Osteochondrosis is a medical term that describes disorders of the integrity of the cartilage surfaces of the bones.Most often, the disease is associated with damage to the intervertebral discs.
The intervertebral discs are a type of shock absorbers that soften the pressure on the spine with load.Osteochondrosis impairs the quality of life, causing back pain, neck, head, noise in the ears.
There are two perspectives on the diagnosis.Experts abroad include disorder in the child and adolescence.It is believed to be more frequent in children as their bones are in the stage of development.Doctors diagnose osteochondrosis mainly in patients 25-55 years of age.The signs, causes and types of diseases in two cases are the same.
How to determine osteochondrosis?
- Is there constant or periodic back pain or muscle tension?
- Is there a gooseb outdoor at the bottom of the back or neck?
- Do you feel "shooting" from behind?
- Does the pain appear when lifting hands or a swinging head aside?
- Is there a periodic dizziness?
- Are there noise, nausea?
If at least one answer is affirmative, you should contact a specialist to conduct a study.If the diagnosis reveals disorders, the doctor will prescribe treatment and help prevent more serious and painful symptoms.
What causes osteochondrosis
The mass frequency of osteochondrosis is due to the fact that people are upright most of the time.In this case, the spine and the discs experience an increased load.If it is wrong to sit, lie and stand, the discs lose their depreciation capabilities.
Over time, the lining of the disc and the hernial convexity appears.They begin to transmit blood vessels, the roots of the spinal cord or the brain itself.As a result, pain, reflex tension in the muscles occurs.
The risk group includes middle and elderly.Office workers, professional drivers, people with high growth most often encounter this disease.Risk factors for the onset of pronounced symptoms of disorders may be:
- flat legs;
- heredity;
- excess body weight;
- Hypodynamia.
Causes of joint cartilage disorders:
- Work with a heavy load
- Improper posture in a sitting, standing or false position.
- Injuries, overvoltage.
- Excessive loads when you play sports.
- Increased humidity and low temperature.
- Activities related to frequent change in body position
Types of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis can develop in any spine.According to location, the disease is divided into: cervical, breast and lumbar.In 50% of cases, the last type is located.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
A similar diagnosis is established for both men and women.The reason for this is the increased load that occurs when walking, running, exercise, prolonged seat.The lumbar spine consists of 5 vertebrae, between which there are discs that give elasticity.If the exchange process does not take place, the intervertebral discs lose their properties and pain occurs.
Symptoms:
- Dumb or acute lower back pain, which is exacerbated by movement.
- Foot pain, pelvic body, sacrum.
- Violation of mobility or sensitivity.
- Atrophy of the leg muscles in the acute course of the disease.
Lumbar osteochondrosis should be treated.In the absence of therapy, dangerous complications can occur: Ishii, hernia, convexity.As a result, the natural blood supply to the spinal cord is disrupted, leading to paralysis of the lower limbs.
Cervical osteochondrosis
"Remember to turn your head," doctors urged.So you can avoid a dangerous diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.The neck is the most moving part of the spine.The department consists of 7 vertebrae.The disease occurs as a result of impaired metabolic processes in the body, in the presence of salts in the neck or due to the frequent uncomfortable position of the head.
Symptoms:
- Headache
- Heart pain
- Trembling "flies" in front of my eyes
- Hearing impairment
- Creep
- Pain in hand or shoulder joints
- Limb numbness
Experts note that this type of disease is one of the most dangerous, because its cause may have a disorder of blood circulation in the brain, migraines, dystonia and more serious diseases.
Thoracic osteochondrosis
Chest disorders are more common as the vertebrae are inactive.The pain that occurs in this area is experienced by many people who deal with heavy physical labor or have a sedentary profession.The cause of osteochondrosis may be a disturbed process of metabolism, increased loading of the intervertebral discs.
Symptoms:
- Pain or feeling of compression in the chest area.
- Pain between shoulder blades when lifting hands.
- Skin sensitivity disorders.
In acute disorder, two symptoms may occur: Dorsago and Dorsalgia.Dorsago is accompanied by acute chest pain, shortness of breath.With dorsalgia, the pain in the vertebrae of the department is not too severe, but it grows gradually.The disease is often confused with other pathologies of the chest: heart attack, pneumonia, angina and more.The diagnosis is made only by a specialist based on check and research.
Stages of osteochondrosis
There are no obvious symptoms in the first stage.With a frequency, discomfort occurs in the spine, which is associated with fatigue or excessive exercise.The disease can be detected during preventive examination, X -ray or CT.
The second stage is accompanied by pain, as the process of destruction of cartilage tissue begins and the precipice between the discs decreases.The pain at this stage is removed with medicines as prescribed by a doctor.
In the third stage, deformities of the spine begin: a fibrous ring is disturbed, intervertebral hernia appears.With the help of properly prescribed treatment, you can still improve the condition of the spine.
The fourth stage is irreversible changes in the spine, in which it is difficult to move to a person.Between the vertebrae bone tissue connecting the vertebrae.Most often, such a form of osteochondrosis leads to damage.
Diagnostic methods
To determine the degree of illness, check sensitivity and reflexes, the doctor conducts a physical examination.In addition, blood and urine tests have been given, calcium metabolism indicators are studied.
Diagnostic methods are used to make an accurate diagnosis:
- Ultrasound of the vessels.Determination of the degree of impaired blood flow to the spinal arteries.
- X -rot of the spine.
- Ct.The construction of a three -dimensional image of the studied area for identifying small vertebrae displacements.
- MRI.Studying the condition of soft tissues to evaluate the condition of the spinal cord and visualize the internal structure of the discs.
Treatment
Osteochondrosis is treated comprehensively.The main goal of therapy is to suppress pain, eliminate muscle tension and limit the movements that occur due to pain.It is important not to cultivate yourself, but to take advice with a specialist and to follow the recommendations.
- Drug therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Surgical treatment
For the treatment of the spine, the doctor prescribes non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs that help relieve inflammation and swelling.Musodorelaxes are responsible for reducing muscle spasms.Ointments are used to reduce pain.Antioxidants and vitamins can be prescribed to protect nerve tissues: they slow down the destruction of bone tissue and reduce calcium loss.
The effectiveness of treatment is possible with a combination of medicines with physiotherapy procedures: electrophoresis, laser, magnetotherapy, mud and current treatment.In addition, you may prescribe massage, manual therapy.The set of procedures is determined taking into account the patient's condition as there are contraindications.
Osteochondrosis surgery is needed in extremely rare cases.There are many nerve endings in the spine that are responsible for the work of the body as a whole.The risk is high, so surgical treatment can be prescribed when conservative methods do not carry proper efficiency.
Prevention
It is possible to maintain the health of the spine and to prevent the onset of symptoms or complications of osteochondrosis by adhering to prevention methods:
- consumption of sufficient water;
- body weight control;
- Consumption of collagen -rich foods;
- the choice of orthopedic mattress supporting the body;
- Regular sports.
You can try alternative methods: acupuncture, Qigong or massage.Before you begin any procedures, you should consult a doctor to ensure that you maintain the health of the musculoskeletal system.