80% of people experience osteochondrosis in various degrees of manifestation. Not only adults and the elderly are affected, but also young people. Considering the spread of the disease, every person should know the methods of its treatment and prevention.
What is this disease?
Osteochondrosis is the degeneration of intervertebral discs, degenerative processes in the joints, ligaments and muscles surrounding them. Discs act as shock absorbers between individual vertebrae in the spine (there are 32-34 of them). They are also responsible for their mobility.
The negative factors that we will discuss below lead to cracking and destruction of intervertebral discs. They lose their elasticity and the spine loses elasticity. Discs are surrounded by tissues with nerve fibers, so dystrophic and degenerative processes are accompanied by pain.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Muscle spasm and dystrophy
The discs are surrounded by muscles that are responsible for the stability of the spine. Over time, some spasm due to constant tension, and some atrophy due to lack of stress.
This happens because of what happens to a person from day to day:
- makes monotonous movements;
- does physically demanding work;
- spends a lot of time without movement.
As a result, the spasmed muscles compress the intervertebral disc, and the atrophied muscles stop supporting it.
Blood supply problems
Nutrition of the discs also depends on the work of the muscles surrounding the spine. With normal muscle tone, the required volume of nutritious synovial fluid enters the intervertebral joint.
Lack of fluid in the body
The condition of the cartilage tissue is affected by the amount of liquid a person absorbs per day. With its deficiency, cartilage dries quickly and should ideally consist of 80% water.
Metabolic disease
Problems related to the endocrine system affect the condition of the cartilage tissue. Osteochondrosis is often caused by vitamin and calcium deficiency or excess.
Stressful conditions
Nerve tension causes muscle spasms, including those that support the spinal discs. Normally, muscles relax after tension. This does not happen if stress constantly haunts a person. Muscle tissue compresses the cartilage between the vertebrae, gradually destroying them.
Risk factors
- Genetic background.
- Nervous tension.
- Regular physical activity.
- Sedentary work, sedentary lifestyle.
- Craving for junk food, overweight.
- Bad habits that cause metabolic disorders in cartilage tissue.
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Stages of development
Stage I
The core of the intervertebral disc is dehydrated. He falls down and his cloth cracks. Painful sensations are almost invisible. Discomfort may arise if the patient takes an unusual position or exercises.
Stage II
The disc tissue flattens and bulges. Due to this, the distance between the vertebrae decreases and the spinal nerve roots are compressed. The fibrous membrane is destroyed, so the fluid is poorly retained in the core of the disc. When moving, characteristic clicks and crunching sounds appear in the spine. Due to compressed nerves, there is a sharp pain that increases with active movements.
III stage
The layer of cartilage between the discs gradually wears and thins. At this stage, the symptoms manifest themselves intensively - in the form of acute pain. Only painkillers for neuralgia can stop them quickly.
IV stage
The damage is so strong that the joints become immobile. Complete loss of mobility of the vertebral joints is possible. Due to open degenerative processes, the space between the vertebrae grows with bone tissue. These growths damage neighboring tissues and compress nerves, which causes severe pain.
Classification and symptoms
Cervical
There are 7 vertebrae in this part, they are located close to each other, neck muscles are relatively weak. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a very common disease. When this part is affected, the patient feels pain both in the whole neck and in certain parts of it, for example, in the collarbone or behind the ears.
The most characteristic symptoms:
- headache, heaviness in the back of the head, dizziness;
- tingling in the hands;
- the neck is most tense;
- when you turn your head, the vertebra clicks and snaps;
- from time to time there is a sore throat, a lump in the throat;
- It is difficult to move or raise the arm to the side due to muscle tension in the cervical region.
Manifestations of an insidious disease do not always correspond to its location. The problem may be in the cervical vertebrae and there may be pain in the chest or shoulder. Some patients complain of discomfort in the heart area.
Waist
In the lumbar region, there are lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae. This section is most sensitive to shock absorption and motor loads, so lumbar osteochondrosis is very common. Painful sensations occur in the lumbar region. Most often, these are aching pains that are aggravated by active shifts, exercises or sitting for a long time.
Symbols:
- movement of the spine is limited;
- the patient may feel discomfort in the hip with spasms;
- dryness, peeling of the skin on the legs and gas swelling are noted;
- periodic sharp burning pains may occur;
- During sleep, a person cannot take a comfortable position, because he is uncomfortable in any of them.
Additional symptoms: fatigue, constant fatigue, malaise. Some patients report urinary problems and discomfort in the kidney area. In men, the potential, and in women, the uterus and ovaries may suffer.
Chest
It affects 12 vertebrae located in the thoracic region. Often this is a complication of scoliosis.
Main symptoms:
- girdle pain that gets worse if you move actively;
- tingling sensation in the heart region;
- feeling of fullness in armpits;
- limitation of shoulder movements;
- shortness of breath, difficulty breathing.
Sharp pain appears between the ribs, in the sternum, in the region of one of the shoulder blades. There may be numbness in the fingers, hands and arms.
Diagnostics
It is almost impossible to determine the location of the problem at home. Special medical equipment will help you collect your history correctly, and only a doctor can prescribe symptoms and treatment.
Use for diagnosis:
- Magnetic resonance imaging is the most accurate method of obtaining objective information about the state of tissues.
- X-ray of the spine.
- Computed tomography.
How to treat the disease?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to quickly get rid of symptoms at home. Treatment includes an integrated approach.
General recommendations:
- observe bed rest during exacerbation of pain;
- avoid physical activity;
- wearing a supportive corset, bandage, belt.
Medicines
During the exacerbation period, the following are prescribed:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- chondroprotectors;
- muscle relaxant;
- B vitamins.
Applications using anti-inflammatory ointments also help to eliminate the inflammatory process. They have a local anesthetic effect.
Medicines should only be prescribed by a doctor. It is strictly forbidden to do this alone.
Physiotherapy
To strengthen the muscle corset, the doctor prescribes exercises to be performed daily at home. They depend on which part of the spine is affected. Physical activity improves blood circulation and allows the muscles to properly support the spine.
Massage therapy
This is one of the most effective methods of treating this disease. Quickly, in 7-10 sessions, you can restore the tone of muscles that have started to atrophy, as well as relax tense muscles.
Prevention
Treatment of osteochondrosis is difficult and long. It is easier to monitor the condition of the spine and not cause serious damage. For this, it is necessary to lead a healthy, active lifestyle and moderately load the spine.
Other preventive measures:
- Pay attention to your posture, do not slouch.
- Do exercises at home to maintain the tone of all muscle groups.
- Do exercises to relax the back, shoulder and neck muscles.
- Participate in yoga classes and therapeutic massage sessions.
- Do not lift heavy objects, distribute the load evenly on your arms.
We wish you to get rid of osteochondrosis forever and keep your back and neck healthy.