Such a disease as osteochondrosis of the back does not exist in modern medicine.First of all, it is worth clarifying that the term osteochondrosis itself is outdated and does not exist in the current edition of ICD-10.It was replaced by a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs.However, we will tell you about osteochondrosis of the back, its symptoms and treatment, as many patients call their condition that way.And they will understand what this article is about.
So, osteochondrosis is degeneration of the 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, a 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 vitality to the entire body.The spine provides flexibility for 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 spine consists of separate 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 nape area.There are short transverse ligaments that connect adjacent vertebral bodies.The intervertebral discs consist of a dense outer shell (annulus fibrosus) that can withstand even the most extreme loads.But the fibrous ring has a significant drawback - it completely lacks its own blood capillary network.It receives fluid only at a time when the surrounding muscles are actively contracting and relaxing.Also, part of the nutrition is provided by the diffuse exchange between the intervertebral disc and the end plate that separates it from the vertebra.
If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle and his back muscles do not work actively and regularly, then the annulus fibrosus dehydrates and cracks.In the initial stage, it receives fluid from the tissue of the nucleus pulposus located inside it.This gelatinous body provides the normal height of the disc and its shock-absorbing ability to evenly distribute the applied 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 exiting the spinal cord from the pressure of adjacent vertebral bodies.They are injured and radiculitis (inflammation of the radicular nerves) appears.This is a dangerous situation.Therefore, the body takes measures to compensate for the lost capacity of the intervertebral discs.This causes excessive tension in the back muscles.As a result, the diffuse nutrition of the remaining cartilage tissue breaks down further.Therefore, osteochondrosis of the back is considered a disease with rapid development and spread.Without treatment, 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 recommend that you do not wait for everything to go away on its own.Seek medical help immediately.Treatment of osteochondrosis without surgery is possible at any stage, except for sequestration of the hernia.If part of the nucleus pulposus has separated from the intervertebral disc, then only surgical intervention can help in this situation.
You can make an appointment with a vertebrologist or neurologist.They will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective and safe treatment.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the back
The most common causes of osteochondrosis of the back are physical inactivity, excess body weight, sedentary work and refusal of regular physical activity.It is these factors that provoke the destruction of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs at a young age.In a later period of life (after 50 years), osteochondrosis develops for slightly different reasons:
- hormonal changes that lead to the leaching of calcium and phosphorus from bone tissue;
- gerontological degenerative changes in the body;
- interruption 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 decline in muscle mass;
- changes in posture and curvature of the spine;
- chronic diseases of internal organs that reduce a person's physical activity.
In addition, possible causes of the development of osteochondrosis of the back can be traumatic injuries to the vertebral bodies, their spinous processes, ligaments and tendons.Improper organization of sleeping and working areas is of no small importance.If a person does not pay attention to the position of his body during night sleep, then his risk of destroying the spine and developing osteochondrosis increases significantly.
You should also stop smoking and drinking alcohol.These two bad habits provoke disruption of blood microcirculation in the area of the intervertebral discs, which causes their degenerative dystrophic destruction.
The causes of osteochondrosis of the back can be the feeding and drinking regime.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 that are used in the regeneration of hyaline cartilage, which is the tissue 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.This does not allow him to restore the integrity of all tissues, including vertebrates.
Therefore, when carrying out the complex treatment of osteochondrosis of the back, an experienced doctor will definitely correct the patient's diet.She will give him the necessary recommendations regarding the proper organization of his sleeping and working space.
With osteochondrosis, the muscles of the back experience serious overload.They are responsible for supporting the spine and providing safety for the radicular nerves.With prolonged static tension, the blood circulation cycle in the capillaries changes.The myocytes begin to experience oxygen starvation and an ischemic reaction quickly begins.At first it gives severe pain in the back muscles.Then the myocytes begin to die.Short-term inflammation can occur against the background of muscle tissue necrosis.Then the degeneration of muscle fibers begins.This brings a number of negative consequences.Patients may develop myofascial pain syndrome.It continues for many years even after successful treatment of osteochondrosis.
Therefore, this process cannot start.As soon as the first signs of osteochondrosis appear, seek medical help immediately.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is less common, since there is not a wide range of mobility of the vertebral bodies.The height of the intervertebral spaces is also ensured by fixing the costal arches.Therefore, we will not consider the symptoms of this type of disease separately.
Most often, osteochondrosis develops in the lumbar region, as it bears the main absorption and physical load associated with any movement of the human body.Symptoms of the pathology include a characteristic shooting pain in the lumbar region.It can spread along the inner, outer or back surface of the thigh and lower leg, extending to the heel or toes.Gradually, clinical neurological signs begin to appear, such as numbness, paresthesia, decreased muscle strength, paleness and coldness of the skin of the lower extremities.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical and cervicothoracic spine is no less often diagnosed.This disease most often develops in people engaged in mental work.With prolonged static tension in the neck muscles, blood microcirculation is disrupted and cartilage tissue is destroyed.
Clinical symptoms with this localization of dystrophic degenerative changes in the cartilaginous tissues of the discs can be more diverse.The pain can radiate under the shoulder blade, in the area of the heart and in the upper limbs.Muscle weakness appears quickly in the arms.There are signs of impaired blood circulation in the posterior vertebral arteries.These are dizziness, decreased mental performance, frequent changes in blood pressure, drowsiness, apathy, etc.
If symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back appear, it is necessary to carry out a series of clinical studies.First of all, X-rays of the affected part of the spine are prescribed.Based on them, the doctor can only make a preliminary diagnosis.A more detailed examination of the condition of the spinal tissues is possible during an MRI examination.Doppler ultrasound, soft tissue ultrasound, biochemical and general blood tests, rheumatic tests, etc. may also be requested.
What to do and how to relieve the pain?
The first thing to do in case of osteochondrosis of the back is to stop exercising any physical activity and give relative rest to the spine and muscles.In the first days after an attack, it is better to stick to strict bed rest.Treatment can only be prescribed by a neurologist or vertebrologist.Self-medication is not recommended.Not only can they have a negative impact on your health, but they can also make it difficult to get an accurate diagnosis in the future.
The only thing you can do to relieve back pain due to osteochondrosis and not cause harm to your health is to pull the spine.It is important to restore the normal height of the intervertebral spaces.This will remove the pressure from the radicular nerves and all pain will go away without additional use of pharmacological drugs.Pulling can be hardware, manual or with the help of physical exercises.Only a doctor can determine which method is suitable in your individual case during an examination.
How to treat and cure osteochondrosis of the back?
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the back can be carried out exclusively by conservative methods, even in the prolapse stage of the intervertebral hernia.Doctors know how to cure osteochondrosis of the back without surgery.Osteopathy and massage, therapeutic exercises and kinesiotherapy, laser therapy, reflexology and much 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 possible causes and risk factors.Then an individual course of therapy is developed.During the treatment, the damaged cartilage tissue is completely restored.If all recommendations are followed, recurrences of osteochondrosis do not occur.