Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease of the spine. It develops with age and consists of degenerative-dystrophic changes occurring in the intervertebral discs. He had no symptoms for a long time. One may notice only some stiffness in the spine.
Osteochondrosis progresses slowly - many factors affect the speed of the disease. If the pathology is not treated, complications arise - sciatica, sciatica and others, depending on the spine. Some doctors believe that such a disease as osteochondrosis does not exist, and only those who do not understand human physiology make such a diagnosis.
reasons
In the 21st century, the disease, compared to the 20th century, has significantly rejuvenated. Quite often you can meet young people who have degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs during a medical examination for another pathology. The reason for this is only one - urbanization and progress.
Today, one does not need to make an effort to get to work or to eat. Most lead a sedentary lifestyle, eat malnourished and quickly gain weight, walks in the fresh air and active activities prefer a computer and a comfortable sofa. Even before work, many get into their own cars, which are in the underground garage on the territory of a multi-story building, and sit at the workplace for 7-9 or more hours.
On a note. Osteochondrosis is only a human disease. None of the mammals had such a pathology. You must understand that this is the retribution of Homo sapiens for walking upright.
What provokes osteochondrosis?
The following factors can lead to the appearance of the disease against the background of lack of physical activity, lack of sufficient physical activity and an unhealthy lifestyle:
- violation of mineral and vitamin metabolism;
- a large number of transferred infectious diseases;
- chronic stress, depression;
- sudden movements, lifting weights;
- spinal cord injury;
- severe hypothermia;
- a slob;
- undetected and untreated curvature of the spine;
- long stay in an uncomfortable position (not necessarily sitting).
On a note. Major sports have a negative impact on human health. For example, lifting weights (and not only) in the future can become the cause of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs.
What happens to the spine?
The following factors directly affect back health:
- blood circulation in the paravertebral tissues is impaired, the intervertebral discs suffer from a lack of nutrients (they do not have their own blood vessels and depend on the tissues around them);
- the muscle corset that supports the spine weakens, the vertebrae receive an additional load that they cannot cope with;
- the intervertebral discs lose moisture, reduce their volume and diameter - the spine seems to sag (many people notice that they become 5 or even 10 centimeters lower with age);
- there is instability of one or more parts of the spine;
- the body solves the problem of instability by growing osteophytes - these are marginal bone growths that over time tightly cement the spine, depriving it of flexibility.
On a note. The transformation of the spine itself does not cause pain - the pain syndrome occurs when the nerve roots, large arteries and lymphatic vessels are affected by osteophytes or the anatomical position of the vertebral bodies changes.
Symptoms
Signs of osteochondrosis increase as the disease progresses. There are 4 stages of pathology:
- First. Symptoms are completely absent. Without pain. A person may experience a little more fatigue than usual, some stiffness in the spine, which he explains to himself as fatigue, excessive physical exertion and overwork. Osteochondrosis in the first stage can be
- Second. A syndrome of constant pain occurs due to damage to the nerve roots, which is easily stopped by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If the patient continues to ignore his body's signals and does not go to the doctor, the disease progresses rapidly. The flexibility of the spine is reduced, especially in the cervical and lumbar regions. The occurrence of vertebral artery syndrome is probably due to its compression either by edematous paravertebral tissues or by a displaced vertebra.
- third. Pathology in a state of malfunction. The pain haunts a person around the clock, slightly weakens in a horizontal position, but it is impossible to stay in one position for a long time (on the back, on the side). Sleep is disturbed, the patient becomes irritable. A person bends over (thoracic, lumbar), trying to take a more comfortable position that would not cause discomfort, which becomes an impetus for the formation of a hump, scoliosis and other deformations of the spine.
- Fourth. There is an accumulation of osteophytes - stabilization of the spine. The patient can only look around by fully rotating the torso. The pain is strong, constant, completely removed only by blockades (novocaine, prednisolone). Disability in the fourth stage is about 80%.
Simultaneously with the listed signs, the patient may be tormented by symptoms that at first glance have nothing to do with the back - dizziness, flies in the eyes, arterial hypertension, numbness of the upper limbs (cervical osteochondrosis), chest pain that mimics an attack of angina orcardiac, intercostal neuralgia (thoracic osteochondrosis), cauda equina syndrome, numbness of the lower limbs (lumbosacral osteochondrosis).
On a note. The pathology provokes vegetative-vascular and neurodystrophic disorders.
Diagnosis
To establish an accurate diagnosis, the patient is sent for X-ray, myelography and neurological examination of reflexes. If this is not enough, a referral is issued to:
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging);
- CT (computed tomography);
- MRI (nuclear magnetic resonance).
The doctor also interviews the patient and conducts a medical examination that reveals areas of pain, possible curvature of the spine, leg length difference and other objective signs of spinal damage.
Therapy
The treatment of osteochondrosis is complex. To stop the degeneration process or at least slow it down, the following are prescribed:
- chondroprotectors - externally, orally (orally), in injections to restore cartilage tissue;
- muscle relaxants - relax spasmodic muscle groups, use only under medical supervision;
- pain relievers;
- blockades - relieve pain for a long time, but do not cure;
- physiotherapy (magnetotherapy, phonophoresis, vibration therapy, EHF and others);
- PE and author's gymnastics;
- massage;
- acupuncture;
- balneo and mud therapy.
In advanced cases (uncontrolled urination and defecation, cauda equina syndrome) surgical intervention may be required to decompress and stabilize the affected spinal segments.
Decompression operations with posterior access:
- facetectomy;
- foraminotomy;
- laminectomy;
- laminotomy.
Anterior access decompression operations:
- discectomy;
- corpectomy.
To stabilize the damaged segment, spinal fusion is used - the fusion of adjacent vertebrae with the help of a special fixed structure (rods). A bone implant is placed in place of the removed intervertebral disc (the bone material is taken from a donor or formed from the patient's own bone).
On a note. Spinal fusion can be avoided. Surgeons have achieved a lot in the surgical treatment of osteochondrosis. Instead of a removed intervertebral disc, it is possible to insert an artificial one and thus avoid complete immobilization of the segment. Spine operations are fraught with many complications, so they are prescribed only in extreme cases.
Prevention
Even Hippocrates said: "It is easier to prevent the disease than to treat it". This rule also applies to osteochondrosis. It is enough for a person to monitor his health, lead an active lifestyle, eat right, do sportsregularly to maintain spine health.
If the disease does occur, prevention will help prevent it from starting. Follow these directions:
- Sleep on the right mattress and pillow. Choose orthopedics and consult your doctor first.
- Make it a rule to walk for at least half an hour before and after work. During the break, do not sit on the computer or on the phone, but warm up, and then eat.
- Watch your weight. The higher it is, the harder it is on the spine.
- Observe the rest regime (work during the day, sleep at night).
- Try to eliminate stress from your life. If you feel yourself becoming depressed, see a specialist.
On a note. Traditional healers claim that osteochondrosis can be cured with the help of medicinal herbs. It is difficult to say how true this statement is. Treatment with alternative methods can be used together with that prescribed by the doctor. Otherwise, the result is not guaranteed.
Osteochondrosis is a dangerous disease fraught with damage if treatment is not started on time. If you feel that you have become suspiciously quickly tired and in the morning the spine is less flexible than before, consult a doctor and undergo a complete examination. In the initial stages, the pathology can be slowed down and even completely stopped.