Osteochondrosis is a dangerous chronic disease.Risk category: people over 40 years of age.But the disease can appear earlier.Recently, the first symptoms of osteochondrosis are observed at the age of 20 to 30 years.There are also earlier cases of manifestation of the disease.
How does osteochondrosis develop?
Depending on individual development, the human spine has 33-34 vertebrae.The special structure (S-shape, separation of the vertebrae with intervertebral discs) makes the spine elastic and able to take a variety of positions.The spine is connected by intervertebral discs (21-25 pieces).In the center of the disk is a semi-fluid core.It is surrounded by a fibrous ring.The cartilaginous endplates are located above and below the disc.
As the disease progresses, metabolic processes are disrupted.As a result of poor circulation, intervertebral discs dry out.This is the first stage of the disease.With further development of the pathology, the fibrous ring cannot cope with the total load and becomes deformed.Then it can rupture and form an intervertebral hernia.As a result, the mobility of the spine decreases and disc displacement can occur.
Causes of osteochondrosis
For proper function, the spine needs constant moderate stress.Severe overexertion or improper pressure distribution 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:
- sedentary lifestyle;
- sudden movements with large amplitude;
- incorrect body position when transporting and lifting heavy objects;
- high load on the spine when playing sports or a certain type of activity;
- injuries to any part of the spine;
- improperly organized place to sleep, including sleeping on a soft mattress and high pillow;
- wear high-heeled shoes;
- smoking;
- vibration effects on the body, for example drivers of heavy equipment;
- hypothermia.
Active sports do not always promote spine health.The disease often develops in gymnasts and weightlifters due to excessive exercise.People from certain professions are at risk - loaders and builders.
Types of osteochondrosis
Depending on which part of the spine is affected, osteochondrosis is classified into the following types:
- Osteochondrosis of the lower back.The most common pathology.The cause is serious strain on the sacrum and lower back.
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.Develops due to improper loading of the cervical spine.Blood circulation to the brain and thyroid function are disturbed.
- Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region.Not as common as the first two.In the thoracic region, the discs are not so active and the muscular corset is stronger.Difficult to diagnose as the symptoms are more similar to heart disease.
- Common osteochondrosis.In this case, the pathology does not affect one part of the spine, but several at once.
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:
- pains of various types in the lower back;
- piercing pain radiating to legs and buttocks;
- movement disorders.Changing body position, bending or turning causes severe pain in the lower back.Therefore, a person tries to maintain the same attitude;
- loss of sensation in the legs.This happens due to pinched roots and nerve endings.
The main symptoms of cervical spine pathology:
- pain in the neck, especially in the evening;
- crunching when you move your neck;
- headache, especially in the back of the head;
- pain, numbness in shoulders and chest;
- visual impairment;
- noise, ringing in the ears, feeling of stuffiness;
- vertigo with sudden changes in neck position.
The main signs of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- thoracic neuralgia, a feeling of pain in the heart;
- pressing pain in the upper thoracic region;
- difficulty breathing;
- reflex tension of back and chest;
- a feeling of coldness in the upper extremities, intermittent numbness, starting from the shoulders and ending with the fingers;
- increased pain at night;
- increased discomfort with hypothermia and physical activity.
Stages of osteochondrosis
In the initial phase, there is a loss of elasticity of the intervertebral discs.They shrink and bulge.The patient does not feel much discomfort, except for slight stiffness in the spine after sleep.
The transition to the next stage is indicated by the appearance of pain.The destruction of the discs continues, the fibrous ring is deformed and cracks.There is stiffness in movements and acute pain when changing the usual position.
With the development of the third phase, the fibrous ring ruptures.The gelatinous contents come out.An intervertebral hernia is formed.If treatment is not started at this stage, pinched roots and disability occur.
Complications of osteochondrosis
Lack of treatment for osteochondrosis leads to various types of complications - radiculitis, protrusion.The most dangerous is the formation of an intervertebral hernia, which can compress nerve endings and lead to 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 increases in blood pressure.Patients with osteochondrosis are at risk of developing heart attacks and strokes.
Osteochondrosis is an insidious disease that leaves serious consequences for the whole body: diseases of the heart, stomach and intestines, the development of intercostal neuralgia.
Osteochondrosis of any part is dangerous.Lumbar can lead to diseases of the pelvic organs, which will affect a person's reproductive abilities.Inflammation of the sciatic nerve develops.
A herniated disc leads to compression of the blood vessels.As a result, the general blood circulation is disturbed.The most dangerous moment is pinching of the vertebral artery.
Methods of diagnosing osteochondrosis
Experts identify osteochondrosis at an early stage using the following diagnostic methods:
- MR.Magnetic resonance imaging
- Ultrasound examination (ultrasound)
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- 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 part of the spine the pathology develops, the age of the patient, the presence of other concomitant diseases, etc. The treatment regimen is designed 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 treatment course consists of the following procedures:
- Resonance wave UHF therapy.Resonance wave therapy is a method of therapeutic effects on the body's water environment 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 introducing a drug (chondroprotector) into the affected joint.
- Rehabilitation on special simulators.Treatment of the spine and joints using a simulator will restore limb mobility in a short time without expensive treatment in specialized sanatoriums.
- Blockage of joints and spine.Joint blockade is a form of drug treatment of the spine and joints that aims to relieve acute pain, inflammation and muscle spasms.
- Medical treatment.Medicinal treatment of joints and spine is used widely and in combination with physiotherapy.Intra-articular injections, blockades and drops.
Treatment of osteochondrosis helps to achieve the following
- allows you to relieve pain and neutralize inflammation;
- improves nutrition of intervertebral discs;
- stops the destruction of discs, restores their structure;
- releases compressed nerve roots;
- relaxes tense muscles;
- returns flexibility to the spine;
- prevents the appearance of protrusions and hernias;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- corrects and strengthens the muscle corset;
- corrects posture;
- normalizes metabolism.
After completing the therapy course, 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
To maintain a healthy spine, follow these rules:
- swimming, yoga, jogging, fitness;
- When sitting at a computer or table, keep your back straight and your shoulders relaxed;
- choose chairs and armchairs that support the spine;
- every 2 hours or more, take breaks from work, walk, tilt the head and torso in different directions;
- When lifting weights, keep your back straight, squat and don't make sudden jerks;
- 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 for osteochondrosis
For osteochondrosis, it is recommended to eat small portions 6 times a day.In your diet, you must adhere to the following principles:
- include dairy products and lean meat in your diet - beef, rabbit, chicken;
- limit the consumption of grapes, legumes, peas, beans, meat broth;
- eat jelly, jelly meat, jelly fish.With them you get chondoprotectors - substances that are involved in the synthesis of cartilage tissue;
- drink at least 1.5 liters of water per 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, avocados and raw spinach more often;
- season the salad with olive oil;
- prepare dishes from lobster, oysters, crabs, mushrooms, grains;
- Try to eat salt, smoked food, flour products, sugar and hot spices less often.