What it is: osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine in which the intervertebral discs (and then the vertebral bodies, joints, and ligaments) lose their ability to function normally. Until recently, the disease was considered age-related, but in recent decades it has noticeably rejuvenated and ruthlessly affects young people aged 18-30.
Osteochondrosis is usually classified by location - lumbar, cervical, thoracic, sacral and widespread. More than 50% of cases of the disease are responsible for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine; the symptoms, treatment, and diagnosis of this type of osteochondrosis are widely described in the work of medical illuminators. A quarter of diagnoses are due to osteochondrosis of the neck - a disease of office workers and people living a sedentary lifestyle.
Most often, the pathological processes in this disease first affect the bones and ligaments. Usually, when the complications - pain, sensory disorders, muscle wasting, disorders of the internal organs - appear, the disease has already started.
Today we will talk about osteochondrosis, the symptoms and treatment of this disease is a very topical topic in our time. After all, 40-90% of the world’s population suffers from this disease. The disease most often affects people over 30 years of age.
Causes of occurrence
There is no single cause of osteochondrosis. Some believe the disease is caused by the deposition of calcium compounds that are not absorbed by the bone tissue, due to a weak blood supply to the bones, a curvature of the spine, and a decrease in the distance between the individual vertebrae.
There are several predisposing causal factors. The main ones are:
- spinal injuries (fractures, bruises, dislocations);
- hereditary predisposition;
- foot diseases that cause spinal overload - these include flat feet, goosefoot (deformity of the foot varus), hallux valgus;
- wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes for a long time (can also cause spinal overload);
- overweight and obesity;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- metabolic disorders;
- curvature of the spine (kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis);
- professional features - weight lifting, frequent bending and grabbing by the body, work in an awkward position of the body.
The development of the disease is facilitated by hereditary predisposition, spinal overload (overweight, heavy lifting), trauma and microtrauma.
Stages of osteochondrosis
There are four stages according to the level of development and symptoms of osteochondrosis.
- First phase- preclinical, which is extremely rarely diagnosed due to mild (or absent) symptoms of the disease. At this stage, changes in the spine are minimal. Patients are worried about limited spinal pain and tense back muscles.
- In the second stagepains occur as the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc is destroyed, the fixation of the vertebrae is disturbed, and their abnormal mobility occurs in the form of displacements. The distance between the vertebrae decreases as the neurovascular endings of the blood and lymphatics become compressed.
- Third stage. . . A rupture forms in the cartilaginous tissues of the annulus fibrosus, allowing a portion of the more fluid nucleus to seep through - a disc herniation. Such changes are most commonly found in the lumbar and cervical spine. To a lesser extent, the appearance of an intervertebral hernia is sensitive to the thoracic region, as some of the load is taken over by the ribs and sternum due to the pathology of the disc. As a result of the protrusion of the intervertebral disc (hernia), it affects the roots of the nerves in the spinal cord, manifested as pain, inflammation, conduction disturbances in the nerve fibers, and inflammation.
- Fourth section- final, in which the scar tissue is replaced by the fibers of the intervertebral disc and the fibrous cartilage and fibrous tissues of the nucleus pulposus.
To prevent the development of the last stage, a decision must be made on how to treat osteochondrosis in a timely manner.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease characterized by periods of alternating worsening and remission of symptoms. Excessive exercise, fatigue, hypothermia, injury, tremors, and vibration can contribute to acute symptoms.
The disease manifests itself in a number of characteristic symptoms. Spinal osteochondrosis is characterized by painful back pain, numbness in the affected spine, decreased range of motion, increased pain during weight lifting, sudden movement, tension during coughing or sneezing.
Chronic pain, as a symptom of spinal osteochondrosis, causes increased fatigue. When the nerve roots are pinched by the cartilage discs in the spine, the pain can be more intense and can be sharp, "shooter" in nature. The localization in this case is not limited to the area of the back, but is felt by a person in the area of the limbs.
In osteochondrosis, patients describe symptoms such as:
- paroxysmal or shooting pain in the spine affected by osteochondrosis;
- increased pain after physical exertion as well as in the morning;
- pain may radiate to the neck, arms or legs, and chest;
- crunchy feeling while twisting.
The disease gradually begins and progresses, so the way to treat osteochondrosis depends on the stage and the location of the vertebral lesion.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
In the case of osteochondrosis, treatment requires complex measures.
In the acute stage, strict bed rest is seen, with rigid fixation of the injured vertebrae with a corset or special collar. It is recommended to use a solid bed, shield, mobility restrictions.
Painkillers, B vitamins, novocaine blockers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ointment rubbing, mustard patches, ultraviolet radiation, acupuncture and reflexology, thermal procedures, wool belts, etc. are presented to reduce pain.
The next stage of treatment is to improve local blood circulation and strengthen the muscles that support the spine. To cure osteochondrosis, you must follow a complex therapy that includes:
- therapeutic massage (traditional, hardware, vacuum);
- physiotherapy exercises, swimming;
- physiotherapy (treatment with laser, ultrasound, low frequency currents, magnetic field; shock wave therapy, cryotherapy);
- reflexology (acupuncture, acupressure);
- traction (dry or water);
- methods of non-traditional therapy (treatment with bee bites);
- treatment with folk remedies (herbs, honey, mustard, red pepper, bath).
If conservative therapy is unsuccessful or changes in intervertebral discs require external intervention, modern, minimally invasive surgical techniques are used: laser reconstruction, intradiscal electrothermal therapy, microsurgical hernia removal.
In the case of irreversible lesions, an artificial intervertebral disc made of metal or metal and plastic may be installed. So now let’s take a closer look at how to treat osteochondrosis without the use of drugs.
Massage
Osteochondrosis back massage has a much more pronounced effect than exercise therapy. Above all, all treatment methods should be aimed at relieving pain.
When the pain gets better or better, the real treatment can begin. But its main task is to prevent the progression of the disease as well as subsequent possible relapses. There are two key methods used for this purpose - physiotherapy and massage. It is worth noting that in neck cases, exercise is not as effective as massage.
Judge for yourself: massage improves blood circulation in the affected area, eliminates cramps in the neck and back muscles, weakens or eliminates pain, strengthens the neck muscles.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is widely used to treat osteochondrosis. Acupuncture helps relieve pain, relaxes the back muscles, and helps repair damaged tissues by stimulating metabolic processes.
In some cases, acupuncture can replace traditional drug therapy, the disadvantages of which are well known (side effects of drugs, their dependence). Acupuncture is contraindicated during skin diseases affecting the back and during pregnancy.
Practical therapy for osteochondrosis
Physiotherapy for people with ailments such as osteochondrosis should become an essential part of life. Movement therapy capable of breaking the vicious circle, which consists of the following components: physical inactivity, weakened back and neck muscles, destruction of cartilage discs, bed rest.
Before you begin your exercises, you should be familiar with the main principles of therapeutic practices for osteochondrosis:
- Exercises should not be performed during the exacerbation phase of the disease when there is intense pain syndrome.
- Exercise should not cause increased pain.
- Complexes involving back muscle tension alternate with relaxation complexes.
- All exercises are performed smoothly, without sudden movements, maintaining the correct posture.
A separate practical complex has been developed for each type of osteochondrosis. Nevertheless, training the entire spinal muscular system is recommended to prevent the spread of the disease.