Degenerative-destructive lesion of the spine, otherwise:osteochondrosis- a disease that includes damage to the ligament and joint apparatus of a person, intervertebral discs and vertebral bodies.
Osteochondrosis disease mainly affects older people, regardless of gender, although it should be noted that recently there has been a tendency to rejuvenate this disease. Such rejuvenation of osteochondrosis is directly related to the poor physical development of children and overweight in so many adolescents. In addition, modern young people prefer sedentary pastimes near the TV or computer, avoiding sports. The combination of these factors leads to weakening of the back muscles, posture disorders and other negative consequences for the spine.
Osteochondrosis and its causes
At the heart of the disease with osteochondrosis is a disorder of the trophism of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, which changes the normal structure of tissues. As a result, the cartilaginous disc loses its normal elasticity and shape, reducing the width of the spaces between the vertebrae. Violation of the intervertebral ratio leads to compression of the nerve endings of the spinal cord, as well as a significant overload of the muscles of the spine, which explains the manifestation of pain in osteochondrosis. Also, with osteochondrosis, quite serious complications often occur, such as bulging of part of the intervertebral disc, as well as vertebral hernia.
In the future, the degenerative-destructive changes occurring in osteochondrosis lead to the formation of bone growths in the vertebrae, also spreading to the intervertebral ligaments and small joints of the spine. It becomes difficult for people with osteochondrosis to perform flexion-extensor movements, and over time they can develop pathologies - scoliosis or kyphosis.
All these degenerative-destructive lesions of the spine are usually the result of the inevitable physiological aging of the human body, but for a number of reasons discussed later in this publication, the process of osteochondrosis can significantly accelerate.
It should be noted right away that there is no single cause for the appearance of osteochondrosis, but there are a huge number of predisposing factors, and the main ones are:
- bruises, fractures, dislocations and other spinal injuries;
- hereditary predisposition;
- various foot diseases causing spinal overload, such as clubfoot, flat feet and others, as well as prolonged wearing of uncomfortable and tight shoes;
- obesity or excessive overweight;
- natural age-related changes in the body;
- violation of metabolic processes in the body;
- maintaining a sedentary lifestyle;
- sudden cessation of professional sport;
- the specifics of professional activity, for example, frequent jerks and bends of the body, lifting weights, uncomfortable body position during work;
- prolonged and frequent hypothermia, aggravated by high humidity;
- the presence of frequent and prolonged stressful conditions.
The presence of several or even one of the above factors can lead to the development of osteochondrosis, which is conventionally divided into four stages:
- First stage- a decrease in the amount of moisture contained in the intervertebral disc with a decrease in the intervertebral distance. In this case, minor cracks appear in the cartilage.
- Second stage- due to the decrease in intervertebral spaces, there is a sagging of the ligamentous and muscular apparatus, which leads to unnatural mobility of the vertebral bodies, their displacement and sliding.
- Third step- due to the progressive degenerative-destructive lesion of the spine, there is extrusion of the intervertebral discs, as well as vertebral subluxations.
- Fourth step- in order to avoid subluxations and unnatural vertebral mobility, bone osteophytes grow between the vertebrae, in folk treatment they are called "salt deposits", which over time become so numerous that the vertebrae lose theirmobility. With such bony growths, damage to the nerves and vessels located near these vertebrae inevitably occurs.
It should be noted that in the first and fourth stages of arthrosis, patients do not feel pain.
Osteochondrosis and its classification
Although osteochondrosis has many different classifications, the most common is the classification of osteochondrosis, which takes into account the location of damage to the spine:
- osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
- osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine;
- osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine;
- osteochondrosis of the sacral spine;
- common osteochondrosis, which includes a disease of two or more vertebral sections.
Osteochondrosis and its symptoms
Osteochondrosis, as a disease, is chronic in nature and is characterized by the alternation of the phase of remission and the phase of exacerbation, in which the symptoms of osteochondrosis are especially characteristic, depending on the localizationof the disease of the spine, as well as the presence of possible complications.
So, for osteochondrosis of the cervical region, pain directly in the neck, in the hands, some stiffness in movements, headaches and numbness in the fingers will be characteristic. Well, in case of compression of the vertebral artery, the patient has a headache of a pulsating nature, a decrease in the functions of the hearing aid, dizziness and fainting are also possible.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest region are somewhat different. The patient is worried about aching pains in the back, which can also be of a sharp nature, difficulty in breathing with full breasts, pain in the heart, as well as a feeling, called in traditional treatment - "cola in thechest".
Symptoms of osteochondrosis in case of damage to the lumbar spine are manifested by pain in the lower back, legs, sacrum and intensify during movement. In addition, numbness in the legs appears and various dysfunctions of the genitourinary organs may develop.
During the remission phase, a sick person may also experience pain, which is not pronounced and occurs only in the event of provoking factors, for example, an uncomfortable position of the patient's body.
Osteochondrosis and its diagnosis
First of all, patients should take into account that a neuropathologist is engaged in the treatment of osteochondrosis. Diagnosis of osteochondrosis, as a rule, consists of the following stages:
- interview the patient;
- external examination and palpation of the patient's spine in different body positions, as well as the establishment of any range of motion;
- special studies for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis using nuclear magnetic resonance, computed tomography, as well as X-ray examination of the patient;
- special studies of peripheral nerves and blood vessels, but only in cases necessary for the correct diagnosis of osteochondrosis.
If you do not engage in timely and correct treatment of osteochondrosis, preferably without resorting to folk remedies, there is a real risk of developing various complications in the form of diseases such as, for example, sciatica, herniated disc, migraine, vegetovascular dystonia. , and with lumbar osteochondrosis - also stroke. Therefore, the diagnosis of osteochondrosis and its treatment should be given special attention, avoiding independent alternative treatment methods, so as not to trigger the development of this disease.
Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis
In the treatment of osteochondrosis in medical institutions, unlike traditional medicine, classical methods of treatment are used. At the same time, the attending physician uses a strictly individual approach to the patient. Treatment of osteochondrosis to achieve effectiveness is carried out in a complex way. Conservative methods of treating osteochondrosis are divided into the following groups:
- Treatment of osteochondrosis with drugs.
- Physiotherapeutic treatment of osteochondrosis, in particular magnetic therapy, through the use of special medical devices.
- Sanatorium treatment of osteochondrosis.
- Organization of proper nutrition, using a special diet.
Surgical intervention in the treatment of osteochondrosis
Treatment of osteochondrosis with the help of surgery is carried out only in cases where the above conservative methods do not give the desired effect. The most common is the removal of an intervertebral hernia, in which the surgical incision does not exceed one centimeter, and the patient can get up the very next day after such an operation. Well, the patient's full rehabilitation course is completed within six months of surgery.
There is also a method of treating osteochondrosis by surgical intervention, in which the affected intervertebral disc is removed and a silicone implant or prosthesis is installed in its place, which leads to the restoration of the necessary distance between the vertebraeand, consequently, the elimination of the symptoms of osteochondrosis.
Prevention of diseases of osteochondrosis
First of all, for the prevention of osteochondrosis, you need to:
- avoid increased stress on the spine by wearing comfortable shoes;
- try not to stay in an uncomfortable position of the body for a long time;
- exercise regular control of your weight, avoiding the shackles of excess;
- maintain correct posture at all times;
- when lifting weights, use both hands evenly;
- perform general strengthening exercises daily and pay attention to regular yoga classes or the pool;
- follow a diet that includes foods such as fish, leafy and green vegetables, dairy products, jelly and jellies, broths, eggs, butter and olive oil in your diet;
- avoid alcohol, carbonated drinks, strong coffee, salty foods and fatty meats.