Osteochondrosis is a pathology provoked by degenerative processes in cartilage tissue.In most cases, stable functioning of the intervertebral discs is noted, so most often they talk about spinal osteochondrosis.
Pathogenesis
First of all, osteochondrosis is associated with the fact that a person is in an upright position for a long time, which provokes an increased load on the spine and intervertebral discs.
With age, the functionality of blood vessels decreases, the diet becomes less balanced, the body ages, which only accelerates the development of pathological processes.
Osteochondrosis is a multifactorial disease; the main prerequisites for its development may be:
- work associated with vibration or in which the position of the body often changes (flexion-extension, turns, bends, jerking movements);
- lifting weights;
- overweight;
- multiple pregnancy;
- lack of vitamins in the body;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- sleep on a soft mattress;
- poor posture (scoliosis);
- vertebral instability.
The aggravation of the dystrophic process of disc destruction may be associated with intense physical activity (especially without prior warm-up), injuries, or skeletal pathology that changes the distribution of load on the spinal column.
Characteristic signs of pathology
Numbness and pain, as the main manifestations of osteochondrosis, can be observed throughout the body or only in the back.The pain intensifies with sudden movement, physical activity, and in some cases with sneezing or coughing.The body's attempt to protect itself from pain leads to increased muscle tension and limited motor ability.
If a person is not given help and treatment is not started, the pain intensifies even more, spreads to the limbs and limits their mobility.When the cervicothoracic spine is affected, the arms are affected, and the lumbar spine is affected by the lower limbs.
Symptomatic manifestations differ depending on which part of the spine is affected.
Types and symptoms of osteochondrosis
Pathology can affect various parts of the spine.Taking into account the localization, osteochondrosis can develop in the cervical (more than 25% of diagnosed cases), lumbar (more than 50%) or thoracic (12%) regions.
The aggravation of the dystrophic process of disc destruction may be associated with intense physical activity (especially without prior warm-up), injuries, or skeletal pathology that changes the distribution of load on the spinal column.
Osteochondrosis of the neck
The spinal cord, arteries (supplying the brain), nerve trunks and roots (creating a nervous connection with the arms, lungs and heart) pass through the cervical region.Over the years, especially for people who are untrained or work at a computer for a long time, neck movements become difficult.
Symptoms characteristic of cervical osteochondrosis:
- headaches and heart pain;
- dizziness (possible short-term loss of consciousness, which is associated with impaired blood supply to the brain);
- numbness and pain in the shoulder joints or arms.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
Pain in the chest area is familiar to people who frequently and for a long time engage in physical labor, representatives of “sedentary” professions (architects, designers, drivers).
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region:
- feeling of having a “stake in the chest”;
- painful sensations in the cervical region, between the shoulder blades;
- numbness of the hands (temporary, long-term);
- hearing and vision impairment;
- increased sweating;
- headaches radiating to the back of the head (often long-lasting, up to 12 hours);
- changes in blood and intracranial pressure;
- tachycardia and arrhythmia.
A good prevention of thoracic osteochondrosis is correct posture.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
Health problems caused by osteochondrosis in the lumbar region are as follows:
- frequent urination;
- numbness of the limbs;
- dizziness;
- muscle spasms and cramps;
- difficulties with movement, bending and turning of the body;
- development of scoliosis;
- lower back pain, especially in the morning, immediately after waking up;
- impaired muscle sensitivity and tone.
Pain and its intensity reach their peak during the acute period of the disease.Their duration can bother a person for several days, but sometimes the pain persists for weeks and even months.As the pathological process occurring in the intervertebral discs progresses, the severity of symptoms decreases.After 60 years, the disease becomes chronic, the pain disappears.
Stages of the disease
Osteochondrosis is a progressive pathology, the transition to each subsequent form occurs gradually.One of the stages is the formation of a hernia, which occurs when the fibrous ring thins.Through the rupture, protrusion of the nucleus occurs, compression of the roots, which leads to increased pain and a decrease in the shock-absorbing ability of the disc.
The main stages of development of osteochondrosis:
- A person develops characteristic complaints caused by physical exertion or prolonged stay in one position.The x-ray shows a slight narrowing of the gaps between the vertebrae.
- Loss of disc stability, cartilage tissue extends into the fibrous ring, and nerve roots are compressed.An x-ray shows a decrease in the intervertebral distance, displacement of the vertebrae, and proliferation of bone tissue.
- Intervertebral hernias develop.The disc moves more and more into the surrounding tissue.Violation provokes damage to nerves and blood vessels.The pain intensifies, there is numbness and limitation in the movement of the limbs.
- The disc hardens and is replaced by scar tissue.With fibrosis, bone protrusions grow along the edge, and the distance between the vertebrae decreases significantly.The mobility of the spine decreases, it seems to become ossified.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
A preliminary diagnosis is made by a doctor based on the patient’s complaints and after a visual examination.Pain and sensitivity in certain points, the state of muscle tone, range of motion, and the presence of postural disorders (for example, signs of scoliosis) are taken into account.
The presence of osteochondrosis and its stage are clarified after instrumental research methods are carried out.First of all, an x-ray of the part of the spinal column of interest is prescribed.
After studying the images, the specialist determines:
- whether the intervertebral distance has decreased;
- whether the cartilage tissue is depleted;
- what stage is the ongoing pathological process.
If an intervertebral hernia is detected in a patient, an MRI is prescribed.Using layer-by-layer scanning and visualization of soft tissues, a preliminary diagnosis can be confirmed or refuted with high accuracy.
How to treat osteochondrosis
Therapy for the disease is long-term, the main goal is to relieve pain and muscle tension, and after identifying the provoking cause, stop the development of the pathological process.
The specialist decides which treatment method will be most effective, based on the results of the study and the severity of the ongoing pathology.process.
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis
The main goal for this type of disease is to stop the inflammatory process and pain, and relieve muscle spasm.This can be done by taking the patient:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.To reduce the tone of skeletal muscles, muscle spasms and compression of nerve roots, the specialist supplements NSAID drugs with muscle relaxants.
- Vitamin preparations of group B.
The optimal treatment period is 7-10 days.
Medication is often supplemented with local treatment.Warming ointments or gels containing NSAIDs can be applied to the affected area, which helps to increase blood supply, metabolism, and stop inflammation.External remedies quickly relieve pain, since the main active substance penetrates the inflammation and immediately begins to “act”.
Taking medications is usually supplemented with exercise therapy, massages, physio-reflexology or manual therapy.
The main task of people suffering from osteochondrosis is to reduce the frequency and severity of pain symptoms (especially during exacerbation).Compliance with the doctor’s recommendations and the use of medications in combination with physical therapy exercises will help restore normal functioning of the spine and avoid surgical intervention.