Osteochondrosis is a disease in which the degenerative-dystrophic process occurs in the spinal tissue.Loss of intervertebral discs, the articular surface that adapts to them is growing, the body of the vertebrae, the ligaments.As a rule, initially, with osteochondrosis, pathological changes occur in the bones and ligaments.Moreover, a person was guessed about the onset of the disease only when he began to suffer from such complications of such pain, impaired sensitivity, muscle atrophy, function of internal organ disorders.
The disease is widespread among modern people: according to various sources, up to 90% of the world's population suffers from osteochondrosis.Basically, the disease affects people who are 30 years old.To date, lumbar osteochondrosis (about half of the case) is most often revealed.
Level of osteochondrosis
The disease develops in a person in stages.In the first stage of the development of the disease, the process of dehydration nucleus pulpoose begins.As a result, the height of the disk decreases is reduced, and the cracks are formed in fibrous rings.However, pathological changes do not occur outside the intervertebral disc.
In the second stage, there are two neighboring vertebraes due to a decrease in disc height, muscle attachment point and ligaments.Due to the sagging of the ligaments and muscles, excessive vertebral movements are shown, which causes the development of the vertebral and motor segments.During this time, the vertebra can slip or switch, while the spondylolistz is formed.
The third stage in the development of osteochondrosis is characterized by clear morphological changes in the intervertebral disc.The formation of prolapses and disc protection occurs, subluxation develops in the intervertebral joints and unko-vertebral joints.
When the fourth stage occurs, adjustments are observed in the affected vertebrae.In this case, the human body adapts to the movement of the vertebrae too strong, overcome it.Due to spinal immobilization, osteophytes appear - regional bone growth on the surface next to the vertebral body.Osteophytes can injure the nerve spine.Gradually, fibrous changes occur in the intervertebral disc and joints.As a result, a shell is formed in the vertebral-motor segment, and the manifestation gradually disappears.
The cause of osteochondrosis
Experts state various assumptions about the causes contributing to the development of osteochondrosis.The causes are called mechanical trauma of the spinal cord, disorders in the metabolic process of the body, the order of the disease, which is hereditary.But the clear cause of the development of the disease is difficult to determine because of the prevalence of the disease.It is often found in young and old people;Physically strong and some trained.
Sometimes you can hear the opinion that symptoms of osteochondrosis occur due to salt deposits in the human spine.Patients often talk about salt excretion if they hear a scream and dig at the joints.In fact, the disease develops due to impaired tissue nutrition.As a result, their structure is gradually born again.In bone tissue and cartilage, the process of renewal is always occurring.If a person has enough physical activity, then the fabric becomes more elastic.But in people who mostly carry a inactive lifestyle, such fabrics are less durable.
In addition, the cause of the development of osteochondrosis can be overweight, posture violations, negative environmental conditions, body position characteristics during work, uneven bone muscle system, pregnancy, stress, hypothermia, infection.
Therefore, the various factors that cause the development of the disease are very broad.Characteristics of blood flow and cartilage nutrition and bone tissue play a non -last role in this process.In adult vertebrates there is no vessel, therefore, oxygen and all the nutrients needed are obtained from neighboring tissue.Therefore, for normal nutrition, blood circulation is always activated in the surrounding tissue.You can speed up this process by ensuring the active function of the muscles.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
The manifestation of the disease can be diverse and directly depends on the stage of the development of the disease.Symptoms -The most noticeable symptoms are indicated when the pathological process is spread to the back of the fibrous ring and posterior longitudinal ligaments.In the process of activating the pathological process, patients develop reflexes and compression neurological syndrome.
Osteochondrosis can appear in various areas of the body, so the symptoms of the disease are very broad.In patients, osteochondrosis may occur in the limbs or numbness, sometimes in the chest pain, impairment of genital organs, and headaches.At the same time, one is unaware that the cause of such manifestations is osteochondrosis.
If the patient has thoracic spinal osteochondrosis, the symptoms may resemble manifestations of heart disease: angina pectoris, myocardial infarction.That is why wrong treatment is sometimes practiced, leading to further development of osteochondrosis.Therefore, if a person is suspected of developing the disease, one should consult a doctor immediately and through the required study.
Osteochondrosis is mainly characterized by pain and discomfort in the back.In some cases, pain occurs periodically, unstable.For a while it may disappear.But for everyone, the occurrence of pain should be a very disturbing symptom and cause anxiety.It is important to think and determine what causes pain.For example, it can be a strong physical activity, lifting severity.
Symptoms of the next indication in which cervical spinal osteochondrosis is indicated is the numbness of the hands and feet, as well as the pain in it.The same symptoms are also characteristic of other types of osteochondrosis.Often, pain develops in the left leg or hands, sometimes giving the liver, under the ribs.In the case of such symptoms, you do not need to rush to take medications from the heart or other diseases, but you should listen to and evaluate the nature of the pain, the change depends on what people are doing today.All your observations should be told in detail the doctor, and after that the patient is prescribed massage, gymnastics, other methods of treatment are practiced.Appeals to experts in the early stages of the disease will ensure more effective treatment.
Therefore, most often, patients diagnosed with osteochondrosis complain about the feeling of discomfort in the spine in different places, in different intensity and character pain.They have a higher level of fatigue, which shows itself in physical and mental work.Sensitivity in different areas of the body may be disrupted, most frequently in the limbs.Patients can also mark cold in their hands and feet.The manifestation of osteochondrosis of the cervical area is often dizzy and headache.Visual acuity may also decrease.
If the patient has lumbar spinal osteochondrosis, then in this case various disorders of the human reproductive system may appear.After the treatment of the lumbosacral department osteochondrosis, men often see an increase in potential.At the same time, if sacred spinal osteochondrosis develops in a woman, this can complicate the conception process, as well as pregnancy.In addition to these symptoms, other manifestations may be with osteochondrosis: muscle cramps, difficulty in movement, pain shooting, etc.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
The most important point in the process of diagnosis of osteochondrosis is the accumulation of anamnesis, and, the most important moment in this process is the patient's review, which should state the doctor all complaints in detail.If some symptoms of the disease determine the manifestation of the characteristics in osteochondrosis, then there are also many signs that it is important to distinguish from the manifestations of other diseases.Disorders of many organs, which are shown in osteochondrosis, are often similar to symptoms of gastritis, angina pectoris, stomach ulcers.That is why every symptom in osteochondrosis is subject to detailed research and analysis.
During diagnosis, the doctor takes into account the age of the patient, the development of symptoms.To explain the diagnosis, additional methods are used for research.Usually in this case, radiological examination is practiced.To determine the condition of the patient, radiography of spinal view is performed.In the event of a more specific complaint, the radiograph intended, intended for the wound.
A rather complex diagnostic method is considered myelography.This examination provides the introduction of contrast fluid in the cerebrospinal canal.In this case, there is a risk of damage to the spinal cord, as well as allergic reactions.But at the same time, this method is considered informative if necessary to determine the presence of dorsal hernia.
In addition, the use of computed tomography, magnetic nuclear resonance is practiced.However, they are quite expensive, so they are practiced primarily if necessary to conduct differential diagnosis, as well as determine the presence of the spine.
Osteochondrosis treatment
In order for the treatment of spinal osteochondrosis to be close, it is necessary to provide not only the right diagnosis, but also an integrated approach to this problem.The doctor, as a rule, prescribes the treatment method, depending on the affected part of the spine.The main methods of therapy for the cervical region, as well as the thoracic and lumbar spine areas are massage, manual therapy, acupuncture, electrical stimulation, therapeutic gymnastics, vacuum therapy, attractiveness, and other methods.Treatment in parallel with folk medicine can also be practiced.
Doctors prescribe such treatment to ensure elimination of diseased symptoms, as well as the causes of spinal pathology.Stop pain by using physiotherapy, medicine.Special exercises for spinal osteochondrosis are also practiced.
One of the main methods of treatment of spinal osteochondrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system is the use of physiotherapy exercises.For this, special equipment for recovery is used.With the help of individual exercises individually selected by experts, you can improve blood circulation, activate metabolism.As a result, the power of the intervertebral disc improves, and the load on the spine decreases.
Physiotherapy methods involve the effects of the body of various physical factors.Using low frequency current, magnetic field, laser, effective pain, reduced inflammation, and parallel treatment are more effective.With the help of massage, you can relieve tension and muscle aches, activating blood circulation.Manual therapy makes it possible to relieve acute and persistent chronic pain in the joints and spine, increase the amount of movement, and also have a general positive effect on the body.The advanced spinal procedure is used to relieve severe pain.It is done on special equipment.In this process, the intervertebral space increases, the spinal shape is restored.Drug treatment is practiced primarily during severity.
But in most cases, although effective treatment only allows the development of the disease, to prevent severity.You can fully recover in the early stages of osteochondrosis.It is important to take into account that the duration of treatment depends on how to launch the disease, the therapeutic method, and how carefully the patient fulfills all the doctor's appointments and recommendations.As a rule, the duration of active treatment lasts from one to three months.After surgery, one is restored for about one year.If conservative therapy does not produce the expected results, and there are also special indicators, then the doctor prescribes surgical treatment.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
People who are already experiencing manifestations of osteochondrosis should try not to burden the spine and minimize pressure in the intervertebral disc.It is advisable to constantly strive to keep your back evenly, to avoid spinal trauma.Comfortable beds for night sleep are important: you need to choose orthopedic mattresses individually.You cannot lift a weight of more than 10 kg, and to raise the item, you need to sit, take an object, and then get up with it.Women should not wear shoes with too high heels.In addition, people who complain of back pain should do daily exercises that strengthen the muscle corset.It is recommended to be involved in swimming if possible.