Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease of the spine. It develops with age and consists of degenerative-dystrophic changes occurring in the intervertebral discs. There were no signs for a long time. A person may feel only a slight stiffness in the spine.
Osteochondrosis progresses slowly - many factors affect the speed of the disease. If the pathology is not treated, complications arise - sciatica, sciatica and others, depending on the spine. Some doctors believe that there is no such disease as osteochondrosis, and only those who do not understand human physiology make such a diagnosis.
Reasons
In the 21st century, the disease has become noticeably younger than in the 20th century. Often, during a medical examination for another pathology, you can meet young people with degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs. There is only one reason for this - urbanization and progress.
Today, a person does not need to make an effort to go to work or buy food. Most of them lead a sedentary lifestyle, eat without proper nutrition and gain weight quickly, those who walk in the fresh air and engage in active activities prefer a computer and a comfortable sofa. Even before work, many people get into their personal cars in the underground garage on the territory of a multi-storey building and sit at the workplace for 7-9 hours or more.
In the note. Osteochondrosis is only a human disease. None of the mammals had such a pathology. You must understand that this is the revenge of Homo sapiens walking upright.
What causes osteochondrosis?
The following factors can cause the onset of the disease against the background of physical inactivity, insufficient physical activity and an unhealthy lifestyle:
- violation of mineral and vitamin metabolism;
- many communicable diseases;
- chronic stress, depression;
- sudden movements, weight lifting;
- spinal cord injury;
- severe hypothermia;
- to bend;
- undetected and unhealed curvature of the spine;
- staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time (not necessarily sitting).
In the note. Big sports have a negative effect on human health. For example, weightlifting (not only) can trigger degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs in the future.
What happens to the spine?
The following factors directly affect the health of the back:
- blood circulation in paravertebral tissues is disturbed, intervertebral discs suffer from nutritional deficiency (they do not have their own blood vessels and depend on the tissues surrounding them);
- the muscle corset that supports the spine weakens, the vertebra receives an additional load that it cannot cope with;
- intervertebral discs lose moisture, their volume and diameter decrease - the spine appears to bend (many people note that they drop 5 or even 10 centimeters with age);
- there is instability of one or more parts of the spine;
- the body solves the problem of instability by growing osteophytes—marginal bony growths that over time rob the spine of flexibility.
In the note. The transformation of the spine itself does not cause pain - the pain syndrome appears when the nerve roots, large arteries and lymphatic vessels are disturbed by osteophytes or when the anatomical position of the vertebral bodies changes.
Symptoms
Symptoms of osteochondrosis increase with the progression of the disease. There are 4 stages of pathology:
- First. Symptoms are completely absent. Painless. A person may feel a little more tired than usual, a little stiffness in the spine, which he explains to himself as fatigue, excessive physical exertion and overwork. Osteochondrosis may be present in the first stage
- Second. A persistent pain syndrome appears due to disruption of the nerve roots, which is easily stopped by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If the patient continues to ignore the signals of his body and does not go to the doctor, the disease progresses rapidly. The flexibility of the spine decreases, especially in the neck and back regions. The occurrence of vertebral artery syndrome is probably due to its compression by either edematous paravertebral tissues or a displaced vertebra.
- the third. In a pathological state of disrepair. The pain haunts a person day and night, it weakens a little 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 (thoracic, lumbar), tries to find a more comfortable position that will not cause discomfort, which encourages the formation of a hump, scoliosis and other deformations of the spine.
- Fourth. There is an accumulation of osteophytes - stabilization of the spine. The patient can look around only by turning the trunk completely. The pain is strong, constant, completely removed only with blockades (novocaine, prednisolone). In the fourth stage, disability is about 80%.
Simultaneously with the listed symptoms, the patient may suffer from symptoms that at first glance have nothing to do with the back - dizziness, flies in the eyes, arterial hypertension, numbness of the upper limbs (cervical osteochondrosis), chest pain. mimics an angina attack or heart, intercostal neuralgia (thoracic osteochondrosis), cauda equina syndrome, numbness of lower limbs (lumbosacral osteochondrosis).
In the note. It causes pathological vegetovascular and neurodystrophic disorders.
Diagnostics
To make an accurate diagnosis, the patient is sent for X-ray, myelography and neurological examination of reflexes. If this is not enough, appeal is made to:
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging);
- CT (computed tomography);
- NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance).
The doctor also conducts an interview with the patient and conducts a medical examination, which reveals areas of pain, possible curvature of the spine, leg length difference and other objective signs of damage to the spine.
Therapy
Treatment of osteochondrosis is complex. It is prescribed to stop or at least slow down the degeneration process:
- chondroprotectors - external, oral (oral), in injections to restore cartilage tissue;
- muscle relaxant - relaxes spasmodic muscle groups, used only under medical supervision;
- pain relievers;
- blockades - relieves pain for a long time, but does not cure;
- physiotherapy (magnetotherapy, phonophoresis, vibrotherapy, EHF, etc. );
- exercise therapy and author's gymnastics;
- massage;
- acupuncture;
- balneo and mud treatment.
In advanced cases (uncontrollable urination and defecation, cauda equina syndrome), surgery may be required to decompress and stabilize the affected spinal segments.
Decompression operations with posterior access:
- facetectomy;
- foraminotomy;
- laminectomy;
- laminotomy.
Decompression operations with front entry:
- discectomy;
- corpectomy.
Spinal fusion is used to stabilize the damaged segment - the fusion of adjacent vertebrae using a special stable structure (rods). The removed intervertebral disc is replaced by a bone implant (bone material is either taken from a donor or formed from the patient's own bone).
In the note. Spinal fusion can be prevented. Surgeons have achieved a lot in the surgical treatment of osteochondrosis. Instead of a removable 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 properly, and exercise regularly to maintain the health of the spine.
If the disease still manifests itself, prevention will help prevent it from starting. Follow these instructions:
- Sleep on the right mattress and pillow. Choose orthopedic and consult your doctor first.
- Make it a rule to walk for at least half an hour before and after work. Do not sit at the computer or phone during the break, warm up, then eat a snack.
- Watch your weight. The higher it is, the harder it is for the spine.
- Follow the rest regime (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 professional.
In the note. Traditional doctors claim that osteochondrosis can be treated with the help of medicinal plants. It is difficult to say how true this statement is. Treatment with alternative methods can be used together with the method prescribed by the doctor. Otherwise, the result is not guaranteed.
Osteochondrosis is a dangerous disease, if treatment is not started on time, it is full of disability. If you feel suspiciously tired quickly, and in the morning you feel that the spine is less flexible than before, see a doctor and undergo a complete examination. In the initial stages, the pathology can be slowed down and even completely stopped.