Intervertebral osteochondrosis- a pathology from which the elderly have suffered mainly earlier. Today, the disease also occurs in young patients. This is due to the fact that more and more people lead a sedentary lifestyle, spend a lot of time in front of the computer and do not pay the necessary attention to physical activity. Osteochondrosis develops with an unnatural position of the spine and weakness of the back muscles. The pathology is treated successfully, but it is important to consult a specialist as early as possible!
What is osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine that is characterized by lesions of the intervertebral discs as well as the vertebral tissues themselves. The pathology is dangerous due to a number of complications, the most serious of which are spinal hernias and protrusions. It is very important to prevent the situation from getting worse and to start treatment for osteochondrosis of the back in a timely manner.
Reasons
The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis, ,according to many experts, the load is distributed incorrectly on the spine. The result of excess pressure is a change in the structure of cartilage.
The development of osteochondrosis is facilitated by such factors as:
- Hereditary predisposition
- Spinal cord injury
- Metabolic disease
- Lack of physical activity
- Pregnancy
- Stress
- Exhaustion
- Overweight
- Bad habits
The risk group for morbidity includes office workers, drivers, cashiers and athletes.
Stages of development
There are 4 stages of disease development:
- First stage. . . It is characterized by dehydration of the disc nucleus between the vertebrae. Subsequently, the height of the disc decreases. At this stage, the patient does not experience significant discomfort. Sometimes unpleasant sensations can occur during active exercise or in an unusual position.
- Second stage. . . It is characterized by protrusion of discs, which reduce the gaps between the vertebrae. As a result, the nerve endings are pinched, causing local pain of increasing intensity during sudden movements.
- Third stage. . . It is characterized by the erasure of cartilage between the vertebral tissues. The symptoms at this stage are pronounced. Patients complain of severe pain that can only be relieved with powerful medications
- Stage four. . . It is characterized by complete or partial limited mobility.
It is better to start treatment for osteochondrosis of the spine at the first symptoms! In this case, the chances of a full recovery are quite high.
Types of osteochondrosis
Depending on the place of occurrence of the pathological process, several types of osteochondrosis are distinguished:
- The cervix. . . Such osteochondrosis occurs when there are disorders in the cervical spine. The most common symptoms of the pathology are sharp pain when turning the head, sneezing and coughing and lumbago
- Chest. . . Such osteochondrosis is less common than other forms. Acute pain is uncharacteristic of the pathology. Osteochondrosis is characterized by symptoms of a number of other diseases. Stern pain, for example, makes the patient suspect angina
- Lumbar. . . Such osteochondrosis is more common than other forms. This is due to the fact that it is the lumbar spine that experiences increased stress. Patients complain not only of severe pain, but also of tingling sensation (including in the legs)
In some cases, osteochondrosis of the coccyx is diagnosed. There is also the concept of mixed pathology, in which 2 parts of the spine are involved in the pathological process. In diffuse osteochondrosis, all segments of the spine are affected.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis in adults
The main symptoms of pathological changes in the spine in adult patients include:
- Pain that can occur in the neck, shoulders, lower back and even in the ribs
- Feeling of stiffness in the back and waist
- Numbness in the limbs
- Muscle spasms or a feeling of weakness in them
- Chills and body aches
- Increased fatigue
- Dizziness and headache provoked by pinching of nerve endings
At an advanced stage, patients complain of sensory disorders in the back, legs and arms, pain in the heart, disorders of the genitourinary system (difficulty urinating, for example).
The symptoms of the pathology often worsen after hard work, intense sports, exposure to low body temperatures.
Complications
The destructive processes that affect the discs between the vertebrae reduce their density and cause a loss of ability to absorb shocks. This causes damage to muscles, joints and ligaments. In the long course of osteochondrosis, not only individual nerve endings are compressed, but also the spinal cord as a whole, which leads to complications of the nervous system.
Deterioration of the blood supply to the whole body leads to an increase in the manifestations of chronic diseases.
Osteochondrosis can also provoke such pathologies as:
- Lumbago(acute lumbar pain)
- Spondylosis(destruction of the vertebrae)
- Spinal stenosis, in which the work of the entire central nervous system is significantly impaired
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is performed using a number of instrumental methods. The primary diagnosis is made on the basis of examination and collection of anamnesis.
The doctor interviews the patient and specifies:
- Time for the first symptoms to appear
- Duration of pain
- Characteristics of signs of a pathological condition
During the inspection:
- The patient's body position is assessed while standing and sitting
- The amount of movement is determined
- The gait and the changes in it are evaluated
- The condition of the skin is examined to identify areas of peeling and redness
- Areas where the patient experiences painful sensations are examined
- The general condition of the organism is assessed
- Areas where the muscles are spasmed are identified
The main instrumental methods for diagnosing osteochondrosis include:
- X-ray examination. . . It allows you to determine the narrowing of the gaps between the individual vertebrae
- CT. . . During such an examination, the vertebrae that have been damaged during the pathological process are identified.
- NMR(Magnetic resonance). This test is the most accurate and allows you to assess all the destructive processes in the spine.
Treatment
The treatment of osteochondrosis is always complex.
Therapy includes:
- Medicine intake
- Massage
- Performing special exercises
- Physiotherapy
- Traction (including underwater)
- Manual therapy
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar spine largely depends on the symptoms.
Massagefor example, it is prescribed when the patient is not in severe pain. Sessions allow you to reduce muscle tone, improve blood flow and strengthen intervertebral discs.
Physiotherapyallows you to strengthen the muscles of the back, to form a reliable corset that ensures the correct distribution of the load on the spine. During the lesson the nutrition of the tissues improves, the blood circulation increases. Physical therapy helps even with reduced mobility. To achieve the desired results, exercise should be done regularly, slowly and smoothly, and breathing and heart rate should be monitored. Be sure to consult a doctor before starting classes. All exercises are supervised by an experienced instructor. Only in this case, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar or other spine will relieve the symptoms of the disease and eliminate the causes of it.
Physiotherapyeffective in combating pain. Patients are usually referred for ultrasound therapy, magnetic therapy and exposure to low frequency currents. Physiotherapy allows you to normalize metabolic processes, reduce inflammation, improve joint mobility and relieve swelling.
Rehabilitation treatment
Rehabilitation treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine is also carried out under the strict supervision of a physician. It is aimed at restoring health after pathology. Therapy is performed only when the pain subsides and the patient no longer feels severe discomfort.
The most popular recovery techniques include:
- Regular swimming
- Manual therapy
- Massage
- Electrophoresis and magnetotherapy
- Treatment by exposing the affected area to laser beams
- Nutrition adjustment
- Working with a psychologist
- Visit to the sauna
- Hydromassage
- Applying healing mud
Patients are advised to undergo balneotherapy in specialized institutions. Also, therapy can be performed on an outpatient basis. Rehabilitation treatment of osteochondrosis of the lower back and other departments is performed comprehensively in the same way as the main. In this case, its high productivity is noted.
Prevention
If the prevention of osteochondrosis is carried out in a timely manner, you will not have to deal with the treatment of the pathology.
Specialists have developed a range of preventive measures.
Consists of:
- Limit the lifting of heavy objects
- Proper nutrition
- Maintain daily life and regular rest
- Swimming
- Taking special food supplementscontaining valuable elements for cartilage tissue (mucopolysaccharides)
- Do a simple exercise
If you have to spend a lot of time at work or at home in a sitting position, you should take regular breaks, get up, walk, relieve the tension from your back.
All recommendations for the prevention of osteochondrosis will be given by a doctor. By contacting him, you can prevent the development of a dangerous pathological process.
The benefits of treatment in a professional clinic:
- It employs highly qualified doctors. They perform both a comprehensive diagnosis of osteochondrosis and treatment of this disease, using modern techniques and the latest advances.
- The treatment of osteochondrosis is performed using a unique method of injection. It allows you to permanently and quickly eliminate pain and reduce inflammation in the tissues.
- The clinic employs doctors who skillfully perform blockades and perform other specialized treatments, eliminate the symptoms of the disease, even at an advanced stage.
- Specialists have successfully implemented rehabilitation techniques that consolidate the results of therapy and prevent the development of the pathological process. Due to this, patients, even with an advanced stage of the disease, maintain physical activity.
- Doctors prevent many complications of osteochondrosis, which include curvature of the spine, hernia and paralysis of the limbs.
- Examinations, therapy and prevention of diseases are always performed in a patient-friendly environment. Attention is paid to anyone who seeks help from professionals.
- Participation in the therapy not only of orthopedists, but also of other specialists.