Osteochondrosis belongs to the category of common diseases.In 75% of cases, this is the cause of unpleasant back pain.Today, every second person has manifestations of pathology after twenty years.As you get older, the risk of developing the disease increases.If treatment is not started immediately, osteochondrosis can have negative health consequences.
What is spinal osteochondrosis?
This process affects the articular cartilage and surrounding bones.Initially, osteochondrosis only affects the intervertebral discs that hold the vertebrae together.Then the degenerative process affects the ligaments and vertebrae, compromising the integrity of the joints.
The insidious thing about the pathology is that the disc cartilage cannot be regenerated.Therefore, the area of the spine affected by the disease will inexorably deteriorate.Once a disease occurs, you can stop its development, but it cannot be completely eliminated.
This pathology is not associated with inflammation - it is due to a violation of tissue nutrition and degeneration of its structure.Without stress, the tissue loses strength because it does not receive the required amount of nutrients.
Clinical features
The development of the disease causes the nucleus pulposus to dry out and partially lose its shock-absorbing properties.The fiber ring becomes thinner and microcracks form.
This causes a bulge, the so-called disc bulge.As the disease progresses, the ring can tear and an intervertebral fracture is then diagnosed.
This area loses stability, osteophytes can form there and the integrity of ligaments and joints is impaired.To compensate for the deformation of the intervertebral disc, bone and fibrous tissue grow.In this condition, the spine becomes less mobile.
The disease usually progresses in phases of remission, which are then followed by relapses.
Degrees and levels
There are different degrees of the disease, each with the following characteristics:
- 1st degree.Inaccurate movements cause the intervertebral disc to tear.This condition can also be caused by stress.Severe pain and a feeling reminiscent of an electrical discharge often occur.
- 2nd degree.The stability of the spine is lost and bulges occur.There may be pain that increases with careless movements.This form of the disease is characterized by numbness in the fingers, headaches and temporary discomfort in the sacrum.
- 3rd degree.This condition is manifested by a hernia, headaches and discomfort in the area of the damaged nerve.In addition, numbness in the arms and legs, visual and hearing impairments and dysfunction of many organs often occur.
- 4th degree.At this stage, the symptoms of a hernia disappear and the manifestations of the disease decrease.The spine loses stability, a condition characterized by slipping or twisting of the vertebrae.The vertebrae can grow, causing compression of the nerves, atrophying the spinal canal and compressing the spinal cord.The fourth degree is characterized by the consequences that can occur after the removal of the hernia - these include paresis, inflammation, etc.
It is also customary to distinguish several phases:
- Yes,first stage- essentially a result of lack of moisture and loss of elastic properties.The disease is characterized by a displacement of the nucleus within the intervertebral disc, which leads to a disruption in the shape of the fibrous ring.However, the process itself remains within the intervertebral disc without going beyond its boundaries.
- ForsecondlyThe formation of cracks in the ring is typical.As the height of the flattened disc decreases, there is a loss of spinal stability.
- Third stagecharacterized by the appearance of fractures at the site of the crack and the onset of inflammation.Part of the liquid core escapes through microcracks.Nerves or blood vessels are often compressed at the rupture site.
- Fourth stageaccompanied by dystrophic processes.The vertebral sections do not provide the necessary resistance, so the neighboring vertebral bodies move closer together.Complications can also arise.This can be the development of spondyloarthrosis and spondylosis.At this stage, a flattening of the vertebra is noted - this is done to relieve the load on the intervertebral disc.Sometimes fibrous tissue is replaced by bone.This stage is characterized by temporary pain relief.However, the symptoms then increase due to the compression of the nerves and the narrowing of the spinal canal.
Causes of the disease
This disease can occur in both older and young people.Typically, signs of osteochondrosis appear around the age of 35.The development and relapse of the disease are caused by overload, back injuries and vibration.As the body ages, more and more symptoms appear.The exact causes of the disease are not yet clear.
The most widespread opinion is that the process is a consequence of incorrect load distribution on the spine due to weakness of the muscles and ligaments.This theory is also supported by common therapy methods based on training the muscles and ligaments.
Factors that can provoke an abnormal process in the spine include:
- bad posture;
- obesity;
- injuries;
- flat feet;
- curvature of the spine;
- metabolic disorders;
- infections;
- heredity;
- poor physical fitness;
- Stress;
- heavy loads;
- hormonal imbalance;
- poor diet;
- poor environmental conditions;
- systematic vibration influence;
- age-related changes;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- hypothermia;
- Smoke;
- Spinal abnormalities.
Even if a person leads a normal life, he is at risk of osteochondrosis due to a lack of necessary substances.In modern society, this problem is considered one of the key problems.The condition worsens due to an inactive lifestyle.
Types and symptoms
Depending on the area of damage, cervical, thoracic or lumbar osteochondrosis is present.If several departments are involved in the pathological process at the same time, we can talk about a common form.
Since the lower back usually bears the greatest load, lumbar osteochondrosis predominates in all cases of the disease - its prevalence is around 50%.
Second is the neck region.This form of osteochondrosis is diagnosed in a quarter of cases.This disease is usually the result of sitting at the computer for a long time or doing monotonous work.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is extremely rare and is usually accompanied by limited mobility.
General signs of the disease
The pathology has various signs that directly depend on the location of the process:
- Pain in the spine.Sometimes osteochondrosis causes mild pain or sharp pain.The disease can also cause acute, unbearable pain that is difficult to eliminate with non-narcotic analgesics.
- Deterioration in vision or hearing.
- Headache.The disease often causes weakness, dizziness and increased fatigue.
- Loss of sensitivity.This symptom usually manifests itself as a feeling of numbness in the arms or legs.
- Pelvic organ dysfunction and sexual dysfunction.
- Loss of mobility in the problem area.
- Problems with organs for which the spinal cord is responsible.
- Pain in arms and legs.
- Weakening of muscles.
How does cervical osteochondrosis manifest itself:
- systematic headaches;
- hearing impairment;
- Dizziness;
- pressure surges;
- voice change;
- decreased vision;
- snoring;
- Caries.
Symptoms of breast shape:
- high fatigue of back muscle tissue;
- pain on palpation;
- back and chest pain;
- Problems with various organs.
Manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis:
- lower back pain;
- numbness of the legs;
- decrease in skin temperature;
- urinary disorder;
- muscle tension;
- stool problems;
- varicose veins;
- Loss of activity.
Complications
Osteochondrosis often leads to complications, so this disease cannot be ignored.The consequences of the disease include:
- Lumbago – severe pain in the lower back.
- Intervertebral hernia.
- Projection.
- radiculitis.
- Migraine attacks.
- Spondylosis.
- Sciatica is a pathology of the sciatic nerve that causes pain in the legs and buttocks.
- Narrowing of the spinal canal.
- Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Schmorl's hernia is a bulging of an intervertebral disc in the spine.
The most dangerous complication of osteochondrosis is considered to be compression of the arteries that supply the brain with nutrition.These strains supply the brain with blood.More serious illnesses can develop due to nutrient deficiencies.
diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on history and examination.It also requires an assessment of neurological status.Further investigations include:
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- Doppler ultrasound;
- spondylography;
- Computed tomography.
Thanks to these studies, it is possible to determine the extent of violations, clarify the diagnosis and identify hidden processes.This allows you to choose an effective treatment and achieve good results.
Treatment methods
At an early stage, conservative therapy is the best option.The doctor prescribes medication.Therapeutic gymnastics can also be used.Manual therapy and reflexology are very useful.
Among the medications, non-narcotic analgesics and sedatives are considered the most effective.You also need to take medications containing B vitamins.Typically, this treatment is used during a relapse of the disease to eliminate pain and inflammation.
Reflexology uses methods such as paraffin baths, laser therapy, acupuncture, electrical stimulation and ultrasound.Mud baths and iodine therapy are no less useful.
Therapeutic exercises are aimed at strengthening muscles and relaxing nerve endings.In difficult cases, surgical intervention cannot be dispensed with.If conservative treatment is ineffective, the hernia must be removed.This can be achieved using the classic or microsurgical method.
Osteochondrosis is a dangerous disease that causes pain and leads to loss of motor activity.
To prevent the development of complications, you should consult a doctor at the slightest discomfort in the spine area.Only a specialist can make the correct diagnosis and select therapy.