80% of people suffer from osteochondrosis in varying degrees of severity. Not only adults and older people are affected, but also young people. Given the prevalence of the disease, everyone should know about methods of treating and preventing it.
What is this disease?
Osteochondrosis is a degeneration of the intervertebral discs, degenerative processes in the joints, ligaments and muscles surrounding them. The intervertebral discs act as shock absorbers in the spine between the individual vertebrae (there are 32-34). They are also responsible for their mobility.
Negative factors, which we will discuss below, lead to ruptures and destruction of the intervertebral discs. You lose elasticity and the spine loses flexibility. The intervertebral discs are surrounded by tissue with nerve fibers, so dystrophic and degenerative processes are accompanied by pain.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Muscle spasms and dystrophy
The intervertebral discs are surrounded by muscles that are responsible for the stability of the spine. Over time, some become cramped due to constant tension, while others atrophy due to lack of exercise.
This happens because a person day after day:
- makes monotonous movements;
- performs physically demanding work;
- spends a lot of time immobile.
As a result, the intervertebral disc is compressed by cramped muscles and atrophied muscles can no longer support it.
Problems with the blood supply
The nutrition of the intervertebral discs also depends on the work of the muscles surrounding the spine. With normal muscle tone, the required amount of nutritious synovial fluid enters the intervertebral joint.
Lack of fluid in the body
The condition of cartilage tissue is influenced by the amount of fluid a person consumes per day. If there is a deficiency, the cartilage dries out quickly and should ideally consist of 80% water.
Metabolic disease
Problems with the endocrine system affect the condition of cartilage tissue. Osteochondrosis is often caused by a deficiency or excess of vitamins and calcium.
Stressful conditions
Nervous tension causes muscle spasms, including those that support the intervertebral discs. Normally, muscles relax after tension. If a person is constantly plagued by stress, this does not happen. Muscle tissue tightly compresses the cartilage between the vertebrae, gradually destroying it.
Risk factors
- Genetic background.
- Nervous tension.
- Constant physical activity.
- Sedentary work, sedentary lifestyle.
- Passion for junk food, overweight.
- Bad habits that lead to metabolic disorders in cartilage tissue.
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Stages of development
Stage I
The core of the intervertebral disc becomes dehydrated. It gets deeper and its fabric tears. Pain sensations are almost imperceptible. If the patient adopts an unusual posture or performs unusual exercises, discomfort may occur.
Stage II
The intervertebral disc tissue becomes flatter and bulges. This reduces the distance between the vertebrae and pinches the roots of the spinal nerve. The fibrous membrane is destroyed, so that the fluid is only poorly retained in the disc nucleus. When moving, characteristic clicking and crunching noises occur in the spine. Pinched nerves cause localized pain that increases with active movements.
Stage III
The cartilage layer between the intervertebral discs gradually wears away and becomes thinner. At this stage, the symptoms express themselves intensively - in the form of acute pain. Only painkillers for neuralgia can stop them quickly.
IV stage
The damage is so severe that the joints become immobile. A complete loss of mobility of the vertebral joints is possible. Due to pronounced degenerative processes, the space between the vertebrae is overgrown with bone tissue. These growths injure nearby tissue and compress nerves, resulting in acute pain.
Classification and symptoms
Cervical
In this section there are 7 vertebrae, they are close to each other and the neck muscles are relatively weak. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a fairly common disease. When this section is affected, the patient feels pain both in the entire neck and in certain parts of it, for example, in the collarbone or behind the ears.
The most characteristic symptoms:
- Headache, feeling of heaviness in the back of the head, dizziness;
- Tingling in the hands;
- the neck is most often tense;
- When you turn your head, the vertebrae click and crunch.
- at regular intervals there is a sore throat, a feeling of a lump in the throat;
- Due to the muscle tension in the neck area, it is difficult to move the arm to the side or raise it.
The manifestations of an insidious disease do not always correspond to its location. The problem may be in the cervical vertebrae and there may be pain in the chest or shoulder. Some patients complain of problems in the heart area.
Lumbar spine
The lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae are located in the lumbar region. This section is most susceptible to shock absorption and motor stress, which is why lumbar osteochondrosis is so common. Painful sensations appear in the lumbar region. Most often, this is aching pain that worsens with active twisting, exercises, or prolonged sitting.
Sign:
- the spine is restricted in its movement;
- The patient may experience discomfort in the hip with cramps.
- Dryness, peeling skin on the legs and goosebumps are noted.
- acute stabbing pain may occur periodically;
- During sleep, a person cannot assume a comfortable position because he does not feel discomfort in any of these positions.
Additional symptoms: fatigue, constant tiredness, malaise. Some patients report problems with urination and kidney problems. In men, potency can suffer, in women, the uterus and ovaries can suffer.
Breast
It affects 12 vertebrae in the thoracic region. Most often this is a complication of scoliosis.
Main symptoms:
- Belt pain that gets worse with active movement;
- tingling in the heart area;
- feeling of fullness in the armpits;
- restriction of shoulder movements;
- Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing.
Acute pain occurs between the ribs, in the sternum, in the area of one of the shoulder blades. Numbness may occur in the fingers, hand, and forearm.
diagnosis
At home, it is almost impossible to determine the location of the problem. Special medical equipment will help you correctly take an anamnesis, and only a doctor can determine the symptoms and treatment.
For diagnosis use:
- Magnetic resonance imaging is the most accurate method for obtaining objective information about the condition of tissues.
- X-ray of the spine.
- Computed Tomography.
How to treat the disease?
Unfortunately, it is impossible to quickly eliminate the symptoms at home. Treatment involves an integrated approach.
General recommendations:
- Maintain bed rest during exacerbation of pain;
- avoid physical activity;
- Wear a support corset, bandage or belt.
Medication
During periods of exacerbation, the following is prescribed:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- chondroprotectors;
- muscle relaxants;
- B vitamins.
Applications with anti-inflammatory ointments also help to relieve the inflammatory process. They have a local anesthetic effect.
Medicines should only be prescribed by a doctor. It is strictly forbidden to do this yourself.
physical therapy
To strengthen the muscle corset, the doctor prescribes exercises that must be done daily at home. They depend on which part of the spine is affected. Physical activity improves blood circulation and allows muscles to properly support the spine.
Massotherapy
One of the most effective methods of treating this disease. In 7-10 sessions you can quickly restore the tone of the atrophied muscles and relax tense muscles.
prevention
Treatment of osteochondrosis is difficult and takes a long time. It is easier to monitor the condition of the spine and not cause serious damage. To do this, you need to lead a healthy, active lifestyle and moderate stress on the spine.
Other preventive measures:
- Watch your posture, don't lie.
- Do exercises at home to work all muscle groups.
- Perform exercises to relax the back, shoulder and neck muscles.
- Participate in yoga classes and therapeutic massage sessions.
- Do not lift heavy objects, but distribute the load evenly between your arms.
We wish you to get rid of osteochondrosis forever and keep your back and neck healthy.