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Osteochondrosis

symptoms of osteochondrosis

Back pain is a problem that every adult can face.Often this is not a one-time phenomenon, but a symptom of a dangerous disease.Osteochondrosis often occurs in people aged 30-35 years (about 40% of the population), up to 90% of cases occur in old age.

Timely diagnosis and correct approaches to treatment can eliminate the development of pathology and prevent complications.Therefore, it is important to understand exactly what back pain can indicate, which doctor you should contact when it appears, and how osteochondrosis should be treated.

What is osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a group of chronic diseases, the cause of which is the destruction of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, as well as the damage to the cartilage tissue.

With age and under the influence of uneven loads, the bone tissue of the vertebrae is deformed and destroyed, and the muscle tissue develops unevenly.This leads to various manifestations of osteochondrosis: hernia, curvature of the spine, etc.

Osteochondrosis is an outdated term;in world medicine it is referred to as dorsopathy. There are different types of diseases of the connective tissue and musculoskeletal system, in which different methods of treatment are used.

Types of osteochondrosis

When classifying the disease, the following are taken into account: the localization of the pain, the area of damage to the intervertebral discs and the degree of development of the disease.

Localization of painful sensations

Considering the location of pain caused by diseases of the spine, there are:

  • Lumbodynia.Chronic pain that occurs in the lumbar region of the back often causes a limp.In particularly severe cases, it can cause numbness in the legs.Most often, this symptom appears when a person has an intervertebral hernia.When the roots of the spinal cord are compressed, paralysis of the limbs is possible.
  • Lumboschialgia.Pain that radiates painful sensations to the lower back or lower limbs, along the back of the legs - from the buttock to the knee.Clinical manifestations occur with pressure on the sciatic and spinal nerves.
  • Lumbago.Shooting or sharp intense pain at a certain point in the lower back.It is often confused with sciatica.The attack in most cases occurs when a person tries to sharply bend or straighten his back, as well as when suddenly lifting heavy objects.
  • thoracalgia.Pain in the chest area.It is considered a very dangerous symptom, sometimes even the doctor cannot immediately determine the cause.Unpleasant sensations are not always associated with body movements.The pain is especially strong in the area from the chest to the armpit.
  • Cervical pain.Painful sensations appear in the neck area and can spread to the upper limbs.Pathological manifestations can be accompanied by dizziness, a feeling of numbness in the back of the head, redness and swelling of the skin.

The pathology requires urgent treatment, as there may be a violation of blood circulation in the brain, compression of the nerve roots and violation of venous blood flow.Cervicalgia often provokes inflammatory processes and herniation of the intervertebral discs.

The location of the most painful sensations indicates the area of damage to the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.Often the pain is reflected, that is, it is not recorded in the place where the source of the disease is actually located.

Classification based on location

Depending on which part of the spine the damage to the intervertebral discs and tissues occurred, osteoporosis is divided into several types.

Cervical

It consists of seven small vertebrae that experience constant stress.The pathology is accompanied by thinning of the cervical vertebrae and compression of the arterial channels.The cervical type of osteochondrosis is very dangerous because it causes disturbances in the process of blood saturation in the brain.

The formation of protrusions leads to a hernia.And operations performed in the cervical region can lead to immobilization of the body.

Chest

Disorders in this part of the spine are rare, which is associated with low mobility of the vertebrae.The appearance of pain is observed in people who move loads or in those who remain in one position for a long time.

Thoracic osteochondrosis is often confused with pneumonia, heart attack and angina pectoris.

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Only a doctor should be involved in the differential diagnosis.

Lumbosacral

The lumbar region has five vertebrae.If there is a violation of nutritional and metabolic processes in the intervertebral disc, it loses elasticity, decreases in size and can no longer function, taking into account the resulting load.The lack of treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis can cause the following complications: hernia, protrusions, sciatica.

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A very dangerous phenomenon is the compression of the spinal cord, as it can cause paralysis of the lower limbs.

Another type of osteochondrosis is polysegmental.During its development, simultaneous breakdown of segments in different parts of the spine occurs.The disease is characterized by loss of sensitivity in the back of the head and disturbances in the functioning of the speech apparatus.

Features of the development of the disease

According to the degree of change in the intervertebral discs, experts distinguish 4 stages of pathology, diagnosed with the help of radiographic studies:

  1. There are no visible changes in the spine.
  2. Internal tears occur in the discs, but no external changes.
  3. Disc changes are noted without external damage.
  4. Severe damage to the intervertebral disc.Cracks spread along the inner surface, the disc seems to be squeezed by the vertebrae.  

Taking into account the clinical manifestations, four stages of development of osteochondrosis are distinguished:

  1. The spine functions as usual.A person experiences pain at the site of the disease.Patients complain of general weakness, chronic fatigue, less often loss of appetite and sleep disorders.
  2. Cracks form in the disc and the spinal segment loses stability.Painful sensations intensify, initially one-time, later - chronic, which is associated with pinching of nerves, subluxation of the vertebrae and the formation of protrusions.
  3. The pain intensifies even more, deformation of the spine occurs, an intervertebral hernia is formed.At the same stage, lordosis, a curvature of the spine, develops.
  4. The spine loses its normal mobility.The cartilage tissue thickens and osteophytes (cartilaginous growths on the joints) appear.In particularly difficult cases, patients lose the ability to move.

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A person with a diagnosis of the fourth stage of osteochondrosis receives a disability.

Causes of osteochondrosis

There are a large number of theories that explain the appearance of pathology.Among the causes are hormonal changes, heredity, problems in the cardiovascular system, mechanical damage, etc.Researchers agree that most often the cause lies in the overloading of individual segments of the spine.

The human spine has 32-34 vertebrae (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, 3-5 coccygeal).Each segment consists of two vertebrae and an intervertebral disc between them.The integrity of this structure is ensured by the joints and joint processes.

Intervertebral discs consist of a jelly-like nucleus and a dense fibrous ring around it, which are covered on top by a layer of cartilage tissue.They perform a shock-absorbing function, preventing damage to the vertebrae when jumping, running and walking.The design is highly mobile and provides flexibility and stability to the spine.

Already in the first stage of osteochondrosis, the degradation and destruction of the intervertebral discs begins, the amount of liquid in their core decreases, the cartilage tissue becomes thinner and less elastic.

Osteochondrosis in most cases is diagnosed in the elderly, as well as in those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.Doctors believe that the main cause of the disease is the uneven distribution of the load on the spine and vertebrae.This causes their damage, as well as the destruction of cartilage tissue.

Most often, this disease occurs due to a sedentary lifestyle, irregular exercise, excessive physical activity and work associated with constant pressure on the back.

Incorrect body position when walking, sitting, carrying and lifting heavy objects, tight and uncomfortable clothes and shoes can cause damage/displacement of the intervertebral discs and, as a result, lead to the development of osteochondrosis.

Other reasons for the development of pathology include:

  •  fractures, distortions and damage to the spine;
  • hormonal imbalance;
  • pregnancy;
  • hypothermia and sudden temperature changes.

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The load on the cervical spine while working at a computer can also cause the development of osteochondrosis.

Risk factors for the development of osteochondrosis

There is a long list of diseases that can lead to osteochondrosis.These include:

  • flat feet;
  • scoliosis;
  • arthritis;
  • osteoporosis;
  • arthrosis;
  • neuro-emotional exhaustion;
  • diabetes mellitus;
  • obesity.

Other risk factors include metabolic disorders, intense physical activity (especially associated with weight lifting), lack of nutrients, natural age-related changes in the body, and genetic predisposition.

Regular use of tobacco (smoking) and alcohol significantly weakens the tissue of the intervertebral discs.Lack of calcium can be a factor in the development of the disease.

Symptoms and signs of osteochondrosis

Painful sensations are the main symptom of the pathology.The nature of the pain can vary, it can be:

  • sharp, intense, worsens with movement (as a rule, the patient tries to remain still);
  • dull, smooth (movements are slow).

In addition to local pain right where the destruction of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs begins, patients often experience projective pain - far from the site of the problem.Due to pain, the muscle strength of the lower and upper limbs decreases, movement disorders and general weakness of the body occur.

Patients often complain of such general symptoms of osteochondrosis as:

  • stiffness and discomfort when moving;
  • muscle spasms;
  • migraine and headache;
  • frequent dizziness, visual disturbances;
  • the appearance of pain in the joints of the limbs;
  • feeling of coldness in the extremities;
  • reduced sensitivity;
  • circulatory disorders;
  • loss of consciousness.

In some cases, patients experience numbness in the extremities and a tingling sensation in the cervical region, lumbar region, and sternum.

In osteochondrosis, several characteristic syndromes are often observed:

  • Vertebrates.Acute or chronic back pain that is accompanied by poor circulation.
  • Hearty.A form of angina.
  • Vertebral artery syndrome.Pain as a result of blood circulation disorders in the spinal arteries.
  • Koreshkovy.The pain is provoked by pressing the spinal roots in the places where they branch off from the spinal cord.

Depending on the type of localization of osteochondrosis, the symptoms of the disease may differ.

In cervical osteochondrosischaracterized by migraine, numbness of the fingers, difficulty in moving the head and neck, pain in the back of the head.In addition, with cervical osteochondrosis, patients complain of facial numbness, sleep problems, often dizziness and tinnitus.

Lumbar osteochondrosiscauses pain in the buttocks and perineum, which causes problems with movement.Patients experience sharp pain when bending over, in the lower back (after sleeping or sitting in one place for a long time).Numbness, dizziness and general weakness appear.The disease often causes pain in the kidney area, erectile dysfunction and frequent urination.Scoliosis often develops with lumbar osteochondrosis.

Thoracic osteochondrosisaccompanied by shortness of breath, stiffness in chest, pain between shoulder blades and ribs.Often patients are concerned about problems in the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and pancreas.Specific manifestations of chest pathology include dry skin, peeling skin on the extremities, and brittle nails.

Osteochondrosis: diagnosis

You should consult a doctor (vertebrologist or neurologist) if you experience back pain (of any kind), muscle spasms and sensory disturbances in the back and limbs.

No additional preparation is required for a visit to a neurologist or vertebrologist.It is important to provide your doctor with a list of pain medications you have taken recently.It is also necessary to report any measures taken during self-treatment before scheduling a consultation.

During the appointment, the doctor will conduct a comprehensive examination, which includes:

  • collecting anamnesis, studying the patient's medical history and complaints;
  • physiological examination, palpation, assessment of skin condition and localization of pain;
  • determination of the nature of the pain (sharp, dull, reflected, local, etc.);
  • blood test (indicators of the level of calcium in the blood and the rate of sedimentation of erythrocytes are important);
  • ECG and ultrasound of the heart (to exclude or confirm the connection of pain syndromes with diseases of the cardiovascular system);
  • duplex scanning of the arteries of the head and neck (assessment of the quality of blood flow, determination of vasoconstriction).

To confirm the diagnosis, additional X-ray examinations may be prescribed, which include:

  • X-ray of the spine.Complete image in two projections, if necessary capture each individual segment of the spine.A functional X-ray can also be prescribed - a study in which a specialist takes pictures in different positions of the body.
  • Computed tomography of an individual disc.The examination shows the condition of the vertebral body, blood vessels, nerve endings, ligaments and soft tissues, the tears of the contours of the intervertebral disc, the height of the disc, changes in the dura mater, marginal processes and instability of the vertebrae.
  • Myelography.Contrast X-ray of the spinal cord.
  • Nuclear magnetic resonance.It is an alternative to computed tomography of the intervertebral disc.It allows you to assess the condition of blood vessels and cartilage tissue.

X-ray studies confirm that it is osteochondrosis if the images show:

  • pathological mobility of the vertebrae, deviation from the norm;
  • displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other;
  • deposition of salts in the intervertebral discs;
  • uniform narrowing of the intervertebral space in the lumbar and cervical regions, wedge-shaped narrowing in the thoracic region;
  • formation of osteophytes (marginal growths);
  • marginal sclerosis is the formation of a seal on the affected disc.

As part of the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe a consultation with another specialist (ENT, cardiologist, urologist, etc.).

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The main task of the diagnostician is to establish the causes of osteochondrosis.Depending on the results obtained during the examination, the doctor will determine the type of pathology and prescribe appropriate therapy in a specific case.

Complications of osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the spine is an unpleasant disease, which in its final stages can cause the development of other diseases and pathologies.The most common are:

  • protrusion (bulging of the intervertebral discs);
  • intervertebral hernia;
  • salt deposits between the vertebrae;
  • kyphosis (curvature of the spine);
  • muscle atrophy;
  • spinal stroke (disorder of blood circulation in the spinal cord);
  • sciatica;
  • dysfunction of the genitourinary system (problems with urination, erectile dysfunction in men, inflammatory processes in the uterus, ovaries and appendages in women);
  • paralysis of the limbs.

Timely consultation with a doctor at the first painful sensation and regular prevention of osteochondrosis will help to avoid the development of complications.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

In the Naran clinic, doctors practice an integrated approach to the treatment of osteochondrosis.

Tibetan medicine doctors use four methods of treatment:

  • Correction of nutrition according to dosha
  • Lifestyle adjustment
  • Herbal medicine

A set of external procedures:

  • Correction of nutrition.A balanced diet according to the constitution of the human body (dosha) promotes a surge of energy and cell renewal in all organs and organ systems of the body.
  • Phytotherapy.The use of medicinal Tibetan herbs and mixtures according to the recipes of ancient healers.It restores the natural balance in the body, helps to rejuvenate it and eradicate many diseases.

External effects on the body:

  • energy acupressure - normalizes and restores the adequate functioning of internal organs, helps improve blood circulation in the body, restores immunity;
  • acupuncture - removes pain and inflammation, relieves discomfort as a result of external manifestations, improves fluid circulation in the body;
  • vacuum therapy (cupping) – improves innervation, removes slags and toxins, normalizes regulatory and metabolic processes;
  • stone therapy - beneficial for the cardiovascular system, blood pressure, relieves muscle spasms, restores sleep;
  • Moxibustion, moxibustion or jutherapy of biologically active points has been used in Tibetan medicine for more than 5 thousand years.For burning or heating, cigars made of wormwood, edelweiss, juniper, poplar leaves, as well as pressed coal, etc. are used.

Prevention of osteochondrosis

The main method of prevention is the uniform distribution of the load on the spine.In practice, this includes:

  • active lifestyle;
  • moderate physical activity (morning exercises, yoga, swimming, walking, running, cycling, exercises to strengthen the muscle corset);
  • sleeping on an orthopedic mattress and pillow;
  • wearing comfortable or even better orthopedic shoes;
  • a balanced diet, including a large amount of minerals and vitamins;
  • regular preventive examinations by a neurologist and vertebrologist;
  • giving up smoking and alcohol.

With prolonged sedentary and stationary work, it is important to periodically take breaks, change position and warm up, this will help you relax and reduce the load on the spine.

When you lift weights, you don't need to do it quickly, sharply, just smoothly and in a semi-squat.For carrying heavy objects, it is better to choose backpacks with an orthopedic wall, rather than bags with a shoulder strap.

Avoid spending a long time in a static, uncomfortable position, especially upright and with raised arms - this position injures the ligaments and increases the load on the intervertebral discs.

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Doctors recommend sitting in a physiologically correct position: relaxed shoulders, toned abdominal muscles, equal distribution of weight on both buttocks and an upright position of the spine with an even emphasis on the back of the chair.

Manual therapy, various methods of physiotherapy and acupuncture also give positive results as a preventive measure for osteochondrosis of the spine.

The treatment of osteochondrosis consists of three stages:

  1. Alleviating or reducing pain.
  2. Elimination of disturbances in the condition and functioning of the intervertebral discs and vertebrae.
  3. Prevention of complications.

If you consult a specialist promptly at the first signs of the disease, you can avoid complications and the need for surgical treatment.That is why it is so important to undergo annual preventive examinations by a neurologist and a vertebrologist, even if you are not worried about pain in the spine.

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Only a qualified doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, determine the disease and its causes and prescribe effective treatment.