Osteochondrosis is a pathology provoked by degenerative processes in cartilage tissue.In most cases, stable functioning of the intervertebral discs is observed, so more often they talk about spinal osteochondrosis.
Pathogenesis
First of all, osteochondrosis is associated with the fact that a person is in an upright position for a long time, which provokes an increased load on the spine and intervertebral discs.
With age, the functionality of blood vessels decreases, the diet becomes less balanced, the body ages, which only accelerates the development of pathological processes.
Osteochondrosis is a multifactorial disease;the main prerequisites for its development can be:
- work accompanied by vibration or in which the position of the body often changes (bending-extending, twisting, bending, jerking movements);
- lifting weights;
- overweight;
- multiple pregnancy;
- lack of vitamins in the body;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- sleep on a soft mattress;
- poor posture (scoliosis);
- vertebral instability.
Aggravation of the dystrophic process of disc destruction can be associated with intense physical activity (especially without prior warming), injuries or skeletal pathology that changes the distribution of the load on the spine.
Characteristic signs of pathology
Numbness and pain, as the main manifestations of osteochondrosis, can be observed in the whole body or only in the back.The pain intensifies with sudden movements, physical activity and in some cases with sneezing or coughing.The body's attempt to protect itself from pain leads to increased muscle tension and limited motor skills.
If a person is not given help and treatment is not started, the pain intensifies even more, spreads to the limbs and limits their mobility.When the cervicothoracic spine is touched, the arms are touched and the midsection is touched by the lower limbs.
Symptomatic manifestations vary depending on which part of the spine is affected.
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.
Aggravation of the dystrophic process of disc destruction can be associated with intense physical activity (especially without prior warming), injuries or skeletal pathology that changes the distribution of the load on the spine.
Osteochondrosis of the neck
The spinal cord, arteries (supplying the brain), nerve trunks and roots (making a nerve connection to the arms, lungs and heart) pass through the cervical region.Over the years, especially for people who are not trained or who work at the computer for a long time, neck movements become difficult.
Characteristic symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis:
- headache and heartache;
- dizziness (possible short-term loss of consciousness, which is associated with impaired blood supply to the brain);
- numbness and pain in the shoulder joints or arms.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
Pain in the chest area is known to people who often and for a long time engage in physical work, representatives of "sedentary" professions (architects, designers, drivers).
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest region:
- the feeling of having an "action in the chest";
- painful sensations in the cervical region, between the shoulder blades;
- numbness of the hands (temporary, long-term);
- hearing and vision impairment;
- increased sweating;
- headache that radiates to the back of the head (often prolonged, up to 12 hours);
- changes in blood and intracranial pressure;
- tachycardia and arrhythmia.
A good prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis is proper posture.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
The health problems caused by osteochondrosis in the lumbar region are as follows:
- frequent urination;
- numbness of limbs;
- dizziness;
- muscle spasms and cramps;
- difficulty with movement, bending and turning of the body;
- development of scoliosis;
- pain in the lower back, especially in the morning, immediately after waking up;
- sensitivity and impaired muscle tone.
Pain and its intensity reach their peak during the acute period of the disease.Their duration can bother a person for several days, but sometimes the pain continues for weeks and even months.As the pathological process occurring 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 hernia, which occurs when the fibrous ring thins.Through rupture, there is an extension of the core, compression of the roots, which leads to increased pain and a decrease in the absorption capacity of the disc.
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.
- Loss of disc stability, cartilage tissue extends into the annulus fibrosus, and nerve roots are compressed.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 increasingly moves into the surrounding tissue.Violation provokes 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 increase along the edge and the distance between the vertebrae decreases significantly.The mobility of the spine decreases, it seems to become ossified.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
A preliminary diagnosis is made by a doctor based on the patient's complaints and after a visual examination.Pain and sensitivity in certain points, the state of muscle tone, range of motion and the presence of postural disorders (for example, signs of scoliosis) are taken into account.
The presence of osteochondrosis and its stage are clarified after performing instrumental research methods.First of all, an X-ray of the part of the spine of interest is described.
After studying the images, the specialist determines:
- if the intervertebral distance is reduced;
- if the cartilage tissue is depleted;
- at which stage is the ongoing pathological process.
If an intervertebral hernia is detected in a patient, an MRI is prescribed.Using layer-by-layer scanning and soft tissue visualization, a preliminary diagnosis can be confirmed or rejected 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, after identifying the provoking cause, stop the development of the pathological process.
The specialist decides which method of treatment will be most effective, based on the results of the study and the severity of the ongoing pathology.the process.
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis
The main goal for this type of disease is to stop the inflammatory process and pain, as well as relieve muscle spasm.This can be done by taking the patient:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.To reduce skeletal muscle tone, muscle spasms and nerve root compression, the specialist supplements NSAID drugs with muscle relaxants.
- Group B vitamin preparations.
The optimal treatment period is 7-10 days.
Medication is often supplemented with local treatment.Warming ointments or gels containing NSAIDs can be applied to the affected area, which helps increase blood supply, metabolism and stop inflammation.External means quickly relieve pain, since the main active substance penetrates the inflammation and immediately begins to "work".
Medication is usually supplemented with exercise therapy, massage, 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 exacerbation).Compliance with the doctor's recommendations and the use of medications in combination with physical therapy exercises will help to restore the normal functioning of the spine and avoid surgical intervention.