Such a disease as osteochondrosis of the back does not exist in modern medicine.First of all, it is worth clarifying that the term osteochondrosis itself is outdated and does not exist in the current edition of ICD-10.It was replaced with a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs.However, we will tell you about osteochondrosis of the back, its symptoms and treatment, since many patients call their condition that way.And they will understand what this article is about.
So, osteochondrosis is degeneration of intervertebral discs of dystrophic origin.Everything else is indirectly related to this disease.But to understand this process, it’s worth taking a short excursion into anatomy and physiology.The main element of the human musculoskeletal system is the spinal column.With its help, a stable position of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity and chest is ensured.Inside the spine is the spinal cord, a structure that provides vitality to the entire body.The spine provides flexibility to the body, allows you to walk independently and perform any movements with your hands.It is the connecting link between the head and limbs.
The spinal column consists of individual vertebral bodies.They are connected to each other using joints and ligaments.There are long longitudinal ligaments that start in the coccyx area and end in the occiput area.There are short transverse ligaments that connect adjacent vertebral bodies.Intervertebral discs consist of a dense outer shell (annulus fibrosus) that can withstand even the most extreme loads.But the fibrous ring has one significant drawback - it completely lacks its own blood capillary network.It receives fluid only at a time when the surrounding muscles actively contract and relax.Also, part of the nutrition is provided by diffuse exchange between the intervertebral disc and the endplate that separates it from the vertebra.
If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle and his back muscles do not work actively and regularly, then the fibrous ring becomes dehydrated and cracks.At the initial stage, it takes fluid from the tissues of the nucleus pulposus located inside it.This gelatinous body ensures the normal height of the disc and its shock-absorbing ability to evenly distribute the applied loads.
With a long course of this pathological process, the height of the intervertebral disc decreases.It loses its ability to protect the radicular nerves arising from the spinal cord from pressure from adjacent vertebral bodies.They become injured and radiculitis occurs (inflammation of the radicular nerves).This is a dangerous condition.Therefore, the body takes measures to compensate for the lost capacity of the intervertebral discs.This causes excessive tension in the back muscles.As a result, the diffuse nutrition of the remaining cartilaginous tissues is further disrupted.Therefore, osteochondrosis of the back is considered a rapidly developing and spreading disease.Without treatment, it quickly affects all intervertebral discs and the person becomes disabled.
If you are concerned about back pain associated with degeneration of the cartilage tissue of the spine, we recommend that you do not wait for everything to go away on its own.Seek medical help promptly.Treatment of osteochondrosis without surgery is possible at any stage, except for hernia sequestration.If part of the nucleus pulposus has separated from the intervertebral disc, then only surgical intervention can help in this situation.
You can make an appointment with a vertebrologist or neurologist.They will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective and safe treatment.
Causes of back osteochondrosis
The most common causes of back osteochondrosis are physical inactivity, excess body weight, sedentary work and refusal of regular physical activity.It is these factors that provoke the destruction of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs at a young age.In a later period of life (after 50 years), osteochondrosis develops for slightly different reasons:
- hormonal changes leading to the leaching of calcium and phosphorus from bone tissue;
- gerontological degenerative changes in the body;
- disruption of capillary blood flow against the background of atherosclerotic deformations of blood vessels;
- metabolic disorders, such as diabetes or changes in thyroid function;
- age-related decrease in muscle mass;
- changes in posture and curvature of the spinal column;
- chronic diseases of internal organs that reduce a person’s physical activity.
In addition, potential causes of the development of osteochondrosis of the back can be traumatic injuries to the vertebral bodies, their spinous processes, ligaments and tendons.The improper organization of sleeping and working spaces is of no small importance.If a person does not attach importance to the position of his body during night sleep, then his risk of spinal destruction and the development of osteochondrosis sharply increases.
You should also stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.These two bad habits provoke disruption of blood microcirculation in the area of the intervertebral discs, which triggers their degenerative dystrophic destruction.
The causes of osteochondrosis of the back can be nutrition and drinking regimen.An adult needs to drink at least 2 liters of clean water per day to maintain water and electrolyte balance.Also, the diet should contain all the vitamins and minerals that are used in the regeneration of hyaline cartilage, which makes up the tissues of the fibrous rings.If the diet is dominated by fatty and refined foods, the body quickly begins to experience a deficiency of certain nutrients.This does not allow it to restore the integrity of all tissues, including vertebrates.
Therefore, when carrying out complex treatment of back osteochondrosis, an experienced doctor will definitely correct the patient’s diet.She will give him the necessary recommendations regarding the proper organization of his sleeping and working space.
With osteochondrosis, the back muscles experience serious overload.They are responsible for supporting the spinal column and ensuring safety for the radicular nerves.With prolonged static voltage, the blood circulation cycle in the capillaries changes.Myocytes begin to experience oxygen starvation and an ischemic reaction quickly begins.At first it gives severe pain in the back muscles.Then the myocytes begin to die.Short-term inflammation may occur against the background of muscle tissue necrosis.Then muscle fiber degeneration begins.This entails a number of negative consequences.Patients may develop myofascial pain syndrome.It persists for many years even after successful treatment of osteochondrosis.
Therefore, this process cannot be started.As soon as the first signs of osteochondrosis appear, immediately seek medical help.
Symptoms of back osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic back is the least common, since there is no wide range of mobility of the vertebral bodies.The height of the intervertebral spaces is additionally ensured by fastening the costal arches.Therefore, we will not consider the symptoms of this type of disease separately.
Most often, osteochondrosis develops in the lumbar region, since it bears the main shock-absorbing and physical load associated with any movements of the human body.Symptoms of the pathology include a characteristic shooting pain in the lumbar region.It can spread along the inner, outer or back surface of the thigh and lower leg, extending to the heel or toes.Gradually, neurological clinical signs begin to appear, such as numbness, paresthesia, decreased muscle strength, pallor and coldness of the skin of the lower extremities.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical and cervicothoracic spine is no less often diagnosed.This disease most often develops in people engaged in mental work.With prolonged static tension in the neck muscles, blood microcirculation is disrupted and cartilage tissue is destroyed.
Clinical symptoms with this localization of degenerative dystrophic changes in the cartilaginous tissues of the discs can be more varied.The pain can radiate under the shoulder blade, in the heart area and in the upper limbs.Muscle weakness quickly occurs in the arms.There are signs of impaired blood circulation in the posterior vertebral arteries.These are dizziness, decreased mental performance, frequent changes in blood pressure, drowsiness, apathy, etc.
If symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back appear, it is necessary to conduct a series of clinical studies.First of all, X-rays of the affected part of the spine are prescribed.Based on them, the doctor can only make a preliminary diagnosis.A more detailed examination of the condition of the tissues of the spinal column is possible during an MRI examination.Doppler ultrasound, soft tissue ultrasound, biochemical and general blood tests, rheumatic tests, etc. may also be required.
What to do and how to relieve pain?
The first thing to do in case of osteochondrosis of the back is to stop exerting any physical activity and provide relative rest to the spine and muscles.In the first few days after an attack, it is better to adhere to strict bed rest.Treatment can only be prescribed by a neurologist or vertebrologist.Taking medications on your own is not recommended.Not only can they have a negative impact on your health, but they can also make it difficult to make an accurate diagnosis in the future.
The only thing you can do to relieve back pain due to osteochondrosis and not cause harm to your health is traction of the spinal column.It is important to restore the normal height of the intervertebral spaces.This will remove pressure from the radicular nerves and all pain will go away without additional use of pharmacological drugs.Traction can be hardware, manual or with the help of physical exercises.Only a doctor can determine which method is suitable in your individual case during an examination.
How to treat and cure osteochondrosis of the back?
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the back can be carried out exclusively by conservative methods, even at the stage of prolapse of the intervertebral hernia.Doctors know how to cure osteochondrosis of the back without surgery.For this purpose, osteopathy and massage, therapeutic exercises and kinesiotherapy, laser therapy, reflexology and much more are used.
Before treating osteochondrosis of the back, the doctor gives the patient comprehensive individual recommendations, the implementation of which eliminates potential causes and risk factors.Then an individual course of therapy is developed.During the treatment, damaged cartilage tissue is completely restored.If all recommendations are followed, relapses of osteochondrosis do not occur.