Osteochondrosis is a spine disease characterized by the degeneration of the intervertebral disc with a significant decrease in its height, the sclerosis of the vertebrae's disc surfaces and the reactive growth of regional osteophytes.
The cartilage fabric of the discs assigned by osteochondrosis is gradually reborn and turns into a semblance of bone.The hardened disc decreases in size, loses the properties of the shock absorber between the vertebrae and begins to press the nerve endings, which leads to the appearance of painful sensations.
The initial stage of osteochondrosis is most often manifested with unpleasant sensations in the spine and can be diagnosed as an internal organ disease, and a real diagnosis is only detected after having successfully completed many examinations.
By location, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacred and common osteodrosis is distinguished.Most often, lumbar osteochondrosis (more than 50%of cases), cervical osteochondosis (more than 25%) and municipalities (around 12%) are diagnosed.
The intervertebral disc is a chip fiber plate.In the middle of the disc, there is a nucleus surrounded by a fibrous ring (fabric resembling tendons).The intervertebral disc does not have its vascular system and therefore eats at the expense of other tissues.An important source of nutrients for disc is back muscles, it is their dystrophy which most often leads to the development of the disease.When you lift weights, jumps and other physical efforts, the discs act as a shock absorber and support the distance required between the vertebrae.Since the most important charge falls on the lumbar column, it is inside, the protuberances and intervertebral hernias, which are a complication of this disease, are most often formed.
Protestation of the intervertebral disc- Protection (prolapse) of the disc without rupture of the fibrous ring.
An herniated of the intervertebral disc- Protection (prolapse) of a disc with a rupture of a fibrous ring and a "flow" of a jet nucleus.Above all often, the hernia is formed when the spine or during the simultaneous inclination and which turns the torso on the side forms, especially if there is a heavy object in the hands.In this position, the intervertebral discs are experiencing a very large load, the pressure inside the intervertebral disc increases, the vertebrae is pressed on one side of the disc and the nucleus is forced to move on the opposite side and press the fibrous ring.At a given time, the fibrous ring does not resist such a load and the disc is protruding (the fibrous ring is stretched, but it remains whole) or the hernia is formed (the fibrous ring breaks and part of the contents of the nucleus "flows" through the breakthrough).With an increase in the load on the spine and the creation of conditions for the increase in pressure in the damaged intervertebral disc, the hernia increases in size.
It is very important for the direction of the protrusion and the size of the hernia, if the hernia manifests or towards the sides, this can cause pain and altered work of certain organs, and when it came out towards the spinal cord and the damage, the consequences can be much more serious.If the intervertebral hernia affected the nervous processes or the roots of a certain segment of the spine, this leads to a violation of the work of the organ, for which the damaged segment of the spine is responsible.Another option is possible: due to the projection of the disc in a direction, on the opposite side, the distance between the vertebrae decreases and this leads to nervous process pinching by the vertebrae itself.The intervertebral hernia of the lumbar region most often causes pain in the legs, hernia in the chest region contributes to dizziness, pain in the heart, to violations of the respiratory organs, etc., to hernia in the cervical column.The most dangerous intervertebral hernias measure more than 10 mm, strongly narrowing the spinal canal, tightening blood vessels and injuring nerve endings, prolonged exposure to what not only leads to serious pain, but also circulatory disorders, loss of sensitivity in limbs with subsequent complications.But the most dangerous are the kidnapped hernias of the intervertebral discs, that is to say that the hernias are ready for the destruction or the separation of the fragment, followed by the lowering in the vertebral canal, which can lead to serious consequences: the altered functions of the pelvic organs and the paralysis of the lower extremities.
Causes of osteochondrosis
The causes that cause changes in the intervertebral discs are not entirely studied.People are starting to feel the manifestations of osteochondosis most often after 35 years.The development and exacerbation of this disease are facilitated by various back injuries, static and dynamic overloads, as well as by vibrations.The older the person, the more demonstrations he has.But in recent years, more and more people aged 18 to 30 have complained of back pain.There are many reasons for the early manifestation of the disease: low physical training, a violation of posture and curvature of the spine, flat feet and excess weight.
And therefore, we will highlight the main reasons:
- hereditary predisposition (genetics);
- Metabolic disorder in the body, infection, intoxication;
- overweight, incorrect nutrition (lack of origin and liquid);
- age -related changes;
- spine injuries (bruises, fractures);
- Posture violation, curvature of the spine, hypermobility (instability) of the segments of the spine, flat feet;
- unfavorable environmental conditions;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- Work associated with weight lifting, frequent changes in body position (turns, flexion and extension, shaking movements);
- Prolonged exposure to annoying poses in a standing, sitting, lying down, when you lift and transferred weights, when performing another work in which pressure in the discs and the load on the spine in general increases;
- Excessive physical activity, unevenly developed muscular bone system;
- Spinal overloads associated with foot diseases, as well as following the wearing of uncomfortable shoes, high heels and pregnancy in women;
- net cessation of regular training by professional athletes;
- On the nerve pressure, stressful situations, smoking;
- Hypothermia, unfavorable weather conditions (high humidity at low temperature).
Symptoms characteristic of osteochondrosis
Patients with osteochondrosis complain of constant back pain, to which numbness and a feeling of pain in the limbs often join.In the absence of adequate treatment, weight loss and members' atrophy occur.
The main symptoms:
- Constant pain in the back, a feeling of numbness and ailments in the limbs;
- Increased pain during sudden movements, physical effort, weight lifting, cough and sneezing;
- Reduction of the volume of movements, muscle cramps;
- with osteochondrosis of the cervical column: pain in the hands, shoulders, headaches;It is possible to develop the vertebral artery syndrome thus called, which consists of the following complaints: noise in the head, dizziness, sparkle of "flies", colored spots in front of the eyes in combination with a pulsed headache.The cause of vertebral artery syndrome can be its spasm in response to direct irritation of its sympathetic plexus due to bone growth, disk hernia, osteoarthritis of intervertebral joint and reflex reaction due to the irritation of the spine receptors.The presence of vertebral artery syndrome can worsen the course of coronary or muscle pathology, if necessary;
- with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine: pain in the chest (like a "stake" in the chest), in the heart and other internal organs;
- with osteochondrosis of the lombo-sacular column: lower back pain, radiating in the sacrum, lower limbs, sometimes in the pelvic organs;
- The lesion of nerve roots (with hernias of intervertebral discs, bone growth, spondylolistz, spondylo osteoarthritis): pain and sensitivity, hypotrophy, hypotension, weakness of the innervated muscles and decrease in reflexes.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
The preliminary diagnosis is established during the patient's initial examination.An examination is generally carried out by a neurologist in relation to the patient's complaints to local changes, which can manifest itself by pain, deformation or limitation of mobility.The vertebral column is examined in the position of the standing patient, seated and lying down, at rest and in motion.The level of damage to the spine is determined by counting the number of vertebrae of certain anatomical landmarks or according to a special diagram.
When examining the back, attention is paid to the posture, to the structural characteristics of the body, to the line of the thorny processes (median groove of the back), to the lower corner of the shoulder blades, the ridges of the ilia spine bones.
Feeling the spine allows you to complete the inspection data (the presence or absence of deformation), determine the location, the degree and the nature of the pain.During the sensation, the tension of the muscles located next to the spine is also noted, because most of the injuries and diseases of the spine are accompanied by an increase in muscle tone.
The flexion of the spine is used to determine the amplitude of the movements in various parts of the spine.
The main role in the study of the spine is assigned to radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, with which the level of damage is determined, the diagnosis is specified and concretized, hidden pathologies are revealed.These diagnoses allow the attending physician to determine treatment tactics and choose the most effective treatment methods.
Methods of treatment of osteochondrosis and its complications
Treatment of osteochondrosisAnd its complications are carried out using conservative methods aimed at eliminating pain syndrome, the function of the vertebral roots and the prevention of the progression of dystrophic changes in the structures of the spine.With the ineffectiveness of conservative treatment and in special indications, surgical treatment (surgical) is carried out, whose volume depends on the level of damage and clinical manifestations of the disease.
The duration of the treatment of osteochondrosis and its complications depends mainly on the severity of the disease, the age -related changes, the treatment methods, as well as the conscientious prescription and the recommendations of the attending physician.As the practice shows, the active phase of treatment in most cases lasts 1 to 3 months when using conservative methods, and the recovery period after surgery is around 1 year.At the start of treatment, in some patients, it is possible to increase pain syndrome associated with the reaction of the muscle system and other formations for unusual exposure to the body.Pain is stopped in a short time with physiotherapeutic procedures, drugs, as well as special physical exercises.The result of the treatment depends largely on the behavior of the patients themselves, patience, perseverance, perseverance, of a certain will is necessary, as well as on the desire to recover.The greatest efficiency of conservative therapy and rehabilitation after surgery can be obtained under specialized medical centers and sanatoriums equipped with a modern diagnostic and therapeutic basis, as well as highly qualified practitioners who use a complete treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Complex conservative treatment includes physiotherapy, physiotherapy, massage, manual therapy, traction (traction) of the spine, reflexology and pharmacotherapy.
Medical physical education (exercise therapy) - The main method of conservative treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system is to create dosed loads aimed at decompression of nerve roots, correction and strengthening of muscle corset, to increase the volume and the development of a certain stereotype of movements and the appropriate posture, and the ligament apparatuscomplications.This is carried out by regular courses on rehabilitation equipment and joint gymnastics.Following the exercises, the blood circulation improves, the metabolism and the nutrition of the intervertebral discs are standardized, the intervertebral space increases, the muscle corset is formed and the load on the spine is reduced.
Physiotherapy is a treatment method that uses physical factors: low frequency currents, magnetic fields, ultrasound, laser, etc.It is used to relieve pain, inflammatory processes, rehabilitation after injuries and operations.When you use physiotherapy methods, the treatment of many diseases is reduced, the effectiveness of the use of drugs and a decrease in their dosage is increased, no side effects are inherent in drug treatment.
Massage is a set of techniques of mechanical dosed effects in the form of friction, pressure, vibrations, made directly on the surface of the human body with the hands.Effectively relieves muscle tension, muscle pain, improves blood circulation, has a general strengthening effect.
Manual therapy is an individually selected manual effect on the bone muscular system to remove acute and chronic pain in the spine and joints, as well as an increase in the volume of movements and the correction of the posture.One of the fields of manual therapy is visceral manual therapy, which helps restore normal mobility of organs, improves blood supply, lymphocylication, normalizes metabolism, restores immunity, prevents dispersion of chronic diseases.
The extension (traction) of the spine is an effective method of processing pain syndromes in the spine and joints using an individually selected load using special equipment.The procedure aims to increase the intervertebral space, eliminate pain and restore an anatomically correct shape of the spine.
Reflexotherapy - various therapeutic techniques and influence methods on reflexogenic areas of the human body and acupuncture points.The use of reflexology in combination with other therapeutic methods considerably increases their effectiveness.Most often, reflexology is used for osteochondrosis, accompanied by pain, nervous system diseases, sleep disorders, mental imbalance, as well as overweight and tobacco loops.By acting on certain points, you can put the body in harmony and treat many diseases.
Pharmacotherapy is indicated during the period of exacerbation of the disease, aimed at stopping pain syndrome, eliminating the inflammatory process and increasing metabolic processes by taking or administrating medication using intramuscular or intravenous injections.
Although each of the above methods is a very effective, always persistent therapeutic effect, can only be obtained with their combination with classes on rehabilitation equipment, that is to say when creating a complete muscle corset.