Osteochondrosis is a medical term that describes a violation of the integrity of cartilaginous bone surfaces. Most often, the disease is associated with damage to the intervertebral discs.
Intervertebral discs are a type of shock absorber that relieves pressure on the spine under load. Osteochondrosis worsens the quality of life, causing pain in the back, neck, head, tinnitus.
There are two perspectives on diagnosis. Experts attribute the disorder to diseases of childhood and adolescence. It is believed to be more common in children as their bones are in a developmental stage. Russian doctors diagnose osteochondrosis mainly in patients aged 25-55 years. The signs, causes and types of the disease in both cases are the same.
How to define osteochondrosis?
- Are there persistent or recurrent back pain or muscle tension?
- Do you have diving in the lower back or neck?
- Do you feel "shooting" in the back?
- Do you feel pain when you raise your arms or shake your head sideways?
- Do you have periodic dizziness?
- Do you experience noise, mixed?
If at least one answer is positive, it is worth contacting a specialist to conduct a study. If the diagnosis reveals a violation, the doctor will prescribe treatment and help protect yourself from the most serious and painful symptoms.
What causes osteochondrosis
The massive incidence of osteochondrosis is associated with the fact that people are in a vertical position most of the time. In this case, the spine and discs are under added stress. If sitting, lying down and standing incorrectly, the discs lose their ability to cushion.
Over time, the disc lining ruptures and hernial extensions appear. They begin to squeeze the blood vessels, the spinal cord roots or the brain itself. As a result, pain, reflex tension in the muscles appear.
The risk group includes middle-aged and elderly people. Office workers, professional drivers, tall people are more often faced with this disease. Risk factors for the onset of severe symptoms of a disorder may include:
- flat feet;
- inheritance;
- mbipesha;
- hypodynamics.
Reasons for the appearance of disorders in the articular cartilage:
Heavy load handling.
Wrong posture when sitting, standing or lying down.
Injuries, overload.
Excessive stress when playing sports.
High air humidity and low temperature.
Activities accompanied by frequent changes in body position.
Types of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis can develop in any part of the spine. By localization, the disease is divided into: cervical, thoracic and lumbar. The latter type occurs in 50% of cases.
Osteochondrosis mesit
A similar diagnosis is made for both men and women. The reason for this is the added load that appears when you walk, run, exercise and sit for a long time. The lumbar spine consists of 5 vertebrae, between which there are discs that give elasticity. If the metabolic process does not occur, the intervertebral discs lose their properties and pain occurs.
Symptoms:
- Dull or sharp back pain that worsens with movement.
- Pain in the legs, pelvic organs, sacral region.
- Impaired mobility or sensitivity.
- Leg muscle atrophy in the acute course of the disease.
Lumbar osteochondrosis should be treated. In the absence of therapy, dangerous complications can occur: sciatica, hernia, prolongation. As a result, the natural blood supply to the spinal cord is disrupted, leading to paralysis of the lower limbs.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix
"Make sure you turn your head, " the doctors urge. This way you can avoid the dangerous diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. The neck is the most mobile part of the spine. The department consists of 7 beads. The disease manifests itself as a result of metabolic disturbances in the body, in the presence of salts in the neck or due to the frequent uncomfortable position of the head.
Symptoms:
- Headache;
- Pain in the region of the heart;
- Ignition "flies" before the eyes;
- Hearing impairment;
- Crunch in the cervical spine;
- Pain in the arm or shoulder joint;
- Numbness of the limbs.
Experts note that this type of disease is one of the most dangerous because it can cause poor circulation in the brain, migraine, dystonia and more serious diseases.
Chest osteochondrosis
Disorders in the thoracic spine occur less frequently, as the vertebrae are inactive. Pain that appears in this area of the body is experienced by many people who engage in strenuous physical work or have a sedentary profession. The cause of osteochondrosis can be a disturbed metabolic process, an increased load on the intervertebral discs.
Symptoms:
- Pain or tightness in the chest area.
- Pain between the shoulders when raising the arms.
- Skin sensitivity disorders.
In an acute disorder, two symptoms may appear: dorsago and dorsalgia. Dorsago is accompanied by acute chest pain, shortness of breath. With dorsalgia, the pain in the vertebral region of the department is not very strong, but gradually increases. The disease is often confused with other chest pathologies: heart attack, pneumonia, angina pectoris, etc. Diagnosis is made only by a specialist, based on examination and research.
Stages of osteochondrosis
- In the first stage, there are no obvious symptoms. With periodicity, there is discomfort in the spine, which is accompanied by fatigue or excessive physical exertion. The disease can be detected during a routine examination, X-ray or CT scan.
- The second stage is associated with pain syndrome, as the process of cartilage tissue destruction begins and the gap between the discs is reduced. Pain at this stage is relieved by medications prescribed by a doctor.
- In the third stage, the deformities of the spine begin: the fibrous ring is broken, an intervertebral hernia appears. With the help of a properly prescribed treatment, it is still possible to improve the condition of the spine.
- The fourth stage is the irreversible change in the spine, in which it becomes difficult for a person to move. Bone tissue grows between the vertebrae, connecting the vertebrae. Most often, this form of osteochondrosis leads to disability.
Diagnostic methods
To determine the extent of the disease, to control sensitivity and reflexes, the doctor performs a physical examination. Furthermore, blood and urine tests are taken, indicators of calcium metabolism are studied.
To make an accurate diagnosis, diagnostic methods are used:
- Vascular ultrasound. Determination of the degree of impaired blood flow in the vertebral arteries.
- X-rays of the spine.
- UKT. Construct a three-dimensional image of the study area to detect small bead displacements.
- UMRISSoft state condition study to assess the condition of the spinal cord and visualize the internal structure of the discs.
treatment
Osteochondrosis is treated in a comprehensive way. The main purpose of therapy is to suppress painful sensations, eliminate muscle tension and stiffness of movements that occur due to pain. It is important not to treat yourself, but to consult a specialist and follow the recommendations.
To treat the spine, your doctor prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that help relieve inflammation and swelling. Muscle relaxants are responsible for reducing muscle spasms. Ointments are used to relieve pain. Antioxidants and vitamins can be prescribed to protect nerve tissue.
Prophylaxis
It is possible to maintain the health of the spine and prevent the onset of symptoms or complications of osteochondrosis by observing the methods of prevention:
- drinking enough water; body weight control;
- eating foods rich in collagen;
- choosing an orthopedic mattress that supports the body;
- regular exercise.
Alternative methods can be tried: acupuncture, qigong or massage. Before starting any procedure, you should consult a doctor in order to guarantee the health of the musculoskeletal system.