What is it: Osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine in which the intervertebral discs (and subsequently the vertebral bodies, joints and ligaments) lose their normal functionality. Until recently, the disease was considered to be age-related, but in recent decades it has become noticeably younger and mercilessly affects young people between the ages of 18 and 30.
Osteochondrosis is usually classified according to the place of its localization - lumbar, cervical, thoracic, sacral and widespread. More than 50% of the disease cases are due to osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine; Symptoms, treatment, and diagnosis of this type of osteochondrosis are fully described in the works of medical luminaries. A quarter of diagnoses are due to cervical osteochondrosis - a condition affecting office workers and people with sedentary lifestyles.
Most often, pathological processes in this disease affect the bones and ligaments first. Usually we find that the disease has already started when complications arise - pain, sensory disorders, muscle wasting, disorders of internal organs.
Today we are going to talk about osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment of this disease are a very topical issue in our time. After all, 40 to 90% of the world's population suffer from the disease. Most often, the disease affects people over the age of 30.
Causes of occurrence
There is no single reason for developing osteochondrosis. Some believe that disease occurs due to the deposition of calcium compounds that are not absorbed by bone tissue, deterioration in bone blood flow due to weakness, curvature of the spine, and a reduction in the distance between individual vertebrae.
There are many predisposing causal factors. The main ones are as follows:
- Spinal injuries (fractures, bruises, dislocations);
- hereditary predisposition;
- Foot diseases that cause an overload of the spine - these include flat feet, clubfoot (varus deformity of the foot), hallux valgus;
- prolonged wearing of tight and uncomfortable shoes (also causes overloading of the spine);
- Overweight and obesity;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- Metabolic disorders;
- Curvature of the spine (kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis);
- professional characteristics - lifting weights, frequent turning and jerking of the body, working in an uncomfortable body position.
The development of the disease is favored by a hereditary predisposition, overloading of the spine (obesity, heavy lifting), trauma and microtrauma.
Stages of osteochondrosis
There are four stages, depending on the stage of development of osteochondrosis and its symptoms.
- First stage- Preclinical, which is extremely rarely diagnosed due to mild (or completely absent) signs of the disease. At this stage, the changes in the spine are minimal. Patients worry about limited spinal pain and tension in the back muscles.
- In the second stagePain occurs because the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc is destroyed, the fixation of the vertebrae with one another is disturbed, their pathological mobility arises in the form of displacements. The intervertebral spacing decreases, with compression of the neurovascular ends, blood and lymph vessels.
- Third section. . . A rupture forms in the cartilage tissue of the annulus fibrosus, through which part of the more fluid nucleus seeps - a herniated disc occurs. Such changes are most often found in the lumbar and cervical spine. To a lesser extent, the occurrence of intervertebral hernias in the thoracic area is prone to the fact that, due to disc pathology, some of the load is borne by the ribs and sternum. The bulging (hernia) of the intervertebral disc affects the roots of the spinal nerves, which manifests itself in the form of pain, inflammation, nerve fiber conduction disorders and inflammation.
- Fourth stage- Finale, in which the scar tissue is replaced by the fibers of the intervertebral disc as well as by fiber cartilage and fiber tissue of the nucleus pulposus.
In order to prevent the development of the last stage, it is necessary to decide in a timely manner how to treat osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a chronic condition characterized by alternating phases of worsening symptoms and remission. Excessive exercise, fatigue, hypothermia, injury, tremors, and vibration can all contribute to acute symptoms.
The disease manifests itself in a number of typical symptoms. Osteochondrosis of the spine is characterized by: painful back pain, numbness in the affected spine, reduced range of motion, increased pain when lifting weights, sudden movements, tension when coughing or sneezing.
Chronic pain, one of the symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis, leads to increased fatigue. When the nerve roots are squeezed by the spinal discs, the pain can be more intense and sharp, "shooting" in nature. Its localization in this case is not limited to the area of the back, but is felt by a person in the area of the limbs.
With osteochondrosis, patients describe symptoms such as:
- paroxysmal or sharp pain in the spine affected by osteochondrosis;
- increased pain after physical exertion, as well as in the morning;
- Pain can radiate to the neck, arm, or leg, as well as to the chest;
- Crunch when turning.
The disease begins and develops gradually, so treatment for osteochondrosis depends on the stage, as well as the location of the vertebral lesion.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
With osteochondrosis, treatment requires complex measures.
In the acute stage, strict bed rest, rigid fixation of the damaged vertebrae with a corset or a special collar is shown. A firm bed, the use of a sign, and restricted mobility are recommended.
For pain relief, pain relievers, B vitamins, novocaine blocks, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, rubbing ointments, mustard patches, ultraviolet radiation, acupuncture and reflexology, thermal procedures, a wool belt, etc. can be used.
The next stage of treatment aims to improve local blood circulation and strengthen the muscles that support the spine. To cure osteochondrosis, you need to adhere to complex therapy, which includes:
- medical massage (traditional, hardware, vacuum);
- physiotherapy exercises, swimming;
- Physiotherapy (treatment with laser, ultrasound, low-frequency currents, magnetic field; shock wave therapy, cryotherapy);
- Reflexology (acupuncture, acupressure);
- Spinal traction (dry or water);
- Methods of non-traditional therapy (treatment with bee stings);
- Treatment with folk remedies (herbs, honey, mustard, paprika, bath).
If conservative therapies are unsuccessful or if intervertebral disc changes require external surgery, modern minimally invasive surgical methods are used: laser reconstruction, intradiscal electrothermal therapy, microsurgical hernia removal.
In the event of irreversible changes, an artificial disc made of metal or metal and plastic can be used. Now let's take a closer look at how to treat osteochondrosis without the use of drugs.
massage
A back massage for osteochondrosis has a much stronger effect than, for example, exercise therapy. First of all, any method of treatment should be aimed at relieving pain.
When the pain can be alleviated or alleviated, the real treatment can begin. However, its main task can be called preventing the progression of the disease, as well as the subsequent possible relapses. For this purpose, two key methods are used - remedial gymnastics and massage. It is worth noting that exercise does not have the same effect as massage in cases with a neck.
Judge for yourself: massage improves blood circulation in the affected area, eliminates spasms in the neck and back muscles, weakens or eliminates pain, strengthens the neck muscles.
acupuncture
Acupuncture is widely used in the treatment of osteochondrosis. Acupuncture helps relieve pain, relaxes back muscles, and helps restore damaged tissue by stimulating metabolic processes.
In some cases, acupuncture can replace traditional drug therapy, the disadvantages of which are known (side effects of drugs, addiction to them). Acupuncture is contraindicated for skin diseases of the back and during pregnancy.
Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis
Remedial gymnastics for people suffering from diseases such as osteochondrosis should become a necessary part of life. It is a movement therapy that is able to break the vicious circle consisting of the following components: lack of exercise, weakened back and neck muscles, destruction of the intervertebral discs, bed rest.
Before starting the exercises, you should know the main principles of therapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis:
- Exercise should not be done at the stage of exacerbation of the disease, when there is an intense pain syndrome.
- Exercise shouldn't cause increased pain.
- Complexes with tension in the back muscles should alternate with relaxation complexes.
- All exercises are performed smoothly and without sudden movements, while maintaining correct posture.
Separate exercise complexes have been developed for each type of osteochondrosis. In order to prevent the spread of the disease, it is still advisable to train the muscles of the entire spine.