Osteochondrosis is a medical term that describes a violation of the integrity of the cartilaginous surfaces of bones. Most of the time, the disease is associated with damage to the intervertebral discs.
Intervertebral discs are a type of shock absorber that softens the pressure in the spine under load. Osteochondrosis worsens the quality of life, causing pain in the back, neck, head, tinnitus.
There are two points of view regarding the diagnosis. Experts abroad attribute the disorder to childhood and adolescent illnesses. It is believed to be more common in children, as their bones are in a developmental stage. Russian doctors diagnose osteochondrosis mainly in patients aged 25 to 55 years. The signs, causes and types of the disease in the two cases are the same.
How to define osteochondrosis?
- Is there back pain or persistent or recurrent muscle tension?
- Do you have chills in your lower back or neck?
- Do you feel a "shot" in the back?
- Do you feel pain when you raise your arms or shake your head sideways?
- Do you have periodic dizziness?
- Do you have noise attacks, nausea?
If at least one of the answers is affirmative, it is worth contacting a specialist to conduct a study. If the diagnosis reveals a violation, the doctor will prescribe treatment and help protect you from more severe and painful symptoms.
What causes osteochondrosis
The high incidence of osteochondrosis is associated with the fact that people are in an upright position most of the time. In this case, the spine and discs are under greater stress. If you sit, lie down and stand incorrectly, the discs lose their damping capacity.
Over time, the lining of the disc cracks and hernial protrusions appear. They begin to compress the blood vessels, the roots of the spinal cord or the brain itself. As a result, pain, reflex tensions in the muscles arise.
The risk group includes middle-aged and elderly people. Office workers, professional drivers and tall people are most often faced with this disease. Risk factors for the onset of severe symptoms of a disorder can be:
- flat foot;
- heredity;
- overweight;
- hypodynamic.
The reasons for the appearance of disorders in the articular cartilage:
Handling heavy loads.
Inadequate posture when sitting, standing or lying down.
Injuries, overexertion.
Excessive stress when playing sports.
High air humidity and low temperature.
Activities associated with frequent changes in body position.
Types of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis can develop anywhere in the spine. By location, the disease is divided into: cervical, thoracic and lumbar. The latter type occurs in 50% of cases.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
A similar diagnosis is made for both men and women. The reason for this is the increased load that comes with walking, running, exercising and sitting for a long time. The lumbar spine is composed of 5 vertebrae, among which there are discs that give elasticity. If the metabolic process does not occur, the intervertebral discs lose their properties and pain occurs.
Symptoms:
- Acute or uncomfortable back pain that worsens with movement.
- Pain in the legs, pelvic organs, sacral region.
- Impaired mobility or sensitivity.
- Atrophy of the leg muscles in the acute course of the disease.
Lumbar osteochondrosis must be treated. In the absence of therapy, dangerous complications can occur: sciatica, hernia, protrusion. As a result, the natural blood supply to the spinal cord is interrupted, which leads to paralysis of the lower limbs.
Cervical osteochondrosis
"Be sure to turn your head" - recommend doctors. That way, you can avoid the dangerous diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. The neck is the most mobile part of the spine. The department consists of 7 vertebrae. The disease arises as a result of metabolic disorders in the body, in the presence of salts in the neck or due to the frequent uncomfortable position of the head.
Symptoms:
- Headaches;
- Pain in the heart region;
- Blinking "flies" before the eyes;
- Hearing deficiency;
- Crunch in the cervical spine;
- Pain in the arm or shoulder joint;
- Limb numbness.
Experts note that this type of illness is one of the most dangerous, as it can cause poor circulation in the brain, migraine, dystonia and more serious illnesses.
Thoracic osteochondrosis
Disorders in the thoracic spine occur less frequently, since the vertebrae are inactive. The pains that appear in this area of the body are felt by many people who perform forced physical work or have a sedentary profession. The cause of osteochondrosis can be a disturbed metabolic process, an increased load on the intervertebral discs.
Symptoms:
- Pain or tightness in the chest area.
- Pain between the shoulder blades when raising the arms.
- Skin sensitivity disorders.
In an acute disorder, two symptoms can occur: back of the body and back pain. Dorsago is accompanied by acute chest pain, shortness of breath. With back pain, the pain in the area of the department's vertebrae is not very strong, but it gradually increases. The disease is often confused with other chest pathologies: heart attack, pneumonia, angina pectoris, etc. The diagnosis is made only by a specialist, based on exams and research.
Stages of osteochondrosis
- In the first stage, there are no obvious symptoms. With periodicity, there is discomfort in the spine, which is associated with tiredness or excessive physical effort. The disease can be detected during a routine examination, X-ray or CT scan.
- The second stage is accompanied by the pain syndrome, since the process of destruction of the cartilaginous tissue begins and the space between the discs is reduced. The pain at this stage is relieved by medications prescribed by a doctor.
- In the third stage, spinal deformities begin: the fibrous ring breaks, an intervertebral hernia appears. With the help of a properly prescribed treatment, it is still possible to improve the condition of the spine.
- The fourth stage consists of irreversible changes in the spine, in which it is difficult for a person to move. Bone tissue grows between the vertebrae, connecting the vertebrae. Most of the time, this form of osteochondrosis leads to deficiency.
Diagnostic methods
To determine the extent of the disease, to check for sensitivity and reflexes, the doctor does a physical examination. In addition, blood and urine tests are performed and indicators of calcium metabolism are studied.
To make an accurate diagnosis, diagnostic methods are used:
- Vascular ultrasound. Determination of the degree of impaired blood flow in the vertebral arteries.
- X-ray of the spine.
- UKT. Construction of a three-dimensional image of the study area to detect small displacements of the vertebrae.
- UMRI. Study of the state of soft tissues to assess the state of the spinal cord and visualize the internal structure of the discs.
Treatment
Osteochondrosis is treated comprehensively. The main objective of therapy is to suppress painful sensations, eliminate muscle tension and stiffness in the movements that arise due to pain. It is important not to self-medicate, but to consult a specialist and follow the recommendations.
To treat the spine, the doctor prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that help to relieve inflammation and swelling. Muscle relaxants are responsible for reducing muscle spasms. Ointments are used to relieve pain. Antioxidants and vitamins can be prescribed to protect nerve tissue.
Prophylaxis
It is possible to preserve the health of the spine and prevent the appearance of symptoms or complications of osteochondrosis by adhering to the prevention methods:
- drink plenty of water, control body weight;
- eating foods rich in collagen;
- selection of orthopedic mattress that supports the body;
- regular exercise.
Alternative methods can be tried: acupuncture, qigong or massage. Before starting any procedure, a doctor should be consulted to ensure the health of the musculoskeletal system.