osteochondrosis

Back pain is a problem that every adult can face.Often this is not a one-time occurrence, but a symptom of a dangerous disease.Osteochondrosis often occurs in people 30-35 years old (about 40% of the population), up to 90% of cases occur in old age.

Timely diagnosis and correct approaches to treatment can eliminate the development of pathology and prevent complications.That is why it is important to understand what exactly back pain can indicate, which doctor you should contact when it appears, and how osteochondrosis should be treated.

What is osteochondrosis?

Osteochondrosis is a group of chronic diseases, the cause of which is the destruction of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, as well as damage to cartilage tissue.

With age and under the influence of uneven loads, the bone tissue of the vertebrae is deformed and destroyed, and the muscle tissue develops unevenly.This leads to various manifestations of osteochondrosis: hernias, curvature of the spine, etc.

Osteochondrosis is an outdated term;In world medicine it is known as dorsopathy. There are different types of diseases of the connective tissue and musculoskeletal system, for which different treatment methods are used.

Types of osteochondrosis

When classifying the disease, the following is taken into account: the location of the pain, the area of damage to the intervertebral discs and the degree of development of the disease.

Location of painful sensations.

Taking into account the location of pain caused by spinal diseases, there are:

• Lumbodynia.Chronic pain that occurs in the lower back often causes lameness.In especially severe cases, it can cause numbness in the legs.Most often, this symptom occurs when a person has an intervertebral hernia.When the roots of the spinal cord are compressed, paralysis of the extremities is possible.
• Lumboischialgia.Pain that radiates painful sensations to the lower back or lower extremities, along the back of the legs, from the buttocks to the knee.Clinical manifestations occur when there is pressure on the sciatic and spinal nerves.
• Lumbago.Intense stabbing or sharp pain in a certain point in the lumbar area.It is often confused with radiculitis.In most cases, an attack occurs when a person tries to bend sharply or straighten his back, as well as when suddenly lifting heavy objects.
• Thoracalgia.Pain in the chest area.It is considered a very dangerous symptom;Sometimes not even a doctor can immediately determine its cause.Unpleasant sensations are not always associated with body movements.The pain is especially intense in the area from the chest to the armpit.
• Cervicalgia.Painful sensations occur in the neck area and can extend to the upper extremities.Pathological manifestations may be accompanied by dizziness, a feeling of numbness in the back of the head, redness and swelling of the skin.

The pathology requires urgent treatment, since there may be impaired blood circulation in the brain, compression of the nerve roots and impaired venous blood flow.Cervical pain often causes inflammatory processes and intervertebral disc herniations.

The location of the most painful sensations indicates the area of damage to the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.Often, pain is reflected, that is, it is not registered in the place where the source of the disease is actually located.

Classification based on location

Depending on where in the spine the damage to the intervertebral discs and tissues occurred, osteoporosis is divided into several types.

cervical

It consists of seven small vertebrae that experience constant tension.The pathology is accompanied by thinning of the cervical vertebrae and compression of the arterial channels.The cervical type of osteochondrosis is very dangerous because it causes a disruption in the process of blood saturation in the brain.

The formation of bulges leads to a hernia.And operations performed in the cervical region can lead to immobilization of the body.

Chest

Disorders in this part of the spine are rare and are associated with low mobility of the vertebrae.The appearance of pain is observed in people who move loads, or in those who remain in one position for a long time.

Thoracic osteochondrosis is often confused with pneumonia, heart attack and angina.

Important!

Only a doctor should participate in the differential diagnosis.

lumbosacral

The lumbar region has five vertebrae.If there is a disturbance in nutrition and metabolic processes in the intervertebral disc, it loses elasticity, decreases in size and can no longer function taking into account the load received.Lack of treatment for lumbosacral osteochondrosis can lead to the following complications: hernias, protrusions, sciatica.

Important!

A very dangerous phenomenon is compression of the spinal cord, as it can cause paralysis of the lower extremities.

Another type of osteochondrosis is polysegmental.During its development, the degradation of segments in different parts of the spine occurs simultaneously.The disease is characterized by loss of sensitivity in the back of the head and disturbances in the functioning of the speech apparatus.

Features of the development of the disease.

Depending on the degree of change in the intervertebral discs, experts distinguish 4 stages of pathology, diagnosed using radiographic studies:

1. There are no visible changes in the spine.
2. Internal breaks occur in the discs, but without external changes.
3. Changes are noticeable on the disk without external damage.
4. Severe damage to the intervertebral disc.The cracks extend to the inner surface, the disc seems to protrude from the vertebrae.  

Taking into account the clinical manifestations, four stages are distinguished in the development of osteochondrosis:

1. The column works as usual.A person feels pain at the site of the disease.Patients complain of general weakness, chronic fatigue and, less frequently, loss of appetite and sleep disturbances.
2. Cracks form in the disc and the spinal segment loses stability.Painful sensations intensify, initially one-time, then chronic, which are associated with pinching of nerves, subluxation of the vertebrae and the formation of protrusions.
3. The pain intensifies even more, a deformation of the spine occurs and an intervertebral hernia forms.At the same stage, lordosis, a curvature of the spine, develops.
4. The spine loses its normal mobility.The cartilage tissue thickens and osteophytes (cartilage growths in the joints) appear.In particularly difficult cases, patients lose the ability to move.

Important!

A person diagnosed with the fourth stage of osteochondrosis receives disability.

Causes of osteochondrosis

There are a large number of theories that explain the appearance of the pathology.Among the reasons are hormonal changes, heredity, problems in the cardiovascular system, mechanical damage and more.Researchers agree that the most common cause is overloading of individual segments of the spine.

The human spine has between 32 and 34 vertebrae (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral and 3-5 coccygeal).Each segment consists of two vertebrae and an intervertebral disc between them.The integrity of this structure is ensured by the joints and articular processes.

Intervertebral discs consist of a gelatinous core and a dense fibrous ring surrounding it, which is covered on top with a layer of cartilaginous tissue.They perform a shock absorption function, preventing damage to the vertebrae when jumping, running and walking.The design is very mobile and provides flexibility and stability to the spine.

Already at the first stage of osteochondrosis, the degradation and destruction of the intervertebral discs begins, the amount of fluid in their core decreases, the cartilage tissue becomes thinner and less elastic.

Osteochondrosis is diagnosed in most cases in elderly people, as well as in those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.Doctors believe that the main cause of the disease is the uneven distribution of load on the spine and vertebrae.This causes its damage, as well as the destruction of cartilage tissue.

Most often, this disorder arises due to a sedentary lifestyle, irregular exercise, excessive physical activity and work associated with constant pressure on the back.

Incorrect position of the body when walking, sitting, carrying and lifting heavy objects, tight and uncomfortable clothing and shoes can cause damage/displacement of the intervertebral discs and, as a result, lead to the development of osteochondrosis.

Other reasons for the development of pathology include:

•  fractures, curvatures and damage to the spine;
• hormonal imbalances;
• pregnancy;
• hypothermia and sudden changes in temperature.

Important!

Straining the cervical spine while working at a computer can also lead to the development of osteochondrosis.

Risk factors for the development of osteochondrosis.

There is a large list of diseases that can cause osteochondrosis.These include:

• flat feet;
• scoliosis;
• arthritis;
• osteoporosis;
• osteoarthritis;
• neuroemotional exhaustion;
• diabetes mellitus;
• obesity.

Other risk factors include metabolic disorders, intense physical activity (especially associated with lifting heavy objects), lack of nutrients, natural age-related changes in the body, and genetic predisposition.

Regular consumption of tobacco (smoking) and alcohol significantly weakens the tissue of the intervertebral discs.Lack of calcium may be a factor in the development of the disease.

Symptoms and signs of osteochondrosis

Painful sensations are the main symptom of the pathology.The nature of the pain can vary, it can be:

• sharp, intense, worse with movement (as a rule, the patient tries to remain still);
• opaque, soft (movements are slow).

In addition to local pain exactly in the place where the destruction of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs began, patients often experience pain in projection, far from the place of the problem.Due to pain, the strength of the muscles of the lower and upper extremities decreases, movement disorders and general weakness occur in the body.

Patients often complain of general symptoms of osteochondrosis such as:

• stiffness and discomfort when moving;
• muscle spasms;
• migraines and headaches;
• frequent dizziness, visual disturbances;
• the appearance of pain in the joints of the extremities;
• feeling of coldness in the extremities;
• decreased sensitivity;
• circulatory disorders;
• loss of consciousness.

In some cases, patients experience numbness in the extremities and tingling sensations in the cervical, lumbar and sternum regions.

With osteochondrosis, several characteristic syndromes often occur:

• Vertebral.Acute or chronic back pain, which is accompanied by poor circulation.
• Cardiac.A form of angina.
• Vertebral artery syndrome.Pain resulting from circulatory disorders in the vertebral arteries.
• Koreshkovy.The pain is caused by compression of the spinal roots at the places where they branch from the spinal cord.

Depending on the type of osteochondrosis at the location, the symptoms of the disease may differ.

For cervical osteochondrosisIt is characterized by migraines, numbness in the fingers, difficulty moving the head and neck, pain in the back of the neck.Also, with cervical osteochondrosis, patients complain of facial numbness, sleeping problems, frequent dizziness and ringing in the ears.

Lumbar osteochondrosisIt causes pain in the buttocks and perineum, leading to movement problems.Patients experience sharp pain when bending over, in the lower back (after sleeping or sitting for a long time in one place).Numbness, dizziness and general weakness appear.The disease often causes pain in the kidney area, erectile dysfunction, and frequent urination.With lumbar osteochondrosis, scoliosis often develops.

Thoracic osteochondrosisaccompanied by shortness of breath, stiffness in the thoracic region, pain between the shoulder blades and ribs.Often patients are worried about problems in the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and pancreas.Specific manifestations of pathologies of the thoracic spine include dry skin, peeling skin of the extremities, and brittle nails.

Osteochondrosis: diagnosis

You should consult a doctor (vertebrologist or neurologist) if you experience back pain (of any type), muscle spasms and sensory disturbances in the back and extremities.

No additional preparation is required to visit a neurologist or vertebrologist.It is important to provide your doctor with a list of pain relievers you have recently taken.It is also necessary to report all measures taken during self-treatment before scheduling a consultation.

During your appointment, the doctor will perform a complete examination, including:

• collect anamnesis, study the patient's medical history and complaints;
• physiological examination, palpation, assessment of the condition of the skin and localization of pain;
• determination of the nature of the pain (acute, dull, reflex, local, etc.);
• blood test (indicators of blood calcium level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate are important);
• ECG and ultrasound of the heart (to exclude or confirm the connection of pain syndromes with diseases of the cardiovascular system);
• Duplex scanning of the arteries of the head and neck (assessment of the quality of blood flow, determination of vasoconstriction).

To confirm the diagnosis, additional radiographic studies may be prescribed, including:

• Spine x-ray.A complete image in two projections, if necessary, filming of each individual segment of the spine.A functional x-ray may also be prescribed, a study in which a specialist takes photographs in various positions of the body.
• CT scan of an individual disc.The study shows the condition of the vertebral body, blood vessels, nerve endings, ligaments and soft tissues, breaks in the contours of the intervertebral disc, disc height, changes in the dura mater, marginal growths and vertebral instability.
• Myelography.Contrast x-ray of the spinal cord.
• Magnetic resonance imaging.This is an alternative to CT scan of the intervertebral disc.Allows you to evaluate the condition of blood vessels and cartilaginous tissue.

X-ray studies confirm osteochondrosis if the images show:

• pathological mobility of the vertebrae, deviating from the norm;
• displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other;
• deposition of salts in intervertebral discs;
• uniform narrowing of the intervertebral space in the lumbar and cervical regions, wedge-shaped narrowing in the thoracic region;
• formation of osteophytes (marginal growths);
• Marginal sclerosis is the formation of a compaction in the affected disc.

As part of the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe a consultation with another specialist (otolaryngologist, cardiologist, urologist, etc.).

Important!

The main task of a diagnostic doctor is to establish the causes of osteochondrosis.Depending on the results obtained during the examination, the doctor will determine the type of pathology and prescribe appropriate therapy in a particular case.

Complications of osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the spine is an unpleasant disease that in its final stages can provoke the development of other diseases and pathologies.The most common are:

• protrusion (bulging of the intervertebral discs);
• intervertebral hernia;
• salt deposits between the vertebrae;
• kyphosis (curvature of the spine);
• muscle atrophy;
• spinal stroke (circulation disorder in the spinal cord);
• radiculitis;
• disturbance of the functioning of the genitourinary system (problems with urination, erectile dysfunction in men, inflammatory processes in the uterus, ovaries and appendages in women);
• paralysis of the extremities.

Timely consultation with a doctor at the first painful sensation and regular prevention of osteochondrosis will help avoid the development of complications.

Osteochondrosis treatment

At the Naran clinic, doctors practice an integrated approach to the treatment of osteochondrosis.

Tibetan medicine doctors use four treatment methods:

• Correction of nutrition according to dosha.
• Lifestyle correction
• herbal medicine

A set of external procedures:

• Nutritional correction.A balanced diet in accordance with the constitution of the human body (dosha) promotes an increase in energy and cell renewal in all organs and organ systems of the body.
• Phytotherapy.The use of Tibetan medicinal herbs and mixtures based on recipes of ancient healers.It restores the natural balance of the body, promotes its rejuvenation and the eradication of many diseases.

External effects on the body:

• energy acupressure - normalizes and restores the proper functioning of internal organs, helps to improve blood circulation throughout the body and restores immunity;
• acupuncture - eliminates pain and inflammation, relieves discomfort resulting from external manifestations, improves fluid circulation in the body;
• vacuum therapy (cupping) - improves innervation, removes waste and toxins, normalizes regulatory and metabolic processes;
• stone therapy: beneficial for the cardiovascular system, blood pressure, relieves muscle spasms and restores sleep;
• Moxibustion, moxibustion or jutherapy of biologically active points has been used in Tibetan medicine for more than 5 thousand years.Cigars made from wormwood, edelweiss, juniper, poplar leaves, as well as pressed charcoal, etc. are used to burn or heat.

Prevention of osteochondrosis

The main prevention method is to evenly distribute the load on the spine.In practice this includes:

• active lifestyle;
• moderate exercise (morning exercises, yoga, swimming, walking, running, cycling, exercises to strengthen the muscle corset);
• sleeping on an orthopedic mattress and pillow;
• wear comfortable or, even better, orthopedic shoes;
• balanced diet, including a large amount of minerals and vitamins;
• periodic preventive examinations carried out by a neurologist and vertebrologist;
• quit smoking and drinking alcohol.

During prolonged sedentary and stationary work, it is important to periodically take breaks, change positions and warm up, this will help you relax and reduce the load on the spine.

When lifting weights, you don't need to do it quickly, with jerks, just gently and in a half-squat.To carry heavy objects, it is better to choose backpacks with an orthopedic wall than bags with a shoulder strap.

Avoid spending a lot of time in a static, uncomfortable position, especially standing with your arms raised;This position damages the ligaments and increases the load on the intervertebral discs.

Important!

Doctors recommend sitting in a physiologically correct position: relaxed shoulders, toned abdominal muscles, even distribution of weight on both buttocks and a straight position of the spine with even emphasis on the back of the chair.

Manual therapy, various methods of physiotherapy and acupuncture also give positive results as a preventive measure for spinal osteochondrosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis consists of three stages:

1. Relieve or reduce pain.
2. Elimination of alterations in the state and functioning of the intervertebral discs and vertebrae.
3. Prevention of complications.

If you consult a specialist immediately at the first signs of the disease, you can avoid complications and the need for surgical treatment.That is why it is so important to undergo annual preventive examinations with a neurologist and vertebrologist, even if you are not bothered by pain in the spine.

Important!

Only a qualified doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, determine the disease and its causes, and prescribe effective treatment.