Osteochondrosis is a pathology provoked by the degenerative process in cartilage tissue.In most cases, the stable function of the intervertebral disc is observed, so often they talk about osteochondrosis of the spine.
Pathogenesis
First of all, osteochondrosis is associated with the fact that a person is in an upright position for a long time, which creates an increased load on the spinal and intervertebral discs.
With age, the function 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 may be:
- work related to vibration or where the position of the body often changes (flexion extensions, turns, bends, jerking movements);
- lifting weights;
- overweight;
- multiple pregnancies;
- lack of vitamins in the body;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- Sleep on a soft mattress;
- poor posture (scoliosis);
- Vertebral instability.
Deterioration of the dystrophic process of disc destruction may be associated with intense physical activity (especially without prior warm-up), injury, or skeletal pathology that changes the distribution of the load on the spinal column.
Pathological features
Numbness and pain, as the main manifestation of osteochondrosis, can be seen throughout the body or only in the back.The pain worsens with sudden movement, 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 ability.
If a person is not given help and treatment is not started, the pain increases, spreads to the limbs and limits their mobility.When the cervicothoracic spine is affected, the arms are affected, and the lumbar spine is affected by the lower limbs.
Symptomatic manifestations differ depending on the part of the spine affected.
Types and symptoms of osteochondrosis
Pathology can affect various parts of the spine.Taking localization into account, osteochondrosis can develop in the cervical area (more than 25% of diagnosed cases), lumbar (more than 50%) or thoracic area (12%).
Deterioration of the dystrophic process of disc destruction may be associated with intense physical activity (especially without prior warm-up), injury, or skeletal pathology that changes the distribution of the load on the spinal column.
Osteochondrosis of the neck
Spinal nerves, arteries (supplying the brain), nerve trunks and roots (establishing nerve connections with the arms, lungs and heart) pass through the cervical region.Over the years, especially for people who are not trained or work at a computer for a long time, neck movement becomes difficult.
Symptoms Characteristics of cervical osteochondrosis:
- headache and heartache;
- dizziness (possibility of short-term loss of consciousness, which is associated with impaired blood supply to the brain);
- numbness and pain in the shoulder or arm joints.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
Pain in the chest area is familiar to people who often and for a long time are involved in physical labor, representatives of "inactive" professions (architects, designers, drivers).
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region:
- the feeling of having "interests in the chest";
- painful sensation in the cervical region, between the shoulder blades;
- hand numbness (temporary, long-term);
- hearing and vision impairment;
- increased sweating;
- Headache radiating to the back of the head (often long-lasting, up to 12 hours);
- changes in blood and intracranial pressure;
- Tachycardia and arrhythmia.
A good prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis is correct posture.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
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 body changes;
- development of scoliosis;
- back pain, especially in the morning, right after waking up;
- Sensitivity and muscle tone are affected.
The pain and its intensity reach its peak during the acute period of the disease.Their period 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 disc progresses, the severity of the symptoms decreases.After 60 years, the disease becomes chronic, the pain disappears.
Disease stage
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 ring becomes fibrous.Through the rupture, the protrusion of the nucleus occurs, compression of the root, which leads to increased pain and a decrease in the disc's ability to absorb shock.
The main stages of the development of osteochondrosis:
- A person develops characteristic complaints caused by physical exertion or prolonged stay in one position.X-rays show a slight narrowing of the gap between the vertebrae.
- Loss of disc stability, cartilage tissue extends into the fibrous ring, and nerve roots are compressed.X-rays show decreased intervertebral spacing, vertebral displacement, and proliferation of bone tissue.
- Intervertebral hernia develops.The disc moves more and more into the surrounding tissue.Violations cause damage to nerves and blood vessels.The pain is increasing, there is numbness and limitation in the movement of the limbs.
- The disc hardens and is replaced by scar tissue.With fibrosis, bone protrusions grow along the edges, and the distance between the vertebrae decreases significantly.The mobility of the spine is reduced, it seems to be ossified.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
The initial diagnosis is made by the 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 stages are explained after instrumental research methods are carried out.First of all, an X-ray of the prescribed part of the spinal column.
After studying the image, the expert determines:
- whether the intervertebral space has decreased;
- whether cartilage tissue is depleted;
- What is the level of 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, early diagnoses can be confirmed or refuted with high accuracy.
How to treat osteochondrosis
Therapy for this 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.
Specialists decide the most effective method of treatment, based on the results of the study and the severity of the ongoing pathology.process.
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis
The main goal for this type of disease is to stop the inflammatory process and pain, and relieve muscle spasms.This can be done by taking patients:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.To reduce skeletal muscle tone, muscle spasms and nerve root compression, experts supplement NSAID drugs with muscle relaxants.
- Group B vitamin preparations.
The optimal treatment period is 7-10 days.
Medicines are often added to local treatments.Warming ointments or gels containing NSAIDs can be applied to the affected area, which help improve blood supply, metabolism, and stop inflammation.External remedies quickly relieve pain, because the main active ingredient penetrates the inflammation and immediately begins to "act".
Taking medications is usually supplemented with exercise therapy, massage, physiology-reflexology or manual therapy.
The main task of people suffering from osteochondrosis is to reduce the frequency and severity of pain symptoms (especially during exacerbations).Compliance with the doctor's recommendations and the use of drugs combined with physical therapy exercises will help restore the normal function of the spine and avoid surgical intervention.