Osteochondrosis falls into the category of common disorders.In 75% of cases, this is what causes unpleasant back pain.Currently, every second person after twenty years has manifestations of pathology.As we get older, the risk of developing this disease increases.If treatment is not started immediately, osteochondrosis can have negative health consequences.
What is spinal osteochondrosis
This process affects the articular cartilage and surrounding bones.Initially, osteochondrosis only affects the discs that hold the vertebrae together.Then the degenerative process affects the ligaments and spine, disrupting the integrity of the joints.
The danger of this pathology is that the disc cartilage cannot be regenerated.Therefore, the area of the spine affected by this disease will get worse.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 its structure.In the absence of load, tissues lose strength because they do not receive the required amount of nutrients.
Clinical characteristics
The development of this disease leads to the fact that the nucleus pulposus dries out and partially loses its shock-absorbing characteristics.The fibrous ring becomes thinner and microcracks form on it.
As a result, a protrusion occurs which is called disc protrusion.As the disease progresses, the ring may rupture, and then an intervertebral hernia is diagnosed.
This area loses stability, osteophytes can form on it, and the integrity of ligaments and joints is compromised.To compensate for disc deformation, bone and fibrous tissue grow.In this condition, the spinal column becomes less mobile.
Usually this disease has a period of remission, which is then followed by a relapse.
Degrees and stages
There are several degrees of disease, each of which has the following characteristics:
- first degree.Due to inaccurate movements, the disc breaks.This condition can also be triggered by stress.There is often severe pain and an electric sensation.
- 2nd degree.Spinal stability is lost and a bulge appears.There may be pain that is aggravated by careless movement.This form of the disease is characterized by numbness of the fingers, headaches, and temporary discomfort in the sacrum.
- 3rd degree.This condition has manifestations in the form of hernias, headaches, and discomfort in the damaged nerve area.In addition, the arms and legs often go numb, vision and hearing worsen, and problems appear in the functioning of many organs.
- 4th degree.At this stage, the symptoms of a hernia disappear, and the manifestations of the disease decrease.The spine loses stability, a condition characterized by slipping or twisting of the spine.The spine can grow, which causes compression of the nerves, as a result of which the spinal canal atrophies and the spinal cord is compressed.The fourth degree is distinguished by the consequences that may occur after removal of the hernia - these include paresis, inflammation, etc.
It is also customary to distinguish a number of stages:
- Yes,the first stage- basically due to lack of moisture and loss of elastic properties.This disease is characterized by displacement of the nucleus into the disc, which leads to disruption of the shape of the fibrous ring.However, the process itself remains within the intervertebral disc without going beyond its boundaries.
- ForsecondThe formation of cracks in the rings is typical.When the height of the flat discs decreases, the stability of the spine decreases.
- Third stagecharacterized by rupture at the crack site and inflammation.Part of the molten core leaks through the microcracks.Nerves or blood vessels are often compressed at the site of the rupture.
- Fourth stageaccompanied by dystrophic processes.The vertebrae do not provide the necessary resistance, so adjacent vertebral bodies move closer together.Complications may also arise.This may be the development of spondyloarthrosis and spondylosis.At this stage, flattening of the spine is noted - this occurs to remove the load from the discs.Sometimes fibrous tissue is replaced by bone.This stage is characterized by a temporary reduction in pain.However, discomfort further increases due to compression of the nerves and narrowing of the spinal canal.
Cause of this disease
This disease can be found in both young and old people.Usually, signs of osteochondrosis appear around the age of thirty-five.The development and recurrence of the disease is caused by overload, back injuries and vibration.As the body ages, more symptoms appear.The exact cause of this disease is not yet known.
The most popular opinion is that the process is the result of improper distribution of load on the spine due to weakness of muscles and ligaments.This theory is also proven by popular therapeutic methods based on training of the muscle and ligament system.
Factors that can trigger abnormal processes in the spine include:
- poor posture;
- overweight;
- injury;
- flat feet;
- spinal curvature;
- metabolic disorders;
- infection;
- descendants;
- poor physical fitness;
- emphasize;
- heavy load;
- hormonal imbalance;
- malnutrition;
- poor environmental conditions;
- systematic vibration influence;
- age-related changes;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- hypothermia;
- smoke;
- spinal disorders.
Even if a person lives a normal life, he is at risk of developing osteochondrosis due to a lack of essential substances.In modern society, this problem is considered one of the main problems.This condition gets worse due to an inactive lifestyle.
Types and symptoms
Depending on the area of damage, there is cervical, thoracic or lumbar osteochondrosis.If several departments are involved in the pathological process at once, we can talk about a generalized form.
Since the lower back usually bears the greatest load, among all cases of this 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 usually caused by sitting too long in front of a computer or monotonous work.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is very rare and is usually associated with limited movement.
General signs of this disease
Pathology has different signs that directly depend on the location of the process:
- Pain in the spine.Sometimes osteochondrosis triggers mild pain or nagging pain.The disease can also cause acute, unbearable pain - difficult to relieve with non-narcotic analgesics.
- Deterioration of vision or hearing.
- Headache.This disease often causes feelings of weakness, dizziness and increasing fatigue.
- Loss of sensitivity.These symptoms usually manifest as numbness in the arms or legs.
- Problems with pelvic organ function and sexual dysfunction.
- Loss of mobility in the problem area.
- Problems with the organs for which the spinal cord is responsible.
- Pain in arms and legs.
- Weakening of muscles.
How cervical osteochondrosis manifests:
- systematic headaches;
- hearing disorders;
- Dizzy;
- pressure surges;
- change of voice;
- decreased vision;
- snoring;
- tooth decay.
Breast shape symptoms:
- high fatigue of the back muscle tissue;
- pain on palpation;
- back and chest pain;
- problems with various organs.
Manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis:
- lower back pain;
- numbness in the legs;
- decrease in skin temperature;
- urinary tract disorders;
- muscle tension;
- problems with stool;
- varicose veins;
- loss of activity.
Complications
Osteochondrosis often causes complications, so this disease cannot be ignored.The consequences of this disease include:
- Backache - severe pain in the lower back.
- Intervertebral hernia.
- Bulge.
- 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 compression of the arteries that supply food to the brain.Due to these rods, the brain is supplied with blood.Due to nutritional deficiencies, more serious pathologies may develop.
Diagnostic
The diagnosis is made based on medical history and examination.This also requires assessment of neurological status.Additional checks include:
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- Doppler ultrasound;
- spondylography;
- computed tomography.
Thanks to this study, it is possible to determine the degree of violation, clarify the diagnosis and identify hidden processes.This allows you to choose effective treatment and achieve good results.
Treatment methods
In the early stages, conservative therapy is the best choice.The doctor prescribed medication.Therapeutic gymnastics can also be used.Manual therapy and reflexology are very beneficial.
Among drugs, non-narcotic analgesics and sedatives are considered the most effective.You also need to take medications with B vitamins. Typically, these medications are used during relapses of the disease to relieve 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 exercises are aimed at strengthening the muscle system and releasing nerve endings.In difficult cases, surgical intervention cannot be performed.If conservative treatment is ineffective, the hernia must be removed.This can be achieved using classical or microsurgical methods.
Osteochondrosis is a dangerous disease that triggers pain and causes loss of motor activity.
To stop the development of complications, no matter how small the discomfort in the spinal area, you should consult a doctor.Only a specialist can make the correct diagnosis and select therapy.