Osteochondrosis refers to progressive lesions of degenerative-dystrophic spinal tissue and joints. The more indolent the disease is, the more pronounced are the symptoms that affect a person's lifestyle and ability to work. When the structure of the spine is damaged, a person has such problems, for example, how to live with pain, how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis.
In practice, pathology of various parts of the spine, coccyx and joints often occurs. Previously, only people over the age of 25 were sick, but recently there is a tendency to "rejuvenate" the disease. Symptoms of juvenile or juvenile osteochondrosis have become common.
The reasons
The causes of osteochondrosis can be different and depend on which part of the body is damaged. After any injury, the normal structure of the spine, coccyx is disturbed, the process of salt deposition and destruction of the disc structure begins. Overweight people, sedentary people and athletes are susceptible to it.
During pregnancy, the risk of disease increases due to weight gain and vitamin deficiency. During pregnancy, the lymph nodes also enlarge. The heart and other organs suffer from it, and together with osteochondrosis, it is very dangerous. The load on the shoulders, knees, neck and coccyx increases.
With age, almost every person suffers from osteochondrosis of the spine. Occupations associated with long periods of sitting, monotonous movements pose a threat to the neck, lower back and tailbone. The following conditions affect the occurrence of the disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- the course of pregnancy;
- endocrine, infectious diseases;
- poisoning or exposure to drugs, toxic and chemical substances;
- eating disorder, lifestyle.
In addition to the spine, there are often cases of osteochondrosis of the joints. Pathological knee, elbow, shoulder joint, coccyx is dangerous. When considering osteochondrosis of the knee joint, it is worth paying attention to causes such as obesity or malnutrition, a lifestyle associated with excessive leg loads, as well as injuries or inflammatory processes in the body.
The muscles of the legs, unlike the joints, withstand large loads, so the latter suffer more often.
Symptoms of elbow joint damage can be observed together with current osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic region. Pathology is often combined with arthritis or arthrosis. Injuries and constant overloading of the elbow joint are predisposing factors.
Due to the constant movements of the neck and head, as well as the hands, over time the joints begin to wear out, salt deposits appear. This leads to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and shoulder joint. The causes may be congenital, compression of the nerve plexuses of the shoulder region, or external factors. Injury to the neck, shoulder blades or hands causes osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the spine
Osteochondrosis of the spine occurs in different departments. The most common is the pathology of the lumbar region. The disease is associated with severe stress on the lower back and is dangerous due to compression of the sciatic nerve and the risk of rupture.
Symptoms include aching pain that worsens at night or during exercise. It is difficult to find the right position in sleep and rest. There may be "lumbago" of the lower back or a violation of sensitivity of the legs, especially the knee joint, coccyx. When it becomes acute, the lymph nodes become inflamed.
The coccyx area is often affected, it becomes difficult to sit properly. If the sciatic nerve in the coccyx region is inflamed, the pain goes down to the lower limbs, hips, and knee joint. To relieve pain, it is better for a person to take a comfortable position and drink antispasmodics, relaxants or analgesics.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region during pregnancy sometimes complicates normal childbirth. Then you need to operate. Antispasmodics are taken carefully during this period so as not to harm the fetus.
In diseases of the spine, doctors use the identification of special symptoms for diagnosis - Lasegue's symptom. For a neuropathologist, Lasegue's symptom is important to determine the degree of the disease.
Lasegue's symptom is always performed when a neurological disorder is suspected. With the Lasegue method, the doctor slowly raises the leg in a straightened position, not allowing the knee to bend. The Lasegue sign is tested in three stages with leg flexion and extension. It is based on the appearance of pain in certain postures. Lasegue method is not performed during pregnancy.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is often combined with damage to the shoulder and elbow joints. There are pains in the neck, headaches, spreading to the shoulder blades and arms, pains in the heart appear. They are taken together with antispasmodics. There is noise in the ears, vision is deteriorating.
The pain is aggravated by the movement of the neck, head or shoulder blade. In the acute period, the lymph nodes may be affected, and there may be muscle pain in the neck and elbow joints. Then urgent treatment is needed to prevent complications in the heart, brain, and blood vessels.
The patient is constantly tormented by the question: how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis and place your head correctly on the pillow?
This is especially true for women during pregnancy. Only antispasmodics and treatment help.
Pathology of the thoracic region is less common. Symptoms of pain in the heart, shoulder area, shoulder girdle, neck area are recorded. The lymph nodes are inflamed, sometimes it is impossible to raise the hands and take a deep breath due to pain. Osteochondrosis is often mistaken for pain in the heart. If you take antispasmodics, the pain in the muscles and the heart disappear. If the disease is in an advanced stage, antispasmodics do not always help, and the following symptoms are combined:
- impaired sensitivity of the legs;
- pain that increases with night, movement, breathing;
- burning sensation, itching in the heart, scapular region, along the ribs.
Often in practice, osteochondrosis affects several parts of the spine. Symptoms during pregnancy are especially unpleasant, it is undesirable to take antispasmodics. Rescuers started treatment on time.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes conducting hardware studies, questioning and examination of the patient. It is important to pay attention to specific symptoms such as Lasegue's symptom. In order to rule out pathologies in the heart and other internal organs, ultrasound and ECG are performed. X-ray, MRI, CT are performed for examination of the spine.
Treatment of osteochondrosis should be long and complex. Treatment is divided into symptomatic therapy and rehabilitation. Muscle relaxants, NSAIDs, analgesics, antispasmodics are prescribed for pain. Muscle relaxants can not only relieve pain for a long time, but also improve mobility. Sedatives have a peripheral and central effect. Which medicine to choose, the doctor decides.
Treatment includes a combination of physiotherapy, massage, reflexology. Treatment allows manual therapy, banks, ointments and folk methods.
Osteochondrosis of joints
Elbow, knee, and shoulder joint diseases are common. Osteochondrosis of the knee joint often occurs in pregnant women and is accompanied by pain and limited mobility. The elbow joint is characterized by symptoms such as pain, swelling, and deformation during movement. Incorrectly chosen hand posture causes discomfort and pain. Lymph nodes in the affected area become inflamed. Moreover, the lymph nodes can be affected not only in the affected area, but also in the adjacent lymph nodes.
X-ray, CT, MRI are used for correct diagnosis, examination, palpation, and checking for Laseghe symptom. Complex treatment is necessary to restore the function of muscles and joints. You should take massage, ERT, antispasmodics, NSAIDs, relaxants. In advanced cases, surgery is performed. But first of all, conservative treatment is always prescribed, especially during pregnancy.