Osteochondrosis: what is it and how does it manifest itself?This is a fairly common pathology, which most often occurs in older people, but today the incidence is often observed among young people.In order to choose the right treatment for osteochondrosis, it is necessary to determine the cause of its occurrence and the stage of damage to the body.Well, in order to recognize this disease, you need to have an idea of what kind of disease it is and everything about osteochondrosis in general.And how to get rid of osteochondrosis and alleviate the patient's condition?
What is osteochondrosis?
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is a degenerative-destructive disorder of the spinal column.The basis of this disease is a change in the trophism of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, which results in a disruption of the normal tissue structure.The cartilage disc becomes inelastic, changes its shape and consistency.The width of the intervertebral spaces narrows, and the damaged part of the spinal column loses its stability.Damage to the proper relationship between the vertebrae is associated with the compression of the nerve endings that extend from the spinal cord and the intensity of the back muscles.As a result, neurological symptoms of osteochondrosis and pain appear.
Dystrophic disorders in the disc lead to a reduction of the fibrous ring.In this connection, the patient often develops dangerous complications (vertebral hernia, protrusion).
After that, osteochondrosis as a degenerative disorder spreads to the small joints of the spinal ridge, intervertebral ligaments are formed and bony outgrowths of the vertebrae are formed.The patient barely bends or straightens;in other words, flexibility disappears, subluxations of the vertebrae and curvature of the spine (scoliosis, kyphosis) appear.
Depending on the location, the pathology affects:
- cervical region;
- chest;
- lumbar.
The first signs of osteochondrosis do not appear immediately, but gradually.These degenerative damages of bone and cartilage tissue quickly lead to physiological aging of the body.You can see what osteochondrosis is and how to treat it below.
What is Dorsalgia?
Dorsalgia is a rather complex syndrome that occurs in various diseases.It can be associated with back diseases and other disorders of internal organs.
It most often occurs as a result of osteochondrosis, spondylosis, disc herniation and severe scoliosis.This syndrome is manifested by mild pain in the damaged part of the back.
Causes of disease
What causes osteochondrosis?The exact causes of osteochondrosis have not yet been determined.There are many predisposing circumstances that cause osteochondrosis, some of them are:
- genetic predisposition;
- changes in the metabolic flow in the body;
- intoxication, infectious pathologies;
- smoking, stress lead to narrowing and spasm of blood vessels;
- foot diseases that cause an overload of the spine (flat feet);
- overweight, obesity;
- microtraumas of the spinal column (blows, falls, sharp jerks) and macrotraumas (bruises, fractures);
- age changes;
- hypothermia, sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition lead to a lack of fluids and vitamins;
- metabolic disorders;
- unique climate (high humidity, low air temperatures).
Osteochondrosis has other causes, and each of them can appear as a result of a wrong lifestyle.
It is widely believed that many diseases arise from nerves.Suspicious and temperamental people often suffer from diseases of the joints and spine.
Psychological causes of osteochondrosis can also be observed:
- insomnia, depression;
- stress, nervous breakdowns;
- feelings of loneliness, feelings of fear;
- sad mood;
- psychological pathologies;
- problems in sexual life.
The psychology of this disease has not been fully established.
Symptoms
In the case of osteochondrosis, symptoms and treatment will depend on the location of the lesion and the stage of damage.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine affecting the cervical spine appear as follows:
- pain in the parietal, occipital and temporal zones, which increases with turns and movements of the neck;
- tinnitus, hearing loss;
- dizziness, flickering in the eyes, fainting;
- visual impairment;
- changes in blood pressure;
- hoarse voice, snoring;
- numbness.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back affecting the thoracic part:
- numbness of the skin in the chest, back, abdomen;
- pain when raising the arms, taking a deep breath, as well as exhaling;
- aching, constricting, often sharp, sharp pain in region of heart;
- discomfort and difficulty turning the body in one direction or another;
- severe pain in the spinal column.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis in women and men with damage to the lumbar region:
- feeling of numbness, tingling, goosebumps in the legs, buttocks;
- profuse sweating;
- pain in the lumbar region, which is transmitted to one or both legs;
- varicose veins on the lower extremities;
- feet freeze even at high temperatures;
- Women have irregular periods, men have impotence disorders.
When the treatment and symptoms of osteochondrosis are already long and advanced, the damaged vertebrae fuse together, the patient suffers from the inability to move in one or another area of the spine, and the pain usually decreases or disappears completely.How to treat osteochondrosis of the spine?
Diagnostics
If you have osteochondrosis, what to do and how to overcome it?Before starting the treatment of osteochondrosis of the back, the doctor must make a correct diagnosis by first examining and interviewing the patient.And yet, how to recognize osteochondrosis?
To confirm the pathology, you must undergo the following examination methods:
- computer tomography, which recognizes the condition of intervertebral discs, their structure, shape, compression of nerve endings, deformations;
- MRI, detecting the smallest injuries in the area of the spinal column, is used when CT could not reveal the exact result;
- radiography, determines the degree of damaged vertebrae, their location and the appearance of the bones;
- Doppler ultrasound reveals the degree of change in blood flow through the capillaries that saturate the spinal cord and other organs.
Sometimes a detailed examination can reveal related pathologies that arise in the case of complications of this disease (hernia, radiculitis, protrusion, kyphosis).
The diagnostic feature is of the utmost importance, because many symptoms and signs are very similar to the symptoms of other diseases, and the focus of pain can be the spinal process, but also a damaged intervertebral disc.
How to cure osteochondrosis of the spine?
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine is a rather long-term process that involves the complex use of drugs;you will also need a specific treatment regimen for osteochondrosis and an individual approach to each patient.The selection of the necessary treatment regimen for each patient is determined by the nature of pathological disorders, the condition of the person and the presence of complications of the disease.
Also, an important condition for solving osteochondrosis is the stage of treatment.First of all, during an exacerbation of osteochondrosis, treatment is aimed at eliminating pain.The patient is recommended to rest, to use special collars and corsets designed for self-unloading of the spine.External and internal treatment with drugs and physical procedures will be required.
Then procedures will be needed that can prevent the occurrence of new exacerbations (therapeutic exercises, reflexology, manual therapy, massages).
Medicines
Is it possible to cure osteochondrosis with drugs?Medicines should be used at the time of exacerbation of the disease.They help to reduce symptoms and affect individual etiological factors in the development of the disease.
The most common drugs used to treat osteochondrosis are:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They have an analgesic effect, quickly relieve inflammation and can reduce the elevated temperature of damaged tissues of the spinal column.These products are used in the form of injections, ointments, gels and tablets.
- Muscle relaxants.They fight against increased muscle tone, which can often appear in this pathology.
- Chondroprotectors.They reduce the processes of cartilage destruction and lead to their renewal.
- Painkillersfor local effects (paprika, poultices).
- Vitamins E, B1, B2, B6.Increase metabolism, restore damaged tissue.It is better to use them in the form of injections.
- Vasodilator drugs.Designed to eliminate vascular spasms.
- Glucocorticosteroids.Relieves swelling, inflammation, enhances the effect of muscle relaxants, NSAIDs.
- Angioprotectors.They restore blood flow, metabolism, muscle tone of capillaries.
Therapeutic exercise
In the case of spine disease, the symptoms can be pronounced, so only a specialist can advise what to do for osteochondrosis.
Exercise therapy or physical therapy is an effective treatment for osteochondrosis, because gymnastics for strengthening the muscles of the back leads to the development of a muscular corset, and this enables an even distribution of the load on the spine.Thanks to constant procedures, blood circulation is restored, tissue nutrition is restored, and movements become easier.
For example, special breathing exercises reduce muscle spasms and relieve pain.But swimming can significantly relax and relieve the spine.
However, for the sake of the effectiveness of physical therapy and safety, exercises should be performed only after getting rid of the acute symptoms of the disease.
Physiotherapy treatment
In addition to drugs, the treatment of osteochondrosis of the back also includes physiotherapeutic measures.They help speed up the recovery process and continue to be used throughout the remission period outside of exacerbations.There are many methods of physical therapy and many of them are practiced specifically for osteochondrosis of the back and treatment, for example:
- Magnetotherapy- restores metabolic processes, reduces inflammation, tissue swelling and pain.
- Electrophoresis.Medicines used during this procedure enhance analgesic results, improve blood flow in damaged tissues and normalize metabolism.
- Manual therapy– reduces pain, joint mobility may occur.
- Laser therapy- normalizes circulation, reduces inflammation, pain, stimulates tissue regeneration.
- Acupuncture.Special needles can relieve pain, relieve inflammation and stimulate metabolic processes.
- Massage.Osteochondrosis of the spine can be cured with the help of therapeutic massage, which removes pain, restores muscle tone, as well as nerve conduction.
- Tractionfor osteochondrosis of the spine in adults.It helps to normalize mobility, blocks the progression of the disease and the appearance of complications.
It happens that a doctor prescribes a whole series of such procedures to one patient at once.It usually depends on how osteochondrosis manifests itself and associated diseases.The duration of the course is from 10 to 15 days.It is recommended to repeat them 3-4 times throughout the year.In this regard, it is possible to reduce the rate of progression and the frequency of complications several times.
Surgical treatment
Is osteochondrosis treated surgically?With osteochondrosis of the spine, treatment is possible in this way.The reason for this intervention may be the late visit of the patient to the doctor, the presence of complications or the failure of conservative treatment.
Any type of surgical intervention helps to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and roots.When a person has an intervertebral hernia, then the damaged disc and the hernia itself are completely removed.
The surgical method involves a certain degree of risk and is performed in emergency situations.
Of course, it is unlikely that you will be able to get rid of osteochondrosis forever, but with the help of drugs, physiotherapeutic measures and massages, you can forget about the unpleasant symptoms of the disease for a certain time.