Degenerative-destroying injuries of the spine, if not:osteochondrosis- diseases that include damage to a person's ligaments and articular apparatus, intervertebral discs and vertebral bodies.
Osteochondrosis disease mainly affects older people, regardless of gender, although it should be noted that recently there has been a tendency to rejuvenate the disease. Rejuvenation of such osteochondrosis is directly related to the physical development of poor children and overweight in many adolescents. In addition, modern youth prefer inactive hobbies near the TV or computer, avoiding sports. The combination of these factors leads to back muscle weakness, postural disorders and other negative consequences for the spine.
Osteochondrosis and its causes
At the heart of the disease with osteochondrosis is a disorder of vertebral trophism and intervertebral discs, which alter the normal structure of tissues. As a result, the cartilage disc loses its normal elasticity and shape, reducing the width of the space between the vertebrae. Violation of the intervertebral ratio leads to compression of the nerve endings of the spinal cord, as well as to significant overstrain of the spinal muscles, which explains the manifestation of pain in osteochondrosis. In addition, with osteochondrosis, relatively serious complications often also occur, such as partial bulging of the intervertebral disc, as well as a vertebral hernia.
In the future, the degenerative-destructive changes that occur in osteochondrosis lead to the formation of bone growths in the vertebrae, also spreading to the intervertebral ligaments and small joints of the spine. It becomes difficult for people with osteochondrosis to perform flexion -extensor movements and over time they may develop a pathology - scoliosis or kyphosis.
All of these degenerative-destructive lesions of the spine are usually the result of the inevitable physiological aging of the human body, but for some reasons discussed later in this publication, the process of osteochondrosis can be significantly accelerated.
It should be noted immediately that there is no single cause for the occurrence of osteochondrosis, but there are a large number of predisposing factors, and the main ones are:
- bruises, fractures, dislocations and other injuries to the spine;
- hereditary tendencies;
- various foot diseases that cause vertebral strain, such as club feet, flat feet etc. , as well as prolonged wearing of uncomfortable and tight shoes;
- obesity or overweight;
- age -related natural changes in the body;
- violation of metabolic processes in the body;
- maintain an inactive lifestyle;
- sudden cessation of professional sports;
- specifics of professional activities, for example, frequent jerks and dizziness, weight lifting, uncomfortable body position while working;
- prolonged and frequent hypothermia, exacerbated by high humidity;
- the presence of frequent and prolonged stressful situations.
The presence of some or even one of the above factors can lead to the development of osteochondrosis, which is conventionally divided into four stages:
- First stage- a decrease in the amount of moisture contained in the intervertebral disc with a decrease in intervertebral distance. In this case, small cracks appear in the cartilage.
- The second phase- due to a decrease in the intervertebral gap, sagging ligaments and muscles occur, which involves the natural external mobility of the vertebral body, their displacement and slippage.
- The third level- due to progressive degenerative-destructive lesions of the spine, there is extrusion of the intervertebral disc, as well as subluxation of the vertebrae.
- Fourth rank- to prevent subluxation and unnatural mobility of the vertebrae, bone osteophytes grow between the vertebrae, in their popular treatment called "salt deposits", which over time become so numerous that the vertebrae lose their mobility. With such bone growth, injury to the nerves and ducts located near these vertebrae inevitably occurs.
It should be noted that in the first and fourth stages of osteoarthritis, the patient does not experience pain.
Osteochondrosis and its classification
Although osteochondrosis has many different classifications, the most common is the osteochondrosis classification, which takes into account the localization of spinal lesions:
- osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
- osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine;
- osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine;
- osteochondrosis of the sacral spine;
- common osteochondrosis, which involves disease of two or more parts of the vertebrae.
Osteochondrosis and its symptoms
Osteochondrosis, as a disease, is chronic and it is characterized by the alternation of the remission phase and the exacerbation phase, in which the symptoms of osteochondrosis are characteristic, depending on the location of the spinal disease, as well as its presence. possible complications.
So, for osteochondrosis of the cervical area, pain directly in the neck, in the hands, stiffness of certain movements, headaches and numbness of the fingers will be characteristic. Well, in the case of vertebral artery compression, the patient experiences a naturally throbbing headache, a decrease in hearing aid function, dizziness, and fainting are also possible.
Quite different are the symptoms of osteochondrosis in the thoracic region. Patients worry about back pain, which can also be acute, difficulty breathing with full breasts, pain in the heart, as well as sensations, which are called in folk treatment - "cola in the chest".
Symptoms of osteochondrosis in cases of damage to the lumbar spine are indicated by pain in the lower back, legs, sacrum and intensified when moving. In addition, numbness of the feet appears and various dysfunctions of the genitourinary organs may develop.
During the remission phase, the sick person may also experience unexplained pain and occurs only in the case of provoking factors, for example, the patient’s uncomfortable body position.
Osteochondrosis and its diagnosis
First of all, patients should take into account that neuropathologists are involved in the treatment of osteochondrosis. The diagnosis of osteochondrosis, as a rule, includes the following measures:
- questioning the patient;
- external examination and palpation of the patient's spine in different body positions, as well as the establishment of various possible movements;
- special studies for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis through magnetic nuclear resonance, computed tomography, as well as x-ray examination of the patient;
- special study of peripheral nerves and blood vessels, but only in cases necessary for the correct diagnosis of osteochondrosis.
If you do not engage in timely and correct treatment of osteochondrosis, preferably without the use of folk remedies, then there is a real danger of developing various complications in the form of diseases such as, for example, sciatica, disc herniation, migraine, vegetovascular dystonia. , and with lumbar osteochondrosis - also spinal stroke. Therefore, the diagnosis of osteochondrosis and its treatment should be given due attention, avoiding independent alternative treatment methods, so as not to initiate the progression of the disease.
Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis
In the treatment of osteochondrosis in medical institutions, in contrast to traditional medicine, the classical method of its treatment is used. At the same time, the attending physicians used a strict individual approach to the patient. Treatment of osteochondrosis to achieve effectiveness is carried out in a complex way. Conservative methods of treatment of osteochondrosis themselves are divided into the following groups:
- Treatment of osteochondrosis with drugs.
- Physiotherapeutic treatment of osteochondrosis, especially magnetotherapy, through the use of special medical devices.
- Sanatorium treatment of osteochondrosis.
- Proper nutrition organization, with the help of special diets.
Surgical intervention in the treatment of osteochondrosis
Treatment of osteochondrosis with the help of surgery is carried out only in cases where the above conservative methods do not give the desired effect. The most common is the removal of an intervertebral hernia, in which the surgical incision is no more than one centimeter, and the patient can wake up the next day after such an operation. Well, the patient’s complete rehabilitation course is completed within six months after surgery.
There are also methods of treating osteochondrosis through surgical intervention, in which the affected intervertebral disc is removed, and a silicone implant or prosthesis is installed in its place, leading to restoration of the required distance between the vertebrae and, as a result. , elimination of symptoms of osteochondrosis.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
First of all, for the prevention of osteochondrosis, you should:
- avoid increased pressure on the spine by wearing comfortable shoes;
- try not to stay long in an uncomfortable body position;
- practice your weight control regularly, avoiding excessive yokes;
- maintain correct posture at all times;
- when lifting weights, use both hands evenly;
- perform general strengthening exercises daily, as well as pay attention to regular yoga classes or in the pool;
- follow a diet that includes in your diet foods such as fish, leafy vegetables and greens, dairy products, jellies and jellies, soups, eggs, butter and olive oil;
- avoid alcohol, carbonated beverages, overly strong coffee, salty foods and fatty meats.