Osteochondrosis is a disease that develops due to degenerative processes of cartilage tissue of the spine.In fact, this term is used for any joints, but most often osteochondrosis affects the intervertebral discs, so in most cases they talk about spinal osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis are aching pain and numbness, which can be widespread or cover a specific area of the back.The pain is aggravated by physical exertion, sudden movements and sometimes even by coughing and sneezing.The body reflexively tries to protect itself from pain, so muscle tension increases at the site of injury.This is how motor activity is limited - another characteristic sign of osteochondrosis.
Without treatment, the symptoms of the disease worsen: the pain intensifies, spreads to the limbs, restricts their mobility (if the cervical area is damaged, the hands suffer; if it is in the lumbar area, then the legs).In severe cases, the limbs may even partially atrophy - lose their inherent strength and mobility.A herniated disc is one of the most common and severe complications of osteochondrosis, in which the disc itself is displaced and the nerve roots are compressed, causing severe shooting pain in the back.
When each part of the spine is damaged, there are specific symptoms:
- Cervical region: headache, dizziness, pain in the shoulders and arms, and numbness.In some cases, vertebral artery syndrome is formed: the artery supplying the brain and spinal cord is compressed, which causes excruciating headaches in the temple or the back of the head.Unpleasant symptoms also appear: tinnitus, imbalance, darkening of the eyes, and with significant compression - sudden attacks of dizziness with nausea and vomiting.All these symptoms are usually manifested by a sudden turn of the head.
- Chest: A feeling of "tightness in the chest," pain that patients often believe is related to the heart or internal organs.
- Lumbosacral region: pain and numbness in the lower back and legs, there may be discomfort in the pelvis.
Causes of osteochondrosis
The main cause of osteochondrosis is the degenerative changes of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral disc, as a result of which they lose strength and elasticity.The spinal disc decreases in volume, becomes dense and ceases to fully absorb the shock.Even during normal walking, the hard vertebrae composed of bony tissue do not break very elastically on the cartilaginous layers between them, but practically touch each other, pressing the nerve fibers.Due to this, the mobility of the spine is limited, there is a constant pain that spreads to the back and limbs, caused by the compression of the nerve roots.
The causes of dystrophic changes can be different.The main causative factor is dietary habits.Cartilage tissue receives essential substances from birth in two ways: from blood vessels and from intervertebral fluid.At the age of 23-25, the vessel has completely grown, leaving only one way of feeding.Nutrition of the cartilage tissue through the intervertebral fluid is possible during the movement of the spine, when the circulation of the fluid occurs: during the compression and expansion of the discs, the fluid is broken down into nutrients.Therefore, after 30 years, the risk of cartilage tissue degeneration of the intervertebral discs increases dramatically, especially with insufficient physical activity.
Dystrophic processes of disc destruction are aggravated by intensive training (especially without warm-up), injuries and any pathology of the skeleton (including flat feet and bad posture), because it changes the distribution of the load on the spine.Being overweight has the same effect.There is also a genetic predisposition to osteochondrosis – loose cartilage tissue is prone to degenerative processes.
Stages of osteochondrosis of the spine
Osteochondrosis is a progressive disease, but the transition to each subsequent stage occurs gradually.One of the stages of the development of osteochondrosis is the so-called disc herniation.Discs consist of a hard shell called the annulus fibrosus and a semi-fluid core.A herniated disc occurs when the annulus fibrosus of the disc thins and breaks, the nucleus protrudes through the gap, and the nerve roots are compressed, resulting in increased pain and a further decrease in the shock-absorbing properties of the disc.The speed of development of symptoms depends on lifestyle, treatment and individual characteristics of the body.
Stage 1
There are characteristic complaints, constant or periodic.They are often provoked by physical activity or a forced body position.X-ray shows minimal or normal narrowing of the intervertebral spaces.
Stage 2
Symptoms worsen when the disc becomes unstable (cartilaginous tissue bursts into the surrounding annulus fibrosis), which compresses the nerve roots.X-ray shows a noticeable reduction in intervertebral distance or displacement of the spine;Bony tissue formations may appear.
Stage 3
Intervertebral disc herniation occurs, which is also called protrusion or disc prolapse;The disc spreads further and further into the surrounding tissues, causing damage to blood vessels and nerves, so the pain increases, restricts movement in the limbs and causes numbness.
Stage 4
Disc fibrosis stage.The disc hardens, is replaced by scar tissue, bony protrusions grow on the edge, and the intervertebral distance noticeably decreases.The mobility of the spine is significantly reduced - it literally becomes ossified.
Diagnosis of the disease
The doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis based on characteristic complaints and examination data.Pain at certain points, muscle tone, sensitivity, range of motion and posture are assessed.Instrumental research methods help clarify the stage of osteochondrosis and confirm the diagnosis.Most often, an X-ray of the spine of interest is prescribed at the initial stage.The images clearly show whether the distance between the vertebrae is reduced, that is, whether the cartilage is thinning and how far the process has progressed.If, based on the X-ray results, the doctor suspects the presence of an intervertebral hernia, he will prescribe a more informative research method - magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Layer-by-layer scanning and good visualization of soft tissues make it possible to confirm or reject the diagnosis of intervertebral disc herniation with absolute accuracy.
How to treat osteochondrosis of the spine?
Treatment of osteochondrosis is always difficult and long-term.Its task is not only to relieve pain and relieve muscle tension, but also to stop the further development of the disease, that is, to affect its cause.The doctor decides what to treat in each specific case.Physiotherapy, massage, manual therapy, physical therapy and reflexology are usually added to the medication.If conservative therapy does not give the desired effect, surgical treatment is indicated.
Medicines
During an exacerbation of osteochondrosis, the main goal is to relieve inflammation and accompanying pain and muscle spasm.For this, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed together with myorelaxants, which reduce the tone of skeletal muscles, reduce muscle spasm and compression of nerve roots.Vitamin B preparations help to improve the condition of the nerve roots.As a rule, the course of treatment lasts 7-10 days.Local treatment is added to internal medicine: ointments or gels containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are applied to the affected area to increase blood supply, metabolism and quickly stop inflammation.External remedies quickly relieve pain, since the active substance reaches the source of inflammation, bypassing the digestive system and blood flow in general, but they are not enough for complete treatment.
A preparation containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate - components of cartilage.
The components of the drug not only fill the deficiency of these substances in the body, but also start recovery processes, stimulate the production of other cartilage components.The drug can be taken beyond exacerbations and even to prevent the further progression of osteochondrosis and osteoarthritis.To achieve a long-term effect, it is prescribed for long courses up to 6 months.
It is proven that the drug helps:
- Renewal of joint cartilage tissue;
- improving joint mobility;
- reduction of pain.
The drug has a complex effect: it helps to restore the cartilage tissue of the joints, and also reduces the need for painkillers, thereby increasing the safety of the treatment.
Unlike some other drugs of the group, the drug is recommended with increased daily doses of chondroprotectors - chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, the effectiveness of which has been confirmed.
Complex preparation for external use, which includes meloxicam (NSAID) and chondroitin sulfate.
It simultaneously relieves inflammation, pain and starts the process of cartilage tissue restoration;It is the No. 1 drug for the treatment of osteoarthritis and osteochondrosis.This is a modern chondroprotector made in the USA.
The special composition of the drug improves the penetration of painkillers into the joint, which helps to reduce pain and inflammation in the joints.
The drug is confirmed:
- has an analgesic effect;
- has an anti-inflammatory effect;
- helps to reduce density;
- Helps increase joint range of motion.
The drug is used for osteoarthritis, osteochondrosis and other joint diseases accompanied by pain.Due to the fact that it contains meloxicam, chondroitin and dimethyl sulfoxide, it has a triple effect (analgesic, anti-inflammatory, reducing stiffness) on the symptoms of osteoarthritis, which in turn allows a comprehensive effect of the disease.
A drug that contains ibuprofen (AAS), as well as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
The drug contains the pain-relieving component ibuprofen and chondroitin together with glucosamine - substances that affect the structure of cartilage.The drug not only helps reduce moderate joint pain, but also suppresses inflammation;Recommended with increased daily doses of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, the effectiveness of which has been confirmed.The drug helps restore the cartilage tissue in the joints and improves their mobility.
Naproxen sodium
Naproxen sodium has:
- Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.
Used for:
- Osteoarthritis of joints and spine;
- rheumatic diseases;
- Sprains and bruises.
In other cases of mild to moderate pain, including back and muscle pain, neuralgia and other conditions.
The drug can relieve joint pain and inflammation for 12 hours thanks to the action of the active ingredient naproxen in a dose of 275 mg.Naproxen is the global standard for the treatment of joint pain, demanded by millions of patients in different countries.
Non-drug treatment
Non-narcotic treatment increases the effectiveness of medications and allows you to quickly relieve exacerbations.
- Massage relieves muscle spasms, improves microcirculation and metabolism, reduces swelling, which has a positive effect on the patient's well-being.During an exacerbation, massage is contraindicated, because it will only increase the pain and will not bring any benefit.It is prescribed after the end of the course of drug treatment, when the inflammation subsides or during remission to prevent new exacerbations.
- Manual therapy is restoring the correct configuration of the spine and its mobility with the help of hands.This is a serious intervention, so it is carried out by a specialist after studying the images.
- Physical therapy (physical therapy) is a dosed physical activity taking into account the profile of the disease.It is necessary to move the intervertebral fluid, which provides the discs with nutrients and removes decay products.Exercises strengthen muscles, normalize their tone and restore motor activity of damaged limbs.Exercise therapy should be regular, carried out at a calm pace, without sudden movements, so as not to aggravate the situation.
- Reflexology is the influence on the organs and systems of the body through the stimulation of certain points.Needles are most often used for this, but other options are also possible: electric current, magnetic field.
- Physiotherapy is mainly used during exacerbations to relieve inflammation, improve microcirculation, relieve pain, swelling and muscle spasm.Electrophoresis and ultrasound with drugs (for example, hydrocortisone) and magnetic therapy are most often used.
other methods
Surgical treatment is recommended for intervertebral disc herniation or compression of nerve roots with significant reduction of the distance between vertebrae.Its essence is to remove the damaged disc.A minimally invasive technique has been developed that allows the patient to solve the problem relatively painlessly: endoscopic technique and a laser that "vaporizes" the core of the disc.In severe cases, the disc is replaced with a silicone implant.
Prevention
Prevention of osteochondrosis is an urgent issue for everyone, especially after 25 years.In order to keep the intervertebral disc as long as possible, you need to move a lot, but avoid injuries and heavy physical exertion, eat right, and take breaks and move when you are sedentary.Taking chondroprotectors is an important point in the prevention of osteochondrosis.If discomfort is noticed in any part of the back, it is better to consult a doctor immediately so as not to miss it and start the disease.
conclusion
Osteochondrosis is a disease that is not life-threatening, but significantly reduces its quality.Therefore, its prevention and timely comprehensive treatment are so important to achieve a stable remission and stop the progression of the disease.