In modern medicine, there is no such disease as back osteochondrosis.First of all, it is worth clarifying that the term osteochondrosis itself is outdated and does not exist in the current edition of ICD-10.It was replaced by a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs.However, since many patients refer to their condition as such, we will tell you about back osteochondrosis, its symptoms and treatment.And they will understand what this article is about.
Thus, osteochondrosis is the degeneration of intervertebral discs of dystrophic origin.Everything else is indirectly related to this disease.But to understand this process, it is worth taking a short excursion into anatomy and physiology.The main element of the human musculoskeletal system is the spine.With its help, the stable position of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity and chest is ensured.Inside the spine is the spinal cord, a structure that gives life to the entire body.The spine gives flexibility to the body, allows you to walk independently and perform any movement with your hands.It is the connecting link between the head and the limbs.
The spinal column consists of individual vertebral bodies.They are connected to each other using joints and ligaments.There are long longitudinal ligaments that start in the coccyx area and end in the occiput area.There are short transverse ligaments connecting adjacent vertebral bodies.Intervertebral discs consist of a dense outer shell (annulus fibrosus) that can withstand even the most extreme loads.But the fibrous ring has one significant drawback - it completely lacks its own blood capillary network.He receives the fluid only when the surrounding muscles are actively contracting and relaxing.Also, part of the nutrition is provided by diffuse exchange between the intervertebral disc and the end plate separating it from the vertebra.
If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle and his back muscles do not work actively and regularly, then the fibrous ring becomes dehydrated and cracks.At the initial stage, it receives fluid from the tissues of the nucleus pulposus located inside.This gelatinous body provides the normal height of the disc and its shock absorption to evenly distribute the impact loads.
With a long course of this pathological process, the height of the intervertebral disc decreases.It loses its ability to protect the radicular nerves arising from the spinal cord from the pressure of the neighboring vertebral bodies.They are injured and radiculitis occurs (inflammation of the radicular nerves).This is a dangerous situation.Therefore, the body takes measures to compensate for the lost capacity of the intervertebral discs.This causes excessive strain on the back muscles.As a result, diffuse nutrition of the remaining cartilaginous tissues is further impaired.Therefore, lumbar osteochondrosis is considered a rapidly developing and spreading disease.If left untreated, it quickly affects all the intervertebral discs and the person becomes disabled.
If you are worried about back pain related to the degeneration of the cartilage tissue of the spine, we advise you not to wait for everything to go away on its own.Seek immediate medical attention.Treatment of osteochondrosis without surgical intervention is possible at any stage except hernia sequestration.If part of the nucleus pulposus is separated from the intervertebral disc, only surgical intervention can help in this case.
You can make an appointment with a vertebrologist or a neurologist.They will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an effective and safe treatment.
Causes of back osteochondrosis
The most common causes of back osteochondrosis are physical inactivity, excess body weight, sedentary work and refusal of regular physical activity.It is these factors that cause the destruction of cartilage tissue of intervertebral discs at a young age.In later life (after 50 years), osteochondrosis develops for slightly different reasons:
- hormonal changes that lead to leaching of calcium and phosphorus from bone tissue;
- gerontological degenerative changes in the body;
- violation of capillary blood flow against the background of atherosclerotic deformations of blood vessels;
- metabolic disorders such as diabetes or changes in thyroid function;
- age-related decrease in muscle mass;
- changes in the posture and curvature of the spine;
- chronic diseases of internal organs that reduce a person's physical activity.
In addition, potential causes of the development of back osteochondrosis can be traumatic injuries to the vertebral bodies, their spinous processes, ligaments and tendons.The correct arrangement of sleeping and working places is not less important.If a person does not pay attention to the state of his body during night sleep, then the risk of destruction of the spine and development of osteochondrosis increases dramatically.
You should also stop smoking and drinking alcohol.These two bad habits lead to disruption of blood microcirculation in the area of intervertebral discs, which leads to their degenerative dystrophic destruction.
The causes of back osteochondrosis can be eating and drinking mode.An adult should drink at least 2 liters of clean water per day to maintain water and electrolyte balance.Also, the diet should contain all the vitamins and minerals used in the regeneration of the hyaline cartilages that make up the tissues of the fibrous rings.If the diet is dominated by fatty and refined foods, the body quickly begins to experience a lack of certain nutrients.It does not allow to restore the integrity of all tissues, including vertebrae.
Therefore, when conducting complex treatment of back osteochondrosis, an experienced doctor will definitely correct the patient's diet.He will give him the necessary recommendations on the proper arrangement of sleep and workplace.
With osteochondrosis, the back muscles are seriously overloaded.They are responsible for supporting the spinal column and ensuring the safety of the radicular nerves.With long-term static tension, the blood circulation cycle in the capillaries changes.Myocytes begin to experience oxygen starvation and an ischemic reaction begins quickly.First, it causes severe pain in the back muscles.Then the myocytes begin to die.A short-term inflammation may occur against the background of muscle tissue necrosis.Then muscle fiber degeneration begins.This leads to a number of negative consequences.Patients may develop myofascial pain syndrome.Even after successful treatment of osteochondrosis, it continues for many years.
Therefore, this process cannot be started.As soon as the first signs of osteochondrosis appear, consult a doctor immediately.
Symptoms of back osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the back of the chest is the least common, because there is no wide mobility of the vertebral bodies.The height of the intervertebral spaces is additionally provided by the fixation of the costal arches.Therefore, we will not consider the symptoms of this type of disease separately.
Most often, osteochondrosis develops in the lumbar region, because it bears the main shock absorber and physical load associated with any movement of the human body.Symptoms of pathology include a characteristic burning pain in the lumbar region.It can spread along the inner, outer or back surface of the thigh and lower leg to the heel or toes.Gradually, neurological clinical symptoms such as numbness, paresthesia, decreased muscle strength, pallor and coldness of the skin of the lower extremities begin to appear.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical and cervicothoracic spine is less frequently diagnosed.This disease develops mostly in people engaged in mental work.With long-term static tension in neck muscles, blood microcirculation is disturbed and cartilage tissue is destroyed.
With this localization of degenerative dystrophic changes in the cartilage tissues of the discs, clinical symptoms can be more diverse.Pain can spread under the shoulder blade, in the heart region and in the upper limbs.Muscle weakness occurs quickly in the arms.There are signs of blood circulation disorders in the posterior vertebral arteries.These include dizziness, decreased mental performance, frequent changes in blood pressure, drowsiness, apathy, etc.
If symptoms of back osteochondrosis appear, it is necessary to conduct a number of clinical studies.First of all, an X-ray of the affected part of the spine is prescribed.Based on them, the doctor can only make a preliminary diagnosis.A more detailed examination of the condition of the tissues of the spinal column is possible during the MRI examination.Doppler ultrasound, ultrasound of soft tissues, biochemical and general blood tests, rheumatic tests, etc.
What to do and how to relieve pain?
The first thing to do in the case of osteochondrosis of the back is to stop any physical activity and ensure relative rest of the spine and muscles.It is better to observe strict bed rest in the first few days after the attack.Treatment can only be prescribed by a neurologist or vertebrologist.It is not recommended to take the medicine independently.They can not only negatively affect your health, but also make it difficult to make an accurate diagnosis in the future.
The only thing you can do to relieve back pain due to osteochondrosis and not harm your health is to stretch the spine.It is important to restore the normal height of the intervertebral spaces.This will remove pressure from the radicular nerves and all pain will disappear without the additional use of pharmacological drugs.Stretching can be with the help of apparatus, manual or physical exercises.During the examination, only a doctor can determine which method is suitable for your individual situation.
How to treat and treat back osteochondrosis?
Treatment of back osteochondrosis can be carried out only by conservative methods, even in the stage of intervertebral hernia prolapse.Doctors know how to treat lumbar osteochondrosis without surgery.Osteopathy and massage, therapeutic exercises and kinesiotherapy, laser therapy, reflexology and more are used for this purpose.
Before treating osteochondrosis of the back, the doctor gives the patient comprehensive individual recommendations, the implementation of which eliminates potential causes and risk factors.Then a course of individual therapy is prepared.During the treatment, the damaged cartilage tissue is completely restored.If all recommendations are followed, relapses of osteochondrosis do not occur.