Osteochondrosis is a medical term describing a violation of the integrity of the cartilaginous surfaces of the bones. The disease is most often associated with damage to the intervertebral discs.
Intervertebral discs are a type of shock absorber that softens the pressure on the spine during exercise. 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 diseases. It is thought to be more common in children because their bones are developing. Russian doctors diagnose osteochondrosis mainly in patients aged 25-55 years. The signs, causes and types of the disease in both cases are the same.
How to determine osteochondrosis?
- Are there persistent or recurrent back pain or muscle tension?
- Do you have goosebumps in your lower back or neck?
- Do you feel "shooting" in your back?
- Do you feel pain when you raise your arms or shake your head to the side?
- Do you have periodic dizziness?
- Do you experience bouts of noise, nausea?
If at least one answer is yes, it is worth contacting a specialist to conduct a study. If the diagnosis reveals a disorder, your doctor will prescribe treatment and help protect you from more serious and painful symptoms.
What causes osteochondrosis
The mass incidence of osteochondrosis is related to the fact that people are upright most of the time. In this case, the spine and discs are subjected to increased stress. If they sit, lie down and stand incorrectly, the discs lose their ability to soften.
Over time, the lining of the disc cracks and hernial protrusions appear. They begin to squeeze the blood vessels, the roots of the spinal cord or the brain itself. As a result, there is pain, reflex tension in the muscles.
The risk group includes middle-aged and older people. Office workers, professional drivers, tall people most often face this disease. Risk factors for severe symptoms of the disorder may include:
- flat steps;
- heredity;
- Overweight;
- hypodynamia.
The reasons for the appearance of disorders in the articular cartilage:
Heavy load management.
Improper posture when sitting, standing or lying down.
Injuries, overexertion.
Excessive stress in sports.
High humidity and low temperature.
Activities related to frequent changes in body position.
Types of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis can develop in any part of the spine. According to localization, 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 occurs during prolonged walking, running, exercising and sitting. The lumbar part of the spine consists of 5 vertebrae, between which there are discs that give elasticity. If the metabolic process does not occur, the intervertebral discs lose their properties and pain occurs.
Symptoms:
- Dull or sharp back pain that worsens with movement.
- Pain in the legs, pelvic organs, sacral area.
- 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, bulge. As a result, the natural blood supply to the spinal cord is disrupted, leading to paralysis of the lower limbs.
Cervical osteochondrosis
"Remember to turn your head" - doctors urge. In this 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 occurs as a result of metabolic disordersin the body, in the presence of salts in the neck or due to the frequent awkward position of the head.
Symptoms:
- Headache;
- Pain in the heart;
- Flashing "flies" in front of the eyes;
- Hearing impairment;
- Crunching in the cervical spine;
- Pain in the arm or shoulder joint;
- Numbness of the limbs.
Experts note that this type of disease is one of the most dangerous, as it can cause poor circulation in the brain, migraines, dystonia and more serious diseases.
Osteochondrosis of the chest
Disorders of the thoracic spine occur less frequently because the vertebrae are inactive. The pain that occurs in this area of the body is experienced by many people who do hard physical work or have a sedentary profession. The cause of osteochondrosis can be a disturbed metabolic process, increased load on the intervertebral discs.
Symptoms:
- Chest pain or tightness.
- Pain between the shoulder blades when raising the arms.
- Disorders of skin sensitivity.
In acute disorder, two symptoms can occur: dorsago and dorsalgia. Dorsago is accompanied by acute chest pain, shortness of breath. In dorsalgia, the pain in the area of the vertebrae of the department is not too strong, but gradually increases. The disease is often confused with other breast pathologies: heart attack, pneumonia, angina pectoris and others. The diagnosis is made only by a specialist, based on examination 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 fatigue or excessive exercise. The disease can be detected during a routine examination, X-ray or CT scan.
- The second stage is accompanied by pain syndrome, as the process of destruction of cartilage tissue begins and the gap between the discs decreases. The pain at this stage is relieved by medication prescribed by a doctor.
- In the third stage, deformities of the spine begin: the fibrous ring is broken, an intervertebral hernia appears. With the right prescribed treatment, it is still possible to improve the condition of the spine.
- The fourth stage is irreversible changes in the spine, in which it becomes difficult for a person to move. Bone tissue grows between the vertebrae, connecting the vertebrae. Most often, this form of osteochondrosis leads to damage.
Diagnostic methods
To determine the extent of the disease, to check sensitivity and reflexes, the doctor performs a physical examination. In addition, blood and urine tests are taken, and indicators of calcium metabolism are examined.
Diagnostic methods are used to make an accurate diagnosis:
- Vascular ultrasound. Determining the degree of impaired blood flow in the vertebral arteries.
- X-ray of the spine.
- UKT. Construction of a three-dimensional image of the examination area to detect small displacements of the vertebrae.
- DIE. Examination of the condition of the soft tissues to assess the condition of the spinal cord and visualize the internal structure of the discs.
Treatment
Osteochondrosis is treated comprehensively. The main goal of therapy is to suppress painful sensations, to remove muscle tension and stiffness of movements that occur 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 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that help relieve inflammation and swelling. Muscle relaxants are responsible for reducing muscle spasms. Ointments are used to relieve pain. Antioxidants and vitamins may be prescribed to protect nerve tissue.
Prevention
It is possible to maintain the health of the spine and prevent the appearance of symptoms or complications of osteochondrosis, following the methods of prevention:
- drinking enough water; weight control;
- eating foods rich in collagen;
- choice of orthopedic mattress that supports the body;
- regular exercise.
Alternative methods can be tried: acupuncture, qigong or massage. Before starting any procedure, you should consult a doctor to ensure the health of the musculoskeletal system.