Osteochondrosis is a medical term describing violations of the integrity of bone cartilage surfaces.Most often, the disease is associated with damage to the intervertebral discs.
The intervertebral discs are a type of shock absorbers that soften the pressure on the spine in the load.Osteochondrosis exacerbates the quality of life, causing back pain, neck, head, noise in the ear.
There are two views on the diagnosis.Specialists abroad include a disorder in children and adolescence.It is believed to be more common in children, as their bones are in the development phase.Doctors diagnose osteochondrosis mainly in patients aged 25-55 years.Signs, causes and types of disease in two cases are the same.
How to determine osteochondrosis?
- Is there constant or periodic back pain or muscle tension?
- Is there "gooseb outdoor" at the bottom of the back or neck?
- Do you feel "shooting" on your back?
- Does the pain appear when you raise your hands or shake your head to the sides?
- Is there a periodic dizziness?
- There are periods of noise, nausea?
If at least one answer is positive, you should contact a specialist to conduct a study.If the diagnosis detects violations, the doctor will prescribe treatment and help protect it from the most serious and painful symptoms.
What causes osteochondrosis
The massive incidence of osteochondrosis is due to the fact that humans are in a straight position most of the time.In this case, the spine and discs experience an added load.If it is wrong to sit down, lie and stay, the drives lose their depreciation skills.
Over time, the disk cracking shell appears and hernial extension.They begin to transmit blood vessels, spinal cord roots or brain itself.As a result, pain appears, reflex tension in the muscles.
The risk group includes older and older people.Office workers, professional leaders, high -growth people often face the disease.Risk factors for the appearance of pronounced symptoms of violations can be made:
- flat feet;
- inheritance;
- excess body weight;
- Hippodynamia.
Causes of violations in the joint:
- Working with heavy load
- Incorrect position in a sitting position, standing or lie.
- Injuries, overload.
- Excessive loads when playing sports.
- Increased air humidity and low temperature.
- Activities related to a frequent change in body position
Types of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis can develop in any spine.According to localization, the disease is divided into: cervix, chest and lumbar.In 50% of cases, the last type has been found.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
A similar diagnosis has been created for both men and women.The reason for this is an added load that appears when you walk, run, physical exercise, extended seat.The middle spine consists of 5 beads, among which there are discs that give elasticity.If the exchange process does not occur, the intervertebral discs lose their properties and pains.
Symptoms:
- Dumb or sharp pain in the lower back, which intensifies when moving.
- Leg pain, pelvic body, sacrum.
- Violation of mobility or sensitivity.
- Atrophy of the leg muscles in the acute course of the disease.
Lumbar osteochondrosis should be treated.In the absence of therapy, dangerous complications can occur: Ishias, hernia, extension.As a result, the natural supply of blood to the spinal cord is concerned, which leads to the paralysis of the lower extremities.
Cervical osteochondrosis
"Make sure you turn your head," doctors call.So you can avoid a dangerous diagnosis of cervical back osteochondrosis.The neck is the most removable part of the spinal column.The department consists of 7 beads.The disease occurs as a result of a violation of the metabolic processes in the body, in the presence of salts in the neck or due to the frequent unpleasant position of the head.
Symptoms:
- Headache
- Heart pain
- Staring "flies" in front of my eyes
- Hearing impairment
- Crystal in the neck
- Pain in the hand or fusion of the shoulder
- Nickle
Experts note that this type of disease is one of the most dangerous, as for its reason there may be a violation of blood circulation in the brain, migraine, dystonia and more serious diseases.
Thoracic osteochondrosis
Violations in the thoracic spine occur less frequently, as the beads are inactive.The pains that appear in the area are experienced by many people who are engaged in heavy physical labor or have a sedentary profession.The cause of osteochondrosis can be a disturbed exchange process, an increased load on the intervertebral discs.
Symptoms:
- Pain or feeling of compression in the chest area.
- Pain between shoulder blades when raising your hands.
- Disordishes skin sensitivity disorders.
In acute violation, two symptoms can occur: dorsago and dorsalgia.Dorsago is associated with acute chest pain, shortness of breath.With dorsalgia, the pain in the department's beads is not very severe, but gradually increases.The disease is often confused with other chest pathologies: heart attack, pneumonia, angina pectoris, etc.The diagnosis is made only by a specialist based on inspection and research.
Stages of osteochondrosis
In the first stage, the obvious symptoms are missing.Frequency, discomfort appears on the back, which is associated with excessive physical exhaustion or exercise.The disease can be detected during a preventive examination, X -Ray or CT.
The second stage is associated with pain, as the process of destruction of cartilage tissue begins and the gap between the discs decreases.Pain at this stage is removed with medication as prescribed by a doctor.
In the third stage, spinal deformities begin: an fibrous ring appears, an intervertebral hernia appears.With the help of correctly prescribed treatment, you can still improve the condition of the spine.
The fourth stage is irreversible changes in the back in which it is difficult to switch to a person.Between the vertebrae, the bone tissue that connects the vertebrae.Most often, a similar form of osteochondrosis leads to disability.
Diagnostic methods
To determine the extent of the disease, by checking sensitivity and reflexes, the doctor performs a physical examination.Moreover, blood and urine tests are given, indicators of calcium metabolism are studied.
Diagnostic methods are used to make an accurate diagnosis:
- Ultrasound of shipping.Determination of the degree of damaged blood flow to the vertebral arteries.
- X -Ray of distribution.
- CT building a three -dimensional image of the studied area to identify small vertebral displacements.
- MRI Study of soft tissue state to assess the condition of the spinal cord and visualize the internal structure of the disc.
Treatment
Osteochondrosis is treated in a comprehensive way.The main purpose of therapy is to suppress the pain, eliminate tension in the muscles and limit the movements that emerged due to pain.It is important not to self -medicate, but get advice with a specialist and follow the recommendations.
- Drug therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Surgical treatment
For the treatment of the spine, the doctor prescribes non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs that help relieve inflammation and swelling.Musodorelaxants are responsible for reducing cramps in the muscles.Ointments are used to reduce pain.To protect nerve tissue, antioxidants and vitamins can be described: they slow down the destruction of bone tissue and reduce calcium loss.
The effectiveness of treatment is possible with a combination of medicines with physiotherapeutic procedures: electrophoresis, laser, magnetotherapy, mud treatment and current.Moreover, massage, manual therapy can be prescribed.The group of procedures is determined taking into account the patient's condition, as there are contraindications.
Surgical intervention for osteochondrosis is needed in extremely rare cases.There are many nerve endings in the back that are responsible for the work of the body as a whole.The risk is excellent, so surgical treatment can be prescribed when conservative methods do not bring proper effectiveness.
PREVENTION
It is possible to maintain the health of the spine and prevent the appearance of symptoms or complications of osteochondrosis by adhering to prevention methods:
- Consuming enough water;
- body weight control;
- consumption of collagen -rich food;
- Choosing an orthopedic mattress supporting the body;
- Regular sports.
You can try alternative methods: acupuncture, qigong or massage.Before starting a procedure, you should consult a doctor in order to guarantee to maintain the health of the muscular system.