Osteochondrosis refers to degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the tissues of the spine and joints with progression. The more the disease is neglected, the more pronounced are the symptoms that affect the person's lifestyle and ability to work. When the structure of the spine is damaged, a person faces such problems, for example, how to live with pain, how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis.
In practice, pathologies of various parts of the spine, coccyx and joints often occur. Previously, only people over 25 years old were sick, but recently there is a tendency to "rejuvenate" the disease. Symptoms of juvenile or adolescent osteochondrosis have become common.
The reasons
The causes of osteochondrosis can be different and depend on which part of the body is damaged. After any injury, the normal structure of the spine and coccyx is disrupted, and the process of salt deposition and destruction of the disc structure begins. Obese people, lack of exercise and athletes are prone to it.
During pregnancy, the risk of disease increases due to weight gain and vitamin deficiency. Lymph nodes also enlarge during pregnancy. The heart, other organs suffer from this and in combination with osteochondrosis it is very dangerous. The load on the shoulder, knee, neck and tailbone increases.
With age, almost every person suffers from osteochondrosis of the spine. Professions associated with a long stay in a sitting position, monotonous movements endanger the neck, lower back and tailbone. The following conditions affect the occurrence of the disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- the course of pregnancy;
- endocrine, infectious diseases;
- intoxication or exposure to drugs, toxic and chemical substances;
- Eating Disorder Lifestyle.
In addition to the spine, there are often cases of osteochondrosis of the joints. The pathology is dangerous for the knees, elbows, shoulder joint, coccyx. With osteochondrosis of the knee joint, such causes as overweight or malnutrition, a lifestyle with excessive load on the legs, as well as injuries or inflammatory processes in the body should be taken into account.
The muscles of the legs, unlike the joints, withstand large loads, so the latter suffer more often.
Symptoms of damage to the elbow joint can be observed along with the current osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic region. Often the pathology is combined with arthritis or arthrosis. Injuries and constant overexertion of the elbow joint are predisposing.
Over time, due to the constant movements of the neck and head, as well as hands, the joints begin to wear out, salt deposits appear. This leads to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and shoulder joint. The causes can be congenital, due to compression of the nerve plexuses in the shoulder region, or due to external factors. Injuries to the neck, shoulder blades or hands cause osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the spine
Osteochondrosis of the spine occurs in different departments. The most common is the pathology of the lumbar spine. The disease is accompanied by a heavy load on the lower back and is dangerous due to the threat of pinching of the sciatic nerve and the formation of hernias.
There are symptoms such as aching pains that are intensified at night or during exercise. It is difficult to find the right position during sleep and at rest. There may be "lumbago" of the lower back or impaired sensitivity of the legs, especially the knee joint, tailbone. If it gets worse, the lymph nodes become inflamed.
The coccyx area is often affected, making it difficult to sit properly. When the sciatic nerve is inflamed in the coccyx area, the pain increases to the lower extremities, buttocks, up to the knee joint. To relieve pain, it is better for a person to take a comfortable position and drink antispasmodic, relaxing or analgesic drugs.
During pregnancy, osteochondrosis of the lower back sometimes makes normal childbirth difficult. Then you need to perform the operation. Antispasmodics are taken carefully during this period so as not to harm the fetus.
In diseases of the spine, doctors use the recognition of specific symptoms for diagnosis - the symptom of Lasegue. For a neuropathologist, Lasegue's symptom is important in determining the extent of the disease.
Lasegue's symptom is performed whenever a neurological disorder is suspected. In the Lasegue method, the doctor slowly raises the leg in a straightened state without bending the knee. Lasegue's sign is tested in three phases by bending and extending the leg. Based on the occurrence of pain in certain postures. The Lasegue method is not performed during pregnancy.
Osteochondrosis of the neck region is often combined with lesions of the shoulder and elbow joints. There is pain in the neck, head, spreading to the shoulder blades and arms, pain in the heart appears. They are bought with antispasmodics. There is noise in the ears, vision is deteriorating.
The pain is aggravated by movement of the neck, head, or shoulder blade. In the acute phase, lymph nodes can be affected, and muscle pain in the neck and elbow joints can occur. Then urgent treatment is required to avoid complications in the heart, brain and blood vessels.
The patient is constantly tormented by the question: how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis, correctly positioning the head on the pillow?
This is especially true for women during pregnancy. Only antispasmodics and treatment will help.
The pathology of the chest region is less common. Symptoms of pain in the heart, shoulder area, shoulder girdle, neck are recorded. The lymph nodes are inflamed, sometimes because of the pain it is impossible to raise your hands, take a deep breath. Osteochondrosis is often confused with heart pain. When you take antispasmodics, pain in the muscles, heart goes away. If the disease is in an advanced stage, antispasmodics do not always help and the following symptoms appear:
- violation of the sensitivity of the legs;
- increased pain at night, when moving, breathing;
- Burning, itching in the heart, shoulder area, along the ribs.
In practice, osteochondrosis often affects several parts of the spine. Symptoms during pregnancy are especially uncomfortable when taking antispasmodic drugs is undesirable. Rescuers began treatment in a timely manner.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes conducting hardware studies, questioning and examining the patient. It's important to pay attention to such specific signs as Lasegue's symptom. To exclude pathologies in the heart and other internal organs, ultrasound, ECG is performed. X-rays, MRI, CT are performed to examine the spine.
Treatment of osteochondrosis should be lengthy and complex. Treatment is divided into symptomatic therapy and rehabilitation. For pain, muscle relaxants, NSAIDs, analgesics, antispasmodics are prescribed. Muscle relaxants can not only relieve pain in the long term, but also improve mobility. Relaxants have peripheral and central effects. Which drug to choose is decided by the doctor.
The treatment includes a combination of physical therapy, massage, reflexology. Treatment allows for manual therapy, banks, ointments and folk methods.
Osteochondrosis of the joints
Often there are diseases of the elbow, knee, shoulder joint. Osteochondrosis of the knee joint often occurs in pregnant women and is accompanied by pain and reduced mobility. The elbow joint is characterized by such symptoms as pain when moving, swelling, deformity. Incorrectly chosen position of the hand brings discomfort and pain. In the affected area, the lymph nodes become inflamed. In addition, the lymph nodes can not only hurt in the affected area, but also capture the adjacent lymph nodes.
To make a correct diagnosis, X-ray, CT and MRI are used, they are examined, palpated and checked for Lasegue's symptom. Complex treatment is required to restore the function of muscles and joints. You need to do massage, ERT, take antispasmodics, NSAIDs, tranquilizers. In advanced cases, surgery is performed. But first, conservative treatment is always prescribed, especially during pregnancy.