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What is osteochondrosis

As people age, many people suffer from musculoskeletal disorders.The most common disease in this area of medicine is spinal osteochondrosis.Unfortunately, today it affects not only representatives of the older generation, but also young, full of energy people.There are many reasons for this - sedentary work, lack of sports or any other physical activity, and so on.

What is it

Doctors define vertebral osteochondrosis as a whole complex of disorders in the joints and cartilage connecting tissues and organs, developing in any of the joints, but most often affecting the intervertebral discs.

Depending on the location, cervical, thoracic and lumbar-crucial osteochondrosis is distinguished.Despite the fact that vertebral osteochondrosis appears after 40 years, the first signs of osteochondrosis are noticeable already at 20.

back pain due to osteochondrosis

Reasons

There may be many factors that provoke the development of the disease.This includes hypothermia, vertebral displacements as a result of injuries, and heavy physical exertion.

However, the main causes of spinal osteochondrosis are as follows:

  • The habit of stooping your back;
  • Lack of a solid muscle corset;
  • Scoliosis of various types;
  • Stress, nervous shock, depression, chronic fatigue;
  • Sedentary lifestyle;
  • Frequent lifting of weights;
  • Metabolic disorders (the body may lack calcium in the blood, magnesium phosphorus, zinc and many other useful substances);
  • Heredity;
  • Untreated viral infections;
  • Changes in hormonal levels, both in women and men;
  • Various back injuries.

Most often, athletes, loaders, builders and all those whose occupation is associated with active physical labor are susceptible to osteochondrosis.For those who, on the contrary, lead a sedentary lifestyle, doctors recommend moving more, engaging in some kind of preventive sport, as well as proper nutrition so that the body receives all the vitamins, minerals and microelements it needs.

Symptoms

Symptoms of osteochondrosis directly depend on the affected vertebral region.

  • Osteochondrosis of the cervical spineThe spine is accompanied by frequent aching neck pain going to the back and chest, tense neck muscles, which can cause pain when touched, swelling and numbness of the tongue, a sensation of goosebumps and tingling in the neck and palms, a feeling of general weakness in the neck and shoulders.
  • Osteochondrosis of the thoracic regionspine has the following symptoms: sharp pain in the sternum, a feeling of chest compression, and intercostal pain may occur during physical activity.
  • Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral regionspine is usually accompanied by lower back pain, which can radiate to the legs, sacrum and groin, lack of sensitivity in the legs, cold hands and feet, pins and needles sensation in the lower extremities.

If one or more symptoms of this disease occur, you should immediately consult a specialist, because osteochondrosis can lead to disruptions in the functioning of many organs and systems, pinched nerves, as well as migraines, dizziness, and insomnia.Lumbosacral osteochondrosis is especially dangerous, since subsequently there is a risk of developing heart and vascular diseases, diseases of the genitourinary system, scoliosis and displacement of intervertebral discs.

Stages

Osteochondrosis develops gradually and has several stages of its development:

  • At the first stageIt is still difficult to understand that the disease has arisen.The symptoms are not pronounced, the patient experiences only mild discomfort.Minor pain in the back and lower back occurs from time to time, but very often they are attributed to overwork and increased physical activity.Very often, first-degree osteochondrosis is diagnosed accidentally during a patient’s routine examination.
  • At the second stagepain occurs more often and becomes more severe, and processes of cartilage tissue deformation begin.The easiest way to treat osteochondrosis is at the second stage, since the doctor can already see all the changes occurring in the body.Painkillers can be added to general complex therapy.
  • To the third stagespinal deformation occurs, scoliosis, kyphosis and other back diseases begin to develop.Treatment is aimed at modifying spinal defects and minimizing the defects that have occurred.
  • At the fourth stageosteochondrosis, it becomes difficult for the patient to move, the cartilage tissue thickens and some vertebrae become displaced.Pain accompanies a person constantly.Very often, at the fourth stage of the disease, the patient is recognized as disabled.
spinal lesions due to osteochondrosis

Diagnostics

The doctor can give a preliminary diagnosis based on the above symptoms.First of all, the doctor will check the condition of the patient’s spine in various positions, as well as in movement.After which hardware diagnostics will be carried out in order to clarify the diagnosis and clarify possible complications.

The main types of diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the musculoskeletal system include:

  • MRI;
  • CT (computed tomography);
  • X-ray examination;
  • Ultrasound (ultrasound examination);
  • study of arterial vessels of the brain.

After analyzing the patient’s condition, the doctor will identify possible concomitant diseases, such as hernias, radiculitis and displaced intervertebral discs.

The patient, in turn, needs to remember that the symptoms of osteochondrosis can be signs of any other disease, therefore, the quality of the diagnosis must be the highest, because it is based on its final result that treatment will be prescribed.

Consequences

One of the most dangerous consequences of osteochondrosis is complete or partial muscle atrophy.For many patients, pain is relieved only with painkillers.

If you do not contact a specialist in a timely manner, there is a risk of developing a hernia, cholesterol plaques, as a result of which blood pressure and oxygen supply to the cells are disrupted.

In patients with the fourth stage of osteochondrosis, heart rhythm disturbances, abnormal functioning of the respiratory system may occur; the organs of vision and hearing may also be affected, and coordination of movements may be impaired.

Due to the fact that osteochondrosis primarily affects the blood supply system, the entire human body is at risk.It is worth noting that people with impaired metabolism most often suffer from this disease.Osteochondrosis is often accompanied by vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Treatment

Treatment of osteochondrosis can be of two types:

  • conservative;
  • surgical.

The choice of treatment method depends on the severity of the disease, identified complications and the body’s internal strength to recover after surgery.

With a conservative method of treatment, the patient will be prescribed a whole range of medications and other techniques, such as massage, therapeutic exercises, exercise therapy.This method of therapy includes taking medications and hardware treatment.

The most widely used conservative treatment methods are the following:

  • Therapeutic physical education, the exercises of which will be individually tailored to the condition of the patient’s body.
  • Acupuncture.
  • Massage and hydromassage.
  • Magnetic therapy and vibration stimulation.
  • Ultrasound and laser therapy.
  • Medicines.
  • Proper nutrition, which will also be tailored individually for the patient.
  • Psychotherapy.

It should be noted that if conservative treatment is selected incorrectly, the patient’s condition can worsen.Self-medication for osteochondrosis is excluded.

The surgical method of treating osteochondrosis is aimed at stabilizing the motor activity of damaged segments of the spine.In the event of a hernia in the spine, surgery can be performed in two ways: standardly using a scalpel or using a laser.The choice is made by the doctor together with the patient, taking into account not only his wishes, but also the condition of the body.According to statistics, surgical intervention is resorted to in 15% of cases.However, the success rate is only 3%.

Prevention

It should be remembered that no one is immune from osteochondrosis, so it is better to carry out timely prevention of this disease:

  • First of all, you should always monitor your posture, keeping your back and neck straight even while working at the computer.
  • It is also necessary to devote a sufficient amount of time to sports or any other physical activity, thus strengthening your muscle corset.Swimming pool exercises are well suited for these purposes.
  • Special orthopedic mattresses and pillows can also be a good prevention of osteochondrosis.
  • Particular attention should be paid to the method of lifting weights - to relieve the spine from excessive stress, you must first squat down and then pick up a heavy thing.It should be noted that you cannot lift more than 17 kg at a time.
  • The basic principles of diet are also important elements in the treatment of osteochondrosis.Food should deliver all the beneficial vitamins and minerals to the body, especially during the period of vitamin deficiency.Avoid consuming too much caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, fast food and carbonated drinks.The diet should include vegetables and fruits as sources of fiber, as well as meat, fish and legumes as sources of protein.

Every person needs to remember that undetected osteochondrosis can be extremely dangerous for the entire body; all organs and systems of the body are at risk.It is necessary to closely monitor the general state of your health and undergo check-ups with a specialist once every six months.