Osteochondrosis is a pathology provoked by degenerative processes in cartilage tissue.In most cases, stable functioning of the intervertebral discs is noted, so often they talk about spinal osteochondrosis.
Pathogenesis
First of all, osteochondrosis, which causes a person to be in an upright position for a long time and increases the load on the spine and intervertebral discs.
With age, the functionality of blood vessels decreases, the diet becomes less balanced, and the body ages, which only accelerates the development of pathological processes.
Osteochondrosis is a multifactorial disease;The main conditions for its development may be:
- Associated with vibration or frequent changes in the position of the body (flexion-extension, bends, bending, cheating);
- weights;
- overweight;
- Multiple pregnancies;
- lack of vitamins in the body;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- sleep on a soft mattress;
- poor posture (scoliosis);
- vertebral instability.
Exacerbation of the dystrophic process of disc destruction can be associated with vigorous physical activity (especially without warming up), injury or skeletal pathology that changes the distribution of loads on the spine.
Characteristic signs of pathology
As the main manifestations of osteochondrosis, it can be observed on the body or only on the back.Pain worsens in some cases with sudden movement, physical activity and sneezing or coughing.The body's attempt to protect itself from pain causes increased muscle tension and limited motor ability.
If a person is not given help and treatment, the pain gets worse, spreads to his limbs and limits his mobility.When the cervicothoracic spine is affected, the arms are affected and the lumbar spine is affected.
Symptomatic manifestations differ depending on which part of the spine.
Types and symptoms of osteochondrosis
Pathology can affect different parts of the spine.Considering the localization, osteochondrosis can develop in the cervical (more than 25% of diagnosed cases), lumbar (more than 50%) or thoracic (12%) regions.
Exacerbation of the dystrophic process of disc destruction can be associated with vigorous physical activity (especially without warming up), injury or skeletal pathology that changes the distribution of loads on the spine.
Neck osteochondrosis
The spinal cord, vessels (supplying the brain), nerve trunks and roots (making nerve connections to the arms, lungs and heart) pass through the cervical region.Especially for people who study or work at a computer for a long time, neck movement becomes difficult.
Characteristic symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis:
- headache and heartache;
- dizziness (short-term loss of consciousness associated with insufficient blood supply to the brain);
- numbness and pain in the shoulder joints or arms.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
Pain in the chest region is familiar to people engaged in frequent and long-term physical labor, representatives of "sedentary" professions (architects, designers, drivers).
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region:
- the feeling of having a "stake in the chest";
- painful sensations in the cervical region, between the shoulder blades;
- numbness of the hands (temporary, long-term);
- hearing and sight;
- increased sweating;
- headaches in the back of the head (often continuous, up to 12 hours);
- changes in blood and intracranial pressure;
- tachycardia and arrhythmia.
A good prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis is correct posture.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
Health problems caused by osteochondrosis in the lumbar region are:
- frequent urination;
- numbness of limbs;
- dizziness;
- muscle spasms and cramps;
- difficulties with body movement, bending and turning;
- development of scoliosis;
- back pain, especially right after waking up in the morning;
- impaired muscle sensitivity and tone.
Pain and its intensity reach peaks during the acute period of the disease.Their duration can bother a person for several days, but sometimes the pain lasts for weeks or even months.As the pathological process in the intervertebral discs progresses, the severity of the symptoms decreases.After 60 years, the disease becomes chronic, the pain disappears.
Stages of the disease
Osteochondrosis is a progressive pathology, the transition to each subsequent form occurs gradually.One of the stages is the formation of a tear, which occurs when the fibrous ring thins.Through the tear, protrusions of the nucleus occur, compression of the roots, which leads to an increase in the roots and a decrease in the ability of the disc to absorb shock.
The main stages of the development of osteochondrosis:
- A person develops characteristic complaints caused by physical exertion or prolonged standing in one position.X-ray shows a slight narrowing of the spaces between the vertebrae.
- The license of stability of the disc, the cartilage tissue extends to the fibrous ring and compresses the nerve roots.An X-ray shows a decrease in the intervertebral distance, the displacement of the vertebrae and the spread of bone tissue.
- Intervertebral Hernias develop.The disc moves more and more into the surrounding tissue.The disorder causes damage to nerves and blood vessels.The pain intensifies, there is numbness and limitation in the movement of the limbs.
- The disc hardens and is replaced by scar tissue.With fibrosis, bone protrusions grow at the edge and the distance between the vertebrae decreases significantly.The mobility of the spine is reduced, it appears as ossified.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
The initial diagnosis was made by a doctor after the patient's complaints and visual examination.Pain and tenderness at certain points, muscle tone, range of motion, and the presence of postural disturbances (for example, signs of scoliosis) are taken into account.
After conducting instrumental research methods, the presence of osteochondrosis and its stage is clarified.First, an X-ray of the spine, which is the spine, is determined.
After studying the images, the specialist determines:
- whether it causes a decrease in the intervertebral distance;
- depletion of cartilage tissue;
- At what stage is the ongoing pathological process.
If an intervertebral hernia is detected in a patient, MRI is prescribed.Using layer-by-layer scanning and visualization of soft tissues, the initial diagnosis can be confirmed or refuted with high accuracy.
How to treat osteochondrosis
Therapy for the disease is long-term, the main goal is to relieve pain and muscle tension and stop the development of the pathological process after determining the inciting cause.
The specialist decides which treatment method will be the most effective based on the results of the research and the severity of the ongoing pathology.process.
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis
The main goal of this disease is to stop the inflammatory process and pain and relieve muscle spasm.This can be done by taking the patient:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.To tone skeletal muscles, tone muscle spasms and compress nerve roots, specialist NSAID drugs supplement with muscle relaxants.
- B group vitamin preparations.
The optimal treatment period is 7-10 days.
The drug is often supplemented with local treatment.Warming ointments or gels with NSAIDs can help stop blood flow, metabolism, and posture in the affected area.External treatments relieve pain quickly, because the main active substance penetrates the inflammation and starts to "act" immediately.
Taking medication is usually supplemented with exercise therapy, massages, physio-reflexology or manual therapy.
The main task of people suffering from osteochondrosis is to reduce the frequency and severity of pain symptoms (especially during exacerbations).Compliance with the doctor's recommendations and the use of drugs together with physical therapy exercises will help to restore the normal function of the spine and prevent surgical intervention.