Diseases such as back osteochondrosis do not exist in modern medicine.First of all, it should be clarified that the term osteochondrosis itself is outdated and does not exist in the current edition of ICD-10.It is replaced by a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral disc.However, we will tell you about back osteochondrosis, its symptoms and treatment, because many patients call their condition like that.And they will understand the meaning of this article.
So, osteochondrosis is a degeneration of the intervertebral disc of dystrophic origin.Everything 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 spinal column.With its help, the stable position of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity and chest is ensured.Inside the spine is the spinal cord, the structure that provides energy to the rest of the body.The spine provides flexibility to the body, allowing you to walk freely and make any movement with your hands.It is the link between the head and the limbs.
The spinal column is made up of individual vertebral bodies.They are connected to each other using joints and ligaments.There is a long longitudinal ligament that starts in the coccyx area and ends in the occiput area.There are short transverse ligaments that connect adjacent vertebral bodies.The intervertebral disc consists of a dense outer skin (annulus fibrosus) that can withstand even the most extreme loads.But the fibrous ring has one significant drawback - it does not have its own network of blood capillaries.It receives fluid only when the surrounding muscles are actively contracting and relaxing.Also, part of the nutrition is provided by diffuse exchange between the intervertebral disc and the end plate that separates it from the vertebrae.
If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle and his back muscles do not work actively and regularly, then the fibrous rings become dehydrated and crack.In the early stages, it takes fluid from the tissue of the nucleus pulposus located inside.This gelatin body ensures the disc's normal height and shock-absorbing ability to evenly distribute the applied load.
With the long course of this pathological process, the height of the intervertebral disc decreases.It loses its ability to protect the radicular nerves arising from the spinal cord from pressure from adjacent vertebral bodies.They become injured and radiculitis occurs (radicular nerve inflammation).This is a dangerous situation.Therefore, the body takes steps to compensate for the loss of intervertebral disc capacity.This causes excessive tension in the back muscles.As a result, nutrition permeates the remaining cartilaginous tissue and is disrupted again.Therefore, back osteochondrosis is considered a rapidly developing and spreading disease.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.Get medical help immediately.Treatment of osteochondrosis without surgery is possible at any stage, except for hernia absorption.If part of the nucleus pulposus has been separated from the intervertebral disc, then only surgical intervention can help in this situation.
You can make an appointment with a vertebrologist or a neurologist.They will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an effective and safe treatment.
Causes of back osteochondrosis
The most common causes of back osteochondrosis are physical inactivity, overweight, sedentary work and refusal of regular physical activity.These factors trigger the destruction of intervertebral disc cartilage tissue at a young age.In later life (after 50 years), osteochondrosis develops for slightly different reasons:
- hormonal changes that lead to leaching of calcium and phosphorus from bone tissue;
- gerontological degenerative changes in the body;
- capillary blood flow disorders against the background of atherosclerotic deformation 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 spinal column;
- chronic diseases of internal organs that reduce a person's physical activity.
In addition, the potential cause of the development of osteochondrosis of the back can be a traumatic injury to the vertebral bodies, their spinous processes, ligaments and tendons.Improper organization of sleeping and working space is important.If a person does not pay attention to the position of his body during night sleep, then the risk of destruction of the spine and the development of osteochondrosis increases sharply.
You should also stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.Both of these bad habits cause disruption of blood microcirculation in the intervertebral disc area, which triggers their degenerative dystrophic destruction.
The cause of back osteochondrosis can be diet and drinking regimen.Adults should drink at least 2 liters of clean water every day to maintain water and electrolyte balance.Also, the diet should contain all the vitamins and minerals used in the regeneration of hyaline cartilage, which forms the fibrous ring tissue.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 complex treatment of back osteochondrosis, an experienced doctor will definitely correct the patient's diet.He will give him the necessary recommendations regarding the proper organization of his sleeping and work space.
With osteochondrosis, the back muscles experience a serious load.They are responsible for supporting the spinal column and ensuring safety for the radicular nerves.With prolonged static voltage, the blood circulation cycle in the capillaries changes.Myocytes begin to experience oxygen starvation and the ischemic response begins rapidly.At first it gives severe pain in the back muscles.Then the myocytes begin to die.Short-term inflammation may occur against the background of muscle tissue necrosis.Then the degeneration of muscle fibers begins.This involves several negative consequences.Patients may experience myofascial pain syndrome.It persists for many years even after successful treatment of osteochondrosis.
Therefore, this process cannot be started.As soon as the first signs of osteochondrosis appear, immediately seek medical help.
Symptoms of back osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the back of the thorax is the rarest, because there is no range of movement of the vertebral body.The height of the intervertebral space is also ensured by tying the costal arches.Therefore, we will not consider the symptoms of this type of disease separately.
Most often, osteochondrosis develops in the lumbar region, because it bears the main load that absorbs shock and physical activity associated with any movement of the human body.Pathological symptoms include characteristic shooting pain in the lumbar region.It can spread along the inner, outer or back surfaces of the thighs and lower legs, extending to the heels or toes.Gradually, neurological clinical signs began to appear, such as numbness, paresthesia, decreased muscle strength, pallor and coldness of the lower skin.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical and cervicothoracic spine is no less frequently diagnosed.This disease most often develops in people involved in mental work.With prolonged static tension in the neck muscles, blood microcirculation is disrupted and cartilage tissue is destroyed.
Clinical symptoms with the localization of this degenerative dystrophic change in the cartilaginous tissue of the disc can be more diverse.Pain can radiate below the shoulder blades, in the heart area and in the upper limbs.Muscle weakness quickly occurs in the arms.There are signs of impaired blood circulation in the posterior vertebral artery.These are dizziness, decreased mental performance, frequent changes in blood pressure, drowsiness, apathy, etc.
If symptoms of back osteochondrosis appear, it is necessary to conduct a series of clinical studies.First of all, an X-ray of the affected part of the spine is prescribed.Based on them, doctors can only make a preliminary diagnosis.A more detailed examination of the condition of the spinal tissue is possible during an MRI examination.Doppler ultrasound, soft tissue ultrasound, biochemical and general blood tests, rheumatic tests, etc.may also be required.
What to do and how to relieve the pain?
The first thing to do in the case of back osteochondrosis is to stop doing any physical activity and give relative rest to the spine and muscles.In the first few days after an attack, it is better to observe strict bed rest.Treatment can only be prescribed by a neurologist or vertebrologist.Self-medication is not recommended.Not only can it have a negative impact on your health, but it can also make it difficult to make 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 traction on the spine.It is important to restore the normal height of the intervertebral space.This will remove the pressure from the radicular nerve and all the pain will disappear without the additional use of pharmacological drugs.Traction can be hardware, manual or with the help of physical exercises.Only a doctor can determine which method is appropriate in your individual case during the examination.
How to treat and cure back osteochondrosis?
Treatment of back osteochondrosis can be done exclusively with conservative methods, even at the stage of intervertebral hernia prolapse.Doctors know how to cure back osteochondrosis without surgery.For this purpose, osteopathy and massage, therapeutic exercises and kinesiotherapy, laser therapy, reflexology and more are used.
Before treating back osteochondrosis, the doctor gives the patient comprehensive individual recommendations, the implementation of which eliminates potential causes and risk factors.Then individual therapy courses are developed.During the treatment, the damaged cartilage tissue is completely restored.If all recommendations are followed, recurrence of osteochondrosis does not occur.