Osteochondrosis is a disease in which degenerative-dystrophic processes occur in the tissues of the spine.The defeat of the intervertebral discs, the articular surfaces that adjust to them are developing, the bodies of the vertebrae, the ligamentous apparatus.As a rule, initially, with osteochondrosis, pathological changes occur in the bones and ligaments.Moreover, a person is guessed about the onset of the disease only when he begins to suffer from the complications of such a state - back pain, impaired sensitivity, muscle atrophy, impaired functions of internal organs.
This ailment is widespread among modern people: according to various sources, up to 90% of the world's population suffer from osteochondrosis.Basically, the disease affects people who are already 30 years old.To date, lumbar osteochondrosis (approximately half of cases) is most often revealed.
Stages of osteochondrosis
The disease develops in a person in stages.At the first stage of the progression of the disease, the process of dehydration of the pulpoose nucleus begins.As a result, the height of the disk decrease is reduced, and cracks form in the fibrous ring.However, pathological changes do not occur outside the intervertebral disc.
At the second stage, there is a rapprochement of two neighboring vertebrae as a result of a decrease in the height of the disk, the point of attachment of muscles and ligaments.Due to the sagging of the ligaments and muscles, excessive mobility of the vertebrae is manifested, which provokes the development of the instability of the vertebral and motor segment.During this period, the vertebrae can slip or shift, while spondylolistz is formed.
The third stage in the development of osteochondrosis is characterized by pronounced morphological changes in intervertebral discs.The formation of prolapses and protrusion of the disks occurs, subluxation develops in the intervertebral joints and UNKO-Vertebral joints.
When the fourth stage occurs, adaptive changes are observed in the affected vertebrae.In this case, the human body adapts to too strong mobility of the vertebrae, overcoming it.Due to immobilization of the spine, osteophytes appear - regional bone growths on adjacent surfaces of the vertebral bodies.Osteophyte can injure a nerve spine.Gradually, fibrous changes occur in intervertebral discs and joints.As a result, a kind of shell is formed on the vertebral-motor segment, and manifestations gradually disappear.
The causes of osteochondrosis
Experts express various assumptions regarding the reasons that contribute to the development of osteochondrosis.Such reasons are called mechanical trauma of the spine, disorders in the metabolic processes of the body, the arrangement of the disease, which is hereditary.But a clear cause of the development of the disease is difficult to determine due to the prevalence of the disease.It is often found in young and elderly people;Physically strong and few trained.
Sometimes you can hear the opinion that symptoms of osteochondrosis occur due to deposit of salts in the human spine.Patients often talk about salts excretion if they hear a creak and crunching in the joints.In fact, the disease develops due to impaired tissue nutrition.As a result, their structure is gradually reborn.In the tissues of the bone and cartilage, the renewal process is constantly taking place.If a person has regular adequate physical activity, then the fabric becomes more elastic.But in people who mainly lead a sedentary lifestyle, such a fabric is less durable.
In addition, the cause of the development of osteochondrosis can be excess weight, violation of posture, negative environmental conditions, features of the body position during work, an unevenly developed bone-muscular system, pregnancy, stress, hypothermia, infection.
Thus, the range of factors provoking the development of the disease is very wide.Features of blood flow and nutrition of cartilage and bone tissue play a non -last role in this process.In the vertebrates of adults there are no vessels, therefore, oxygen and all the necessary nutrients are obtained from neighboring tissues.Therefore, for the normal nutrition of the spine, the blood circulation is constantly activated in the surrounding tissues.You can accelerate this process by ensuring the active functioning of the muscles.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
The manifestations of the disease can be diverse and directly depend on what stage of development the disease abides.The most pronounced symptoms of the disease are manifested when the pathological process is spread 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 compression neurological syndromes.
Osteochondrosis can appear in a variety of areas of the body, so the symptoms of the disease are very wide.In the patient, osteochondrosis may occur in the limbs or numbness, sometimes pains pain in the chest, disorders of the functions 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 thoracic spine, then symptoms can resemble manifestations of heart diseases: angina pectoris, myocardial infarction.That is why an erroneous treatment is sometimes practiced, which leads to the further progression of osteochondrosis.Therefore, if a person suspected of developing this disease, a person should immediately consult a doctor and go through the necessary studies.
Osteochondrosis is primarily manifested by pain and a strong feeling of discomfort in the back.In some cases, the pain occurs periodically, unstable.For a while it may disappear.But for each person, the occurrence of pain should be a very disturbing symptom and cause for concern.It is important to think and determine what exactly caused the pain.For example, it could be strong physical activity, lifting severity.
The next indicative symptom to which osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is manifested is numbness of the arms and legs, as well as pain in them.Similar symptoms are also characteristic of other types of osteochondrosis.Most often, the pain develops in the left leg or hand, sometimes gives to the heart, under the ribs.In the case of such symptoms, you do not immediately need to rush to drink medicines from the heart or other diseases, but you should carefully listen and evaluate the nature of the pain, its changes depending on what the person is doing at the moment.All your observations should be retold in detail the doctor, after which the patient is prescribed massage, gymnastics, other treatment methods are practiced.An appeal to a specialist in the early stages of the disease will ensure its more effective treatment.
So, most often, patients who are diagnosed with osteochondrosis complain about the feeling of discomfort in the spine in different places, on pain of different intensity and character.They have a higher level of fatigue, which manifests itself in both physical and mental work.Sensitivity in different areas of the body may be disturbed, most often in the limbs.Patients can also mark the cold in their hands and legs.A manifestation of osteochondrosis of the cervical region is often dizziness and headache.Visual acuity may also significantly decrease.
If the patient has osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, then in this case a variety of disorders of the human reproductive system may appear.After the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral department, men often note an improvement in potency.At the same time, if osteochondrosis of the sacral spine develops in a woman, then this can complicate the process of conception, as well as gestation.In addition to these symptoms, other manifestations are possible with osteochondrosis: muscle cramps, difficulties in movements, shooting pains, etc.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
The most important point in the process of diagnosis of osteochondrosis is the collection of an anamnesis, and, the most important moment in this process is the patient’s survey, which should state the doctor all complaints in details.If some symptoms of the disease determine the characteristic manifestations in osteochondrosis, then there are also many signs that it is important to differentiate from the manifestations of other diseases.Disorders of the functions of many organs, manifested in osteochondrosis, are often similar to symptoms of gastritis, angina pectoris, stomach ulcers.That is why each symptom in osteochondrosis is subjected to detailed study and analysis.
During the diagnosis, the doctor takes into account the patient's age, the development of symptoms.To clarify the diagnosis, additional methods are used for research.Most often in this case, radiological examination is practiced.To determine the condition of the patient, a viewing radiography of the spine is performed.If there are more specific complaints, aimed radiography is practiced, aimed at the scene of the lesion.
A relatively complex diagnostic method is considered myelography.This examination provides for the introduction of a contrast fluid in the cerebrospinal canal.In this case, there is a risk of damage to the spinal cord, as well as the occurrence of an allergic reaction.But at the same time, this method is considered informative if necessary to determine the presence of a dorsal hernia.
In addition, the use of computed tomography, magnetic nuclear resonance is practiced.However, they are relatively expensive, therefore, they are practiced mainly if necessary to conduct differential diagnosis, as well as determine the presence of a spine.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
In order for the treatment of spinal osteochondrosis to be near, it is necessary to provide not only accurate diagnosis, but also an integrated approach to the problem.The doctor, as a rule, prescribes treatment methods, depending on which part of the spine was affected.The main methods of therapy for the cervical region, as well as the thoracic region and lumbar spine are massage, manual therapy, acupuncture, electrical stimulation, therapeutic gymnastics, vacuum therapy, traction, as well as other methods.Parallel treatment with folk remedies may also be practiced.
The doctor prescribes treatment in such a way as to ensure the elimination of disturbing the sick symptoms, as well as the causes that causes the pathology of the spine.Stop pain by applying physiotherapy methods, drugs.Special exercises for osteochondrosis of the spine are also practiced.
One of the main methods of treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system is the use of physiotherapy exercises.For this, special equipment for rehabilitation is used.With the help of regular execution of exercises individually selected by a specialist, you can improve blood circulation, activate metabolism.As a result, the power of the intervertebral discs improves, and the load on the spine decreases.
The method of physiotherapy involves the impact on the body of various physical factors.Using a low frequency current, magnetic field, laser, pain is effectively relieved, inflammation is reduced, and parallel drug treatment is more effective.With the help of massage, you can relieve tension and muscle pain, activate blood circulation.Manual therapy makes it possible to relieve acute and constant chronic pain in the joints and spine, increase the volume of movements, and also has a general positive effect on the body.The spinal extension procedure is used to relieve severe pain.It is performed on special equipment.In the process, the intervertebral space increases, the shape of the spine is restored.Drug treatment is practiced mainly during the exacerbation.
But in most cases, even effective treatment allows only to slow down the progression of the disease, to prevent exacerbation.You can completely recover only at the initial stage of osteochondrosis.It is important to take into account that the duration of treatment depends on how launched the disease, methods of therapy, as well as on how carefully the patient fulfills all the appointments and recommendations of the doctor.As a rule, the period of active treatment lasts from one to three months.After the operation, a person is restored for about one year.If conservative therapy does not bring expected results, and there are also special indications, then the doctor prescribes surgical treatment.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
People who are already suffering from manifestations of osteochondrosis need to try not to overload the spine and minimize the pressure in the intervertebral discs.It is advisable to always try to keep your back evenly, to avoid trauma of the spine.A comfortable bed for night sleep is important: you need to choose an individually orthopedic mattress.You should not lift weights weighing more than 10 kg, and in order to raise the item, you need to initially sit down, take an object, and then get up with it.Women should not wear shoes with too high heels.In addition, people who complain of back pain should perform exercises every day that strengthen the muscle corset.It is recommended to engage in swimming if possible.