Osteochondrosis of the spine is a disease that affects the cartilaginous structures that make up the intervertebral discs in the human body. These discs provide mobility to the spine, allowing us to move and be flexible.
Osteochondrosis disrupts the structure of such discs, their structure changes. Since the process of destruction of these discs is irreversible, it is impossible to cure the disease. But with the right treatment, you can stop the development of the disease, slow it down and gain time during which the mobility of the spine will be preserved.
If the disease is not stopped in time, then after the destruction of the intervertebral discs, the destruction of the vertebrae themselves begins.
important!Ignoring osteochondrosis inevitably leads to complications, forced reduction of physical activity, deterioration of quality of life and sometimes even disability.
Among the complications of osteochondrosis, one of the most common is the osteophyte. This is the name of the bony growths that appear on the edges of the vertebrae. The appearance of such a growth can be provoked by a long-term load on the spine or an unstable spinal motor segment.
Causes and symptoms of osteochondrosis
Experts point to the incorrect distribution of the load on the spine as the main reason provoking the development of osteochondrosis.
However, the process can also be caused by hypothermia of a certain part of the body or the whole organism, excessive physical load on the back in general and the spine in particular, as well as injury to the spine (impacts to the spine, sharp turns, concussions and anyphysical impact that can cause displacement of the vertebrae).
There are a huge number of minor causes of osteochondrosis. Usually, a person who received such a diagnosis can identify 7-10 reasons from this list that caused the development of the disease in his particular case.
So, listed below are minor but important reasons that provoke the destruction of intervertebral discs. This is something you should avoid so you don't find out what osteochondrosis is:
- slouching and poor posture (causing curvature of the spine)
- weak back muscles (therefore all the load falls on the spine)
- constantly in an awkward position
- excessive physical activity associated with lifting and carrying heavy objects, strength sports
- spine injuries
- lack of nutrition or excessive nutrition, which provokes metabolic disorders
- Overweight
- constant sitting
- stress
- hormonal disorders
- bad heredity
- aging
As you can see, there are quite a few reasons. The symptoms of this disease are also varied. Osteochondrosis manifests itself differently in different people, but during osteochondrosis the following symptoms are usually observed:
- severe back pain
- numbness in the hands or feet (sometimes both at the same time)
- headache turning into migraine
- pain and aches in the neck and limbs
- dizziness, colored spots before the eyes, sometimes loss of consciousness
- cold hands and feet
- characteristic pain in the chest (as in intercostal neuralgia) and cardiac region
- painful movements
The appearance of osteochondrosis
Interesting: some doctors believe that osteochondrosis is not a pathology, but a natural change in the human body.
One way or another, it is difficult to find a person with a long liver who has never suffered from back pain in his life. According to various sources, osteochondrosis affects from 40 to 80% of all people on earth.
Usually, a person notices the first signs of osteochondrosis between the ages of 35 and 50. It has a lot to do with his lifestyle.
And if in some people, due to bad heredity, the first symptoms appear in adolescence, then for the majority, the symptoms that appear after 50 years are considered the norm.
This is due to the fact that by the age of 45 the human body stops accumulating water in the intervertebral discs and the level of collagen necessary for the health of the joints begins to inevitably decrease.
In some people, the intervertebral discs may even be pushed out. This causes pain and is called sciatica.
Stages of osteochondrosis
There are 4 main stages of development of osteochondrosis.
- It all starts with the fact that the nucleus pulposus undergoes dehydration. The fibrous ring becomes covered with cracks due to the fact that the height of the intervertebral disc decreases. At this stage, the pathology is hardly noticeable, since all the changes occur in the intervertebral disc. No back or neck pain yet.
- As the height of the intervertebral disc decreases, sagging of the muscles and ligaments occurs. This is due to the convergence of the attachment points of the muscles and ligaments. Initially, they are attached to two adjacent vertebrae, but if the distance between these vertebrae decreases, this cannot but affect the muscle tissue.
- The third stage is characterized by the fact that the changes become clearly expressed. Prolapses occur, as well as such a phenomenon as disc protrusion. Protrusion precedes the appearance of a herniated disc. As a rule, at this stage, the development of the disease can be stopped, because the fibrous ring is still intact and can still be tried to be restored. But due to the fact that the protrusion does not cause pain, few people seek help from a doctor at this stage.
- At the final stage, the fibrous ring breaks. To counteract the excessive mobility of the vertebrae at the site of disc destruction, the body is mobilized and osteophytes appear on the vertebrae.
Diagnosis
Before starting treatment for osteochondrosis, it is necessary to carry out a diagnosis and find out at what stage the disease is currently developing.
important!The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is impossible without prior collection of anamnesis.
If you notice symptoms of osteochondrosis, listen carefully to your body.
The more you tell the doctor about your feelings, the faster and more accurately he will be able to make a diagnosis and start the right treatment. Do not think that there will be too much information: ask your relatives if they have had manifestations of this disease. Family history will help to more accurately determine the cause of osteochondrosis.
After the doctor has finished collecting your medical history and concluded from your complaints that osteochondrosis is most likely, he will suggest that you undergo an X-ray examination.
If for some reason this type of test is not suitable for you, your doctor may also suggest an MRI or CT scan. However, these examinations are not mandatory under the compulsory medical insurance program, so you will have to pay for them yourself. Consider their high price.
As a last resort, myelography is used to diagnose osteochondrosis. This is a painful and dangerous procedure in which the doctor injects dye directly into the spinal canal.
How is osteochondrosis treated?
Currently, the treatment of osteochondrosis is practiced in many clinics. Some procedures give a positive effect, while others only relieve pain. If you choose one of the treatment methods, before starting treatment for osteochondrosis, discuss this method with your doctor.
The most popular procedures now are:
- magnetic puncture effect
- pharmacopuncture effect
- reflexology with needles
- vacuum effect
- electrical stimulation
- manual therapy
Many of these procedures are not treatment of osteochondrosis, but rather treatment of some of the symptoms of osteochondrosis. That is why the doctor must coordinate the procedures. This is especially true for those patients who have been diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis.
The fact is that osteochondrosis, which has developed in the cervical spine, is characterized by symptoms such as numbness in the hands and feet. And this is no accident. The fact is that many nerve endings are concentrated in the neck area. And the wrongly chosen treatment in this case can turn your cervical osteochondrosis into a complete disability.
Surgical treatment
Spinal surgery is such a serious undertaking that it is prescribed with great caution and only if osteochondrosis is complicated by disc herniation. Such operations are not urgent, they are always carried out only according to plan. Before the operation, you will have to undergo a large number of examinations and take many tests.
Such operations are prescribed only if the doctor sees no other way out for treatment and realizes that without surgery the person's quality of life will deteriorate significantly. Before surgery, doctors will try to provide pain relief and supportive care.
medicines
Medicines to treat this condition are mainly designed to reduce pain and increase collagen levels in the body.
However, it is worth remembering that collagen and other nutrients for cartilage are absorbed not only from the spine, but also from the whole body. So the effectiveness of such drugs is not very high.
Ointments that doctors recommend to use for osteochondrosis are also mainly intended to relieve pain during an exacerbation.
Unfortunately, if you have osteochondrosis, you will most likely need maintenance therapy for the rest of your life. That is, your back will hurt from time to time, you will not be able to exert yourself too much physically, especially you will have to avoid lifting heavy objects, straining your back and spine.
Exacerbation of osteochondrosis
Exacerbation of this disease can occur with high physical load on the back muscles. In addition, osteochondrosis can worsen due to colds or infections, due to hypothermia, stress, pregnancy and hormonal changes. Gaining weight will also cause back pain.
Prevention
As a preventive measure, doctors offer many patients physical exercises designed specifically for those people who suffer from this disease.
If your doctor has prescribed a course of exercise therapy, you should consult with him exactly what exercises are allowed for you. The exercises will help you keep the muscle corset in tone and this will reduce the load on the spine. In addition, these exercises will greatly help those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
Also, for preventive purposes, you may be prescribed a massage. Depending on which part of the spine you have developed osteochondrosis, the massage therapist will work on that area. This will not only relieve the pain, but also help relax the muscles. In combination with exercise therapy, massage gives good results.
Try to avoid loading the spine, do not lift heavy objects. If possible, dress warmly because. . . any hypothermia can cause exacerbation of osteochondrosis.
Living a full life with this disease is quite possible, remember to take care of your body and take care of yourself.