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Osteochondrosis

symptoms of osteochondrosis

Back pain is a problem that any adult can face.Often this is not a one-time event, but a symptom of a dangerous disease.Osteochondrosis often occurs in people aged 30-35 (about 40% of the population), up to 90% of cases occur at an older age.

Timely diagnosis and correct approaches to treatment can eliminate the development of pathology and prevent complications.That is why it is important to understand what exactly back pain can indicate, which doctor to contact when it appears and how to treat osteochondrosis.

What is osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a group of chronic diseases, the cause of which is the destruction of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, as well as damage to the cartilage 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Osteochondrosis is an outdated term;in world medicine it is called Dorsopathy.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 several 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 localization of pain, the damaged area of the intervertebral discs and the degree of development of the disease.

Localization of painful sensations

Taking into account the localization of pain caused by diseases of the spine, the following are distinguished:

  • Lumbonia.Chronic pain that occurs in the lower back often causes lameness.In particularly 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, paralysis of the limbs is possible.
  • Lumboischialgia.Pain that radiates painful sensations to the lower back or lower extremities, 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.Intense stabbing or sharp pain somewhere in the lower back.Often confused with radiculitis.An attack in most cases occurs when a person tries to bend or straighten his back sharply, as well as when suddenly lifting heavy objects.
  • Thoracic pain.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 severe in the area from the chest to the armpit.
  • Cervical pain.Painful sensations occur in the neck area and can spread to the upper limbs.Pathological manifestations may be accompanied by dizziness, feeling of numbness in the back of the head, redness and swelling of the skin.

The pathology requires urgent treatment, as there may be disruption of blood circulation in the brain, compression of the nerve roots and disruption of the outflow of venous blood.Neck pain often causes inflammatory processes and herniations of the intervertebral discs.

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

Classification based on location

Depending on the part of the spine where damage to the intervertebral discs and tissues occurred, osteoporosis is divided into several types.

Cervical

It is made up of seven small vertebrae that experience constant stress.The pathology is accompanied by thinning of the cervical vertebrae and compression of the arterial channels.The cervical type of osteochondrosis is very dangerous because it causes a disruption of the process of blood saturation in the brain.

The formation of protrusions leads to a hernia.And operations performed in the cervical region can lead to immobilization of the body.

Chest

Disorders in this part of the spine are rare, associated with low mobility of the vertebrae.The onset of pain is observed in people who move loads or in those 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 disruption of nutrition and metabolic processes in 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 in different parts of the spinal column occurs simultaneously.The disease is characterized by loss of sensitivity in the back of the head and disturbances in the functioning of the vocal apparatus.

Features of the development of the disease

Based on the degree of change of the intervertebral discs, experts distinguish 4 stages of the pathology, diagnosed by radiographic studies:

  1. There are no visible changes in the spine.
  2. Internal tears in the discs occur, but no external changes.
  3. Changes in the disc are noted without external damage.
  4. Severe damage to the intervertebral disc.The cracks extend to the inner surface, the disc appears to be squeezed out of the vertebrae.  

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

  1. The spine works as usual.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 one-time, later - chronic, which is associated with pinched nerves, subluxation of the 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 (cartilage growths on the joints) appear.In particularly difficult cases, patients lose the ability to move.

Important!

A person diagnosed with osteochondrosis at the fourth stage receives disability.

Causes of osteochondrosis

There are numerous theories that explain the onset of the pathology.Among the reasons are hormonal changes, heredity, problems with the cardiovascular system, mechanical damage and more.Researchers agree that most often the reason lies in the overload of individual segments of the spine.

The human spinal column 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 are made up of a gelatinous nucleus and a dense fibrous ring surrounding it, which is covered above by 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 in the first stage of osteochondrosis, degradation and destruction of the intervertebral discs begins, the amount of fluid in their core decreases, the cartilaginous tissue thins and becomes less elastic.

Osteochondrosis is diagnosed in most cases in older people, as well as in those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.Doctors believe that the main cause of the disease is uneven distribution of the load on the spine and vertebrae.This causes their damage and destruction of cartilage 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, when carrying and lifting heavy objects, tight and uncomfortable clothes and shoes can cause damage/displacement of the intervertebral discs and, as a result, 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!

Strain on the cervical spine while working at the computer can also cause the development of osteochondrosis.

Risk factors for the development of osteochondrosis

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

  • flat feet;
  • scoliosis;
  • arthritis;
  • osteoporosis;
  • arthrosis;
  • neuro-emotional exhaustion;
  • diabetes mellitus;
  • obesity.

Other risk factors include metabolic disorders, intense physical activity (especially associated with heavy 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.Calcium deficiency 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 can vary, it can be:

  • acute, intense, worsens with movement (usually the patient tries to remain still);
  • opaque, smooth (movements are slow).

In addition to local pain exactly where the destruction of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs began, patients often experience projection pain, away from the problem site.Due to pain, the muscle strength of the lower and upper extremities decreases, movement disorders and general weakness of the body occur.

Patients often complain of general symptoms of osteochondrosis such as:

  • stiffness and discomfort during movement;
  • muscle spasms;
  • migraines and headaches;
  • frequent dizziness, visual disturbances;
  • the appearance 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, lumbar region and sternum.

With 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 where they branch from the spinal cord.

Depending on the type of osteochondrosis at the site, the symptoms of the disease may differ.

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

Lumbar osteochondrosiscauses pain in the buttocks and perineum, which causes movement problems.Patients experience sharp pain when bending over, in the lower back (after sleeping or sitting in the same place for a long time).Numbness, dizziness and general weakness appear.The disease often causes pain in the kidney area, 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 concerned about problems with the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and pancreas.Specific manifestations of thoracic spine disorders 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 your back and limbs.

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

During your appointment, your doctor will conduct a comprehensive examination, which includes:

  • collect anamnesis, study the patient's medical history and complaints;
  • physiological examination, palpation, assessment of skin condition and localization of pain;
  • determination of the nature of pain (sharp, dull, reflex, local, etc.);
  • blood test (indicators of the level of calcium in the blood and the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation are important);
  • ECG and ultrasound of the heart (to exclude or confirm the connection of pain syndromes with diseases of the cardiovascular system);
  • duplex scan 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.A complete image in two projections, if necessary, taken of each individual segment of the spine.Functional radiography, a study in which a specialist takes photos in various positions of the body, may also be prescribed.
  • Single disc computed tomography.The study shows the condition of the vertebral body, blood vessels, nerve endings, ligaments and soft tissues, breaks in the contours of the intervertebral disc, disc height, changes in the dura mater, marginal growths and vertebral instability.
  • Myelography.Contrast radiograph of the spinal cord.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging.This is an alternative to CT scan of the intervertebral disc.It allows you to evaluate 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 the 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 compaction on 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 a 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 in a particular case.

Complications of osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the spine is an unpleasant disease that in its final stages can cause the development of other diseases and pathologies.The most common are:

  • protrusion (swelling of the intervertebral discs);
  • intervertebral hernia;
  • salt deposits between the vertebrae;
  • kyphosis (curvature of the spine);
  • muscle atrophy;
  • spinal stroke (circulation disorder in the spinal cord);
  • radiculitis;
  • disruption of 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

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

Doctors of Tibetan medicine use four treatment methods:

  • Correction of nutrition according to doshas
  • Lifestyle correction
  • Herbal medicine

A series of external procedures:

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

External effects on the body:

  • energetic acupressure - normalizes and restores the proper functioning of internal organs, helps 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 (cupping) – 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 of wormwood, edelweiss, juniper, poplar leaves, as well as pressed charcoal, etc. are used.

Prevention of osteochondrosis

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

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

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

When lifting weights, it is not necessary to do it quickly, jerkily, only smoothly and with a half squat.To carry heavy objects it is better to choose backpacks with orthopedic walls rather than bags with shoulder straps.

Avoid spending a long time in a static and uncomfortable position, especially standing and with 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 uniform emphasis on the back of the chair.

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

Treatment of osteochondrosis consists of three stages:

  1. Relieve or reduce pain.
  2. Elimination of disorders in the condition and functioning of intervertebral discs and vertebrae.
  3. Prevention of complications.

By promptly consulting a specialist at the first signs of the disease, you can avoid complications and the need for surgical treatment.That is why it is so important to undergo annual preventive visits to the neurologist and vertebrologist, even if you are not bothered by pain in the spine.

Important!

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