Intervertebral osteochondrosis- pathology from which the elderly have mainly suffered in the past. Today, the disease also occurs in young patients. This is due to the fact that more and more people are sitting in a sedentary lifestyle, spending a lot of time in front of the computer and not paying enough attention to physical activity. Osteochondrosis develops with an unnatural position of the spine and weakness of the back muscles. Pathology is treated successfully, but it is important to consult a specialist as soon as possible!
What is osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine characterized by lesions of the intervertebral discs as well as the tissues of the vertebrae themselves. The pathology is dangerous with a number of complications, the most severe of which are vertebral hernia and protrusions. It is very important to prevent the situation from getting worse and to start treating osteochondrosis of the back immediately.
Cause
The main cause of osteochondrosis,many experts say the load is incorrectly distributed on the spine. The result of overpressure is a change in the structure of the cartilage.
The development of osteochondrosis is also facilitated by factors such as:
- Hereditary predisposition
- Spine injury
- Metabolic disease
- Lack of physical activity
- Pregnancy
- Tension
- Overwork
- Overweight
- Bad habits
The risk group for morbidity includes office workers, drivers, cashiers, and athletes.
Stages of development
There are 4 stages in the development of the disease:
- First phase. . . It is characterized by dehydration of the intervertebral disc nucleus. Thereafter, the height of the disc decreases. At this stage, the patient does not feel significant discomfort. Sometimes discomfort can occur during active training or in an unusual situation.
- Second stage. . . It is characterized by a protrusion of the plates in which the gaps between the vertebrae decrease. As a result, nerve endings become pinched, causing local pain with increasing intensity with sudden movements
- Third stage. . . It is characterized by cartilage wear between the vertebral tissues. The symptoms of this stage are pronounced. Patients complain of severe pain that can only be relieved with strong medications
- Fourth section. . . It is characterized by total or partial limited mobility.
It is better to start treatment for osteochondrosis of the spine at the first symptoms! In this case, the chances of a full recovery are quite high.
Types of osteochondrosis
Depending on the origin of the pathological process, several types of osteochondrosis can be distinguished:
- Cervical. . . Such osteochondrosis occurs when there are abnormalities in the cervical vertebrae. The most common symptoms of the pathology are acute pain when turning the head, sneezing and coughing, and lumbago
- Breast. . . Such osteochondrosis is less common than other forms. Acute pain is not characteristic of pathology. Osteochondrosis is characterized by symptoms of several other diseases. For example, sternal pain causes the patient to suspect angina
- Lumbar. . . Such osteochondrosis is more common than other forms. This is due to the fact that the lumbar spine experiences increased stress. Patients complain not only of severe pain but also of numbness (including in the legs)
In some cases, coccyx osteochondrosis is diagnosed. There is also the concept of mixed pathology in which 2 parts of the spine are involved in the pathological process. In diffuse osteochondrosis, all segments of the spinal column are affected.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis in adults
The main symptoms of spinal abnormalities in adult patients are:
- Pain that can occur in the neck, shoulders, lower back and even ribs
- Feeling of stiffness in the back and lower back
- Numbness in the limbs
- Muscle cramps or a feeling of weakness in them
- Chills and body aches
- Increased fatigue
- Dizziness and headache caused by pinched nerve endings
In the advanced stage, patients complain of sensory disorders of the back, legs and arms, pain in the heart area, disorders of the urinary system (such as difficulty urinating).
The symptoms of the pathology often get worse after hard work, intense sports, exposure to low body temperature.
Complications
Destructive processes that affect the plates between the vertebrae reduce their density and cause a loss of shock-absorbing ability. This damages the muscles, joints and ligaments. With the long course of osteochondrosis, not only are the individual nerve endings constricted, but also the spinal cord, leading to complications of the nervous system.
Deterioration of the blood supply to the whole body leads to an increase in the manifestations of chronic diseases.
Osteochondrosis can also cause pathologies such as:
- Lumbago(acute pain in the lumbar region)
- Spondylosis(destruction of vertebrae)
- Scoliosis, in which the work of the entire central nervous system was significantly impaired
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is made by a number of instrumental methods. The primary diagnosis is made by examining and collecting the medical history.
The doctor will ask the patient and clarify:
- Time of onset of first symptoms
- Duration of pain
- Characteristics of signs of the pathological condition
During the inspection:
- The patient's posture is assessed while standing and sitting
- The amount of movement is determined
- The gait and its changes are assessed
- The condition of the skin is examined to identify the area of exfoliation and redness
- Areas where the patient experiences painful feelings are examined
- The general condition of the body is assessed
- They identify areas where muscles are spasmodic
The main methods of diagnosing osteochondrosis are:
- X-ray examination. . . It makes it possible to determine the narrowing of the gaps between each vertebra
- Computed tomography. . . In such an examination, the vertebrae suffered during the pathological process are determined.
- MRI(Magnetic resonance imaging). This study is the most accurate and allows the assessment of all destructive processes in the spine.
Treatment
Treatment of osteochondrosis is always performed in a comprehensive manner.
Therapy includes:
- Taking medications
- Massage
- Perform special exercises
- Physiotherapy
- Towing (also under water)
- Manual therapy
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine is highly dependent on symptoms.
Massagefor example, it is prescribed when the patient has no severe pain. The sessions allow you to reduce muscle tone, improve blood flow, and strengthen intervertebral discs.
Physiotherapyit allows the back muscles to be strengthened, creating a reliable corset that ensures the correct distribution of the load on the spine. During the hour, the nutrition of the tissues improves and blood circulation increases. Physical therapy helps even people with limited mobility. To achieve the desired results, you should exercise regularly, slowly and smoothly, and monitor your breathing and heart rate. Be sure to consult your doctor before beginning classes. All exercises are supervised by an experienced instructor. Only in this case, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar or other spine alleviates the symptoms of the disease and eliminates its causes.
Physiotherapyeffective in overcoming pain. Typically, patients should be exposed to ultrasound therapy, magnetic therapy, and low-frequency currents. Physiotherapy allows for the normalization of metabolic processes, the reduction of inflammation, the improvement of joint mobility and the alleviation of swelling.
Rehabilitation treatment
Rehabilitation treatment of spinal osteochondrosis is also performed under close medical supervision. Its purpose is to restore health after pathology. Therapy is performed only when the pain resolves and the patient no longer experiences severe discomfort.
The most popular recovery techniques are:
- Regular swimming
- Manual therapy
- Massage
- Electrophoresis and magnetotherapy
- Treatment by exposure of the affected area to laser beams
- Nutrition correction
- Working with a psychologist
- Visit to the sauna
- Hydromassage
- Use of medicinal mud
Patients are advised to attend treatment in specialized institutions. In addition, the therapy can be performed on an outpatient basis. Rehabilitation treatment of osteochondrosis of the lower back and other classes is performed in a complex manner, as is the main one. In this case, its high performance stands out.
Prophylaxis
If the prevention of osteochondrosis is carried out in time, you do not have to deal with the treatment of the pathology.
Experts have developed a number of preventive measures.
It consists of:
- Restricting the lifting of heavy objects
- Proper nutrition
- Adherence to daily routine and regular rest
- Swimming
- Taking special dietary supplementscontains valuable elements for cartilage tissue (mucopolysaccharides)
- Perform a simple exercise
If you have to spend a lot of time sitting at work or at home, you need to take regular breaks, stand up, walk, relieve tension behind your back.
All recommendations for the prevention of osteochondrosis are given by a doctor. Contact with it can prevent the development of a dangerous pathological process.
Advantages of treatment in a professional clinic:
- It employs highly trained doctors. Both comprehensive diagnosis of osteochondrosis and treatment of the disease are performed using modern methods and the latest results.
- Osteopondrosis is treated with a unique injection method. It allows for permanent and rapid elimination of pain and reduction of tissue inflammation.
- The clinic employs doctors who skillfully carry out blockades and other special treatments to eliminate the symptoms of the disease, even at an advanced stage.
- Specialists have successfully used rehabilitation techniques that consolidate the results of therapy and prevent the development of the pathological process. As a result, patients maintain physical activity even in the advanced stages of the disease.
- Doctors prevent many complications of osteochondrosis, including curvature of the spine, hernia, and paralysis of the limbs.
- Examinations, therapy, and disease prevention are always performed in a comfortable environment for the patient. Attention is paid to everyone who turns to professionals for help.
- Involvement of not only orthopedic physicians but also other professionals in therapy.