Osteochondrosis is damage to the interarticular and intervertebral cartilage.Osteochondrosis is diagnosed in all joints without exception, but according to medical statistics, such lesions occur more often in intervertebral discs.
Functions of the intervertebral discs
The main function of the intervertebral discs is to absorb shock during walking and running.Few people think about the load on the spine during movement.Each step puts pressure on the vertebrae.If there were no discs between them, the bones would wear out very quickly and the nerve endings of the spine would constantly be pinched between the vertebrae.
Its shock absorption ability depends on the quality of the intervertebral disc.The younger the person, the more elastic the intervertebral discs are.Articular cartilage and intervertebral discs in newborns consist of almost 80% water and therefore have the ability to be as elastic as possible, similar to a sponge.As we age, the tissue deteriorates, dries out, becomes less flexible and loses its shock-absorbing properties.The older a person is, the higher the risk of developing complications of osteochondrosis, which are manifested by:
- hernias;
- radiculitis;
- stands out.
Symptoms of intervertebral disc disease
There is osteochondrosis in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions.At the same time, problems in the neck area may not be accompanied by characteristic pain at all, while problems in the chest area may be reflected not in pain in the spine, but in the chest, which is why patients often confuse them with pain in the heart or bronchi.
Sometimes osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is manifested by pain in the arm.If there are no obvious injuries that could cause pain in the arm, such a symptom should be a reason for an examination of the cervical spine.
If the pain concentrated in the sacral area flows into the leg and buttocks (usually only on one side), this indicates damage to the intervertebral disc in the lumbar area.After applying pressure to the damaged area, you may feel numbness in the leg or arm or tingling in one of the limbs.The main noticeable symptoms of osteochondrosis of the intervertebral space are:
- Pain in the sacrum area that makes it difficult to sit.
- Back pain that prevents you from bending over.
- Pain that subsides when walking.
At the first signs of disc damage, you must avoid heavy physical strain on your back, i.e. do not lift heavy objects.
Why does osteochondrosis occur?
There are several reasons that affect the health of disks.These include smoking and excessive exercise, especially if daily activities require lifting heavy objects.On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet are a surefire way to destroy the intervertebral discs.In addition, with targeted work that requires you to keep your upper body in an uncomfortable position, with constant stress on only one shoulder, as well as sleeping on an incorrectly selected mattress, there is a risk of developing osteochondrosis.
Sleep properly on mattresses of medium firmness so that the spine is in a natural, even position when resting.Soft duvets only seem comfortable.Lying on a soft bed for a long time causes back pain in the morning.This is because the back muscles are stretched when the back bends under its own weight.Stretching the back muscles overnight leads to pain not only in the lower back area, but along the entire length of the spine.
Flat feet pose a risk of developing osteochondrosis, since such a foot cannot fully perform the functions of a shock absorber.This puts more strain on the spine and causes the intervertebral discs to wear out more quickly.
In addition, people who are overweight put more strain on their spine than people whose body mass index is close to ideal.You need to pay attention to your shape so that the ratio of weight to height does not put additional strain on the skeleton.
However, completely healthy people who lead an athletic lifestyle can suffer from osteochondrosis.The main reason for this is injuries.An unfortunate fall or blow to the spine often leads to hernias, bulges and osteochondrosis.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
A surgeon, an orthopedist or a neurologist can make a diagnosis.Since pain in the lumbar region is often a reason for contacting a neurologist, such patients are first examined by a specialist.First, the patient is examined.To make a diagnosis, he must assess the patient's ability to turn the body, bend, sit, walk and bend the legs.The spine is then palpated.Thanks to the manual examination, the doctor can identify pain points and feel densities and even hernias between the vertebrae.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes an X-ray of the spine.This is the simplest test that can be done even in a rural clinic.X-rays have long been available in medical practice and are an integral part of every trauma department.If the X-ray does not confirm the diagnosis or a more detailed examination is required, a CT scan or MRI of the spine is prescribed.With the help of such an examination it will be possible to find out the quality of the intervertebral discs, assess their elasticity and integrity, as well as identify hidden pathologies.
How to treat osteochondrosis?
As a conservative treatment, treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed.If there is no serious damage to the intervertebral disc and the doctor determines from the images that the cause of the pain is the pinching of the nerve by the inflamed muscle, the treatment is reduced to relieving the inflammatory process.Additionally, heat therapy may be prescribed, which reduces swelling, relaxes the muscle, and releases the pinched nerve.
If you have a herniated or herniated disc, the problem of back pain can be solved through surgery.Severely worn vertebrae can be replaced with prostheses.