Such a disease as osteochondrosis of the spine does not exist in modern medicine.First of all, it is worth clarifying that the term osteochondrosis itself is outdated and does not exist in the current edition of ICD-10.It was replaced by a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs.However, we will tell you about spinal osteochondrosis, its symptoms and treatment, since many patients call their condition this way.And they will understand what this article is about.
So, osteochondrosis is a degeneration of intervertebral discs of dystrophic origin.Everything else is indirectly related to this disease.But to understand this process, it is worth a short excursion into anatomy and physiology.The main element of the human muscular system is the spinal column.With its help, the stable condition of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity and chest is ensured.Inside the spine is the spinal cord, the structure that keeps the entire body alive.The spine provides flexibility of the body, allows you to walk independently and perform any movement with your hands.It is the connecting link between the head and the limbs.
The spinal column consists of individual vertebral bodies.They are connected to each other using joints and ligaments.There are long longitudinal ligaments that start at the coccyx and end at the occiput.There are short transverse ligaments that connect adjacent vertebral bodies.Intervertebral discs consist of a dense outer shell (annulus fibrosus), which can withstand even the most extreme loads.But the fibrous ring has one important drawback - it completely lacks its own blood capillary network.It receives fluid only when the surrounding muscles actively contract and relax.Also, the feeding portion is provided by diffuse exchange between the intervertebral disc and the end plate that separates it from the vertebrae.
If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle and his back muscles do not work actively and regularly, then the annulus fibrosus is dehydrated and cracks.At the initial stage, it receives fluid from the tissues of the nucleus pulposus located inside it.This gelatin body ensures the normal height of the disc and its shock absorbing ability to evenly distribute the received loads.
With the long course of this pathological process, the height of the intervertebral disc decreases.It loses its ability to protect the radicular nerves arising from the spinal cord from pressure from neighboring vertebral bodies.They are damaged and radiculitis (inflammation of the radicular nerves) appears.This is a dangerous situation.Therefore, the body takes measures to compensate for the lost capacity of the intervertebral discs.This causes excessive tension in the back muscles.As a result, the diffuse nutrition of the remaining cartilaginous tissues is further disturbed.Therefore, spinal osteochondrosis is considered a rapidly developing and widespread disease.Without treatment, it quickly affects all the intervertebral discs and the person becomes disabled.
If you are suffering from back pain related to the degeneration of the cartilage tissue of the spine, we recommend that you do not wait until everything goes away on its own.Get medical help immediately.Treatment of osteochondrosis without surgery is possible at any stage, except for hernia sequestration.If part of the nucleus pulposus has separated from the intervertebral disc, then only surgical intervention can help in this situation.
You can make an appointment with a vertebrologist or a neurologist.They will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an effective and safe treatment.
Causes of spinal osteochondrosis
The most common causes of spinal osteochondrosis are physical inactivity, excess weight, sedentary work and refusal of regular physical activity.It is these factors that lead to the destruction of cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs at a young age.Later in life (after 50 years), osteochondrosis develops for slightly different reasons:
- Hormonal changes that lead to the release of calcium and phosphorus from bone tissue;
- gerontological degenerative changes in the body;
- Violation of capillary blood flow against the background of atherosclerotic deformations of blood vessels;
- Metabolic disorders such as diabetes or thyroid function changes;
- age-related decrease in muscle mass;
- changes in the posture and curvature of the spine;
- Chronic diseases of internal organs that reduce physical activity of a person.
In addition, potential causes of the development of spinal osteochondrosis can be traumatic injuries of the vertebral bodies, their vertebral processes, ligaments and tendons.Improper organization of sleeping and working places is of no small importance.If a person does not pay attention to the position of the body during night sleep, then the risk of the destruction of the spine and the development of osteochondrosis increases dramatically.
You should also stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.These two bad habits lead to blood microcirculation in the area of the intervertebral discs, which leads to their degenerative dystrophic destruction.
The causes of osteochondrosis of the back can be eating and drinking.An adult should drink at least 2 liters of pure water per day to maintain water and electrolyte balance.Also, the diet should contain all the vitamins and minerals used in the regeneration of the hyaline cartilage that forms the tissues of the fibrous rings.If the diet is dominated by fatty and refined foods, the body quickly begins to lack certain nutrients.It does not allow to restore the integrity of all tissues, including vertebrae.
Therefore, during the complex treatment of spinal osteochondrosis, an experienced doctor will definitely correct the patient's diet.He will give him the necessary recommendations regarding the proper organization of his sleeping and working place.
During osteochondrosis, the back muscles are seriously overloaded.They are responsible for supporting the spinal column and ensuring the safety of the radicular nerves.With prolonged static tension, the blood circulation cycle in the capillaries changes.Myocytes begin to starve of oxygen and an ischemic reaction begins quickly.At first it causes severe pain in the back muscles.Then the myocytes begin to die.Against the background of necrosis of muscle tissue, short-term inflammation may occur.Then the degeneration of muscle fibers begins.This leads to a number of negative consequences.Patients may develop myofascial pain syndrome.It continues for many years even after successful treatment of osteochondrosis.
Therefore, this process cannot be started.As soon as the first signs of osteochondrosis appear, seek medical help immediately.
Symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is the least common, since there is no wide range of mobility of the vertebral bodies.The height of the intervertebral spaces is additionally ensured by fixing the rib arches.Therefore, we will not consider the symptoms of this type of disease separately.
Most often, osteochondrosis develops in the lumbar region, because it carries the main shock absorption and physical load associated with any movement of the human body.Symptoms of the pathology include a characteristic shooting pain in the lower back.It can spread along the inner, outer or back surface of the thigh and lower leg, extending to the heel or toes.Neurological clinical signs such as numbness, paresthesia, decreased muscle strength, pallor and coldness of the skin of the lower extremities appear gradually.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix and cervical spine is diagnosed no less often.This disease most often develops in people engaged in mental work.With prolonged static tension of neck muscles, blood microcirculation is disturbed and cartilage tissue is destroyed.
With this localization of degenerative dystrophic changes in the cartilage tissues of the discs, clinical symptoms can be more diverse.The pain can spread under the shoulder blade, in the heart area and in the upper limbs.Muscle weakness quickly appears in the arms.There are signs of blood circulation disorders in the back arteries of the spine.These are dizziness, decreased mental performance, frequent changes in blood pressure, drowsiness, apathy, etc.
If symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis appear, it is necessary to conduct a series of clinical studies.First of all, an X-ray of the damaged part of the spine is prescribed.Based on them, the doctor can only make a preliminary diagnosis.A more detailed examination of the condition of the tissues of the spinal column can be done during an MRI examination.Doppler ultrasound, soft tissue ultrasound, biochemical and general blood tests, rheumatic tests, etc. may also be necessary.
What to do and how to relieve the pain?
The first thing to do in the case of spinal osteochondrosis is to stop physical activity and ensure relative rest of the spine and muscles.In the first days after the attack, it is better to observe strict bed rest.Treatment can be prescribed only by a neurologist or vertebrologist.It is not recommended to take medicines independently.They can not only have a negative impact on your health, but also make it difficult to make an accurate diagnosis in the future.
The only thing you can do to relieve back pain due to osteochondrosis and damage to your health is traction on the spinal column.It is important to restore the normal height of the intervertebral spaces.This will remove pressure from the radicular nerves and all pain will disappear without additional use of pharmacological drugs.Traction can be equipment, manual or with the help of physical exercises.Only a doctor can determine during the examination which method is suitable for your individual case.
How to treat and treat spinal osteochondrosis?
Spinal osteochondrosis can be treated exclusively with conservative methods, even at the stage of intervertebral hernia prolapse.Doctors know how to cure spinal osteochondrosis without surgery.Osteopathy and massage, therapeutic exercises and kinesotherapy, laser therapy, reflexology and many others are used for this purpose.
Before treating spinal osteochondrosis, the doctor gives the patient comprehensive individual recommendations, the implementation of which excludes potential causes and risk factors.Then an individual course of therapy is developed.During the treatment, the damaged cartilage tissue is completely restored.If all recommendations are followed, relapses of osteochondrosis do not occur.