Osteochondrosis should be taken seriously. Only the uninitiated believe that this is a simple disease that is easy to tackle without the help of a specialist. For effective treatment, you need to approach the problem extensively. Exclude heavy loads, lead a measured lifestyle, eat right and perform special exercises. In the acute phase, drug support and constant monitoring of a physician are required.
Osteochondrosis - What is it?
Distrophic processes leading to a partial or complete change in the intervertebral disks. The vertebrae, Contracting, crushing discs that, under the influence of loads, infections, malnutrition lose their elasticity. Cleaning, disks begin to crush the nerve endings, causing unbearable pain. The disease at an early stage does not cause serious problems, but the before the patient turns to a specialist, the more effective the treatment will be.
At the beginning of the disease, minor changes occur in the spine. Osteochondrosis is approaching unnoticed. Small pain appears in different parts of the spine that signalize degenerative-dystrophic processes on disks.
If you do not immediately start treatment, the process may become irreversible and transferred to the tissue in the vertebrae. Distrophy of disks leads to a gradual weakening of external fibrous rings. Patients with osteocondrosis are often facing complications, such as projections and spine hernia.
Regularly conducted studies in this area provide disappointing statistical data. People over thirty years old are often facing the spinal cord disease, 70% of patients suffer from different forms of osteocondrosis. This is a neurological disease that affects the ligaments of intervertebral compounds. It is accompanied by sharp pain, press waves and other symptoms that often do not allow people to lead a well -known lifestyle and work normally.
Osteochondrosis does not occur without reason, sharply with acute pain. The first symptoms are insignificant and conspicuous. With an unexpected deterioration of well -development, appearing the appearance of unpleasant sensations in the spine that quickly passes, does not neglect the body's signals. It is required to consult a doctor immediately to get advice and undergo a full examination. Timely started treatment will help avoid serious complications.
Important. By neglecting the treatment and tips from doctors, you may encounter a projection or a parting of part of the counter - a hernia where part of the pulpic core hangs in the cerebrospinal canal and can cause paralysis, violation of the nerve endings expressed in unbearable pain.
There are several types of osteocondrosis, named after the localization and pain in the spine.
- Cervical
- Thorax
- Lumbar.
In examination, the specialist will determine the degree of lesion, the exposure site and choose the method of complex treatment. The effectiveness of the treatment of osteocondrosis depends largely on the exact compliance with all prescriptions of the participating physician.
Causes
After several in -depth studies, experts came to the conclusion that the main reason for the appearance of osteochondrosis is an uneven distribution of loads on different parts of the spine. The basic cause can be intensive work under unusual conditions, a long sitting in a position, heavy loads during sports training and strokes. The result of an unexpected or prolonged load on a particular area of the spine is a gradual change in the structure of the intervertebral disks.
Among the main causes of appearance and gradual development of the disease can be distinguished:
- Hereditary changes in the development of the body leading to the appearance of osteochondrosis.
- Diseases of the Endocrine System, a failure in the work of metabolic processes.
- The wrong development of the skeleton-muscular system leading to pathological changes in the body.
- Any back injuries, lower back, neck in falling, exercise, sharp loads, strikes.
- Cheap lifestyle, weighed down by malnutrition.
- Osteocondrosis is an unchanged satellite of obese people suffering from obesity.
- Abuse of alcohol and nicotine necessarily leads to the destruction of the intervertebral disks.
- Constant psychological and physical exertion, stress and overtime become the fundamental cause of dystrophy of intervertebral cartilage.
- Women in different stages of pregnancy often encounter manifestations of osteocondrosis.
The corset in the spinal cord muscles that support the spine is more durable by representatives of the strong half of humanity. Women with magnificent big breasts and playing small sports will necessarily collide with osteocondrosis in the cervical and the thorac region.
The development of osteocondrosis
No illness occurs for no reason and begins immediately. The body always passes changes in step by step. The disease has four capital that you need to know to consult a doctor for help.
- Gradually, dystrophic changes in the cores of intervertebral cartilage usually occur imperceptibly. Dehydration of the disk becomes the basic cause of the occurrence of microcracies, loss of elasticity and thickening of cartilage. Often, people at this point feel easy discomfort with a long sitting in a position or with intensive charge.
- The second phase is already difficult to not notice. Degenerative change in tissues leads to the appearance of projections. The fibrous capsule is destroyed and the spinal cord room is reduced. The result will squeeze the nerve endings, the appearance of a sharp pain in individual sections of the back. The pain syndrome is actively expressed for any inclinations, sharp twists and turns. Osteochondrosis is accompanied by a sharp loss of performance and the appearance of weakness in the body.
- Complete or partial wear of intervertebral cartilage laying due to osteocondrosis. The thinning of the tissue is perfectly noticeably under radiography. Symptoms of the disease are pronounced and can lead to partial paralysis. It is impossible to relieve pain and you have to resort to injections and other substances at the fireplace of the disease. Only potent drugs and complete help to help help.
- This is the last phase that is characteristic of the complete destruction of intervertebral cartilage. A complex violation of the neurological system leading to the appearance of bone growth on the site of cartilage. The mobility of the joints is completely disturbed. Osteophytes are able to damage the nerve endings of the vertebrae and bone segments. At this point in treatment, the help of a surgeon may be needed.
Symptoms of osteocondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a pathological change in the cartilage tissue of the spine that connects disks. Degenerative-dystrophic changes occur for various reasons and lead to the formation of diseases of the ligaments and intervertebral disks. During osteocondrosis, soft tissue and nerve endings are violated. The vessels and nerve endings near the fireplace experience serious changes, causing severe pain and violation of the supply of nutrients.
The main symptoms talk about the development of osteocondrosis
It must be aware of any, even insignificant changes in the body. The faster the preventive targets for influence on the new focus of the disease, the more effective the treatment is.
- There is pain in the neck, chest, crucifix and ribs.
- There is a stiffness of movements during turns, inclinations and fast walking, running. When you lift weights, short pain appears.
- Hands and legs lose their sensitivity, go numb and swell.
- Chills appear even at high temperatures on the street. Lomota in the lower and upper extremities.
- Unexpected and very painful cramps of the muscles of the legs and arms.
- A pronounced dysfunction in the genitals appears that are capable of causing serious psychological injuries.
- The appearance of dizziness and sharp headaches.
- Sharp pain in the breast area that is strongly reminiscent of a heart attack state.
- The fingertips are partially or fully or fully sensitive.
- Safe muscle hypotension.
- A sharp decrease in performance, high fatigue, loss of visual acuity.
Symptoms that are characteristic of the development of the disease in different parts of the spine;
Cervical. Sharp, rapid pain in the shoulders and arms, the appearance of nausea, dizziness and sharp migraine attacks can signal the disease. Inexplicable pressure waves not related to the operation of the cardiovascular system.
The appearance of constant noise in the ears, stars, before his eyes talk about the problems of cervix spine. Older people may suddenly lose consciousness as they walk.
Thorax. The appearance of sharp pain at the front of the chest body, the abdomen, between the ribs. Breathing becomes more frequent and difficult. Press weight in the breast area. A sharp pain in the shoulder blades during swing, movement and inclinations. Disturbance in the stomach -gut tract. Attack of pancreatitis, swelling, diarrhea. The limbs are unexpectedly numb and people may lose balance as they walk. Sharp weak seizures, a feeling of shaking under the skin appears.
Lumbar. The appearance of mute rising pain in the crucifix. She can give a leg, leading to a loss of equilibrium as she moves. There are unpleasant icing in the lower extremities, even during rest. When tilted, it becomes difficult to fix without outside help. Violation of the work of the Genitourinary System.
Possible complications
Partial or complete destruction of intervertebral bands leads to the development of several chronic diseases. Even a little pain in the spine, which unexpectedly appeared and also quickly disappeared, had to make a person undergo a complete examination. This will help identify the focus of the origin of the disease and using preventative means to avoid further development of the disease.
When you ignore the first signals you can meet more serious problems:
- The appearance of sharp, long -term head pain, migraine and dizziness.
- Problems in the cervix can lead to a strong loss of vision.
- Often, hearing loss is a consequence of a violation of the upper spine.
- The development of osteochondrosis can cause autonomous dysfunction.
- Problems in the crucifix lead to a sharp worsening of diseases of the genitourinary system.
- Large loads and lack of systemic treatment will be the cause of intervertebral hernia.
- People are facing diseases such as Lumbago, SpondyLarthrosis, Lumbalgia.
- Long -term development of osteocondrosis without qualified treatment leads to stenosis of the spines.
It is necessary to understand that any disorder in the spine will necessarily lead to the development of more complex chronic diseases of the internal organs. Damage to the vascular fried beams complicates the organ's rhythm, violating the delivery of the required amount of nutrition and removal of toxins and toxins.
This adversely affects the whole body. Damaged cells and toxins that accumulate inside tissue stimulate the development of malignant formations. You can suddenly find that excellent health has suffered severe damage from slight pain in the crucifix, back or neck.
Phase of worsening of osteocondrosis
People encounter a sharp deterioration of their health in the spring in the lower spine. This may be due to the lack of the required number of minerals and vitamins. Sharp physical loads and temperature changes on the street. In winter, the Thorax region suffers most of all. Due to infectious diseases, hypothermia and irrational nutrition. In the cervix, a sedentary lifestyle or work in a position that sits most of all. On the first symptoms, use ointments, try to get rid of cramps and edema as soon as possible. An immediate appeal to a specialist will help to cope effectively with osteocondrosis. When using strong edema using diuretics, do not forget to take medications that contain potassium and calcium.
Diagnostics
The doctor addressed by a patient with sharp pain in the spine must take a sequence several steps
- Hang -Up Collection. Conducts a detailed conversation with the patient. The goal is to clarify the basic causes of the occurrence of the disease. At which time the most striking attacks occur, causing the occurrence of pain. Individual features of the course of the disease "osteochondrosis".
- A thorough personal examination of a specialist. A study of the skin is performed for the presence of a rash and edema. The flexibility and severity of reflexes of the joints are checked. Palpation of a painful area will help locate pain points and find worsening. The attitude of fingers or special tools helps determine the irradiation of pain. At the icing of needles, the degree of sensitivity is determined in different parts of the body.
To achieve the most complete image of the body's condition and identify hidden foci, a hardware examination must be used, which necessarily includes:
- Diagnosis using an X -Ray. The image of the affected area allows you to immediately notice the narrowing of the allowed gap between the spinous vertebrae. The drying of the intervertebral discs is clearly visible in x -ray.
- MRI, modern technology that guarantees accurate diagnosis of diseases of the spinal cord department. The use of magnetic resonance tomography helps determine and locate the formation site of intervertebral hernia.
- Computed tomography in its meaning and efficiency does not differ much from mr. The only downside is an increased radiation load, so CT is not recommended to use children.