Intervertebral osteochondrosis- Pathology from which the elderly mainly suffered in the past. Today the disease also occurs in young patients. This is because more and more people are leading a sedentary lifestyle, spending a lot of time on computers, and not paying proper attention to physical activity. Osteochondrosis develops with an unnatural position of the spine and weakness in the muscles of the back. The pathology is treated successfully, but it is important to consult a specialist as early as possible!
What is osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine characterized by injuries to the intervertebral discs as well as the tissues of the vertebrae themselves. The pathology is dangerous due to a number of complications, the most serious of which are vertebral hernias and protrusions. It is very important to prevent the situation from getting worse and to start treatment for back osteochondrosis immediately.
causes
The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis,According to many experts, 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 due to factors such as:
- Hereditary disposition
- Spinal injury
- Metabolic disease
- Lack of physical activity
- pregnancy
- Emphasize
- revision
- Obesity
- 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 stage. . . It is characterized by dehydration of the nucleus of the disc between the vertebrae. The height of the pane is then reduced. At this stage, the patient does not feel any discomfort worth mentioning. Sometimes unpleasant sensations can appear during active training or in an unusual position.
- Second floor. . . It is characterized by an intervertebral disc protrusion, in which the gaps between the vertebrae are reduced. As a result, nerve endings are pinched, which causes local pain with increasing intensity during jerky movements
- Third section. . . It is characterized by the abrasion of the cartilage between the vertebral tissues. The symptoms at this stage are pronounced. Patients complain of severe pain that can only be relieved with strong medication
- Level four. . . It is characterized by complete or partially restricted mobility.
It is better to start treatment for osteochondrosis of the spine from the first symptoms! In this case, the chances of a full recovery are quite high.
Types of osteochondrosis
Depending on the place of origin of the pathological process, different types of osteochondrosis are distinguished:
- Cervical. . . Such osteochondrosis occurs when there are diseases of the cervical spine. The most common symptoms of the pathology are acute pain when turning the head, sneezing and coughing, and lumbago
- chest. . . Such osteochondrosis is less common than other forms. Acute pain is uncharacteristic of the pathology. Osteochondrosis is characterized by symptoms of a number of other diseases. For example, pain in the sternum makes the patient suspect angina pectoris
- Lumbar spine. . . Such osteochondrosis is more common than other forms. This is because the lumbar spine is exposed to increased stress. Patients complain not only of severe pain, but also of numbness (including in the legs)
In some cases, tailbone osteochondrosis is diagnosed. There is also the concept of mixed pathology, in which 2 parts of the spine are involved in the pathological process. Diffuse osteochondrosis affects all segments of the spine.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis in adults
The main symptoms of pathological changes in the spine in adult patients include:
- Pain that can be in the neck, shoulders, lower back, and even ribs
- Sense of stiffness in the back and lower back
- Numbness in the limbs
- Muscle spasms or a feeling of weakness in them
- Chills and body aches
- Increased tiredness
- Dizziness and headache from pinched nerve endings
In advanced stages, patients complain of sensory disorders in the back, legs and arms, pain in the heart area, dysfunction of the genitourinary system (e. g. difficulty urinating).
The symptoms of the pathology are often aggravated after hard work, intense sports and low temperatures on the body.
Complications
Destructive processes that affect the intervertebral discs between the vertebrae, reduce their density and lead to a loss of shock absorption capacity. This damages muscles, joints and ligaments. With a long course of osteochondrosis, not only individual nerve endings are crushed, but the entire spinal cord, which leads to complications of the nervous system.
A deterioration in the blood supply to the entire body leads to an increase in the manifestations of chronic diseases.
Osteochondrosis can also provoke such pathologies as:
- lumbago(acute pain in the lumbar region)
- Spondylosis(Destruction of the vortex)
- Spinal stenosis, in which the work of the entire central nervous system is significantly impaired
diagnosis
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis is carried out using a number of instrumental methods. The primary diagnosis is made based on examination and history collection.
The doctor asks the patient and clarifies:
- Time at which the first symptoms appear
- Duration of pain
- Features of signs of a pathological condition
During the inspection:
- The patient's posture is assessed while standing and sitting
- The range of motion is determined
- The gait and its changes are assessed
- The condition of the skin will be examined to check for flakes and redness
- Areas where the patient experiences painful sensations are examined
- The general condition of the body is assessed
- Areas with muscle spasms are determined
The main instrumental methods of diagnosing osteochondrosis include:
- X-ray examination. . . It allows you to determine the narrowing of the gaps between individual vertebrae
- Computed Tomography. . . During such a study, the vertebrae that suffered during the pathological process are determined.
- MRI(Magnetic resonance imaging). This study is the most accurate and allows you to assess all the destructive processes in the spine.
treatment
Treatment of osteochondrosis is always comprehensive.
The therapy includes:
- taking medication
- massage
- Performing special exercises
- physical therapy
- Traction (also under water)
- Manual therapy
Treatment for osteochondrosis of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine largely depends on the symptoms.
massagefor example, it is prescribed when the patient is not in severe pain. The sessions allow you to reduce muscle tone, improve blood circulation and strengthen the intervertebral discs.
physical therapyallows you to strengthen the muscles of the back to form a reliable corset that will ensure proper load distribution on the spine. During the class, tissue nutrition improves, blood circulation increases. Physiotherapy also helps with restricted mobility. To get the results you want, exercise regularly, slowly, and evenly, and monitor your breathing and heart rate. Before starting the class, be sure to consult a doctor. All exercises are supervised by an experienced instructor. Only in this case, treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar or other spine will relieve the symptoms of the disease and eliminate its causes.
physical therapyeffective against pain. Typically, patients are referred for ultrasound therapy, magnetotherapy, and exposure to low frequency currents. Physiotherapy allows you to normalize metabolic processes, reduce inflammation, improve joint mobility and relieve swelling.
Rehabilitation treatment
Rehabilitation treatment for osteochondrosis of the spine is also carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor. It is aimed at restoring health after the pathology. Therapy is only carried out when the pain subsides and the patient no longer feels any severe discomfort.
The most popular restorative techniques include:
- Swimming regularly
- Manual therapy
- massage
- Electrophoresis and magnetic therapy
- Treatment by irradiating the affected area with laser beams
- Nutritional correction
- Working with a psychologist
- Sauna visit
- Hydromassage
- Application of healing mud
Patients are advised to undergo spa treatment in specialized facilities. The therapy can also be carried out on an outpatient basis. Rehabilitation treatment for osteochondrosis of the lower back and other departments is carried out in the same way as the main department. In this case, its high performance is noted.
prophylaxis
If the prevention of osteochondrosis is carried out in a timely manner, then there is no need to deal with the treatment of the pathology.
Specialists have developed a whole range of preventive measures.
It consists of:
- Restricting the lifting of heavy objects
- Right nutrition
- Maintain a daily routine and take regular rest
- swim
- Taking special dietary supplementscontains valuable elements for the cartilage tissue (mucopolysaccharides)
- Do a simple exercise
If you have to spend a lot of time sitting at work or at home, you need to take regular breaks, get up, walk, relieve tension in your back.
All recommendations for the prevention of osteochondrosis are given by a doctor. By contacting him, you can prevent the development of a dangerous pathological process.
Advantages of treatment in a professional clinic:
- It employs highly qualified doctors. They conduct both a comprehensive diagnosis of osteochondrosis and the treatment of this disease using modern techniques and the latest advances.
- Treatment of osteochondrosis is carried out using a unique injection method. It allows you to permanently and quickly get rid of pain and reduce inflammation in the tissues.
- The clinic employs doctors who skillfully perform blockages and other specialized treatments that eliminate symptoms of the disease even in advanced stages.
- Specialists have successfully implemented rehabilitation techniques that consolidate the results of therapy and prevent the development of the pathological process. As a result, patients maintain their physical activity even in the advanced stages of the disease.
- Doctors prevent numerous complications of osteochondrosis, including curvatures of the spine, hernias, and paralysis of the limbs.
- Examinations, therapy and disease prevention are always carried out in an environment that is comfortable for the patient. Attention is paid to anyone who turns to professionals for help.
- Involvement in the therapy not only of orthopedists, but also of other specialists.