Osteochondrosis -Degenerative-dystrophic damage to the tissue of the spine, characterized by damage to the intervertebral discs, adjacent articular surfaces and vertebral bodies, the ligamentous apparatus of the spine.
Most often, pathological processes in osteochondrosis affect the bones and ligaments first. The fact that the disease has already begun, we usually find out when complications arise - pain, sensory disorders, muscle wasting, disruption of internal organs.
Who has osteochondrosis?
Today 40 to 90% of the world's population suffer from osteochondrosis. Most often, the disease affects people over the age of 30. However, the first symptoms of osteochondrosis can appear in adolescence.
Stages of development of osteochondrosis of the spine
- The first stage in the development of osteochondrosis.
The dehydration of the nucleus pulposus begins. This leads to a reduction in the height of the disc. Cracks appear in the annulus fibrosus, but the pathological process does not go beyond the intervertebral disc.
- The second stage in the development of osteochondrosis.
Due to the decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs, the attachment points of muscles and ligaments of two adjacent vertebrae converge. As a result, muscles and ligaments become slack. This can lead to excessive mobility of the two vertebrae in relation to one another, i. e. H. Instability of the vertebral-motor segment arises. This stage is characterized by slipping or shifting of the vertebrae against each other with the formation of a spondylolisthesis.
- The third stage in the development of osteochondrosis.
It is during this period that the most pronounced morphological changes occur, mainly affecting the intervertebral discs themselves: protrusions and protrusions of intervertebral discs are formed. The articular apparatus of the vortex motor segment also suffers. Subluxations occur in the intervertebral joints and uncovertebral joints, and osteoarthritis develops.
- The fourth stage in the development of osteochondrosis.
At this stage, adaptive changes occur in the affected segments of the spine. The body tries to overcome the excessive mobility of the vertebrae, to immobilize the spine in order to maintain its supporting and protective functions. Marginal bone growths, i. e. osteophytes, occur on the adjacent surfaces of the vertebral bodies. An osteophyte grown "in the wrong place" causes microtraumatisation of the nerve root. In the fourth stage, the processes of fibrous ankylosis usually begin in the intervertebral discs and joints. Ultimately, the vertebral-motor segment turns out to be walled in, so to speak, and the clinical manifestations subside.
Causes of Osteochondrosis
In each of the many existing theories about the development of osteochondrosis, various causes are accepted that are responsible for the onset of the disease, for example mechanical injuries, hereditary predisposition or metabolic disorders. A particular difficulty in determining the cause of osteochondrosis is that this disease can occur in both the elderly and young, both physically fit and less exercised. It is widely believed that the cause of osteochondrosis is the build up of salts in the spine: X-rays are said to show salt in the form of "growth" or "hooks" on the vertebrae. If the joints crunch and creak as they move, as if sand had been thrown in between, the only reason for this condition, for many patients, is the notorious "salt build-up. " Such misunderstandings are by no means harmless: the correct idea of how to treat a diseasecan be determined from an analysis of the causes that caused them.
The term "osteochondrosis" is derived from the Greek roots osteon - "bone" and chondr - "cartilage". The ending "-oz" means that the bone and cartilage disease is not associated with inflammatory processes, is degenerative-dystrophic in nature, ie the basis of the disease is a malnutrition of tissues and consequently the degeneration of its structure. Like all living tissues, the bone tissue of the vertebrae and the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs are constantly rearranging and renewing themselves. Under the influence of regular physicalWith exertion, they gain strength and elasticity, and without stress, the strength of the tissue decreases.
This is due to the peculiarities of nutrition and blood supply to bone and cartilage tissues. The adult intervertebral discs do not have their own vessels; they receive nutrients and oxygen from neighboring tissues. Therefore, in order to properly nourish the intervertebral discs, it is necessary to activate the blood circulation in the tissues surrounding the intervertebral discs. And that can only be achieved through intense muscle work.
Depending on its composition, the intervertebral disc can be divided into two parts: this is the gelatinous core in the middle, which gives the intervertebral disc elasticity, and the strong fibrous ring surrounding it. As the nutrition of the intervertebral discs deteriorates, the complex structure of the biopolymer compounds that make up the nucleus pulposus is destroyed. The moisture content in the gelatinous core decreases and it becomes more brittle. The gelatinous core can disintegrate into fragments even if it is only slightly overloaded. This leads to an even greater decrease in its elasticity. In addition, the strength of the fiber disc rings decreases. All of these factors form the basis and cause of the development of osteochondrosis.
To restore the function of the spine, the scarring of the intervertebral disc damage, the mobilization of the compensatory abilities of the spine and the entire musculoskeletal system are necessary and not the resorption of "salt deposits" or the removal of "thorns" from the vertebrae. An X-ray examination after the end of treatment can be seenthat the vertebrae have not changed their shape. And the notorious "thorns" are not the cause of osteochondrosis, but a consequence of adaptation processes. Marginal growths increase the area of the supporting surface of the vertebral body. By increasing the area, the specific pressure decreases, whichthe decrease in strength and elasticity of the intervertebral disc can be compensated for.
The degenerative-dystrophic changes that occur in the spine are accompanied by calcification (calcification) of damaged intervertebral discs, individual joint ligament sections, cartilage, capsules. This process can only be called salt deposition. So this is not the cause of osteochondrosis, it is just a consequence and the final stage of the above process.
The regression of structural changes in the spine is almost impossible. But keeping them to a minimum is a very real challenge. If no effort is made to keep the spine in the state it was in with treatment, the pain may return.
Clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis
The clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis are very diverse. They depend on the stage of development of the osteochondrosis. The main clinical symptoms of osteochondrosis occur when the pathological process extends to the posterior part of the annulus fibrosus and the posterior longitudinal ligament. Depending on the degeneration stage of the intervertebral discs, irritations, compressions or conduction disorders of the spinal cord roots, compressions of the vessels or the spinal cord occur. Various neurological syndromes develop - reflex and compression.
The main cause of pain in osteochondrosis is what is known as nerve root irritation. In this case, circulatory disorders appear, edema appears, and in the future fibrosis of the surrounding structures may develop, which is accompanied by an increase in the sensitivity of the roots to various influences (movements in the affected segment of the spine, etc. ).
Vascular diseases in osteochondrosis are often associated with impaired vasomotor innervation. Mechanical compression of blood vessels by osteophytes, for example in the cervical spine, is also possible.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
One of the features of spinal osteochondrosis that aggravate the process is its too extensive symptomatology. The disease can manifest itself in very different parts of the body. This can be pain or numbness in the extremities or diseases and pain in the internal organs. At the same time, a person often in no way associates pain in the cardiac region, dysfunction of the genital organs, headache, pain and numbness in the legs with osteochondrosis, and in general with the spine, direct "treatment" of the symptoms of osteochondrosis with the help of various types of painkillers, all sorts of advertisedMedicines, supplements and other methods. But this path only exacerbates the situation. Osteochondrosis continues to evolve, and the treatments used produce no significant improvement at best, other than temporary pain relief, and at worst can cause further damage to the body.
Therefore, it is important to carefully analyze your condition and the changes that are taking place in it. It is necessary to move in the right direction: consult a doctor in a timely manner, undergo the necessary diagnosis, and only after establishing the correct diagnosis, begin treatment under the supervision of the attending physician.
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis are pain and discomfort in the back. At the same time, pain can be of a periodic, unstable nature that appears now and then disappears. But even the first feeling of discomfort or pain in the spine should make you think. The onset of the first pain is a signal to at least pay attention to it and remember the reason why it occurred. This can be caused by lifting a heavy object, sudden movement, falling, etc.
Another symptom of osteochondrosis is accompanied by discomfort or back pain with pain and numbness of the extremities (arms or legs). Most often, the pain radiates to the left extremity, that is, the left arm or the left leg. In addition, pain can manifest itself in the area of the heart, in the back and not only in the area of the spine, but for example in the ribs, etc. In this case, it is especially important to pay attention to the nature of the change in pain depending on the patient's actions by comparing the pain sensations in the back with pain in the leg, for example. If the patient has been sitting for a long time and has pain or numbness in the foot, discomfort in the lower back, and after warming up or walking, the pain disappears, then this is an indirect sign that determines lumbar osteochondrosis of the spine. The same picture can be with the neck and arm. In conclusion, we can say that the main symptoms of osteochondrosis are pain and discomfort in the back. When these symptoms coincide with pain in other parts of the body, osteochondrosis can be complicated by bulging, a herniated disc, and a pinched nerve.
In addition, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that special attention must be paid to this discomfort even when the first pain in the spine appears. After all, osteochondrosis may manifest itself weakly or not at all for a long time. At the same time, it will continue to develop successfully in the spine, leading to the breakdown of an increasing number of intervertebral discs. Therefore, a timely visit to the doctor makes it possible to diagnose osteochondrosis at an earlier stage, which makes treatment easier.
Osteochondrosis and salt deposits
Osteophytes, or hook-shaped growths of the vertebrae, appear to reduce the stress on the intervertebral discs. In this case, the appearance of osteophytes affects the mobility of the intervertebral joints.
The common belief that salt deposits are the main cause of osteochondrosis is wrong. Therefore, treating osteochondrosis with a salt-free diet is meaningless.
The most common complaints of osteochondrosis of the spine
The most common symptoms of osteochondrosis are:
- Discomfort in different parts of the spine. The pain can vary from mild, dull, pulling to severe, sometimes very intense and unbearable - with lumbago.
- Increased physical and mental fatigue at work.
- Sensory disorders in the limbs and various parts of the body, shivering in the arms or legs.
- Pain radiating to the legs, along the nerve trunks.
- Pain radiating to the scapula, shoulder, neck and back of the head.
- Common companions of cervical osteochondrosis are headache, dizziness. Increased visual fatigue or decreased visual acuity is often observed.
- With the defeat of the lumbar-sacral region, there are often disorders of the reproductive system - various sexual dysfunctions. Therefore, most men experience an increase in sexual vigor after treatment. In women, the normal functioning of the lumbosacral zone increases the likelihood of conception and contributes to a comfortable pregnancy.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
To diagnose osteochondrosis, it is necessary to take a medical history. In this case, it is crucial to identify the patient's complaints. Certain symptoms of osteochondrosis are quite typical. Others, however, must be distinguished from the signs of other diseases. It is important that the nerve, vascular and trophic diseases that occur in osteochondrosis can simulate various diseases such as angina pectoris, gastritis, gastric ulcer, acute surgical diseases of the abdominal organs. Therefore, to avoid misdiagnosis and subsequent prescribing of the wrong treatment, every symptom must be subjected to a detailed analysis.
When taking the medical history, including the patient's complaints, current medical history and life of the patient, the doctor pays attention to his or her age, since osteochondrosis is more likely to develop in the elderly and the development of symptoms from the time of onset to the death of thePatient patient to doctor. Slow development is characteristic of osteochondrosis, during which periods of exacerbation are periodically replaced by periods of remission. To clarify the diagnosis, additional methods of examination are prescribed.
X-ray examinations for osteochondrosis
The most accessible and at the same time very revealing method of diagnosing osteochondrosis is x-ray examination. There are several types of X-ray methods used to diagnose this disease:
A simple x-ray of the spine is the easiest x-ray method to diagnose osteochondrosis. Its essence is to get an X-ray of the entire spine or its individual segments. Most often, visual radiography is performed - based on the symptoms of the disease and the patient's discomfort, the location of the spinal lesion is determined. On the X-ray of the segment of the spinal column affected by osteochondrosis, one can see a decrease in the thickness (atrophy) of the intervertebral discs, which is expressed in the form of a decrease in the space between the vertebrae, the appearance of bone outgrowths of the vertebral bodies - osteophytes, partial dissolution - resorption of the bone tissue of theVertebral body, change in shape of the spinal column segment, for example smoothing the lumbar lordosis.
Myelography is a more complex and dangerous diagnostic method. During such an examination, a certain amount of contrast medium is injected into the spinal canal. The risk of this examination method is the possibility of allergic reactions to the contrast agent or the risk of damage to the spinal cord when the spinal canal is punctured. Thanks to myelography, the internal structure of the spinal canal can be determined. This method is particularly instructive for determining spinal hernias.
Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are the most modern, but also the most expensive and difficult to access methods for diagnosing osteochondrosis. These diagnostic methods are mostly used when it is necessary to differentiate between osteochondrosis and other diseases of the spine with similar symptoms, for example tumors of the spinal canal.
For a comprehensive assessment of the patient's condition, it is mandatory to conduct a neurological examination of the patient with osteochondrosis. Thanks to a neurological consultation, it is possible to clarify the localization and the degree of the motor and sensory disorders.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
The clinic offers effective treatment for all forms of osteochondrosis. The treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis. Treatment is based on a comprehensive program that aims to quickly eliminate the underlying syndrome and cause of the ailment. The following methods can be used as part of complex therapy:
- Acupuncture;
- Vacuum therapy;
- gentle manual therapy techniques (post-isometric relaxation);
- Laser therapy;
- Pharmacopuncture;
- dry traction;
- Magnetopuncture;
- Electrical stimulation and other treatments.
On average, the course of treatment is 10-15 sessions, and the elimination of acute pain syndrome is 1 to 3 sessions.
The earlier treatment is started, the better the result will be!
Is the Complete Elimination of Osteochondrosis Real?
It depends on the form of the disease, the severity, correctness and timeliness of treatment. Complete healing is only possible in the early stages.
But it is possible to prevent exacerbations of osteochondrosis, not to feel pain for years. If a person has had osteochondrosis but does not feel uncomfortable now, it does not mean that they have passed without a trace. Changes in the spine can occur.
The main task is to suspend the development of the disease and do everything possible so that some of the pathological changes in the spine disappear, the symptoms disappear or decrease (back pain, cold snap and numbness of the arms, legs, headache, etc. ).