Osteochondrosis is a common disease of the musculoskeletal system. It manifests itself as a mild discomfort and severe pain that limits a person's activity. In advanced cases, the pathology can lead to the need for surgery and even disability. Prevention and prevention of the disease reduces the risk of its occurrence or helps to achieve positive results of treatment.
Reasons
Osteochondrosis is a pathology that occurs as a result of a combination of factors such as genetic predisposition, human lifestyle, and environmental conditions.
The disease is characterized by damage to the articular cartilage, as well as the underlying bone tissue. Normally, it is the cartilage that provides the flexibility and mobility of the spine, but under the pressure of other vertebrae, it wears out, loses its properties, elasticity and can be deformed.
The most common reasons for the development of pathology are:
- hereditary predisposition.
- Weakness of the muscle corset.
- Postural disorders and scoliosis.
- Mechanical damage to the spine.
- Excessive physical activity.
- Neuro-emotional stress.
- Passive lifestyle.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Tight, uncomfortable shoes, high heels.
- General dehydration.
- Lack of essential nutrients, beriberi.
Types of osteochondrosis
Cervical
This disease is included in the list of most common complaints of working age patients who spend up to 8-10 hours a day at the computer. Often, patients do not pay attention to pain, which leads to the development of complications. If you do not want to experience constant pain in the neck, head, and shoulders, it is important to take preventive measures as soon as possible and, if necessary, consult a doctor as soon as possible.
thoracic
The disease can be asymptomatic. It is often accompanied by pain in the back, neck, forearm. In the advanced stage, thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by symptoms manifested by a painful condition of the arms and legs, tinnitus. Also, chest chondrosis can be accompanied by nausea, morning headache, pain in the eyes and tremors, sweating. Taking medicine and therapeutic exercises are enough to treat the disease.
Waist
The lumbar spine is very sensitive. If you do not engage in strengthening the back muscles and monitor your posture, there is a risk of developing unpleasant symptoms. Chondrosis is characterized by girdle pain in the lumbar region, pain in the thigh region and the so-called low back pain.
Take precautions. Keep your waist warm, try not to overcool. Do not carry or lift objects weighing more than 10 kg. If you are lifting something heavy, do not bend or make sudden movements. Refrain from any physical work in a prone position. If you are going to mop the floor, use a mop or squat down.
Development stages and symptoms of osteochondrosis
The disease goes through 4 stages accompanied by different symptoms. At the initial stage, the pathology occurs in the region of the pulp core of the intervertebral disc. Excessive load leads to a decrease in the height of the disk and the appearance of cracks in the fibrous ring. A person may feel a little discomfort when he is in a static position for a long time or, on the contrary, when he moves very actively.
In stage 2, the distance between the vertebrae continues to decrease, the vertebral muscles and ligaments lose their tone and sag. This leads to increased mobility of the vertebrae with the affected discs, risk of displacement or subluxation. In the second stage, discomfort and pain appear, especially with certain types of loads or certain positions.
With grade 3 osteochondrosis, prolapses and protrusions of the intervertebral discs occur, the development of arthrosis of the intervertebral joints is possible. A person experiences stiffness, becomes immobile. At this stage of the pathology, pain is clearly felt depending on the location of the lesion.
In the 4th stage, the body tries to adapt to the functional disorders of the spine. This can be expressed in bone neoplasms - osteophytes. They act as a vertebral fixator. But this can lead to pinched nerves and other injuries.
Diagnostics
When examining a patient and taking an anamnesis, a specialist makes a preliminary diagnosis suggesting the presence of a disease with a visually detected curvature observed in the transverse or longitudinal plane of the spine. After the initial consultation, the surgeon or neurologist may prescribe additional examinations. After determining the localization of the disease and its stages, you can start treatment, the goal of which is to get rid of the causes of pain.
The most common diagnostic methods:
- x-ray;
- CT;
- MRI;
- doppler ultrasound.
Methods of treatment of osteochondrosis
Treatment gives good results only if it is regular, consistent and systematic. The therapeutic strategy of the first stage is pain neutralization, the second stage is the activation of blood supply and metabolic processes in the affected areas of the spine, and the third stage is physical therapy and manual procedures.
With osteochondrosis of any department in the acute stage accompanied by severe pain, the doctor can prescribe a paravertebral blockade with the use of novocaine, lidocaine and other drugs to relieve muscle tension in the spinal movement segment, reduce swelling and muscle tension.
Combinations of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics, analgesics and vitamin complexes (group D, nicotinic acid) are considered effective. As local therapy, ointments are prescribed - agents with chondroprotectors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components.
It should be remembered that the drugs at this time only help to cope with severe pain. Physiotherapy treatment helps to get rid of unpleasant manifestations of the disease for a long time.
The most commonly used treatments include:
- reflexology;
- acupuncture;
- electrophoresis;
- manual therapy;
- massage;
- physiotherapy.
What does the lack of treatment lead to?
Osteochondrosis is best corrected at the initial stage of formation, before the appearance of syndromes of vertebral pathologies accompanied by chronic headache and pain in the shoulder blades, heart and back. Over time, the disease causes a change in the overall structure of the spine due to the active compensatory expansion of connective, fibrillary and bone tissues.
The clinical picture of the disease depends on the localization of the pathology, the degree of development of the process and the individual characteristics of the patients. Intervertebral disc displacements, protrusions and tears cause unpleasant consequences.
Frequent manifestations:
- violation of blood circulation in tissues;
- pinched nerves;
- spinal canal dysfunction;
- edema and tissue fibrosis.
Therefore, the treatment of osteochondrosis should be started as early as possible and should be carried out comprehensively with an emphasis on neutralization of inflammation and pain relief. If the disease manifests itself for years, is in an advanced stage, and a herniated disc of the spine is diagnosed, surgery may be required.
Prevention
Prevention and treatment of osteochondrosis are inextricably linked. Their goal is to improve the patient's quality of life. If you have a sedentary job, take regular breaks. Get up every half an hour and do simple exercises that relieve tension in the neck and back muscles. Try to sit properly at the table: your back is straight, your shoulders are relaxed. Choose chairs whose backs can provide maximum support to the spine: so it will not be overloaded.
To prevent the onset of the disease, it is good to undergo a massage course periodically. Massage can improve blood circulation and lymph flow, strengthen metabolic processes in muscle tissues and stop stagnant processes. As a result, general well-being improves, vitality increases, some painful symptoms disappear.
Recommendations for preventing and preventing the development of osteochondrosis:
- Limit yourself when lifting weights. Allowed weight up to 10 kg.
- Carry the weights equally in both hands.
- Systematically perform simple exercises aimed at strengthening the spine, muscles, ligaments and joints.
- Go swimming if you can.
- Try not to sit in one position for a long time.
- Take dietary supplements containing mucopolysaccharides - elements that form cartilage.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the spine is less difficult than its subsequent treatment. Think about your health and start taking care of it before it reminds you of itself.