Osteochondrosis is included in the category of common disorders.In 75% of cases, it is this that causes unpleasant back pain.Today, every second person after twenty years has manifestations of pathology.With age, the risk of developing the disease increases.If treatment is not started immediately, osteochondrosis can cause negative health consequences.
What is spinal osteochondrosis
This process affects articular cartilage and nearby bones.Initially, osteochondrosis exclusively affects the discs that hold the vertebrae together.Then the degenerative process affects the ligaments and vertebrae, disrupting the integrity of the joints.
The insidiousness of the pathology is that disc cartilage cannot be regenerated.Therefore, the area of the spine affected by the disease will inexorably deteriorate.Once a disease appears, you can stop its development, but it cannot be completely eliminated.
This pathology is not associated with inflammation - it is based on a violation of tissue nutrition and degeneration of their structure.In the absence of loads, tissues lose strength because they do not receive the required amount of nutrients.
Clinical characteristics
The development of the disease leads to the fact that the nucleus pulposus dries out and partially loses its shock-absorbing characteristics.The fibrous ring becomes thinner and microcracks form on it.
As a result, a protrusion occurs, called disc protrusion.As the disease progresses, the ring may rupture, and then an intervertebral hernia is diagnosed.
This area loses stability, osteophytes can form on it, and the integrity of ligaments and joints is compromised.To compensate for disc deformation, bone and fibrous tissue grow.In this condition, the column of the spine becomes less mobile.
Usually the disease has periods of remission, which are then followed by relapses.
Degrees and stages
There are a number of degrees of the disease, each of which has the following features:
- 1st degree.Due to inaccurate movement, the disc ruptures.This condition can also be provoked by stress.Severe pain and a sensation reminiscent of an electrical discharge often occur.
- 2nd degree.The stability of the spine is lost and protrusions develop.There may be pain that increases with careless movements.This form of the disease is characterized by numbness of the fingers, headaches, and temporary discomfort in the sacrum.
- 3rd degree.This condition has manifestations of a hernia, headaches, and discomfort in the area of the damaged nerve.Also, arms and legs often go numb, vision and hearing deteriorate, and problems appear in the functioning of many organs.
- 4th degree.At this stage, the symptoms of a hernia disappear, and the manifestations of the disease decrease.The spine loses stability, a condition characterized by slipping or twisting of the vertebrae.The vertebrae may grow, which causes compression of the nerves, as a result of which the spinal canal atrophies and the spinal cord is compressed.The fourth degree is distinguished by the consequences that may occur after removal of the hernia - these include paresis, inflammation, etc.
It is also customary to distinguish a number of stages:
- So,first stage- essentially a consequence of moisture deficiency and loss of elastic properties.The disease is characterized by displacement of the nucleus inside the disc, which leads to disruption of the shape of the fibrous ring.However, the process itself remains within the intervertebral disc, without going beyond its limits.
- ForsecondThe formation of cracks in the ring is typical.As the height of the flattened disc decreases, there is a loss of spinal stability.
- Third stagecharacterized by the occurrence of ruptures at the site of cracks and the onset of inflammation.Part of the liquid core leaks through microcracks.Nerves or blood vessels are often compressed at the site of the rupture.
- Fourth stageaccompanied by dystrophic processes.The vertebral sections do not provide the necessary resistance, so the neighboring vertebral bodies move closer together.Complications may also arise.This may be the development of spondyloarthrosis and spondylosis.At this stage, flattening of the vertebra is noted - this occurs to remove the load from the disc.Sometimes fibrous tissue is replaced by bone.This stage is marked by a temporary decrease in pain.However, subsequently the discomfort increases due to compression of the nerves and narrowing of the spinal canal.
Causes of the disease
This disease can be found in both older people and young people.Typically, signs of osteochondrosis appear around the age of thirty-five.The development and relapse of the disease is caused by overload, back injuries, and vibrations.As the body ages, more and more symptoms occur.The exact causes of the disease have not yet been established.
The most popular opinion is that the process is a consequence of incorrect distribution of the load on the spine due to weakness of the muscles and ligaments.This theory is also proven by popular methods of therapy, which are based on training the muscular system and ligaments.
Factors that can provoke an abnormal process in the spine include:
- poor posture;
- excess weight;
- injuries;
- flat feet;
- curvature of the spine;
- metabolic disorders;
- infections;
- heredity;
- poor physical fitness;
- stress;
- heavy loads;
- hormonal imbalance;
- poor nutrition;
- poor environmental conditions;
- systematic vibration influence;
- age-related changes;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- hypothermia;
- smoking;
- spinal abnormalities.
Even if a person leads a normal life, he is at risk of osteochondrosis due to a deficiency of necessary substances.In modern society, this problem is considered one of the key ones.The condition worsens due to an inactive lifestyle.
Types and symptoms
Depending on the area of damage, there is cervical, thoracic or lumbar osteochondrosis.If several departments are involved in the pathological process at once, we can talk about a common form.
Since the lower back usually bears the greatest load, among all cases of the disease it is lumbar osteochondrosis that predominates - its prevalence is about 50%.
In second place is the cervical region.This form of osteochondrosis is diagnosed in a quarter of cases.This disease is usually the result of prolonged sitting at the computer or monotonous work.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is extremely rare and is usually associated with limited movement.
General signs of the disease
Pathology has different signs that directly depend on the location of the process:
- Pain in the spine.Sometimes osteochondrosis provokes mild aching or nagging pain.The disease can also cause acute, unbearable pain - it is difficult to eliminate it with non-narcotic analgesics.
- Deterioration of vision or hearing.
- Headaches.The disease often causes a feeling of weakness, dizziness and increased fatigue.
- Loss of sensitivity.This symptom usually manifests itself as numbness in the arms or legs.
- Problems in the functioning of the pelvic organs and sexual dysfunction.
- Loss of mobility in the problem area.
- Problems with organs for which the spinal cord is responsible.
- Pain in arms and legs.
- Weakening of muscles.
How does cervical osteochondrosis manifest:
- systematic headaches;
- hearing impairment;
- dizziness;
- pressure surges;
- voice change;
- decreased vision;
- snore;
- tooth decay.
Symptoms of breast form:
- high fatigue of the back muscle tissue;
- pain on palpation;
- back and chest pain;
- problems with various organs.
Manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis:
- lower back pain;
- numbness of the legs;
- decrease in skin temperature;
- urinary disturbance;
- muscle tension;
- problems with stool;
- varicose veins;
- loss of activity.
Complications
Osteochondrosis often provokes complications, so this disease cannot be ignored.The consequences of the disease include:
- Lumbago - severe pain in the lower back.
- Intervertebral hernia.
- Protrusion.
- Radiculitis.
- Migraine attacks.
- Spondylosis.
- Sciatica is a pathology of the sciatic nerve that causes pain in the legs and buttocks.
- Narrowing of the spinal canal.
- Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Schmorl's hernia is a protrusion of a disc into the spinal cavity.
The most dangerous complication of osteochondrosis is considered to be compression of the arteries that supply food to the brain.Due to these trunks, the brain is supplied with blood.Due to nutritional deficiency, more serious pathologies can develop.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis is based on medical history and examination.It also requires an assessment of neurological status.Additional examinations include:
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- Doppler ultrasound;
- spondylography;
- computed tomography.
Thanks to these studies, it is possible to determine the level of violations, clarify the diagnosis, and identify hidden processes.This allows you to select effective treatment and achieve good results.
Treatment methods
At an early stage, conservative therapy is the best option.The doctor prescribes medications.Therapeutic gymnastics can also be used.Manual therapy and reflexology are very useful.
Among medications, non-narcotic analgesics and sedatives are considered the most effective.You also need to take medications with B vitamins. Typically, this treatment is used during a relapse of the disease to eliminate pain and inflammation.
Reflexology involves the use of methods such as paraffin baths, laser therapy, acupuncture, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound.No less useful are mud baths and iodine therapy.
Therapeutic exercise is aimed at strengthening the muscular system and releasing nerve endings.In difficult cases it is impossible to do without surgical intervention.If conservative treatment is ineffective, the hernia must be removed.This can be achieved using the classical or microsurgical method.
Osteochondrosis is a dangerous disease that provokes pain and leads to loss of motor activity.
To stop the development of complications, at the slightest discomfort in the spine area, you should consult a doctor.Only a specialist will be able to make the correct diagnosis and select therapy.