Injuries to the back and neck, heavy physical exertion, sedentary lifestyle, pregnancy, old age - all these are the causes of diseases of the spine, the support of the human body. The symptoms of osteochondrosis, cervical, thoracic or lumbar, are different, so any, even subtle signs, can not be ignored. The earlier treatment is started, the faster recovery will occur. If you notice the first signs of the disease in yourself, consult a doctor and undergo an examination.
What is osteochondrosis
One of the most diagnosed diseases of the spine is osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which are found in every 3rd person after 35 years. It mainly affects overweight elderly people, former athletes or workers whose professional activity is associated with heavy workloads. According to statistics from recent years, it is clear that the disease is rejuvenating. Girls and boys who prefer to lead a sedentary lifestyle no longer surprise doctors with complaints of back pain.
Osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine in which there is degenerative-dystrophic damage to the intervertebral discs. If left untreated, it destroys the vertebrae themselves, leading to disability, atrophy and paralysis of the limbs. Such a problem can also lead to stroke, sciatica, kyphosis, bulge. At the first signs of the disease you should seek medical help.
Each degree of this dystrophic disorder of the spine is characterized by its own symptoms and signs. There are a total of four stages. In the first stage, pathological changes occur, manifested in dehydration and reduction in the height of the intervertebral disc. The second fixes sagging of the spinal muscles and ligaments, diagnoses spondylolisthesis (displacement, curvature of the disc). The third stage is characterized by the appearance of prolapses and protrusions of the discs. At the last stage there is a deformation of the vertebrae, on which grow bone growths - osteophytes.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of osteochondrosis depend on the stage of development. The type of disease also plays an important role. Osteochondrosis affects different parts of the spine: cervical, thoracic, lumbar. Some signs of the patient may not be related to the spine, such as heart or headache, numbness of the fingers and toes. At the same time, the patient complains that the neck hurts or stings in the chest. It is very important to seek help from the hospital. The treatment of the disease lasts about 3 months, plus one year is given for rehabilitation.
The most common symptoms of osteochondrosis:
- back pain between the shoulder blades;
- dizziness;
- feeling of a lump in the throat;
- nausea;
- loss of sensation in the limbs;
- fever;
- tingling in the limbs.
Cervical osteochondrosis
If we look at the signs according to the type of disease, then problems with the cervical spine are dangerous due to the proximity to the brain. There is a partial overlap of the blood vessels that carry blood to the head. The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are:
- dizziness;
- blurred vision;
- noise in the ears;
- "drifts" when walking;
- pain in the back of the head, arms, shoulders.
Chest osteochondrosis
This type of disease affects the heart, as a result of which the patient begins to complain of the following symptoms:
- pain in the chest, back, shoulders;
- heart pain;
- angina;
- feeling of a lump in the throat;
- shortness of breath;
- tightening of breathing;
- numbness of the hands and feet.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
Disease affecting the lower spine leads to problems with the pelvic organs. Sexual function suffers. The signs of lumbar osteochondrosis are:
- pain in the coccyx, sacrum, lower back;
- spasms of the muscles of the thighs, calves, buttocks;
- shooting in the legs;
- tingling in the limbs;
- poor joint mobility;
- exacerbation of diseases of the genitourinary system.
Symptoms of wandering osteochondrosis
This term means osteochondrosis, which develops in two parts of the spine, such as the cervicothoracic type of disease. In this case, the patient will feel painful signs that appear first in one place on the back, then in another, ie the place of pain will move. In this case, the patient can diagnose a disorder of the cardiovascular system and even take medication to treat this problem, which can not be done without a medical examination.
Signs of osteochondrosis
Depending on what affects the disease, doctors distinguish four groups of syndromes, each of which is characterized by its own symptoms. The syndromes of osteochondrosis are as follows:
- static syndrome. This concept refers to a change in the shape of the spine. There is a violation of posture: a person begins to bend over, bend over, lower one shoulder under the other. Scoliosis occurs.
- neurological syndrome. The disease affects the nervous system. The person complains of tingling, numbness. Neurological symptoms develop into complications in the form of paralysis or seizures.
- vascular syndrome. Here we are talking about squeezing the vessels from the vertebral processes. This situation is often observed in the cervical form of the disease. The result is impaired blood circulation, oxygen starvation of the brain, leading to blurring, dizziness, nausea, hearing and vision loss. In thoracic or lumbar osteochondrosis, chronic ischemia of the internal organs is observed.
- trophic syndrome. It is characterized by insufficient tissue nutrition with essential substances. As a result, ulcers, inflammations and other defects appear on the skin.
The first signs of osteochondrosis
In the initial stage of the disease, as in the last, the patient does not feel any discomfort. Only a doctor is able to identify a problem at this stage of development, for example when diagnosing another disease or during a medical examination. The diagnostic methods are as follows:
- X-ray of the spine in two projections, if necessary, X-ray of a single vertebra;
- magnetic resonance imaging (determination of intervertebral disc herniation, assessment of the condition of the spinal cord);
- discography (examination of the intervertebral disc);
- electrophysical examination (determination of the degree of damage to the nerve pathways).