Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease of the spine. It develops with age and consists of degenerative-dystrophic changes that occur in the intervertebral disc. For a long time, there were no symptoms. One may notice only slight stiffness in the spine.
Osteochondrosis develops slowly - many factors affect the rate of the disease. If the pathology is not treated, complications arise - sciatica, sciatica and others, depending on the spine. Some doctors believe that a disease like osteochondrosis does not exist, and only those who do not understand human physiology make such a diagnosis.
Cause
In the 21st century, this disease, compared to the 20th century, has been significantly rejuvenated. Often you can meet young people with degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral disc during a medical examination for other pathologies. There is only one reason for this - urbanization and progress.
Today, one does not have to make an effort to go to work or get food. Most lead a sedentary lifestyle, eat with insufficient nutrients and quickly gain weight, walking in the fresh air and active activities prefer computers and comfortable sofas. Even before work, many get into their own cars, which are in underground garages in the territory of multi-storey buildings, and sit at work for 7-9 hours or more.
On the note. Osteochondrosis is only a human disease. No mammal has such a pathology. You have to understand that this is the revenge of Homo sapiens for walking upright.
What causes osteochondrosis?
The following factors can lead to the onset of the disease against the background of physical inactivity, lack of sufficient physical activity and an unhealthy lifestyle:
- violation of mineral and vitamin metabolism;
- a large number of transferred infectious diseases;
- chronic stress, depression;
- sudden movements, heavy lifting;
- spinal cord injury;
- severe hypothermia;
- lazy;
- without realizing it in time and not healing the curvature of the spine;
- staying for a long time in an uncomfortable position (not necessarily sitting).
On the note. Big sports have a negative impact on human health. For example, weight lifting (and not only) in the future can be a trigger for degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral disc.
What happened to the spine?
The following factors directly affect back health:
- blood circulation in the paravertebral tissue is disturbed, the intervertebral discs suffer from a lack of nutrients (they do not have their own blood vessels and depend on the surrounding tissue);
- the muscular corset that supports the spinal column weakens, the vertebrae receive additional loads that they cannot cope with;
- intervertebral discs lose moisture, decrease in volume and diameter - the spine appears to sag (many people notice that they become 5 or even 10 centimeters lower with age);
- there is instability of one or more parts of the spine;
- the body solves the problem of instability by growing osteophytes - these are marginal bone growths that, over time, stiffen the spine, eliminating flexibility.
On the note. The transformation of the spine itself does not cause pain - pain syndrome appears when nerve roots, large arteries and lymphatic vessels are violated by osteophytes or the anatomical position of the vertebral body has changed.
symptoms
Signs of osteochondrosis increase with the progression of the disease. There are 4 stages of pathology:
- First. Symptoms are not present at all. No pain. A person may experience a little more fatigue than usual, some stiffness in the spine, which he explains to himself with fatigue, excessive physical exertion, and too much work. Osteochondrosis in the first stage can
- Second. Constant pain syndrome appears due to nerve root violation, which is easily stopped by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If the patient continues to ignore his body's signals and does not go to the doctor, the disease develops quickly. The flexibility of the spine is reduced, especially in the cervical and lumbar regions. The occurrence of vertebral artery syndrome may be caused by its compression either by edematous paravertebral tissue or by a displaced vertebra.
- Third. Pathology in a damaged state. Pain haunts a person all the time, slightly weakens in a horizontal position, but it is impossible to stay in one position for a long time (on the back, on the side). Sleep is disturbed, the patient becomes irritable. A person bends over (thoracic, lumbar), trying a more comfortable position that will not cause discomfort, which is the impetus for the formation of humps, scoliosis and other deformities of the spine.
- Fourth. There is an increase in osteophytes - stabilization of the spine. The patient can look around only by turning the body completely. The pain is strong, constant, completely removed only with restrictions (novocaine, prednisolone). The defect in the fourth stage is about 80%.
At the same time as the listed signs, the patient may be tormented by symptoms that, at first glance, have nothing to do with the back - dizziness, flies in the eyes, arterial hypertension, numbness in the upper part (cervical osteochondrosis), mimicking chest painangina or heart attack, intercostal neuralgia (thoracic osteochondrosis), cauda equina syndrome, numbness in the lower leg (lumbosacral osteochondrosis).
On the note. Pathology causes vegetovascular and neurodystrophic disorders.
Diagnostics
To establish an accurate diagnosis, the patient is sent for x-ray, myelography and reflex neurological examination. If this is not sufficient, referrals will be issued to:
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging);
- CT (computed tomography);
- NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance).
The doctor also interviews the patient and conducts a medical examination, which reveals areas of pain, possible curvature of the spine, leg length differences and other objective signs of damage to the spine.
Therapy
Treatment of osteochondrosis is complex. To stop the degeneration process, or at least slow it down, given:
- chondroprotectors - externally, orally (oral), in injections to restore cartilage tissue;
- muscle relaxants - relax spasmodic muscle groups, used only under medical supervision;
- painkillers;
- restriction - relieves pain for a long time, but does not cure;
- physiotherapy (magnetotherapy, phonophoresis, vibrotherapy, EHF and others);
- the author's exercise therapy and gymnastics;
- massage;
- acupuncture;
- balneo and mud therapy.
In advanced cases (uncontrollable urination and defecation, cauda equina syndrome), surgical intervention may be required to decompress and stabilize the affected spinal segment.
Decompression surgery with posterior access:
- facetectomy;
- foraminotomy;
- laminectomy;
- laminotomy.
Decompression surgery with anterior access:
- discectomy;
- corpectomy.
To stabilize the damaged segment, spinal fusion is used - the fusion of adjacent vertebrae using a special fixed structure (stem). A bone implant is placed in place of the removed intervertebral disc (bone material is either taken from a donor or formed from the patient's own bone).
On the note. Spinal fusion can be avoided. Surgeons have achieved many successes in the surgical treatment of osteochondrosis. From the removed intervertebral disc, it is possible to install an artificial one and thus avoid complete immobilization of the segment. Operations on the spine are fraught with many complications, so they are prescribed only in extreme cases.
Prevention
Even Hippocrates said: "It is easier to prevent disease than to cure it. "This rule also applies to osteochondrosis. It is enough for a person to monitor his health, lead an active lifestyle, eat right, exercise regularly to maintain spine health.
If the disease is real, prevention will help not to start it. Follow these guidelines:
- Sleep on the right mattress and pillows. Choose orthopedics and consult your doctor first.
- Make it a rule to walk at least half an hour before and after work. During the break, do not sit in front of the computer or on the phone, but warm up, and then eat a snack.
- Watch your weight. The higher it is, the harder it is for the spine.
- Note the rest mode (work during the day, sleep at night).
- Try to eliminate stress from your life. If you feel that you are suffering from depression, see a specialist.
On the note. Traditional healers claim that osteochondrosis can be cured with the help of medicinal herbs. It is difficult to say how true this statement is. Treatment with alternative methods can be used together with those prescribed by the doctor. Otherwise, the result is not guaranteed.
Osteochondrosis is a dangerous disease, full of deformities if treatment is not started on time. If you feel that you have become suspicious of quickly getting tired, and in the morning the spine is less flexible than before, consult a doctor and undergo a complete examination. In the early stages, the pathology can be slowed down and even stopped completely.