With osteochondrosis of the spine, bone tissue and cartilage of one or more departments of the spine is destroyed.This disease is chronic and develops in almost all the elderly.This is due to the usual aging of the body.
Intervertebral discs are subject to atrophic changes, and at what age this will happen depends on many factors:
- injuries;
- Diseases and overload of the spine.
Vertebral surcharge belongs to:
- Walk with a curved back;
- incorrect seat;
- Characteristics of the structure of the spine;
- Insufficient nutrition of tissues in the spine due to hereditary anomalies.
With osteochondrosis, the nucleus located between vertebrates loses part of the water.For this reason, metabolic disorders are disturbed in the nucleus and various minerals and vitamins are difficult to access.
After a while, the cracks appear on the disc, it becomes flat.Then, the articulations and the nearby ligaments begin to be affected, forming inflammation of the tissues.Due to inflammation, a displacement of neighboring vertebrae occurs.This is dangerous for the appearance of radicular symptoms: pain along the affected nerve.
The appearance of an intervertebral hernia is also possible, and it can in turn cause compression of the spinal cord.Osteochondrosis is characterized by the appearance of osteophytes - bone growth on vertebral bodies.These growths can squeeze the spinal cord and cause the cog syndrome.
Most often, the cervical and lumbar parts are subject to osteochondosis.
Cervical osteochondrosis
Reasons:
- sports activities (heavy athletics);
- Excess weight;
- metabolic violation;
- Sedentary work (programmers, accountants, drivers, etc.);
- flat feet;
- spine injuries;
- hypothermia.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical column are pain in the head and neck.The person is concerned with serious headaches, pain in the neck, hand donation, pain in the sternum.The patient can complain about shelters - the appearance of acute pain in the neck, a spasm of muscle muscles and the restriction of movement.
In addition, a person can hear a crunch by turning their neck.Due to the pinch of the nerves and blood vessels, a person may have a numbness of the tongue and the fingers.The patient will complain of a decrease in hearing and vision, an increase in blood pressure and weakness in the muscles of the arms and legs.
Thoracic osteochondrosis
This type of osteochondrosis is quite rare.This is due to the anatomical structure of the chest spine.It consists of 12 vertebrae, which are connected to the ribs due to the joints.Before the ribs, the ribs are connected by the sternum.Thus, an excellent frame of the spine, the sternum and the coasts is created, which protects the internal organs against various wounds.
The vertebrae of the thoracic region have a small height and long spicy processes located above the other, like a tile.Due to this structure, this spine is a small mobility.The intervertebral discs of the chest region are rarely injured.
The reasons for the formation of this type of osteochondrosis:
- distribution of irrational load;
- delay in the diet of intervertebral discs;
- Sedentary work;
- The presence of scoliosis.
Symptoms
As with other types, the main symptom of osteochondrosis in the chest region is pain.
But with thoracic osteochondrosis, the pain may be different.Dorsalgia - Long and low pain discomfort along the chest vertebrae.Pain can affect cervical and lumbar areas.
Dorsago is one of the signs of osteochondrosis in the chest region, in which pain occurs in the form of an attack.By nature, it is intense, acute, led to the difficulty of breathing, leads to limiting muscle movements.In addition to the pain, patients can have a feeling of numbness in the chest, altered sexual function, pain in the heart, kidneys and stomachs.
Why are damage to the chest region dangerous?
The vertebral column is arranged so that in the thoracic region, it shrinks, so that the hernias that occur due to osteochondrosis will quickly lead to the compression of the spinal cord.This will easily lead to problems of the heart, pancreas, liver and kidneys, because the thoracic region is associated with all these organs of nerve fibers.This is why it is very important to consult a doctor in time.This will help discover where the signs of osteochondosis that bother you and which will produce competent treatment of the disease.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar column occurs due to lifting severity.Normally, in the center of the intervertebral disc is a nucleus containing a large amount of water.Due to the liquid, the nucleus becomes not very compressed, and for its rupture, it will be compressed at 500 kg.
However, the disk struck by osteochondrosis is weakening, and only 200 kg will be necessary to break it.If a person weighing 70 kg lifts 15 kg of freight in the folded position, and for the spine, it is a 200 kg load, the intervertebral disc can break out.This is why the first symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine manifest themselves during the increase in severity.
Symptoms
- lumbar pain;
- the impossibility of movement in the lower back;
- altered sleep;
- irritability;
- fatigue;
- the impossibility of making the needs of households;
- decrease in sexual function in men;
- menstrual cycle violation;
- Cold legs syndrome.
In the transition of osteochondrosis to the sacred region, the patient suffers in the kidneys and urination.
Diagnosis
The treatment of osteochondrosis is carried out by a neurologist.To start, he examines the spine, pays attention to the presence of scoliosis.After feeling, the doctor will be able to understand how the spine, the tendons and the nerves of the spine.
Once the neurologist suspects osteochondrosis of the spine, he will direct the patient for an additional examination.This includes the passage of the radiological examination, magneto-resonance imaging.In the event of a suspicion of destruction of the intervertebral disc, a discography is carried out.It is also prescribed to determine the degree of damage to the nervous paths.
In general, the diagnosis of "osteochondrosis of the spine" is very difficult.After all, a person can complain about pain in the heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas or sexual dysfunction.But still, after an attentive examination, an experienced doctor will be able to suspect this disease and prescribe the correct treatment.
Treatment
Osteochondrosis therapy is a very long and severe process.During the acute period, the patient needs the peace of the affected segment.If the cervical service is affected, the patient must wear a fixing sand collar.If the lumbar region hurts, the patient needs rest in bed.It is best to place the patient in a hospital.Only there, he will be able to fully observe the designated regime.The bed of such a patient should be difficult.To do this, put a wooden shield under the mattress.
Drugs
As mentioned above, the main symptom of the disease is pain.Therefore, an pain relievers is prescribed to the patient to relieve pain and other symptoms of osteochondrosis.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also prescribed.
Unfortunately, prolonged use of these drugs causes damage to the gastrointestinal tract mucosa and the patient has the following symptoms:
- nausea;
- to vomit;
- stomach pain;
- Feeling in the stomach.
Gastric ulcer can also exacerbate or gastric bleeding appear.Therefore, before using these drugs, you should consult a doctor.If the pain caused by osteochondrosis lasts 3 months, antidepressants are prescribed with these drugs.It has been established that in addition to a soothing effect, they are able to reduce pain.
All drugs above can be attributed to symptomatic therapy.They will help relieve the pain, but will not save someone from the disease itself.
To restore intervertebral discs and cartilage, chondroprotectors are prescribed.These drugs improve metabolism in connective tissue and contribute to the restoration of cartilage.Medicines take a long time, on average - 4 to 6 months.
In addition to restoring tissues and improving metabolism, these drugs also have an analgesic effect.Another group of drugs necessary for osteochondrosis of the spine is drugs that improve blood circulation.Their use contributes to the expansion of blood vessels, and if antioxidant preparations are taken in combination with them, the metabolism of nerve cells will improve in humans.
As with any disease, patients need calcium preparations.It will restore the activity of bone tissue, increase the force of ligaments and tendons, and will also become a prevention of osteoporosis - a disease that accompanies osteochondrosis.
Medical physical education
The load dosed on the spine will improve the condition of the patient.But you have to perform extremely carefully exercises.During the acute period, physical education courses are contraindicated.It is only with the sagging of pain can start to engage a little.
Exercises will improve blood circulation in the spine, strengthen muscles.Due to blood circulation, metabolism will improve and the restoration of damaged intervertebral discs will begin.But we must also remember that the courses must be kept regularly, otherwise there will be no results.
Exercises for damage to the cervical region
- Lie on your back and straighten up.Put a hand on the stomach and the second on the chest and take a breath, take your breath for 10 minutes, then exhale and relax.The duration of the exercise is 3 to 5 minutes.By day, you need to perform 3 to 5 times.
- Lie on your stomach and straighten your legs.Based on the stomach and legs, you have to raise your head and the top of the chest.The exercise is 3 to 5 minutes with an interval of 30 seconds.
- Lie on your back and fold your knees.In this position, turn to the right and left side.The exercise is 3 to 5 minutes with an interval of 30 seconds.
Exercises to damage the chest region
- Lie on the stomach.Put your hands on the floor and fold back.Stay in this position for 5 to 10 seconds.The exercise is 3 to 5 minutes with an interval of 20 seconds.
- Lie on your back.Raise your head and legs upwards ("boat").Ly for 10 to 20 seconds.The exercise is 3 to 5 minutes with an interval of 20 seconds.
Exercises to damage the lumbar
- Lie on your back, fold your knees and press them to your chest.Spander from front to back and roll from the back to the sacrum and back.Swing up to 2 minutes.Then you have to lie down calmly and relax.
- It is necessary to stand on all fours and to fold as much as possible.The exercise is 3 to 5 minutes with an interval of 20 seconds.
- In a standing position, imagine that twisted the hoop for 2 to 3 minutes.The exercise works 10 times a day.
Surgical treatment
In the absence of the effect of conservative treatment and the appearance of complications of osteochondrosis, surgical treatment is prescribed.During the operation, stabilization of the spine is carried out, the pressure on the spinal cord and the roots are eliminated.If a person has an intervertebral hernia, it is deleted.Since during this operation, damage to spinal cord and nerves have been possible, it is only carried out according to vital indications.
Physiotherapeutic treatment
The appointment of physiotherapeutic procedures positively affects the evolution of the disease and accelerates the recovery process.With osteochondrosis, it is authorized:
- Visit a sauna or a bath;
- swim in the pool;
- massage;
- paraffin therapy;
- Manual therapy;
- Laser therapy;
- Various baths;
- mud;
- Electrophoresis with anti-inflammatory drugs or muscle relaxants;
- magnetotherapy;
- D ’Arsonval.
All of these procedures improve blood circulation in the sick area, allow you to relax in the muscles and relax the entire body.Physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed during the rehabilitation period, when the patient is not disturbed by intense pain.
Prevention
No one is immune to osteochondrosis.After all, we all age, and with us, our whole body is aging.In order for the disease to destroy your plans, you must always play sports from young people.Moderate physical activity helps improve blood circulation, normal metabolism.In addition, it causes muscles that protect the spine.For the prevention of osteochondrosis, everyone must:
- Eat properly - vitamins and minerals necessary for the body;
- abandon bad habits;
- engage in physical education;
- Do not lean;
- Protect your back from hypothermia;
- Do not raise too heavy objects;
- Take a contrast shower and harden;
- Avoid stress.
It is particularly important for people with this disease to follow all recommendations, as their inability to comply with exacerbation.When back pain, which does not spend long, it is necessary to request the help of a specialist.Only a doctor will be able to make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Do not tighten with a visit to the clinic, as it is best to treat the disease in the early stages.In addition, does not preset-every medication has its own contraindications, which you may not know.Strictly observe all the doctor's recommendations, then the disease will soon retire!