Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion localized in the vertebral tissues. The disease causes a pathological process in the intervertebral discs, adjacent surfaces of the joints, as well as the ligamentous apparatus of the spine.
The disease significantly affects human health. Bones and ligaments are damaged. The onset of the disease is signaled by painful symptoms, muscle atrophy, impaired functioning of internal organs. The most common age for a person to develop osteochondrosis is over 30 years.
Why does osteochondrosis occur?
In medicine, there is a lot of information about the causes of the disease. These include receiving a mechanical injury, a hereditary factor, impaired metabolism. It is very difficult to find a cause that contributes to the development of the disease, since osteochondrosis can occur in both an adult and a teenager.
A common factor for the development of the disease is the deposition of vertebral salts. With the help of an x-ray, growths on the vertebrae are diagnosed, while the joints crunch and creak when walking.
You can also get osteochondrosis in the case of an existing infectious disease, with constant overloads of the spine, exposure to a chemical, and impaired posture. At risk are people who lead an unhealthy lifestyle, abuse smoking and alcohol, are overweight, and are in constant stressful situations.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis are determined depending on what type (s) of the disease is present. What are the types of osteochondrosis and how they manifest themselves, we will analyze in more detail.
Cervical osteochondrosis
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- headache;
- impaired coordination;
- violation of the auditory, vocal and visual systems;
- the occurrence of snoring.
The most common symptom is headache, which negatively affects a person's habitual lifestyle. Most often, the neck, throat, and teeth hurt. The pain spreads to the shoulders and arms and increases with movement.
Medicine divides all symptoms of manifestation of cervical osteochondrosis into several groups:
Root symptoms. In other words, cervical sciatica. The pain originates in the neck, descends along the shoulder blades and back along the whole body to the fingers.
reflex symptoms. A common symptom is pain, characterized by a sharp and burning character. Place of localization - neck or occipital zone. Often, pain radiates to the heart and thoracic spine, moreover, a person confuses osteochondrosis with the presence of heart disease.
Symptoms of the vertebral artery. The most common symptom is headache. Possible impairment of the auditory and visual systems.
cardiac symptoms. It would seem that the heart hurts, but it is not. This is just an irradiation of pain in the heart, but not a heart disease. In this case, the symptoms are similar to angina pectoris. There are cases when a doctor mistakenly diagnoses and treats a non-existent disease.
Self-treatment is not recommended for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Before prescribing the necessary treatment, the doctor conducts a diagnosis. The main method of diagnosis is x-ray. Treatment should be comprehensive, including elimination of the source of the disease, as well as symptoms.
The early stage of the disease involves manual therapy and exercise therapy. Running osteochondrosis requires more thorough treatment, and sometimes surgical intervention. As soon as the main treatment is over, the doctor prescribes gymnastics.
Thoracic osteochondrosis
Disease of the thoracic spine is characterized by bouts of pain in the heart, sternum, back, side of the trunk, upper abdomen. In other words, the pain of the whole body.
Painful sensations in the heart can raise the suspicion of a pathological process such as angina pectoris. The difference is that pain in the region of the heart in the case of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is not stopped by Nitroglycerin, and electrocardiography did not reveal pathological changes in the heart. And the pain does not go away after taking a heart drug.
Intercostal osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is characterized by symptoms depending on the location of the pathological process:
Radiculopathy develops in conjunction with a herniated disc. In the case when intercostal osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine covers the upper segment, there is pain in the shoulders, shoulder blades, back, heart.
When squeezing the spinal cord. In other words, compression myelopathy. A rather rare phenomenon, manifested by pain, numbness and weakness of the lower extremities.
Clinical symptoms belonging only to osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are as follows:
Neurological symptoms - constant pain, which increases in case of deep coughing and inhalation.
- costovertebral arthrosis;
- vertebral symptoms.
Visceral syndromes - pain in the heart, aggravated in case of physical exertion, turning the body.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine should be comprehensive. A special place is occupied by manual therapy, exercise therapy, physiotherapy.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
Intercostal osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is characterized by pain in the lumbar region and dorsal region of the body. Irradiation can be observed in the thighs, buttocks, lower legs, very rarely in the heart.
Lumbosacral osteochondrosis is characterized by impaired urination, defecation, impaired sweating, tingling in the lower extremities, dryness and peeling of the skin.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is carried out by a neurologist. Before setting up the treatment, the doctor carries out the necessary diagnostic measures, consisting in a personal examination, probing the vertebrae. X-rays, MRI and CT scans are also required. Based on the results of such studies, treatment is prescribed.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis should include measures to eliminate pain, restore the normal functioning of the affected area.
Comprehensive treatment includes:
- medical method. With the help of medicines, you can relieve pain, inflammation, swelling.
- Physiotherapy treatment. With the help of such treatment, you can also relieve pain and discomfort, as well as significantly advance towards full recovery.
- exercise therapy. Prevention and treatment with the help of a therapeutic and sports complex helps to significantly improve health and achieve a full recovery. It is forbidden to carry out exercise therapy during an exacerbation of the disease! Together with physical education, it is necessary to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, eat right, and prevent stress.
Diagnostic measures
As a rule, the diagnosis of osteochondrosis consists of several stages:
- Stage 1. The doctor listens to the person's complaints and finds out the medical history: the area of concern, the time during which discomfort is felt, the cause of the pain, the reason for pain relief.
- Stage 2. The doctor examines the skin to identify or note the absence of redness, peeling and rashes. The doctor performs palpation of the affected area to determine the temperature regime of the skin, identify swelling, painful compaction.
- Stage 3. An X-ray examination is necessary to determine the pathological mobility of the vertebrae, displacement, salt deposits, and the formation of osteophytes.
- Stage 4. CT helps to identify compression of the nerve roots, ruptures, all kinds of changes, marginal growths.
MRI contributes to the examination of the state of blood vessels, nerve processes and intervertebral discs.
Treatment at home
In the case when painful sensations are observed (in other words, a period of exacerbation), various active actions are strictly prohibited. Kneading or massaging the affected area is not recommended, because the pain can only intensify. The body must be provided with rest: take the most comfortable position in which minimal pain is manifested. It also requires muscle relaxation. Sometimes the doctor recommends using a corset for more comfortable movement.
In thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis, it is recommended to warm up the affected area. The most effective method of warming up is to use a belt made of dog or sheep wool. Thanks to the belt, pain is eliminated and the inflammatory process is weakened. The belt can be found in almost every pharmacy. In some cases, it is possible to visit the bath, so it is good to warm up the affected area. The bath is allowed only during the period when the exacerbation of the disease is eliminated.
Old grandmother's recipes are also effective. You can apply various tinctures by rubbing the affected area. no less effective are various ointments that can be made at home or purchased at a pharmacy. But such ointments should be used with caution, because they can cause burns to the skin. That is why it is important to read the instructions before use.
Gymnastics for osteochondrosis
Exercise therapy contributes to the treatment of osteochondrosis, and is also an excellent prophylactic. Physical education should be specially designed and individually selected in each case of the disease.
Therapeutic and physical culture complex should be carried out only in the stage of remission, but not during the period of exacerbation. At the same time, physical education helps to strengthen the ligamentous apparatus and the muscular corset of the back. Thanks to physical education, you can bypass the main drug treatment.
Preventive measures
In order not to aggravate your health and prevent the development of osteochondrosis of any part of the spine, there is a special prevention. Its main rules are:
Drink water before engaging in physical activity or exercising. This is necessary in order to maintain the exchange of moisture in the disks and prevent their dehydration.
A good means of prevention is back massage, which can be done by the person himself, while at home. Massage helps to increase blood flow throughout the body, as well as accelerate metabolic processes.
In no case should you lift and hold heavy objects and things at arm's length. This increases the load. To lift an object, you can squat down, keeping your spine straight.
It is not recommended to carry out sudden movements, turns and inclinations.
An even distribution of loads is required.
Prevention of osteochondrosis includes a proper lifestyle and good nutrition. No need to run any disease. Timely treatment to the hospital will help to avoid negative consequences.