Osteochondrosis of the spine destroys the bone and cartilage tissue of one or more parts of the spine. This disease is chronic and develops in almost all elderly people. This is due to the normal aging of the body.
Intervertebral discs undergo atrophic changes, and the age at which this occurs depends on many factors:
- trauma;
- diseases and overloads of the spine.
Spinal overload includes:
- walking with bent back;
- improper sitting;
- characteristics of the structure of the spine;
- insufficient nutrition of spinal tissues due to hereditary anomalies.
In osteochondrosis, the nucleus located between the vertebral discs loses some of its water. Due to that, the metabolism in the nucleus is disturbed and access to various minerals and vitamins is difficult.
After a while, cracks appear on the disk, it becomes flat. Then they begin to affect nearby joints and ligaments, creating inflammation of the tissues. Inflammation causes adjacent vertebrae to move. This is dangerous with the appearance of radicular symptoms: pain along the affected nerve.
An intervertebral hernia is also possible, which in turn can cause spinal cord compression. Osteochondrosis is characterized by the appearance of osteophytes - bone growths on the vertebral bodies. These growths can compress the spinal cord and cause radicular syndrome.
The cervical and lumbar regions are most often susceptible to osteochondrosis.
Cervical osteochondrosis
Causes:
- sports activities (weightlifting);
- excess weight;
- metabolic disease;
- sedentary work (developers, accountants, drivers, etc. );
- flat feet;
- spinal cord injury;
- hypothermia.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are pain in the head and neck. The person is worried about severe headaches, neck pain, radiation in the arm, chest pain. The patient may complain of lumbago - the appearance of sharp pain in the neck, muscle spasm and limited movement.
Also, a person may hear a squeak when turning the door. Due to pinched nerves and blood vessels, a person may feel numbness of the tongue and fingertips. The patient will complain of reduced hearing and vision, high blood pressure and weakness of the muscles of the arms and legs.
Thoracic osteochondrosis
This type of osteochondrosis is quite rare. This is due to the anatomical structure of the thoracic spine. It consists of 12 vertebrae, which are connected to the ribs via joints. In front, the ribs are interconnected by the sternum. This creates an excellent frame from the spine, sternum and ribs that protects the internal organs from various injuries.
The vertebrae of the thoracic region are low in height and have long spinous extensions, which are located one above the other, like shingles. Due to this structure, this part of the spine is poorly mobile. The intervertebral discs of the thoracic region are rarely injured.
Reasons for this type of osteochondrosis:
- irrational load distribution;
- delay in feeding intervertebral discs;
- sedentary work;
- the presence of scoliosis.
Symptoms
As with other species, pain is the leading symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis.
But with osteochondrosis of the chest, the pain can be different. Dorsalgia - long-term discomfort and mild pain along the thoracic vertebrae. Pain can affect the cervical and lumbar region.
Dorsago is one of the signs of thoracic osteochondrosis, in which the pain occurs in the form of an attack. By its nature, it is intense, acute, leads to difficulty breathing and leads to limited muscle movement. In addition to pain, patients may experience numbness in the chest, impaired sexual function, pain in the heart, kidneys, and stomach.
What is the danger of chest surgery?
The spinal column is designed to narrow in the thoracic region, so hernias caused by osteochondrosis will quickly lead to compression of the spinal cord. This can easily lead to problems with the heart, pancreas, liver and kidneys, because the chest is connected to all these organs by nerve fibers. That is why it is very important to visit a doctor on time. He will help you find out where the signs of osteochondrosis that are bothering you came from and will carry out competent treatment of the disease.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine occurs due to lifting weights. Normally, in the center of the intervertebral disc is the nucleus, which contains a large amount of water. Due to the liquid, the core becomes slightly compressible, and a compression of 500 kg is needed for its firing.
However, the disc affected by osteochondrosis becomes weaker, and only 200 kg will be needed to crack it. If a person weighing 70 kg lifts 15 kg of load in a bent position, and for the spine it is a load of 200 kg, the intervertebral disc may rupture. Therefore, the first symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine occur when lifting weights.
Symptoms
- pain in the lumbar region;
- inability to move in the lower back;
- sleep disorder;
- irritability;
- fatigue;
- inability to meet the needs of the household;
- decreased sexual function in men;
- violation of the menstrual cycle;
- cold foot syndrome.
With the transition of osteochondrosis to the sacral region, the patient develops pain in the kidney area and violation of urination.
Diagnosis
Osteochondrosis is treated by a neurologist. To begin the examination of the spinal column, draw attention to the presence of scoliosis. After palpation, the doctor will be able to understand how much the spine, tendons and nerves are affected.
After the neurologist suspects osteochondrosis of the spine, he will refer the patient for additional examination. This includes X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging. If intervertebral disc destruction is suspected, discography is performed. It is also prescribed to determine the degree of damage to the nerve pathways.
In general, it is very difficult to diagnose osteochondrosis of the spine. After all, a person may complain of pain in the heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas or sexual dysfunction. But still, with a detailed examination, an experienced doctor will be able to suspect this disease and prescribe the correct treatment.
Treatment
Osteochondrosis therapy is a very long and difficult process. In the acute period, the patient needs the rest of the affected segment. If the cervical spine is affected, then the patient should wear a Shants fixation collar. If the lumbar spine hurts, the patient needs to rest in bed. It is best to place the patient in a hospital. Only there will he be able to fully adhere to the assigned regime. The bed of such a patient should be firm. For this, a wooden board is placed under the mattress.
Drug treatment
As already mentioned, the main symptom of the disease is pain. Therefore, the patient is prescribed analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain and other symptoms of osteochondrosis.
Unfortunately, long-term use of these drugs causes damage to the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and the patient develops the following symptoms:
- nausea;
- vomit;
- abdominal pain;
- feeling of heaviness in the stomach.
Gastric ulcer may also worsen or gastric bleeding may occur. Therefore, before using these medications, you should consult your doctor. If the pain caused by osteochondrosis lasts for 3 months, antidepressants are prescribed along with these medications. It has been found that, in addition to the sedative effect, they can reduce pain.
All drugs can be classified as symptomatic therapy. They will help relieve pain, but will not relieve the person from the disease itself.
Chondroprotectors are prescribed to restore intervertebral discs and cartilage. These drugs improve connective tissue metabolism and help restore cartilage. The drugs are taken for a long time, on average 4-6 months.
In addition to regenerating tissues and improving metabolism in them, these drugs also have an analgesic effect. Another group of drugs needed for osteochondrosis of the spine are drugs that improve blood circulation, their use helps dilate blood vessels, and if thioctic acid is taken in combination with it, then it will improve the metabolism of nerve cells in a person.
As with any disease, patients need calcium supplements. It will restore the activity of bone tissue, increase the strength of ligaments and tendons, and will also prevent osteoporosis - a disease that accompanies osteochondrosis.
Physiotherapy
The dosed load of the spine will improve the patient's condition. But you have to do the exercises very carefully. In the acute period, physical education is contraindicated. Only when the feelings of pain subside can you start exercising a bit.
Exercise will improve blood circulation in the spine and strengthen muscles. Due to the blood flow, the metabolism will improve and the repair of damaged intervertebral discs will begin. But you must also remember that classes must be conducted regularly, otherwise there will be no results.
Exercises for cervical spine lesions
- Lie on your back and stand up straight. Put one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest and inhale, hold your breath for 10 minutes, then exhale and relax. The duration of the exercise is 3-5 minutes. You need to do this 3-5 times a day.
- Lie on your stomach and straighten your legs. Leaning on your stomach and legs, you must raise your head and upper chest. Do the exercise for 3-5 minutes with an interval of 30 seconds.
- Lie on your back and bend your knees. In this position, turn to the right and left. Do the exercise for 3-5 minutes with an interval of 30 seconds.
Exercises for thoracic region lesions
- Lie on your stomach. Place your hands on the floor and bend backwards. Hold this position for 5-10 seconds. Do the exercise for 3-5 minutes with an interval of 20 seconds.
- Lie on your back. Raise your head and legs ("boat"). Hold for 10-20 seconds. Do the exercise for 3-5 minutes with an interval of 20 seconds.
Exercises for lesions of the lumbar spine
- Lie on your back, bend your knees and bring them closer to your chest. Swing back and forth and roll from back to cross and back. Swing for up to 2 minutes. Then you need to lie still and relax.
- You need to lean on all fours and bend as much as possible. Do the exercise for 3-5 minutes with an interval of 20 seconds.
- As you stand, imagine spinning the hoop for 2 to 3 minutes. Exercise 10 times a day.
Operation
In the absence of the effect of conservative treatment and the appearance of complications of osteochondrosis, surgical treatment is prescribed. During the stabilization of the spine, the pressure on the spinal cord and roots is eliminated. If a person has an intervertebral hernia, it is removed. Since this operation can damage the spinal cord and nerves, it is performed only for vital reasons.
Physiotherapy treatment
Appointment of physiotherapy procedures has a positive effect on the course of the disease and accelerates the recovery process. In osteochondrosis it is allowed:
- visiting a sauna or bath;
- swimming in the pool;
- massage;
- paraffin therapy;
- manual therapy;
- laser therapy;
- various baths;
- mud therapy;
- electrophoresis with anti-inflammatory drugs or muscle relaxants;
- magnetotherapy;
- darsonval.
All these procedures improve blood circulation in the affected area, allow the muscles to relax and the whole body to relax. Physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed during the rehabilitation period, when the patient is not bothered by severe pain.
Prophylaxis
No one is immune to osteochondrosis. After all, we all age, and with us our whole body ages. In order for the disease not to ruin your plans, you have to do sports from an early age. Moderate physical activity improves blood circulation, normal metabolism. In addition, it trains the muscles that protect the spine. To prevent osteochondrosis, every person should:
- eat right - vitamins and minerals necessary for the body;
- reject bad habits;
- engage in physical education;
- do not bend;
- protect your back from hypothermia;
- do not lift too heavy objects;
- take a contrast shower and temperament;
- avoid stress.
It is especially important for people who suffer from this disease to follow all the recommendations, because their failure will lead to worsening. If you have back pain that does not go away for a long time, you need to seek help from a specialist. Only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Do not delay visiting the clinic, because the disease is better treated in the early stages. Also, do not self-medicate - each drug has its own contraindications that you may not have known. Strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations and then the disease will soon recede!