Osteochondrosis is a disease in which degenerative-dystophic changes are diagnosed in the cartilage tissues of the column, also accompanied by the structure and functionality disorders of the intervertebral discs. Depending on the location of damaged tissues, the osteochondrosis of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar are distinguished.
What is osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine in which degenerative and distribution lesions of the intervertebral discs occur. With the development of osteochondrosis, dynamic degenerative lesions are applied to the vertebral tissue.
The main feature that indicates the development of osteochondrosis is the pain in the neck, the back, the lower back area, with the progression, the pain "gives" hands, chest, shoulders, the upper part of the thigh, etc. With negative dynamics of osteochondrosis, the atrophy of muscle tissue, altered sensitivity, as well as the dysfunction of the internal prayer, caused by its suppression, provocation, provocation. displacement. In the absence of timely therapy, osteochondrosis develops in an incurable state.
The causes of osteochondrosis
The main factor in the development of osteochondrosis is an unequal load in the spine. The habit of carrying a bag on a shoulder or in one hand, an incorrect possession in a sitting position, a dream in an excessively soft mattress, a high pillow, which uses types of anatomically incorrect shoes are a common cause of inadequate distribution of the load.
Additional risk factors include hypodinamia, a sedentary lifestyle, excess weight, back injuries, lower limbs, flat feet and other disorders of the musculoskeletal system, as well as degenerative processes related to age in changes related to age in the blood supply of the spine.
In the etiology of osteochondrosis, the following factors can also play a role:
- physical surgeination of the body;
- Neuro -emotional exhaustion;
- Metabolic disorders, poisoning, gastrointestinal tract diseases that avoid the total assimilation of nutrients;
- Professional risks, in particular, work on vibration platforms;
- genetic predisposition;
- Posture violations during active growth, scoliosis;
- Use uncomfortable shoes (narrow, heels);
- prolonged and/or regular dehydration;
- lower diet, hypovitaminosis;
- smoking;
- The pregnancy, especially multiple, in combination with an undeveloped muscle-light apparatus (due to the displacement of the body's center of gravity).
Osteochondrosis development stages
Osteochondrosis in the dynamics of the disease passes four stages:
- The osteochondrosis of the first stage (grade) is characterized by the initial stage of the pathology in the nucleus pulp of the intervertebral disc. Due to excessive load, the dehydration (dehydration) process of the nucleus begins, which leads to a decrease in the disk height parameter and the appearance of cracks in the fibrous ring. The symptoms at this stage are generally absent, a lower discomfort can occur with a prolonged stay in an uncomfortable state, active movement, etc. ;
- In 2 stages, a decrease in the height of the discs leads to a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae and the sagging of vertebrates and ligaments. This causes greater mobility of the vertebrae with affected discs, which is dangerous with its displacement or sliding. In the second stage of the disease, discomfort, pain occurs, especially with some types of load, movements, positions;
- The stages of osteochondrosis 3 (grade) are characterized by the formation of prolapses and protuberances of the intervertebral discs, can be accompanied by subluxis and/or the development of osteoarthritis of the intervertebral joints. With some types of movement, patients feel stiffness, insufficient mobility, a tingling sensation, numbness can occur in the limbs. At this stage, osteochondrosis feels clearly on the back, neck, lumbosacro department or coccyx, depending on the location of the affected discs;
- In 4 stages of osteochondrosis, the body is trying to adjust the consequences of the hypermobility of the vertebrae and adapt to the deteriorated functionality of the spine. Osteophytes, new bone formations, which take over vertebral fixing are formed in the vertebrae places of contact. However, in some cases, osteophytes can cause nerve violation, injure vertebrae. Fibrous ankylosis begins on intervertebral discs and joints. In the absence of microtrauma and infractions of nerve roots, the symptoms of the disease decrease.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis are a sense of discomfort and/or pain in the neck, back. The severity of sensations and the presence of additional symptoms depend on the stage of the disease. When examining the patient and collecting an anamnesis, the specialist performs the initial diagnosis, assuming the presence of osteochondrosis by visually determined curvature of the column observed in the transverse or longitudinal plane of the spine. The pathologies of the intervertebral discs of the cervical and lumbar are found much more frequently than the degenerative and distribution changes in the area of the sternum.
The signs of osteochondrosis, which the patient feels, include a periodic or permanent sensation of back fatigue, erased or pronounced, depending on the stage of the disease, pain. The pain can be located on the neck, back, chest, shoulder waist, complicate, fetter the movements of the upper extremities.
The clinical image of osteochondrosis depends largely on the location of the pathology, the degree of process development, the individual characteristics of the patients. The pathology of intervertebral discs, displacements, protuberance, hernias and an increase in osteophytes lead to various consequences. Among the most common, the violations of normal blood circulation in the tissues, the pinch of nerve endings, the dysfunction of the spinal channel, edema, tissue fibrosis and structures are distinguished.
Such consequences can be accompanied by many different symptoms, which leads to an erroneous diagnosis of diseases.
The most common and characteristic symptoms of osteochondrosis include the following:
- back pain, neck, lower back, shoulder waist, rib areas;
- discomfort, rigidity of body movements that occur in some body positions, inclinations, turns, greater muscle tension;
- a feeling of numbness of the upper and lower extremities;
- Muscle and articulating, muscle cramps;
- Headaches, dizziness, greater fatigue;
- heart pain;
- violation of the sensitivity of the hands;
- Muscle hypotension
The symptoms of osteochondrosis differ according to the location of the pathology:
- With osteochondrosis of the cervical column, the pain in the neck, hands, shoulder waist, the irralotation of the shoulder area and the shoulder prevail; Headaches, dizziness, "flies" or spots in front of the eyes are observed, noise in the ears are observed;
- With damage to the thoracic column, the pain is located in the chest area, the heart, the internal surface of the shoulder, the armpit area, the discomfort of breathing is also observed, the lack of breath is possible;
- The osteochondrosis of the lumbosacra column is manifested by pain in the lower back with irradiation in the legs, upper thighs or pelvic organs, sexual dysfunction is often joined.
Superficial symptoms (back fatigue, pain) may indicate not only the presence of osteochondrosis, but also the addition of other diseases or the development of other pathological processes and disorders that are not associated with the dystrophy of intervertebral discs. The diagnosis of osteochondrosis can only be performed by a specialist, and the auto -medical with such symptoms is unacceptable.
Osteochondrosis diagnosis
To make a diagnosis, instrumental exam methods are used:
- X -Ray examination of the department of Espinal;
- myelography;
- Neurological study of sensitivity, reflexes.
Additional methods prescribed for the differentiation and clarification of the diagnosis, the stage of pathology includes:
- Computed tomography of the column (CT);
- Magnetic nuclear resonance (Jamr);
- Magnetic resonance images (MRI).
Therapy instructions for osteochondrosis
The treatment is based on an integrated approach and, depending on the stage, lasts 1 to 3 months of intensive care and 1 year of support to consolidate the result and prevention of relapse.
Osteochondrosis Therapy is carried out for two directions depending on the degree of osteochondrosis and patient's health. The conservative treatment of the disease is to take medication, perform a set of exercises. Surgical treatment in almost any situation cannot be the first option method and is prescribed in the absence of positive dynamics, the progression of the disease in the context of prolonged conservative therapy.
In addition to medical therapy methods, it is necessary to follow the general recommendations of osteochondrosis: observe a diet, take the necessary measures for rehabilitation.
Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis
Conservative therapy aims to stop pain syndrome, normalize the functionality of the spine and the prevention of negative changes
The conservative treatment of osteochondrosis includes the following types of therapy:
- Pharmacological therapy. Osteochondrosis medications are used to stop pain syndromes, inflammatory tissue processes and normalize body metabolic processes. With pronounced pain syndrome, it is recommended to use the drug blocking of nerve endings, which also contributes to a decrease in the severity of muscle tonic syndrome. The following types of blockade are distinguished: blocking of activation points, intraosseal, facet, paravertebral, epidural;
- Physiotherapy methods. Physiotherapeutic procedures help reduce pain, increase the effect of medications, are also used during the rehabilitation period. The most common use of ultrasound waves, magnetic fields, low frequency currents, laser rays, etc.
- Physiotherapy exercises methods (exercises therapy) and Thinapy kines. The complex of the spices with regular and correct execution contributes to the correction of the posture, strengthens the muscle corset, the ligament apparatus, normalizes muscle function, reduces the compression of nerve fibers and helps prevention of the complications of osteochondrosis. Exercise therapy methods and Kines do not aim to normalize metabolic processes, restore complete nutrition from intervertebral discs, restore the disposition of vertebrae and discs between them, the uniform distribution of load in the musculoskeletal system;
- massage. Manual massage techniques are used to improve blood supply to tissues, relieve cramps and muscle clamps, and generally improve blood circulation. Hydromassage as the direction of therapeutic activity in addition to the effects listed contributes to the normalization of the body's nervous system;
- Manual therapyManual therapy methods are selected individually. The punctual effect on the musculoskeletal system of the body helps improve blood circulation, the circulation of lymph, improves metabolism, promotes the mobility of the musculoskeletal system, strengthens the immune system and serves as a means to prevent complications of osteochondrosis;
- Therapy with the traction method (traction) of the spine using special equipment. The purpose of manipulations is to increase intervertebral space to normal parameters, the correction of violations of the structure of the spinal spinal.
Osteochondrosis prevention
The causes of osteochondrosis are mainly connected in the absence of attention to the requirements of the body, malnutrition, excessive loads in the body. To avoid the beginning of the pathological changes in the spine and restrict the dynamics of existing osteochondrosis, it is recommended to fulfill the general principles of a healthy lifestyle:
- Exception of the possibility of hypodinamia: moderate sports: cargo, race, swimming, bicycles, skis, gymnastics, types of fight without contact, etc. ;
- When working or another form of activity related to a long stay in a static position, it is necessary to take breaks to heat every 45 minutes to restore blood circulation. If necessary, sitting for a long time, you must choose the right chairs, the chairs to ensure the support of the spine, monitor compliance with the standards for the position of the hands on the table, the legs on the floor or a special support, accustomed to the posture (even the back, the relaxed shoulders);
- For night sleep, it is necessary to select an elastic orthopedic mattress and better with a flat surface, avoid high or too flat pillows;
- If necessary, lift and/or use heavy objects to avoid idiots, lifting the seriousness of the semi -price position, use special belts that support the lower back;
- The choice of orthopedly correct shoes: with the corresponding foot with a width, without high heels and their timely replacement will help reduce the load in the spine, this is especially important for women during the period of supporting a child. In the summer, do not neglect the ability to walk barefoot on an unequal surface, this strengthens the foot muscles and relieves the tension of the musculoskeletal system;
- The correct diet, the mode of alcohol consumption contributes to general health and helps maintain normally metabolism;
- With a tendency to increase emotionality, anxiety with muscle spasmodic reaction to stress, it is worth studying relaxation methods.