80% of people suffer from osteochondrosis in various stages of manifestation. It not only affects adults and the elderly, but also young people. Given the prevalence of the disease, everyone should know about its treatment and prevention methods.
What is this disease?
Osteochondrosis is the degeneration of the intervertebral disc, a degenerative process in the joints, ligaments, and muscles that surround it. Discs act as shock absorbers in the spine between individual vertebrae (there are 32-34 of them). They are also responsible for their mobility.
Negative factors, which we will discuss below, lead to cracking and destruction of the intervertebral disc. They lose elasticity and the spine loses flexibility. The disc is surrounded by tissue with nerve fibers, so dystrophic and degenerative processes are accompanied by pain.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Muscle spasms and dystrophies
The disc is surrounded by muscles that are responsible for the stability of the spine. Over time, some spasms are caused by constant tension, others atrophy due to lack of pressure.
This happens because a person day after day:
- make movement boring;
- doing physically demanding work;
- spend a lot of time immobile.
As a result, the spasmed muscles compress the intervertebral disc, and the atrophied muscles stop supporting it.
Blood supply problems
Nutrition of the disc also depends on the work of the muscles that surround the spine. With normal muscle tone, the necessary 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 absorbed by a person every day. With its deficiency, cartilage dries quickly, and ideally it should consist of 80% water.
Metabolic diseases
Problems with the endocrine system affect the condition of cartilage tissue. Osteochondrosis is often caused by a lack or excess of vitamins and calcium.
A stressful situation
Nerve tension causes muscle spasms, including those that support the spinal discs. Normally, after tension, the muscles relax. If stress haunts a person constantly, this does not happen. Muscle tissue tightly compresses the cartilage between the vertebrae, gradually destroying it.
Risk factors
- Genetic background.
- Nervous tension.
- Constant physical activity.
- Sedentary work, sedentary lifestyle.
- Passion for junk food, overweight.
- Bad habits that lead to metabolic disorders in cartilage tissue.
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Stage of development
Stage I
The core of the intervertebral disc becomes dehydrated. It became lower, and the fabric cracked. The painful sensation is almost imperceptible. Discomfort may occur if the patient takes unusual positions or exercises.
Stage II
Disc tissue becomes flat and bulging. Due to this, the distance between the vertebrae decreases and the spinal nerve roots are pinched. The fibrous membrane is destroyed, so fluid is not well retained in the disc core. When moving, characteristic clicks and pulsating sounds appear in the spine. Since the nerve is pinched, a precise pain occurs, which increases with active movement.
Stage III
The layer of cartilage between the discs gradually disappears and becomes thinner. At this stage, symptoms manifest themselves intensively - in the form of acute pain. Only painkillers for neuralgia can stop it quickly.
stage IV
The damage is so severe that the joint becomes immobile. Complete loss of mobility of the vertebral joints is possible. Due to a significant degenerative process, the space between the vertebrae is overgrown with bone tissue. These tumors injure neighboring tissues and compress nerves, which causes acute pain.
Classification and symptoms
Cervix
There are 7 vertebrae in this part, they are located close to each other, and the neck muscles are quite weak. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a fairly common disease. When this part is affected, the patient feels pain all over the neck and in certain parts, for example, in the collarbone or behind the ear.
The most characteristic symptoms:
- headache, heaviness in the back of the head, dizziness;
- tingling in hands;
- the neck is most often tense;
- when you turn your head, the vertebrae click and throb;
- periodically there is a sore throat, feeling of a lump in the throat;
- due to muscle tension in the cervical region, it is difficult to move the arm to the side or raise it.
Manifestations of dangerous diseases do not always correspond to their location. The problem may lie in the cervical vertebrae, and the pain may occur in the chest or shoulder. Some patients complain of discomfort in the heart area.
Lumbar
In the lumbar region there are lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal vertebrae. This part is most susceptible to shock absorption and motor loads, which is why lumbar osteochondrosis is so common. A painful sensation occurs in the lumbar region. Often this is a pain that worsens with active turns, exercise or long periods of sitting.
signs:
- 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 observed;
- periodic acute shooting pains may occur;
- During sleep, a person should not take a comfortable position, because he is not comfortable in any of them.
Additional symptoms: fatigue, constant fatigue, feeling unwell. Some patients report urinary problems and discomfort in the kidney area. In men, potency may be affected; in women, the uterus and ovaries may suffer.
chest
It affects the 12 vertebrae located in the thoracic region. Often this is a complication of scoliosis.
Main symptoms:
- girdling pain that gets worse if you move actively;
- tingling sensation in the heart area;
- a feeling of fullness in the armpits;
- restriction of shoulder movement;
- shortness of breath, difficulty breathing.
Acute pain appears between the ribs, in the sternum, in the area of one of the shoulder blades. There may be numbness in the fingers, hands and forearms.
Diagnostics
At home, it is almost impossible to determine the location of the problem. Special medical equipment will help you collect anamnesis correctly, and only a doctor can determine the symptoms and treatment.
For diagnostic use:
- Magnetic resonance imaging is the most accurate method to obtain objective information about the condition of tissues.
- X-ray of the spine.
- Computed tomography.
How to treat the disease?
Unfortunately, it is impossible to get rid of the symptoms quickly at home. Treatment involves an integrated approach.
General recommendations:
- observe bed rest during exacerbation of pain;
- avoid physical activity;
- wear a supporting corset, bandage, belt.
Medicines
During the period of exacerbation the following are prescribed:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- chondroprotector;
- muscle relaxants;
- B vitamins.
The application of anti-inflammatory ointments also helps relieve the inflammatory process. They have a local anesthetic effect.
Medication prescription should be done exclusively by a doctor. Doing this yourself is strictly prohibited.
Physiotherapy
To strengthen the muscle corset, the doctor prescribes exercises to be done at home every day. They depend on the part of the spine that is affected. Physical activity improves blood circulation and allows the muscles to support the spine properly.
Massage therapy
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
Treating osteochondrosis is difficult and takes a long time. It is easier to monitor the condition of the spine and does not lead to serious damage. To do this, you need to live a healthy, active lifestyle and moderately load the spine.
Other preventive measures:
- Watch your posture, don't slouch.
- Do exercises at home to ensure that all muscle groups stay toned.
- Do exercises to relax the muscles of the back, shoulders, and neck.
- Attend yoga classes and therapeutic massage sessions.
- Do not lift heavy objects, distribute the load evenly across your arms.
We hope you can get rid of osteochondrosis forever and keep your back and neck healthy.