Weakening of the intervertebral discs or other spinal diseases that complicate or limit movement indicate the development of a serious disease - osteochondrosis. It can occur in any person and is not related to age. The spine is a load-bearing element of the skeleton, so its changes affect the quality of life and the condition of many organ systems. For this reason, it is necessary to know the causes, signs and treatment methods of osteochondrosis in order to detect abnormalities in time and prevent the development of pathology.
What is osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a complex of degenerative disorders of the human spine, which are manifested in dystrophic changes in the cartilage of this system.The disease can occur in any joint, but it develops much more often in the intervertebral discs.
The main sign that indicates the development of the disease is pain in the back, neck and lower back. In the future, pain can be felt in the shoulders, arms and upper thighs. In the absence of treatment, the muscle tissue begins to atrophy, the sensitivity and activity of the internal organs are disturbed, which leads to an incurable condition.
ICD-10 code
The World Health Organization developed the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision). Its essence is as follows: each disease has its own specific code, which consists of numbers and letters. The doctor, seeing such a code in front of him, knows exactly what kind of disease we are talking about and what treatment should be prescribed to save the patient from this problem.
According to ICD-10, osteochondrosis has the code M42 and belongs to the class "Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue" ("Dorsopathies", subgroup "Deforming dorsopathies").
Causes and risk factors of development
There are many reasons for the occurrence of osteochondrosis. It all depends on which part of the spine the disease develops - cervical, thoracic or lumbar. There are several main reasons for the development of the disease:
- Hereditary tendency. Congenital disorders contribute to the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- Hormonal imbalance. Disruption of the endocrine system, overweight or underweight negatively affects the locomotor system;
- Age-related changes in the body. As a result, muscle, bone and cartilage tissues die, intervertebral discs wear out with age;
- Spine injuries and bruises. Many people spend long periods of time in one position, such as sitting at a desk, while others do the same physical work. All this causes damage to the bones and ligaments of the spinal column, as well as damage to the intervertebral discs;
- Degenerative changes in muscle tissue. These processes occur due to overloading of individual muscle groups, which most often leads to thoracic osteochondrosis.
- Sedentary lifestyle. Muscle atrophy occurs, which causes circulatory disorders and improper development of the skeleton.
Most people are careless about their diet, eating foods that are not at all healthy. Because of this, a nutritional deficiency occurs, which negatively affects the integrity, mobility and flexibility of the intervertebral cartilages.
There are several risk factors for the development of the disease:
- hypothermia;
- goose feet;
- complications after infectious diseases;
- overweight;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- spinal injuries.
In the case of damage to the intervertebral discs and cartilage tissue, it is important to determine the cause of the disease and start appropriate treatment.
Its types and symptoms
Depending on the location of the pathological process, several types of osteochondrosis are distinguished.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
It appears as pain in the neck, back of the head and between the shoulder blades. The mobility of the neck may be limited during sleep. Numbness of the fingers often occurs with cervical osteochondrosis. Dizziness and tinnitus can also be observed. Types of cervical osteochondrosis differ in clinical manifestations:
- cervicalgia– accompanied by neck pain and limited movement; the pain may spread to the shoulder region and the space between the shoulder blades; A tingling and burning sensation in the hands and fingers is often observed;
- cervicocranial pain– accompanied by pain from the neck to the parietal and occipital parts of the head, to the shoulder girdle; muscle tension is characteristic, a feeling of petrification is created; headache, nausea, tinnitus, imbalance are observed;
- cervicobrachialgia– characterized by shooting, aching, pulling and throbbing pains; turning and tilting the head can cause sharp pain and physical tension in the affected area, pain occurs in the arms and fingers, which leads to weakness of the upper limbs;
- discogenic root lesion- characterized by paroxysmal pain in the shoulder, forearm and fingers, accompanied by numbness and coldness; symptoms intensify when coughing, sneezing or turning the head sharply; it can get worse at night, which can lead to insomnia.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
This is a rather rare form. In terms of its symptoms, thoracic osteochondrosis is similar to other diseases, so it requires a differential diagnosis.Due to the immobility of the thoracic vertebrae in this area, strong pain is not observed during movement.The pain syndrome spreads to the sternum and under the shoulder blade. Thoracic osteochondrosis can disrupt the functioning of internal organs. The main clinical manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis are:
- Thoracalgia or intercostal neuralgia– this is irritation or compression of the intercostal nerves by muscles and tissues, which is accompanied by chest pain when bending, bending and turning, under the ribs, in the front of the chest, pain when inhaling, exhaling; the pain may radiate to the shoulder and between the shoulder blades;
- pain syndrome, in which the pain is shooting in nature; pain is felt in the chest, abdomen; worse with movement, coughing, sneezing, laughing; sensitivity disorders can be observed.
Chest pain (thoracalgia) is one of the most severe symptoms a person can experience. Sometimes even a doctor cannot immediately determine the cause of chest pain and find out whether this symptom is a sign of a threat to the patient's life.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region
The main reason for such changes is a lack of nutrients and a heavy load. Metabolism slows down, as a result of which the plates do not have time to renew themselves, their structure and properties are overturned. There are several types of lumbar osteochondrosis:
- lumbago (acute lumbar lumbago)- acute pain in the lumbar spine that occurs during weight lifting, physical activity or bending; characterized by right or left shooting pain in the lumbar region; lumbago is distinguished from sciatica, when the pain spreads to the buttocks and legs;
- radicular vascular syndrome (radiculoischaemia)occurs when the radiculomedullary artery is damaged and is accompanied by paralysis of the extensors and flexors of the gluteal muscle group, the leg hangs limply, there is no movement.
Osteochondrosis of the spine with radicular-vascular syndrome is a very dangerous pathology, which is expressed in acute pain, since CSS is often a consequence of some disease.
Stages of development
The stages of osteochondrosis are:
- The initial stage begins with the loss of fluid reserves in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral discs. As a result of thisthe physiological position of the disc and the structure of the nucleus pulposus are disrupted.
- Further development of the disease (first degree) occurs due to a decrease in the height of the disc.Muscles and ligaments are overstretched and lose their normal ability to work.Displacement of the vertebra may appear at this stage.
- The second stage is characterized by changes in bone tissue.Arthrosis develops, subluxations occur.
- The third degree is determined bybone growths (osteophytes) form on the spine,which lead to nerve root damage.
The development of osteochondrosis should not be neglected, since the process of treatment and rehabilitation increases with each subsequent stage. Complications that develop during the disease can lead to undesirable consequences.
What is the difference between radiculitis and arthrosis?
The symptoms of osteochondrosis and radiculitis are very similar, but the main difference between them is that in the first case they appear only in the later stages, while radiculitis is characterized by the early appearance of severe symptoms.In addition, with radiculitis, pressure on the paravertebral muscles and even tilting the head cause severe pain, reminiscent of an electric shock, which does not occur in osteochondrosis.
When comparing osteochondrosis and arthrosis, it is worth noting that in the case of the second disease, all elements of the joint are affected, resulting in cracking and limited movement. On the other hand, osteochondrosis is characterized by the destruction of the intervertebral discs with the development of hernial protrusions.
Differential diagnostic methods are used to determine the disease. It is a comprehensive approach that requires effort and time.
Diagnostics
If osteochondrosis is suspected, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive diagnosis, which consists of the following tests.
Neurological examination
This is done by a neurologist. This test includes checking reflexes, muscle strength, and pain levels in other parts of the body.From the point of view of osteochondrosis, the neurological examination is very important, because this disease affects the function of the nerve endings and the spinal cord.
Myelography of the spine
It allows you to see how the cerebrospinal fluid spreads within the spinal cord. This helps to identify pathologies of the spinal column, diseases of nerve roots and spinal cord. Under local anesthesia, a special dye is injected into the area of the spinal cord and nerves. The X-ray machine gives a complete picture of the spine, especially the bones. This method makes it possible to identify deviations.
computed tomography (CT)
These images are of one or two segments of the spine. With this procedure, you can see a picture of the bone tissue of a certain region of the spine. The doctor interprets the obtained picture, and if a narrowing of the space between the vertebrae is visible, this indicates that the patient has osteochondrosis.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
NMR uses strong magnetic fields as well as radio waves to create images of the human body from each scan. With this method, ligaments, tendons and bone structures can be distinguished very well.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
It is an effective procedure, because it has a safe effect on the body - during the procedure, the result is achieved by applying a magnetic field, not radiation.
You cannot consent to the prescribed treatment without a preliminary comprehensive diagnosis. This can only lead to deterioration of health.
Treatment methods
Treatment of osteochondrosis involves a number of complex measures.Depending on the severity of the disease, a special treatment strategy is selected.
Drug therapy
Treatment of osteochondrosis usually begins with taking a certain group of drugs:
- pain relievers and various pain relievers;
- anticonvulsant drugs;
- B and C vitamins;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- medicines that promote better blood circulation.
In addition to taking drugs orally, patients are prescribed various non-steroidal ointments and gels that relieve pain and reduce swelling in problem areas.
Physiotherapy
In addition to drug therapy, various physiotherapy procedures are used. Thanks to this method, drugs can be delivered directly to the site of inflammation. The main types of physiotherapy:
- Electrophoresis- performing physiotherapy with current-modulated electric fields. This allows the drugs to enter the body. Helps relieve pain and muscle spasms;
- Magnetotherapy. This painless physiotherapy involves the positive effect of the magnetic field on the active cells of nerve and muscle fibers. As a result, the work of molecular structures is activated and the functional properties of blood vessels improve;
- Ultrasound therapy. Ultrasound is sound waves that cannot be detected by the human ear. Thanks to this, the blood circulation in the affected areas improves, the spasm eases, the pain disappears and the inflammatory processes stop;
- Vibration effect. With the help of mechanical vibrations, the affected area is affected;
- Balneotherapy. The essence of the method is the use of mineral water, which relaxes the muscles and has a beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal system. Use mineral water in the shower or bath.
Physiotherapy should be carried out during the period of weakening of the symptoms, when there is no pain. In the acute stage of the disease, the doctor selects procedures that can eliminate the pain syndrome. As a result of the appropriate physical treatment, the patient will no longer feel pain, and the spinal column will become more mobile, which indicates healing.
Traditional methods
Treatment of osteochondrosis may involve the use of folk recipes, the effectiveness of which depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Here are some of them:
- You will need 300 g of radish juice, 200 g of honey and 100 g of vodka. Mix all the ingredients and apply to the affected areas twice a day.
- You will need 1 tbsp. l. rye flour, 100 g butter, 1 tbsp. l. vinegar and 1 egg. Mix all the ingredients and leave for two days. Rub the affected areas.
- Grate the raw potatoes and mix with a little honey. The prepared paste is applied to the sore spot for 2 hours.
Traditional treatment methods cannot work as an independent therapy.To achieve a visible and lasting result, you need to combine medical, conservative and folk methods.
Traction
Traction of the spine is often used for osteochondrosis. With the help of traction, the muscle spasm is alleviated, the displacement of the vertebrae and the deformation of the spinal column are eliminated. The procedure is performed in a hospital. There are dry and underwater methods of towing the keel.
Dry traction is performed under the influence of the weight of the patient, who is lying on an inclined plane.The doctor may use additional weights to increase traction. With underwater traction, the healing effect increases due to the effect of warm water on the body.
As a result of the water, the distance between the vertebrae increases, the spasms in the affected area disappear, and the blood supply improves.
Surgery
Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis is carried out in case of severe complications.Such complications are the following: intervertebral disc herniation, displacement of a vertebra, and a significant decrease in the lumen of the spinal canal.
In this case, various types of operations are performed. These include the fixation of displaced vertebrae with metal plates, the insertion of artificial implants of intervertebral joints or the removal of individual bone growths.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy of osteochondrosis is one of the most important aspects of treatment. As a result, blood circulation is gradually restored, the vertebrae return to their normal position, and the spine becomes significantly stronger.
In the initial stages of the disease, it consists of gymnastics.In cases where gymnastics does not bring positive results, the doctor selects an individual set of exercises for the patient, combined with other physiotherapy procedures.
Complications
The disease can cause the following complications:
- inflammatory diseases of nerve roots (radiculitis, radiculopathy);
- intervertebral hernia;
- vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- various neurological complications;
- severe headache, migraine;
- atrophy of limbs;
- spinal canal stenosis;
- spondyloarthrosis (proliferation of the edges of the joint surface as a result of deforming arthrosis);
- spinal cord stroke.
If drug treatment does not bring positive results, surgical treatment is prescribed. The slightest delay and failure to treat in time can lead to disability, as the spine loses its properties and mobility.
If treatment therapy is not started in time, complications such as failure of reproductive and urinary organs may occur.
Prevention
Treatment of osteochondrosis is quite difficult. Therefore, everything must be done to prevent the development of the disease in the body. In order to prevent the occurrence of osteochondrosis, preventive measures must be taken continuously:
- Rightto organize a workplace;
- you need while workingtake short breakslight gymnastics;
- watch your posture;
- dailywalking should be easy, without constriction;
- choose the right and comfortable pillow, flexible mattress.The sleeping surface must be flatand flexible;
- The daily diet should contain a minimum of salty and sweet foods, as well as more calcium-enriched foods. Vitamins C, E, and B must be present, which strengthen the cartilage tissue and make it flexible.
- active lifestyle.
- prophylacticmassage.
- medicinalgymnastics.
Preventive measures are also the main requirements of the rehabilitation period. Adherence to these simple rules makes it possible to avoid relapse of the disease even after complete recovery.
conclusions
- Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disorder of the human spine. The symptoms depend on the type and location of the disease (neck, chest, lumbosacral).
- The complications of the disease can not only disturb the integrity of the spinal column, but can also significantly affect the functioning of other organ systems.
- Osteochondrosis can only be cured in a comprehensive way, combining medication, physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises.
- Not complicatedpreventive measures help protect the body from serious pathology.