Recommend
Official site Motion Free

Osteochondrosis of the spine - symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Osteochondrosis of the spine

Osteochondrosis of the spine is a degenerative-dystrophic destruction caused by the gradual thinning of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs.All people are susceptible to this disease, because due to the upright posture, the human spine experiences a huge load.If we take into account the harmful factors, then by the age of 40-50 almost everyone will have osteochondrosis of the back.It is impossible to completely cure the pathology.Age-related degenerative process cannot be stopped, but it can be slowed down with the right treatment.You need to learn how to properly cope with the symptoms of osteochondrosis.





General characteristics of the pathology

The disease develops in three parts of the spine - cervical, thoracic and lumbar.Cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis are more often diagnosed because of increased mobility in these areas.The more active movements a person can make in the joints, the more prone the intervertebral discs are to damage and degeneration.Osteochondrosis of the chest region is less common, but more severe.

The pathology is insidious in that it contributes to the emergence of other degenerative diseases in the body, including intervertebral hernia.At the initial stage, the patient does not feel pain, but there are already permanent metabolic changes in the calcium-phosphorus exchange, which disrupts the bone structure of the spine.Blood circulation in the affected area deteriorates, which leads to premature degeneration.

The intervertebral disc contains a fibrous ring covered with microcracks.The nucleus pulposus appears on the surface of the lesion - its parts gradually begin to leak.Against the background of degenerative processes, the fibrous ring begins to weaken and stretch, which leads to an increase in the area of microdamage.When the anulus fibrosus ruptures, the nucleus pulposus emerges.This is how an intervertebral hernia of the spinal cord appears.

If you slow down the degeneration process that causes osteochondrosis, hernias and rashes appear later.The sooner treatment is started, the easier it is to fight the signs of deterioration.Symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis depend on the location on the spine and the impact of accompanying diseases on the body.

causes osteochondrosis of the spinal column

In most cases, the disease is hereditary.In other cases, the disease occurs against the background of common unfavorable conditions that can cause exacerbation, including:

  1. Previous back injuries, including injuries to bones, joints and tendons.
  2. Musculoskeletal problems, including poor posture and flat feet.
  3. History of metabolic disorders, including endocrine pathologies.People with uncompensated hypothyroidism and diabetes are at risk of developing bone problems.These problems have a negative effect on calcium absorption.
  4. Overweight.With obesity and a high body mass index, a person experiences premature wear and tear on the joints.Heavy weight puts pressure on the musculoskeletal system, which negatively affects the health of the spine.
  5. bad nutritionA daily diet devoid of nutrients and microelements leads to hypovitaminosis, which causes systemic suffering of the human body, which can negatively affect the condition of the spine.
  6. physical inactivity.It has been proven that a sedentary lifestyle leads to brittle bones.Moderate physical activity is beneficial.
  7. lifting weights.Like insufficient muscle activity, overuse is full of microtraumas and injuries that lead to diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
  8. Previous viral or bacterial infections.Examples: osteomyelitis, poliomyelitis.
  9. Having bad habits.Abuse of alcohol and nicotine leads to deterioration of blood circulation, which negatively affects the condition of the bone system.

Factors that affect the occurrence of the disease:

  1. Congenital spine defects.
  2. bad posture
  3. having flat feet.
  4. Prolonged sitting or standing.
  5. Belonging to the female gender.Women experience bone loss during pregnancy and menopause.With a long-term deficiency of calcium and other minerals, a degenerative process occurs in the spine, which contributes to the appearance of osteochondrosis.
  6. hypogonadism.With the deficiency of steroid hormones of both sexes, calcium is practically not fixed in the bone tissue.As a result, the patient suffers from age-related osteochondrosis.At a young age, such conditions occur very rarely.In this case, we are talking about mutations.

Considering the above risk factors, you should try to maintain a gentle lifestyle.

Stages of disease development

The disease has 4 stages of the disease, including the following picture:

  1. The initial stage is the stage of degenerative metabolic processes.The patient has no symptoms because the cartilage tissue has not begun to actively deteriorate.Deformation of the intervertebral disc begins.Since there is no rash yet, the patient does not feel pain in the back.As a rule, in the initial stage of osteochondrosis, the disease is rarely, more often revealed accidentally.Not all specialists can notice the first signs of degeneration.In rare cases, the patient may experience minimal discomfort associated with overwork.The patient's back begins to ache during prolonged standing or sitting.Also, such pain is associated with excessive load and weakness of the muscle frame.
  2. In the second stage, the active destruction of the fibrous ring begins, which leads to a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc.At this stage, an attentive patient already consults a specialist, because he feels clearer symptoms.The head may often ache and an unexplained rise in blood pressure may occur.I often have pain in the lower back, neck or shoulder blades.The patient can no longer tolerate long-term exercise and gets tired quickly.At this stage, osteochondrosis is detected radiologically.
  3. In the third stage, the disease causes ring fibrosis.During the diagnosis, the patient is diagnosed with a protrusion or a small intervertebral hernia, which causes serious problems in everyday life.The cartilage is already weakened and the patient feels very ill.The third stage is transitional in terms of treatment.At this stage, it is still possible to use conservative treatment to make the patient feel better and slow down the development of the hernia.
  4. Stage 4 - Terminal.Vertebrae lose elasticity and mobility.The patient suffers from pain not only during movement during the day, but also at night.Sleep is disturbed and neurological symptoms appear because the discomfort is chronic.Chronic fatigue syndrome is getting worse.At this stage, a significant hernia has already been diagnosed, which interferes with the patient's normal life.In this case, surgical intervention to remove osteophytes is indicated.In advanced cases, conservative treatment does not bring relief.

The earlier osteochondrosis is detected, the easier it will be to fight it.In stages 1-2, it is still possible to reverse the development of the pathology if you unconditionally follow the medical prescription.

Types of osteochondrosis of the spine

The spine consists of 3 sections, including the lower back, the thoracic region, and the neck.Depending on the individual situation, degenerative lesions occur more often in one of the departments.Less often, the pathology affects several segments of the spine.Cervical and lumbar areas are most often affected, as increased mobility is observed in these areas.If the thoracic spine is damaged, the pathology is more severe due to the anatomical features of the ridge in this area.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is the most common.The spread of the pathology is associated with the load on the lower body.Also, this part of the back is most prone to hernias and rashes.If a patient with such an anamnesis develops complications, problems with mobility, bowel movement and urination appear.Advanced cases require serious correction and surgical intervention.

During osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, there is severe pain and shooting in the head.Most often, the disease occurs against the background of prolonged sedentary work and increased physical activity.Patients with this disease also need an integrated approach to therapy.Cervical spine injuries are also caused by increased mobility in the shoulders and head.

Osteochondrosis of the chest occurs less often, because due to well-developed muscles and reduced mobility, this area is the least sensitive to such a pathological process.Diagnosis of this type of osteochondrosis is difficult, because the symptoms of the pathology resemble heart, lung or stomach diseases.In the case of thoracic osteochondrosis, pain radiating to the ribs and heart is more often observed, so the disease is confused with ischemic heart disease and signs of a heart attack.An important diagnostic criterion is that if heart problems are not detected when complaining of chest pain, you should refer to a neurologist or a traumatologist.

The older the patient, the higher the risk of degeneration of the spinal joint in many parts of the spine.

Symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis

Symptoms can be divided into general and specific.The second option is characteristic of osteochondrosis of any part, depending on the location.Common symptoms of degenerative spinal disease include:

  1. Pain, weakness and discomfort.Depending on the quality and localization of the pathological process, the patient experiences pain of varying degrees.In the initial stage, the discomfort is insignificant, press it.Discomfort temporarily disappears at night.As the degeneration of the spine progresses, the pain becomes stronger and more frequent.In the worst case, the pain does not stop and prevents you from sleeping at night.
  2. Weakness, constant fatigue.Spine problems are often associated with decreased nerve conduction and poor blood flow.If the patient actively develops osteochondrosis, chronic fatigue syndrome appears over time.The patient is increasingly unable to perform work duties and the person does not sleep enough.The more developed the pathology, the worse the patient feels.
  3. Decreased mobility in a specific part of the spine.In the period of exacerbation, there is not only constant pain, but also the mobility of the affected area of the back is significantly limited.This phenomenon is related not only to the inflammatory process, but also to muscle spasticity.
  4. Muscle spasm in the affected part of the spine.Osteochondrosis is not only the result of natural degenerative processes in the body.Physical inactivity often causes disease.In the absence of motor activity, the muscles atrophy and cannot adequately remove the load from the spine.As a result, there is a constant tension, which is full of severe deterioration.The patient has multiple spasms that need to be relieved with medication.
  5. Radicular syndrome.This phenomenon is characteristic of all types of osteochondrosis, without exception.When the pathology is complicated by the appearance of a hernia, there is an increase in the pressure of the bulging nucleus pulposus on the nerve segments.As a result, unwanted effects occur - limitation of movement, pain, lumbago, paresthesia and in severe situations - loss of sensitivity in fingers and lower limbs.
  6. Other plant manifestations.These include symptoms reminiscent of vegetative-vascular dystonia, neurological disorders, cardiac, pulmonary, and gastric signs.

Distinctive symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are:

  1. headacheIt happens suddenly, and the attack itself often turns into a migraine, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness and increased pressure.The condition is often associated with persistent poor circulation in the affected area and compression of nerve roots.
  2. Pain in the neck, trapezium or upper back.This symptom is associated with increased muscle spasticity.The spine cannot bear the load, so these muscles are overloaded.Also, this condition is more common among office workers.The nature of the pain is exciting, restraining, painful.
  3. increased pressure.If the intervertebral hernia compresses the vascular bed, the patient experiences an attack of hypertension, which is not related to problems of the cardiovascular system.
  4. The appearance of a feeling of compression in the neck and throat area.The phenomenon is also associated with muscle spasticity, which causes neck blood vessels to stretch.
  5. Shooting in fingers, collar and arms.It is a purely neurological symptom related to nerve roots.
  6. Shortness of breath, pain in the heart and throat are less common.

Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis look like this:

  1. A feeling of tightness in the chest.
  2. Appearance of attacks of intercostal neuralgia.
  3. Pain in the heart area that is not related to heart pathology.
  4. Complaints of shortness of breath, pain deep in the chest.
  5. Cough is not related to respiratory system problems.
  6. Discomfort in the stomach or esophagus.
  7. Pain in the area between the skin.It is characterized by a chronic course.More often it happens against the background of static muscle overload.
  8. Numbness in the arms, neck and fingers.Less often - the lower back.

This is how the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are manifested:

  1. Pain in the lower back.
  2. A feeling of tightness in the kidney area or in the lower abdomen.
  3. Occurrence of sciatic nerve strain.
  4. The appearance of the symptom of a stretched piriformis muscle.If this muscle spasms, it compresses the sciatic nerve, causing specific symptoms, including burning and shooting along the leg, from the gluteal area to the thigh and lower leg.This neurological symptom most often indicates problems with the spine.
  5. Problems with bowel movements and urination.When a hernia or protrusion compresses the lower parts of the nerve endings, the force of contraction of the smooth muscles of the intestines and bladder weakens significantly over time.As a result, intestinal atony and urinary retention develop.Such conditions are extremely dangerous and require qualified medical assistance.
  6. Over time, the patient's gait changes and lameness appears in one leg.The condition is also associated with stretching of nerve endings.

If the patient has several symptoms in a specific part of the spine, which are reminiscent of the development of advanced osteochondrosis, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.There are no specific diagnostic criteria that will allow you to identify the disease yourself.It is necessary to carry out a comprehensive diagnosis, after which the exact cause of the disease will be determined.

Diagnosis of spinal osteochondrosis

Initial diagnosis includes taking an anamnesis.A neurologist or traumatologist asks about complaints and examines the patient's back.If the patient is not sure that he needs to visit these specialists, he should first consult a therapist.The general clinical practitioner examines the patient, records the complaints in the card and refers to the specialist.

The main problem with the diagnosis of spinal osteochondrosis is that the pathology gives many false signs that indicate other diseases.Therefore, it is necessary to visit specialists several times to make sure that there are no pathologies related to the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems.

What type of diagnosis is usually prescribed:

  1. Radiography.This type of examination is quick and does not require large financial costs.The image can be obtained free of charge if the patient undergoes the procedure at the clinic located at the place of registration.An X-ray image can give a superficial assessment of the condition of the ridge.If there are gross defects or signs of a reduction in the distance between the vertebral spaces, the patient will be sent to other procedures to clarify the diagnosis.
  2. MRI or CT.These types of studies clearly see soft tissues, so they are the main diagnostic methods that recognize various degenerative processes - displacement, disc herniation, protrusion.With the help of such diagnostics, not only osteochondrosis is detected, but also hernia, rash and pinched nerves.
  3. laboratory tests.Sometimes it is necessary to conduct a series of blood tests, which will help to detect hidden diseases that negatively affect the course of the disease.Usually tests are taken in combination - OBC, OAM, sugar, regulators of calcium-phosphorus metabolism, rheumatological tests.

Based on the received data, the doctor makes a final diagnosis.After receiving the conclusion, you should follow the specialist's recommendations in order to endure the course of the spine disease less painfully.There are pathologies that cannot be completely cured.Among them is osteochondrosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

There are many treatment options for this spinal disease.They are used according to the stage of complication.If the pathology is at an early stage, then the best way is medication and conservative treatment.In advanced cases, this is rare, but surgical intervention may be necessary when medications do not help and the patient loses sensation in the limbs, becomes disabled.

What is used among medical products:

  1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.These medications quickly relieve pain associated with inflammation or irritation.The therapeutic effect is achieved quickly, within one day.Therefore, such drugs are the first line of choice.Disadvantages of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - they cannot be injected for more than two days.In oral form, some types of drugs are used for no more than three weeks.This restriction of use is explained by the high gastrotoxicity of the drugs.Patients with peptic ulcer or gastritis are additionally prescribed medications to protect the stomach lining.
  2. Corticosteroids are hormonal pain relievers.During severe pain and degenerative processes, special drugs are injected into the joint to eliminate local inflammation.It is recommended to use extended components.The active substance lasts up to 3-4 weeks.For some patients, one injection is enough to forget the pain for a long time.
  3. Chondroprotectors are drugs used to strengthen and nourish cartilage tissue.In many patients with spinal osteochondrosis, the cartilage and bone tissue is weak, so it is necessary to strengthen it.Chondroprotectors do not stop the development of the disease and the building of cartilage tissue, but they help to slow down the degenerative processes.They take a long course.
  4. Muscle relaxants.Medicines used to relax tense muscles.The duration of therapy is from 2 to 4 weeks.
  5. B vitamins.Neurotropic substances - B1, B6 and B12 help with sciatica or a pinched sciatic nerve.In large doses, these substances have an analgesic effect and nourish damaged nerve fibers.

Conservative treatment methods include:

  1. manual therapy.The method allows you to relax tense muscles with the help of specialist hands.This type of treatment should not be used during an exacerbation.
  2. Exercise therapy.You can strengthen your muscles with the help of physical therapy.It has been proven that back pain is more often associated with muscle weakness, since the spine cannot withstand the load, which causes fatigue and discomfort.In order for the patient to feel relief, it is necessary to perform exercises 2-3 times a week consistently.Physical education improves posture and relieves pain.
  3. Massage.With the help of a massage therapist, it is possible to improve the blood flow in the damaged muscles, which has a positive effect on well-being.Increased blood flow nourishes and relaxes the tissues, which helps fight spasms.The procedure is contraindicated in the acute period and is performed only during rehabilitation.
  4. Physiotherapy.Conservative treatment aims to improve the blood flow in the damaged tissues using the hardware method.Using electricity or magnetic radiation, muscle communication is improved, which helps fight spasms and chronic pain.Physiotherapy allows the use of local systemic drugs that penetrate well under the skin.

Disease prevention

Osteochondrosis of the spine can be prevented if you follow a healthy lifestyle, including abandoning bad habits, proper nutrition and physical inactivity.You should also control your body weight.Obese patients experience great stress not only on the back, but also on the whole body.It is recommended to wear orthopedic shoes and monitor your posture.