Osteochondrosis refers to degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the tissue of the spine and joints with progression. The more the disease is neglected, the more pronounced the symptoms that affect the person's lifestyle and working capacity. When the structure of the spine is damaged, a person has such problems, for example, how to live with pain, how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis.
In practice, the pathology of various parts of the spine, coccyx and joints often occurs. Previously, only people over the age of 25 were sick, but recently there is a tendency to "rejuvenate" the disease. Symptoms of juvenile or juvenile osteochondrosis have become common.
The reasons
The causes of osteochondrosis can be different and depend on which part of the body is damaged. After any injury, the normal structure of the spine, the coccyx is disturbed, and the process of salt deposition and destruction of the disc structure begins. Overweight people, sedentary lifestyles and athletes are susceptible to it.
During pregnancy, the risk of disease increases due to weight gain and lack of vitamins. Lymph nodes also enlarge during pregnancy. The heart, other organs suffer from it, and in combination with osteochondrosis it is very dangerous. The load for the shoulder, knee, neck and tailbone increases.
With age, almost everyone suffers from osteochondrosis of the spine. Professions associated with a long stay in a sitting position, monotonous movements pose a threat to the neck, lower back and tailbone. The following conditions affect the onset of the disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- the course of pregnancy;
- endocrine, infectious diseases;
- poisoning or exposure to drugs, toxic substances and chemicals;
- eating disorder, lifestyle.
In addition to the spine, there are often cases of osteochondrosis of the joints. Pathology is dangerous for the knee, elbow, shoulder joint, tailbone. When considering osteochondrosis of the knee joint, attention should be paid to such causes as obesity or malnutrition, a lifestyle associated with excessive loads on the legs, as well as injuriesor inflammatory processes in the body.
Leg muscles carry huge loads, unlike joints, so the latter suffer more often.
Symptoms of damage to the elbow joint can be observed with current osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic region. Often the pathology is associated with arthritis or arthrosis. Injuries and constant overstrain of the elbow joint are predisposing factors.
Due to the constant movements of the neck and head, as well as hands, over time the joints begin to wear out, salt deposits appear. This leads to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and shoulder joint. The causes can be congenital, compression of the nerve plexuses in the shoulder region or external factors. Injuries to the neck, shoulder blades or hands cause osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the spine
Osteochondrosis of the spine occurs in different departments. The most common is lumbar pathology. The disease is associated with severe stress on the lower back and is dangerous with the threat of pinching the sciatic nerve and the formation of hernias.
There are symptoms such as aching pain, worse at night or during exercise. It is difficult to find the right position in sleep and at rest. There may be "lumbago" of the lower back or impaired sensitivity of the legs, in particular of the knee joint, coccyx. When exacerbated, the lymph nodes become inflamed.
The coccyx area is often affected, making it difficult to sit properly. If the sciatic nerve in the coccyx region is inflamed, the pain descends to the lower extremities, buttocks, to the knee joint. To relieve pain, it is better for a person to take a comfortable position and drink antispasmodics, relaxants or painkillers.
During pregnancy, osteochondrosis of the lower back sometimes makes normal childbirth difficult. Then you need to do the operation. Antispasmodics are taken during this period with caution so as not to harm the fetus.
In diseases of the spine, doctors use the identification of specific symptoms for diagnosis - the Lasegue symptom. For a neuropathologist, Lasegue's symptom is important in determining the extent of the disease.
Lasegue's symptom is always practiced when a neurological disorder is suspected. With the Lasegue method, the doctor slowly raises the leg into a straightened state, not allowing the knee to bend. The Lasègue sign is tested in three phases by flexion and extension of the leg. Based on the appearance of pain in certain postures. During pregnancy, the Lasegue method is not practiced.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is often associated with damage to the shoulder and elbow joints. There are pains in the neck, head, spreading to the shoulder blades and arms, pains in the heart appear. They are purchased together with antispasmodics. There is noise in the ears, vision deteriorates.
The pain is aggravated by movement of the neck, head or shoulder blade. In the acute period, the lymph nodes may be affected, muscle pain in the neck and elbow joint may occur. Then, urgent treatment is needed to prevent complications in the heart, brain and blood vessels.
The patient is constantly tormented by the question: how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis and correctly position his head on the pillow?
This is especially true for women during pregnancy. Only antispasmodics and treatment help.
Pathology of the thoracic region is less common. Symptoms of pain in the heart, shoulder area, shoulder girdle, neck are recorded. Lymph nodes are inflamed, sometimes because of pain it is impossible to raise your hands, take a deep breath. Often, osteochondrosis is confused with heart pain. If you take antispasmodics, pain in the muscles, the heart goes away. If the disease is at an advanced stage, antispasmodics do not always help, and the following symptoms join:
- violation of the sensitivity of the legs;
- increased pain at night, with movement, breathing;
- burning sensation, itching in the heart, shoulder region, along the ribs.
Often in practice, osteochondrosis affects several parts of the spine. Symptoms during pregnancy are especially unpleasant, when it is undesirable to take antispasmodics. Rescues in time began treatment.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes conducting hardware studies, questioning and examining the patient. It is important to pay attention to specific signs such as the Lasegue symptom. To exclude pathology of the heart and other internal organs, ultrasound, ECG is performed. X-rays, MRI, CT are performed to examine the spine.
Treatment of osteochondrosis should be long and complex. Treatment is divided into symptomatic therapy and rehabilitation. Against pain, muscle relaxants, NSAIDs, analgesics, antispasmodics are prescribed. Muscle relaxants can not only relieve pain for a long time, but also improve mobility. Relaxants have peripheral and central action. Which medicine to choose, the doctor decides.
Treatment includes a combination of physiotherapy, massage, reflexology. Treatment allows manual therapy, banks, ointments and folk methods.
Osteochondrosis of the joints
Often there are diseases of the elbow, knee, shoulder joint. Osteochondrosis of the knee joint often occurs in pregnant women and is accompanied by pain and reduced mobility. The elbow joint is characterized by symptoms such as pain during movement, swelling, deformation. Improperly chosen posture of the hand brings discomfort and pain. In the affected area, the lymph nodes become inflamed. In addition, lymph nodes can injure not only in the affected area, but also capture adjacent lymph nodes.
In order to correctly diagnose, X-rays, CT scans, MRIs are used, they are examined, palpated, and the Lasegue symptom is checked. To restore the function of muscles and joints, complex treatment is necessary. You need to do massages, ERT, take antispasmodics, NSAIDs, relaxants. In advanced cases, an operation is performed. But first, conservative treatment is always prescribed, especially during pregnancy.