Osteocondritis of the spine

Osteochondrosis is a disease characterized by degenerative changes in the cartilaginous tissues of the spine. The lack of adequate therapy leads to a violation of the structure and dysfunction of the intervertebral discs, deformation of the spinal column. Depending on the location of the pathological process, there are the following types of osteochondrosis: cervical, thoracic, lumbar. As statistics show, this disease is observed in more than half of the world's population in people over 35 years old. The main reasons for its development are injuries, systematic uneven loads on the spine and legs.

What it is

Talking about what osteochondrosis is, it is necessary to say that this disease provokes a violation of the structure of the tissues of the intervertebral discs themselves, reducing their elasticity and changing their shape. At the same time, there is a decrease in the distance between them, which ultimately leads to a loss of spine stability.

As a result of the contraction of the intervertebral space, the nerve endings coming from the spinal cord are pinched. This causes an increase in muscle tone and pain.

A decrease in elasticity causes the formation of intervertebral hernias and the development of protrusion (a disease in which the vertebrae begin to bulge into the spinal canal without rupture of the annulus fibrosus). And if the treatment is carried out incorrectly or is absent altogether, then this will entail degradation of the joints of the spinal column and ligaments with the further formation of osteophytes (bone processes).

The development of osteochondrosis provokes a violation of motor functions. The person begins to be bothered by constant pain in the area of the pathological focus, which intensifies during flexion / extension of the back. There is a high probability of subluxation, back curvature.

As a rule, the first symptoms of the disease appear in people during the period of physiological aging of the body. But there are situations when pathology begins to develop much earlier. And the reason for this is often the wrong way of life.

In medicine, there is also such a thing as chondrosis, and it has similar symptoms and etiology. What is the difference between chondrosis and osteochondrosis? It's simple. Chondrosis is the initial stage in the development of osteochondrosis, when the processes of replacing damaged tissues with fibrosis and the formation of osteophytes have not yet begun in the spinal column. When there is a pronounced deformation of the spine and the formation of new processes, we are talking about osteochondrosis.

Provoking factors

What is chondrosis and osteochondrosis - figured out. Now we should talk about the reasons for their development. After all, if you do not eliminate them, the treatment of the disease will not allow achieving positive dynamics. As already noted at the very beginning, the main cause of the pathology is the uneven load on the spine. It can be provoked by:

• carrying heavy bags on one shoulder or in one hand;
• improper posture while sitting;
• sleeping on a soft mattress, high pillow;
• wearing uncomfortable and anatomically incorrect shoes.

And also osteochondrosis of the spine can develop against the background:

• hypodynamia (accompanied by impaired blood circulation, decreased muscle tone, shortness of breath);
• passive lifestyle;
• obesity;
• injuries (fractures, sprains, bruises);
• flat feet;
• other degenerative diseases that lead to poor circulation in the spinal column.

Highlighting the causes of osteochondrosis of the spine, it should also be noted:

• frequent physical stress;
• neuro-emotional exhaustion;
• metabolic disorders;
• intoxication (drug, chemical);
• pathology of the digestive tract;
• genetic predisposition;
• scoliosis;
• hypovitaminosis;
• pregnancy;
• smoking;
• drinking alcoholic beverages;
• prolonged / frequent dehydration of the body.

There are many reasons for the development of back osteochondrosis. Most often, its occurrence occurs immediately against the background of the influence of several factors (for example, trauma, passive lifestyle, smoking, prolonged stay in the wrong posture). It can be established only through a thorough diagnosis, study of anamnesis.

Stages of development

Before talking about what to do if chondrosis begins to develop, it is also necessary to say about its stages of development, since not only the severity of symptoms, but also the tactics of treatment directly depends on them. There are 4 degrees in total:

• First stage. At this stage, pathological processes occur in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. Dehydration (dehydration) is noted in it, which ultimately contributes to a decrease in its height and the formation of cracks in the annulus fibrosus. There is no symptomatic picture at this stage of the disease. A person may feel only slight discomfort in the back area after intense physical exertion, being in an uncomfortable position for a long time, etc.
• Second stage. It is accompanied by a decrease in the intervertebral space, sagging of the vertebral muscles and ligaments. Such changes lead to increased mobility of the vertebrae. And any provoking factor can cause them to shift or slip. As for the symptoms, at this stage, patients already have back discomfort and pain that occurs with certain types of loads, pos.
• Third stage. It is characterized by the appearance of prolapses and protrusions, subluxations, arthrosis of the intervertebral joints. At this stage, the disease often provokes stiffness of movements, a tingling sensation in the pathological area and numbness. The pain syndrome has a pronounced character, it periodically occurs even at rest, in the absence of heavy loads.
• Stage four. At this stage, the body is trying to adapt to the disorders that have arisen. His task is to do everything possible to improve the fixation of the spine. To do this, he begins to form osteophytes - bone formations that replace the voids in the spinal column. However, in this way the body not only helps itself, but also harms. After all, osteophytes lead to pinched nerves, injury to healthy vertebrae. And this becomes the reason for the development of fibrous ankylosis in the joints and intervertebral discs (an increase in the volume of fibrous tissue with its simultaneous fusion with the remnants of cartilage). If a person has microtrauma and infringement at the same time, then the severity of the pain syndrome increases. In their absence, the clinical picture subsides.

Symptoms

Speaking about what osteochondrosis is and how to get rid of it, one cannot but talk about the symptoms that it can manifest itself. The main sign of its development is the presence of discomfort or pain in the neck, thoracic region, and lower back. The severity of sensations directly depends on the degree of development of the disease.

A visual examination of the patient reveals a curvature of the spinal column in the transverse or longitudinal plane. Most often they are observed in the lower back or neck, less often in the thoracic region.

If we talk about the feelings of the patient himself, then among them there is periodic or constant fatigue in the back area, as well as pain, which can be both worn out and pronounced, depending on the severity of the pathological processes. It can be localized in:

• neck,
• shoulder girdle;
• chest;
• lumbar region;
• perineum.

In this case, stiffness of movements is possible, which makes it difficult to perform household duties. It most often occurs in the upper limbs. The symptomatic picture can be supplemented by other signs. It all depends on the location of the focus, its severity, and the characteristics of the organism. If a patient has displacement of discs, protrusion, hernia, osteophytes, then this often leads to impaired blood circulation, dysfunction of the spinal canal, edema, fibrosis, pinching. All this provokes the appearance of symptoms that can complicate the diagnosis and lead to a misdiagnosis.

Speaking about how osteochondrosis manifests itself, it is necessary to highlight the most common symptoms that patients complain about. These include:

• pain arising in the neck, lumbar, shoulder girdle, ribs;
• stiffness of movements, discomfort in the morning after waking up, when bending, turning;
• feeling of numbness in the arms, legs, neck;
• discomfort in the joints and back muscles;
• frequent dizziness, migraines;
• fast fatiguability;
• heartache;
• violation of the sensitivity of the upper limbs;
• decreased muscle tone.

Signs of osteochondrosis directly depend on the location of the pathological focus:

• Cervical department. In this case, the pain is localized in the neck, arms, shoulder girdle. She can give to the shoulder blades and shoulders. Cervical osteochondrosis can also manifest itself as headaches, tinnitus, "goose bumps" before the eyes, and dizziness.
• Chest section. With this pathology, pain occurs in the chest. Can give to the upper shoulder, armpits. It often causes discomfort and soreness in the region of the heart. It can provoke malfunctions of the respiratory system, shortness of breath.
• Lumbosacral region. Pain syndrome predominates in the lumbar spine. It also manifests itself as discomfort in the legs, hips, and pelvic organs. Often provokes sexual dysfunction.

Any discomfort in the spine is a serious reason to see a doctor.

The presence of signs such as back fatigue, pain can also indicate not only the onset of the disease in question, but also the addition of other diseases that have nothing to do with dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs. Diagnoses of osteochondrosis or chondrosis can only be made by an experienced doctor after a thorough diagnosis.

Diagnostics

What causes osteochondrosis and how it can manifest itself, we talked. But I must say that it will not work to make the correct diagnosis only on the basis of a visual examination and the patient's own feelings. To do this, you must undergo a thorough examination, which necessarily includes:

• X-ray of the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine (depending on the area of discomfort);
• myelography;
• neurological examination of sensitivity, reflexes.

As additional diagnostic methods are used:

• CT;
• MRI;
• NMR.

To exclude the presence of inflammatory or infectious diseases, laboratory tests are also prescribed:

• OAM;
• UAC;
• blood chemistry.

If necessary, a consultation of specialists of a narrower profile is appointed.

Treatment methods

Unlike chondrosis, with osteochondrosis in the region of the ridge, a chronic process occurs, which cannot be eliminated by conservative methods. But this does not mean that there is no need to fight with it. The lack of adequate therapy can lead to serious consequences - the spine is deformed, fibrous tissue will appear in place of the bone structures, which is not able to perform the necessary functions, the person will become disabled.

Conservative therapy

What to do with osteochondrosis, the doctor will tell you. As a rule, with such a disease, the following methods are used:

• Drug therapy. In this case, drugs are used to eliminate painful sensations, relieve inflammatory processes and restore metabolism. If the patient has severe pain, medication blockades are used, which, in addition to the analgesic effect, help to reduce the severity of muscle-tonic syndrome. There are the following types of blockades used in osteochondrosis: blockade of trigger points, intraosseous, facet, paravertebral, epidural.
• Physiotherapy activities. They are also used to reduce pain and improve the effectiveness of drugs. Most often, for osteochondrosis, ultrasound therapy, magnetic fields, low-frequency currents, laser beams, etc. are used.
• Physiotherapy and kinesitherapy. All patients, without exception, are prescribed exercise therapy. It is carried out under the supervision of specialists. Provides posture correction, increasing muscle tone, relieving nervous tension. The systematic fulfillment of special exercises also helps to increase the gaps between the discs, to distribute the uniform load on the musculoskeletal system.
• Massage. Manual massage helps to normalize blood circulation, relieve muscle spasms and clamps. If the patient has nervous system disorders, hydromassage is prescribed.
• Manual therapy. It is selected individually for each patient. Provides normalization of lymphatic outflow, blood circulation, metabolism, mobility of the spine. Prevents the development of complications, strengthens the immune system.
• Spinal traction. This method involves stretching the spine using special equipment. Thus, it is possible to achieve an increase in the intervertebral space and reduce the manifestation of osteochondrosis.

Operative treatment

If conservative treatment does not help to eliminate the signs of osteochondrosis and does not give any positive dynamics at all, they resort to surgical intervention. The indications for it are:

• cauda equina syndrome, which develops in the presence of a massive hernia;
• stenosis of the spinal canal with compression of the brain and neurovascular bundles;
• combination of osteochondrosis with significant spondylolisthesis with severe segment instability;
• compression of the root at the level of the lumbar segment L5;
• cervical osteochondrosis, occurring with discogenic syndrome of the vertebral arteries.

Treatment of osteochondrosis by surgery can be carried out in several ways:

• Laminotomy. This type of operation involves the removal of a fragment of the bone structure and the yellow ligament.
• Laminectomy. During it, most of the spine that limits the spinal canal is removed.
• Foraminotamia. The purpose of the operation is to expand the radicular canal.
• Discetomy. In this operation, partial or complete removal of the intervertebral disc is performed.
• Laser vaporization of the disc core. It is carried out with the participation of a special LED, which ensures partial destruction of the disc, which leads to the reverse development of the hernia.

How to get rid of osteochondrosis, only the doctor decides. It is necessary to understand that each case is individual, and the choice of one or another method of surgical intervention depends on the location of the pathology, its severity, the patient has other diseases.

Traditional methods

At home, you can treat a disease of the spine. But this should be done only in cases where there are still symptoms of chondrosis (the initial stages of the development of the disease) and after a preliminary consultation with a doctor.

Speaking about what helps with chondrosis, the following alternative medicine recipes should be highlighted:

1. You need to take 1 kg of coarse salt, mix it with 3 tbsp. l. dry mustard, add 100 ml of water, mix everything thoroughly. The resulting gruel must be put on low heat and heated to a temperature of 50 degrees. The mixture is applied to the painful area, a film is placed on top of it, then a warm handkerchief. With such a compress, the patient needs to lie down until it has completely cooled down. After the procedure, it is necessary to stay warm for another 2 hours.
2. Pour 1. 5 liters of water into a saucepan, add 3 handfuls of sawdust there and bring the resulting mixture to a boil, then strain. The sawdust is laid out on a plastic wrap, which is previously covered with a sheet on the bed. A gauze napkin is placed on top of the sawdust, after which they lie back on it, and cover it with a warm blanket on top. Thus, lie for 30 to 40 minutes.
3. Take 200 g of cinquefoil roots, 100 roots of Potentilla, 100 g of elecampane. The herbs are placed in a 3-liter jar, filled to the brim with vodka. The resulting composition is placed in a dark place for 3 weeks, and then filtered. Take 3 times a day before meals, 1 tbsp. l. throughout the month. Then take a break of 10 days and repeat the course.

It is difficult to treat osteochondrosis. It is difficult to respond to conservative methods of therapy. But if you combine them with proper nutrition, home treatment, exercise therapy and all the doctor's recommendations, then the patient has every chance to get rid of the pains that torment him and prevent the development of complications.