What is osteochondrosis, its causes and symptoms, treatment of the disease

Osteochondrosis is a spinal pathology that affects millions of people of all ages.

Degenerative and dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs, proliferation of osteophytes causes pain syndrome, reduces the mobility of the supporting column. Symptoms depend on the affected side.

In most cases, the negative manifestations affect not only the auxiliary column and the paravertebral zone, but also extend to other areas.

In the absence of treatment, the disease progresses, the work of organs and systems is disrupted, the state of health noticeably deteriorates, constant pain and complications on the background of pathology can lead to disability.

It is important to know what osteochondrosis is, the causes of the common disease, treatment methods and prevention.

Causes of disease development

Degenerative and dystrophic processes in the intervertebral discs, excessive ossification in the affected side develops in the following cases:

• Spinal cord injuries;
• Heavy load on auxiliary post during heavy work, professional sports, moving cargo;
• Congenital defects of the supporting column;
• Deficiency of vitamins, minerals, deterioration of the quality of the pillow cover;
• Disturbance of mineral metabolism;
• Hormonal disorders, endocrine diseases;
• Lack of movement, sedentary work;
• Severe obesity;
• Decreased elasticity of the intervertebral discs in the elderly, with aging of the body;
• Excessive consumption of strong coffee, carbonated and alcoholic beverages, sour foods, smoked meats, smoking;
• Tumor process in the paravertebral zone, provoking damage to the elastic structures of the spine.

Types and stages

Osteochondrosis affects all parts of the supporting column. Degenerative processes are more actively manifested in the mobile regions: lumbar and cervical, thoracic, spinal cord injury, bone tissue is less common.

There are several types of osteochondrosis in the affected area:

• Cervix;
• chest;
• lumbosacral

Stages of pathology:

• The first stage- Development of chondrosis. Lack of nutrients damages the quality of the disc and reduces the elasticity of the pad. High load on the background of thinning of cartilage tissue provokes mild and moderate pain in the spine;
• The second stage.Deformation of elastic structures is more pronounced, the pain occurs not only during loading, but also when bending, turning. Defeat of the annulus fibrosis leads to the crushing of sensitive structures, increasing the friction of bone elements;
• The third stage.The integrity of the annulus fibrosis is violated, the disc protrudes beyond the spine, the pain syndrome is pronounced. The patient has difficulty without medications that reduce discomfort. Against the background of the destruction of the elastic pad decreases the mobility of the supporting column, develops protrusions and intervertebral hernia;
• The fourth stage.The cartilage layer is practically absent, osteophytes appear on the spine. Bone formations are an attempt to compensate for the excessive load on the affected vertebrae. Dense elements stabilize the spine, but at the same time reduce the mobility of the problem area of the supporting column. In the fourth stage of osteochondrosis, the pain subsides, but the patient has difficulty performing simple movements. If changes occur in the lumbosacral area, then paresis or paralysis of the lower body may occur. Often, in the fourth stage of osteochondrosis, the patient establishes a disability.

On a note!Auxiliary column disease occurs with periods of remission (from several months to a year or more) and exacerbations (duration of relapse, pain intensity depends on many factors).

The first signs and symptoms

The manifestation of the disease depends on the stage and the affected area.

The more negative factors, the higher the risk of pain syndrome, damage to other areas.

Blood circulation deteriorates, mineral metabolism is impaired, protrusions, spinal hernia develop, excessive ossification occurs in the affected side.

Self-medication, lack of qualified help, combined with the desire to visit the spine periodically, negatively affects the condition of the spinal structures.

Cervix

The main signs are:

• Radicular syndrome with severe disc damage;
• Pain in the back of the head, neck, crown;
• Dizziness, nausea;
• headache;
• Discomfort in the muscles of the shoulders, neck;
• Numbness of the cervix, hands, fingers;
• Discomfort in the chest;
• Impaired mobility of the cervical spine;
• Reduction or loss of shoulder muscle reflexes;
• Feeling of "goose bumps" on the hands, fingers;
• With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, a person suffers from insomnia, depressive states, irritability on the background of painful neck and headaches or excruciating pain.

Chest osteochondrosis

Typical signs:

• During prolonged stay in one position there are heavy loads, twisting, bending, chest pain;
• With deep breathing, discomfort of varying intensity is felt in the middle of the spine;
• As the arms are raised, the pain increases as the body moves;
• With the progression of osteochondrosis of the chest region, problems arise in the functioning of the digestive tract;
• There is an unpleasant feeling of "goose bumps" in the hands;
• Depending on the degree of injury, doctors distinguish between dorsalgia - painful sensations in the affected spine and dorsalgia - high-intensity acute, excruciating pain, shortness of breath, muscle spasm;
• Develops intercostal neuralgia;
• Painful or severe pain in the shoulder blades;
• Reproductive disorders occur.

Lumbosal region

The main symptoms are:

• Discomfort of varying intensity in the lower back;
• Muscle weakness, development of paresis;
• Coldness and numbness of the lower extremities;
• Pain syndrome is manifested by heavy loading or lifting of a load;
• Appears painful lumbar: pain radiates from the lower back to the gluteal area, elbows, legs;
• Intermittent claudication develops;
• Compression of the nerves adversely affects the work of the pelvic organs: with severe degrees of lumbosacral osteochondrosis, urinary incontinence, involuntary defecation is possible;
• There is fatigue, it is difficult to stand, long walks cause weakness in the legs.

Diagnosis

To find out the condition of the spine, you should contact a vertebrologist. In the absence of a doctor in this specialty, you should visit a neurologist or orthopedic traumatologist.

Diagnostic measures:

• Examining the patient, checking for complaints.
• MRI.
• Computed tomography
• X-ray of the spine in several projections.
• Doppler ultrasound of blood vessels.
• Electromyography.

Effective treatment

How to treat osteochondrosis? Chronic pathology requires the attention of both the physician and the patient. Do not expect the negative symptoms to disappear within a week of starting the therapy course. Only an integrated approach gives results. The patient should realize that medications alone cannot eliminate degenerative-dystrophic changes in the discs, preventing the proliferation of osteophytes.

Important for successful treatment and prevention of osteochondrosis:

• Carry out exercise therapy complex;
• Attend massage and physiotherapy;
• Healthy food;
• Arrange a work and sleeping place, taking into account the recommendations of the doctor;
• Do not lift weights;
• Periodically take vitamins, mineral complexes to maintain the elasticity of the discs, the strength of bone tissue;
• Refuse very intense exercise;
• Avoid spinal cord injuries and bruises;
• Control your weight.

There are other important rules:

• Do not cool;
• Treatment of pathologies that adversely affect the condition of the discs;
• Break, warm-up while working with the computer;
• Move more, do physical education;
• Avoid excessive consumption of coffee and alcohol, forget about smoking;
• Avoid prolonged static / dynamic loads;
• Sleep on an orthopedic mattress and low pillow;
• Less nervous;
• Set aside 7 hours for a night’s sleep, at least;
• Periodically visit a vertebrologist, check the condition of the spinal structures.

Medications

Effective groups and names:

• Chondroprotectors. . . They restore cartilage tissue, slowing down the process of destruction of the disc. Course - 4 months or more;
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. . . Medications relieve pain, eliminate swelling and inflammation. Topical remedies give a good effect: ointments, gels, plaster;
• B vitamins. . . Medications restore nerve regulation, improve neuronal nutrition, and reduce the severity of pain syndrome. Injections (first days during exacerbation) and tablets (for a long course of treatment and prevention) are effective;
• Muscle relaxants. . . Remedies deal with muscle spasm, which is a major cause of nerve endings;
• Compositions that normalize blood circulation.Most often, drugs of this group are prescribed for cervical osteochondrosis, against which the brain suffers;
• Spinal block, Injection into the paravertebral zone. This type of exposure helps with painful lumbago and pain in the background of nerves caught in the third or fourth stage of osteochondrosis. Corticosteroids and excipients are added to the analgesics to increase the effect;
• GCS Group Drugs.Steroid formulations are essential for severe pain. Often, injections are prescribed for lumbosacral osteochondrosis, against the background of which develops painful lumbago.

In training and gymnastics

Exercises for the cervical, lumbosacral and thoracic areas are prescribed after relieving acute pain, weakening the inflammatory process. For each zone, physicians developed a complex of exercise therapies with varying degrees of stress.

The first sessions are conducted under the guidance of a physiotherapist. After exploring the complex, the patient continues to exercise at home. To achieve a therapeutic effect it is important to observe the duration and frequency of sessions. In addition to physical education, vertebrates recommend walking in the pool: swimming is an ideal type of positive effect on the spine.

Physiotherapy procedures

Effective methods of influence:

• Ozokerite programs;
• Laser therapy;
• Radon and turpentine baths;
• Shock wave therapy;
• Electrical procedures;
• Mud therapy;
• Phonophoresis and electrophoresis with drugs;
• Magnetotherapy.

The following methods work well in the treatment of osteochondrosis:

• Acupuncture;
• Hirudotherapy;
• Reflexology;
• Using a needle applicator;
• Manual therapy;
• Dry and underwater traction spine column;
• Medical ipplikator.

Preventing the development of osteochondrosis is quite difficult, but doctors advise you to remember the factors that cause dystrophic and degenerative processes in the structures of the spine. The more attention a person pays to a healthy lifestyle, the lower the risk of developing adverse changes on the intervertebral discs.