A certain therapist with 50 years of experience once remarked: "When I started working there wasn't a single young patient with osteochondrosis on site. And today almost every second 30-year-old has this problem. "
Osteochondrosis - a disease caused by the deposition of salts in the spine
Not correct. The intervertebral disc consists of the nucleus pulposus, the anulus fibrosus and the hyaline cartilage covering it from above and below.
With the destruction of these elements, the balance between the load on the spine and the carrying capacity is disturbed. As a result, the vertebrae begin to compress the adjacent nerve and muscle tissue, grow along the edges, forming the so-called. Osteophytes that emit a characteristic crunching sound when moved (patients mistakenly explain this as "salt deposition").
If the back and neck hurt, then it is exclusively osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is not the only cause of back pain. This diagnosis is often made by patients themselves. However, along with this pathology, which belongs to the group of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine, there are also arthrosis, osteoporosis, and differentiation is possible only after a comprehensive examination.
- Degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in 30-50% of cases in 30-40 year olds, in 75-100% of those over 40 years old.
- These pathological processes account for 20. 4% of the total disability from diseases of the osteoarticular system.
- Long walks are bad for your spine
And vice versa. Motor activity has a positive effect on the function of the spine: it maintains muscle tone, maintains the mobility of the intervertebral discs, stimulates blood circulation and metabolism. In the course of the disease, hypodynamia and prolonged dwelling in a particularly uncomfortable position are "to blame".
Another thing is that if an overweight person walks a lot, carries heavy things, then the spine experiences an increased load.
Flat feet contribute to the development of osteochondrosis
Right. The arches of the feet, as well as the physiological curvatures of the spine, are designed to absorb shock loads when walking, running and jumping. If the foot, in interaction with the brace, does not provide sufficient protection, then the spine will be subjected to additional loads, which will significantly affect the nutrition and functioning of its structures, and accelerate the development of the disease.
Back pain is the only symptom of the disease.
Certainly not. As a rule, patients complain of constantly aching back pain, often accompanied by numbness and joint pain. Over time, if left untreated, the muscles of the limbs atrophy, the joints of the spine become less mobile, muscle spasms appear.
Such an acute condition occurs due to arterial spasms in response to the effects of bone growth, as well as due to herniated disc, arthrosis of the intervertebral joint as a reflex reaction to irritation of the spinal receptors.
- If a person has coronary or cardiovascular pathology, vertebral artery syndrome will aggravate the course.
- With osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, pain in the chest (feeling as if a stake was stuck there) - in the area of the heart and other internal organs bother; with lumbosacral lesions - in the lower back (irradiation of the sacrum, lower limbs, sometimes the pelvic organs).
- When complications of osteochondrosis appear (herniated disc, bone proliferation, spondylolisthesis, spondylarthrosis), nerve root damage is noted - the pain becomes shooting, sensitivity worsens, the innervated muscles weaken, and the strength of the reflex decreases.
- Osteochondrosis can cause dysfunction of various organs and tissues.
With osteochondrosis, the risk of circulatory disorders in the cerebellum, stem and occiput regions of the brain is increased.
A constant headache appears - first in the back of the head, then it spreads to the region of the crown and temples, aggravated by movements of the neck (more often in the morning).
Elderly people with a sharp turn of the head can lose consciousness. This was preceded by dizziness, ringing in the ears, visual and hearing disorders, nausea, and vomiting.
Sometimes there is pain in the heart area - long, pressing, dull. With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, especially in old age and old age, the soft tissues often change - they become denser.
Degenerative processes in the spine can lead to congestion in the gastrointestinal tract and disorders of the bronchopulmonary system, which are fraught with inflammatory and other ailments.
Vegetovascular dystonia, intercostal neuralgia - consequences of osteochondrosis
Certainly not. Osteochondrosis can be one of the reasons (by far not the only one) for the development of these diseases.
When the intervertebral discs are "erased" and osteophytes grow, the intervertebral foramina, the canal of the vertebral artery, narrow and deform, and this leads to the injury of various structures.
In particular, with compression of the nerve roots, signs of intercostal neuralgia appear, and with compression of the vertebral artery, the same symptoms appear as with vegetative-vascular dystonia.
It is impossible to cure osteochondrosis
In fact, degeneratively changed structures of the spine cannot be completely restored. Nevertheless, adequate complex treatment can eliminate the symptoms of the disease, stop the development of pathology and avoid complications.
In the case of disc problems, it makes sense to warm up sore spots
Not correct. Temperature changes, especially extreme ones (eg, a beginner's trip to the bathroom), can cause serious aggravation. In complex treatments, moderate thermal procedures are used, but they must be prescribed by a doctor.
If you perform circular head movements with osteochondrosis of the neck region, your health will deteriorate
Right. These exercises are best for prevention — they help maintain range of motion in the intervertebral joints. With severe osteochondrosis, careless circular movements can aggravate vertebral artery syndrome, radiculopathy, etc.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are essential for treatment
Not really. During the period of remission or when the pain is not severe, conservative therapy is carried out (physio-, reflex and manual); Physiotherapy, traction techniques are used. Drug treatment is indicated during an exacerbation and is aimed at reducing pain, reducing the inflammatory process and accelerating metabolic processes (intramuscular or intravenous injections).
Some of the most effective agents include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are prescribed to reduce inflammation and pain; with severe pain, novocaine blockades are used; steroid drugs (epidural, intramuscular injections); NSAIDs in the form of ointments, gels and creams with analgesic and irritant effects; muscle relaxants - to relieve muscle spasms; B vitamins - to improve metabolic processes in the spine (B1, B6, B12).
Osteochondrosis can have serious consequences
Yes. Osteochondrosis can cause paralysis due to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots, and loss of consciousness if the vertebral artery is injured.
Exercises to "stretch" the spine will help improve the condition
Traction, or traction, allows you to increase the intervertebral space, reduce pain and restore the anatomically correct shape of the spine. However, the individual load must be calculated correctly. "Busting" can lead to reflex contraction of the paravertebral muscles and worsen the condition.
Only a traumatologist-orthopedist has the right to treat osteochondrosis
Not correct. Most patients are seen by a neurologist, with a significant degree of severity of pathology - by a neurosurgeon or orthopedic vertebrologist.
A local therapist may also prescribe drug therapy to relieve an exacerbation.
Spinal osteochondrosis: causes and treatment
Up to 76% of people suffer from back pain every year. This statistic affects people of all ages and occupations. The causes of pain can be different, one of them is osteochondrosis of the spine.
Due to a sedentary lifestyle, osteochondrosis of the spine is becoming more common, and it is not always possible to defeat it yourself. Let's talk about why it occurs and how to deal with it.
What is spinal osteochondrosis
There are different views on the definition. Some experts believe that it is more correct to use the common name - dorsalgia, or nonspecific back pain.
Difficulties of definition are also associated with the fact that a multitude of specialists work with this disease - neurologists, orthopedists, neurosurgeons and general practitioners.
Sometimes a person who has been diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the spine turns to a cardiologist, since the manifestations of the disease are very similar to pain in the heart.
The term "spinal osteochondrosis" was proposed by Hildebrandt in 1933 as a multifactorial degenerative disease of the kinetic segment of the spine (as defined by Popelyansky). What is the spinal segment of motion? These are two superimposed vertebrae with an intervertebral disc between them.
Thanks to this articulation, the human spine can bend and relax, bend and twist. But for various reasons, the intervertebral discs lose their properties, degenerate, and then changes gradually affect the vertebrae themselves.
That is, the essence of osteochondrosis of the spine is the gradual destruction of the intervertebral discs.
Osteochondrosis can develop in any part of the spine.
Due to the heavy load, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is the most common. The symptoms are:
- Lower back pain, which may be sharp or dull, is constant, and may increase with movement;
- Pain can be inflicted on the legs, pelvic organs and sacrum;
- In severe cases, there may be a violation of sensitivity or mobility, atrophy of the muscles of the lower extremities.
The second most common is cervical osteochondrosis, which is more often associated with prolonged uncomfortable posture of the head, for example, when working on a computer or with documents. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is manifested by the following symptoms:
- headache and dizziness, migraine;
- visual or hearing impairment, blinking "flies" in front of the eyes;
- pain can radiate to the back of the head, shoulders, collarbones;
- possible violation of sensitivity in the hands.
Less often, osteochondrosis affects the thoracic spine, since the vertebrae are inactively interconnected. A lesion in this area can disguise itself as heart or lung disease. Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine:
- Pain in the back at the level of the shoulder blades, in the chest, which can increase when bending, twisting, inhaling or exhaling;
- skin sensitivity disorders.
Regardless of the degree of damage, pain in osteochondrosis of the spine can increase with pressure on the vertebrae involved in the process.
With the defeat of several departments, we can immediately speak of widespread osteochondrosis of the spine.
Risk factors and causes of the disease
The spine has high strength, and the development of the disease requires the simultaneous action of several provoking factors. It is important to understand that most if not all of these factors can be influenced by the patient and thus reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.
- Sedentary lifestyle - this worsens the blood supply, and with it the nutrition of all elements of the spine;
- excessive physical activity is also harmful and can damage the intervertebral discs;
- long stay in the wrong non-physiological position - the unreasonable height of the desk or chair leads to the fact that a person is forced to constantly tilt his head and bend over;
- stress - excessive tension in the muscles can lead to compression of the vessels that feed the spine;
- overweight;
- Smoking affects microcirculation in all tissues of the body;
- An insufficient intake of water and protein impairs the condition of the intervertebral discs, among other things.
The immediate causes of spinal osteochondrosis are not always obvious, but the following options can be distinguished:
- hereditary predisposition - genetically programmed characteristics of cartilage and bone tissues, in which the process of wear and tear is faster;
- Spinal injuries - various complications can occur at the site of injury, including osteochondrosis;
- occupational hazards such as vibration;
- exposure to infections or chemicals;
- natural aging of the body.
People of different professions are at risk for the development of osteochondrosis of the spine. These are builders and athletes, surgeons and clerks.
Stages of osteochondrosis and possible complications
The description of the four stages of spinal osteochondrosis was proposed by Osna in 1971. They do not serve to make a diagnosis, but allow you to understand the course of the disease.
- Intervertebral discs become less elastic. The intervertebral disc can be slightly deformed, there is a displacement of the internal pulpal nucleus within the intervertebral disc. This stage either does not manifest itself in any way, or there are minor pains.
- In the second stage, disc tears can occur and the surrounding ligaments can weaken. The connection of the vertebrae becomes unstable. There are attacks of acute pain with disability.
- The third stage is characterized by complete damage to the intervertebral disc. When the nucleus pulposus leaves the disc, a herniated disc occurs. Spinal deformities or pinched nerve roots can occur.
- In the fourth stage, the surrounding tissues are affected - vertebrae, ligaments, spinal membranes. As a result, the vertebral segment can completely lose mobility.
As a result of spinal osteochondrosis, various complications arise in some cases. Disc problems, hernia, and bulging can lead to narrowing of the spinal canal, compression of the spinal cord, and disability.
Depending on the level of the lesion, various problems involving the nerve roots are possible. These are intercostal neuralgia, violations of sensitivity and motor function of the upper and lower extremities, dysfunction of internal organs. Inflammation of the sciatic nerve, or sciatica, not only causes severe pain, but can also lead to pelvic organ disorders and infertility.
In addition to the nerve roots, osteochondrosis can also compress the vertebral vessels. If there is a circulatory disorder in the vertebral arteries that run in the neck area and supply the brain, brain disorders, vision or hearing problems, breathing or cardiac activity can develop.
Approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of osteochondrosis: conventional and alternative methods
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes an examination by a neurologist to determine the degree of damage to the nerve roots, examination of reflexes and sensitivity within the framework of official medicine.
Of the instrumental methods, the following can be used:
- Ultrasound of the vessels allows you to determine the degree of circulatory disorders, for example, in the vertebral arteries.
- X-ray of the spine;
- CT also uses radiological methods, but allows you to create a three-dimensional image of the area under study to identify even small displacements of the vertebrae.
- MRI specializes in the study of soft tissues, allows you to assess the condition of the spinal cord and visualize the internal structure of the intervertebral disc.
For differential diagnosis, laboratory tests, a general blood and urine test, and indicators of calcium metabolism are used.
The therapy of osteochondrosis is complex.
- The first and very important tool in the treatment of osteochondrosis is lifestyle. Normalization of working conditions, moderate and regular exercise, healthy sleep significantly improve the condition of patients.
- For drug treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine, a neurologist or family doctor can prescribe medication. Most often, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed - this is the standard treatment for spinal osteochondrosis. They relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Muscle relaxants help reduce muscle spasms. Vitamins and antioxidants are prescribed to protect nerve tissue from damage. However, all drugs have side effects, for example, NSAIDs can affect the stomach.
- In addition to medication, physiotherapy is used, for example, massage for osteochondrosis of the spine, as well as manual therapy. With severe complications of osteochondrosis, surgery may be required, but it is prescribed only if long-term conservative treatment does not have an effect.
Treatment of osteochondrosis in classical medicine in most cases is a lengthy process and can have a negative impact on human health.
A number of drugs, especially analgesics and muscle relaxants (particularly those with a sedative effect), can be addictive, and some drugs impair the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Alternatively, methods can be considered that are used, for example, in traditional Chinese medicine.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is very popular around the world, and many countries have special centers and training courses. Approaches and therapy methods in the kingdom of heaven differ from the usual European view of the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
All diseases are considered to be disturbances in the balance and movement of qi energy in the body, and therapeutic measures are aimed at restoring this balance. In China, various medicinal herbs, animal components, minerals, as well as various methods of external action such as acupuncture and acupressure are used.
These techniques have a wide range of indications and a minimal number of side effects.
acupuncture
Synonymous names for this method are acupuncture, reflexology. The principle of acupuncture treatment is to place needles on bioactive points. Each point is associated with the organ where the blow is delivered.
Reflexology helps you release tension and muscle spasms, has an anesthetic effect and helps relieve pain. The method is safe because most doctors use sterile, disposable needles.
And when using needles coated with gold or silver, it is imperative that they be sterilized. The feeling during the procedure depends on the individual vulnerability, the patient may experience tingling or numbness.
It is important that the procedure is performed by a highly qualified specialist with extensive experience. Incorrect placement of the needle is useless or even harmful. In some cases, acupuncture is combined with low doses of electric current.
moxibustion
This is a targeted influencing of active points with the help of special wormwood cigars. The active principle is similar to acupuncture and is often used in combination. A smoldering cigar is installed on the body in a special wooden house while the active points are heated. Wormwood has a disinfecting, calming and relaxing effect.
This method is safe because the glowing part of the cigar does not come into contact with the skin, although some parts of China use direct methods that act on the skin.
massage
Massage therapy is practiced by several different schools in China. They use rotation techniques, pressing with a finger, manual methods of therapy. Traditional massage techniques allow you to train muscles and joints, indirectly affect other organs and tissues, help to strengthen the body's defenses.
qigong
Traditional Chinese gymnastics, like massage, has several schools. Qigong movements, smooth, stretching and twisting are great exercises for the spine with osteochondrosis.
Qigong techniques do not require any special equipment and can be performed at home.
Before that, however, you should choose the right exercises with your doctor and work out the right execution technique under the guidance of a qualified specialist.
The level of science and medicine in China is very high, the combination of tradition and innovation produces amazing results. An example of the achievements of Chinese science are the methods of DNA therapy and DNA vaccines - the methods currently being used to develop cancer treatments and fight HIV.
Osteochondrosis of the spine in the elderly. Features of rehabilitation
People age differently: some keep a clear head, approach life situations with optimism and are happy. Others who have passed retirement age lose interest in life.
- The aging rate of the body depends on many factors, these are:
- 1) the genetic program for the development and decay of the organism;
- 2) the impact on a person of various adverse life events.
- An adverse effect on a person is provoked by poor housing conditions, harmful working conditions, living in an unfavorable climate, the inability to timely receive comprehensive medical and social assistance, an unhealthy lifestyle (malnutrition, bad habits and prolonged emotional stress ).
- When designing treatment and rehabilitation measures in old age, age-related and functional changes in this phase of life must be taken into account.
- With age, the volume of muscle mass decreases, muscle contractility weakens, changes occur in all parts of the spine.
Cervical osteochondrosis. The primary stage of the disease does not require special treatment. Standard preventive measures can cope with the pathology at this stage.
The greatest danger is the violation of blood circulation in the brain, which leads to a general dysfunction and the formation of numerous foci of necrosis of brain tissue.
prevention
Regardless of the chosen treatment methods, the prevention of osteochondrosis plays an equally important role. What can you do to keep your spine healthy?
- drink enough water;
- control weight, do not overeat;
- if necessary, choose the right shoes - orthopedic insoles;
- Choose a good mattress to sleep on, one that is not very soft and provides adequate spinal support.
- eat foods rich in collagen (fish, turkey, aspic, various jellies);
- do sports regularly;
- Adjust the height of the desk and chair, taking growth into account.
As alternative prevention methods, massage, qigong and acupuncture have all worked well for understandable reasons outlined above.
It is important to remember that back pain can and should be treated. You don't have to wait for the first signs of illness to change your lifestyle.
You can now get up from the computer, stretch your neck, add walks or massages to your to-do list.
And if spinal osteochondrosis has become a problem that prevents you from living in peace, then the combined efforts of science and traditional medicine will help restore health and the joy of movement.