Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion located in the vertebral tissue. The disease causes a pathological process in the intervertebral discs, adjacent surfaces of the joints, as well as the ligament apparatus of the spine.
The disease significantly affects human health. Bones and ligaments are damaged. The onset of the disease is signaled by painful symptoms, muscle atrophy, impaired functioning of internal organs. The most common age for a person to develop osteochondrosis is over 30 years old.
Why does osteochondrosis appear?
In medicine, there is a lot of information about the causes of the disease. These include getting a mechanical injury, an inherited factor, impaired metabolism. It is very difficult to find a cause that contributes to the development of the disease, as osteochondrosis can occur in both an adult and an adolescent.
A common factor in the development of the disease is the deposition of vertebral salts. With the help of a radiograph, growths on the vertebrae are diagnosed, while the wrists creak and creak while walking.
You can also get osteochondrosis in the case of an existing infectious disease, with persistent spinal overload, exposure to a chemical, and impaired posture. At risk are people who lead unhealthy lifestyles, abuse tobacco and alcohol, are overweight and are in constant stressful situations.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis are defined depending on the type (s) of the disease. What are the types of osteochondrosis and how they manifest, we will analyze in more detail.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- headache;
- impaired coordination;
- violation of the auditory, vocal and visual systems;
- the appearance of snoring.
The most common symptom is headache, which negatively affects a person's usual way of life. Most often, the neck, throat and teeth ache. The pain spreads to the shoulders and arms and increases with movement.
Medicine divides all the symptoms of the manifestation of cervical osteochondrosis into several groups:
Root symptoms. In other words, pain of the sciatic nerve of the cervix. The pain starts in the neck, goes down along the edges of the shoulders and back along the whole body up to the fingers.
reflex symptoms. A common symptom is pain, characterized by a sharp and burning character. Location - neck or occipital area. Often, the pain radiates to the heart and thoracic spine, moreover, a person confuses osteochondrosis with the presence of heart disease.
Symptoms of the vertebral artery. The most common symptom is headache. Possible damage to the auditory and visual systems.
cardiac symptoms. It seems that the heart hurts, but it is not. This is just a ray of pain in the heart, but not a heart disease. In this case, the symptoms are similar to angina pectoris. There are times when the doctor mistakenly diagnoses and treats a disease that does not exist.
Self-medication is not recommended for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Before prescribing the necessary treatment, the doctor makes a diagnosis. The main method of diagnosis is x-ray. Treatment should be comprehensive, including eliminating the source of the disease as well as the symptoms.
The early stage of the disease includes manual therapy and exercise therapy. Running osteochondrosis requires more complete treatment and sometimes surgical intervention. Once the main treatment is completed, the doctor prescribes gymnastics.
Thoracic osteochondrosis
Thoracic spine disease is characterized by periods of pain in the heart, sternum, spine, on the side of the trunk, in the upper abdomen. In other words, pain all over the body.
Painful sensations in the heart may raise the suspicion of a pathological process such as angina pectoris. The difference is that pain in the heart region in the case of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is not stopped by Nitroglycerin and electrocardiography did not reveal pathological changes in the heart. And the pain does not go away after taking a heart medicine.
Interstitial osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is characterized by symptoms depending on the location of the pathological process:
Radiculopathy develops in connection with a disc herniation. In the case when the intercostal osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine covers the upper segment, there is pain in the shoulders, shoulder blades, spine, heart.
When squeezing the spinal cord. In other words, compression myelopathy. A fairly rare phenomenon, manifested by pain, numbness and weakness of the lower extremities.
Clinical symptoms pertaining only to osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are as follows:
Neurological symptoms - persistent pain, which increases in case of deep coughing and sucking.
- osteoporotic osteoarthritis;
- vertebral symptoms.
Visceral syndromes - pain in the heart, aggravated in case of physical exertion, return of the body.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine should be comprehensive. A special place is occupied by manual therapy, exercise therapy, physiotherapy.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region
Intercostal osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is characterized by pain in the lumbar region and in the dorsal region of the body. Radiation can be seen in the thighs, buttocks, lower legs, very rarely in the heart.
Lumbosacral osteochondrosis is characterized by impaired urination, defecation, impaired sweating, tingling sensation in the lower extremities, dryness and itching of the skin.
Treatment of lumbar spine osteochondrosis is performed by a neurologist. Before prescribing treatment, the doctor performs the necessary diagnostic measures, which consist of a personal examination, examination of the vertebrae. X-rays, MRI and CT are also required. Based on the results of such studies, treatment is prescribed.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis should include measures to eliminate the pain, to restore the normal functioning of the affected area.
Comprehensive treatment includes:
- medical method. With the help of medication you can relieve pain, inflammation, swelling.
- Physiotherapy treatment. With the help of such a treatment, you can also relieve pain and discomfort as well as make significant progress towards complete recovery.
- exercise therapy. Prevention and treatment with the help of a therapeutic and sports complex helps to significantly improve health and achieve a full recovery. It is forbidden to carry out exercise therapy during an exacerbation of the disease! Along with physical education, it is necessary to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, eat properly and prevent stress.
Diagnostic measures
As a rule, the diagnosis of osteochondrosis consists of several stages:
- Stage 1. The doctor listens to the person's complaints and discovers the medical history: the area of concern, the time during which the discomfort is felt, the cause of the pain, the reason for the relief of the pain.
- Stage 2. The doctor examines the skin to identify or notice the absence of redness, peeling and redness. The doctor performs palpation of the affected area to determine the temperature regime of the skin, to identify swelling, painful compression.
- Stage 3. An X-ray examination is needed to determine pathological vertebral motility, displacement, salt deposition, and osteophyte formation.
- Stage 4. CT helps to identify nerve root compression, ruptures, all kinds of changes, marginal growths.
MRI contributes to the examination of the condition of blood vessels, nerve processes and intervertebral discs.
Home treatment
In case painful sensations are observed (in other words, a period of deterioration), various active actions are strictly forbidden. Boiling or massaging the affected area is not recommended because the pain can only intensify. The body should be provided with rest: take the most comfortable position in which minimal pain is manifested. It also requires muscle relaxation. Sometimes the doctor recommends using a corset for more comfortable movement.
In thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis, warming of the affected area is recommended. The most effective method of heating is to use a belt of dog or sheep wool. Thanks to the belt, the pain is eliminated and the inflammatory process is weakened. The belt can be found in almost any pharmacy. In some cases, it is possible to visit the bathroom, so it is best to warm the affected area. Baths are allowed only during the period when the worsening of the disease is eliminated.
Old grandmother's recipes are also effective. You can apply different tinctures by rubbing the affected area. no less effective are the various ointments that can be made at home or purchased at a pharmacy. But such ointments should be used with caution because they can cause skin burns. This is why it is important to read the instructions before use.
Gymnastics for osteochondrosis
Exercise therapy contributes to the treatment of osteochondrosis, and is also an excellent prophylaxis. Physical education must be specially designed and selected individually in each case of illness.
Therapeutic and physical culture complex should be performed only in the remission phase, but not during the period of deterioration. At the same time, physical education helps strengthen the ligament apparatus and muscular corset of the back. Thanks to physical education, you can bypass the main drug treatment.
Preventive measures
In order not to worsen your health and prevent the development of osteochondrosis of any part of the spine, there is a special prevention. Its main rules are:
Drink water before engaging in physical activity or exercise. This is necessary to maintain moisture exchange in the discs and prevent their dehydration.
A good prevention tool is back massage, which can be done by the person himself while at home. Massage helps increase blood circulation throughout the body, as well as speed up metabolic processes.
Under no circumstances should you lift and carry heavy objects and items at arm's length. This increases the load. To lift an object, you can sit down, keeping your back straight.
It is not recommended to perform sudden movements, turns and inclinations.
An even distribution of loads is required.
Preventing osteochondrosis includes a proper lifestyle and good nutrition. There is no need to run any disease. Timely hospital treatment will help to avoid negative consequences.