Osteochondrosis is a spine problem that literally affects every fourth inhabitant of the planet, at least according to experts from the WHO Statistical Center.
Among the five most common diseases in the world, osteochondrosis takes the "honorable" third place, preceded only by cardiovascular diseases. In 2012, the media giant of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the BBC, published simply astounding medical research data: more than 5 million people a yeardies as a result of diseases caused by physical inactivity, i. e. a sedentary lifestyle. The true global epidemic of reduced physical activity has already affected a third of the world's population, and the latest results of scientific work prove that the cause of many health-threatening diseases is not genetic predisposition or viruses at all, rather, it means an unhealthy lifestyle. Almost all back problems - intervertebral disc herniation (hernia), osteoporosis, osteochondrosis, and many other diseases related to osteochondrosis - are the result of sitting for many hours, whether in front of the TV, at the desk, or in the car seat. approximately 80% of the causes of spinal disorders are due to the musculature element dit is related to its egenerative changes and the lack of full-fledged reasonable physical activity.
Osteochondrosis and the spine
The structure of the spinal column of living beings, whether animal or human, is basically the same. However, the proud title of Homo erectus, i. e. Homo erectus, belongs only to man. Until recently, it was believed that the main cause of pathological changes in the spine was upright posture. As if the vertical position of the body leads to an incorrect, uneven load on the spine. The static load, which mainly affects the lower back and the sacrum, which consists of five vertebrae, is the most dangerous in terms of the destructive effect of the intervertebral tissues. dynamic load, which is characterized by movements of the cervical spineaffected. The structure of the spine is quite complex, it consists of many vertebrae, which are connected by cartilaginous tissue - discs. And the discs are multi-layered rings with a liquid core in the middle, which perform the shock-absorbing function during the movement of the spine. In addition, the vertebrae are connected by many muscles and other tissues. The flexibility of this entire connective system ensures the normal state of the spine. Simply put, the more flexible and adaptable the intervertebral discs are, the more flexible and healthy the spine is, the lower the risk of osteochondrosis. Today, the theory that upright posture is responsible for all degenerative diseases of the spine is being questioned. Relentless statistics convince clinicians that inactivity, physical inactivity, provokes spinal diseases, which are associated with dystrophy and degeneration of intervertebral tissues. In addition, excess weight, which really increases the load on the discs, can aggravate the destructive processes and lead to osteochondrosis. Conclusion: movement is life. The expression is not new, it seems painfully trite and banal, but it does not require proof. The fact that physical activity and flexibility can serve as a foundation for spine health is a prime example of people who regularly do gymnastics, yoga and other types of exercise. Nature itself gives children the opportunity to be flexible, because children's discs are very flexible, only the disc cores contain up to 80% of the liquid. With advancing age, the amount of life-giving "lubrication" may decrease, but it can be preserved by consciously performing simple exercises and following the elementary rules of a healthy lifestyle. Osteochondrosis is a disease of people who are forced to sit or lie down for hours, years, regardless of the reason - on duty or of their own free will, due to obligations, laziness or simply ignorance.
What is osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a term that includes all degenerative and dystrophic changes of the spine. It should be noted that in the European version of the classification of diseases there is not a word about osteochondrosis, there such diseases are classified as rheumatic and dorsopathic diseases. Indeed, since 1999, ICD-10 has defined a group of diseases as dorsopathies, the typical manifestations of which are pain in the spine, and which are not related to visceral causes. Osteochondrosis, which is registered as dorsopathy, can be divided into three large groups:
- Deforming diseases, dorsopathy - scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis, subluxation, spondylolisthesis.
- Spondylopathy - spondylosis, ankylosing spondylitis and other ossifying dystrophic pathologies that limit the mobility of the spine.
- Other, other dorsopathies are degenerative changes accompanied by hernia and protrusion.
Thus, osteochondrosis or osteochondrosis (from the Greek words - bone, cartilage and pain) is the general name for all problems of the spine caused by degeneration and malnutrition of the paravertebral tissues (degeneration and dystrophy). During the deformation, the intervertebral shock-absorbing disc thins and becomes flat, which leads to overloading and even greater deformation of the vertebrae to the extent that they begin to exceed the normal limits of the spine. Nerve roots with this pathology are pinched, inflamed, and pain occurs.
Osteochondrosis affects almost the entire back, and depending on which part of the spine suffered more, the disease is called in clinical practice.
The most popular, known to many is lumbar osteochondrosis, there is also the cervical definition, which ranks second in prevalence, there is sacral, thoracic and widespread osteochondrosis. There are also cross pathologies - lumbosacral or, for example, cervicothoracic.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis can be very diverse, but sooner or later they all increase and manifest clinically. Of course, it is much easier and faster to treat osteochondrosis in the early stages of its development, when the following signs are noticeable:
- Painful, dull painful sensations in the part of the spine affected by the degenerative process.
- Chronic muscle tension (especially characteristic of cervical osteochondrosis).
- Crack at the turn of the body and neck.
- Headache, including tension headache (with cervical osteochondrosis).
- Painful chest pain, often reminiscent of cardiac pain (with thoracic osteochondrosis).
Osteochondrosis in the inflammatory stage has symptoms that make a person consult a doctor because it causes more pronounced discomfort:
- Radiating pain in the limb.
- Numbness in the fingers or toes.
- Irradiation of pain to the fingers of the limbs.
- Severe pain in the spine when performing simple physical activities.
- Pain that increases with minor shocks and vibrations, for example when driving.
- Inability to perform simple work involving body rotation or tilt.
- General limited movement, motor activity.
There are many factors that cause spinal problems, the so-called osteochondrosis, but the first place is the aforementioned hypodynamia. Other reasons include:
- Functional - monotonous work while maintaining posture.
- Biomechanical - flat feet, congenital abnormalities in the development of the spine.
- Hormonal - changes in hormonal levels due to age-related changes.
- Infectious - dystrophy of the intervertebral environment caused by the inflammatory process.
- Metabolism - overweight or underweight.
The factors causing osteochondrosis, i. e. deformation and dystrophy of the intervertebral discs, usually act in combination and are almost never isolated.
The development of osteochondrosis is divided into the following stages:
- Changes in the biomechanics of the disc as a result of tissue degeneration and dystrophic changes. This is the preclinical stage, when the signs, if any, are very weak and do not manifest. At this stage, the fibrous ring surrounding the disc begins to stretch or, on the contrary, begin to shrink.
- The second stage is characterized by greater instability of the disc, the fibrous ring not only tightens, its fibers are layered, the ring begins to break. Due to damage to the nerve roots, pain occurs in the spine, and degenerative changes progress. The collagen tissue continues to break down, and the normal height of the intervertebral space decreases.
- The disc is often completely ruptured, this pathology is accompanied by inflammation, herniation and damage to the nerve endings. Prolapse causes characteristic pain not only in the damaged area of the spine, but is also reflected in the limbs and nearby body parts.
- The most difficult stage is when spondylosis and other compensatory diseases of the spine join the dystrophy. Often, the vertebra flattens to compensate for lost function, and the elastic tissue of the annulus fibrosus is gradually replaced by scar tissue and bony growths.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Almost everyone who is involved in mental activity, from schoolchildren to the elderly, suffers from one or another form of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is considered a disease with increased dynamic loads that cause degeneration and subsidence of the intervertebral discs. The hardening and growth of cartilage tissue leads to a violation of the damping properties of this part of the spine, head movements - tilts, circular movements, turns become difficult and are accompanied by characteristic signs of osteochondrosis.
The symptoms that can cause osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in the early stages of the development of the disease are non-specific and similar to the signs of other pathologies not related to the skeletal system. The list of manifestations of osteochondrosis, which must be distinguished and determined in order to determine the correct diagnosis, is as follows:
- Severe headache that resembles migraine attacks.
- Headache extending from occiput to neck.
- Headache, aggravated by coughing, turning the head, sneezing.
- Headache radiating into the chest or shoulder.
- Dizziness, sensory disturbances - double vision, difficulty focusing. Noise in the ears, in advanced cases, impaired coordination of movements.
- Symptoms similar to cardiac pain, especially angina pectoris - heart pain that spreads to the neck region or arm, below the shoulder blade. The pain may increase and not be relieved by taking heart medications.
- Pain similar to high blood pressure (heaviness in the back of the head).
Consequences and complications
However, before treating osteochondrosis, as with any other disease, it is necessary to find its causes, which is very difficult for degenerative pathologies of the spine. The factors causing the deformation of the intervertebral plates of the cervical spine are related to the anatomical features of this zone. The vertebrae of the neck experience almost constant tension due to insufficient general motor activity. If we take into account the completely "sedentary" lifestyle of more than half of the working population, then the problem sometimes becomes intractable. In addition, the cervical vertebrae are smaller than the vertebrae of other areas of the spine, and the internal canal is much narrower. A huge number of nerve endings, a lot of blood vessels, the brainthe presence of the main nourishing artery - all this makes the neck area extremely vulnerable. Even the slightest contraction of the intervertebral space leads to damage to the nerve roots, swelling, inflammation and, accordingly, to the deterioration of the blood supply to the brain. A decrease in mental activity is often due to the fact that in a person the cervicalosteochondrosis of the spine develops. There is a historical anecdote that goes back not so long ago when Margaret Hilda Thatcher reprimanded her employee with the following words: "Your problem is not a headache or your own opinion on the subject put to the vote. The thing is, your spine is simply out of touch with your brain, John. This famous quote from the "iron" lady perfectly characterizes the condition that causes osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, when it sometimes occurs - the spine does not provide the proper "nutrition" to the head. As for "nutrition", in fact, not only the canal of the spinal cord is involved, but also the canal of the artery passing through the transverse nerve processes. The vertebral artery goes to the skull to supply the cerebellum, and this artery also supplies nutrients and oxygen to the vestibular apparatus. The slightest disturbance of blood flow through these channels can provoke or aggravate the course of the vegetative-vascular syndrome. In addition to VSD, osteochondrosis of the neck region causes the characteristic symptoms of radicular syndrome (sciatica), when the pain radiates to the fingertips or one of the fingers, the pallor (marbling) of the skin is clearly visible. One of the most unpleasant complications of cervical osteochondrosis is palmar fibromatosis, also known as Dupuytren's contracture. With this disease, the aponeurosis (tendon plate) of the palm is affected, and the bending function of the fingers is disturbed.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is diagnosed by a specialist based on the patient's complaints, and can be confirmed and clarified using X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Complete healing of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is possible only at the initial stage, however, it is possible to save a person from the painful symptoms of this disease, prevent aggravation, and get rid of some pathological changes in the spine. Therefore, we must not forget the importance of timely treatment of the disease.
How to treat osteochondrosis?
Treatment of osteochondrosis is not easy, usually the therapy is prescribed as comprehensively as possible, including all the means of modern medicine. In addition to conservative drug treatment, proven phytotherapeutic drugs, acupuncture, therapeutic exercises, and occasionally surgical interventions are also used to eliminate hernias and subluxations of the vertebrae. It should be recognized that osteochondrosis and treatment are two concepts that a sick person faces for a long time, sometimes throughout his life. In addition to the initial phase, which is aimed at alleviating the pain symptom, the therapy includes constant restorative, rehabilitation and preventive activities. Complex, multicomponent diseases are always treated for a long time. If a diagnosis is made - osteochondrosis, how to treat it - this is the first question that is decided not only by the doctor, but also by the patient himself, since his direct participation and responsible compliance, compliance with all regulations are often of decisive importance. role in healing.
What should be treated?
The list of the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of osteochondrosis:
- It is a complex, effective homeopathic preparation that must be used for a long time, like any other homeopathy (in ampoule or tablet form).
- An effective external remedy that relieves muscle and joint pain.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (in the form of ointment - externally, in tablets - orally).
- Ointment with a complex effect from the category of homeopathic remedies.
- The drug is in tablet form from the category of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
- A drug belonging to the category of glucocorticoids.
- Ointment from the category of external non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Gel from the category of external non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- It is a drug belonging to the category of external anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs.
If we summarize everything that is involved in the treatment of such a disease as osteochondrosis, the treatment can be divided into the following stages and types:
- The use of NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - is considered the gold standard in the treatment of all degenerative, dystrophic pathologies of the bone and muscle systems. The first thing these drugs do is reduce the symptom of pain, and the second is to significantly reduce inflammation.
- Medicines called myelorelaxants, because they can really effectively relieve muscle spasms and spasms.
- Traction therapy is a traction treatment. In this rather painful but effective process, the tissues and muscles surrounding the vertebrae gradually lengthen, and the distance between the vertebrae increases, approaching the norm.
- Biogenic preparations, vascular agents that nourish the dystrophic areas of the tissues, B vitamins restore the functional abilities of the deformed spine well.
- Sedative drugs that normalize the state of the nervous system. Perfectly relieves muscle tension and acupuncture of nerve endings.
- Physiotherapy procedures - electrophoresis, phonophoresis, UHF, massages, mud procedures, balneotherapy, magnetotherapy.
- During the recovery period, the spine is corrected using manual therapy.
- The treatment of osteochondrosis includes constant exercise from a complex of physiotherapy exercises and with its help.
In the most extreme cases, when the course of osteochondrosis enters the last stage, surgical intervention is also indicated, which is performed in the area of localization of the inflammatory process. Most often, a hernia is operated on, and it is also possible to remove the deformed bone tissue of the adjacent vertebrae.
Where can osteochondrosis be treated?
Self-treatment of almost all diseases is a trend that can be observed in almost all countries, but it is particularly characteristic of post-Soviet countries, where the traditional healthcare structure is still undergoing transformation. Confused by innovations, often simply out of ignorance, many of us try to deal with back, neck or lower back pain on our own. This time can be called the first, although not very effective, stage of treatment, since the treatment of osteochondrosis is necessary only with the help of a doctor. The second stage, when independent actions do not lead to the desired, lasting result, a person thinks about visiting a doctor, and the question arises: osteochondrosis - how to treat it, how to treat it, and most importantly, where to treat osteochondrosis.? First, you can contact a local therapist, who will likely refer the patient for testing - X-rays, blood tests, and a referral to a neurologist. Secondly, you can immediately make an appointment with a neurologist, preferably before the consultation, at least for an X-ray of the entire spine. In no case do not overdo it and look for an experienced masseuse, every massage first of all includes a preliminary examination of the condition of the body, especially the condition of the spine. The problem of osteochondrosis is also dealt with by vertebrologists and vertebroneurologists - doctors specializing in diseases of the spine.
Osteochondrosis is a complex disease, but the examples of many people who overcome even severe spinal injuries prove that everything is possible and achievable. The point is to analyze our motor activity and take appropriate measures at the first warning signals that the back gives us. You can immediately go to the doctor and start treatment, or if the disease has not progressed, you can start moving, because as Aristotle, the extremely active teacher of the great Alexander, said: "Life needs and requires movement. , otherwise it's not life".
What does history say about osteochondrosis?
The etiology of osteochondrosis is still unclear, in fact, despite the clearly ancient origin of the disease, spinal diseases only began to be seriously addressed in the 18th century. Since then, debates and discussions about the real "enemy" that causes degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs have not stopped. Meanwhile, long ago, even in the time of Hippocrates, there were treatises on bone cutting, which suggests that the ancient Hellenes also suffered from back pain. Hippocrates himself was so interested in spine issues that he conducted medical experiments that are dubious to modern eyes: his students diligently tied the patient by the arms and legs, with his back up, to a horizontal plane, with his limbs so stretched. as soon as possible. Then the great healer stood on the sufferer's back and began to walk on him. The founding father of medicine was sincerely convinced that such fixation, stretching and massage restores the health of the spine, which, according to the ancient Greek sages, is the key to the abundance of happy people. A certain systematization of techniques for the treatment of osteochondrosis began only at the end of the 17th century. At the same time, terminology emerged that formalized the applied fields of medicine, including ossification. Two centuries later, he branched out into chiropractic and chiropractic care. The first direction was purely practical, using strength techniques, osteopaths were more theoreticians and researchers. At the intersection of these sciences, manual therapy gradually appeared, without which the treatment of osteochondrosis is almost unthinkable today.
As for the term defining the disease "osteochondrosis", a typical story happened with osteochondrosis, which is typical of other diseases of unclear etiology. As it was not called - and lumboischialgia, and sciatica, and Schmorl's hernia, and sciatica, and spondylosis. It took almost a century for doctors to discover osteochondrosis and reach a consensus.