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What is osteochondrosis

As people age, many people experience musculoskeletal disorders.The most common disease in this area of medicine is osteochondrosis of the spine.Unfortunately, today this affects not only representatives of the older generation, but also young people, full of energy.There are many reasons for this: sedentary work, lack of sport or any other physical activity, etc.

What is this

Doctors define spinal osteochondrosis as a set of disorders of the joints and cartilage connecting tissues and organs, developing in any of the joints, but most often affecting the intervertebral discs.

Depending on the localization, cervical, thoracic and lumbar-crucial osteochondrosis are distinguished.Despite the fact that spinal osteochondrosis appears after 40 years, the first signs of osteochondrosis are visible already at 20 years old.

back pain due to osteochondrosis

Reasons

Many factors can provoke the development of the disease.This includes hypothermia, spinal displacement resulting from injuries, and strenuous physical exertion.

However, the main causes of osteochondrosis of the spine are:

  • The habit of lowering the back;
  • Lack of strong muscular corset;
  • Scoliosis of various types;
  • Stress, nervous shock, depression, chronic fatigue;
  • Sedentary lifestyle;
  • Lift weights frequently;
  • Metabolic disorders (the body may lack calcium in the blood, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and many other useful substances);
  • Heredity;
  • Untreated viral infections;
  • Changes in hormonal levels, both in women and men;
  • Various back injuries.

Most often, athletes, loaders, builders and all those whose profession is associated with active physical labor are susceptible to osteochondrosis.For those who, on the contrary, lead a sedentary lifestyle, doctors recommend moving more, practicing some kind of preventive sport, as well as proper nutrition so that the body receives all the vitamins, minerals and microelements it needs.

Symptoms

The symptoms of osteochondrosis directly depend on the affected spinal region.

  • Osteochondrosis of the cervical spineThe spine is accompanied by frequent neck pain going to the back and chest, tension in the neck muscles, which can cause pain when touched, swelling and numbness of the tongue, a feeling of goosebumps and tingling in the neck and palms, a feeling of general weakness in the neck and shoulders.
  • Osteochondrosis of the thoracic regionthe spine has the following symptoms: sharp pain in the sternum, a feeling of chest compression and intercostal pain may occur during physical activity.
  • Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral regionthe spine is usually accompanied by pain in the lower back, which can radiate to the legs, sacrum and groin, lack of sensitivity in the legs, cold hands and feet, tingling and needle sensations in the lower extremities.

If one or more symptoms of this disease appear, you should immediately consult a specialist, since osteochondrosis can lead to disruptions in the functioning of many organs and systems, pinched nerves, as well as migraines, dizziness and insomnia.Lumbosacral osteochondrosis is especially dangerous, since there is subsequently a risk of developing heart and vascular diseases, diseases of the genitourinary system, scoliosis and displacement of the intervertebral discs.

Steps

Osteochondrosis develops gradually and has several stages of development:

  • At the first stageIt is still difficult to understand how the disease appeared.The symptoms are not pronounced, the patient feels only slight discomfort.Minor pain in the back and lower back occurs from time to time, but very often it is attributed to overwork and increased physical activity.Very often, first degree osteochondrosis is accidentally diagnosed during a routine examination of a patient.
  • At the second stagethe pain occurs more often and becomes more intense, and the processes of deformation of the cartilage tissue begin.The easiest way to treat osteochondrosis is at the second stage, because the doctor can already see all the changes occurring in the body.Painkillers can be added to complex general therapy.
  • Towards the third stagespinal deformation occurs, scoliosis, kyphosis and other back diseases begin to develop.The treatment aims to modify the spinal defects and minimize the defects that have occurred.
  • At the fourth stageosteochondrosis, it becomes difficult for the patient to move, the cartilaginous tissue thickens and some vertebrae shift.Pain constantly accompanies a person.Very often, at the fourth stage of the disease, the patient is recognized as disabled.
spinal injuries due to osteochondrosis

Diagnosis

The doctor can make a preliminary diagnosis based on the above symptoms.First, the doctor will check the condition of the patient's spine in different positions as well as in movement.After which a hardware diagnosis will be carried out in order to clarify the diagnosis and clarify possible complications.

The main types of diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the musculoskeletal system include:

  • MRI;
  • CT (computed tomography);
  • X-ray examination;
  • Ultrasound (ultrasound examination);
  • study of the arterial vessels of the brain.

After analyzing the patient's condition, the doctor will identify possible concomitant diseases, such as hernias, radiculitis and displaced intervertebral discs.

The patient, in turn, should remember that the symptoms of osteochondrosis can be signs of any other disease.Therefore, the quality of the diagnosis should be the highest, because it is on the basis of its final result that treatment will be prescribed.

Consequences

One of the most dangerous consequences of osteochondrosis is complete or partial muscle atrophy.For many patients, pain is only relieved with painkillers.

If you do not contact a specialist in time, there is a risk of developing a hernia, cholesterol plaques, which will disrupt blood pressure and oxygen supply to cells.

In patients with the fourth stage of osteochondrosis, heart rhythm disturbances and abnormal functioning of the respiratory system may occur;the organs of vision and hearing may also be affected and coordination of movements may be impaired.

Since osteochondrosis primarily affects the blood supply system, the entire human body is at risk.It should be noted that people with impaired metabolism most often suffer from this disease.Osteochondrosis is often accompanied by vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Treatment

Treatment of osteochondrosis can be of two types:

  • conservative;
  • surgical.

The choice of treatment method depends on the severity of the disease, the identified complications and the body's internal ability to recover after surgery.

With a conservative method of treatment, the patient will be prescribed a whole range of medications and other techniques, such as massage, therapeutic exercises, exercise therapy.This method of therapy includes taking medications and hardware treatment.

The most commonly used conservative treatment methods are:

  • Therapeutic physical education, the exercises of which will be individually adapted to the state of the patient's body.
  • Acupuncture.
  • Massage and hydromassage.
  • Magnetic therapy and vibration stimulation.
  • Ultrasound and laser therapy.
  • Drugs.
  • Good nutrition, which will also be individually adapted to the patient.
  • Psychotherapy.

It should be noted that if conservative treatment is chosen incorrectly, the patient's condition may worsen.Self-medication for osteochondrosis is excluded.

The surgical method of treating osteochondrosis is aimed at stabilizing the motor activity of damaged segments of the spine.In case of spinal herniation, surgical intervention can be carried out in two ways: classically using a scalpel or using a laser.The choice is made by the doctor together with the patient, taking into account not only his wishes, but also the condition of the body.According to statistics, surgical intervention is used in 15% of cases.However, the success rate is only 3%.

Prevention

We must not forget that no one is immune from osteochondrosis, so it is better to carry out timely prevention of this disease:

  • First of all, you should always monitor your posture, keeping your back and neck straight, even when working on the computer.
  • You must also devote sufficient time to sports or any other physical activity, thus strengthening your muscular corset.Pool exercises are well suited for these purposes.
  • Special orthopedic mattresses and pillows can also be a good prevention of osteochondrosis.
  • Particular attention should be paid to the method of lifting weights - to relieve the spine from excessive stress, you should first squat, and then pick up a heavy object.Please note that you cannot lift more than 17 kg at a time.
  • The basic principles of nutrition are also important elements in the treatment of osteochondrosis.Food should provide all beneficial vitamins and minerals to the body, especially during the period of vitamin deficiency.Avoid consuming too much caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, fast food and carbonated drinks.The diet should include vegetables and fruits as sources of fiber, as well as meat, fish and legumes as sources of protein.

Everyone should remember that undetected osteochondrosis can be extremely dangerous for the entire body;all organs and systems of the body are in danger.It is necessary to carefully monitor your general health and undergo check-ups with a specialist once every six months.