Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion localized in the spinal tissues. The disease causes a pathological process in the intervertebral discs, adjacent surfaces of the joints and the ligamentous apparatus of the spine.
The disease has a significant impact on human health. Bones and ligaments are damaged. The onset of the disease signals painful symptoms, muscle atrophy, dysfunction of internal organs. The most common age for the development of osteochondrosis is over 30 years.
Why does osteochondrosis occur?
There is a lot of information in medicine about the causes of the disease. These include mechanical injury, hereditary factor, impaired metabolism. It is very difficult to find a cause that contributes to the development of the disease, as osteochondrosis can occur in both adults and adolescents.
A common factor in the development of the disease is the deposition of spinal salts. An X-ray is used to diagnose vertebral growths, while joints crunch and squeak when walking.
You can also get osteochondrosis in the case of an existing infectious disease, with constant overload of the spine, exposure to chemicals and impaired posture. At risk are people who lead unhealthy lifestyles, abuse smoking and alcohol, are overweight and are in constant stressful situations.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis are determined by the type (s) of the disease. What are the types of osteochondrosis and how they manifest themselves, we will analyze in more detail.
Cervical osteochondrosis
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- headache;
- impaired coordination;
- impaired auditory, vocal and visual system;
- the appearance of snoring.
The most common symptom is a headache, which negatively affects a person's normal lifestyle. The neck, throat and teeth most often hurt. The pain spreads to the shoulders and arms and increases with movement.
Medicine divides all the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis into several groups:
Main symptoms. In other words, cervical sciatica. The pain originates in the neck, descends along the shoulder blades and back all over the body to the fingers.
reflex symptoms. A common symptom is pain characterized by acute and burning. Location - neck or occipital area. Often the pain radiates to the heart and chest, in addition, a person confuses osteochondrosis with the presence of heart disease.
Symptoms of the vertebral artery. The most common symptom is a headache. Possible damage to the auditory and visual system.
cardiac symptoms. The heart seems to hurt, but it doesn't. It is just radiation of heart pain, but not heart disease. In this case, the symptoms are similar to angina pectoris. There are cases when a doctor misdiagnoses and treats a non-existent disease.
Self-medication for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is not recommended.
Before prescribing the necessary treatment, the doctor makes a diagnosis. The main method of diagnosis is X-ray examination. Treatment should be comprehensive, including eliminating the source of the disease as well as the symptoms.
The early stages of the disease include manual therapy and exercise. Ongoing osteochondrosis requires more in-depth treatment and sometimes surgery. As soon as the basic treatment is over, the doctor prescribes gymnastics.
Chest osteochondrosis
Chest disease is characterized by attacks of pain in the heart, sternum, back, trunk, upper abdomen. In other words, the pain of the whole body.
Painful sensations in the heart can raise suspicion of a pathological process such as angina pectoris. The difference is that the pain in the heart in the case of osteochondrosis of the chest is not stopped by nitroglycerin, and electrocardiography does not reveal pathological changes in the heart. And the pain does not go away after taking heart medication.
Intercostal osteochondrosis of the chest is characterized by symptoms depending on the location of the pathological process:
Radiculopathy develops in connection with a herniated disc. If intercostal osteochondrosis of the chest covers the upper segment, there is pain in the shoulders, shoulders, back, heart.
When squeezing the spinal cord. In other words, compression myelopathy. Quite a rare phenomenon that manifests itself in pain, numbness and weakness of the lower extremities.
The clinical symptoms related only to thoracic osteochondrosis are as follows:
Neurological symptoms - constant pain, which is exacerbated by deep coughing and inhalation.
- osteovertebral osteoarthritis;
- vertebral symptoms.
Visceral syndromes - pain in the heart, exacerbated by exercise, body rotation.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest should be comprehensive. A special place is occupied by manual therapy, physical therapy, physiotherapy.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
Intercostal osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is characterized by pain in the lumbar and dorsal region of the body. Irradiation can be observed in the thighs, buttocks, lower legs, very rarely in the heart.
Lumbosacral osteochondrosis is characterized by impaired urination, defecation, impaired sweating, tingling in the lower extremities, dryness and flaking of the skin.
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is performed by a neurologist. Before prescribing treatment, the doctor performs the necessary diagnostic measures, consisting of a personal examination, probing the vertebrae. X-rays, MRI and CT scans are also needed. Based on the results of such studies, treatment is prescribed.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis should include measures to eliminate pain, restore normal functioning of the affected area.
Comprehensive treatment includes:
- medical method. With the help of drugs you can relieve pain, inflammation, swelling.
- Physiotherapeutic treatment. With the help of such treatment you can also relieve pain and discomfort, as well as significantly progress towards full recovery.
- exercise therapy. Prevention and treatment with the help of therapeutic and sports complex helps to significantly improve health and achieve full recovery. It is forbidden to perform exercise therapy during the exacerbation of the disease! Along with physical education, it is necessary to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, eat right and prevent stress.
Diagnostic measures
As a rule, the diagnosis of osteochondrosis consists of several stages:
- Stage 1. The doctor listens to the person's complaints and discovers the medical history: the area of concern, the time during which discomfort is felt, the cause of the pain, the reason for relieving the pain.
- Stage 2. The doctor examines the skin to identify or note the absence of redness, scaling and rashes. The doctor performs palpation of the affected area to determine the temperature of the skin, to identify swelling, painful thickening.
- Stage 3. X-ray examination is needed to determine the pathological mobility of the vertebrae, displacement, salt deposits and the formation of osteophytes.
- Stage 4. CT helps to identify compression of nerve roots, ruptures, any changes, marginal growths.
MRI contributes to the study of the condition of blood vessels, nerve processes and intervertebral discs.
Treatment at home
In case of painful sensations (in other words, a period of exacerbation), various active actions are strictly prohibited. Kneading or massaging the affected area is not recommended because the pain can only get worse. Rest should be provided for the body: take the most comfortable position in which minimal pain occurs. It also requires muscle relaxation. Sometimes the doctor recommends using a corset for more comfortable movement.
In thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis, warming of the affected area is recommended. The most effective method of warming up is to use a dog or sheep wool belt. Thanks to the belt, the pain is eliminated and the inflammatory process is weakened. The belt can be found in almost any pharmacy. In some cases, it is possible to visit the bathroom, so it is good to warm the affected area. The bath is allowed only during the period when the exacerbation of the disease is eliminated.
Old grandmother's recipes are also effective. You can apply different tinctures by rubbing the sore spot. no less effective are various ointments that can be made at home or purchased at a pharmacy. But such ointments should be used with caution because they can cause skin burns. That is why it is important to read the instructions before use.
Gymnastics for osteochondrosis
Healing therapy contributes to the treatment of osteochondrosis and is also an excellent prophylactic. Physical education must be specially designed and individually selected in each case of the disease.
The therapeutic and physical culture complex should be performed only in remission, but not in the period of exacerbation. At the same time, physical education helps to strengthen the ligament apparatus and the muscular corset of the back. Thanks to physical education you can bypass the basic treatment with drugs.
Precautions
In order not to worsen your health and prevent the development of osteochondrosis of any part of the spine, there is a special prevention. Its main rules are:
Drink water before engaging in physical activity or exercise. This is necessary to maintain the exchange of moisture in the discs and prevent their dehydration.
A good means of prevention is back massage, which can be done by the person himself while at home. Massage helps to increase blood flow throughout the body, as well as to speed up metabolic processes.
Under no circumstances should you lift and hold heavy objects and things at hand. This increases the load. To lift an object, you can squat while keeping your spine straight.
It is not recommended to make sharp movements, turns and inclines.
Even distribution of loads is required.
Prevention of osteochondrosis includes a proper lifestyle and good nutrition. You do not need to run any disease. Timely hospital treatment will help avoid negative consequences.