Osteochondrosis is a common disease of the musculoskeletal system. It manifests itself as a slight discomfort and severe pain, limiting a person's activity. In advanced cases, the pathology can lead to the need for surgery and even disability. Prevention and prevention of the disease reduces the risk of it occurring or helps to obtain positive treatment results.
Causes
Osteochondrosis is a pathology that occurs as a result of a combination of factors such as genetic predisposition, human lifestyle, environmental conditions.
The disease is characterized by damage to the joint cartilage and underlying bone tissue. Cartilages normally provide the flexibility and mobility of the spine, but they can wear down, lose properties, elasticity, and deform under the pressure of other vertebrae.
The most common causes of the development of pathology are:
- hereditary predisposition.
- Weakness of the muscle corset.
- Postural disorders and scoliosis.
- Mechanical injury of the spine.
- Excessive physical activity.
- Neuro-emotional stress.
- Passive lifestyle.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Tight and uncomfortable shoes, high heels.
- General dehydration.
- Lack of important nutrients, beriberi.
Types of osteochondrosis
Cervical
This disease is included in the list of the most frequent complaints of patients of working age who spend up to 8-10 hours a day at the computer. Often patients do not attach importance to pain, which leads to the development of complications. If you do not want to experience constant pain in the neck, head, shoulders, it is important to do prevention as soon as possible and, if necessary, consult a doctor as soon as possible.
thoracic
The disease can be asymptomatic. It is often accompanied by pain in the back, neck, forearm. In the advanced stage, thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by symptoms that occur with a painful condition of the arms and legs, tinnitus. In addition, thoracic chondrosis can be accompanied by nausea, headache in the morning, pain and fluttering in the eyes, sweating. For the treatment of the disease, taking medications and therapeutic exercises are sufficient measures.
Lumbar
The lumbar spine is very vulnerable. If you don't strive to strengthen your back muscles and don't control your posture, there is a risk of developing unpleasant symptoms. Chondrosis is characterized by pain in the girdle in the lower back, pain in the hip region and so-called back pain.
Take precautions. Keep your lower back warm, try not to overcool it. Do not carry or lift objects weighing more than 10 kg. If you are lifting something heavy, don't shake or make sudden movements. Refuse any physical work in an inclined position. If you are going to mop the floor, use a mop or squat down.
Stages and symptoms of development of osteochondrosis
The disease goes through 4 stages, accompanied by various symptoms. In the initial stage, the pathology occurs in the region of the pulp nucleus of the intervertebral disc. Excessive load causes a decrease in the height of the disc and the appearance of cracks in the fibrous ring. A person may experience some discomfort when standing in a static position for a long time or, conversely, when moving too actively.
In the 2nd stage, the distance between the vertebrae continues to decrease, the vertebral muscles and ligaments lose tone and sag. This leads to greater mobility of the vertebrae with affected discs, the risk of displacement or subluxations. In the second stage, discomfort and pain appear, especially with certain types of loads or in certain positions.
With 3rd degree osteochondrosis, prolapses and protrusions of the intervertebral discs are formed, the development of arthrosis of the intervertebral joints is possible. A person experiences stiffness, becomes inactive. At this stage of the pathology, the pain is clearly felt depending on the location of the lesion.
At the 4th stage, the body tries to adapt to functional disorders of the spine. This can be expressed in bone neoplasms - osteophytes. They act as vertebrae fixators. But it can cause pinched nerves and other injuries.
Diagnostics
When examining a patient and taking an anamnesis, a specialist makes a primary diagnosis, suggesting the presence of a disease by a visually detectable curvature observed in the transverse or longitudinal plane of the spine. After the initial consultation, the surgeon or neurologist may order additional examinations. Having determined the localization of the disease and its stages, treatment can begin, the purpose of which is to eliminate the causes of pain.
The most common diagnostic methods:
- X-ray;
- TC;
- magnetic resonance;
- Doppler ultrasound.
Treatment methods for osteochondrosis
Treatment brings good results only when it is regular, consistent and systematic. The therapeutic strategy of the first phase is aimed at neutralizing pain, the second phase is to activate the blood supply and metabolic processes in the affected areas of the spine, and the third phase shows physiotherapy and manual procedures.
With osteochondrosis of any department in the acute stage, accompanied by severe pain, the doctor can prescribe a paravertebral block by administering novocaine, lidocaine and other drugs to relieve muscle tension in the segment of spinal movement, reduce swelling and muscle tension.
Combinations of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics, analgesics and vitamin complexes (group D, nicotinic acid) are considered effective. As a local therapy, ointments are prescribed: chondroprotectors and agents with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components.
It is important to remember that drugs help to cope only with severe pain of the moment. Physiotherapeutic treatment helps to get rid of the unpleasant manifestations of the disease in the long term.
The most commonly used therapies include:
- reflexology;
- acupuncture;
- electrophoresis;
- manual therapy;
- massage;
- Physiotherapy.
What does the lack of treatment lead to?
Osteochondrosis is best corrected in the initial stage of formation before the onset of spinal pathology syndromes, accompanied by chronic headache and pain in the shoulder blades, heart and lower back. Over time, the disease leads to a change in the overall structure of the spine due to the active compensatory expansion of connective, fibrillar and bone tissues.
The clinical picture of the disease depends on the localization of the pathology, the degree of development of the process and the individual characteristics of the patients. Displacement of the intervertebral discs, protrusions and hernias lead to unpleasant consequences.
Frequent manifestations:
- violation of blood circulation in the tissues;
- pinched nerves;
- dysfunction of the spinal canal;
- edema and tissue fibrosis.
Therefore, the treatment of osteochondrosis should be started as early as possible and carried out in a complex way, with an emphasis on neutralizing inflammation and eliminating pain. If the disease has been occurring for years, is in an advanced stage, and spinal disc herniations are diagnosed, surgery may be required.
Prevention
Prevention of osteochondrosis and its treatment are inextricably linked. Their goal is to improve the patient's quality of life. If you have a sedentary job, take regular breaks. Get up every hour and a half and do simple exercises that relieve tension in the neck and back muscles. Try to sit correctly at the table: your back is straight, your shoulders relaxed. Choose such chairs, the back of which can provide maximum support for the spine - so it will not strain excessively.
To prevent the onset of the disease, it is good to periodically undergo a massage course. Massage can improve blood circulation and lymphatic flow, improve metabolic processes in muscle tissues and stop stagnant processes. As a result, there is an improvement in general well-being, increased vitality and some painful symptoms disappear.
Recommendations for the prevention and prevention of the development of osteochondrosis:
- Limit yourself when lifting weights. Permitted weight up to 10 kg.
- Carry the weights evenly on both hands.
- Systematically perform simple exercises aimed at strengthening the spine, muscles, ligaments and joints.
- Go swimming if possible.
- Try not to sit in one position for a long time.
- Take food supplements containing mucopolysaccharides - elements that make up cartilage.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the spine is a less difficult task than its further treatment. Think about your health and start taking care of it before you remember yourself.