Osteochondrosis -degenerative-dystrophic damage to the tissues of the spine, characterized by damage to the intervertebral discs, adjacent joint surfaces and vertebral bodies, and ligamentous apparatus of the spine.
Most often, pathological processes in osteochondrosis first affect bones and ligaments.We usually learn that the disease has already begun when complications appear - pain, sensory disturbances, muscle atrophy, dysfunction of internal organs.
Who suffers from osteochondrosis?
Nowadays, osteochondrosis affects from 40 to 90% of the world's population.Most often, the disease affects people over 30 years of age.However, the first symptoms of osteochondrosis may appear in adolescence.
Stages of development of spinal osteochondrosis
- The first stage of development of osteochondrosis.
Dehydration of the nucleus pulposus begins.This leads to a decrease in the height of the disk.Cracks appear in the fibrous ring, but the pathological process does not extend beyond the intervertebral disc.
- The second stage of development of osteochondrosis.
As a result of the decrease in the height of the disc, the attachment points of the muscles and ligaments belonging to two adjacent vertebrae are closer to each other.Therefore, muscles and ligaments sag.This can lead to excessive mobility of the two vertebrae relative to each other, i.e.instability of the vertebral motion segment is formed.At this stage, slipping or displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other with the formation of spondylolisthesis is characteristic.
- The third stage of the development of osteochondrosis.
During this period, first of all, the most obvious morphological changes that affect the intervertebral discs themselves occur: disc prolapses and protrusions are formed.The articular apparatus of the vertebral movement segment also suffers.Subluxation occurs in intervertebral joints and non-vertebral joints and forms of arthrosis.
- The fourth stage of the development of osteochondrosis.
At this stage, adaptive changes occur in the affected segments of the spine.The body tries to eliminate excessive mobility of the vertebrae and eliminate immobility of the spine in order to maintain its supporting and protective functions.In this regard, marginal bone growths appear on the adjacent surfaces of the vertebral bodies, in other words, osteophytes.An osteophyte growing in the "wrong place" causes microtrauma in the nerve root.In the fourth stage, fibrous ankylosis processes usually begin in the intervertebral discs and joints.Finally, the vertebral motor segment appears to be wrapped in a shell - clinical manifestations decrease.
Causes of osteochondrosis
In each of the many existing theories of the development of osteochondrosis, different causes are accepted, for example, mechanical trauma, hereditary predisposition or metabolic disorders, which are responsible for the occurrence of the disease.A special difficulty in determining the cause of osteochondrosis is that this disease can occur in both the elderly and the young, both well-built and less trained people.There is a general belief that the cause of osteochondrosis is the deposition of salts in the spine: allegedly, on X-rays, salts can be seen in the form of "growths" or "hooks" on the vertebrae.If there is a creaking and creaking in the joints when moving, as if sand is poured between them, the only reason for this condition for many patients is the well-known "salt deposition".Such misconceptions are not at all harmless: the correct idea about how to treat the disease can be determined based on the analysis of the causes that lead to it.
The term "osteochondrosis" comes from the Greek roots osteon - "bone" and chondr - "cartilage".The last "-oz" means that bone and cartilage disease is not related to inflammatory processes, but is degenerative-dystrophic in nature, that is, the basis of the disease is a violation of tissue nutrition and, as a result, degeneration of its structure.Like all living tissues, the bone tissue of the vertebrae and the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs are constantly rebuilding and renewing themselves.Under the influence of regular physical activity, they gain strength and flexibility, and in the absence of loads, the strength of tissues decreases.
This is related to the characteristics of nutrition and blood supply to bone and cartilage tissue.Adult discs do not have their own veins;they receive nutrients and oxygen from neighboring tissues.Therefore, it is necessary to activate the blood circulation in the tissues surrounding the discs for proper nutrition of the discs.And this can only be achieved through intense muscle work.
According to its composition, the intervertebral disc can be divided into two parts: it is the nucleus pulposus, which is located in the center and surrounds it with a strong fibrous ring, which gives elasticity to the disc.Due to the deterioration of nutrition of the intervertebral discs, the complex structure of the biopolymer compounds that make up the core of the pulp is destroyed.In the core pulposus, moisture is reduced and it becomes more fragile.Under even small overloads, the nucleus pulposus can break into pieces.This further reduces its elasticity.There is also a decrease in the strength of the fibrous rings of the discs.All these factors create a basis for the development of osteochondrosis and cause it.
In order to restore the function of the spine, it is necessary to prevent damage to the intervertebral disc, to mobilize the compensatory capabilities of the spine, as well as the musculoskeletal system as a whole, not to dissolve "salt deposits" and to remove "spikes" in the vertebrae.After the end of the treatment, when performing an X-ray examination, you can see that the vertebra has not changed its shape.The notorious "spike" is not the cause of osteochondrosis, but the result of adaptive processes.Marginal growths increase the area of the supporting surface of the vertebral body.Due to the increase in area, the specific pressure decreases, which makes it possible to compensate for the decrease in the strength and elasticity of the intervertebral disc.
Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine are accompanied by calcification (calcification) of individual parts of the damaged discs, ligaments, cartilages and capsules.This process can only be tentatively called precipitation of salts.Thus, this is not the cause of osteochondrosis, but only the result and the final stage of the process described above.
Structural changes in the spine are almost impossible to reverse.But minimizing them is a very real task.If no effort is made to keep the spine in the same position achieved as a result of the treatment, the pain may recur.
Clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis
Clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis are very diverse.They depend on the stage of development of osteochondrosis.The main clinical signs of osteochondrosis occur when the pathological process spreads to the back of the fibrous ring and the posterior longitudinal ligament.Depending on the stage of degeneration of the intervertebral discs, there is irritation, compression or impaired permeability of the spinal cord roots, compression of blood vessels or the spinal cord.Various neurological syndromes develop - reflex and compression.
The main cause of pain in osteochondrosis is nerve root irritation.In this case, blood circulation is disturbed, swelling occurs, and fibrosis of the surrounding structures may develop later, which is accompanied by increased sensitivity of the roots to various influences (movements in the affected segment of the spine, etc.).
Vascular disorders in osteochondrosis are often associated with vasomotor innervation disorders.Mechanical compression of blood vessels by osteophytes is also possible, for example, in the cervical spine.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
One of the features of spinal osteochondrosis that complicates the process is that its symptoms are very wide.The disease can manifest itself in completely different parts of the body.This can be pain or numbness in the limbs or discomfort and pain in the internal organs.At the same time, people often do not associate pain in the heart, dysfunction of the genitals, headaches, pain in the legs and numbness with osteochondrosis and the spine in general, they directly "treat" the symptoms of osteochondrosis with the help of various types of painkillers, all kinds of dietary supplements and other advertising methods.But this way makes the situation worse.Osteochondrosis continues to develop, and the methods of treatment used, at best, do not lead to significant improvement, except for temporary relief of pain, and at worst, they can cause more damage to the body.
Therefore, it is important to carefully analyze your situation and the changes that occur in it.You need to start moving in the right direction: consult a doctor on time, undergo the necessary diagnostics and only after determining the correct diagnosis, start treatment under the supervision of the attending physician.
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis include, first of all, back pain and discomfort.At the same time, the pain can be periodic, inconsistent, appearing and disappearing.But the first feeling of discomfort or pain in the spine should make you think.The appearance of the first pains is a signal to at least pay attention to it and try to remember the reason for their occurrence.Such a reason is lifting a heavy object, sudden movement, falling, etc.can be
Another symptom of osteochondrosis is discomfort or back pain accompanied by pain and numbness in the extremities (arms or legs).The pain most often spreads to the left limb, that is, the left arm or leg.In addition, the pain is in the region of the heart, in the back and not only in the spine, for example, in the ribs, etc.If the patient sits for a long time and feels pain or numbness in the leg, discomfort in the lower back, and the pain disappears after a short warm-up or walking, this will be an indirect sign of lumbar osteochondrosis of the spine.The same picture can be with the neck and arms.To summarize, we can say that the main symptoms of osteochondrosis include back pain and discomfort.In cases where these symptoms coincide with pain in other parts of the body, osteochondrosis can be complicated by a protrusion, disc herniation, or nerve compression.
In addition, I would like to draw attention to the fact that even when the first pains appear in the spine, special attention should be paid to this disease.After all, osteochondrosis can manifest itself weakly or not at all for quite a long time.At the same time, it will continue to successfully develop in the spine and cause the degeneration of an increasing number of discs.Therefore, a timely visit to the doctor will allow osteochondrosis to be diagnosed at an earlier stage, which will facilitate its treatment.
Osteochondrosis and salt deposition
To reduce the load on the intervertebral discs, osteophytes or hook-shaped growths of the vertebrae appear.In this case, the appearance of osteophytes harms the mobility of the intervertebral joints.
The widespread belief that salt deposition in everyday life is the main cause of osteochondrosis is a mistake.Therefore, treating osteochondrosis using a salt-free diet makes no sense.
The most common complaints related to spinal osteochondrosis
The most common complaints related to osteochondrosis are:
- Discomfort in various parts of the spine.Pain can vary from small, dull, nagging pain to severe, sometimes very intense and unbearable pain - with fever.
- Increased physical and mental fatigue during work.
- Loss of sensitivity in limbs and different parts of the body, cold hands or feet.
- Pain spreading to the legs, along the nerve trunks.
- Pain radiating to the shoulder blade, shoulder, as well as pain in the neck and back of the head.
- A frequent companion of cervical osteochondrosis is headache and dizziness.Increased visual fatigue or reduced visual acuity is often observed.
- When the lumbar-sacral region is affected, disorders of the reproductive system - various sexual disorders are common.Therefore, most men feel an increase in sexual power after treatment.Normal functioning of the lumbosacral region in women increases the probability of conception and contributes to a comfortable pregnancy.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
To diagnose osteochondrosis, it is necessary to collect anamnesis.Determining the patient's complaints is crucial.Certain symptoms of osteochondrosis are quite characteristic.Others, on the contrary, should be distinguished from the symptoms of other diseases.It is important that various diseases of nervous, vascular and trophic disorders occurring in osteochondrosis, for example, angina pectoris, gastritis, gastric ulcer, can imitate acute surgical diseases of abdominal cavity organs.Therefore, each symptom should be subjected to a detailed analysis in order to avoid wrong diagnosis and subsequent wrong treatment.
When collecting the anamnesis, including the patient's complaints, the history of the existing disease and the patient's life, the doctor pays attention to his age, because osteochondrosis develops most often in older people and develops from the moment the symptoms occur until the patient consults a doctor.Osteochondrosis is characterized by slow development, periods of exacerbation are periodically replaced by periods of remission.Additional research methods are prescribed to clarify the diagnosis.
X-ray studies for osteochondrosis
The most accessible and at the same time sufficiently informative method for diagnosing osteochondrosis is X-ray examination.There are several types of X-ray methods for diagnosing this disease:
X-ray examination of the spine is the simplest radiological method for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis.Its essence is to obtain an X-ray of the spine as a whole or its individual segments.Target radiography is often performed - the location of the spinal lesion is determined based on the symptoms of the disease and the patient's complaints.In the X-ray image of a segment of the spine affected by osteochondrosis, it is possible to see a decrease in the thickness (atrophy) of the intervertebral discs, a decrease in the space between the vertebrae, the appearance of bone protrusions of the vertebral bodies - osteophytes, partial melting - resorption of bone tissue.spinal segment, for example, flattening of lumbar lordosis.
Myelography is a more complicated and dangerous diagnostic method.During such an examination, a certain amount of contrast liquid is injected into the spinal canal.The risk of this examination method is the possibility of allergic reactions to the contrast agent or the risk of damage to the spinal cord during the puncture of the spinal canal.Myelography can determine the internal structure of the spinal canal.This method is particularly informative for determining spinal hernias.
Computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance are the most modern methods for diagnosing osteochondrosis, but also the most expensive and difficult to obtain.These diagnostic methods are usually used when it is necessary to differentiate between osteochondrosis and other diseases of the spine with similar symptoms, for example, tumors of the spinal canal.
A neurological examination of a patient with osteochondrosis is mandatory for a comprehensive assessment of the patient's condition.Thanks to a neurological consultation, it is possible to clarify the location and degree of motor and sensory disorders.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Effective treatment for all forms of osteochondrosis is carried out in the clinic.Treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis.Treatment is based on a comprehensive program aimed at quickly eliminating the underlying syndrome and the cause of suffering.The following methods can be used as part of complex therapy:
- acupuncture;
- vacuum therapy;
- gentle manual therapy techniques (post-isometric relaxation);
- laser therapy;
- pharmacopuncture;
- dry traction;
- magnetopuncture;
- electrical stimulation and other treatment methods.
On average, the course of treatment is 10-15 sessions, and the elimination of acute pain syndrome is 1-3 sessions.
The sooner the treatment starts, the better the result!
Is it realistic to completely get rid of osteochondrosis?
It depends on the form of the disease, severity, correctness and time of treatment.Complete treatment is possible only at the initial stage.
But you can prevent exacerbation of osteochondrosis and you will not feel pain for years.If a person has osteochondrosis, but now does not feel discomfort, this does not mean that it will pass without a trace.There may be changes in the spine.
The main task is to stop the development of the disease and to do everything possible to eliminate some pathological changes in the spine, disappear or reduce symptoms (back pain, coldness and numbness of arms and legs, headaches, etc.).