A certain therapist with 50 years of experience once said, "When I started working, there was not a single young patient with osteochondrosis on the site. And today, almost every second in their thirties has this problem.
Osteochondrosis - a disease caused by the deposition of salts in the spine
Bad. The intervertebral disc is made up of the nucleus pulposus, the annulus fibrosus and the hyaline cartilage that covers it from above and below.
With the destruction of these elements, the balance between the load on the spine and the ability to carry it is disturbed. As a result, the vertebrae begin to compress the adjacent nerve and muscle tissues, grow along the edges, forming the so-called. osteophytes, which emit a characteristic crackle when moving (patients mistakenly explain it as "salt deposit").
If the back and neck hurt, it is exclusively osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is not the only cause of back pain. This diagnosis is often made by the patients themselves. However, in addition to this pathology, which belongs to the group of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine, there is also arthrosis, osteoporosis, and it is possible to differentiate only after a thorough examination.
- Degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in 30-50% of cases in 30-40 year olds, in 75-100% of people over 40 years old.
- These pathological processes account for 20. 4% of total disability due to diseases of the osteoarticular system.
- Long walks are bad for the spine
Vice versa. Motor activity has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the spine: it maintains muscle tone, preserves intervertebral mobility, stimulates blood circulation and metabolism. In the progression of the disease, hypodynamia and a long stay in a particularly uncomfortable position are "culprits".
Another thing is that if an overweight person walks a lot, carries heavy objects, the spine experiences an increased load.
Flat feet contribute to the development of osteochondrosis
Right. The arches of the feet, along with the physiological curves of the spine, are designed to absorb shock loads when walking, running, jumping. If the foot does not provide adequate protection when interacting with the support, the spine receives an additional load, which significantly impairs the nutrition and functioning of its structures and accelerates the development of the disease.
Back pain is the only symptom of the disease.
Certainly not that way. As a rule, patients complain of constant pain in the back, often accompanied by numbness and pain in the limbs. Over time, if left untreated, the muscles of the limbs atrophy, the joints of the spine become less mobile, muscle spasms appear.
Such an acute condition occurs due to arterial spasm in response to the effects of bone growth, as well as due to herniated disc, arthrosis of the intervertebral joint, as a reflex reaction toirritation of spinal receptors.
- If a person suffers from coronary or cardiovascular pathology, vertebral artery syndrome will aggravate the course.
- With osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, the pain in the chest is disturbing (feeling as if a stake is stuck there) - in the region of the heart and other internal organs; with lumbosacral lesions - in the lower back (radiation of the sacrum, lower extremities, sometimes pelvic organs).
- If complications of osteochondrosis develop (herniated intervertebral discs, bone growths, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthrosis), damage to the nerve roots is noted - the pain becomes throbbing, tenderness worsens, weakness appears in the innervated muscles and theseverity of reflexes decreases.
- Osteochondrosis can lead to dysfunction of various organs and tissues.
With osteochondrosis, the risk of circulatory disorders in the cerebellar, stump and occipital regions of the brain is increased.
A constant headache appears - first in the back of the head, then spreads to the region of the crown and temples, aggravated by movements of the neck (more often in the morning).
Elderly people with a sharp bend of the head may lose consciousness. This is preceded by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and hearing, nausea, vomiting.
Sometimes there is pain in the region of the heart - long, pressing, boring. With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, especially in old and senile people, soft tissues often change - they become more dense.
Degenerative processes in the spine can cause congestion of the gastrointestinal tract, disruption of the bronchopulmonary system, which is fraught with inflammatory and other ailments.
Vegetovascular dystonia, intercostal neuralgia - consequences of osteochondrosis
Certainly not that way. Osteochondrosis can be one of the reasons (by far not the only one) for the development of these diseases.
When the intervertebral discs are "erased" and osteophytes grow, the intervertebral foramina, the channel of the vertebral artery narrow and deform, which leads to the violation of various structures.
In particular, when the nerve roots are compressed, signs of intercostal neuralgia appear, and when the vertebral artery is compressed, the same symptoms appear as with vegetative-vascular dystonia.
It is impossible to cure osteochondrosis
This is because spinal structures that have undergone degenerative changes cannot be fully restored. Nevertheless, adequate complex treatment can eliminate the symptoms of the disease, stop the development of pathology and prevent complications.
In case of problems with intervertebral discs, it is useful to warm the painful points
Bad. Temperature fluctuations, especially extreme ones (for example, a beginner's trip to the bath), can provoke a severe exacerbation. Moderate thermal procedures are used in complex treatments, but they must be prescribed by a doctor.
If you perform circular movements of the head with osteochondrosis of the cervical region, your health will worsen
Right. These exercises are best done for prevention - they help maintain range of motion in the intervertebral joints. With severe osteochondrosis, careless circular movements can aggravate vertebral artery syndrome, radiculopathy, etc.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are essential for treatment
Not really. During the period of remission or when the pain is not strong, conservative therapy is performed (physio-, reflex- and manual); physiotherapy, traction techniques are used. Drug therapy is indicated during an exacerbation and is aimed at relieving pain, relieving the inflammatory process and accelerating metabolic processes (intramuscular or intravenous injections).
Among the most effective agents are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are prescribed to relieve inflammation and pain; with severe pain, novocaine blockades are used; steroid drugs (epidural, intramuscular injections); NSAIDs in the form of ointments, gels and creams with analgesic and irritant effect; muscle relaxants - to relieve muscle spasms; B vitamins - to improve metabolic processes in the spine (B1, B6, B12).
Osteochondrosis can lead to serious consequences
Yes. Due to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots, osteochondrosis can cause paralysis, and if the vertebral artery is infringed, it can lead to loss of consciousness.
Exercises to "stretch" the spine help improve the condition
Traction, or traction, allows you to increase the intervertebral space, relieve pain and restore the anatomically correct shape of the spine. However, the individual load must be correctly calculated. Busting can lead to reflex contraction of the paravertebral muscles and worsen the condition.
Only a traumatologist-orthopedist has the right to treat osteochondrosis
Bad. Most patients are seen by a neurologist, with a significant severity of the pathology - by a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic vertebrologist.
A local therapist may also prescribe medication to relieve an exacerbation.
Vertebral osteochondrosis: causes and treatment
Up to 76% of people suffer from back pain each year. This statistic affects people of all ages and occupations. The causes of pain can be different, one of them is osteochondrosis of the spine.
Due to a sedentary lifestyle, osteochondrosis of the spine is becoming more and more common, and it is not always possible to defeat it on your own. Let's talk about why this happens and how to deal with it.
What is vertebral osteochondrosis
There are several different views on the definition. Some experts believe that it is more correct to use the general name - back pain or non-specific back pain.
Difficulties in definition are also associated with the fact that various specialists work with this disease - neurologists, orthopedists, neurosurgeons and general practitioners.
Sometimes a person diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the spine turns to a cardiologist, since the manifestations of the disease are very similar to pain in the heart.
The term "osteochondrosis of the spine" was proposed by Hildebrandt in 1933 as a multifactorial degenerative disease of the motion segment of the spine (as defined by Popelyansky). What is the spinal motion segment? They are two vertebrae located one above the other and between them is an intervertebral disc.
Thanks to this joint, the human spine can bend and unbend, bend and twist. But for various reasons, the intervertebral discs lose their properties, undergo degeneration, and then gradual changes affect the vertebrae themselves.
That is, the essence of osteochondrosis of the spine is the gradual destruction of intervertebral discs.
Osteochondrosis can develop in any part of the spine.
Due to the heavy load, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is most common. The symptoms are:
- lower back pain, which may be sharp or dull, constant, may increase with movement;
- pain can be transmitted to the legs, pelvic organs, sacrum;
- in severe cases, there may be a violation of sensitivity or mobility, atrophy of the muscles of the lower extremities.
The second most common is cervical osteochondrosis, which is more often associated with a prolonged and uncomfortable position of the head, for example, when working at a computer or with documents. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is manifested by the following symptoms:
- headaches and dizziness, migraines;
- visual or auditory disturbances, flashing "flies" in front of the eyes;
- pain can radiate to the back of the head, shoulders, collarbones;
- possible violation of sensitivity in the hands.
Less often, osteochondrosis affects the thoracic spine, since the vertebrae are inactively connected to each other. A lesion in this area can pass for heart or lung disease. Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine:
- pain in the back in the shoulder blades, in the chest, which can increase when bending, turning, when inhaling or exhaling;
- skin sensitivity disorders.
Regardless of the level of damage, pain in osteochondrosis of the spine can increase with pressure on the vertebrae involved in the process.
With the defeat of several departments, one can immediately speak of generalized osteochondrosis of the spine.
Risk factors and causes of the disease
The spine has a high resistance, and the development of the disease requires the simultaneous action of several provoking factors. It is important to understand that most, if not all, of these factors can be influenced by the patient and thus reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.
- lack of movement - this worsens the blood supply and hence the nutrition of all elements of the spine;
- excessive physical activity is also harmful and can damage the intervertebral discs;
- staying in the wrong position for a long time, not physiological - the inappropriate height of the desk or chair leads to the fact that a person is forced to constantly tilt his head, bend over;
- stress - excessive tension in the muscles can lead to compression of the vessels that supply the spine;
- Overweight;
- smoking impairs microcirculation in all tissues of the body;
- insufficient water and protein intake affects, among other things, the condition of the intervertebral discs.
The immediate causes of osteochondrosis of the spine are not always obvious, but the following options can be distinguished:
- hereditary predisposition - genetically programmed characteristics of cartilage and bone tissue, in which the process of wear is faster;
- spinal injuries - various complications can develop at the site of injury, including osteochondrosis;
- occupational hazards, such as vibration;
- exposure to infections or chemicals;
- natural aging of the body.
People of various professions are at risk of developing osteochondrosis of the spine. They are builders and athletes, surgeons and office workers.
Stages of osteochondrosis and possible complications
The description of the four stages of osteochondrosis of the spine was proposed by Osna in 1971. They are not used to formulate a diagnosis, but make it possible to understand how the disease evolves.
- The intervertebral discs become less elastic. The disc may be slightly deformed, there is a displacement of the internal nucleus pulposus inside the disc. This stage does not manifest itself in any way, or there are minor pains.
- In the second stage, cracks may appear in the disc and the surrounding ligaments may weaken. The connection of the vertebrae becomes unstable. There are attacks of acute pain with disability.
- The third stage is characterized by complete damage to the intervertebral disc. When the nucleus pulposus leaves the disc, a herniated disc occurs. Spinal deformity or nerve root entrapment may occur.
- At the fourth stage, the surrounding tissues are affected - vertebrae, ligaments, vertebral membranes. As a result, the vertebral segment can completely lose its mobility.
As a result of vertebral osteochondrosis, various complications arise in some cases. Problems with intervertebral discs, herniation and protrusion can lead to narrowing of the spinal canal, compression of the spinal cord and disability.
Depending on the level of the injury, various problems with nerve root involvement are possible. These are intercostal neuralgia, violations of sensitivity and motor function of the upper and lower extremities, disturbances in the functioning of internal organs. Inflammation of the sciatic nerve, or sciatica, not only causes severe pain, but can also lead to pelvic organ disease and infertility.
In addition to nerve roots, osteochondrosis can compress vertebral vessels. If blood flow is disturbed in the vertebral arteries that pass through the cervical region and supply the brain, brain disorders, problems with vision or hearing, breathing or heart activity may develop.
Approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of osteochondrosis: conventional and alternative methods
As part of official medicine, the diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes an examination by a neurologist to determine the degree of damage to the nerve roots, check reflexes and sensitivity.
Among the instrumental methods, the following can be used:
- Ultrasound of the vessels allows you to identify the degree of circulatory disorders, for example, in the vertebral arteries;
- x-ray of the spine;
- Computed tomography also uses radiological methods, but allows you to build a three-dimensional image of the area studied, to identify even small displacements of the vertebrae;
- MRI specializes in the study of soft tissues, allows to assess the state of the spinal cord, to visualize the internal structure of the intervertebral disc.
For differential diagnosis, laboratory tests, a general blood and urine test, and indicators of calcium metabolism are used.
The treatment of osteochondrosis is complex.
- Lifestyle is the first and very important tool in the treatment of osteochondrosis. Normalization of working conditions, moderate and regular exercise, as well as healthy sleep significantly improve the condition of patients.
- For drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine, a neurologist or general practitioner can prescribe drugs. Most often, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed - this is the standard treatment for vertebral osteochondrosis. They reduce pain and reduce inflammation. Muscle relaxants help reduce muscle spasms. Vitamins and antioxidants are prescribed to protect nerve tissue from damage. However, all drugs have side effects, for example, NSAIDs can have adverse effects on the stomach.
- In addition to medication, physiotherapy is used, for example, massage for osteochondrosis of the spine, as well as manual therapy. In severe complications of osteochondrosis, surgical intervention may be required, but it is prescribed only if there is no effect of long-term conservative therapy.
Treatment of osteochondrosis in classical medicine is in most cases a long process and can have negative effects on human health.
So, a number of drugs, especially analgesics and muscle relaxants (especially with a sedative effect), can be addictive, and some drugs impair the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Alternatively, you can consider methods used, for example, in traditional Chinese medicine.
Traditional Chinese medicine is very popular all over the world, in many countries there are special centers and training courses. The approaches and methods of therapy in the Celestial Empire differ from the usual European view of the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
All diseases are considered a violation of the balance and movement of Qi energy in the body, and therapeutic measures are aimed at restoring this balance. In China, various medicinal herbs, animal components, minerals, as well as various methods of external influence such as acupuncture and acupressure are used.
These techniques have a wide range of indications and a minimum number of side effects.
Acupuncture
Synonymous names for this method are acupuncture, reflexology. The principle of acupuncture treatment is to place needles on bioactive points. Each point is associated with the organ on which the impact is performed.
Reflexology helps relieve tension and muscle spasms, has an anesthetic effect, helps reduce pain. The method is safe because most doctors use sterile disposable needles.
And in the case of using needles coated with gold or silver, they must be sterilized without fail. Sensations during the procedure depend on individual susceptibility, the patient may experience tingling or numbness.
It is important that the procedure be performed by a highly qualified specialist with extensive experience. Incorrect needle placement will be useless or even harmful. In some cases, acupuncture is combined with exposure to low doses of electrical current.
Moxibustion
This is a specific way of influencing active points using special absinthe cigars. The principle of action is similar to acupuncture and is often used in combination. A smoking cigar is installed on the body in a special wooden house, while the active points are heated. Wormwood has a disinfectant, soothing and relaxing effect.
This method is safe because the glowing part of the cigar does not come into contact with the skin, although in some parts of China direct methods that work on the skin are used.
Massage
Massage therapy in China is practiced by several different schools. They use rotation techniques, pressing with a finger, manual therapy methods. Traditional massage techniques work the muscles and joints, as well as indirectly affect other organs and tissues, and help increase the body's defenses.
qigong
Traditional Chinese gymnastics, like massage, has several schools. Qigong smooth, stretching and twisting movements are excellent exercises for the spine with osteochondrosis.
Qi Gong techniques do not require special equipment and can be practiced at home.
However, before this it is better to choose the right exercises with your doctor, as well as to work out the correct technique of execution under the guidance of a qualified specialist.
The level of science and medicine in China is very high, the combination of tradition and innovation yields amazing results. An example of the achievement of Chinese science is DNA therapy methods and DNA vaccines - these are the methods that are currently used to develop cancer treatments and combat HIV.
Spinal osteochondrosis in the elderly. Features of rehabilitation
People age differently: some are clear-headed, optimistic about life situations, and cheerful. Others, having passed retirement age, lose interest in life.
- The rate of aging of the body depends on many factors, they are:
- 1) the genetic program for the development and decomposition of the organism;
- 2) the impact on a person of various adverse life events.
- A detrimental effect on a person is produced by poor housing conditions, harmful working conditions, living in an unfavorable climate, the inability to receive full medical and social assistance in time, an unhealthy lifestyle (malnutrition, bad habits and prolonged emotional stress).
- When organizing treatment and rehabilitation measures for the elderly, it is necessary to take into account the age-related and functional changes of this period of life.
- With age, the volume of muscle mass decreases, muscle contractility weakens, changes occur in all parts of the spine.
Cervical osteochondrosis. The primary stage of the disease does not require special treatment. Standard preventive measures are able to cope with the pathology at this stage.
The greatest danger is the violation of the blood circulation of the brain, leading to a general disorder of functions and the formation of numerous foci of necrosis of brain tissue.
Prevention
Regardless of the treatment methods chosen, the prevention of osteochondrosis plays an equally important role. What can be done for the health of the spine:
- drink enough water;
- control your weight, do not overeat;
- choose the right shoes, if necessary - orthopedic insoles;
- choose a good mattress for sleeping, not very soft and providing sufficient support for the spine;
- eat foods rich in collagen (fish, turkey, aspic, various jellies);
- exercise regularly;
- adjust desk and chair height to accommodate growth.
As far as alternative methods of prevention go, massage, qigong, and acupuncture all worked well, for completely understandable reasons outlined above.
It is important to remember that back pain can and should be treated. To change your lifestyle, it is not necessary to wait for the first signs of illness.
Now you can get up from the computer, stretch your neck, include walks or massages in your to-do list.
And if osteochondrosis of the spine has become a problem that prevents you from living peacefully, then the joint efforts of science and traditional medicine will help restore health and joy in movement.