnetic field, laser, pain is effectively relieved, inflammation is reduced, parallel treatment with drugs is more effective.With the help of massage, you can relieve tension and muscle pain and activate blood circulation.Manual therapy allows relief of acute and persistent chronic pain in the joints and spine, increases the range of motion, and also has an overall positive effect on the body.Spinal traction procedure is used to relieve severe pain.It is performed on special equipment.In the process, the intervertebral space is increased and the shape of the spine is restored.Drug treatment is practiced mainly in 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 heal completely only in the initial stage of osteochondrosis.It is important to keep in mind that the duration of treatment depends on how advanced the disease is, the methods of treatment, as well as how carefully the patient follows all prescriptions and recommendations of the doctor.Usually, the period of active treatment lasts from one to three months.After the operation, a person recovers for about a year.If conservative therapy does not lead to the expected results and there are special indications, the doctor prescribes surgical treatment.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
People who already suffer from manifestations of osteochondrosis should try not to overload the spine and minimize the pressure in the intervertebral discs.It is recommended that you always try to keep your back straight and avoid spinal injuries.A comfortable bed for a night's sleep is important: you should choose an individual orthopedic mattress.You should not lift weights over 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 too high heels.In addition, people who complain of back pain should do exercises every day to strengthen their core muscles.It is recommended to swim whenever possible.