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Symptoms and methods of treating spinal osteochondrosis

Signs of the development of osteochondrosis include pain in the neck and lower back

Weakening of the intervertebral discs or other diseases of the spine that complicate or limit movement indicate the development of a serious disease - osteochondrosis. It can occur in anyone and is not age-dependent. The spine is a supporting element of the skeleton, so its changes affect the quality of life and the condition of many organ systems. For this reason, it is necessary to know the causes, signs of osteochondrosis, as well as methods of treatment in order to identify disorders in a timely manner and prevent the development of pathology.

What is Osteochondrosis?

Osteochondrosis is a complex of degenerative diseases of the human spine, manifested by dystrophic changes in the cartilage of this system.The disease can occur in any joint, but it is much more common in the intervertebral discs.

The main sign indicating the development of the disease is pain in the back, neck and lower back. In the future, pain may occur in the shoulders, arms and thighs. Without treatment, atrophy of muscle tissue begins, disruption of the sensitivity and activity of internal organs, leading to an incurable condition.

ICD-10 code

The World Health Organization developed the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).The essence is: each disease has its own specific code, which consists of numbers and letters. The doctor, seeing such a code in front of him, knows exactly what disease it is and what treatment needs to be prescribed to save the patient from this problem.

According to ICD-10, osteochondrosis has the code M42 and belongs to the class "Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue" (group "Dorsopathies", subgroup "Deforming dorsopathies").

Causes of development and risk factors

There are many reasons for the appearance of osteochondrosis. They all depend on which part of the spine the disease develops - cervical, thoracic or lumbar. There are several main reasons for the development of the disease:

  • Hereditary predisposition. Congenital anomalies contribute to the development of musculoskeletal system diseases;
  • Hormonal imbalance. Disturbances of the endocrine system, being overweight or underweight have a negative effect on the musculoskeletal system;
  • Age-related changes in the body. This leads to the destruction of muscle, bone and cartilage tissue, and intervertebral discs wear out with increasing age;
  • Spinal injuries and bruises. Many people spend long periods of time in one position, such as sitting at a table, while others do the same physical work. All this leads to damage to the bone and ligamentous apparatus of the spine, as well as injuries to the intervertebral discs;
  • Degenerative changes in muscle tissue. These processes occur due to overload of individual muscle groups, which most often leads to thoracic osteochondrosis.
  • Sedentary lifestyle. Muscle atrophy occurs, which leads to circulatory disorders and incorrect formation of the bone skeleton.

Most people do not pay attention to their diet and eat foods that are not healthy at all. This leads to a nutrient deficiency, which has a negative impact on the integrity of the intervertebral cartilage, its mobility and elasticity.

There are several risk factors for developing this disease:

  • hypothermia;
  • Flat feet;
  • Complications after infectious diseases;
  • obesity;
  • sedentary lifestyle;
  • Injuries to the vertebral acid.

If intervertebral discs and cartilage tissue are damaged, it is important to determine the cause of the disease and initiate appropriate treatment.

Types and symptoms

Depending on the location of the pathological process, different types of osteochondrosis are distinguished.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

It manifests itself as pain in the neck, back of the head and between the shoulder blades. Neck mobility may be limited while you sleep. With cervical osteochondrosis, numbness in the fingers often occurs. Dizziness and tinnitus are also noted. The different types of cervical osteochondrosis differ in their clinical manifestations:

  • Cervicalgia– accompanied by neck pain and limited mobility; Pain can spread to the shoulder region and the space between the shoulder blades; Tingling and burning in the hands and fingers are often observed;
  • Cervicocranialgia– accompanied by pain from the neck to the parietal and occipital parts of the head, shoulder girdle; Muscle tension is characteristic, a feeling of petrification arises; Headache, nausea, tinnitus, imbalance are observed;
  • Cervicobrachialgia– characterized by stabbing, aching, pulling and throbbing pains; Turning and tilting the head can cause acute pain and physical tension in the affected area. Pain occurs in the arms and fingers, leading to weakness in the upper limbs.
  • discogenic root lesion– characterized by paroxysmal pain in the shoulder, forearms and fingers, accompanied by numbness and feeling of cold; symptoms worsen when coughing, sneezing or turning your head sharply; may worsen at night and cause insomnia.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is a rare form of the disease

This is a fairly rare form. Thoracic osteochondrosis is similar in symptoms to other diseases and therefore requires a differential diagnosis.Due to the immobility of the thoracic vertebrae in this area, severe pain is not observed during movements.The pain syndrome spreads to the sternum and under the shoulder blade. Thoracic osteochondrosis can lead to dysfunction of internal organs. The main clinical manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis are:

  • Thoracic neuralgia or intercostal neuralgia– This is irritation or compression of the intercostal nerves by muscles and tissues, accompanied by pain in the chest when bending, bending and turning the body, under the ribs, in the front of the chest, pain when inhaling and exhaling; Pain may radiate into the shoulder and between the shoulder blades;
  • Pain syndrome, in which the pain is of a stabbing nature; Pain is felt in the chest and abdomen; worsens with exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing; Sensitivity disorders are observed.

Thoracalgia (chest pain) is one of the most serious symptoms a person can experience. Sometimes even a doctor cannot immediately determine the cause of chest pain and find out whether this symptom is a sign of a threat to the patient's life.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region

The main reason for such changes is a lack of nutrients and heavy stress. Metabolism slows down, as a result of which the intervertebral discs do not have time to renew themselves, their structure and properties are disrupted. There are different types of lumbar osteochondrosis:

  • Lumbago (acute lumbago)– acute pain in the lumbar spine that occurs when lifting weights, during physical activity or when bending over; characterized by stabbing pain on the right or left lumbar region; They also distinguish lumbago with sciatica, when the pain spreads to the buttocks and legs.
  • radicular vascular syndrome (radiculoischemia)occurs when the radiculomedullary artery is damaged and is accompanied by paralysis of the extensors and flexors of the gluteal muscle group, the foot hangs limply and there is no movement.

Osteochondrosis of the spine with radicular-vascular syndrome is a very dangerous pathology, manifested by acute pain, since CSS is often a consequence of a disease.

Stages of development

The stages of osteochondrosis are characterized as follows:

  1. The initial stage begins with the loss of fluid reserves in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral discs. As a resultthe physiological position of the intervertebral disc and the structure of the nucleus pulposus are disturbed.
  2. Further development of the disease (first degree) is due to a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc.Muscles and ligaments become overloaded and lose their normal functionality.At this stage, vertebral displacement may occur.
  3. The second degree is characterized by changes in bone tissue.Osteoarthritis develops and subluxations occur.
  4. The third degree is determined by thisBone growths (osteophytes) form on the spine,which lead to injury to the nerve roots.

The development of osteochondrosis should not be neglected, since with each subsequent stage the course of treatment and rehabilitation increases. Complications that arise during the course of the disease can lead to undesirable consequences.

What is the difference between radiculitis and osteoarthritis?

The symptoms of osteochondrosis and radiculitis are very similar, but the main difference is that in the first case they appear only in later stages, while radiculitis is characterized by the early manifestation of severe symptoms.In addition, with radiculitis, pressure on the paravertebral muscles and even tilting the head cause severe pain, similar to an electric shock, which does not occur with osteochondrosis.

When comparing osteochondrosis and arthrosis, it should be noted that in the second disease, all articular elements are affected, which leads to crunching and limited mobility. Osteochondrosis, in turn, is characterized by the destruction of the intervertebral discs with the formation of hernial protrusions.

Differential diagnostic procedures are used to determine the disease. This is a comprehensive approach that requires effort and time.

diagnosis

If osteochondrosis is suspected, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive diagnostics, which consists of the following examinations.

Checking reflexes during a neurological examination to diagnose osteochondrosis

Neurological examination

It is carried out by a neurologist. This examination includes checking reflexes, muscle strength and the extent of pain in other parts of the body.In osteochondrosis, a neurological examination is very important, because this disease affects the function of nerve endings and the spinal cord.


Myelography of the spine

Allows you to see how the cerebrospinal fluid spreads within the spinal membranes. This helps to detect pathologies of the spine, diseases of the nerve roots and spinal cord. A special dye is injected into the area of the spinal cord and nerves under local anesthesia. An X-ray machine provides a complete picture of the spine, particularly the bones. This method allows you to identify any discrepancies.

Computed tomography (CT)

These are images of one or two segments of the spine. This procedure allows you to get a picture of the bone tissue of a specific spinal region. The doctor interprets the resulting image and if a narrowing of the space between the vertebrae is visible, this indicates that the patient suffers from osteochondrosis.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)

NMR uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create images of the human body from individual scans. This method differentiates ligaments, tendons and bone structures very well.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

It is an effective procedure because it has a safe effect on the body - during the procedure, the results are achieved through the use of a magnetic field, and not radiation.

Without a preliminary comprehensive diagnosis, you cannot agree to prescribed treatment. This can only lead to a deterioration in health.

Treatment methods

Treatment of osteochondrosis includes many complex measures.Depending on the severity of the disease, a specific treatment strategy is selected.

Drug therapy

As a rule, treatment of osteochondrosis begins with taking a certain group of drugs:

  • painkillers and various analgesics;
  • medications that relieve spasms;
  • vitamins B and C;
  • medications that relieve inflammation;
  • Medications that promote better blood circulation.

In addition to taking medications orally, patients are prescribed various non-steroidal ointments and gels that can relieve pain and reduce swelling in problem areas.

physical therapy

In addition to drug therapy, various physiotherapeutic procedures are used. Thanks to this method, medication can be delivered directly to the site of inflammation. Main types of physiotherapy:

  • Electrophoresis– Carrying out physiotherapy with electrical fields modulated by currents. This allows medications to be introduced into the body. Helps relieve pain and muscle spasms;
  • Magnetic field therapy. This painless physiotherapy uses the positive effect of a magnetic field on active cells of the nerve and muscle fibers. This activates the work of molecular structures and improves the functional properties of blood vessels;
  • Ultrasound therapy. Ultrasounds are sound waves that are generated in an area that the human ear cannot perceive. As a result, blood circulation in the affected areas improves, spasms are relieved, pain is eliminated and inflammatory processes are stopped;
  • Vibration effect. With the help of mechanical vibrations, the affected area is influenced;
  • Balneotherapy. The core of the method is the use of mineral water, which relaxes the muscles and has a beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal system. Use mineral water when showering or bathing.
Magnetic therapy is a physiotherapeutic procedure that improves the condition of osteochondrosis.

Physiotherapy should be carried out during the period of subsidence of symptoms, when pain does not occur. In the acute stage of the disease, the doctor selects a number of procedures that can eliminate the pain syndrome. With proper physical treatment, the patient stops feeling pain, the spine becomes more mobile, which indicates recovery.

Traditional methods

Treatment of osteochondrosis may include the use of folk recipes, the effectiveness of which depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Here are some of them:

  1. You will need 300g of radish juice, 200g of honey and 100g of vodka. Mix all the ingredients and smear the affected areas twice a day.
  2. You need 1 tbsp. l. Rye flour, 100 g butter, 1 tbsp. l. vinegar and 1 egg. Mix all ingredients and let rest for two days. Rub into affected areas.
  3. Grate raw potatoes and mix with a little honey. Apply the prepared pulp to the sore spot for 2 hours.

Traditional treatment methods cannot work as a standalone therapy.To achieve a visible and lasting result, you should combine medical, conservative and folk methods.

Traction

Spinal traction to eliminate vertebral displacement in a patient with osteochondrosis

Spinal traction is often used for osteochondrosis. With the help of traction, muscle spasms are relieved, vertebral displacements and spinal deformations are eliminated. The procedure is carried out in a hospital. There are dry and underwater methods of spinal traction.

Dry traction occurs under the influence of the weight of the patient lying on an inclined plane.To increase traction, the doctor may use additional weights. During underwater traction, the healing effect is enhanced by the effect of warm water on the body.


Under the influence of water, the distance between the vertebrae increases, vascular spasms in the affected area are eliminated, and blood supply improves.

surgery

In case of serious complications, surgical treatment of osteochondrosis is carried out.These complications include: herniated disc, vertebral displacement and a significant reduction in the lumen of the spinal canal.

In this case, various types of operations are performed. These include operations to secure displaced vertebrae with metal plates, to insert artificial intervertebral joint implants or to remove individual bone growths.

Fixation of displaced vertebrae with implants in the advanced stage of osteochondrosis

physical therapy

Physiotherapy for osteochondrosis is one of the most important aspects of treatment. As a result, blood circulation is gradually restored, the vertebrae return to their normal position and the spine is significantly strengthened.

In the initial stages of the disease it consists of gymnastics.In cases where gymnastics does not bring positive results, the doctor selects an individual set of exercises for the patient, combined with other physiotherapeutic procedures.

Complications

The disease can cause the following complications:

  • inflammatory diseases of nerve roots (radiculitis, radiculopathy);
  • intervertebral hernia;
  • vegetative-vascular dystonia;
  • various neurological complications;
  • severe headaches, migraines;
  • atrophy of the limbs;
  • spinal canal stenosis;
  • Spondyloarthrosis (proliferation of the edges of the articular surfaces as a result of deforming osteoarthritis);
  • Spinal cord stroke.

If drug therapy does not bring positive results, surgical treatment is prescribed. The slightest delay and untimely start of treatment can lead to disability, as the spine loses its properties and mobility.

If treatment therapy is not started on time, complications such as malfunction of the organs of the reproductive and urinary systems may occur.

prevention

Treatment of osteochondrosis is quite difficult. Therefore, every effort must be made to prevent the disease from developing in the body. To prevent the occurrence of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to constantly carry out preventive measures:

  • Rightorganize a workplace;
  • when you work, you needTake short breaksdo light gymnastics;
  • Pay attention to your posture;
  • dailyThe gait should be easy and without constriction;
  • Choose the right and comfortable pillow and elastic mattress.The lying surface should be flatand elastic;
  • The daily diet should contain a minimum of salty and sweet foods and more foods fortified with calcium. Vitamins C, E, B must be present. They strengthen the cartilage tissue and make it elastic.
  • active lifestyle.
  • prophylacticmassage.
  • medicalgymnastics.

Preventive measures are also a key concern during the rehabilitation phase. If you follow these simple rules, you can avoid a relapse of the disease even after complete recovery.

Conclusions

  1. Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease of the human spine. Symptoms depend on the type of disease and the location of its occurrence (cervical, thoracic, lumbosacral).
  2. Complications of the disease can not only affect the integrity of the spine, but also significantly affect the functioning of other organ systems.
  3. Osteochondrosis can only be cured comprehensively, a combination of medication, physical therapy and therapeutic exercises.
  4. Not complicatedPreventive measures help protect your body from serious illnesses.