Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is the cause of acute back pain in 67% of all cases. Failure to consult a doctor in time, lack of consultation and treatment can lead to consequences such as internal organ dysfunction, spinal cord damage, and spinal nerve root damage. What is osteochondrosis, what types of treatment are available for patients and how the disease is diagnosed - read.

What is osteochondrosis?

Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic disease that causes thinning of the intervertebral cartilage. Hyaline cartilage and intervertebral discs begin to "get old" by losing their full functionality.

ReferenceIn most cases, osteochondrosis of the spine is diagnosed in people aged 25+. According to the WHO, by 2021, 43% of the 25-40-year-old population will suffer from osteochondrosis, and more than 92% will suffer from old age. The appearance and aggravation of the disease can be caused by adverse environmental factors.

Types of osteochondrosis

Each part of the spine is subject to degeneration processes. Among the types of osteochondrosis of the spine, 3 main ones can be distinguished: cervical, thoracic and lumbar (due to the high load, it is more common than the others).

1. Lumbar osteochondrosis.The lumbar region consists of 5 vertebrae that are deformed as a result of the negative influence of external and internal factors. When nutrition and metabolic processes in the intervertebral discs are disturbed, pain occurs as a result of the loss of elasticity and thinning of the cartilage tissue.
2. Cervical osteochondrosis.The cervical spine consists of 7 vertebrae that are subjected to stress on a regular basis. Pathological processes are activated when the body's metabolic processes fail.
3. Thoracic osteochondrosis.The thoracic region consists of 12 vertebrae. This type of osteochondrosis is the least common. Thoracic vertebrae are immobile. People who lead a passive lifestyle and regularly lift heavy objects are susceptible to the disease.

Causes of osteochondrosis

The number of people suffering from osteochondrosis is increasing rapidly every year. This is due to the fact that people spend most of their time on their feet, putting the maximum load on the intervertebral discs.

It is important!Discs and cartilage deform due to age/heavy loads. Cracks and tears may appear. As a result, compressed nerve roots, thin discs, pathological processes in the spinal cord, muscle spasm and progressive pain.

The risk group includes: office workers, builders, hairdressers, sellers, drivers. Both men and women are equally susceptible to the appearance of osteochondrosis.

The provoking factors of osteochondrosis are:

• presence of osteochondrosis in family history;
• overweight, obesity;
• passive lifestyle;
• straight legs.

Deterioration of the spine and its deformation can be caused by the following factors:

1. Self-neglect (complete lack of physical activity or excessive exercise).
2. Lack of awareness of proper postures to reduce stress on the spine.
3. Regular work involving lifting/moving heavy objects.
4. Injuries.

Osteochondrosis: 4 stages of disease development

There are 4 stages of development of spinal osteochondrosis:

1. The first stage- there are no clear symptoms to diagnose the disease. Sometimes back pain appears, often after physical exertion or excessive load. Early stage osteochondrosis can be detected during a preventive examination or during a CT or X-ray examination.
2. The second stage.The next stage is characterized by moderate pain. Cartilage tissue begins to deform and the distance between the spinal discs decreases. When contacting the doctor, drug treatment (to reduce pain) and physical therapy are prescribed.
3. The third stage– the spine is deformed, fibrous areas and tears are formed, pains intensify and become more prominent and frequent. At this stage, everything depends on the existing symptoms. The doctor will help determine the treatment method for the patient (conservative or surgical).
4. The fourth stage- irreversible deformation of the spinal function. It is almost impossible for the patient to move independently. The pain is sharp, constant and increases with any physical activity. Pathological bone tissue fills the intervertebral space, the patient becomes disabled.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis

As mentioned earlier, there are 3 types of osteochondrosis, and each of them is characterized by individual manifestations. Let's consider all the symptoms in more detail.

Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis

How to understand lumbar osteochondrosis? You can see the characteristic symptoms:

• stiffness of movements;
• pain in the pelvis, sacrum, lower back, and lower limbs, worse with exercise or movement. The nature of pain is painful, dull, sharp;
• pathological processes of the genitourinary system (problems with defecation and urination);
• weakness in the legs;
• impairment/lack of sensitivity.

It is important!Self-medication is strictly prohibited. When lumbar osteochondrosis is detected, diagnosis and effective treatment are mandatory. The consequences of the lack of therapy are tears, protrusions, paralysis of the lower extremities.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

How to understand that there is cervical osteochondrosis? One or more symptoms may occur:

• frequent headache;
• numbness of upper and lower limbs;
• severe creaking in the cervical spine during physical activity;
• "spots", dots in the eyes, blurriness and darkening;
• burning sensation and discomfort in the heart region;
• the appearance of tinnitus, hearing loss;
• unexplained dizziness;
• pain in shoulders, neck, arms.

It is important!Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is considered one of the most dangerous for people, because it complicates the process of blood saturation of the brain. If left untreated, protrusions and then ruptures appear. Surgical intervention for cervical osteochondrosis has a high risk of paralysis of the body. If symptoms appear, contact only qualified professionals.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

How to understand that there is thoracic osteochondrosis? Only a doctor (neurologist) can diagnose the disease, but the patient can assume the presence of osteochondrosis based on the characteristic symptoms:

• discomfort, localized burning sensation in the chest;
• the appearance of pain when raising your arms, pain in the shoulder blades;
• dizziness and sudden loss of consciousness occur;
• chest pain.

ReferenceDuring the transition to the acute phase of the disease, dorsago (shortness of breath, sharp/hard pain in the chest, "lumbago") and dorsalgia (pains can be episodic or constant, can be sharp/dull).

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is difficult to determine. The disease is often confused with angina pectoris, heart attack or inflammatory processes in the lungs.

Diagnosis of spinal osteochondrosis

When consulting a doctor, an anamnesis and a physical examination of the musculoskeletal system begin.
patient device. The specialist will check the integrity of the reflexes and the level of sensitivity of the painful areas. Then blood tests and other laboratory tests are prescribed. To clarify the diagnosis, the neurologist prescribes one or more imaging diagnostics:

1. Ultrasound of vertebral arteries.
2. X-ray of the entire spine or certain areas (cervical, thoracic, lumbar).
3. CT examination of the spine helps to determine the presence of degenerative processes, displacements, deformations of the spine and its structures.
4. MRI of the spine - identifies pathologies of soft tissues, helps to scan the spinal cord and intervertebral discs.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

How to treat osteochondrosis is determined by the attending physician depending on the type of disease, the severity of symptoms and the degree of pathological changes. The following can be used as therapeutic therapy: physiotherapy, drug treatment, classes with chiropractic, therapeutic massage, exercise therapy or surgical intervention (in the absence of positive dynamics from other methods of treatment or at an advanced stage).

Drug treatment of osteochondrosis

When prescribing medical therapy with drugs, the doctor can use several drug groups at the same time:

• NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - to relieve the symptoms of osteochondrosis, relieve pain and reduce inflammation. It can be used as a tablet or as an injection (in severe cases). The duration of the treatment course is from 7 to 14 days;
• chondroprotectors - strengthen intervertebral discs and cartilage tissue;
• B vitamins;
• vascular drugs - improve blood supply to the spine;
• glucocorticosteroids - used as an injection to the affected area (for severe forms of the disease);
• muscle relaxants - relax muscles, relieve pain and inflammation.

Massage for osteochondrosis

A course of massage for osteochondrosis should be completed once every six months. Therapeutic massage relieves tension, relieves tension, improves blood circulation in the affected area. Only a doctor can tell about the advisability of prescribing massage, the prerequisite is the remission of the disease.

Traction (stretching of the spine)

Artificial traction of the spine is carried out only under the supervision of medical personnel, using special equipment. High-quality traction allows for an even distribution of vertebrae in the spine. Pain, pinching and inflammation are reduced.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy for spinal osteochondrosis is used to correct the curvature. The specialist has a targeted effect on the patient's muscular and skeletal system. After therapy, blood and lymph circulation improves, stiffness disappears and mobility appears.

Physiotherapy treatment of osteochondrosis

It is used only during the period of remission of the disease, this method of treatment is prohibited in the acute phase. In addition to drug treatment, physiotherapy is used as an adjunctive therapy. Specialists use laser, magnet and current (low frequency) to reduce the symptoms of osteochondrosis.

Acupuncture

The basis of acupuncture is correct movement on reflex zones and pain points. Therapy is prescribed only in combination with therapeutic massage to increase effectiveness. The therapy painlessly restores the possibility of natural loading to the spine.

Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis

Physiotherapy is effective for all types of osteochondrosis and can be prescribed to patients of any age category. The type of exercises and their duration are determined by the doctor. Moderate physical activity helps to strengthen the back muscles, increase mobility and flexibility of the spine and improve the patient's condition.

The following types of classes can be assigned to the patient: kinesitherapy, therapeutic swimming, health path, mechanotherapy.

It is important!Exercise therapy classes are contraindicated during the exacerbation of osteochondrosis!

Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis

Surgery is rarely prescribed as the only treatment option for spinal osteochondrosis. The human spine has a complex structure with many vertebrae and nerve endings that affect the coordinated activity of the whole body. There is a high risk of complications with surgery, so it is prescribed only in the most difficult cases or when there is no improvement from other treatment methods.

Prevention of spinal osteochondrosis

Prevention is the best way to reduce the risk of developing osteochondrosis and achieve remission of existing spinal disease. The main thing to remember when performing preventive exercises is that they should be regular and only during remission.

At the same time, it is better to perform a gymnastic set of simple exercises. Set a reminder on your mobile phone or include them in your morning hygiene rituals so you don't forget them.

1. Put your forehead in your palm, tense the neck muscles. Execution - 3 sets of 5-7 seconds. Then repeat the same with the back of the head and palms.
2. Shoulders are straight, head is straight. Slowly tilt your head as far as possible to the right, then to the left. Perform 5 times (slowly).
3. Slowly tilt your head back a little. Tighten your neck muscles and slowly move your chin towards your chest. Do it 5-7 times.
4. Place your left palm near the left temporal area (then right palm and right temple). Apply pressure to your palm by tensing the neck muscles. Execution - 3 times 10 seconds.

It is important!Do not rush when performing the exercises. It is also forbidden to make circular movements with the head due to the risk of injury and pinched nerve endings.

The second set of preventive exercises against osteochondrosis can be performed at any time (especially after work or excessive load), but also regularly:

1. Stand straight, legs together, relax your arms, take a deep breath. Raise your arms up, breathe. Approach - 6-8 times.
2. Lie on your stomach, arms along your body, relax. Try to bend up, rest your hands, raise your head and legs. Stay in this position for 5 seconds. Return to the starting position. Repeat - 5-7 times.
3. Sit in the chair. Put your hands behind your head (inhale deeply), bend back 4-5 times so that your shoulder blades touch the back of the chair (exhale). Repeat - 5-7 times.
4. Stand up, lean back, take a deep breath. Relax your arms, lean forward, slowly lower your head and shoulders - breathe. Approach - 10 times.
5. Get on all fours. Straight head. Bend your back and stay in this position for 3-4 seconds. Return to the starting position, repeat 5-7 times.

How to stand, lie and sit with osteochondrosis?

Knowing the correct postures, which help distribute the load evenly to the entire spine, is necessary not only for patients suffering from osteochondrosis, but for all people. By following simple rules, you will see a significant improvement in your general condition and a reduction in the burden on your back. In addition, you can protect your spine from many diseases with serious, painful symptoms.

How to sit properly?

We learn to sit without squeezing, without provoking the risk of spinal deformation and the development of osteochondrosis:

• criteria for choosing a chair: seat depth level - 2/3 of hip length, seat height level should be equal to the length of the lower leg. This way your feet will stay on the ground. Small people should put a small step or bench under their feet;
• note the depth of the desktop. It should be such that it is not necessary to keep the legs on the side or bend strongly;
• Take a break every 20 minutes when working for long periods of time while sitting. Change the position of your legs, walk around, do light gymnastics;
• get behind the wheel with minimal stress. Your back should lean against the seat; a small pillow or bolster placed between the chair and your lower back will help with this. If possible, get out of the car every 25-30 minutes to warm up;
• Heavy upholstered furniture is not good furniture for everyday use. For an even load on the spine, it is necessary to support the body on the ischial tuberosities, which is possible only when sitting on a moderately hard surface;
• Your back should always touch the back of your chair/desk. Try to sit upright, avoiding strong neck bends;
• do not sit/lie down in one position for long periods of time.

How to stand properly?

If a person stands in one position for a long time, a strong load is placed on the lumbar region (and the entire spine), which has a negative effect on it. In order not to put too much stress on the spine and increase the risk of deformation, follow simple rules:

• do not stand in one position for more than 10 minutes, change the position of your legs and arms;
• relieve tension in the neck - tilt your head to the right and left, stretch your arms forward, bend your back forward and backward - relax your back and lower back;
• when lifting something from the ground, bend down, bend your knees or squat, find a point of support for your hands;
• to move, to go short distances so as not to stand still;
• try not to bend too much (back, head) during housework (cleaning, ironing, cooking). Get down on one knee when cleaning low or hard-to-reach surfaces.

How to sleep?

The ideal choice of bed surface is a bed with a mattress of medium hardness (ideally, orthopedic that protects the physiological curves of the spine). The bed should not be wooden or too soft.

How to stretch properly if you have severe pain?

• back pain - lie on your stomach with a small pillow under your back (so as not to increase the pain by bending over);
• pain in the legs - put a pillow (from a towel or blanket) under the knees. The pain syndrome will gradually decrease;
• neck pain - put your hand under your head or put a pillow under your neck.

How to get out of bed in the morning during an attack of osteochondrosis?

• do a short warm-up of the upper and lower limbs;
• change your position;
• move from a lying position to a sitting position, squeezing your leg with your hands bent at the knee;
• lower your legs one by one;
• get up slowly, any sudden movement can increase the pain.

How to lift and move weights correctly?

Improper lifting and carrying of heavy objects is one of the most common causes of hernias, osteochondrosis and protrusions. Sharp lifting of weights is fraught with the appearance of a sudden "shooting" in various parts of the spine and sharp pain that will last for a long time. It is also forbidden to turn the body when carrying heavy objects.

How to lift a heavy object?

1. Wear a wide belt.
2. Squat down. Keep your neck and back straight.
3. Holding the object with both hands, rise slowly, keeping your back straight.

How to move a heavy object?

• distribute the load equally in both hands, do not carry everything in one;
• it is not recommended to lift more than 15 kg with diagnosed osteochondrosis;
• buy a backpack (an important condition is an orthopedic back and wide straps). The advantages of using a backpack are equal load on the spine + free hands;
• Do not lean forward or backward sharply.

The result

Osteochondrosis of the spine develops most often at the age of 25-40. The disease risk group includes people who lead a passive lifestyle, spend most of their time standing or in wrong positions, and have a large load on the spine. Osteochondrosis can be treated with conservative methods, provided timely consultation with a specialist. In advanced cases, surgical intervention is used. Self-treatment is contraindicated.

Regular preventive exercises will help reduce the symptoms of osteochondrosis and maintain the functionality of the spine, preventing deformation. If you neglect your health, the patient may delay going to the doctor until the hernia, paralysis and disability develop.