Osteochondrosis refers to degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the tissue of the spine and joints with progression. The more the disease is neglected, the more pronounced are the symptoms that affect the person's lifestyle and ability to work. When the structure of the spine is damaged, a person has such problems, for example, how to live with pain, how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis.
In practice, the pathology of various parts of the spine, coccyx and joints often occurs. Previously, only people over the age of 25 were sick, but recently there has been a tendency to "rejuvenate" the disease. Symptoms of juvenile or juvenile osteochondrosis have become common.
The reasons
The causes of osteochondrosis can be different and depend on which part of the body is damaged. After any injury, the normal structure of the spine, the coccyx is disturbed and the process of salt deposition and destruction of the disc structure begins. Overweight people, sedentary lifestyles and athletes are susceptible to this.
During pregnancy, the risk of disease increases due to weight gain and a lack of vitamins. Lymph nodes also enlarge during pregnancy. The heart, other organs suffer from it, and in combination with osteochondrosis, it is very dangerous. The load on the shoulder, knee, neck and tailbone increases.
With age, almost all people suffer from osteochondrosis of the spine. Professions associated with a long stay in a sitting position, monotonous movements pose a threat to the neck, lower back and tailbone. The following conditions affect the onset of the disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- the course of pregnancy;
- endocrine, infectious diseases;
- poisoning or exposure to drugs, toxins and chemicals;
- eating disorder, lifestyle.
In addition to the spine, there are often cases of osteochondrosis of the joints. Pathology is dangerous for the knee, elbow, shoulder joint, coccyx. When considering osteochondrosis of the knee joint, it is worth paying attention to such causes as obesity or malnutrition, a lifestyle associated with excessive loads on the legs, as well as injuries or inflammatory processes in the body.
The muscles of the legs withstand enormous loads, unlike the joints, so the latter suffer more often.
Symptoms of damage to the elbow joint can be observed along with the current osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic region. Often the pathology is combined with arthritis or osteoarthritis. Injury and constant overexertion of the elbow joint are predisposing factors.
Due to the constant movements of the neck and head, as well as of the hands, over time the joints begin to wear out, salt deposits appear. This leads to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and shoulder joint. The causes can be congenital, from compression of the nerve plexuses of the shoulder region, or from external factors. Injuries to the neck, shoulder blades or hands cause osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the spine
Osteochondrosis of the spine occurs in several departments. The most common is lumbar pathology. The disease is associated with severe stress in the lower back and is dangerous with the threat of pinching the sciatic nerve and the formation of hernias.
There are symptoms such as aching pain, aggravated at night or during exercise. It is difficult to find the right position in sleep and at rest. There may be "low back pain" in the lower back or reduced sensitivity in the legs, especially the knee joint, the coccyx. When exacerbated, the lymph nodes become inflamed.
The coccyx area is often affected, making it difficult to sit properly. If the sciatic nerve in the coccyx area is inflamed, the pain goes down to the lower limbs, buttocks, up to the knee joint. To relieve pain, it is best for a person to take a comfortable position and drink antispasmodics, relaxants, or analgesics.
During pregnancy, osteochondrosis of the lower back sometimes makes it difficult to give birth normally. Then you need to perform the operation. Antispasmodics are taken during this period carefully so as not to harm the fetus.
In diseases of the spine, doctors use the identification of specific symptoms for diagnosis: the symptom of Lasegue. For a neuropathologist, Lasegue's symptom is important in determining the extent of the disease.
Lasegue's symptom always occurs when a neurological disorder is suspected. With the Lasegue method, the doctor slowly lifts the leg into a straightened state, not allowing the knee to bend. Lasegue's sign is tested in three stages by flexing and extending the leg. Based on the appearance of pain in certain positions. During pregnancy, the Lasegue method is not performed.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is often combined with injuries of the shoulder and elbow joints. There are pains in the neck, head, spread to the shoulder blades and arms, pains in the heart appear. They are purchased with antispasmodics. There is noise in the ears, vision deteriorates.
The pain is aggravated by movement of the neck, head or shoulder blade. In the acute period, the lymph nodes may be affected, muscle pains in the neck and elbow joint may occur. So urgent treatment is needed to prevent complications in the heart, brain, blood vessels.
The patient is constantly tormented by the question: how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis and correctly place the head on the pillow?
This is especially true for women during pregnancy. Only antispasmodics and treatment help.
Pathology of the thoracic region is less common. Symptoms of pain in the heart, shoulder area, shoulder girdle, neck are recorded. The lymph nodes are inflamed, sometimes due to pain it is impossible to raise your hands, take a deep breath. Osteochondrosis is often mistaken for heart pain. If you take antispasmodics, pain in the muscles, the heart goes away. If the disease is at an advanced stage, antispasmodics do not always help, and the following symptoms join:
- violation of the sensitivity of the legs;
- increased pain at night, with movement, breathing;
- burning sensation, itchy heart, shoulder area, along the ribs.
In practice, osteochondrosis often affects different parts of the spine. Symptoms during pregnancy are especially unpleasant, when it is undesirable to take antispasmodics. Rescuers started treatment on time.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes conducting hardware studies, questioning and examining the patient. It is important to pay attention to specific signs such as Lasegue's symptom. To exclude pathology in the heart and other internal organs, ultrasound, ECG is performed. X-rays, MRIs, CT scans are performed to examine the spine.
Treatment for osteochondrosis should be long and complex. The treatment is divided into symptomatic therapy and rehabilitation. Against pain, muscle relaxants, NSAIDs, analgesics, antispasmodics are prescribed. Muscle relaxants can not only relieve pain for a long time, but also improve mobility. Relaxants have a peripheral and central action. Which drug to choose, the doctor decides.
The treatment includes a combination of physiotherapy, massage, reflexology. Treatment allows manual therapy, banks, ointments and folk methods.
Osteochondrosis of the joints
Often there are diseases of the elbow, knee, shoulder joint. Osteochondrosis of the knee joint often occurs in pregnant women and is accompanied by pain and limited mobility. The elbow joint is characterized by symptoms such as pain when moving, swelling, deformity. Incorrectly chosen hand posture brings discomfort and pain. In the affected area, the lymph nodes become inflamed. In addition, the lymph nodes can injure not only the affected area, but also capture adjacent lymph nodes.
For a correct diagnosis, X-rays, CT, magnetic resonance are used, the symptoms of Lasegue are examined, palpated and checked. To restore the function of muscles and joints, complex treatment is required. You need to do massage, ERT, take antispasmodics, NSAIDs, relaxers. In advanced cases, an operation is performed. But first, conservative treatment is always prescribed, especially during pregnancy.