Osteochondrosis is a disease in which degenerative-degenerative processes occur in the spine tissue.Loss of intervertebral discs, articular surfaces that fit them, bead bodies, ligamental apparatus.As a rule, initially, with osteochondrosis, pathological changes occur in bones and ligaments.Moreover, a person is thoughtful for the onset of the disease only when he begins to suffer from complications of such a condition - back pain, damaged sensitivity, muscle atrophy, damaged functions of the internal organs.
This disease is widespread among modern people: according to various sources, up to 90% of the world's population suffer from osteochondrosis.Basically, the disease affects people who are already 30 years old.So far, lumbar osteochondrosis is most often detected (approximately half of the cases).
Stages of osteochondrosis
The disease develops in a person in stages.In the first phase of the progression of the disease, the process of dehydration of the pulposal nucleus begins.As a result, the height of the disc decrease decreases, and the cracks form in the fibrous ring.However, pathological changes do not occur outside the intervertebral disc.
In the second stage, there is an approach of two neighboring vertebrae as a result of a decrease in the height of the disk, the point of muscle attachment and ligaments.Due to the sagging of the ligaments and muscles, excessive mobility of the vertebrae manifests, which provokes the development of vertebral and motor segment instability.During this period, the vertebrae may slide or move while spondylolistz is formed.
The third phase in the development of osteochondrosis is characterized by significant morphological changes in the intervertebral discs.The formation of prolapses and the extension of the disks appears, the subluxation develops in the intervertebral nodes and non-vertebral joints.
When the fourth phase occurs, adaptive changes in the affected beads occur.In this case, the human body adapts to the very strong movement of the vertebrae, overcoming it.Due to the immobilization of the spine, osteophytes - regional bone growth on the adjacent surfaces of vertebral bodies appear.Osteophyte can damage a nerve spine.Gradually, fibrous changes occur in discs and intervertebral joints.As a result, a type of shell is formed in the vertebral-motor segment, and the manifestations gradually disappear.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Experts express different assumptions about the reasons that contribute to the development of osteochondrosis.Such reasons are called mechanical trauma of the spine, disorders in the body's metabolic processes, the regulation of the disease, which is hereditary.But a clear cause of the development of the disease is difficult to determine due to the spread of the disease.Often found in young and old people;Physically strong and slightly trained.
Sometimes you can hear that the symptoms of osteochondrosis occur due to the deposits of salts in the human back.Patients often talk about the secretion of salts if they hear a wrinkle and pressure on the joints.In fact, the disease develops due to damaged tissue food.As a result, their structure is gradually reborn.In bone and cartilage tissue, the renewal process is happening constantly.If a person has adequate regular physical activity, then the fabric becomes more elastic.But in people who mainly lead a sedentary lifestyle, such a fabric is less durable.
Moreover, the cause of the development of osteochondrosis can be excess weight, violation of behavior, adverse environmental conditions, body position features, an unevenly developed bone-muscular system, pregnancy, stress, hypothermia, infection.
Thus, the range of factors that provoke the development of the disease is very wide.The characteristics of blood flow and cartilage food and bone tissue play an not last role in this process.In adult vertebrates there are no ships, ie, oxygen and all the necessary nutrients are obtained from neighboring tissue.Therefore, for normal spine nutrition, blood circulation is constantly activated in the surrounding tissue.You can accelerate this process by ensuring active muscle function.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
Manifestations of the disease can be varied and depend directly on that stage of development that the disease stands.The most pronounced symptoms of the disease manifest when the pathological process spreads to the back of the fibrous ring and the posterior longitudinal ligament.In the process of activating the pathological process, the patient develops reflex neurological syndromes and compression.
Osteochondrosis can appear in a variety of areas of the body, so the symptoms of the disease are very extensive.In the patient, osteochondrosis can occur in the limbs or numbness, sometimes chest pain, disorders of the functions of the genitals and headaches.At the same time, a person does not even realize that the cause of such manifestations is osteochondrosis.
If the patient develops osteochondrosis of the spine of the chest, then the symptoms may resemble manifestations of heart disease: angina pectoris, myocardial infarction.This is why a wrong treatment is sometimes practiced, which leads to further advance of osteochondrosis.Therefore, if a person suspected of developing this disease, a person should consult a physician immediately and pass the necessary studies.
Osteochondrosis is mainly manifested by pain and a strong feeling of disturbance in the spine.In some cases, the pain occurs periodically, unstable.It may disappear for a while.But for each person, the appearance of pain should be a very disturbing symptom and cause concern.It is important to think and determine what caused the pain exactly.For example, it can be a strong physical activity, raising severity.
Another indicative symptom that manifests osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is numbness of the arms and legs, as well as the pain in them.Similar symptoms are also characteristic of other types of osteochondrosis.Most often, the pain develops on the left leg or hand, sometimes gives the heart, under the ribs.In the case of such symptoms, you do not immediately need to rush to drink medication from the heart or other diseases, but you must listen carefully and evaluate the nature of the pain, its changes depending on what the person is doing at the moment.All your observations should be drawn to the doctor, after which massage, gymnastics is practiced, other methods of treatment are practiced.An appeal to a specialist in the early stages of the disease will ensure his most effective treatment.
So, more often, patients who are diagnosed with osteochondrosis complain about the feeling of disturbance in the back in different places, of pain of different intensity and character.They have a higher level of fatigue, which manifests itself in physical and mental work.Sensitivity in different areas of the body can worry, most often in the limbs.Patients can also mark the cold in the hands and feet.A manifestation of osteochondrosis of the cervical region is often dizziness and headaches.Visual acuity can also decrease significantly.
If the patient has lumbar back osteochondrosis, then a variety of disorders of the human reproductive system may occur.After treatment of lumbosacral department osteochondrosis, men often mark an improvement in power.At the same time, if osteochondrosis of the sacral back develops in a woman, then this can complicate the conception process as well as gestation.In addition to these symptoms, other manifestations are possible with osteochondrosis: muscle cramps, movements in motion, shooting pain, etc.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
The most important point in the process of diagnosing osteochondrosis is to collect an anamnesis, and, the most important moment in this process is the patient's survey, which should show the doctor all the complaints in detail.If some symptoms of the disease determine characteristic manifestations in osteochondrosis, then there are also many signs that are important to be distinguished from the manifestations of other diseases.Disordishes of the functions of many organs, manifested in osteochondrosis, are often similar to the symptoms of gastritis, angina pectoris, gastric ulcers.This is why any symptom in osteochondrosis is subject to detailed study and analysis.
During the diagnosis, the doctor takes into account the age of the patient, the development of symptoms.Additional research methods are used to clarify the diagnosis.Most often in this case, radiological examination is practiced.To determine the patient's condition, a spinal cord is performed.If there are more specific complaints, the target radiography is practiced, aimed at the lesion scene.
A relatively complex diagnostic method is considered myelography.This examination predicts the introduction of a contrast fluid into the cerebrospinal canal.In this case, there is a risk of spinal cord damage, as well as the appearance of an allergic reaction.But at the same time, this method is considered informative if it is necessary to determine the presence of a dorsal hernia.
Moreover, the use of calculated tomography is practiced, the nuclear magnetic resonance is practiced.However, they are relatively expensive, therefore, they are mainly practiced if it is necessary to make differential diagnosis as well as to determine the presence of a spine.
The treatment of osteochondrosis
In order for the treatment of spinal osteochondrosis to be close, it is necessary to ensure not only an accurate diagnosis but also an integrated approach to the problem.The doctor, as a rule, determines the treatment methods, depending on which part of the spine was affected.The main methods of therapy for the cervical region, as well as the chest region and lumbar spine are massage, manual therapy, acupuncture, electrical stimulation, therapeutic gymnastics, vacuum therapy, withdrawal, and other methods.Parallel treatment with folk remedies can also be practiced.
The doctor prescribes the treatment in such a way as to ensure the elimination of disturbance of the symptoms of the patient, as well as the causes that cause spinal pathology.Stop pain by applying physiotherapy methods, medication.Special exercises for osteochondrosis of the spine are also practiced.
One of the main methods of treating spinal osteochondrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system is the use of physiotherapy exercises.For this, special rehabilitation equipment is used.With the help of regular execution of the exercises individually selected by a specialist, you can improve blood circulation, activate metabolism.As a result, the power of the intervertebral discs improves, and the load on the spine decreases.
The physiotherapy method involves the influence on the body of various physical factors.Using a low frequency current, magnetic field, laser, pain is effectively relieved, inflammation decreases, and parallel treatment of medication is more effective.With the help of massage, you can relieve muscle tension and pain, activate blood circulation.Manual therapy makes it possible to relieve chronic acute and persistent pain in the joints and spine, increase the volume of movements, and also has a positive positive effect on the body.The spinal alignment procedure is used to relieve severe pain.It is performed on special equipment.In this process, the intervertebral space increases, the shape of the spine is reset.Drug treatment is mainly practiced during irritation.
But in most cases, even effective treatment only allows to slow the progression of the disease, to prevent irritation.You can only recover in the initial phase of osteochondrosis.It is important to consider that the duration of treatment depends on how the onset of the disease, the methods of therapy, and how carefully the patient fulfills all the appointments and recommendations of the physician.As a rule, the active treatment period lasts from one to three months.After surgery, a person has returned for about a year.If conservative therapy does not produce expected results, and there are specific indications, then the doctor prescribes surgical treatment.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
People who already suffer from manifestations of osteochondrosis should try not to overload the spine and minimize pressure on the intervertebral discs.It is advisable to always try to keep your back evenly, to avoid spinal trauma.A comfortable bedroom bed is important: you have to choose a individually orthopedic mattress.You do not have to lift weights that weigh more than 10 kg, and to raise the item, you must first sit down, get an object and then raise it.Women should not wear very high heels.In addition, people who complain of back pain should perform exercises every day that strengthen the muscle crust.It is recommended to include in swimming if possible.