With osteochondrosis of the spine, destruction of the bones and cartilage tissue of one or more parts of the spine occurs. This disease is chronic and develops in almost all the elderly. This is due to the usual aging of the body.
Intervertebral discs undergo atrophic changes and at what age this occurs depends on many factors:
- trauma;
- diseases and overload of the spine.
Spinal overload includes:
- walking with bent back;
- sitting improperly;
- features of the structure of the spine;
- insufficient nutrition of spinal tissues due to hereditary abnormalities.
With osteochondrosis, the nucleus located between the vertebral discs loses some of its water. Because of this, metabolic disorders occur in the nucleus and access to various minerals and vitamins is impeded.
After a while, cracks appear in the disk, it becomes flat. Subsequently, nearby joints and ligaments begin to be affected, forming tissue inflammation. Due to inflammation, the adjacent vertebrae are displaced. This is dangerous with the onset of radicular symptoms: pain along the affected nerve.
It is also possible for an intervertebral hernia to appear, and this, in turn, can provoke spinal cord compression. Osteochondrosis is characterized by the appearance of osteophytes - bone growth in the vertebral bodies. These growths can suppress the spinal cord and cause radicular syndrome.
Most often, the cervical and lumbar regions are susceptible to osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix
Causes:
- sports activities (weight lifting);
- excess weight;
- metabolic diseases;
- sedentary jobs (programmers, accountants, drivers, etc. );
- flat feet;
- spinal cord injury;
- hypothermia.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are pain in the head and neck. A person is concerned about severe headaches, neck pain, radiation to the arm, sternum pain. The patient may complain of lumbago - the appearance of a sharp pain in the neck, muscle spasms and restriction of movement.
Also, a person may hear a crack when turning his neck. Due to the constriction of nerves and blood vessels, a person may experience numbness of the tongue and fingertips. The patient will complain of decreased hearing and vision, high blood pressure, and weakness in the arm and leg muscles.
Chest osteochondrosis
This type of osteochondrosis is quite rare. This is due to the anatomical structure of the thoracic spine. It consists of 12 vertebrae, which connect to the ribs through joints. Ahead, the ribs are connected to each other by the sternum. Thus, an excellent frame is created from the spine, sternum and ribs, which protects the internal organs from various damages.
The vertebrae of the thoracic region are at low altitudes and have long spinous processes, which are located on top of each other, like herpes. Due to this structure, this part of the spine has low mobility. The intervertebral discs of the thoracic region are rarely injured.
Reasons for the formation of this type of osteochondrosis:
- irrational load distribution;
- delays in feeding of intervertebral discs;
- sedentary work;
- the presence of scoliosis.
Symptoms
As with other types, pain is the main symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis.
But with osteochondrosis of the chest, the pain can be different. Dorsalgia - long-term discomfort and mild pain along the thoracic vertebrae. The pain can affect the cervical and lumbar regions.
Dorsago is one of the signs of thoracic osteochondrosis, in which pain appears in the form of an attack. By its nature it is intense, acute, leads to difficulty in breathing and leads to restriction of muscle movements. In addition to pain, patients may experience a feeling of numbness in the chest, impaired sexual function, pain in the heart, kidneys, and stomach.
What is the risk of affecting the chest region?
The spine is designed to narrow in the chest region, so hernias arising from osteochondrosis will quickly lead to spinal cord compression. This can easily lead to problems with the heart, pancreas, liver and kidneys because the chest region is connected to all of these nerve fiber organs. This is why it is very important to go to the doctor on time. He will help to find out where the signs of osteochondrosis that bother you come from and will carry out competent treatment of the disease.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine occurs due to weight gain. Normally, in the center of the intervertebral disc there is a nucleus that contains a large amount of water. Due to the liquid, the nucleus becomes slightly compressed and for its rupture a compression of 500 kg is required.
However, the disc affected by osteochondrosis becomes weaker and only 200 kg will be needed to crack it. If a person weighing 70 kg lifts 15 kg load in a bent position, and for the spine this is a load of 200 kg, the intervertebral disc may rupture. This is why the first symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis appear when lifting weights.
Symptoms
- pain in the lumbar region;
- inability to move the lower back;
- sleep disturbance;
- nervousness;
- fatigue;
- inability to meet household needs;
- decreased sexual function in men;
- menstrual cycle disorders;
- cold feet syndrome.
With the passage of osteochondrosis in the sacral region, the patient develops pain in the kidney area and a violation of urination.
Diagnosing
Osteochondrosis is treated by a neurologist. To begin, he examines the spine, draws attention to the presence of scoliosis. After feeling, the doctor will be able to understand how much the spine, tendons and nerves are affected.
Once the neurologist suspects osteochondrosis of the spine, he will refer the patient for additional examination. This includes undergoing an X-ray examination, magnetic resonance imaging. If destruction of the intervertebral disc is suspected, a discography is performed. It is also prescribed to determine the degree of nerve pathway damage.
In general, it is very difficult to diagnose osteochondrosis of the spine. After all, a person may complain of pain in the heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas or sexual dysfunction. But nevertheless, with a thorough examination, an experienced physician will be able to suspect this disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Treatment
Osteochondrosis therapy is a very long and difficult process. In the acute period, the patient needs the rest of the affected segment. If the cervical spine is affected, then the patient should wear a Shants fixing collar. If the lumbar spine hurts, the patient needs bed rest. It is best for the patient to be hospitalized. Only there will he be able to fully respect the given regime. The bed of such a patient should be firm. For this, a wooden plank is placed under the mattress.
Drug treatment
As mentioned above, the main symptom of the disease is pain. Therefore, the patient is prescribed analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain, and other symptoms of osteochondrosis.
Unfortunately, long-term use of these drugs causes damage to the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract and the patient develops the following symptoms:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- stomach ache;
- a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen.
Gastric or peptic ulcer: It is also possible for gastric ulcer to worsen or for bleeding to occur. Therefore, before using these drugs, you should consult your doctor. If the pain caused by osteochondrosis lasts for 3 months, antidepressants are also prescribed along with these drugs. It has been found that, in addition to the sedative effect, they are able to reduce pain.
All drugs can be classified as symptomatic therapy. They will help relieve the pain, but will not save a person from the disease itself.
Chondroprotectors are prescribed to restore intervertebral discs and cartilage. These drugs improve connective tissue metabolism and help restore cartilage. Medications are taken for a long period of time, on average - 4 - 6 months.
In addition to tissue restoration and improving metabolism in them, these drugs also have analgesic effect. Another group of drugs needed for spinal osteochondrosis are drugs that improve blood circulation, their use helps dilate blood vessels, and if thioctic acid is taken in combination with it, then a person's nerve cell metabolism willto improve.
As with any disease, patients need calcium supplements. It will restore bone tissue activity, increase the strength of ligaments and tendons, and prevent osteoporosis - a disease that accompanies osteochondrosis.
Physiotherapy
Dosed load on the spine will improve the patient's condition. But you have to perform the exercises very carefully. In the acute period, physical education is contraindicated. Only when the pain sensations subside can you begin to practice a little.
Exercise will improve blood circulation in the spine and strengthen muscles. Due to blood flow, metabolism will improve and restoration of damaged intervertebral discs will begin. But you must also remember that classes must be conducted regularly, otherwise there will be no result.
Exercises for cervical spine lesions
- Lie on your back and run. Place one hand on the abdomen and the other on the chest and breathe in, hold the breath for 10 minutes, then exhale and relax. Exercise duration is 3-5 minutes. You should do it 3-5 times a day.
- Lie on your stomach and straighten your legs. Leaning on your abdomen and legs, you should raise your head and upper chest. Do the exercise for 3-5 minutes with an interval of 30 seconds.
- Lie on your back and bend your knees. In this position, turn to the right and left. Do the exercise for 3-5 minutes with an interval of 30 seconds.
Exercises for chest region lesions
- Lie on your stomach. Place your hands on the floor and lean back. Hold this position for 5-10 seconds. Do the exercise for 3-5 minutes with an interval of 20 seconds.
- Lie on your back. Raise your head and legs ("boat"). Hold for 10-20 seconds. Do the exercise for 3-5 minutes with an interval of 20 seconds.
Exercises for lumbar spine lesions
- Lie on your back, bend your knees and bring to your chest. Swing back and forth and rotate from back to sacrum and back. Shake for up to 2 minutes. Then you should lie down calmly and relax.
- You should climb on all fours and bend as much as possible. Do the exercise for 3-5 minutes with an interval of 20 seconds.
- While standing, imagine spinning the circle for 2 to 3 minutes. Exercise 10 times a day.
Surgery
In the absence of an effect from conservative treatment and the appearance of complications of osteochondrosis, surgical treatment is prescribed. During spinal stabilization the pressure on the spinal cord and roots is eliminated. If a person has an intervertebral hernia, it is removed. Since this surgery can damage the spinal cord and nerves, it is performed only for vital reasons.
Physiotherapy treatment
The appointment of physiotherapy procedures has a positive effect on the course of the disease and accelerates the recovery process. With osteochondrosis, the following are allowed:
- visits to a spa or sauna;
- swimming in the pool;
- massage;
- paraffin therapy;
- manual therapy;
- laser therapy;
- various baths;
- clay therapy;
- electrophoresis with anti-inflammatory or muscle relaxant drugs;
- magnetotherapy;
- darsonval.
All these procedures improve blood circulation to the diseased area, allow the muscles to relax and unwind the whole body. Physiotherapy procedures are prescribed during the rehabilitation period, when the patient is not bothered by severe pain.
Prophylaxis
No one is immune to osteochondrosis. After all, we all grow old, and our whole body also ages with us. In order for the disease not to disrupt your plans, you should engage in sports from an early age. Moderate physical activity improves blood circulation, normal metabolism. In addition, it trains the muscles that protect the spine. To prevent osteochondrosis, every person should:
- eat properly - vitamins and minerals necessary for the body;
- rejection of bad habits;
- engage in physical education;
- do not bend;
- protect your back from hypothermia;
- do not lift very heavy objects;
- take a contrast shower and be patient;
- avoid stress.
It is especially important that people suffering from this disease follow all the recommendations, because their failure will bring about a worsening. If you have back pain that does not go away for a long time, you should seek help from a specialist. Only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Do not delay the visit to the clinic, because it is better to treat the disease in the early stages. Also, do not self-medicate - each drug has its own contraindications, which you may not know about. Strictly follow all the recommendations of the doctor and then the disease will soon recede!