Osteochondrosis

Most cases of unpleasant pain in the lumbar region and spine are associated with a disease like osteochondrosis. It affects about 40% of men and women aged 30-40 years and about 90% of the elderly. Therefore, the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more closely the patient is examined, the more likely it is to stop the progression of osteochondrosis and maintain activity in old age.

localization of pain in osteochondrosis

Definition of disease, cause of disease

So what is osteochondrosis, where does it develop, what structures are affected, what is the method of treatment? The disease affects the spine and the tissues between the vertebrae and is expressed by a violation of their shape, density, elasticity, and sometimes even integrity. As a result, the distance between the vertebrae decreases, the spinal column gradually loses stability, pinching nerves, a hernia may develop, which is accompanied by back pain and discomfort during movement.

If we briefly describe the essence of osteochondrosis, then this is a gradual abrasion of the tissue of the intervertebral discs (cartilage), which leads to instability of the spine. If left untreated, ligaments and joints degrade, osteophytes appear, posture is disturbed, and movements are accompanied by pain.

Causes of osteochondrosis of the spine:

  • an inactive lifestyle with a lack of muscle load;
  • spinal cord injury;
  • systemic intense stress on the spine;
  • heredity;
  • overweight;
  • hypothermia;
  • hormonal and autoimmune diseases;
  • toxic poisoning;
  • congenital connective tissue insufficiency;
  • psychosomatic reasons (stress, depression, etc. ).
pain in osteochondrosis

Symptoms of osteochondrosis

The disease is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation with varying degrees of severity of symptoms. The main symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis, characteristic of the main types of disease, lumbar, cervical and thoracic:

  • pain localized in a specific area of the spine;
  • reflected pain syndrome associated with nearby musculoskeletal damage;
  • myelopathy and radiculopathy due to compression of the nerve endings of the spinal cord and blood vessels.

Depending on which part of the spine is affected by the disease, the list of symptoms of osteochondrosis can vary. Namely: patients notice tingling in the muscles, numbness in the limbs, other sensory disorders, decreased strength in the arms and legs, headaches and heart pain, pain in the lower back.

Pathogenesis of osteochondrosis

Before the elastic fibrous nucleus of the intervertebral disc begins to lose elasticity and deform in the human body, a number of processes take place that include osteochondrosis:

  • cramps, dystonia, inflammation;
  • decreased blood circulation;
  • damage to nerve cell processes.

Furthermore, cracks appear on the deformed ring, a disc protrusion develops and a hernia is formed. Typically, these suggestive factors of spinal disease develop in childhood or adolescence and are often the result of poor posture, scoliosis, sports injuries, infectious diseases, or congenital vascular disorders.

Stages of development of osteochondrosis

Stages of osteochondrosis

There are three stages in the development of spinal osteochondrosis:

  • the first, in which the intervertebral disc begins to decrease in height, gaining a flattened shape, loses moisture, elasticity, may protrude;
  • the second develops in the absence of treatment and is manifested by a violation of the structure of the fibrous ring of the spine, the appearance of cracks and the development of instability in a particular area of the spine;
  • characterized by ruptures of intervertebral cartilage, development of hernia, formation of skeletal osteophyte processes.

The symptoms of the development of osteochondrosis of the spine become more intense from the first to the third stage.

how osteochondrosis manifests

Classification of osteochondrosis

The classification of osteochondrosis is based on several signs, the main of which is the zone of localization. Differentiate:

  • lumbar osteochondrosis;
  • osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
  • osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.

Osteochondrosis in the lumbar spine is manifested by pain in the lumbar region, which is increased by turning the body, lifting weights. Pain can be given in the leg or both legs, characterized as painful. With acute syndrome, a hernia is suspected. With lumbar osteochondrosis, cramps in the muscles of the legs and peeling of the skin often occur.

With the development of osteochondrosis of the spine in the cervical spine, vertebrae 1-7 are affected. The disease is accompanied by headache in the back of the head, pain in the neck, collarbone, shoulders. It is possible to crunch during the rotation of the head, numbness of the upper limbs, feeling of a lump in the throat.

With osteochondrosis of the spine in the thoracic region, the patient is concerned about pain in the chest, shoulders, armpits, heart. Perhaps a feeling of shortness of breath, the development of an attack of intercostal neuralgia.

Osteochondrosis in the lumbar spine is the most common, in the thoracic it is the rarest.

Complications of osteochondrosis

If the patient has considered treatment for osteochondrosis too late, when the symptoms of the disease are pronounced, the following complications may develop:

  • intervertebral hernia;
  • spinal cord stroke;
  • spinal kyphosis;
  • protrusion;
  • radiculitis;
  • paralysis of the lower extremities.

In the absence of treatment, the patient begins to suffer from regular worsening of the condition, which is characterized by increased pain, restraint of movement, a sharp deterioration in general well-being. The most terrible complication of spinal osteochondrosis is disability. Therefore, in order to prevent such serious changes in the work of the musculoskeletal system, quality and timely treatment of osteochondrosis is needed.

treatment of osteochondrosis by a physician

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis

A disease like osteochondrosis is primarily a pain in the spine. But it is important to distinguish it from pain caused by problems other than degeneration of the intervertebral discs. To do this, doctors conduct a step-by-step diagnosis, which includes:

  • Taking a medical history, which involves a conversation between a specialist and a patient to identify the exact area of pain localization, the factors that cause the condition to worsen. It is important to know the patient's interest, the period when the problems with the spine began, when there was a worsening, what kind of pain occurs in the lumbar and other areas, what methods of treatment the patient used.
  • Physiological examinationallows you to determine the proportions of the body, the quality of movement and actions performed, the condition of the skin, the degree of sensitivity to pain. The doctor determines the condition of the muscle tissue, the presence of seals, edema, etc. by palpation.
  • X-ray of the spine in two planesfor visual assessment of the condition. It allows you to determine the movement of the vertebrae, the presence of osteophytes, salt deposition.

If the collected data for prescribing treatment are insufficient or there is a suspicion of serious pathology of the spine, the patient is prescribed CT and magnetic resonance imaging, which allows a detailed examination of the spine, blood vessels, soft tissues, nervous processes and create a complete picture of the spine affected by osteochondrosis. treatment tactics.

acupuncture for osteochondrosis

Treatment of osteochondrosis

Like any disease, osteochondrosis requires the identification of the cause that triggered its development. Reducing the severity of symptoms is not a major but an important phase of treatment whose outcome depends on a number of factors. In some cases it is a complete cure, in others it prevents complications and disability.

In the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine, a group of measures is used:

  • change in the patient's day regimen;
  • prescribing medications to reduce symptoms;
  • physiotherapeutic procedures (massage, acupuncture, electrophoresis, exercise therapy, etc. ).

Changing the daily regimen in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine includes reducing the intensity of physical activity, bed rest with severe pain, exclusion of sharp bends and bends.

Drugs for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine

They can be divided into several groups:

  • muscle relaxants for pain relief, including tablets, anesthetic injections, and anti-inflammatory injections for osteochondrosis. Homeopathic preparation normalizes thyroid function, improves lymphatic drainage, has anti-inflammatory, detoxifying and immunomodulatory effects.
  • nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. When used in patients with osteoarthritis, it reduces the progression of inflammatory and destructive changes in the joints, improves the integrity, thickness and other characteristics of cartilage, and stimulates bone regeneration.
  • anti-inflammatory topical ointments and alternative transdermal patches. Such drugs have analgesic, antirheumatic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. The mechanism of action is to reduce the production of inflammatory mediators, reduce body temperature and pain.
  • chondroprotectors;
  • drugs for therapeutic analgesic blockades;
  • B vitamins.

Ancillary treatments

Of the additional agents that can be used to treat, alleviate the general condition and improve the function of the spine and intervertebral discs, the most effective are:

  • acupuncture;
  • magnetotherapy;
  • professional massage and self-massage;
  • physical education courses;
  • manual therapy.
exercises for osteochondrosis

Prognosis, prevention

If the disease of the spine is not neglected, it passes without serious complications, in 1, 5-2 months of competent treatment the condition can be significantly improved, and the transition of the disease to a chronic form can be prevented. In severe cases, doctors recommend surgical treatment.

Prevention of osteochondrosis of the spine includes:

  • adherence to a proper daily regimen, with a change in body position and moderate physical activity;
  • regular visits to the pool;
  • weight control;
  • wearing comfortable shoes;
  • balanced diet;
  • sleeping on an orthopedic pillow and mattress;
  • taking missing nutrients or preventative homeopathic remedies to boost immunity, improve general health, and eliminate dystonia.

It is necessary to undergo annual medical examinations and immediately after the appearance of any pain in the spine, consult a doctor for treatment.

No matter what kind of osteochondrosis we are talking about - lumbar, cervical or thoracic, attention to one's own health should become a good habit, especially when it comes to the basis of the entire musculoskeletal system - the spine.