Complications of osteochondrosis: causes, symptoms and consequences

A disease such as osteochondrosis of the spine only occasionally provokes some formidable consequences. But this does not mean that this ailment is not at all dangerous to humans. The presence of a disease in a patient is harmful to health, affecting various systems and organs. Complications of osteochondrosis can affect even the autonomic nervous system, as a result of which serious limitations arise in some everyday activities.

The danger to the body is the pathology of all parts of the spine, but it is the lesion of the lumbar and cervical parts that is most severe. As for osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, the complications of this disease are quite serious. The thoracic section in the human body is immobile initially and is highly resistant to any disease. What is the danger of this disease?

Various degrees of the disease

Complications of osteochondrosis will depend on the degree of this disease. For example, if a patient is diagnosed with a first degree, then the likelihood of any serious complications is almost zero. But if the patient has a 3 degree of osteochondrosis, complications can occur with a high degree of probability. It should be separately understood what negative consequences a disease can lead to depending on a particular stage.

First degree

As a rule, this stage of the disease does not cause much harm to the body. In most cases, with osteochondrosis of the 1st degree, there are no symptoms, and the patient at the same time arrives in a satisfactory condition. However, complications of osteochondrosis of the 1st degree can occur as a degeneration of the disease in the next stage. In any case, if untreated, the first stage of osteochondrosis will pass into the second.

Second degree

At this stage of development, osteochondrosis is very harmful to health and often provokes severe headaches and dizziness in the patient. As for the complications of cervical osteochondrosis, they manifest themselves in the form of visual pathologies, as well as low-frequency noise in the ears. These symptoms do not pose a particular danger to the health of the patient, but they seriously disrupt the human performance.

Third degree

Complications of cervical osteochondrosis manifest as severe pains that are localized in the affected area, back muscles, and also in the head. If the lumbar region is affected, the patient may have a lower sensitivity of the lower extremities. But if osteochondrosis of the thoracic region was diagnosed, then the sensitivity of the upper limbs is impaired. In this case, soreness can give off to various areas on the body.

Fourth degree

Many experts believe that this stage of the disease is absent, ranking it with the third. Other doctors mean by the fourth stage of the disease various symptoms of complications of osteochondrosis, for example, serious disturbances in posture, pathological kyphosis and lordosis. If osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has been diagnosed , complications may include syncope attacks, that is, loss of consciousness.

Very good news for patients is that this disease can be treated absolutely at all stages of development. For this reason, various kinds of neurological complications of osteochondrosis can be avoided. Therefore, it is most reasonable to begin treatment of the disease when the first symptoms appear.

Causes of the disease

In most cases, the main cause of osteochondrosis is the natural aging of the human body. But in recent decades, experts have recorded earlier manifestations of this disease. Statistics show that this disease manifests itself in people after 30 years. It is important to note that osteochondrosis among adolescents and children appears due to an improper lifestyle.

The causes of this ailment are divided into external and internal. It is worth to familiarize yourself with them in more detail.

External causes

Such provoking factors for the development of osteochondrosis include the following:

1. A sedentary lifestyle in which a person sits a lot. This reason is one of the main in the development of osteochondrosis in the cervical spine.
2. Constant extension and flexion of the body, as well as sharp turns of the body.
3. Squats, inclinations, carrying weights in the wrong position of a person.
4. Excessively high physical activity when playing sports.
5. Very frequent lifting of heavy loads. This reason is one of the main reasons for the development of osteochondrosis in the lumbar spine.
6. Human work under adverse conditions, for example, at low air temperature or at high humidity.
7. Frequent vibration loads on the human body.
8. Various spinal injuries, including those that happened many years ago.
9. Sleeping on an uncomfortable pillow or bed.
10. Frequent dehydration of the human body.
11. Constant exposure to the body of various chemicals.
12. Adverse environmental conditions.

Internal causes

These include the following:

1. Hereditary predisposition. If a patient has a family member who had a spinal disease, then you need to be more careful about your own health, periodically undergoing examination in a medical institution.
2. Impaired metabolism in the human body. This reason negatively affects the condition of the intervertebral discs.
3. The natural aging of the body.
4. Excess weight.
5. Flat feet.
6. Curvature of posture, which often provokes the development of thoracic osteochondrosis.
7. Alcoholism and smoking.
8. The presence of some infectious chronic diseases.
9. Hypothermia of the body.
10. Frequent use of fatty, spicy, salty foods, as well as an unhealthy diet.
11. Abrupt cessation of training by professional athletes.
12. Frequent stress and nervous tension.

Symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of osteochondrosis can be different, depending on the affected area of ​​the spine. It is worth separately to consider the signs of this ailment. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are as follows:

1. Soreness in the neck and shoulder region.
2. Headaches and migraines.
3. Cerebrovascular accident.
4. Frequent dizziness, especially during tipping of the head and sharp turns of the neck.
5. Pain in the shoulder region and arms.
6. Soreness when raising arms.
7. Vomiting and nausea.
8. Increased blood pressure.
9. Ringing and tinnitus.
10. Deterioration of memory, vision and hearing.
11. Limited mobility in the neck.
12. In some cases, numbness of the tongue appears, as well as a slight change in the voice.
13. Tearfulness and irritability.
14. Numbness in the arms and shoulders.
15. A sharp loss of consciousness.

Symptoms of breast osteochondrosis are as follows:

1. Pain in the chest.
2. Dyspnea.
3. Pain between the shoulder blades.
4. Pain during raising arms.
5. Loss of sensitivity in certain areas of the skin.
6. Feeling of cold and burning in the lower extremities.
7. Sore ribs while walking.
8. Sensations of heaviness localized in the chest area.
9. Problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
10. Sensation of weakness in the legs or arms.
11. High blood pressure and palpitations.

Signs of lumbar osteochondrosis are as follows:

1. Severe pain in the lower back.
2. Soreness in the legs and tailbone, as well as in the internal organs of the pelvis.
3. Decreased sensation
4. Limb aches and weakness.
5. Impotence in men.
6. Decreased fertility in women.
7. Discomfort during pregnancy.
8. Problems during urination.

The consequences of cervical osteochondrosis

In most cases, complications of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine occur. This is because the vertebral artery is concentrated in this area, and the department itself is very mobile. In addition, the brain is located next to this department, as well as the sensory system, for example, vision and hearing. Possible complications of spinal osteochondrosis in the neck are as follows:

1. Headaches, which can be of varying intensity. Most often they occur in moderate severity, but in some people they are so painful that they interfere not only with everyday life, but also prevent a person from falling asleep normally.
2. Severe dizziness, quite often chronic or occurring constantly with episodes of exacerbation. During exacerbation, dizziness is so strong that the patient may even lose consciousness.
3. The formation of a low-frequency constant squeak (or noise) in the ears, quite often which causes severe discomfort to the patient. This symptom cannot be cured. To get rid of such discomfort, it is necessary to eliminate the root cause - osteochondrosis.
4. Vertebral artery syndrome, in which there is compression or rupture of arteries in the spinal column, due to which a person may lose consciousness, and sometimes even a heart attack or stroke.
5. Violation of coordination of movement and balance. At the same time, the patient may fall out of the blue, micromotorism is impaired, it is rather difficult for the patient to sort out some small details with his fingers, write or draw.
6. Attacks of vomiting, nausea, as well as an increase in blood pressure, which occurs only in rare cases.

To avoid possible complications of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, which were described above, you should contact a specialist in time for the first symptoms.

The danger of breast osteochondrosis

The thoracic region of the spinal column is only rarely affected by osteochondrosis. This is due to the fact that the thoracic region is very strong and motionless, which means that it is much less likely to undergo injuries, and if they are present, it is quickly restored. This area has a smaller significant load than the lumbar. The only problem is that thoracic osteochondrosis due to immobility and localization is difficult to treat. Possible complications of breast osteochondrosis are as follows:

1. Breathing problems and moderate shortness of breath. In this case, it is difficult for patients to take a deep breath or a deep exhale. But at the same time, the oxygen saturation rate of the blood is within normal limits, as is the level of carbon dioxide. This symptom is purely subjective.
2. A severe pain syndrome, which is localized only in the thoracic spine. But quite often he goes to the anterior zone of the sternum, as a result of which the patient appears intercostal neuralgia. Soreness increases with coughing, tilting the body, sneezing, or trying to take a deep breath.
3. A feeling of numbness, which is localized in the upper limbs. In some cases, there is a feeling that the upper limbs are not their own.
4. Subjective sensation of heart failure. The patient develops sinus tachycardia, which does not disturb the functioning of the heart.

Lumbar osteochondrosis. Effects

Complications of lumbar osteochondrosis are approximately the same as in the case of the cervical spine. They are as follows:

1. Severe soreness, which appears due to the peculiarities of the location and accumulation of nerve endings in the lumbar region. Sometimes the pain syndrome is so strong that no medications in the form of tablets have a visible effect.
2. Violation of the function of the lower extremities. The patient may appear intermittent claudication, as well as clubfoot. If the patient at the same time walks incorrectly for a long time, then flat feet of the second or first stage may appear.
3. Sensory impairment in the lower extremities, cramps at night, frequent paresthesia.
4. Severe pain in the coccyx, which increases with prolonged sitting, attempts to tilt the body to the side or forward, as well as when lifting weights.
5. Frequent urination, as well as phantom urge to defecate.
6. Painful sensations that are localized in the peritoneal zone. In fact, they are radiating from the lumbar region.

Who is at risk

In most cases, the risk of developing osteochondrosis is associated with the patient's professional activities. Representatives of the following specialties fall into the risk group:

1. Office staff.
2. Drivers
3. Movers.
4. Professional athletes.
5. Builders.
6. Cashiers and accountants.
7. Those people who often worry and get nervous.
8. Women during pregnancy.
9. People who constantly tilt their heads down and stretch their shoulders.
10. Obese patients.

If a person is at risk, then you should be more careful about your own health, note any deviations that are associated with the spine. It will be much easier to prevent this disease than to try to cure it later. Moreover, the consequences of complications of osteochondrosis are almost always deplorable. In the later stages of the disease, it is almost impossible to cure, especially if it provoked severe pathological changes in the body. However, with complex therapy, it is possible to improve the quality of life even in severe cases.