Osteochondrosis is a dangerous chronic disease.Risk category: People over 40 years old.But the disease can manifest itself earlier.More recently, the first symptoms of osteochondrosis are observed in the second to third decade of life.There are also some cases of early manifestations of the disease.
How does osteochondrosis develop?
The human spine has 33 to 34 vertebrae, depending on individual development.The special structure (S-shape, with the vertebrae separated by intervertebral discs) makes the spine flexible and able to assume a variety of postures.The spine is connected by intervertebral discs (21-25 discs).At the center of the disk is a semi-liquid core.It is surrounded by the annulus fibrosus.Cartilaginous endplates are located above and below the intervertebral disc.
As the disease progresses, metabolic processes are disrupted.Due to poor blood circulation, the discs can dry out.This is the first stage of the disease.As the pathology progresses, the annulus fibrosus cannot cope with the total load and becomes deformed.It may then rupture and form an intervertebral hernia.As a result, the mobility of the spine decreases, and disc displacement may occur.
Causes of osteochondrosis
In order to function properly, the spine requires a constant, moderate load.Severe overexertion or improper distribution of pressure can cause serious damage to the spine.The causes of osteochondrosis can be divided into external causes and internal causes.
Intrinsic causes of disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- disrupt metabolic processes in the body;
- Overweight, obesity;
- age-related changes;
- Poor posture and curvature of the spine;
- flatfoot.
External factors include:
- sedentary lifestyle;
- Sudden, large movements;
- Incorrect body posture when carrying and lifting heavy objects;
- High loads on the spine when playing sports or certain types of activities;
- Injury to any part of the spine;
- Improper sleeping arrangements, including sleeping on soft mattresses and high pillows;
- walking in high heels;
- smoking;
- The effects of vibration on the body, such as for drivers of heavy equipment;
- Low temperature.
Active exercise doesn't always promote spinal health.This disease often occurs in gymnasts and weightlifters due to excessive exercise.People in certain occupations are at risk - loaders and builders.
Types of osteochondrosis
Depending on the part of the spine affected, osteochondrosis is divided into the following types:
- Lumbar osteochondrosis.The most common pathologies.The reason is severe stress on the sacrum and lower back.
- Cervical osteochondrosis.Occurs due to improper loading of the cervical spine.Blood circulation to the brain and the function of the thyroid gland are disrupted.
- Osteochondrosis of the chest region.Not as common as the first two.In the chest area, the discs are less active and the muscle bundles are stronger.It's difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are more similar to heart disease.
- Common osteochondrosis.In this case, the pathology affects not one part of the spine, but multiple parts simultaneously.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
Depending on where in the spine the disease occurs, various symptoms of osteochondrosis can be observed.
In the case of lumbar osteochondrosis, patients will observe the following signs of the disease:
- Various types of pain in the lower back;
- Stinging pain radiating to legs and buttocks;
- Movement disorders.Changing body position, bending, or turning can cause severe pain in the lower back.Therefore, one tries to maintain the same posture;
- Loss of sensation in the legs.This occurs due to compression of the roots and nerve endings.
The main symptoms of cervical spine pathology:
- Neck pain, especially at night;
- A crunching sound when the neck is moved;
- Headache, especially in the back of the head;
- Pain and numbness in shoulders and chest;
- visual impairment;
- Noise, tinnitus, stuffiness;
- Feeling dizzy due to sudden change in neck position.
The main symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:
- Thoracic neuralgia, a feeling of heart pain;
- Tenderness in the upper chest area;
- difficulty breathing;
- Reflexive tension in the back and chest;
- A cold sensation in the upper limbs, with periodic numbness, starting at the shoulders and ending in the fingers;
- Pain that worsens at night;
- Hypothermia and increased discomfort during physical activity.
stages of osteochondrosis
In the initial stages, the disc loses its elasticity.They contract and expand.The patient did not feel much discomfort except for slight stiffness in the spine after sleeping.
The onset of pain indicates the transition to the next stage.The destruction of the intervertebral disc continues, and the annulus fibrosus deforms and ruptures.When changing the usual posture, the movements are stiff and accompanied by severe pain.
As stage III progresses, the annulus fibrosus ruptures.The gelatinous contents come out.Formation of intervertebral hernia.If treatment is not started at this stage, root extrusion and disability can occur.
Complications of osteochondrosis
Lack of treatment of osteochondrosis can lead to various complications - radiculitis, herniation.The most dangerous thing is the formation of intervertebral hernia, which can compress nerve endings and cause paralysis of the lower limbs or other parts of the body.
Further disruption of the spine may lead to vegetative vascular dystonia and spikes in blood pressure.People with osteochondrosis are at risk for heart disease and stroke.
Osteochondrosis is an insidious disease with serious consequences for the entire body: diseases of the heart, stomach and intestines, the development of intercostal neuralgia.
Osteochondrosis in any location is dangerous.The lumbar spine can cause diseases of the pelvic organs, thereby affecting a person's reproductive ability.Inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
A herniated disc can cause pressure on blood vessels.As a result, blood circulation throughout the body is disrupted.The most dangerous moment is clamping the vertebral artery.
How to Diagnose Osteochondrosis
Experts use the following diagnostic methods to identify osteochondrosis in its early stages:
- MRI.magnetic resonance imaging
- Ultrasound examination (ultrasound)
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- laboratory research
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is best treated in specialized clinics and under the guidance of experts.Currently, the treatments for osteochondrosis include conservative therapy and surgical therapy.
Each patient receives individualized treatment.When choosing a treatment plan, doctors will consider the degree of disc damage, which part of the spine the disease occurs in, the patient's age, and whether there are other concomitant diseases.Treatment plans are designed for an average of no more than 1.5 months.Surgery is performed 2-3 times per week.Pain syndrome is blocked after the first 7 days of treatment.Standard treatment includes the following procedures:
- Resonant wave UHF therapy.Resonance wave therapy is a method that uses low-intensity, high-frequency electromagnetic waves to produce therapeutic effects on the body's aquatic environment.
- Injection of chondroprotectant.Intra-articular injections are an effective method of treating various diseases of the musculoskeletal system by introducing drugs (chondroprotectants) into the affected joints.
- Rehabilitation takes place on a special simulator.Treatment of the spine and joints with the help of a simulator will restore mobility to the limbs in a short time without the need for expensive treatments in specialized sanatoriums.
- Block joints and spine.Joint blockade is a medical treatment that targets the spine and joints and is designed to relieve acute pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms.
- Medication.Medical treatments for the joints and spine are widely used and combined with physical therapy.Intra-articular injections, closures and droppers.
Treatment of osteochondrosis can help achieve the following goals
- Allows you to reduce pain and neutralize inflammation;
- Improve nutrition of intervertebral disc;
- Prevent damage to the disc and restore its structure;
- Releases compressed nerve roots;
- Relax tense muscles;
- Restore flexibility to the spine;
- Prevents protrusions and hernias;
- normalize blood pressure;
- Correcting and strengthening muscle corsets;
- upright posture;
- Normalizes metabolism.
After completing the treatment process, the doctor will give the patient a booklet containing a set of exercises that should be performed independently at home.Experts will explain in detail how to change your usual lifestyle to prevent a recurrence of the disease.
prevention
To keep your spine healthy, follow these rules:
- Swimming, yoga, walking, fitness;
- When sitting at a computer or desk, keep your back straight and your shoulders relaxed;
- Choose chairs and armchairs that support your spine;
- Take breaks from work every 2 hours or more often, take a walk, tilt your head and torso in different directions;
- When lifting weights, keep your back straight, squat down, and don't jerk suddenly;
- Do not carry heavy objects in front of you;
- When working out on a new simulator, ask your instructor how to do it properly;
- When exercising, choose shoes with shock-absorbing soles;
- sleeping on an orthopedic mattress;
- Do abdominal exercises.
Nutrition for osteochondrosis
For osteochondrosis, it is recommended to eat small portions 6 times a day.Follow the following principles in your diet:
- Include dairy products and lean meats—beef, rabbit, chicken—in your diet;
- Limit consumption of grapes, beans, peas, legumes, broth;
- Eat jelly, aspic, fish jelly.With them you get chondroprotectants - substances involved in the synthesis of cartilage tissue;
- Drink at least 1.5 liters of water every day;
- Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables: cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, onions, beets, cabbage, peppers, broccoli, celery;
- Give preference to cooked or steamed dishes;
- Eat more sunflower seeds, nuts, avocado, and raw spinach;
- Dress salads with olive oil;
- Prepare lobster, oyster, crab, mushroom, grain dishes;
- Try to eat less salty, smoked foods, flour products, sugar and spicy condiments.