Vertebral osteochondrosis 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, it is impossible to cure the disease. 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.
Great!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 for bony growths that occur along the ends of the vertebra. The appearance of such a growth can be caused by prolonged pressure on the spine or an unstable range of motion of the spine.
Causes and symptoms of osteochondrosis
Experts cite the improper distribution of the load on the spine as the main reason for the development of osteochondrosis.
However, the process can also be caused by hypothermia of a specific part of the body or the whole organism, excessive physical pressure on the back in general and the spine in particular, as well as injury to the spine (impacts on the spine, sharp turns, shocks andany physical impact that can cause displacement of vertebrae).
There are a huge number of secondary causes of osteochondrosis. Usually, 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 particular case.
So listed below are secondary but important reasons that cause the destruction of the intervertebral discs. Here's something to avoid so you don't find out what osteochondrosis is:
- slouching and poor posture (cause curvature of the spine)
- weak back muscles (because of this, the entire load falls on the spine)
- constantly being in an awkward position
- excessive physical activity associated with lifting and carrying heavy objects, power sports
- spinal cord injuries
- lack of nutrition or excessive nutrition, causing metabolic disorders
- excess weight
- continuous seat
- stress
- hormonal disorders
- bad heredity
- aging
As you can see, there are several reasons. The symptoms of this disease are also varied. Osteochondrosis manifests itself differently in different people, but the following symptoms are generally observed during osteochondrosis:
- severe back pain
- numbness in the hands or feet (sometimes both at the same time)
- headaches that turn into migraines
- aches and pains in neck and limbs;
- dizziness, colored spots in front of the eyes, sometimes loss of consciousness
- cold hands and feet
- characteristic pain in the chest (as with intercostal neuralgia) and in the region of the heart
- painful movements
The appearance 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-distance runner 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.
Usually, a person notices the first signs of osteochondrosis in the period from 35 to 50 years. 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 the majority, symptoms that appear after 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 necessary for joint health inevitably begins to decrease.
In some people, the intervertebral discs may even be compressed outward. 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 undergoes dehydration. The annulus fibrosus is covered with cracks due to the fact that the height of the intervertebral disc decreases. At this stage, the pathology is difficult to observe, since all changes occur in the intervertebral disc. No back or neck pain yet.
- As the height of the intervertebral disc decreases, relaxation of the muscles and ligaments occurs. This is due to the convergence of the attachment points of muscles and ligaments. Initially, they are connected to two adjacent vertebrae, but if the distance between these vertebrae decreases, this cannot but affect the muscle tissue.
- The third stage is characterized by the fact that the changes become intense. Cases appear, as well as a phenomenon such as disc protrusion. Protrusion precedes the appearance of a herniated disc. As a rule, at this stage the development of the disease can be stopped, because the fibrous ring is still intact and can still be tried to restore. 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 fibrous ring breaks. To deal with the excessive mobility of the vertebrae at the point of disc destruction, the body is mobilized and osteophytes appear on the vertebra.
Diagnostics
Before starting treatment for osteochondrosis, it is necessary to conduct a diagnosis and determine at what stage the disease is currently developing.
Great!The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is impossible without first collecting a history.
If you notice symptoms of osteochondrosis, listen carefully to your body.
The more you tell the doctor about your feelings, the faster and more accurately he will be able to make a diagnosis and start the right treatment. Do not think that there will be a lot of information: ask your relatives about whether they had manifestations of this disease. A family history will help to more accurately determine the cause of osteochondrosis.
After the doctor has completed the collection of your medical history and concluded from your complaints that it is probably osteochondrosis, he will suggest that you undergo an X-ray examination.
If for some reason this type of test is not suitable for you, your doctor may also recommend an MRI or CT scan. However, these tests are not mandatory under the compulsory medical insurance scheme, so you will have to pay for them yourself. Consider their high cost.
As a last resort, myelography is used to diagnose osteochondrosis. This is a painful and dangerous procedure where the doctor injects a dye directly into the spinal canal.
How is osteochondrosis treated?
Currently, the treatment of osteochondrosis is practiced in many clinics. Some procedures give a positive result, while others only relieve pain. If you decide on one of the treatment methods, before starting treatment for osteochondrosis, discuss this method with your doctor.
The most popular procedures now are:
- magnetic punching effect
- pharmacopuncture
- reflexology with needles
- vacuum effect
- electrical stimulation
- manual therapy
Many of these procedures are not a cure for osteochondrosis, but rather a treatment for some of the symptoms of osteochondrosis. That is why 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 hands and feet. And this is no accident. The fact is that many nerve endings are concentrated in the neck area. And the wrongly selected treatment in this case can turn your cervical osteochondrosis into a complete disability.
Surgical treatment
Spine 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 as planned. Before the operation, you will need to undergo a large number of tests and do many tests.
Such operations are prescribed only if the doctor sees no other way out for treatment and realizes that without surgery the person's quality of life will deteriorate significantly. Before surgery, doctors will try to provide pain relief and supportive care.
Medicines
Medications to treat this condition are primarily 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 from the spine, but from the entire body. Therefore, the effectiveness of such drugs is not very high.
Ointments that doctors recommend to use for osteochondrosis are also mainly intended to relieve pain during an exacerbation.
Unfortunately, if you have osteochondrosis, you will likely need maintenance treatment for the rest of your life. That is, from time to time your back will hurt, you will not be able to overburden yourself physically, especially you should avoid lifting heavy objects, putting pressure on your back and spine.
Aggravation of osteochondrosis
Exacerbations of this disease can occur from high physical strain on the back muscles. Osteochondrosis can also be aggravated by colds or infections, 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 those people suffering from this disease.
If your doctor has prescribed an exercise course, you should check with him exactly what exercises are allowed for you. The exercises will help keep your muscle corset in tone and this will reduce the load on the spine. In addition, these exercises will greatly help those who lead a sedentary life.
Also, for preventive purposes, you may be prescribed a massage. Depending on which part of the spine you have developed osteochondrosis, the massage therapist will work on that area. This will not only relieve the pain but also help relax the muscles. Combined with exercise therapy, massage brings good results.
Try to avoid pressure on the spine, do not lift heavy objects. If possible, dress warmly, because. . . any hypothermia can cause an exacerbation of osteochondrosis.
Living a full life with this disease is very possible, don't forget to take care of your body and take care of yourself.