Osteochondrosis

If the lower back, back or neck hurts, it is difficult to stand up, your spinal crunch - many people are automatically diagnosed: "Of course - osteochondrosis!"The reasons for this "disease" seem extremely clear: we live in the twenty -first century, we move a little, we do not eat properly ...

In reality, however, everything is a little more complicated.

What is it - spinal osteochondrosis?How appropriate is such a diagnosis?And what happens in the spine?

Scientifically, osteochondrosis is a degenerative (that is, leading to premature "aging", "wear") of the spine (by the way, it can affect other joints).The pathological process begins with the intervertebral discs and gradually spreads to the vertebrae.

Spinal osteochondrosis - is there a similar diagnosis?

In English -language medicine, this term indicates a completely different group of diseases that have nothing to do with our "local" osteochondrosis.In the international classification of diseases, a book to which all neurologists should refer to when indicating a diagnosis, there are terms such as "spinal osteochondrosis in adults", "adolescent osteochondrosis of the spine" and "osteochondrosis of the spine, indefinitely."

However, sometimes this diagnosis is not fully justified when the doctor cannot really understand what is happening to the patient.This term may cover diseases such as:

• Myofascial pain syndrome- a condition in which spasm is constantly found in the same muscles.
• Muscle injuries.After injury, the pain begins to bother you and after a while it disappears on its own.
• Otolitiasis- a condition in which the crystals of calcium salt accumulate in the inner ear.They lead to dizziness - sometimes they are fooled by a manifestation of spinal diseases.
• Headache.They are also often associated with degenerative changes in the cervical spine.In fact, they have other reasons more often.

Treatment of spinal osteochondrosis

The standard set of treatment measures to exacerbate the disease looks like this:

• Anti -inflammatory and painkillers.S
• If the pain is very strong and does not disappear- Novocaine blockades are used.The doctor, armed with a needle and syringe, injects anesthetics into special places where it blocks the transmission of pulses of the diseased nerve.
• Physiotherapy helps:Healing electrophoresis with anesthesia, ultrasound, ultraviolet irradiation, diadynamic currents.
• If the pain is forcing you to constantly be in nervous tension,Prescribe medicines to help you calm you down.
• To the area of paindry heat is applied.
• To unload the spine,Different types of grip are used.The patient can be placed on a special bed with a raised dashboard and secured with rings of the armpits.Underwater grip in the pool is also used.
• Your doctor may recommendYou should visit Hiropractic, acupuncture sessions.
• During exacerbationWear special orthopedic devices that help to relieve the muscles and maintain the spine - corsets, blackbird collar.

When the exacerbation is underway, you need to take action to help prevent a new one.Therapeutic exercises and massage help to strengthen the muscles that support the spine.Physiotherapy courses are prescribed.Swimming is useful for you.All methods of treating osteochondrosis have contraindications, they should be used wisely, so self-medication is not the best choice.Visit your doctor.

Sometimes the symptoms of the disease, despite treatment, continue to increase and the patient's condition worsens.In this case, the neurologist may raise the issue of surgical treatment.

Why should you see a doctor soon?First, the "true" osteochondrosis is not such a harmless disease.Over time, this can make a person deactivated if left untreated.Second, the symptoms can be caused by the same myofascial pain syndrome - the neurologist will be able to quickly detect the cause of the pain and eliminate it. 

Back pain is a symptom that, according to statistics, more than 90% of people experience at least once in their lives.Most often it is attributed to osteochondrosis.Not all people who experience spinal pain go to doctors.Many people are treated with medicines that can be obtained without a prescription at the pharmacy or folk remedies.Sometimes such "treatment" brings temporary relief - but in the meantime the disease can continue to progress and maybe the next time the back or lower back will "rotate" much more strong.

An experienced neurologist will be able to properly evaluate the symptoms of osteochondrosis, understand their causes and prescribe the proper treatment of osteochondrosis.

The pain, the main manifestation of osteochondrosis, can be more or less successful for a long time with the help of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs and some folk drugs.But this does not solve the main problem;Pathological changes in the spine continue to increase.

Over time, this is fraught with compression of the spinal cord and the arteries that supply it and the development of serious neurological complications: severe weight loss, even complete loss, movements and sensitivity, loss of control of the bladder and rectum.

What symptoms usually manifest as spinal osteochondrosis?

A typical manifestation of the disease is pain.As a rule, they hurt, constantly worried, accompanied by a feeling of numbness, pain in the arms and legs.Usually the pain is exacerbated during sudden movements, heavy lifting, physical work, sneezing, coughing and prolonged stay in a monotonous uncomfortable position.

The muscles around the spine respond to the pain.There is a tension in them.Therefore, the patient may be in the antalgic position - one in which pain does not bother him so much.Gradually, this leads to the curvature of the spine.

Over time, if the disease is not treated, the pain becomes increased and becomes excruciating.Other signs of osteochondrosis occur:

• Sensitivity is impaired, the feeling of tingling, numbness and "crawling" occurs in the hands and feet.
• The muscles of the limbs weaken and decrease in size over time - their atrophy develops.
• With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, patients complain of headache, dizziness, tinnitus, "spots" and bright spots in front of the eyes.
• With thoracic osteochondrosis, heart pain is disturbing.The man can feel a feeling, "as if a bet in the chest was driven."
• If compression of the nerve roots of the spine occurs (for example, during the formation of the hernia disc, the bones damage on the vertebrae) appear severe firing.

Proper treatment of symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis

The key to effective treatment is the correct and timely diagnosis.During a neurological examination at the clinic, a specialist doctor will evaluate your symptoms and the degree of damage to certain nervous functions.

Here you can research using new, modern equipment - this will help you understand in detail what happens to your spinal column, nerve roots, surrounding tissues and muscles.

Treatment should be directed not only to the symptoms of osteochondrosis.You should try to eliminate the cause, and if this is not possible, understand how you can most effectively keep the disease under control and prevent it from progressing.The neurologist will prepare the right treatment program and correct it, taking into account changes in your condition.

To defeat the opponent, you need to know him at a glance.This is the case with any disease: careful examination by a doctor, modern instrumental tests and laboratory tests help to establish an accurate diagnosis, to understand what is happening in the patient's body and to prescribe effective treatment of osteochondrosis.

The main manifestation of osteochondrosis is back pain, a symptom that can occur in many other diseases.To determine the right reason and deal with it, you need the help of a specialist. 

Neurological examination in the diagnosis of osteochondrosis: How is the appointment in the neurologist's office?

During your meeting, your doctor will ask you some questions:

• What complaints are you bothering?
• Where does the pain usually occur?
• How long does the pain last?How strong is she?
• What is the nature of pain: do they stumble, shoot, hurt, pull?
• When do your symptoms usually appear?What provokes them?
• When and after what do you feel better?

The doctor will then conduct a neurological examination, checking the sensitivity of the skin, muscle strength and tone, reflexes, the feeling of balance and coordination of movements.The neurologist can push specific points near the spine to determine the pain.Then, to clarify the diagnosis, you will be prescribed an exam program.

Our neurologists work according to the same standards: they will look at you carefully, you will not miss anything and prescribe all the necessary tests.

What diagnostic methods are used for osteochondrosis?

The following diagnostic methods for osteochondrosis are most commonly prescribed:

• Radiography.It is carried out in at least two projections: front and profile.If necessary, the photos are taken in other positions.
• X -ray contrast studies.To examine better pathological changes in the spine, you can be injected with a solution of contrast agent in the spinal canal (myelography), the intervertebral disc (discography) and blood vessels (angiography).These studies are conducted only for special indications.
• Computed tomography.It helps to examine the bone structures more detailed than the radiography, to detect a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc and the growth of the vertebrae bones.
• Magnetic resonance.Helps to detect changes in soft tissues with high accuracy.

Your doctor may also prescribe other diagnostic methods of osteochondrosis.The specialist will make sure that you will receive a meeting with the right doctor and will undergo all the necessary tests so that you do not have to pay for unnecessary procedures.

Prevention of osteochondrosis

To keep your back healthy, follow these recommendations:

• Your meal should be complete.
• You need regular physical activity.If you have chronic diseases, consult your doctor and ask them to recommend a suitable set of gymnastics.
• Maintain normal weight - this will help prevent not only osteochondrosis, but also many other "ulcers".
• If you have a stuck work, take breaks more often to walk and stretch.
• Lift weight properly.Do not bend into the waist.Keep your back straight - your legs have to do the job.

Osteochondrosis belongs to a group of diseases that are scientifically called "degenerative pathologies".In other words, these are diseases in which the vertebrae, intervertebral discs and joints themselves prematurely "wear", "age" (this is not a completely accurate explanation, but overall helps to roughly imagine what is happening with the spine).But what causes this premature wear?

Why does osteochondrosis occur?

Spinal osteochondrosis is a disease that has no specific cause.Different factors lead to its occurrence:

• Injuries.Osteochondrosis can become a strong echo of an early fracture or damage to the ligament.
• Micro -trauses.They can be caused by frequent such movements in the spine, prolonged stay in a monotonous uncomfortable position.
• Congenital spinal abnormalities.They are different: non-spinal arches, changes in the number of vertebrae in the lumbar and sacral regions, incorrect location of the joint processes in the lumbar region.One may not suspect his entire life that he has one of these conditions, and then when his back is "sick", the anomaly is revealed during the exam.
• Autoimmunein which immune cells appear in the intervertebral discs, attacking the body's own tissues.
• Blood.The tissues of the spine stop receiving the required amount of blood rich in oxygen.

Who most often experiences osteochondrosis?

Certain conditions contribute to the problems of the spine:

• A sedentary lifestyle, low physical activity.Office workers are at increased risk.
• Overweight.Each extra kilogram adds stress to the spine.
• Excessive physical activity.Overload during training with athletes.
• Bad nutrition.In order for the vertebrae, connections and muscles to be strong and withstand loads, they must receive the necessary substances - "building material".
• Previous neck injuries, back, lower back.
• Untreated postural disorders, scoliosis.
• Continuous stay, work in an uncomfortable forced position when you often have to stand or sit for a long time.
• If you have close relatives who have osteochondrosis, your risks also increase.

What happens to the spine during osteochondrosis?

The development of osteochondrosis is mainly based on the "wear" of the intervertebral disc.Its structure changes at the molecular level.At first, the intervertebral disc swells, then "dries", its height decreases, it begins to protrude beyond the body of the vertebrae, and the cracks and tears appear in its outer part.Through them, the vessels grow inside, the disc becomes shorter, and the calcification begins in it.The vertebra loose.

The degenerative process then spreads to the vertebrae themselves and intervertebral joints.The muscles around the affected part of the spine are constantly under pressure and seals appear in them.

To compensate for the increased load of the vertebrae, bone plants (osteophytes) appear on them, increasing their surface.

Depending on where the pathological changes occur, the cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis are distinguished.Two or three sections can be affected at one time.