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Osteochondrosis of the spine

Pain due to osteochondrosis of the spine

Osteochondrosis is a dangerous chronic disease.Risk category: people over 40 years old.But the disease can be detected early.Recently, the first symptoms of osteochondrosis appear between the ages of 20 and 30.There are also earlier cases of disease manifestation.

How does osteochondrosis develop?

Depending on individual development, the human spine has 33-34 vertebrae.The special structure (S-shape, separation of the spine by intervertebral discs) makes the spine flexible and can assume different positions.The spine is connected by intervertebral discs (21-25 pieces).At the center of the disc is a semi-liquid core.It is surrounded by a fibrous ring.Cartilaginous end plates are located above and below the disc.

During the development of the disease, metabolic processes are disturbed.Intervertebral discs rupture as a result of poor circulation.This is the first stage of the disease.With the further development of the pathology, the fibrous ring cannot cope with the total load and deformation occurs.Then it may rupture and form an intervertebral hernia.As a result, the mobility of the spinal column is reduced and disc displacement may occur.

Causes of osteochondrosis

For proper functioning, the spinal column needs a constant moderate load.Severe overload or improper distribution of pressure can cause significant damage to the spine.The causes of the development of osteochondrosis can be divided into external and internal.

Internal causes of the disease:

  • genetic predisposition;
  • disturbance of metabolic processes in the body;
  • overweight, obesity;
  • age-related changes;
  • bad posture, curvature of the spine;
  • flat feet.

External factors include:

  • lifeless lifestyle;
  • sudden movements with a large amplitude;
  • incorrect body position when carrying and lifting heavy objects;
  • high load on the spine during sports or certain types of activity;
  • injuries of any part of the spine;
  • improperly organized sleeping place, including sleeping on a soft mattress and a high pillow;
  • walking with high heels;
  • smoking
  • The effect of vibration on the body, for example, drivers of heavy equipment;
  • Hypothermia.

Active sports do not always contribute to the health of the spine.The disease often develops in gymnasts and weightlifters due to excessive training.People of certain professions are at risk - loaders and builders.

Types of osteochondrosis

On which part of the spine is damaged, osteochondrosis is classified into the following types:

  1. Lumbar osteochondrosis.The most common pathology.The reason is serious stress in the pelvis and lower back.
  2. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.It develops due to incorrect load on the cervical spine.Blood circulation in the brain and functioning of the thyroid gland are disturbed.
  3. Osteochondrosis of the chest region.Not as common as the first two.The discs in the chest area are not so active and the muscular corset is stronger.It is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are more similar to heart disease.
  4. General osteochondrosis.In this case, the pathology affects not one part of the spinal column, but several at the same time.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis

Depending on which part of the spine the disease is localized, different symptoms of osteochondrosis are observed.

In the case of lumbar osteochondrosis, the patient observes the following signs of the disease:

  • various types of pain in the lower back;
  • piercing pain radiating down legs and buttocks;
  • Movement disorders.Changing the position of the body, bending or turning causes severe pain in the lower back.Therefore, a person tries to maintain the same posture;
  • Loss of sensation in the legs.This happens due to roots and nerve endings.

The main symptoms of cervical spine pathology:

  • Pain in the neck, especially in the evening;
  • Crackling when moving the neck;
  • headache, especially in the back of the head;
  • Pain, numbness in the shoulders and chest;
  • vision impairment;
  • noise, ringing in the ears, feeling tired;
  • Dizziness with sudden changes in the position of the neck.

Main signs of thoracic osteochondrosis:

  • Chest neuralgia, feeling of pain in the heart;
  • pressing pain in the upper chest;
  • difficulty breathing;
  • reflex tension of the back and chest;
  • A feeling of coldness in the upper limbs, periodic numbness, from the shoulders to the fingers;
  • increased pain at night;
  • Increased discomfort during hypothermia and physical activity.

Stages of osteochondrosis

In the initial stage, there is a loss of elasticity of the intervertebral discs.They shrink and bulge.The patient does not feel much discomfort, except for a slight stiffness of the spine after sleep.

The transition to the next stage is indicated by the appearance of pain.Destruction of the discs continues, the fibrous ring is deformed and cracks.When changing the usual position, stiffness of movements and acute pain are noted.

With the development of the third stage, the fibrous ring breaks.The gelatin content comes out.An intervertebral hernia is formed.If treatment is not started at this stage, stretching of the roots and disability occurs.

Complications of osteochondrosis

Lack of treatment of osteochondrosis leads to various complications - radiculitis, protrusion.The most dangerous is the formation of an intervertebral hernia, which can compress the nerve endings and cause paralysis of the lower limbs or other parts of the body.

Further destruction of the spine can lead to the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia and increased blood pressure.Patients with osteochondrosis are at risk of heart attack and stroke.

Osteochondrosis is an insidious disease that leaves serious consequences for the whole body: diseases of the heart, stomach and intestines, development of intercostal neuralgia.

Osteochondrosis of any part is dangerous.The waist can cause diseases of the pelvic organs, which will affect a person's reproductive capacity.Inflammation of the sciatic nerve develops.

A herniated disc causes blood vessels to constrict.As a result, general blood circulation is disturbed.The most dangerous moment is the stretching of the vertebral artery.

Methods of diagnosis of osteochondrosis

Experts detect osteochondrosis at an early stage using the following diagnostic methods:

  1. MRI.Magnetic resonance imaging
  2. Ultrasound examination (ultrasound)
  3. electrocardiography (ECG)
  4. Laboratory research

Treatment of osteochondrosis 

It is better to treat osteochondrosis in a specialized clinic under the supervision of specialists.Currently, both conservative and surgical methods are used to treat osteochondrosis. 

Each patient undergoes individual therapy.When choosing a treatment regimen, the doctor takes into account the degree of destruction of the intervertebral discs, in which the pathology develops, the part of the vertebral column, the age of the patient, the presence of other concomitant diseases, etc.The treatment regimen is intended for an average of no more than 1.5 months.Procedures are carried out 2-3 times a week.After the first 7 days of treatment, the pain syndrome is blocked.The standard course of therapy consists of the following procedures:

  • Resonance wave UHF therapy.Resonance wave therapy is a method of therapeutic impact on the water environment of the body with low-intensity, high-frequency electromagnetic waves.
  • Injections of chondroprotectors.Intra-articular injections are an effective method of treating various diseases of the musculoskeletal system by injecting a drug (chondroprotector) into the affected joint.
  • Rehabilitation on special simulators.Treatment of the spine and joints with the help of a simulator restores the mobility of the limbs in a short time without expensive treatment in specialized sanatoriums.
  • Blockage of joints and spine.A joint block is a drug treatment for the spine and joints that aims to relieve acute pain, inflammation and muscle spasm.
  • drug treatment.Drug treatment of joints and spine is used in a wide range and in combination with physical therapy.Intra-articular injections, blockades and drops.

Treatment of osteochondrosis helps to achieve the following goals

  • allows you to relieve pain and neutralize inflammation;
  • improves nutrition of intervertebral discs;
  • stops the destruction of disks, restores their structure;
  • relieves compressed nerve roots;
  • relaxes tense muscles;
  • restores flexibility to the spine;
  • prevents the appearance of rashes and hernias;
  • normalizes blood pressure;
  • straightens and tightens the muscle corset;
  • corrects the posture;
  • Normalizes metabolism.

After the course of therapy, the doctor gives the patient a manual with a set of exercises to be performed at home independently.The specialist will explain in detail how to change your usual lifestyle to prevent the disease from returning.

Prevention

Follow these rules to maintain a healthy spine:

  • Do swimming, yoga, jogging, fitness;
  • When sitting at the computer or desk, keep your back straight and your shoulders relaxed;
  • Choose chairs and seats that support the spine;
  • Take a break from work every 2 hours or more, walk, bend your head and body in different directions;
  • When lifting weights, keep your back straight, sit down and do not make sudden tricks;
  • Do not carry heavy objects in front of you;
  • When training on a new simulator, ask the trainer how to train on it correctly;
  • Choose shoes with shock-absorbing soles for sports;
  • sleep on an orthopedic mattress;
  • Do abdominal exercises.

Nutrition during osteochondrosis

In case of osteochondrosis, it is recommended to eat 6 times a day in small portions.Follow the following principles in the diet:

  • Include dairy products and lean meat in the diet - beef, rabbit, chicken;
  • limit consumption of grapes, legumes, peas, beans, meat broths;
  • Eat jelly, jelly meat, jelly fish.Together with them you get chondroprotectors - substances that participate in the synthesis of cartilage tissue;
  • drink at least 1.5 liters of water a day;
  • Eat fresh fruits and vegetables: cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, onions, beets, cabbage, peppers, broccoli, celery;
  • give preference to boiled or steamed dishes;
  • eat sunflower seeds, nuts, avocado and raw spinach more often;
  • Season the salad with olive oil;
  • Prepare dishes from lobster, oysters, crabs, mushrooms, grains;
  • Try to eat less often salty, smoked foods, flour products, sugar and hot spices.