Osteochondrosis of the spine is a disease that affects the cartilaginous structures that make up the intervertebral discs in the human body. These discs ensure the mobility of the spine, giving us the opportunity to move and be flexible.
Osteochondrosis disrupts the structure of such discs, their structure changes. Since the process of destroying these discs is irreversible, the disease is impossible to cure. But with proper treatment, you can stop the development of the disease, slow it down and gain time during which the mobility of the spine will be preserved.
If the disease is not stopped in time, then after the destruction of the intervertebral discs, the destruction of the vertebrae themselves begins.
Important!Ignoring osteochondrosis inevitably leads to complications, forced reduction of physical activity, deterioration of quality of life, and sometimes even disability.
Among the complications of osteochondrosis, one of the most common is osteophyte. This is the name given to bony growths that appear along the edges of the vertebrae. The appearance of such growth can be caused by long-term stress on the spine or an unstable segment of spinal movement.
Causes and symptoms of osteochondrosis
Experts state that the main reason for the development of osteochondrosis is the improper distribution of the load on the spine.
However, the process can also be triggered by hypothermia of a certain part of the body or the whole organism, excessive physical stress on the back in general and the spine in particular, as well as injuries to the spine (blows to the spine, sudden turns, jerks and any physical impact that can cause the vertebrae to move).
There are a huge number of minor causes of osteochondrosis. Typically, a person who has been given such a diagnosis can identify 7-10 reasons from this list that triggered the development of the disease in his specific case.
So, below are the minor but important reasons that cause the destruction of intervertebral discs. Here's something you should avoid so you don't find out what osteochondrosis is:
- slouching and bad posture (causes curvature of the spine)
- weak back muscles (therefore the entire load falls on the spine)
- constantly in an uncomfortable position
- excessive physical activity associated with lifting and carrying heavy objects, strength sports
- spinal injuries
- lack or excess of nutrition, which causes metabolic disorders
- excess weight
- constant sitting
- stress
- hormonal disorders
- poor heredity
- aging
As you can see, there are several reasons. The symptoms of this disease are also different. Osteochondrosis manifests itself differently in different people, but the following symptoms are generally observed during osteochondrosis:
- severe back pain
- numbness in the arms or legs (sometimes both at the same time)
- headaches that turn into migraines
- pain and soreness in the neck and limbs
- dizziness, colored spots before the eyes, sometimes loss of consciousness
- cold hands and feet
- characteristic pain in the chest (as in intercostal neuralgia) and in the region of the heart
- painful movements
Occurrence of osteochondrosis
Interesting: some doctors believe that osteochondrosis is not a pathology, but a natural change in the human body.
One way or another, it is difficult to find a long-term person who has never suffered from back pain in his life. According to various sources, osteochondrosis affects from 40 to 80% of all people on earth.
Typically, a person notices the first signs of osteochondrosis between the ages of 35 and 50. This has a lot to do with his lifestyle.
And if in some people, due to bad heredity, the first symptoms appear in adolescence, then for most, symptoms that appear after the age of 50 are considered the norm.
This is due to the fact that by the age of 45, the human body stops accumulating water in the intervertebral discs and the level of collagen, which is necessary for the health of the joints, inevitably begins to decline.
In some people, the intervertebral discs may even be pushed out. This causes pain and is called sciatica.
Stages of osteochondrosis
There are 4 main stages of development of osteochondrosis.
- It all starts with the fact that the nucleus pulposus is dehydrated. The annulus fibrosus becomes covered with cracks due to the fact that the height of the intervertebral disc decreases. At this stage, the pathology is difficult to see, because all the changes occur in the intervertebral disc. No back or neck pain yet.
- As the height of the intervertebral disc decreases, muscles and ligaments relax. This is due to the convergence of muscle and ligament attachment points. Initially, they are attached to two adjacent vertebrae, but if the distance between these vertebrae decreases, it cannot help but affect the muscle tissue.
- The third phase is characterized by the fact that changes become pronounced. Prolapses occur, as well as such a phenomenon as disc protrusion. Protrusion precedes the occurrence of intervertebral disc herniation. As a rule, the development of the disease can be stopped at this stage, because the fibrotic ring is still intact and it is still possible to try to restore it. But due to the fact that the protrusion does not cause pain, few people seek help from a doctor at this stage.
- In the last stage, the fiber ring breaks. To counteract the excessive mobility of the vertebrae at the site of disc destruction, the body mobilizes and osteophytes appear on the vertebra.
Diagnostics
Before starting the treatment of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to carry out a diagnosis and determine in which stage the disease is currently developing.
Important!Diagnosis of osteochondrosis is impossible without first collecting anamnesis.
If you notice any symptoms of osteochondrosis, listen carefully to your body.
The more you tell your doctor about your feelings, the faster and more accurately he will be able to make a diagnosis and begin the correct treatment. Do not think that there will be too much information: ask your relatives if they have had manifestations of this disease. Family history will help to determine the cause of osteochondrosis more precisely.
After the doctor has finished collecting your history and based on your complaints, he concludes that it is most likely osteochondrosis, he will suggest an X-ray examination.
If for some reason this type of examination is not suitable for you, your doctor may also suggest an MRI or CT scan. However, these examinations are not mandatory under the mandatory health insurance program, so you will have to pay for them yourself. Consider their high price.
As a last resort, myelography is used to diagnose osteochondrosis. This is a painful and dangerous procedure in which the doctor injects dye directly into the spinal canal.
How is osteochondrosis treated?
Currently, the treatment of osteochondrosis is practiced in many clinics. Some procedures have a positive effect, while others only relieve pain. If you decide on one of the treatment methods, before starting the treatment of osteochondrosis, discuss this method with your doctor.
The most popular procedures now are:
- magnetic puncture effect
- pharmacopuncture effect
- reflexology with needles
- vacuum effect
- electrical stimulation
- manual therapy
Many of these procedures are not a treatment for osteochondrosis, but rather a treatment for some of the symptoms of osteochondrosis. Therefore, the doctor must coordinate the procedures. This is especially true for those patients diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis.
The fact is that osteochondrosis that has developed in the cervical spine is characterized by symptoms such as numbness of the arms and legs. And it's not a coincidence. The fact is that many nerve endings are concentrated in the neck area. And the wrong treatment in this case can turn your cervical osteochondrosis into a complete disability.
Surgical treatment
Spinal surgery is such a serious undertaking that it is prescribed with great caution and only if osteochondrosis is complicated by disc herniation. Such operations are not urgent, they are always performed only according to the plan. Before the operation, you will have to undergo a lot of examinations and do many tests.
Such operations are prescribed only if the doctor sees no other way out for treatment and realizes that without the operation, the person's quality of life will significantly deteriorate. Before surgery, doctors will try to provide pain relief and support.
Drugs
Medicines to treat this condition are generally designed to reduce pain and increase collagen levels in the body.
However, it is worth remembering that collagen and other nutrients for cartilage are absorbed not only by the spine, but also by the whole body. Therefore, the effectiveness of such drugs is not very high.
Ointments that doctors recommend to use for osteochondrosis are also intended mainly to relieve pain during exacerbations.
Unfortunately, if you have osteochondrosis, you will most likely need maintenance therapy for the rest of your life. That is, your back will hurt from time to time, you won't be able to exert yourself too much physically, you will especially have to avoid lifting heavy objects, straining your back and spine.
Aggravation of osteochondrosis
Exacerbations of this disease can occur due to great physical effort on the back muscles. Also, osteochondrosis can worsen due to colds or infections, due to hypothermia, stress, pregnancy and hormonal changes. Gaining weight will also cause back pain.
Prevention
As a preventive measure, doctors offer many patients physical exercises designed specifically for people suffering from this disease.
If your doctor has prescribed a course of exercise therapy, you need to check with him exactly which exercises are allowed for you. Exercises will help you keep the muscle corset in tone, which will reduce the load on the spine. In addition, these exercises will greatly help those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
Also, for preventive purposes, you may be prescribed a massage. Depending on which part of the spine you have osteochondrosis, the massager will work on this part. This will not only relieve the pain, but also help relax the muscles. In combination with exercise therapy, massage gives good results.
Try to avoid stress on the spine, do not lift heavy objects. If possible, dress warmly, because. . . any hypothermia can cause exacerbation of osteochondrosis.
Living a full life with this disease is quite possible, don't forget to take care of your body and take care of yourself.