Most cases of unpleasant pain in the lumbar region and spine are associated with a disease such as osteochondrosis.It affects about 40% of men and women aged 30-40 and about 90% of the elderly.Therefore, the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more thoroughly the patient is examined, the greater the probability of stopping the progression of osteochondrosis and maintaining activity at an older age.
Definition of disease, cause of disease
So, what is osteochondrosis, where does it develop, what structures are affected, what is the treatment method?The disease affects the spine and the tissues between the vertebrae and is expressed in a violation of their shape, density, elasticity, and sometimes even integrity.As a result, the distance between the vertebrae decreases, the spine gradually loses stability, nerve pinching and hernia formation can develop, which is accompanied by back pain and discomfort during movement.
To briefly describe the essence of osteochondrosis, it is the gradual erosion of the tissues of the intervertebral discs (cartilages), which leads to instability of the spine.In the absence of treatment, degeneration of ligaments and joints develops, osteophytes appear, posture is disturbed, movements are accompanied by pain.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the spine:
- inactive lifestyle with lack of muscle load;
- spine injuries;
- system intensive load on the spine;
- heredity;
- overweight;
- hypothermia;
- hormonal and autoimmune diseases;
- toxic poisoning;
- congenital connective tissue deficiency;
- psychosomatic reasons (stress, depression, etc.).
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
The disease is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation with varying degrees of severity of symptoms.The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine, characteristic of the main types of diseases, lumbar, cervical and thoracic:
- pain localized in a certain area of the spine;
- said pain syndrome associated with damage to nearby musculoskeletal tissues;
- myelopathy and radiculopathy arising as a result of compression of the nerve endings of the spinal cord and blood vessels.
Depending on which part of the spine is affected by the disease, the list of symptoms of osteochondrosis may vary.Namely: patients note numbness of the muscles, numbness of the limbs, other sensory disturbances, reduced strength in the arms and legs, attacks of headache and pain in the heart, pain in the lumbar region.
Pathogenesis of osteochondrosis
Before the elastic fibrous core of the intervertebral disc begins to lose elasticity and deform, a number of processes occur in the human body suggesting osteochondrosis:
- spasms, dystonia, inflammation;
- reduced blood circulation;
- damage to nerve cell processes.
Cracks then appear on the deformed annulus fibrosus, a disc bulge develops, and a herniation occurs.Usually, such predisposing factors for spinal diseases develop in childhood or adolescence and are often the result of poor posture, scoliosis, sports injuries, infectious diseases or congenital vascular pathologies.
Stages of osteochondrosis
There are three stages of development of spinal osteochondrosis:
- the first, in which the intervertebral disc begins to decrease in height, acquiring a flattened shape, loses moisture, elasticity and may protrude;
- the second develops in the absence of treatment and is manifested by a violation of the structure of the fibrous ring of the spinal disc, the appearance of cracks and the development of instability of a certain area of the spine;
- characterized by tears of intervertebral cartilage, development of hernia and formation of bone processes of osteophytes.
The symptoms of development of spinal osteochondrosis become more intense from the first to the third stage.
Classification of osteochondrosis
The classification of osteochondrosis is based on several signs, the main of which is the area of localization.There are:
- lumbar osteochondrosis;
- osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
- osteochondrosis of the chest.
Osteochondrosis in the lumbar spine is manifested by pain in the lumbar region, which increases when turning the body or lifting heavy objects.The pain may radiate to the leg or both legs and is characterized as aching.In the case of a severe syndrome, a hernia is suspected.With lumbar osteochondrosis, spasms in the muscles of the legs and peeling of the skin often occur.
With the development of spinal osteochondrosis in the cervical region, 1-7 vertebrae are affected.The disease is accompanied by a headache in the back of the head, pain in the neck, collarbones and shoulders.There may be a crunch when turning the head, numbness in the upper extremities, and a sensation of a lump in the throat.
With osteochondrosis of the spine in the thoracic region, the patient is worried about pain in the chest, shoulders, armpits and heart.There may be a feeling of difficulty breathing and the development of attacks of intercostal neuralgia.
Osteochondrosis in the lumbar spine occurs most often, and in the thoracic - the least.
Complications of osteochondrosis
If the patient thinks about treating osteochondrosis too late, when the symptoms of the disease are expressed, the following complications may develop:
- intervertebral hernia;
- spinal cord stroke;
- spinal kyphosis;
- protrusion;
- sciatica;
- paralysis of the lower limbs.
In the absence of treatment, the patient begins to suffer from regular exacerbations of the condition, which are characterized by increased pain, which makes it difficult to move and sharply worsens the general well-being.The most terrible complication of spinal osteochondrosis is disability.Therefore, in order to prevent such serious changes in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system, high-quality and timely treatment of osteochondrosis is necessary.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
A disease like osteochondrosis is primarily pain in the spine.But it is important to distinguish it from pain caused by problems that are not related to degeneration of the intervertebral discs.To do this, doctors perform a step-by-step diagnosis, which includes:
- History taking, which includes a conversation between a specialist and a patient to establish the exact area of pain localization and the factors that provoke a worsening of the condition.It is important to know the profession of the patient, the period when the problems with the spine began, when there was an exacerbation, what kind of pain in the lumbar and other parts appeared, what methods of treatment the patient used.
- Physiological studyallows you to determine the proportions of the body, the quality of the movements and actions performed, the condition of the skin and the degree of sensitivity to pain.The doctor uses palpation to determine the condition of the muscle tissue, the presence of seals, swelling, etc.
- X-ray of the spine in two planesfor visual assessment of condition.It allows you to determine the displacement of the vertebrae, the presence of osteophytes and the deposition of salts.
If the collected data for prescribing treatment is not sufficient or there is a suspicion of a serious pathology of the spine, the patient is prescribed computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance, thanks to which it is possible to examine in detail the vertebrae, blood vessels, soft tissues, nerve processes and create a complete picture of the condition of the spine affected by osteochondrosis in order to determine the tactics of treatment.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Like any disease, osteochondrosis requires identification of the cause that caused its development.Reducing the severity of symptoms is not the main but important stage of treatment, the outcome of which depends on a number of factors.In some cases it is a complete cure, in others it is prevention of complications and disability.
In the treatment of spinal osteochondrosis, a group of measures is used:
- changing the patient's daily routine;
- prescribing medication to reduce symptoms;
- physiotherapy procedures (massage, acupuncture, electrophoresis, exercise therapy, etc.).
Changing the daily routine in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine includes reducing the intensity of physical activity, bed rest in case of severe pain and avoiding sharp bends and turns.
Medicines for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine
They can be divided into several groups:
- muscle relaxants for pain relief, including tablets, injectable anesthetics and anti-inflammatory injections for osteochondrosis.The homeopathic medicine normalizes the function of the thyroid gland, improves lymphatic drainage, has an anti-inflammatory, detoxifying and immunomodulating effect.
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.When used in patients with osteoarthritis, there is a reduction in the progression of inflammatory and destructive changes in the joints, improvement in the integrity, thickness and other characteristics of cartilage and stimulation of bone tissue regeneration.
- topical anti-inflammatory ointments and alternative transdermal patches.Such drugs have analgesic, antirheumatic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects.The mechanism of action is a reduction in the production of inflammatory mediators, a decrease in body temperature and pain.
- chondroprotectors;
- agents for therapeutic analgesic blockades;
- B vitamins.
Supportive treatments
Of the additional means that can be used to treat, alleviate the general condition and improve the function of the spine and intervertebral discs, the most effective are:
- acupuncture;
- magnetic therapy;
- professional massage and self-massage;
- physical education courses;
- manual therapy.
Forecast, prevention
If the disease of the spine is not advanced and proceeds without serious complications, 1.5-2 months of competent treatment can significantly improve the condition and prevent the chronicity of the disease.In difficult cases, doctors recommend surgical treatment.
Prevention of spinal osteochondrosis includes:
- maintaining a proper daily routine, with changes in body position and moderate physical activity;
- regular visits to the pool;
- body weight control;
- wearing comfortable shoes;
- balanced diet;
- sleeping on an orthopedic pillow and mattress;
- taking missing nutrients or preventive homeopathic medicines to increase immunity, improve overall health and eliminate dystonia.
It is necessary to undergo annual medical examinations and consult a doctor for treatment immediately after the appearance of any pain in the spine.
No matter what kind of osteochondrosis we are talking about - lumbar, cervical or thoracic, attention to one's own health should become a good habit, especially when it comes to the basis of the entire musculoskeletal system - the spine.