A disease such as osteochondrosis of the back does not exist in modern medicine.First of all, it should be clarified that the term osteochondrosis itself is outdated and does not exist in the current edition of the ICD-10.It was replaced by a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs.However, we will tell you about osteochondrosis of the back, its symptoms and treatment, since many patients call their condition that way.And you will understand what this article is about.
So, osteochondrosis is a degeneration of the intervertebral discs of dystrophic origin.Everything else is indirectly related to this disease.But to understand this process, it is worth taking a brief excursion into anatomy and physiology.The main element of the human musculoskeletal system is the spine.With its help, a stable position of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity and chest is ensured.Inside the spine is the spinal cord, a structure that provides vitality to the entire body.The spine provides flexibility to the body, allows you to walk independently and perform any movements with your hands.It is the connecting link between the head and the limbs.
The vertebral column is made up of individual vertebral bodies.They are connected to each other by joints and ligaments.There are long longitudinal ligaments that begin in the coccyx area and end in the occiput area.There are short transverse ligaments that connect adjacent vertebral bodies.Intervertebral discs consist of a dense outer layer (annulus fibrosus) that can withstand even the most extreme loads.But the annulus fibrosus has one major drawback: it completely lacks its own network of blood capillaries.It receives fluid only at a time when the surrounding muscles are actively contracting and relaxing.In addition, part of the nutrition is provided by the diffuse exchange between the intervertebral disc and the end plate that separates it from the vertebra.
If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle and his back muscles do not work actively and regularly, the annulus fibrosus becomes dehydrated and cracks.In the initial stage, it takes fluid from the tissues of the nucleus pulposus located inside.This gelatinous body ensures the normal height of the disc and its shock absorption capacity to evenly distribute the applied loads.
With a 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 are injured and radiculitis (inflammation of the root nerves) occurs.This is a dangerous condition.Therefore, the body takes measures to compensate for the lost capacity of the intervertebral discs.This causes excessive tension in the back muscles.As a result, the diffuse nutrition of the remaining cartilage tissues is further disturbed.Therefore, osteochondrosis of the back is considered a disease that develops and spreads rapidly.Without treatment, it quickly affects all the intervertebral discs and the person becomes disabled.
If you are worried about back pain associated with degeneration of the cartilage tissue of the spine, we recommend that you do not wait for everything to go away on its own.Seek medical help immediately.Treatment of osteochondrosis without surgery is possible at any stage, except for hernia sequestration.If part of the nucleus pulposus has separated from the intervertebral disc, then only surgical intervention can help in this situation.
You can make an appointment with a vertebrologist or neurologist.They will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective and safe treatment.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the back
The most common causes of osteochondrosis of the back are physical inactivity, excess body weight, sedentary work and refusal of regular physical activity.It is these factors that cause the destruction of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs at an early age.At a later stage in life (after age 50), osteochondrosis develops for slightly different reasons:
- hormonal changes leading to the leaching of calcium and phosphorus from bone tissue;
- gerontological degenerative changes in the body;
- impaired capillary blood flow against the background of atherosclerotic deformations of blood vessels;
- metabolic disorders, such as diabetes or changes in thyroid function;
- age-related decrease in muscle mass;
- changes in posture and curvature of the spine;
- Chronic diseases of internal organs that reduce a person's physical activity.
Also, possible causes of the development of osteochondrosis of the back can be traumatic injuries to the vertebral bodies, their spinous processes, ligaments and tendons.The poor organization of sleeping and working spaces is of no small importance.If a person does not attach importance to the position of his body during night sleep, the risk of destruction of the spine and the development of osteochondrosis increases sharply.
You should also stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.These two bad habits cause an alteration of blood microcirculation in the area of the intervertebral discs, which triggers their degenerative dystrophic destruction.
The causes of osteochondrosis of the back can be the nutrition and drinking regimen.An adult needs to drink at least 2 liters of clean water per day to maintain water and electrolyte balance.In addition, the diet must contain all the vitamins and minerals that are used in the regeneration of hyaline cartilage, which forms the fibrous ring tissues.If fatty and refined foods predominate in the diet, the body quickly begins to experience a deficiency of certain nutrients.This does not allow you to restore the integrity of all tissues, including vertebrates.
Therefore, when carrying out complex treatment of osteochondrosis of the back, an experienced doctor will definitely correct the patient's diet.She will give you the necessary recommendations on the correct organization of your sleeping and working space.
With osteochondrosis, the back muscles experience serious overload.They are responsible for supporting the spine and ensuring the safety of the root nerves.With prolonged static tension, the blood circulation cycle in the capillaries changes.Myocytes begin to experience oxygen starvation and an ischemic reaction quickly begins.At first it produces intense pain in the back muscles.Then the myocytes begin to die.Short-term inflammation may occur in the context of muscle tissue necrosis.Then the degeneration of the muscle fibers begins.This entails a series of negative consequences.Patients may develop 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, seek medical help immediately.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic back is the least common, since there is no wide range of mobility of the vertebral bodies.The height of the intervertebral spaces is additionally ensured by the fixation of the costal arches.Therefore, we will not consider the symptoms of this type of disease separately.
Most often, osteochondrosis develops in the lumbar region, since it carries the main physical and shock-absorbing load associated with any movement of the human body.Symptoms of the pathology include a characteristic stabbing pain in the lumbar region.It may extend along the inner, outer, or back surface of the thigh and lower leg, extending to the heel or toes.Neurological clinical signs gradually begin to appear, such as numbness, paresthesia, decreased muscle strength, paleness and coldness of the skin of the lower extremities.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical and cervicothoracic spine is diagnosed no less frequently.This disease develops more often in people who perform mental work.With prolonged static tension on the neck muscles, blood microcirculation is disturbed and cartilaginous tissue is destroyed.
Clinical symptoms with this localization of degenerative dystrophic changes in the cartilaginous tissues of the discs can be more varied.The pain may radiate under the shoulder blade, in the heart area and in the upper extremities.Muscle weakness appears quickly in the arms.There are signs of impaired blood circulation in the posterior vertebral arteries.These are dizziness, decreased mental performance, frequent changes in blood pressure, drowsiness, apathy, etc.
If symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back appear, it is necessary to conduct a series of clinical studies.First of all, x-rays of the affected part of the spine are prescribed.Based on them, the doctor can only make a preliminary diagnosis.A more detailed examination of the state of the spinal tissues is possible during an MRI examination.Doppler ultrasound, soft tissue ultrasound, biochemical and general blood tests, rheumatic tests, etc. may also be necessary.
What to do and how to relieve pain?
The first thing to do in case of osteochondrosis of the back is to stop doing any physical activity and provide relative rest to the spine and muscles.In the first days after an attack, it is better to observe a strict bed regimen.Treatment can only be prescribed by a neurologist or vertebrologist.It is not recommended to take medications on your own.Not only can they have a negative impact on your health, but they 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 harm your health is spinal traction.It is important to restore the normal height of the intervertebral spaces.This will remove pressure from the root nerves and all pain will disappear without the additional use of pharmacological medications.Traction can be hardware, manual or with the help of physical exercises.Only a doctor can determine during an examination which method is suitable for your individual case.
How to treat and cure osteochondrosis of the back?
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the back can be carried out exclusively by conservative methods, even at the stage of prolapse of the intervertebral hernia.Doctors know how to cure osteochondrosis of the back without surgery.For this, osteopathy and massage, therapeutic exercises and kinesiotherapy, laser therapy, reflexology and much more are used.
Before treating osteochondrosis of the back, the doctor gives the patient complete individual recommendations, the implementation of which eliminates possible causes and risk factors.An individual therapy course is then developed.During treatment, damaged cartilage tissue is completely restored.If all recommendations are followed, relapses of osteochondrosis do not occur.