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Osteochondrosis

osteochondrosis symptoms

Back pain is a problem that every adult can face.Often this is not a one-time occurrence, but a symptom of a dangerous disease.Osteochondrosis often occurs in people aged 30 to 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.That's why it's important to understand what exactly back pain may indicate, which doctor you should see when it appears, and how osteochondrosis should be treated.

What is osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a group of chronic diseases whose cause is the destruction of vertebrae and intervertebral discs, as well as damage to cartilaginous 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: hernias, curvature of the spine, etc.

Osteochondrosis is an outdated term;in world medicine it is called dorsopathy.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

Types of osteochondrosis

When classifying the disease, the following are taken into account: the location of the pain, the area affected by the intervertebral discs and the degree of development of the disease.

Localization of painful sensations

Taking into account the location of pain caused by spinal diseases, there are:

  • Lumbodynia.Chronic pain that occurs in the lower back often causes limping.In especially severe cases, it can cause numbness in the legs.Most often, this symptom occurs when a person has an intervertebral hernia.When the roots of the spinal cord are compressed, limb paralysis is possible.
  • Lumboischialgia.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 when there is pressure on the sciatic and spinal nerves.
  • Lumbago.Shooting or sharp and intense pain in a certain point in the lower back.Often confused with radiculitis.In most cases, an attack occurs when a person tries to bend over or straighten his back sharply, as well as when suddenly lifting heavy objects.
  • Thoracalgia.Pain in the chest area.It is considered a very dangerous symptom, sometimes even a doctor cannot immediately determine its cause.Unpleasant sensations are not always associated with body movements.The pain is especially intense in the area from the chest to the armpit.
  • Neck pain.Painful sensations occur in the neck region and can spread to the upper limbs.Pathological manifestations may be accompanied by dizziness, a feeling of numbness in the back of the neck, redness and swelling of the skin.

The pathology requires urgent treatment, as there may be interruption of blood circulation in the brain, compression of nerve roots and interruption of venous blood flow.Neck pain frequently causes inflammatory processes and intervertebral disc herniations.

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

Location-based classification

Depending on which part of the spine the damage to the discs and intervertebral 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 ducts.The cervical type of osteochondrosis is very dangerous, as it causes a disruption in the process of blood saturation in the brain.

The formation of protrusions leads to a hernia.And operations carried out 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 who remain in the same position for a long time.

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

Important!

Only a doctor should be involved in the differential diagnosis.

lumbosacral

The lumbar region has five vertebrae.If there is a disturbance in the nutrition and metabolic processes of the intervertebral disc, it loses elasticity, decreases in size and is no longer able to function taking into account the load received.Lack of treatment for lumbosacral osteochondrosis can cause the following complications: hernias, protrusions, sciatica.

Important!

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

Another type of osteochondrosis is polysegmental.During its development, degradation of segments occurs simultaneously in different parts of the spine.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 using radiographic studies:

  1. There are no visible changes in the spine.
  2. Internal ruptures occur in the discs, but no external changes occur.
  3. Changes are observed on the disc without external damage.
  4. Severe damage to the intervertebral disc.Cracks spread to the inner surface, the disc seems to be squeezed out of the vertebrae.  

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

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

Important!

A person diagnosed with the fourth stage of osteochondrosis becomes disabled.

Causes of osteochondrosis

There are a large number of theories that explain the occurrence of the pathology.Among the reasons are hormonal changes, heredity, problems with the cardiovascular system, mechanical damage and much more.Researchers agree that most often the reason lies in the overload 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 guaranteed by the joints and articular processes.

The intervertebral discs consist of a gelatinous core and a dense fibrous ring around it, which is covered on top with a layer of cartilaginous tissue.They perform a shock-absorbing function, preventing damage to the vertebrae during jumping, running and walking.The design is very mobile and provides flexibility and stability to the spine.

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

Osteochondrosis is in most cases diagnosed in elderly people, 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 damage as well as destruction of cartilaginous tissue.

Most often, this disorder 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, consequently, lead to the development of osteochondrosis.

Other reasons for the development of pathology include:

  •  fractures, curvatures and damage to the spine;
  • hormonal imbalances;
  • pregnancy;
  • hypothermia and sudden changes in temperature.

Important!

Straining the cervical spine while working at a computer can also cause the development of osteochondrosis.

Risk factors for developing osteochondrosis

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

  • flat feet;
  • scoliosis;
  • arthritis;
  • osteoporosis;
  • arthrosis;
  • neuroemotional 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 may 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 may vary, it may be:

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

In addition to local pain exactly in the place where the destruction of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs began, patients often feel projection pain - far from the problem site.Due to pain, muscle strength in the lower and upper extremities 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;
  • migraines and headaches;
  • frequent dizziness, visual disturbances;
  • the occurrence of pain in the joints of the limbs;
  • feeling of cold in the extremities;
  • decreased sensitivity;
  • circulatory disorders;
  • loss of consciousness.

In some cases, patients experience numbness in the extremities and tingling sensations in the cervical region, lower back and sternum.

In osteochondrosis, several characteristic syndromes are often present:

  • Vertebral.Acute or chronic back pain, accompanied by poor circulation.
  • Cardiac.A form of angina.
  • Vertebral artery syndrome.Pain resulting from circulatory disorders in the vertebral arteries.
  • Koreshkovy.The pain is caused by compression of the spinal roots at the points where the spinal cord branches.

Depending on the type of local osteochondrosis, the symptoms of the disease may be different.

For cervical osteochondrosischaracterized by migraines, numbness in the fingers, difficulty moving the head and neck, pain in the back of the neck.In addition, with cervical osteochondrosis, patients complain of facial numbness, sleep problems, frequent dizziness and ringing in the ears.

Lumbar osteochondrosiscauses pain in the buttocks and perineum, which causes problems with movement.Patients feel 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 usually causes pain in the kidney region, erectile dysfunction and frequent urination.With lumbar osteochondrosis, scoliosis often develops.

Thoracic osteochondrosisaccompanied by shortness of breath, stiffness in the thoracic region, pain between the shoulder blades and ribs.Often patients are worried about problems with the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and pancreas.Specific manifestations of thoracic spine pathologies 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 type), muscle spasms and sensory disturbances in the back and limbs.

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

During your appointment, your doctor will perform a comprehensive exam, which includes:

  • collection of anamnesis, study of medical history and patient complaints;
  • physiological examination, palpation, assessment of the condition of the skin and location 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 erythrocyte sedimentation rate are important);
  • ECG and ultrasound of the heart (to exclude or confirm the connection between pain syndromes and 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 radiographic studies may be prescribed, which include:

  • X-ray of the spine.Complete image in two projections, if necessary, filming of each individual segment of the spine.Functional radiography may also be prescribed - a study in which a specialist takes photographs in various positions of the body.
  • Computed tomography of an individual disc.The study shows the condition of the vertebral body, blood vessels, nerve endings, ligaments and soft tissues, ruptures in the contours of the intervertebral disc, disc height, changes in the dura mater, marginal growths and vertebral instability.
  • Myelography.Contrast radiography of the spinal cord.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging.This is an alternative to computed tomography of the intervertebral disc.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, deviating from the norm;
  • displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other;
  • deposition of salts in 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 an impaction in the affected disc.

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

Important!

The main task of the diagnostic doctor 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 the appropriate therapy for the 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 (bulge of intervertebral discs);
  • intervertebral hernia;
  • salt deposits between the vertebrae;
  • kyphosis (curvature of the spine);
  • muscle atrophy;
  • stroke (circulatory disorder in the spinal cord);
  • radiculitis;
  • disturbance in the functioning 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 avoid the development of complications.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

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

Tibetan medicine doctors use four treatment methods:

  • Correction of nutrition according to dosha
  • Lifestyle correction
  • Phytotherapy

A set of external procedures:

  • Nutritional correction.A balanced diet according to the constitution of the human body (dosha) promotes a wave of energy and cellular renewal in all organs and organic systems of the body.
  • Phytotherapy.The use of medicinal herbs and Tibetan mixtures based on recipes from ancient healers.Restores the body's natural balance, promotes its rejuvenation and the eradication of many diseases.

External effects on the body:

  • energy acupressure - normalizes and restores the proper functioning of internal organs, helps to improve blood circulation throughout the body, restores immunity;
  • acupuncture - eliminates pain and inflammation, relieves discomfort resulting from external manifestations, improves the circulation of fluids in the body;
  • vacuum therapy (cup therapy) – improves innervation, removes waste 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 from wormwood, edelweiss, juniper, poplar leaves, as well as pressed charcoal, etc. are used.

Prevention of osteochondrosis

The main method of prevention is to evenly distribute the load on the spine.In practice, this includes:

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

During prolonged sedentary and stationary work, it is important to take periodic breaks, change positions and warm up, this will help relax and reduce the load on the spine.

When lifting weights, you don't need to do it quickly, jerkily, just gently and in a half-squat.To carry heavy objects, it is better to choose backpacks with an orthopedic wall than bags with a shoulder strap.

Avoid staying in a static and uncomfortable position for a long time, especially standing with your arms raised - this position damages the ligaments and increases the load on the intervertebral discs.

Important!

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

Manual therapy, various physiotherapy methods and acupuncture also show positive results as a preventive measure for spinal osteochondrosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis consists of three stages:

  1. Relief or reduction of pain.
  2. Elimination of disorders in the state and functioning of intervertebral discs and vertebrae.
  3. Prevention of complications.

If you promptly consult a specialist at the first signs of the disease, you can avoid complications and the need for surgical treatment.That's why it's so important to have annual preventive exams with a neurologist and vertebrologist, even if you don't mind back pain.

Important!

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