Osteochondrosis is a disease in which dystrophic degenerative processes occur in the tissues of the spine.The defeat of the intervertebral discs, the joint surfaces that adapt to them develop, the bodies of the vertebrae, the ligament apparatus.In general, initially, with osteochondrosis, pathological changes occur in bones and ligaments.In addition, a person is guessed on the appearance of the disease only when it begins to suffer from complications of such a state - back pain, altered sensitivity, muscular atrophy, altered functions of the internal organs.
This disease is widespread among modern people: according to various sources, up to 90% of the world's population suffers from osteochondrosis.Basically, the disease affects people who are already 30 years old.To date, lumbar osteochondrosis (about half of the cases) is most often revealed.
Osteochondrosis steps
The disease develops in a person in stages.At the first stage of the progression of the disease, the process of dehydration of the pulpose nucleus begins.Consequently, the height of the disc reduction is reduced and the cracks are formed in the fibrous ring.However, pathological changes do not occur outside the intervertebral disc.
At the second stage, there is a rapprochement of two neighboring vertebrae due to a decrease in the height of the disc, the fixing point of the muscles and the ligaments.Due to the subsidence of ligaments and muscles, excessive mobility of the vertebrae manifests itself, which causes the development of the instability of the vertebral and engine segment.During this period, the vertebrae can slide or move, while spondylolistz is formed.
The third stage in the development of osteochondrosis is characterized by morphological changes pronounced in the intervertebral discs.The formation of prolapse and the projection of the discs occurs, the subluxation develops in the intervertebral joints and the unko-vertebral joints.
When the fourth stage occurs, adaptive changes are observed in the affected vertebrae.In this case, the human body adapts to too strong mobility of the vertebrae, surmounting it.Due to the immobilization of the spine, osteophytes appear - regional bone growths on the adjacent surfaces of vertebral bodies.Osteophyte can injure a nerve spine.Little by little, fibrous changes occur in intervertebral discs and joints.Consequently, a kind of shell is formed on the vertebral-motor segment and the manifestations gradually disappear.
The causes of osteochondrosis
Experts express various hypotheses concerning the reasons which contribute to the development of osteochondrosis.These reasons are called mechanical trauma of the spine, disorders in the metabolic processes of the body, arrangement of the disease, hereditary.But a clear cause of the development of the disease is difficult to determine due to the prevalence of the disease.It is often found in young people and the elderly;Physically strong and not very trained.
Sometimes you can hear the opinion that the symptoms of osteochondrosis occur due to the deposit of salts in the human spine.Patients often talk about the excretion of salts if they hear a cry and crunchy in the joints.In fact, the disease develops due to an alteration of tissue nutrition.Consequently, their structure is gradually reborn.In bone and cartilage tissues, the renewal process occurs constantly.If a person has adequate regular physical activity, then the fabric becomes more elastic.But in people who mainly lead a sedentary lifestyle, such a fabric is less durable.
In addition, the cause of the development of osteochondrosis can be an excess weight, a violation of posture, negative environmental conditions, characteristics of the body position during work, an unequally developed muscle bone system, pregnancy, stress, hypothermia, infection.
Thus, the range of factors causing the development of the disease is very wide.The characteristics of the blood flow and the nutrition of cartilage and bone tissue play an unposted role in this process.In vertebrates of adults, there are therefore no vessels, therefore oxygen and all the necessary nutrients are obtained from neighboring tissues.Therefore, for the normal nutrition of the spine, blood circulation is constantly activated in the surrounding tissues.You can speed up this process by ensuring the active operations of the muscles.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
The manifestations of the disease can be diverse and directly depend on the stage of development of the disease.The most pronounced symptoms of the disease are manifested when the pathological process spreads to the back of the fibrous ring and the posterior longitudinal ligament.In the pathological process activation process, the patient develops reflex and compression neurological syndromes.
Osteochondrosis can appear in a variety of areas of the body, so that the symptoms of the disease are very wide.In the patient, osteochondrosis can occur in limbs or numbness, sometimes pain in the chest, functions of the genitals and headaches.At the same time, a person does not even realize that the cause of such manifestations is osteochondrosis.
If the patient develops osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, symptoms may resemble manifestations of heart disease: angina, myocardial infarction.This is why erroneous treatment is sometimes practiced, which leads to an additional progression of osteochondrosis.Therefore, if a person suspected of developing this disease, a person must immediately consult a doctor and go through the necessary studies.
Osteochondrosis is manifested mainly by pain and a strong feeling of discomfort in the back.In some cases, pain occurs periodically, unstable.For a while, it can disappear.But for each person, the occurrence of pain should be a very disturbing symptom and a concern.It is important to think and determine what exactly caused the pain.For example, this could be a strong physical activity, rising gravity.
The next indicative symptom to which osteochondrosis of the cervical column is manifested is the numbness of the arms and legs, as well as pain.Similar symptoms are also characteristic of other types of osteochondrosis.Most often, the pain develops in the leg or the left hand, sometimes gives the heart, under the ribs.In the case of these symptoms, you do not immediately need to rush to drink heart medications or other diseases, but you should listen and carefully assess the nature of the pain, their changes depending on what the person does for the moment.All your observations must be told in detail the doctor, after which the patient is prescribed for massage, gymnastics, other treatment methods are practiced.A call to a specialist in the early stages of the disease will guarantee its more effective treatment.
Thus, most often, patients diagnosed with osteochondrosis complain about the feeling of discomfort in the spine in different places, on the pain of different intensity and character.They have a higher level of fatigue, which manifests itself in physical and mental work.Sensitivity in different areas of the body can be disturbed, most often in the limbs.Patients can also mark the cold in their hands and legs.A manifestation of osteochondrosis in the cervical region is often dizziness and headache.Visual acuity can also decrease considerably.
If the patient has osteochondrosis of the lumbar column, then in this case, a variety of disorders of the human reproductive system may appear.After the treatment of osteochondrosis in the lombo-sacred department, men often note an improvement in power.At the same time, if osteochondrosis of the sacred spine develops in a woman, this can complicate the design process, as well as gestation.In addition to these symptoms, other manifestations are possible with osteochondrosis: muscle cramps, movements of movements, firing pain, etc.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
The most important point in the process of diagnosing osteochondosis is the collection of an anamnesis, and, the most important moment of this process is the patient's investigation, which should indicate the doctor all the complaints in detail.While certain symptoms of the disease determine the characteristic manifestations of osteochondrosis, there are also many signs that it is important to differentiate itself from manifestations of other diseases.The functions of the functions of many organs, manifested in osteochondrosis, are often similar to the symptoms of gastritis, angina, stomach ulcers.This is why each symptom of osteochondrosis is subject to detailed study and analysis.
During the diagnosis, the doctor takes into account the age of the patient, the development of symptoms.To clarify the diagnosis, additional methods are used for research.Most often, in this case, a radiological examination is practiced.To determine the patient's condition, a vision radiography of the spine is carried out.If there are more specific complaints, the targeted radiography is practiced, intended for the lesion scene.
A relatively complex diagnostic method is considered a myelography.This examination provides for the introduction of a contrast liquid in the cerebrospinal canal.In this case, there is a risk of spinal cord damage, as well as the occurrence of an allergic reaction.But at the same time, this method is considered informative if necessary to determine the presence of a dorsal hernia.
In addition, the use of computed tomography, magnetic nuclear resonance is practiced.However, they are relatively expensive, therefore, they are practiced mainly if necessary to make a differential diagnosis, as well as to determine the presence of a spine.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
For the treatment of vertebral osteochondosis to be close, it is necessary to provide not only a precise diagnosis, but also an approach integrated into the problem.The doctor, as a rule, prescribes treatment methods, depending on the part of the spine.The main methods of therapy for the cervical region, as well as the thoracic region and the lumbar spine are massage, manual therapy, acupuncture, electrical stimulation, therapeutic gymnastics, vacuum therapy, traction and other methods.Parallel treatment with folk remedies can also be practiced.
The doctor prescribes treatment to eliminate the disruption of sick symptoms, as well as causes that cause the pathology of the spine.Stop pain by applying physiotherapy methods, medications.Special exercises for osteochondrosis of the spine are also practiced.
One of the main methods of processing osteochondrosis in the spine and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system is the use of physiotherapy exercises.For this, special equipment for rehabilitation is used.With the help of regular execution of exercises selected individually by a specialist, you can improve blood circulation, activate metabolism.Consequently, the power of the intervertebral discs improves and the load on the spine decreases.
The physiotherapy method implies the impact on the body of various physical factors.Using a low -frequency current, a magnetic field, a laser, the pain is effectively relieved, inflammation is reduced and parallel treatment is more effective.Using massage, you can relieve tension and muscle pain, activate blood circulation.Manual therapy relieves acute and constant chronic pain in the joints and the spine, increase the volume of movements and also has a general positive effect on the body.The vertebral extension procedure is used to relieve intense pain.It is carried out on special equipment.In the process, the intervertebral space increases, the shape of the spine is restored.Drug treatment is mainly practiced during exacerbation.
But in most cases, even effective treatment only makes it possible to slow the progression of the disease, to prevent exacerbation.You can only recover completely at the initial stage of osteochondrosis.It is important to take into account that the duration of treatment depends on how the launch of the disease, the therapy methods, as well as how the patient carefully fulfills all the doctor's appointments and recommendations.As a rule, the active treatment period lasts from one to three months.After the operation, a person is restored for about a year.If conservative treatment does not provide expected results and there are also special indications, the doctor prescribes surgical treatment.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
People who are already suffering from manifestations of osteochondrosis must try not to overload the spine and minimize pressure in the intervertebral discs.It is advisable to always try to keep your back evenly, to avoid trauma of the spine.A comfortable bed for night sleep is important: you must choose an individually orthopedic mattress.You should not lift weights weighing more than 10 kg, and to raise the article, you should initially sit down, take an object, then lift it.Women should not wear shoes with too high heels.In addition, people who complain of back pain should perform exercises every day that strengthens the muscle corset.It is recommended to engage in swimming if possible.