Osteochondrosis is included in the category of common diseases.In 75% of cases, this is what causes unpleasant back pain.Today, every second person after twenty years has manifestations of pathology.With age, the risk of developing the disease increases.If treatment is not started immediately, osteochondrosis can cause negative health consequences.
What is spinal osteochondrosis
This process affects the articular cartilage and nearby bones.Initially, osteochondrosis exclusively affects the discs that hold the vertebrae together.Then the degenerative process affects the ligaments and vertebrae, damaging the integrity of the joints.
The insidiousness of the pathology is that the disc cartilage cannot be regenerated.Therefore, the area of the spine affected by the disease will inexorably deteriorate.Once a disease appears, its development can be stopped, but it cannot be completely eliminated.
This pathology is not associated with inflammation - it is based on a violation of tissue nutrition and degeneration of their structure.In the absence of loads, tissues lose strength because they do not receive the necessary amount of nutrients.
Clinical features
The development of the disease causes the nucleus pulposus to dry out and partially lose its shock absorption characteristics.The fibrous ring becomes thinner and microcracks form.
As a result, a protrusion occurs, called disc protrusion.As the disease progresses, the ring may rupture and an intervertebral hernia is diagnosed.
This area loses stability, osteophytes can form and the integrity of the ligaments and joints is compromised.To compensate for disc deformation, bone and fibrous tissues grow.In this condition, the spine becomes less mobile.
The disease usually presents periods of remission, followed by relapses.
Degrees and internships
There are several degrees of the disease, each of which has the following characteristics:
- 1st degree.Due to inaccurate movement, the disc ruptures.This condition can also be caused by stress.Severe pain and a sensation reminiscent of an electrical discharge often occur.
- 2nd degree.The stability of the spine is lost and protrusions appear.There may be pain that increases with careless movements.This form of the disease is characterized by numbness in the fingers, headaches and temporary discomfort in the sacrum.
- 3rd degree.This condition has manifestations of hernia, headaches and discomfort in the area of the damaged nerve.In addition, arms and legs often become numb, vision and hearing deteriorate, and problems arise in the functioning of many organs.
- 4th degree.At this stage, the symptoms of the hernia disappear and the manifestations of the disease decrease.The spine loses stability, a condition characterized by slipping or twisting of the vertebrae.The vertebrae can grow, which causes compression of the nerves, resulting in atrophy of the spinal canal and compression of the spinal cord.The fourth degree is distinguished by the consequences that may occur after removing the hernia - these include paresis, inflammation, etc.
It is also customary to distinguish several stages:
- Yes,first stage- essentially a consequence of moisture deficiency and loss of elastic properties.The disease is characterized by the displacement of the nucleus within the disc, which leads to the rupture of the fibrous ring shape.However, the process itself remains within the intervertebral disc, without exceeding its limits.
- TosecondThe formation of cracks in the ring is typical.As the height of the flattened disc decreases, there is a loss of spinal stability.
- Third stagecharacterized by the occurrence of ruptures at the site of the cracks and the appearance of inflammation.Part of the liquid core leaks through microcracks.Nerves or blood vessels are often compressed at the site of the rupture.
- Fourth stageaccompanied by dystrophic processes.The vertebral sections do not provide the necessary resistance, so neighboring vertebral bodies move closer together.Complications may also arise.This may be the development of spondyloarthrosis and spondylosis.At this stage, flattening of the vertebra is noted - this occurs to remove the load from the disc.Sometimes the fibrous tissue is replaced by bone.This phase is marked by a temporary decrease in pain.However, later the discomfort increases due to compression of the nerves and narrowing of the spinal canal.
Causes of the disease
This disease can be found in both the elderly and young people.Typically, signs of osteochondrosis appear around the age of thirty-five.The development and relapse of the disease is caused by overload, back injuries and vibrations.As the body ages, more and more symptoms occur.The exact causes of the disease have not yet been established.
The most popular opinion is that the process is a consequence of incorrect distribution of the load on the spine due to weakness of the muscles and ligaments.This theory is also proven by popular therapy methods, which are based on training the muscular system and ligaments.
Factors that can provoke an abnormal process in the spine include:
- poor posture;
- overweight;
- injuries;
- flat feet;
- curvature of the spine;
- metabolic disorders;
- infections;
- heredity;
- poor physical fitness;
- stress;
- heavy loads;
- hormonal imbalance;
- poor nutrition;
- poor environmental conditions;
- systematic influence of vibrations;
- age-related changes;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- hypothermia;
- smoking;
- spinal anomalies.
Even if a person leads a normal life, he is at risk of developing osteochondrosis due to a deficiency of necessary substances.In modern society, this problem is considered one of the main ones.The condition worsens due to an inactive lifestyle.
Types and symptoms
Depending on the affected area, cervical, thoracic or lumbar osteochondrosis occurs.If several departments are involved in the pathological process at the same time, we can speak in a common way.
Since the lumbar region usually bears the greatest load, among all cases of the disease, lumbar osteochondrosis predominates - its prevalence is about 50%.
In second place is the cervical region.This form of osteochondrosis is diagnosed in a quarter of cases.This disease is often the result of sitting at a computer for a long time or doing monotonous work.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is extremely rare and is usually associated with limited movement.
General signs of the disease
The pathology has several signs that directly depend on the location of the process:
- Back pain.Sometimes osteochondrosis causes mild or dull pain.The disease can also cause sharp, unbearable pain - it is difficult to eliminate it with non-narcotic pain relievers.
- Deterioration of vision or hearing.
- Headaches.The disease often causes feelings of weakness, dizziness and increased fatigue.
- Loss of sensitivity.This symptom usually manifests as numbness in the arms or legs.
- Problems in the functioning of the pelvic organs and sexual dysfunctions.
- Loss of mobility in the problem area.
- Problems with organs for which the spinal cord is responsible.
- Pain in arms and legs.
- Weakening of muscles.
How cervical osteochondrosis manifests itself:
- systematic headaches;
- hearing impairment;
- dizziness;
- pressure peaks;
- voice change;
- decreased vision;
- snoring;
- tooth decay.
Symptoms of breast form:
- high fatigue of back muscle tissue;
- pain on palpation;
- back and chest pain;
- problems with various organs.
Manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis:
- low back pain;
- numbness in the legs;
- decrease in skin temperature;
- urinary disorder;
- muscle tension;
- problems with stool;
- varicose veins;
- loss of activity.
Complications
Osteochondrosis often causes complications, so this disease cannot be ignored.The consequences of the disease include:
- Lumbago - severe pain in the lower back.
- Intervertebral hernia.
- Protrusion.
- Radiculitis.
- Migraine attacks.
- Spondylosis.
- Sciatica is a pathology of the sciatic nerve that causes pain in the legs and buttocks.
- Narrowing of the spinal canal.
- Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Schmorl's hernia is a protrusion of a disc into the spinal cavity.
The most dangerous complication of osteochondrosis is considered to be compression of the arteries that supply food to the brain.Due to these trunks, the brain receives blood.Due to nutritional deficiency, more serious pathologies can occur.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on medical history and examination.It also requires an assessment of neurological status.Additional exams include:
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- Doppler ultrasound;
- spondylography;
- computed tomography.
Thanks to these studies, it is possible to determine the level of violations, clarify the diagnosis and identify hidden processes.This allows you to choose an effective treatment and achieve good results.
Treatment methods
At an initial stage, conservative therapy is the best option.The doctor prescribes medication.Therapeutic gymnastics can also be used.Manual therapy and reflexology are very helpful.
Among medications, non-narcotic analgesics and sedatives are considered the most effective.You also need to take medications with B vitamins. Typically, this treatment is used during a relapse of the disease to eliminate pain and inflammation.
Reflexology involves the use of methods such as paraffin baths, laser therapy, acupuncture, electrical stimulation and ultrasound.No less useful are mud baths and iodine therapy.
Therapeutic exercise aims to strengthen the muscular system and release nerve endings.In difficult cases, it is impossible to do without surgical intervention.If conservative treatment is ineffective, the hernia must be removed.This can be achieved using the classical or microsurgical method.
Osteochondrosis is a dangerous disease that causes pain and leads to loss of motor activity.
To prevent the development of complications, at the slightest discomfort in the spine area, you should consult a doctor.Only a specialist will be able to make the correct diagnosis and select therapy.