80% of people experience osteochondrosis in various degrees of manifestation. It affects not only adults and the elderly, but also young people. Considering the prevalence of the disease, every person should know about the methods of its treatment and prevention.
What is this disease?
Osteochondrosis is degeneration of intervertebral discs, degenerative processes in the joints, ligaments and muscles that surround them. Discs act as shock absorbers in the spine between individual vertebrae (there are 32-34 of them). They are also responsible for their own mobility.
Negative factors, which we will talk about below, lead to rupture and destruction of intervertebral discs. They lose elasticity, and the spine loses flexibility. 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 responsible for the stability of the spine. Over time, some cramp due to constant tension, others atrophy due to lack of stress.
This happens because a person day after day:
- makes monotonous movements;
- performs physically demanding tasks;
- spends a lot of time motionless.
As a result, spasmed muscles compress the intervertebral disc, and atrophied muscles stop supporting it.
Problems with blood supply
The nutrition of the discs also depends on the work of the muscles that surround the spine. With normal muscle tone, the required amount 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 fluid that a person absorbs per day. Due to its deficiency, the cartilage dries quickly, and ideally it should consist of 80% water.
Metabolic disease
Problems with the endocrine system affect the condition of cartilage tissue. Osteochondrosis is often caused by a lack or excess of vitamins and calcium.
Stressful conditions
Nerve tension causes muscle spasms, including those that support the spinal discs. Usually, after tension, the muscles relax. If stress constantly haunts a person, this does not happen. The muscle tissue tightly squeezes the cartilage between the vertebrae, gradually destroying them.
Risk factors
- Genetic background.
- Nervous tension.
- Constant physical activity.
- Sedentary work, sedentary lifestyle.
- Passion for fast food, excess weight.
- Bad habits that lead to metabolic disorders in cartilage tissue.
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Stages of development
Phase I
The core of the intervertebral disc becomes dehydrated. He gets lower, and his fabric rips. Painful sensations are almost imperceptible. Discomfort can occur if the patient takes an unusual position or exercises.
Phase II
The disc tissue flattens and bulges. Because of this, the distance between the vertebrae decreases and the roots of the spinal nerves are compressed. The fibrous membrane is destroyed, so the fluid is poorly retained in the core of the disc. When moving, characteristic clicks and creaking sounds appear in the spine. Due to the pinched nerves, there is a precise pain that increases with active movements.
Phase III
The cartilage covering between the discs gradually wears away and becomes thinner. In this phase, the symptoms are manifested intensively - in the form of acute pain. Only painkillers for neuralgia can stop them quickly.
IV stage
The damage is so severe that the joints become immobile. Complete loss of vertebral mobility is possible. Due to pronounced degenerative processes, the space between the vertebrae is overgrown with bone tissue. These growths injure adjacent tissues and compress nerves, causing acute pain.
Classification and symptoms
Cervical
There are 7 vertebrae in this part, they are located close to each other, and the neck muscles are relatively weak. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a fairly common disease. When this part is affected, the patient feels pain both in the entire 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 hands;
- the neck is usually tense;
- when you turn your head, the vertebrae click and crack;
- occasionally there is a sore throat, feeling of a lump in the throat;
- due to the tension of the muscles in the cervical region, it is difficult to move the arm to the side or raise it.
Manifestations of an insidious disease do not always correspond to its location. The problem may be in the neck vertebrae, and the pain may occur in the chest or shoulder. Some patients complain of discomfort in the heart area.
Lumbar
Lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae are located in the lumbar region. This part is most sensitive to shock absorption and motor loads, which is why lumbar osteochondrosis is so common. Painful sensations occur in the lumbar region. Most often, these are pains that are intensified by active turns, exercises or long sitting.
characters:
- the spine is limited in movement;
- the patient may feel discomfort in the hip with spasms;
- dryness, peeling of the skin on the legs and goosebumps are noticed;
- periodic acute shooting 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, weakness. Some patients report problems with urination and discomfort in the kidney area. In men, potency may suffer, and in women, the uterus and ovaries.
Chest
It affects 12 vertebrae located in the thoracic region. It is most often a complication of scoliosis.
Main symptoms:
- girdling pain that gets worse if you actively move;
- burning sensation in the region of the heart;
- feeling of fullness in the armpit;
- limitation of shoulder movement;
- shortness of breath, shortness of breath.
Acute pain occurs between the ribs, in the sternum, in the area of one of the shoulder blades. Numbness of the fingers, hand and forearm may occur.
Diagnostics
At home, it is almost impossible to determine the location of the problem. Special medical equipment will help you collect the medical history correctly, and only a doctor can determine the symptoms and treatment.
For diagnosis use:
- Magnetic resonance is the most accurate method for obtaining objective information about the state of tissues.
- X-ray of the spine.
- Computed tomography.
How to treat the disease?
Unfortunately, it is impossible to quickly solve the symptoms at home. Treatment involves an integrated approach.
General recommendations:
- adhere to bed rest during worsening pain;
- avoid physical activity;
- wear a supporting corset, bandage, belt.
Medicines
During the exacerbation period, the following is prescribed:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- chondroprotectors;
- muscle relaxants;
- B vitamins.
Applications that use anti-inflammatory ointments also help to reduce the inflammatory process. They have a local anesthetic effect.
Medicines should only be prescribed by a doctor. It is strictly forbidden to do this on your own.
Physiotherapy
To strengthen the muscle corset, the doctor prescribes exercises that need 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.
Masotherapy
One of the most effective methods in the treatment of this disease. Quickly, in 7-10 sessions, you can restore tone to muscles that have begun to atrophy, as well as relax tense muscles.
Prevention
Treatment of osteochondrosis is difficult and takes a long time. It is easier to monitor the condition of the spine and not lead to serious damage. To do this, you need to lead a healthy, active lifestyle and moderately stress the spine.
Other preventive measures:
- Watch your posture, don't slouch.
- Do exercises at home to keep all muscle groups in tone.
- Perform exercises to relax your back, shoulder and neck muscles.
- Take yoga and therapeutic massage classes.
- Do not lift heavy objects, distribute the load evenly on your hands.
We wish you to get rid of osteochondrosis forever and to keep your back and neck healthy.