Osteocondritis of the spine

Osteochondrosis is a disease characterized by degenerative changes in the cartilage tissue of the spine. The lack of adequate therapy leads to a violation of the structure and dysfunction of the intervertebral discs, deformation of the spine. Depending on the location of the pathological process, there are the following types of osteochondrosis: cervical, thoracic, lumbar spine. As statistics show, this disease is observed in more than half of the world's population in people over 35 years of age. The main reasons for its development are injuries, systematic uneven loads on the spine and legs.

What is that

Speaking about osteochondrosis, it must be said that this disease provokes a violation of the tissue structure of the intervertebral discs themselves, reducing their elasticity and changing their shape. At the same time, the distance between them decreases, which ultimately leads to a loss of spinal stability.

The contraction of the intervertebral space pinches the nerve endings coming from the spinal cord. This leads to an increase in muscle tone and pain.

A decrease in elasticity leads to the formation of intervertebral hernias and the development of a bulge (a disease in which the vertebrae bulge into the spinal canal without tearing the annulus fibrosus). And if the treatment is carried out incorrectly or is not carried out at all, the joints of the spine and ligaments are degraded with the further formation of osteophytes (bone processes).

The development of osteochondrosis provokes a violation of motor functions. The person begins to be bothered by constant pain in the area of pathological focus that intensifies as the back flexes / extends. There is a high likelihood of subluxation, a curvature of the back.

As a rule, the first symptoms of the disease in people appear during the physiological aging of the body. However, there are situations when the pathology begins to develop much earlier. And the reason for this is often the wrong way of life.

There is also such a thing as chondrosis in medicine, and it has similar symptoms and etiology. What is the difference between chondrosis and osteochondrosis? It's easy. Chondrosis is the initial stage of the development of osteochondrosis, when the processes of replacing damaged tissue with fibrosis and the formation of osteophytes in the spine have not yet begun. With a pronounced deformation of the spine and the formation of new processes, it is called osteochondrosis.

Provoking factors

What is chondrosis and osteochondrosis - figured out. Now we should talk about the reasons for their development. If you do not get rid of them, then the treatment of the disease will not allow positive dynamics. As already mentioned at the beginning, the main reason for the onset of pathology is an uneven load on the spine. It can be provoked by:

• Carrying heavy bags on one shoulder or in one hand;
• incorrect posture when sitting;
• Sleeping on a soft mattress, high pillow;
• wear uncomfortable and anatomically incorrect shoes.

And osteochondrosis of the spine can also develop against the background:

• Hypodynamia (accompanied by impaired blood circulation, decreased muscle tone, shortness of breath);
• passive lifestyle;
• Obesity;
• Injuries (fractures, sprains, bruises);
• Flat feet;
• other degenerative diseases that cause poor blood flow to the spine.

When highlighting the causes of osteochondrosis of the spine, it is also worth paying attention to:

• frequent physical stress;
• neuro-emotional exhaustion;
• Metabolic disorders;
• Poisoning (drug, chemical);
• pathology of the digestive tract;
• genetic predisposition;
• Scoliosis;
• Hypovitaminosis;
• Pregnancy;
• Smoking;
• Drinking alcoholic beverages;
• prolonged / frequent dehydration.

There are many reasons for developing back osteochondrosis. Most often, its appearance occurs immediately against the background of the influence of several factors (for example, trauma, passive lifestyle, smoking, prolonged stay in the wrong posture). It can only be determined through a thorough diagnosis and studying the medical history.

Stages of development

Before talking about what to do if chondrosis begins to develop, it is also necessary to talk about its stages of development, since not only the severity of symptoms, but also the tactics of treatment depends directly on them. There are 4 degrees in total:

• First stage. At this stage, pathological processes occur in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. In it, dehydration (dehydration) is detected, which ultimately contributes to a decrease in height and the formation of cracks in the annulus fibrosus. At this stage of the disease there is no symptomatic picture. A person may experience only slight discomfort in the back area after intense physical exertion, prolonged uncomfortable position, etc.
• Second floor. It is accompanied by a decrease in the intervertebral space, sagging of the vertebral muscles and ligaments. Such changes lead to increased mobility of the vertebrae. And any provoking factor can cause them to shift or slip. As for the symptoms, at this stage the patients already have back discomfort and pain that occurs with certain types of exertion, pos.
• Third section. It is characterized by the appearance of prolapses and protrusions, subluxations, osteoarthritis of the intervertebral joints. At this stage, the disease often provokes stiffness of movement, a tingling sensation in the pathological area, and numbness. The pain syndrome has a pronounced character, it occurs periodically even at rest without heavy loads.
• Level four. In this phase, the body tries to adapt to the disturbances that have arisen. His job is to do everything possible to improve the fixation of the spine. To do this, it begins to form osteophytes - bone formations that replace the cavities in the spine. In this way, however, the body not only helps itself, but also harms itself. After all, osteophytes lead to pinched nerves, injuries to healthy vertebrae. And this becomes the reason for the development of fibrous ankylosis in the joints and intervertebral discs (an increase in fibrous tissue with simultaneous fusion with the remnants of cartilage). When a person has a microtrauma and an injury at the same time, the severity of the pain syndrome increases. In their absence, the clinical picture subsides.

Symptoms

Talking about what osteochondrosis is and how to get rid of it, one can only talk about the symptoms with which it can manifest itself. The main sign of its development is the presence of discomfort or pain in the neck, chest and lower back. The severity of the sensations directly depends on the degree of development of the disease.

A visual examination of the patient reveals a curvature of the spine in the transverse or longitudinal plane. Most often they are seen in the lower back or neck area, less often in the chest area.

If we talk about the feelings of the patient himself, then among them there are periodic or constant fatigue in the back area, as well as pain, which, depending on the severity of the pathological processes, can be both worn and pronounced. It can be localized in:

• Neck,
• Shoulder girdle;
• Breast;
• Lumbar region;
• Perineum.

In this case, a stiffness of movement is possible, which makes it difficult to fulfill household tasks. It most commonly occurs in the upper limbs. The symptomatic picture can be supplemented by other signs. It all depends on the location of the focus, its severity and the characteristics of the organism. Often, when a patient has herniated discs, protrusions, hernias, osteophytes, it leads to circulatory disorders, dysfunction of the spinal canal, edema, fibrosis, pinching. All of this provokes the appearance of symptoms that can complicate the diagnosis and lead to a misdiagnosis.

Talking about how osteochondrosis is manifested, it is necessary to highlight the most common symptoms that patients complain about. These include:

• Pain in the neck, lumbar vertebrae, shoulder girdle, ribs;
• stiff movements, malaise in the morning after waking up, when stooping, turning;
• Numbness in arms, legs, neck;
• Discomfort in the joints and back muscles;
• frequent dizziness, migraines;
• quick fatigue;
• Heartache;
• violation of the sensitivity of the upper limbs;
• decreased muscle tone.

Signs of osteochondrosis directly depend on the location of the pathological focus:

• Cervical department. In this case, the pain is localized in the neck, arms and shoulder girdle. It can give way to the shoulder blades and shoulders. Cervical osteochondrosis can also manifest itself as headache, tinnitus, "goose bumps" in front of the eyes and dizziness.
• Chest area. With this pathology, chest pain occurs. Can give upper shoulder, armpits. It often causes discomfort and pain in the heart area. It can cause respiratory system malfunction and shortness of breath.
• Lumbar sacral area. The pain syndrome dominates in the lumbar spine. It also manifests as discomfort in the legs, hips, and pelvic organs. Often provokes sexual dysfunction.

Discomfort in the spine is a serious reason to consult a doctor.

Also, the presence of such signs as back fatigue, pain can indicate not only the onset of the disease in question, but also the addition of other diseases that have nothing to do with dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs. The diagnosis of osteochondrosis or chondrosis can only be made by an experienced doctor after a thorough diagnosis.

diagnosis

We talked about what causes osteochondrosis and how it can manifest itself. But I have to say that making the correct diagnosis based on just a visual examination and how the patient feels will not work. To do this, you need to undergo a thorough examination, which necessarily includes:

• X-ray of the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine (depending on the symptoms);
• Myelography;
• neurological examination of sensitivity, reflexes.

As additional diagnostic methods are used:

• CT;
• MRI;
• NMR.

To exclude the presence of inflammatory or contagious diseases, laboratory tests are also prescribed:

• OAM;
• UAC;
• Blood chemistry.

If necessary, a consultation of specialists with a narrower profile is commissioned.

Treatment methods

In contrast to chondrosis, with osteochondrosis, a chronic process occurs in the area of the crest, which can not be eliminated using conservative methods. But that doesn't mean there isn't a need to struggle with it. The lack of adequate therapy can lead to serious consequences - the spine is deformed, instead of bone structures, fibrous tissue appears, unable to perform the required functions, the person becomes disabled.

Conservative therapy

The doctor will tell you what to do with osteochondrosis. As a rule, with such a disease, the following methods are used:

• Drug therapy. In this case, drugs are used to eliminate painful sensations, relieve inflammation and restore metabolism. If the patient has severe pain, medication blocks are used, which, in addition to the analgesic effect, help to reduce the severity of the muscle tone syndrome. The following blocks are used in osteochondrosis: blockade of trigger points, intraosseous, faceted, paravertebral, epidural.
• Physiotherapy activities. They are also used to relieve pain and make medications more effective. Most often, in osteochondrosis, ultrasound therapy, magnetic fields, low frequency currents, laser beams, etc. are used.
• Physiotherapy and exercise therapy. Exercise therapy is prescribed to all patients without exception. It is carried out under the supervision of specialists. Provides postural correction, increases muscle tone and relieves nervous tension. The systematic implementation of special exercises also helps to increase the spaces between the intervertebral discs in order to distribute the even load on the musculoskeletal system.
• Massage. Manual massage helps normalize blood circulation, relieve muscle spasms and clamps. If the patient has disorders of the nervous system, hydromassage is prescribed.
• Manual therapy. It is selected individually for each patient. Provides normalization of lymphatic drainage, blood circulation, metabolism and mobility of the spine. Prevents the development of complications, strengthens the immune system.
• Spinal traction. In this method, the spine is stretched using special equipment. Thus, it is possible to enlarge the intervertebral space and reduce the manifestation of osteochondrosis.

Operative treatment

If conservative treatment does not help to get rid of the signs of osteochondrosis and has no positive dynamics at all, then resort to surgical intervention. The indications for this are:

• Cauda equina syndrome, which develops when there is a massive hernia;
• stenosis of the spinal canal with compression of the brain and neurovascular bundles;
• Combination of osteochondrosis with significant spondylolisthesis with severe segmental instability;
• Compression of the root at the level of the lumbar vertebral segment L5;
• cervical osteochondrosis, which occurs in discogenic syndrome of the vertebral arteries.

Treatment of osteochondrosis by surgery can be carried out in several ways:

• Laminotomy. This type of surgery removes a fragment of the bone structure and the yellow ligament.
• Laminectomy. Most of the spine, which borders the spinal canal, is removed.
• Foraminotamy. The aim of the operation is to widen the root canal.
• Disketomy. During this operation, part or all of the intervertebral disc is removed.
• Laser evaporation of the disc core. It is carried out with the participation of a special LED, which ensures partial destruction of the intervertebral disc, which leads to the reverse development of the hernia.

How to get rid of osteochondrosis, only the doctor decides. It is necessary to understand that each case is individual, and the choice of one or another method of surgical intervention depends on the location of the pathology, its severity and other diseases of the patient.

Traditional methods

You can treat a spinal disease at home. But this should be done only in cases when symptoms of chondrosis (the initial stages of the development of the disease) still persist, and after consulting a doctor beforehand.

When talking about what helps with chondrosis, the following alternative medicine recipes should be highlighted:

1. You need to take 1 kg of coarse salt and mix it with 3 tbsp. l. Dry the mustard, add 100 ml of water, mix everything thoroughly. The resulting porridge must be put on low heat and heated to a temperature of 50 degrees. The mixture is applied to the painful area, a film is put over it, then a warm handkerchief. With such a compress, the patient must lie down until it cools completely. After the procedure, it is necessary to stay warm for another 2 hours.
2. Pour 1. 5 liters of water into a saucepan, add 3 handfuls of sawdust there and bring the resulting mixture to a boil, then strain. The sawdust is laid out on a plastic sheet, which is previously covered with a sheet on the bed. A gauze napkin is placed on the sawdust, after which they lie down on it again and cover it with a warm blanket. So lie down for 30 to 40 minutes.
3. Take 200 g cinquefoil roots, 100 potentilla roots, 100 g alant. The herbs are poured into a 3 liter glass that is filled to the brim with vodka. The resulting composition is stored in a dark place for 3 weeks, and then filtered. Take 1 tbsp 3 times a day before meals. l. the whole month. Then take a 10-day break and repeat the course.

Osteochondrosis is difficult to treat. It is difficult to respond to conservative therapy methods. However, if you combine them with proper nutrition, home treatment, exercise therapy and all the recommendations of the doctor, the patient has every chance of getting rid of excruciating pain and preventing the development of complications.