Translated from the Greek, the word "chondrosis" can be translated as "cartilage".However, as a rule, the word "osteochondrosis" does not mean damage to cartilage tissue (which would be logical), but only spinal diseases.
In patients with osteochondrosis, the structure (and therefore the function) of intervertebral discs - special cartilaginous structures, ensuring the mobility and flexibility of the human spine.
As the disease advances, irreversible changes also arise and develop in the vertebrae themselves.
The causes of osteochondrosis
All the reasons why a person has a disease such as osteochondrosis, experts are divided into endogenous (or internal) and exogenous (or therefore external).
Endogenous (internal) causes are considered spinal disorders that have emerged in a person in the womb, as well as age -related changes in cartilage and hereditary predisposition to osteochondrosis.
The main exogenous (external) experts consider the inadequate distribution of the load that is reaching the column.It is a distribution that causes changes that occur with cartilage where the highest pressure is.
In addition, the causes of the development of osteochondrosis are the trauma of the spine and a variety of infections, inadequate and inadequate posture, weakness of the rear muscles and lateral (S) spine -shaped curvature.In addition, the negative consequences for the spine may have weights or prolonged stay in an uncomfortable or unnatural position.
Contrary to popular belief, not just mental work people and those who do not follow their posture can suffer (and suffer) of osteochondrosis.This disease plagues even those who are well prepared physically.For example, moved, drivers and professional athletes.
In addition to the causes of purely mechanical property, problems with metabolism (most often calcium and phosphorus), as well as a deficiency of food and elements and vitamins (in particular magnesium, manganese, zinc and vitamin D) can lead to the appearance and development of osteochondrosis.Many doctors are sure that a predisposition to inherited osteochondrosis also plays a significant role in the occurrence of the disease.
What happens with osteochondrosis?
When a person plays weighing, jumps or falls, it is usually in an uncomfortable position and so on, the intervertebral discs receive microtrauma.If such lesions occur more or less often, over time, the discs lose their elasticity and flatten and at the same time the distance between the vertebrae decreases.As a result, there is a squeeze of nerve roots that extend from the spinal cord.This is what causes back pain.At the same time, in the same place where the vascular nervous package is pushed, the edema forms as a result, the load in the same package increases and the pain intensifies.
When the destruction of the intervertebral disc has already begun, it fails to play the role of the damper, obtaining more and more injuries.Over time, a person's column loses its natural flexibility.
How does osteochondrosis manifest itself?
The main manifestation of osteochondrosis is back pain.From which intervertebral discs are damaged, the patient feels different pain.He can hurt not only his back, but also his neck, or perhaps a hand or heart.Sometimes osteochondrosis distributes to the chest.One person can easily decide that something was happening to his heart, but it was actually one of the nerves.In addition to pain, a person usually feels numb and overloaded muscle.Headache, nausea, vomiting, ears in the ears, dizziness and double eyes, as well as fainting cases, may indicate that blood vessels are squeezed that bring blood to the brain.
Diagnosis for osteochondrosis
If one of the symptoms described above manifests in you, this is an occasion to seek an appointment with a traumatologist or neurologist.One of these experts will examine the spine and study brain circulation.If the doctor deems necessary, he can send it to an X-ray or prescribe a computer or magnetic resonance referral (magnetic resonance imaging) of the spine that bothers him.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Get ready to allocate a lot of time for osteochondrosis treatment.Also, you will need your willpower.There are a very large number of ways to combat osteochondrosis.These are methods of medication, traction, massage and therapeutic gymnastics and needle -flexotherapy.In addition, manual therapists have their own methods - in some cases they show high efficiency.Rich medicine is also rich in ideas, offering treating osteochondrosis with bee poison, massage and many other miraculous methods.If osteochondrosis has a complication in the form of an intervertebral disc hernia, unfortunately, you cannot do without surgical intervention - you need an operation.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
This is what profile doctors usually recommend to avoid radiculitis and osteochondrosis:
- Over time, adjust the curvature that emerged from the spine, as well as posture disorders.It is worth paying attention to this item to parents of school -age children.
- Regularly play sports and physical education.Thanks to sports loads, the called muscle corset is formed.Muscles - They will make it much more effective on your posture than a variety of wooden wood and straight back seats.Also, your own muscles will protect the spine even when you forget.
- Try to eat right, follow a diet.Follow the presence in your high -vitamin, calcium and magnesium product diet (they are abundantly present in fish and other seafood, spinach, kale, walnuts and seeds, beans and peas, fresh milk and thick bread).
- Do not allow the appearance of overweight.Extra pounds are an unnecessary load in your column.
- Taking severity, distribute loads on both hands as evenly as possible.If possible, use backpacks, non -bags.If you need to raise something with a lot of difficulty standing, not in the spine, see how the brulhetists do it.