Degenerative-destructive damage to the spine, otherwise:osteochondrosis- a disease involving damage to a person's ligaments and joints, intervertebral discs and vertebral bodies.
Osteochondrosis mainly affects the elderly, regardless of gender, although it should be noted that there has been a recent trend towards rejuvenation of this disease. Such rejuvenation of osteochondrosis is directly related to the poor physical development of children and overweight in so many adolescents. In addition, today's young people prefer to have fun near the TV or computer, avoiding sports. The combination of these factors leads to weakening of the back muscles, posture disorders and other negative consequences for the spine.
Osteochondrosis and its causes
At the heart of the disease with osteochondrosis is a violation of the trophism of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, which changes the normal structure of tissues. As a result, the cartilaginous disc loses its normal elasticity and shape, reducing the width of the spaces between the vertebrae. Disruption of the intervertebral ratio leads to compression of the nerve endings of the spinal cord, as well as to significant strain on the spinal muscles, which explains the manifestation of pain in osteochondrosis. In addition, osteochondrosis often has quite serious complications, such as protrusion of part of the intervertebral disc and spinal hernia.
In the future, the degenerative-destructive changes that occur in osteochondrosis lead to the formation of bone growths in the vertebrae, which also spread to the intervertebral ligaments and small joints of the spine. For people suffering from osteochondrosis, it becomes difficult to perform flexion-extensor movements and over time may develop pathologies - scoliosis or kyphosis.
All of these degenerative-destructive lesions of the spine are usually the result of the inevitable physiological aging of the human body, but for a number of reasons discussed later in this publication, the process of osteochondrosis can be significantly accelerated.
It should be immediately noted that there is no single cause of osteochondrosis, but there are a large number of predisposing factors, and the main ones are:
- bruises, fractures, sprains and other injuries to the spine;
- hereditary predisposition;
- various diseases of the foot, causing spinal congestion, such as strabismus, flat feet and others, as well as prolonged wearing of uncomfortable and tight shoes;
- obesity or overweight;
- age-related natural changes in the body;
- violation of metabolic processes in the body;
- maintaining a sedentary lifestyle;
- abrupt cessation of professional sports;
- the specifics of the professional activity, for example, frequent chills and rotations of the body, lifting weights, awkward body position during work;
- prolonged and frequent hypothermia, aggravated by high humidity;
- the presence of frequent and prolonged stress.
The presence of several or even one of the above factors can lead to the development of osteochondrosis, which is conditionally divided into four stages:
- First stage- reduction of the amount of moisture contained in the intervertebral disc by reducing the intervertebral distance. In this case, minor cracks appear in the cartilage.
- Second phase- due to the reduction of the intervertebral gaps, sagging of the ligament and muscular apparatus occurs, which leads to unnatural mobility of the vertebral bodies, their displacement and sliding.
- Third stage- due to the progressive degenerative-destructive lesion of the spine, extrusion of the intervertebral discs is observed, as well as vertebral subluxations.
- Fourth stage- to prevent subluxations and unnatural mobility of the vertebrae, bone osteophytes grow between the vertebrae, in popular treatment they are called "salt deposits", which over time become so much that the vertebrae lose their mobility. In such bone growths inevitablyinjuries to nerves and vessels located near these vertebrae occur.
It should be noted that in the first and fourth stages of osteoarthritis patients do not experience pain.
Osteochondrosis and its classification
Although osteochondrosis has many different classifications, the most common is the classification of osteochondrosis, which takes into account the location of spinal lesions:
- osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
- thoracic osteochondrosis;
- osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine;
- osteochondrosis of the sacral spine;
- general osteochondrosis, which involves disease of two or more vertebral sections.
Osteochondrosis and its symptoms
Osteochondrosis as a disease has a chronic nature and is characterized by alternating phase of remission and exacerbation phase, in which the symptoms of osteochondrosis are particularly characteristic, depending on the location of spinal disease and the presence of possible complications.
So, osteochondrosis of the cervical region will be characterized by pain directly in the neck, in the hands, some stiffness of movements, headache and numbness of the fingers. Well, in the case of compression of the vertebral artery, the patient has a headache that is throbbing, it is also possible to reduce the functions of the hearing aid, dizziness and fainting.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest are slightly different. The patient is worried about back pain, which can be acute, difficulty breathing with full chest, heart pain, as well as a feeling so-called in folk medicine - "car in the chest. "
The symptoms of osteochondrosis in case of damage to the lumbar spine are manifested by pain in the lower back, legs, sacrum and intensify with movement. In addition, tingling in the legs occurs and various urogenital dysfunctions may develop.
During the remission phase, a sick person may also experience pain that is not severe and occurs only in the case of provoking factors, such as an awkward position of the patient's body.
Osteochondrosis and its diagnosis
First of all, patients should keep in mind that the neurologist deals with the treatment of osteochondrosis. The diagnosis of osteochondrosis, as a rule, includes the following steps:
- interrogation of the patient;
- external examination and palpation of the patient's spine in different positions of the body, as well as establishing a possible range of motion;
- special tests for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis by magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and X-ray examination of the patient;
- special examinations of peripheral nerves and blood vessels, but only in cases necessary for the correct diagnosis of osteochondrosis.
If you do not commit to timely and proper treatment of osteochondrosis, preferably without resorting to folk remedies, then there is a real danger of developing various complications in the form of diseases such as sciatica, disc herniation, migraine, vascular dystonia, and lumbar osteochondrosis -and spinal stroke. Therefore, due attention should be paid to the diagnosis of osteochondrosis and its treatment, avoiding methods of self-alternative treatment, so as not to start the development of this disease.
Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis
In the treatment of osteochondrosis in medical institutions, unlike traditional medicine, classical methods are used for its treatment. At the same time, the attending physician uses a strictly individual approach to the patient. The treatment of osteochondrosis to achieve effectiveness is carried out in a complex way. Conservative methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis are divided into the following groups:
- Treatment of osteochondrosis with drugs.
- Physiotherapeutic treatment of osteochondrosis, especially magnetic therapy, using special medical devices.
- Sanatorium for the treatment of osteochondrosis.
- Organize proper nutrition with the help of a special diet.
Surgical intervention in the treatment of osteochondrosis
Treatment of osteochondrosis with surgery is performed only in cases where the above conservative methods do not give the desired effect. The most common is the removal of an intervertebral hernia, in which the surgical incision is not more than one centimeter, and the patient can get to his feet the day after such an operation. Well, the course of complete rehabilitation of the patient ends within six months after surgery.
There is also a method of treating osteochondrosis by surgery, in which the affected intervertebral disc is removed and a silicone implant or prosthesis is installed in its place, which restores the required distance between the vertebrae and, as a result, eliminates the symptoms of osteochondrosis.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
First of all, to prevent osteochondrosis, you must:
- avoid increased strain on the spine by wearing comfortable shoes;
- try not to stay in an awkward position for a long time;
- exercise regular control of your weight, avoiding the yoke of excess;
- maintain proper posture at all times;
- when lifting weights, use both hands evenly;
- perform general strengthening exercises every day, as well as pay attention to regular yoga or swimming lessons;
- follow a diet that includes in your diet foods such as fish, leafy vegetables and vegetables, dairy products, jellies and jellies, broths, eggs, butter and olive oil;
- avoid alcohol, fizzy drinks, too much coffee, salty foods and fatty meats.