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Osteochondrosis of the spine - symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Osteochondrosis of the spine

Osteochondrosis of the spine is a degenerative-dystrophic destruction caused by the gradual thinning of cartilage tissue in the intervertebral disc.Everyone is susceptible to this disease, because due to the upright posture, the human spine experiences a large load.If we take into account the harmful factors, then at the age of 40-50, back osteochondrosis is found in almost everyone.Pathology cannot be completely cured.It is impossible to stop the degenerative process related to age, but with the right treatment it can be slowed down.You should learn how to deal with the symptoms of osteochondrosis.





General features of pathology

The disease develops in three parts of the spine - cervical, thoracic and lumbar.Cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis are more often diagnosed, because these areas have increased mobility.The more active movements a person can make in the joints, the more prone the intervertebral disc is to injury and degeneration.Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region occurs less often, but more severely.

This pathology is dangerous because it contributes to the appearance of other degenerative diseases in the body, including intervertebral hernia.At the initial stage, the patient does not feel pain, but persistent metabolic changes in the calcium-phosphorus metabolism have already appeared, which disturb the bone structure of the spine.Blood circulation in the affected area deteriorates, which causes premature degeneration.

The intervertebral disc contains a fibrous ring, which is covered with microcracks.Nucleus pulposus appears on the surface of the damage - its parts begin to gradually leak.Against the background of the degenerative process, the fibrous ring begins to weaken and stretch, which leads to an increase in the area of microdamage.When the annulus fibrosus breaks, the nucleus pulposus comes out.This is how intervertebral herniation of the spinal cord appears.

If you delay the degeneration process, which causes osteochondrosis, hernias and protrusions appear later.The earlier treatment is started, the easier it is to combat signs of deterioration.Symptoms of back osteochondrosis depend on the location on the ridge and the effect of concomitant diseases on the body.

Causes of osteochondrosis of the spinal column

In most situations, this disease is hereditary.In other cases, the disease occurs against the background of unfavorable conditions that can cause problems, including:

  1. Previous back injuries, including bone, joint and tendon damage.
  2. Problems with the musculoskeletal system, including poor posture and flat feet.
  3. History of metabolic disorders, including endocrine pathology.People with hypothyroidism and uncompensated diabetes are at risk of developing bone problems.This problem has a negative effect on the absorption of calcium.
  4. Being overweight.With obesity and a high body mass index, a person experiences premature joint wear.Heavy weight puts pressure on the musculoskeletal system, which has a negative effect on the health of the spine.
  5. Poor nutrition.A daily diet that destroys nutrients and micronutrients causes hypovitaminosis, which causes the human body to suffer systematically, which can affect the condition of the spine.
  6. Physical inactivity.It has been proven that a sedentary lifestyle leads to brittle bones.Moderate physical activity is beneficial.
  7. Lifting weights.Like insufficient muscle activity, excessive overexertion is full of microtraumas and damage, which causes diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
  8. Previous viral or bacterial infection.Examples: osteomyelitis, poliomyelitis.
  9. Have bad habits.Abuse of alcohol and nicotine causes deterioration of blood circulation, which has a negative effect on the state of the skeletal system.

Factors that affect the occurrence of the disease:

  1. Congenital spinal deformity.
  2. Poor posture.
  3. Have flat feet.
  4. Prolonged stay in a sitting or standing position.
  5. Belongs to the female gender.Women during pregnancy and menopause experience increased bones.With a long-term lack of calcium and other minerals, degenerative processes occur in the spine, contributing to the appearance of osteochondrosis.
  6. Hypogonadism.With the lack of steroid hormones in both sexes, calcium is almost not fixed in bone tissue.As a result, patients suffer from age-related osteochondrosis.At a young age, such a situation occurs very rarely.In this case we are talking about mutation.

Considering the above risk factors, you should try to maintain a gentle lifestyle.

Disease progression stage

This disease has 4 stages of the disease, including the following picture:

  1. The initial stage is the stage of the degenerative metabolic process.The patient has no symptoms, because the cartilage tissue does not begin to actively deteriorate.Deformation of the intervertebral disc begins.Since there is no more protrusion, the patient does not feel pain in the back.Usually, in the early stages of osteochondrosis, this disease is rarely found, more often by chance.Not every specialist can see the first signs of degeneration.In rare cases, patients may experience minimal discomfort associated with hard work.The patient's back starts to hurt when standing or sitting for a long time.Also, such pain is associated with overstrain and weakness of the muscle frame.
  2. In the second stage, the active destruction of the fibrous ring begins, which causes a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc.At this stage, the attentive patient has turned to a specialist, because he feels more obvious symptoms.The head may begin to hurt frequently, and inexplicable pressure surges may occur.Often it hurts the back, neck or shoulders.Patients can no longer tolerate prolonged exercise and quickly tire.At this stage, osteochondrosis is detected by X-ray.
  3. In the third stage, the disease causes the protrusion of the annulus fibrosus.During the diagnosis, the patient is diagnosed with a small intervertebral protrusion or hernia, which causes serious problems in everyday life.The cartilage is already weak and the patient feels very unwell.The third stage is the transition in terms of treatment.At this stage, it is still possible to use conservative treatment to make the patient feel better and slow down the development of the hernia.
  4. Stage 4 - Terminal.Vertebrae lose elasticity and mobility.Patients experience pain not only during the day during movement, but also at night.Sleep is disturbed and neurological symptoms appear, because the discomfort is chronic.Chronic fatigue syndrome is getting worse.At this stage, an important hernia has already been diagnosed, interfering with the patient's normal life.In this case, surgical intervention is indicated to remove osteophytes.Conservative treatment in advanced cases does not bring relief.

The earlier osteochondrosis is detected, the easier it is to fight it.At stage 1-2, it is still possible to reverse the development of the pathology if you follow medical prescriptions unconditionally.

Types of osteochondrosis of the spine

The spine consists of 3 parts, including the lower back, the thoracic region and the neck.Depending on the individual situation, degenerative lesions occur more often in one of the departments.Less commonly, the pathology affects several segments of the ridge.The cervical and lumbar regions are most often affected, as increased mobility is observed in these places.If the thoracic spine is affected, the pathology is worse because of the anatomical features of the ridge in this area.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is the most common.The prevalence of pathology is associated with an increased load on the lower body.Also, this back is most prone to the formation of hernias and protrusions.If a patient with such a history develops complications, problems with mobility, bowel movements and urination appear.Advanced cases require serious correction and surgical intervention.

With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, severe pain and shooting in the head occur.Often, this disease occurs against the background of prolonged sedentary work and increased physical activity.Patients with this disease also need an integrated approach to therapy.Damage to the cervical spine is also caused by the presence of increased mobility in the shoulders and head.

Thoracic osteochondrosis occurs less often, because due to the developed muscles and reduced mobility, this area is the least prone to such pathological processes.This type of osteochondrosis is difficult to diagnose, because the pathological symptoms resemble diseases of the heart, lungs or stomach.With thoracic osteochondrosis, radiating pain to the region of the ribs and heart is more often observed, so this disease is confused with ischemic heart disease and signs of a heart attack.An important diagnostic criterion is that if, when complaining of chest pain, no heart problem is detected, you should visit a neurologist or traumatologist.

The older the patient, the higher the risk that degeneration of the spinal joints will affect various parts of the spine.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine

Symptoms can be divided into general and specific.The second option is typical for osteochondrosis of any part, depending on the location.Common signs of degenerative back disease include:

  1. Pain, malaise and discomfort.Given the degree and localization of the pathological process, patients experience varying degrees of pain.At the initial stage, the discomfort is small, pressing.At night, temporary discomfort.As the degeneration of the spine progresses, the pain becomes stronger and more frequent.In the worst case, the pain does not stop and prevents you from sleeping at night.
  2. Weakness, constant fatigue.Spinal problems are often associated with impaired nerve conduction and poor blood flow.If the patient actively develops osteochondrosis, chronic fatigue syndrome occurs over time.The patient becomes increasingly unable to perform work tasks, and the person does not get enough sleep.The more advanced the pathology, the worse the patient feels.
  3. Decreased mobility in specific parts of the spine.During the acute period, not only is the pain constant, but also the movement of the affected area on the back is limited.This phenomenon is associated not only with inflammatory processes, but also with muscle spasticity.
  4. Muscle spasms in the affected part of the spine.Osteochondrosis is not only the result of a natural degenerative process in the body.Physical inactivity often triggers this disease.In the absence of motor activity, the muscles atrophy and cannot remove the load from the spine adequately.As a result, constant tension arises, which is fraught with severe degradation.The patient experiences various spasms that must be relieved with medication.
  5. Radicular syndrome.This phenomenon is typical for all types of osteochondrosis, without exception.When the pathology is complicated by the appearance of a hernia, a prolonged increase in the pressure of the nucleus pulposus on the nerve segment occurs.As a result, adverse effects occur - limited mobility, pain, lumbago, paresthesia, and in severe situations - loss of sensation in the fingers and lower legs.
  6. Other vegetative manifestations.These include symptoms reminiscent of vegetative-vascular dystonia, neurological disorders, cardiac, pulmonary, and abdominal symptoms.

Distinctive symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:

  1. Headache.It happens suddenly, and the attack itself is often a migraine, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness and pressure.This condition is often associated with persistent poor circulation in the affected area and pinched nerve roots.
  2. Pain in the neck, trapezius, or upper back.These symptoms are associated with increased muscle spasticity.The spine cannot withstand the load, so these muscles are too much.Also, this condition occurs more often among office workers.The nature of pain is aggravating, hindering, painful.
  3. Increased pressure.If the intervertebral hernia compresses the vascular bed, the patient experiences an attack of hypertension that is not associated with problems of the cardiovascular system.
  4. The appearance of a reddening sensation in the neck and throat.This phenomenon is also associated with muscle spasticity, which causes pinching of vessels in the neck.
  5. Shooting in fingers, collarbones and arms.This is a purely neurological symptom associated with a pinched nerve root.
  6. Shortness of breath, pain in the heart and throat are less common.

Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis look like this:

  1. Tight feeling in the chest.
  2. The onset of attacks of intercostal neuralgia.
  3. Pain in the heart area is not associated with heart pathology.
  4. Complaints of shortness of breath, pain in the depth of the chest.
  5. Cough is not associated with respiratory system problems.
  6. Discomfort in the stomach or esophagus.
  7. Pain in the interscapular region.Characterized by a chronic course.Often it occurs against the background of static muscle load.
  8. Numbness in arms, collarbones and fingers.Less often - at the bottom.

This is how the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis manifest themselves:

  1. Pain in the lower back.
  2. Pulling sensation in the kidney or lower abdominal area.
  3. A pinching of the sciatic nerve.
  4. The appearance of symptoms of a tight piriformis muscle.If this muscle spasms, it compresses the sciatic nerve, which causes certain symptoms, including burning and shooting along the legs, starting from the gluteal area and ending in the thighs and lower legs.These neurological symptoms most often indicate problems with the spine.
  5. Problems with bowel movements and urination.When a hernia or protrusion compresses the lower part of the nerve ending, the force of contraction of the smooth muscles of the intestine and bladder weakens significantly over time.As a result, intestinal atony and urinary retention develop.Such conditions are very dangerous and require qualified medical treatment.
  6. Over time, the patient changes and lameness appears in one leg.This condition is also associated with pinching of nerve endings.

If the patient has some symptoms in a certain part of the spine, reminiscent of advanced osteochondrosis, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.There are no specific diagnostic criteria that allow you to detect this disease.It is necessary to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis, after which the true cause of the disease will be determined.

Diagnosis of back osteochondrosis

The main diagnosis consists of taking an anamnesis.A neurologist or traumatologist asks about complaints and examines the patient's back.If the patient is not sure that he needs to see these specialists specifically, he should first visit a therapist.A general clinical practitioner will examine the patient, record the complaint in the card and issue a referral to a specialist.

The main problem in diagnosing osteochondrosis of the spine is that pathology gives many false signs that indicate other diseases.Therefore, it is necessary to visit a specialist several times to ensure that there are no pathologies related to the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems.

What types of diagnostics are usually prescribed:

  1. Radiography.This type of inspection is quick and does not require large financial costs.Images can be obtained free of charge if the patient undergoes the procedure at the clinic at the place of registration.X-ray images can assess the condition of the ridge.If there is gross deformity or signs of decreased intervertebral space distance, the patient will be referred to other procedures to clarify the diagnosis.
  2. MRI or CT.This type of study clearly looks at soft tissue, therefore they are the main diagnostic method that recognizes various degenerative processes - displacement, disc herniation, protrusions.With the help of such diagnostics, not only osteochondrosis is detected, but also hernias, protrusions, and pinched nerves.
  3. Laboratory tests.Sometimes it is necessary to undergo a series of blood tests that will help find hidden diseases that have a negative effect on the disease.Usually tests are taken in combination - OBC, OAM, Sugar, Regulator of Calcium-Phosphorus Metabolism, Rheumatology Test.

Based on the data obtained, the doctor makes a final diagnosis.After receiving the conclusion, you must follow the recommendations of experts to endure less painful spinal disease.There are pathologies that cannot be completely cured.This includes osteochondrosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

There are many treatment options for this spinal disease.They are used depending on the level of complications.If the pathology is at an early stage, then the best drugs are drugs and conservative treatment.In advanced cases, it rarely happens, but surgical intervention may be necessary when drugs do not help and the patient loses sensation in the limbs, becoming disabled.

What is used among medical products:

  1. NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.These drugs quickly relieve pain associated with inflammation or irritation.The therapeutic effect is achieved quickly, within a day.Therefore, these drugs are the first choice.Disadvantages of NSAIDs - you can not inject them for more than two days.In oral form, some types of drugs are used for more than three weeks.This limitation in use is explained by the high gastrotoxicity of the drugs.People suffering from peptic ulcers or gastritis are also prescribed medications to protect the gastric mucosa.
  2. Corticosteroids are hormonal pain relievers.In case of severe pain and degenerative processes, special drugs are given intra-articularly to eliminate local inflammation.It is recommended to use long lasting components.Active ingredients last up to 3-4 weeks.For some patients, one injection is enough to forget the pain for a long time.
  3. Chondroprotectors are drugs used to strengthen and nourish cartilage tissue.In many patients suffering from osteochondrosis of the spine, the cartilage tissue and bones are weak, so it is necessary to strengthen them.Chondroprotectors do not stop the progression of the disease and build cartilage tissue, but help slow down the degenerative process.They took over the long course.
  4. Muscle relaxants.Medicines used to relax tight muscles.The duration of therapy is from 2 to 4 weeks.
  5. B vitamins.Neurotrophic substances - B1, B6 and B12 help the sciatica nerve or sciatic nerve.In large doses, these substances exhibit analgesic effects and nourish damaged nerve fibers.

Conservative treatment methods include:

  1. Manual therapy.This method allows you to relax tight muscles through expert handwork.During an exacerbation, this type of treatment should not be used.
  2. Exercise therapy.With the help of physical therapy, you can strengthen your muscles.It has been proven that back pain is more often associated with muscle weakness, because the spine cannot withstand the load, which is why fatigue and discomfort occur.For patients to feel relief, it is necessary to do exercises consistently 2-3 times a week.Physical education improves posture and eliminates pain.
  3. Massage.With the help of a massage therapist, it is possible to increase blood flow in damaged muscles, which has a positive effect on well-being.Increased blood flow nourishes and relaxes tissue, which helps fight spasms.This procedure is contraindicated in the acute period and is performed only during recovery.
  4. Physiotherapy.Conservative treatment aims to increase blood flow in the damaged tissue using hardware methods.Using current or magnetic radiation, muscle communication improves, which helps fight spasms and chronic pain.Physiotherapy allows the use of systemic drugs in the country, which penetrate well under the skin.

Disease prevention

Osteochondrosis of the spine can be prevented if you adhere to a healthy lifestyle, including giving up bad habits, proper nutrition and combating physical inactivity.You also need to monitor your weight.Obese patients experience greater pressure not only on the back, but also throughout the body.It is recommended to wear orthopedic shoes and monitor your posture.