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Symptoms and methods of treatment of spinal osteochondrosis

Signs of the development of osteochondrosis - pain in the neck and back

Weakening of the intervertebral discs or other spinal diseases that complicate or limit movement indicate the development of a serious disease - osteochondrosis. It can happen to anyone and is not related to age. The spine is a load-bearing element of the skeleton, so its changes affect the quality of life and the condition of many organ systems. Therefore, it is necessary to know the causes, symptoms, and treatment methods of osteochondrosis in order to detect disorders in time and prevent the development of pathology.

What is osteochondrosis?

Osteochondrosis is a complex of degenerative disorders in the human spine, manifested by dystrophic changes in the cartilage of this system.The disease can occur in any joint, but it develops more often in the intervertebral discs.

The main symptom that indicates the development of the disease is pain in the back, neck and lower back. In the future, pain may be felt in the shoulders, arms and upper thighs. In the absence of treatment, atrophy of muscle tissue begins, disruption of sensitivity and functioning of internal organs leads to an incurable condition.

ICD-10 code

The World Health Organization has developed ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th version).Its essence is as follows: each disease has its own code consisting of numbers and letters. Seeing such a code in front of him, the doctor knows exactly what disease we are talking about and what treatment should be prescribed to save the patient from this problem.

According to ICD-10, osteochondrosis has the code M42 and belongs to the class "Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue" (Group of dorsopathies, subgroup of "Deforming dorsopathies").

Causes and risk factors of development

There are many reasons for the occurrence of osteochondrosis. They all depend on which part of the spine the disease develops in - cervical, thoracic or lumbar. There are several main reasons for the development of the disease:

  • Hereditary predisposition. Congenital anomalies contribute to the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
  • Hormonal imbalance. Disruption of the endocrine system, overweight or underweight has a negative effect on the musculoskeletal system;
  • Age-related changes in the body. As a result, muscle, bone and cartilage tissue is destroyed, intervertebral discs wear out with age;
  • Spinal injuries and bruises. Many people spend long periods of time in one position, such as sitting at a desk, while others do the same type of physical work. All this causes damage to the bone and ligament apparatus of the spine, as well as damage to the intervertebral discs;
  • Degenerative changes in muscle tissue. These processes appear due to overloading of individual muscle groups, which in most cases lead to thoracic osteochondrosis.
  • Sedentary lifestyle. Muscle atrophy occurs, which leads to impaired blood circulation and improper formation of the bone skeleton.

Most people are careless about their diet and eat unhealthy foods. Therefore, there is a lack of nutrients, which negatively affects the integrity of the intervertebral cartilages, their mobility and elasticity.

There are several risk factors for the development of this disease:

  • hypothermia;
  • straight legs;
  • complications after infectious diseases;
  • overweight;
  • sedentary lifestyle;
  • spinal injuries.

When intervertebral discs and cartilage tissue are damaged, it is important to determine the cause of the disease and start appropriate treatment.

Types and symptoms

Depending on the location of the pathological process, several types of osteochondrosis are distinguished.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

It manifests itself as pain in the neck, back of the head and between the shoulder blades. Neck mobility may be restricted during sleep. Finger numbness often occurs with cervical osteochondrosis. Dizziness and tinnitus are also noted. Types of cervical osteochondrosis differ in clinical manifestations:

  • cervicalgia- accompanied by neck pain and limited mobility; pain can spread to the shoulder area and the space between the shoulder blades; Tingling and burning sensation in the hands and fingers can often be observed;
  • cervicocranialgia- accompanied by pain from the neck to the parietal and occipital parts of the head, to the shoulder girdle; muscle tension is characteristic, there is a feeling of petrification; headache, nausea, tinnitus, imbalance are observed;
  • cervicobrachialgia- characterized by shooting, pain, pulling and stabbing pains; turning and bending the head can cause an attack of acute pain and physical tension in the affected area, pain occurs in the arms and fingers, leading to weakness of the upper limbs;
  • discogenic root lesion- characterized by paroxysmal pain in the shoulders, arms and fingers, accompanied by a feeling of numbness and coldness; symptoms intensify when coughing, sneezing or sharply turning the head; it can worsen at night and cause insomnia.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is a rare form of the disease

This is a very rare form. According to its symptoms, thoracic osteochondrosis is similar to other diseases, and therefore a differential diagnosis is required.Due to immobility of the thoracic vertebrae in this area, severe pain during movement is not observed.The pain syndrome spreads to the sternum and under the shoulder blade. Thoracic osteochondrosis can cause malfunction of internal organs. The main clinical manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis are:

  • Thoracic or intercostal neuralgia– this is irritation or compression of the intercostal nerves by muscles and tissues, which is accompanied by pain in the chest, under the ribs, in the front of the chest, when bending, bending and turning the body, when breathing, when exhaling; pain can spread between the shoulder and shoulder blades;
  • pain syndrome, which the pain strikes in nature; pain can be felt in the chest, abdomen; worse with movement, coughing, sneezing, laughing; sensitivity disorders are observed.

Thoracalgia (chest pain) is one of the most serious symptoms that a person can experience. Sometimes even a doctor cannot immediately determine the cause of chest pain and find out whether this symptom is a sign of danger to the patient's life.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar-sacral region

The main reason for such changes is lack of food and heavy loads. The metabolism slows down, as a result of which the discs do not have time to renew themselves, their structure and properties are disturbed. There are several types of lumbar osteochondrosis:

  • lumbago (acute back lumbago)- sharp pain in the lower back that occurs when lifting weights, performing physical activity or bending over; characterized by burning pain in the lumbar region on the right or left side; when the pain spreads to the hips and legs, they also distinguish lumbago with sciatica;
  • radicular vascular syndrome (radiculoischemia)when the radiculomedullary artery is damaged and is accompanied by paralysis of the extensors and flexors of the gluteal muscle group, the leg hangs sluggishly, there is no movement.

Osteochondrosis of the spine with radicular-vascular syndrome is a very dangerous pathology expressed by acute pain, because CSS is often the result of some diseases.

Stages of development

The stages of osteochondrosis are characterized as follows:

  1. The initial stage begins with the loss of fluid reserves in the nuclear pulp of the intervertebral discs. As a resultthe physiological state of the disk and the structure of the nucleus pulposus are disturbed.
  2. Further development of the disease (first degree) is associated with a decrease in the height of the disc.Muscles and ligaments become overstretched and lose their ability to function normally.Vertebral displacement may be seen at this stage.
  3. The second degree is characterized by changes in bone tissue.Forms of arthrosis, subluxations occur.
  4. The third degree is determined by thisbone growths (osteophytes) are formed in the spine,causes damage to nerve roots.

The development of osteochondrosis cannot be neglected, because the course of treatment and rehabilitation increases with each subsequent stage. Complications that develop during the disease can lead to undesirable consequences.

What is the difference between radiculitis and osteoarthritis?

The symptoms of osteochondrosis and radiculitis are very similar, but their main difference is that in the first case they occur only in the later stages, while radiculitis is characterized by the early manifestation of severe symptoms.Also, with radiculitis, pressure on the paravertebral muscles and even tilting the head causes severe pain, similar to an electric shock, does not occur with osteochondrosis.

Comparing osteochondrosis and arthrosis, it should be noted that with the second disease, all elements are affected, resulting in brittleness and limited mobility. Osteochondrosis, in turn, is characterized by the destruction of intervertebral discs with the formation of herniated protrusions.

Differential diagnostic methods are used to determine the disease. It is a comprehensive approach that requires effort and time.

Diagnostics

If osteochondrosis is suspected, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive diagnosis, which consists of the following studies.

Examination of reflexes during neurological examination for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis

Neurological examination

It is performed by a neurologist. This examination consists of checking reflexes, muscle strength and the degree of pain in other parts of the body.Neurological examination is very important for osteochondrosis, because this disease affects the activity of nerve endings and spinal cord.


Myelography of the spine

It allows you to see how the cerebrospinal fluid spreads inside the spinal membranes. It helps to identify pathologies of the spine, nerve roots and spinal cord diseases. A special dye is injected into the spinal cord and nerve area under local anesthesia. The X-ray machine provides a complete picture of the spine, especially the bones. This method allows you to identify any deviations.

Computed tomography (CT)

These are pictures of one or two segments of the spine. Using this procedure, you can see the image of the bone tissue of a specific spinal region. The doctor interprets the resulting image and if a narrowing of the space between the vertebrae is seen, this indicates that the patient has osteochondrosis.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

NMR uses strong magnetic fields as well as radio waves to create images of the human body from individual scans.With this method, ligaments, tendons and bone structures are distinguished very well.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

This is an effective procedure because it has a safe effect on the body - during the procedure, the results are achieved by using a magnetic field rather than radiation.

You cannot agree to the prescribed treatment without a preliminary comprehensive diagnosis. This can only lead to poor health.

Treatment methods

Treatment of osteochondrosis includes many complex measures.Depending on the severity of the disease, a special treatment strategy is selected.

Drug therapy

As a rule, the treatment of osteochondrosis begins with taking a certain group of drugs:

  • pain relievers and various analgesics;
  • drugs that relieve spasms;
  • B and C vitamins;
  • anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • drugs that improve blood circulation.

In addition to oral medication, patients are prescribed various non-steroidal ointments and gels that relieve pain and reduce swelling of problem areas.

Physiotherapy

In addition to drug therapy, various physiotherapeutic procedures are used. Thanks to this method, drugs can be delivered directly to the site of inflammation. The main types of physiotherapy:

  • Electrophoresis- conducting physiotherapy with electric fields modulated by currents. This allows the drugs to enter the body. Helps relieve pain and muscle spasms;
  • Magnetotherapy. This painless physiotherapy involves the positive effect of the magnetic field on the active cells of nerve and muscle fibers. As a result, the work of molecular structures is activated and the functional properties of blood vessels improve;
  • Ultrasound therapy. Ultrasound is sound waves produced in a range that the human ear cannot perceive. Thanks to this, blood circulation in the affected areas improves, spasm is eliminated, pain is relieved, and inflammatory processes stop;
  • Vibration effect. With the help of mechanical vibrations, the affected area is affected;
  • Balneotherapy. The essence of the method is the use of mineral water, which relaxes the muscles and has a beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal system. Use mineral water in the shower or bath.
Magnetotherapy is a physiotherapy procedure that improves the condition of osteochondrosis.

Physiotherapy should be carried out during the period of weakening of symptoms, when there is no pain. In the acute stage of the disease, the doctor chooses a number of procedures that can eliminate the pain syndrome. As a result of proper physical therapy, the patient stops feeling pain, the spine becomes more mobile, which indicates recovery.

Traditional methods

Treatment of osteochondrosis may include the use of folk recipes, the effectiveness of which depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Here are some of them:

  1. You need 300 g of radish juice, 200 g of honey and 100 g of vodka. Mix all the ingredients and lubricate the affected areas twice a day.
  2. You need 1 tbsp. l. rye flour, 100 g of butter, 1 tbsp. l. vinegar and 1 egg. Mix all ingredients and leave for two days. Rub it on the affected areas.
  3. Grate raw potatoes and mix with a small amount of honey. The prepared pulp is applied to the painful area for 2 hours.

Traditional treatment methods cannot act as independent therapy.To get a visible and permanent result, you need to combine medicinal, conservative and folk methods.

Traction

Traction of the spine to eliminate vertebral displacement in a patient with osteochondrosis

Spinal traction is often used for osteochondrosis. With the help of stretching, muscle spasm is eliminated, the displacement of the vertebra and the deformation of the spine are eliminated. The procedure is performed in a hospital. There are dry and underwater methods of stretching the spine.

Dry stretching is performed under the influence of the weight of the patient lying on an inclined plane.The doctor may use additional weights to increase traction. With underwater training, the healing effect is enhanced due to the effect of warm water on the body.


Under the influence of water, the distance between the vertebrae increases, vascular spasms in the affected area are eliminated, blood supply improves.

Surgery

Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis is performed in cases of severe complications.Such complications include: intervertebral disc herniation, vertebral displacement and a significant decrease in the lumen of the spinal canal.

At this time, various types of operations are performed. These include fixing displaced vertebrae with metal plates, placing artificial implants of intervertebral joints, or removing individual bone growths.

Fixation of displaced vertebrae with implants in the advanced stage of osteochondrosis

Physiotherapy

Physical therapy for osteochondrosis is one of the most important aspects of treatment. As a result, blood circulation is gradually restored, the vertebra returns to its normal position, and the spine is significantly strengthened.

In the early stages of the disease, it consists of gymnastics.In cases where gymnastics does not give a positive result, the doctor chooses a set of individual exercises for the patient, along with other physiotherapy procedures.

Complications

The disease can cause the following complications:

  • inflammatory diseases of nerve roots (radiculitis, radiculopathy);
  • intervertebral hernia;
  • vegetative-vascular dystonia;
  • various neurological complications;
  • severe headaches, migraine;
  • atrophy of limbs;
  • spinal canal stenosis;
  • spondyloarthrosis (spreading of the edges of the joint surface as a result of deforming arthrosis);
  • spinal cord stroke.

If drug treatment does not give a positive result, surgical treatment is prescribed. The slightest delay and failure to start treatment on time can lead to disability, because the spine will lose its properties and mobility.

If treatment therapy is not started on time, complications such as failure of organs of the reproductive and urinary system may occur.

Prevention

Treatment of osteochondrosis is quite difficult. Therefore, every effort should be made to prevent the occurrence of the disease in the body. In order to prevent the occurrence of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to constantly take preventive measures:

  • Rightorganize a workplace;
  • you need it while workingtake short breaksdo light gymnastics;
  • watch your posture;
  • dailygait should be easy without strain;
  • choose the right and comfortable pillow, flexible mattress.The sleeping surface should be flatand flexible;
  • The daily diet should be more than a minimum of salty and sweet foods, calcium-enriched foods. There should be vitamins C, E, B. They will strengthen the cartilage tissue and make it elastic.
  • active lifestyle.
  • prophylacticmassage.
  • medicinegymnastics.

Preventive measures are also the main requirements during the rehabilitation period. Following these simple rules allows you to prevent recurrence of the disease even after complete recovery.

results

  1. Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease of the human spine. Symptoms depend on the type of disease and the place of occurrence (cervical, thoracic, lumbosacral).
  2. Complications of the disease can not only damage the integrity of the spine, but also significantly affect the work of other organ systems.
  3. Osteochondrosis can only be treated comprehensively, combining medicine, physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises.
  4. It's not complicatedpreventive measures will help protect your body from severe pathology.