Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease of the spine. It develops with advancing age and consists of degenerative-dystrophic changes occurring in the intervertebral discs. There were no symptoms for a long time. A person may notice only some stiffness in the spine.
Osteochondrosis progresses slowly - many factors affect the speed of the disease. If the pathology is not treated, complications occur - sciatica, sciatica and others, depending on the spine. Some doctors believe that such a disease as osteochondrosis does not exist, and only those who do not understand human physiology make such a diagnosis.
Cause
In the 21st century, the disease has noticeably rejuvenated compared to the 20th century. Quite often, you can meet young people with degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs during a medical examination of another pathology. There is only one reason for this - urbanization and progress.
Today, one does not have to make any effort to get a job or to get food. Most people lead a sedentary lifestyle, eat malnourished food and gain weight quickly, preferring the computer and a comfortable sofa to walking in the fresh air and active activities. Even before work, many people get into their own cars, which are in an underground garage located on the territory of a multi-story building, and sit at the workplace for 7-9 hours or more.
On a note. Osteochondrosis is only a human disease. None of the mammals had this pathology. You have to understand that this is the revenge of Homo sapiens for walking straight.
What provokes osteochondrosis?
The following factors can cause the development of the disease against the background of physical inactivity, lack of adequate physical activity and an unhealthy lifestyle:
- violation of the metabolism of minerals and vitamins;
- a large number of transmitted infectious diseases;
- chronic stress, depression;
- sudden movements, heavy lifting;
- spinal cord injury;
- severe hypothermia;
- drive down;
- spinal curvature not noticed in time and not cured;
- long stay in an uncomfortable position (not necessarily sitting).
On a note. Major sports have a negative impact on human health. For example, weight lifting (and not only) can be the root cause of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs in the future.
What happens to the spine?
The following factors directly affect back health:
- the blood circulation in the paravertebral tissues is disturbed, the intervertebral discs suffer from a lack of nutrients (they do not have their own blood vessels and depend on the surrounding tissues);
- the muscular ligament supporting the spinal column weakens, the vertebrae receive an additional load that they cannot cope with;
- the intervertebral discs lose moisture, their volume and diameter decrease - the spine seems to sag (many people notice that with age they become 5 or even 10 centimeters lower);
- there is instability of one or more parts of the spine;
- the body solves the problem of instability by growing osteophytes - these are marginal bone growths, which over time tightly reinforce the spine, depriving it of flexibility.
On a note. The transformation of the spine itself does not cause pain - the pain syndrome occurs when the nerve roots, large arteries and lymphatic vessels are damaged by osteophytes or the anatomical position of the vertebral bodies changes.
Symptoms
The signs of osteochondrosis increase as the disease progresses. There are 4 stages of pathology:
- First. Symptoms are completely absent. No pain. A person may experience a little more fatigue than usual, some stiffness in the spine, which he explains to himself as fatigue, excessive physical exertion and overload. Osteochondrosis can be in the first stage
- Second. Due to damage to the nerve roots, a persistent pain syndrome occurs, which is easily stopped by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If the patient continues to ignore his body's signals and does not go to the doctor, the disease progresses rapidly. The flexibility of the spine decreases, especially in the cervical and lumbar regions. The occurrence of vertebral artery syndrome is likely due to compression by edematous paravertebral tissues or a displaced vertebra.
- Third. Pathology is in a degraded state. The pain haunts a person day and night, it gets a little weaker in a horizontal position, but it is impossible to stay in one position for a long time (back, side). Sleep is disturbed, the patient becomes irritable. A person bends down (thoracic, lumbar), tries a more comfortable position that does not cause discomfort, which encourages the formation of a hump, scoliosis and other deformations of the spine.
- Fourth. Accumulation of osteophytes - stabilization of the spine. The patient can only look around by turning the trunk completely. The pain is strong, constant, completely removed only by blockades (novocaine, prednisolone). Disability in the fourth stage is about 80%.
At the same time as the listed symptoms, the patient may be tormented by symptoms that at first glance have nothing to do with the back - dizziness, flies in the eyes, arterial hypertension, numbness of the upper limbs (cervical osteochondrosis), chest pain, mimicking an anginal attack or heart attack, intercostal neuralgia (thoracic osteochondrosis), cauda equina syndrome, numbness of lower limbs (lumbosacral osteochondrosis).
On a note. The pathology causes vegetovascular and neurodystrophic disorders.
Diagnostics
To establish an accurate diagnosis, the patient is sent for X-ray, myelography and neurological examination of reflexes. If this is not enough, a referral will be issued:
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging);
- CT (computed tomography);
- NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance).
The doctor questions the patient and performs a medical examination that reveals painful areas, possible curvature of the spine, leg length difference and other objective signs of damage to the spine.
Therapy
Treatment of osteochondrosis is complex. To stop or at least slow down the degeneration process, the following are prescribed:
- chondroprotectors - externally, orally (orally), in injections to restore cartilage tissue;
- muscle relaxants - relax spasmodic muscle groups, can only be used under medical supervision;
- pain relievers;
- blockades - relieve pain for a long time, but do not cure;
- physiotherapy (magnetotherapy, phonophoresis, vibrotherapy, EHF and others);
- exercise therapy and author's gymnastics;
- massage;
- acupuncture;
- balneo and mud therapy.
In advanced cases (uncontrolled urination and defecation, cauda equina syndrome), surgical intervention may be necessary in order to decompress and stabilize the affected spinal segments.
Decompression operations with subsequent access:
- facetectomy;
- foraminotomy;
- laminectomy;
- laminotomy.
Decompression operations with anterior access:
- discectomy;
- corpectomy.
Spinal fusion is used to stabilize the damaged segment - the fusion of adjacent vertebrae with the help of a special fixed structure (rods). A bone implant is placed in place of the removed intervertebral disc (the bone material is either taken from a donor or formed from the patient's own bone).
On a note. Spinal fusion can be avoided. Surgeons have achieved a lot in the surgical treatment of osteochondrosis. Instead of the removed intervertebral disc, it is possible to install an artificial plate, thus avoiding complete immobilization of the segment. Operations on the spine are associated with many complications, so they are prescribed only in extreme cases.
Prevention
Even Hippocrates said: "It is easier to prevent a disease than to cure it. " This rule also applies to osteochondrosis. In order to preserve the health of the spine, it is sufficient if a person monitors his health, leads an active lifestyle, eats correctly, and exercises regularly.
If the disease did appear, prevention will help prevent it from starting. Follow these guidelines:
- Sleep on the right mattress and pillow. Choose an orthopedic product and consult your doctor first.
- Make it a rule to walk for at least half an hour before and after work. During the break, don't sit at the computer or the phone, but warm up and then have a snack.
- Watch your weight. The higher it is, the harder it is for the spine.
- Observe the way you rest (work during the day, sleep at night).
- Try to eliminate stress from your life. If you feel that you are becoming depressed, see a professional.
On a note. Traditional healers claim that osteochondrosis can be cured with the help of herbs. It is difficult to say how true this statement is. Treatment with alternative methods can be used together with the treatment prescribed by the doctor. Otherwise, the result is not guaranteed.
Osteochondrosis is a dangerous disease that causes disability if treatment is not started on time. If you feel that you tire suspiciously quickly, and in the morning your spine is less flexible than before, see a doctor and get a full examination. In the initial stage, the pathology can be slowed down or even completely stopped.