Intervertebral osteochondrosis- pathology, from which the elderly suffered mainly earlier. Today, the disease also occurs in young patients. This is due to the fact that an increasing number of people follow a sedentary lifestyle, spend a lot of time on the computer and do not pay due attention to physical activity. Osteochondrosis develops with an abnormal position of the spine and weakness of the back muscles. The pathology is successfully treated, but it is important to consult a specialist as soon as possible!
What is osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine, which is characterized by damage to the intervertebral discs, as well as the tissues of the vertebrae themselves. The pathology is dangerous from a number of complications, the most serious of which are spinal hernias and protrusions. It is very important to avoid worsening of the condition and to start treatment of osteochondrosis of the back immediately.
Causes
The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis,according to many experts, the load is incorrectly distributed in the spine. The result of excessive pressure is a change in the structure of the cartilage.
The development of osteochondrosis is also facilitated by factors such as:
- Hereditary predisposition
- Spinal cord injury
- Metabolic disease
- Lack of physical activity
- Pregnancy
- Stress
- Overwork
- Overweight
- Bad Habits
The morbidity risk group includes office workers, drivers, cashiers and athletes.
Stages of development
There are 4 stages in the development of the disease:
- First stage. . . It is characterized by dehydration of the disc nucleus between the vertebrae. Then the height of the disk decreases. At this stage, the patient does not feel significant discomfort. Unpleasant sensations can sometimes occur during active exercise or in an unusual position.
- Second level. . . It is characterized by a protrusion of discs, in which the gaps between the vertebrae are reduced. As a result, the nerve endings are stretched, which causes local pain with increasing intensity with sudden movements.
- Third stage. . . It is characterized by the friction of cartilage between the vertebral tissues. The symptoms of this stage are intense. Patients complain of severe pain that can only be relieved with strong medications
- Fourth stage. . . It is characterized by complete or partial limited mobility.
It is best to start treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine at the first symptoms! In this case, the chances of full recovery are quite high.
Types of osteochondrosis
Depending on the place of origin of the pathological process, different types of osteochondrosis are distinguished:
- Cervical. . . Such osteochondrosis occurs when there are disorders in the cervical vertebrae. The most common symptoms of the pathology are acute pain when turning the head, sneezing and coughing and back pain
- Bosom. . . Such osteochondrosis is less common than other forms. Acute pain is not typical of the pathology. Osteochondrosis is characterized by symptoms of a number of other diseases. Chest pain, for example, causes the patient to suspect angina
- Lumbar area. . . Such osteochondrosis occurs more often than other forms. This is due to the fact that it is the lumbar spine that experiences increased stress. Patients complain not only of severe pain but also a feeling of numbness (including in the legs)
In some cases, coccygeal osteochondrosis is diagnosed. There is also the concept of mixed pathology, in which 2 parts of the spine are involved in the pathological process. With diffuse osteochondrosis, all parts of the spine are affected.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis in adults
The main symptoms of pathological changes in the spine in adult patients include:
- Pain that can occur in the neck, shoulders, waist and even ribs
- Feeling of stiffness in the back and waist
- Numbness in the extremities
- Muscle spasms or a feeling of weakness in them
- Chills and body aches
- Increased fatigue
- Dizziness and headaches caused by stinging nerve endings
In advanced stages, patients complain of sensory disturbances in the back, legs and arms, pain in the heart area, disorders of the urogenital system (difficulty urinating, for example).
The symptoms of the pathology often intensify after hard work, intense sports, exposure to low body temperatures.
Complications
Destructive processes that affect the discs between the vertebrae, reduce their density and cause a loss of shock absorption. This causes damage to the muscles, joints and ligaments. With a long course of osteochondrosis, not only the individual nerve endings are pressed, but also the spinal cord as a whole, which leads to complications from the nervous system.
Deterioration of the blood supply throughout the body leads to an increase in the incidence of chronic diseases.
Osteochondrosis can also cause pathologies such as:
- Lumbago(acute lumbar pain)
- Spondylosis(destruction of the vertebrae)
- Narrowing of the spine, during which the work of the entire central nervous system is significantly reduced
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is made using a number of methods. The primary diagnosis is made based on the examination and collection of memory.
The doctor interviews the patient and clarifies:
- Time of onset of the first symptoms
- Duration of pain
- Characteristics of the signs of a pathological condition
During the inspection:
- The position of the patient's body is assessed while standing and sitting
- The size of the traffic is determined
- Gait and changes in it are evaluated
- The condition of the skin is examined in order to identify areas of exfoliation and redness
- Areas where the patient experiences painful sensations are examined
- The general condition of the body is assessed
- The areas where the muscles break are identified
The main tool methods for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis include:
- X-ray examination. . . It allows you to determine the narrowing of the gaps between individual vertebrae
- Computed tomography. . . During such a study, the vertebrae that have suffered during the pathological procedure are identified.
- Magnetic resonance(Magnetic resonance imaging). This study is the most accurate and allows you to evaluate all the destructive processes in the spine.
Treatment
The treatment of osteochondrosis is always carried out in a complete way.
Treatment includes:
- Drug intake
- Massage
- Perform special exercises
- Physiotherapy
- Traction (including submarine)
- Manual therapy
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar spine depends largely on the symptoms.
Massage, for example, is prescribed when the patient does not have severe pain. Sessions allow you to reduce muscle tone, improve blood flow and strengthen the intervertebral discs.
Physiotherapyallows you to strengthen the back muscles, to form a reliable corset that ensures the correct distribution of the load on the spine. During the course, tissue nutrition improves, blood circulation increases. Physiotherapy helps even with reduced mobility. To achieve the desired results, exercise should be done regularly, slowly and smoothly and monitor breathing and heart rate. Before starting classes, be sure to consult a doctor. All exercises are supervised by an experienced instructor. Only in this case, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar or other spine will alleviate the symptoms of the disease and eliminate its causes.
Physiotherapyeffective in combating pain. Patients are usually referred for ultrasound, magnetotherapy, and exposure to low-frequency currents. Physiotherapy allows you to normalize metabolic processes, reduce inflammation, improve joint mobility and relieve swelling.
Rehabilitation treatment
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine is also performed under close medical supervision. It aims to restore health after pathology. Treatment is given only when the pain subsides and the patient no longer experiences severe discomfort.
The most popular restoration techniques include:
- Regular swimming
- Manual therapy
- Massage
- Electrophoresis and magnetotherapy
- Laser treatment of the affected area
- Diet correction
- Collaboration with a psychologist
- Visit to the sauna
- Whirlpool
- Application of therapeutic mud
Patients are advised to undergo medical treatment in specialized institutions. Also, the treatment can be performed on an external basis. The treatment of osteochondrosis of the waist and other parts is performed in a band in the same way as the main one. In this case, its high efficiency is noted.
Prophylaxis
If osteochondrosis is prevented in time, you will not need to treat the pathology.
Experts have developed a wide range of precautionary measures.
Consists of:
- Limiting the lifting of heavy objects
- Proper nutrition
- Maintaining a daily routine and resting regularly
- Swimming
- Take special nutritional supplementscontaining elements valuable for cartilage tissue (mucopolysaccharides)
- Doing simple exercise
If you have to spend a lot of time sitting at work or at home, you need to take regular breaks, get up, walk, relieve tension from your back.
All recommendations for the prevention of osteochondrosis will be given by a doctor. By communicating with him, you can prevent the development of a dangerous pathological process.
Benefits of treatment in a professional clinic:
- It employs highly qualified doctors. They perform both a comprehensive diagnosis of osteochondrosis and treatment of this disease using modern techniques and the latest achievements.
- Osteochondrosis is treated using a unique injection method. It allows you to permanently and quickly eliminate pain and reduce inflammation in the tissues.
- The clinic employs doctors who skillfully perform blockades and perform other specialized treatments, eliminate the symptoms of the disease, even in advanced stages.
- Specialists have successfully applied rehabilitation techniques that consolidate the results of treatment and prevent the development of the pathological process. Thanks to this, patients, even with advanced stages of the disease, retain physical activity.
- Doctors prevent numerous complications of osteochondrosis, which include curvature of the spine, hernia and paralysis of the limbs.
- Examinations, treatment and prevention of diseases are always carried out in a comfortable environment for the patient. Attention is paid to all those who turn to professionals for help.
- Participation in the treatment not only of orthopedics, but also of other specialists.