Spinal osteochondrosis is a disease that affects the cartilage structures that make up the intervertebral discs in the human body. These discs ensure mobility of the spine, allowing us to move and be flexible.
Osteochondrosis disrupts the structure of such discs, their structure changes. Since the process of destruction of these discs is irreversible, it is impossible to cure the disease. But with proper treatment, you can stop the development of the disease, slow it down and gain time when the mobility of the spine will be preserved.
If the disease is not stopped in time, the destruction of the vertebrae begins even after the destruction of the intervertebral discs.
Important!Ignoring osteochondrosis inevitably leads to complications, a forced decrease in physical activity, a deterioration in the quality of life and sometimes even disability.
Among the complications of osteochondrosis, one of the most common is osteophyte. This is the name for bony growths that appear along the edges of the vertebrae. The appearance of such a growth can be provoked by prolonged stress on the spine or an unstable spinal motion segment.
Causes and symptoms of osteochondrosis
Experts cite improper distribution of the load on the spine as the main reason for provoking the development of osteochondrosis.
However, the process can also be triggered by hypothermia of a certain part of the body or the whole organism, too much physical stress on the back in general and the spine in particular, as well as injuries to the spine (impact on the spine, sharp turns, shocks and any physical impact that can causeshear vortices).
There are a large number of minor causes of osteochondrosis. Typically, a person who has received such a diagnosis can identify 7-10 reasons from this list that triggered the development of the disease in his particular case.
So, below are listed minor but important reasons that provoke the destruction of intervertebral discs. This is something you should avoid in order not to find out what osteochondrosis is:
- stooped and bad posture (they cause curvature of the spine)
- weak back muscles (due to this, the entire load falls on the spine)
- constantly being in an uncomfortable position
- excessive physical activity associated with lifting and carrying heavy objects, strength sports
- spinal cord injuries
- lack of nutrition or excess nutrition that causes metabolic disorders
- excess weight
- constantly sitting
- stress
- hormonal disorders
- bad heritage
- aging
As you can see, there are quite a few reasons. The symptoms of this disease are also different. Osteochondrosis manifests itself differently in different people, but the following symptoms are generally observed during osteochondrosis:
- severe back pain
- numbness in arms or legs (sometimes both at the same time)
- headache turns into migraine
- pain and tenderness in the neck and limbs
- dizziness, colored spots in front of the eyes, sometimes loss of consciousness
- cold hands and feet
- characteristic pains in the chest (as in intercostal neuralgia) and heart region
- painful movements
The incidence of osteochondrosis
Interesting: some doctors believe that osteochondrosis is not a pathology, but a natural change in the human body.
One way or another, it is difficult to find a long-liver who has never suffered from back pain in his life. According to various sources, osteochondrosis affects from 40 to 80% of all people on earth.
Typically, a person notices the first signs of osteochondrosis in the period from 35 to 50 years. This has a lot to do with his lifestyle.
And if the first symptoms in some people due to bad heredity appear in adolescence, then for most people symptoms appearing after 50 are considered the norm.
This is due to the fact that at the age of 45 the human body stops accumulating water in the intervertebral discs and the level of collagen necessary for joint health inevitably begins to decrease.
In some people, the intervertebral discs may even be pushed out. This causes pain and is called sciatica.
Stages of osteochondrosis
There are 4 main stages in the development of osteochondrosis.
- It all starts with the nucleus pulposus undergoing dehydration. The fibrous ring becomes covered with cracks due to the fact that the height of the intervertebral disc decreases. At this stage, the pathology is difficult to notice, since all changes occur in the intervertebral disc. No back or neck pain yet.
- As the height of the intervertebral disc decreases, hanging muscles and ligaments appear. This is due to the convergence of the attachment points of muscles and ligaments. Initially, they are attached to two adjacent vertebrae, but if the distance between these vertebrae decreases, this cannot but affect the muscle tissue.
- The third phase is characterized by changes being pronounced. Prolapse occurs, as well as such a phenomenon as disc protrusion. Protrusion precedes the occurrence of intervertebral disc herniation. As a rule, the development of the disease can be stopped at this stage, because the fibrous ring is still intact and can still be tried to be restored. However, due to the fact that protrusions do not cause pain, few people seek help from a doctor at this stage.
- At the final stage, the fibrous ring breaks. To counteract the excessive mobility of the vertebrae at the site of disc destruction, the body mobilizes, and osteophytes appear on the vertebra.
Diagnostics
Before starting treatment of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to carry out a diagnosis and identify at what stage the disease is currently developing.
Important!Diagnosis of osteochondrosis is impossible without first collecting an anamnesis.
If you notice any symptoms of osteochondrosis, listen carefully to your body.
The more you tell the doctor about your feelings, the faster and more accurately he will be able to make a diagnosis and begin proper treatment. Do not think that there will be too much information: ask your relatives if they have had manifestations of this disease. A family history will help to more accurately determine the cause of osteochondrosis.
After the doctor has finished collecting your medical history and, based on your complaints, concludes that it is most likely osteochondrosis, he will suggest that you undergo an X-ray examination.
If for some reason this type of examination is not suitable for you, your doctor may also suggest an MRI or CT scan. However, these examinations are not mandatory under the compulsory health insurance program, so you have to pay for them yourself. Consider their high cost.
As a last resort, myelography is used to diagnose osteochondrosis. This is a painful and dangerous procedure where the doctor injects a dye directly into the spinal canal.
How is osteochondrosis treated?
Currently, treatment of osteochondrosis is practiced in many clinics. Some procedures have a positive effect, while others only relieve pain. If you decide on one of the treatment methods, before starting treatment for osteochondrosis, you must discuss this method with your doctor.
The most popular procedures now are:
- magnetic puncture effect
- pharmacopuncture effect
- reflexology with needles
- vacuum effect
- electrical stimulation
- manual therapy
Many of these procedures are not a treatment for osteochondrosis, but rather a treatment for some of the symptoms of osteochondrosis. Therefore, the doctor must coordinate the courses. This is especially true for those patients who have been diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis.
The fact is that osteochondrosis that has developed in the cervical spine is characterized by symptoms such as numbness in the arms and legs. And this is not accidental. The fact is that it is in the neck area that many nerve endings are concentrated. And wrongly chosen treatment in this case can turn your cervical osteochondrosis into a full-fledged disability.
Surgical treatment
Spinal cord surgery is such a serious undertaking that it is prescribed with great caution and only if osteochondrosis is complicated by a herniated disc. Such operations are not urgent, they are always carried out only as planned. Before the operation, you must go through a large number of examinations and take many tests.
Such operations are prescribed only if the doctor sees no other way out for treatment and realizes that without surgery the person's quality of life will deteriorate significantly. Before the operation, the doctors will try to provide pain relief and supportive care.
Narcotics
Medicines to treat this condition are mainly designed to reduce pain and increase collagen levels in the body.
However, it is worth remembering that collagen and other nutrients for cartilage are absorbed not only by the spine, but by the whole body. So the effectiveness of such drugs is not very high.
The ointments that doctors recommend to use for osteochondrosis are also primarily intended to relieve pain during an exacerbation.
Unfortunately, if you have osteochondrosis, you will most likely need maintenance treatment for the rest of your life. That is, your back hurts from time to time, you will not be able to strain yourself too much physically, in particular, you must avoid lifting heavy objects, straining your back and spine.
Exacerbation of osteochondrosis
Exacerbations of this disease can arise from high physical exertion on the back muscles. Osteochondrosis can also worsen due to colds or infections due to hypothermia, stress, pregnancy and hormonal changes. Gaining weight will also cause back pain.
Prevention
As a preventive measure, doctors offer many patients physical exercises designed specifically for the people suffering from this disease.
If your doctor has prescribed you a course of exercise therapy, check with him exactly which exercises are allowed for you. Exercises will help you keep your cruciate muscles in tone, and it will reduce the strain on the spine. In addition, these exercises will greatly help those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
For preventive purposes, you can also be prescribed a massage. Depending on which part of the spine you have developed osteochondrosis, the massage therapist will work with this area. This will not only relieve pain but also help relax the muscles. In combination with exercise therapy, massage gives good results.
Try to avoid stress on the spine, do not lift heavy objects. If possible, dress warmly because. . . any hypothermia can cause exacerbation of osteochondrosis.
Living a full life with this disease is very possible, don't forget to take care of your body and take care of yourself.