Osteoarthrosis of the spine is a pathology expressed by erasing and thinning of the cartilage that lies between the vertebrae. This condition is usually observed in professional athletes, often exposing their spine many times, or in people over 60 years of age, in whom this condition occurs against the background of natural aging of the body.
Causes of pathology
The development of this kind of pathology requires not one reason, but several at once. The destruction of the intervertebral cartilage occurs gradually over many years and several factors immediately lead to this:
- First of all, it is a metabolic disorder.
- A daily load that is not normal for a person.
- Physical damage to the vertebrae as a result of a fracture or dislocation.
- Overweight, obesity.
- A sedentary lifestyle associated with professional activities.
- Osteoarthrosis of the spine can be a hereditary disease transmitted from parents at the gene level.
- Pathology can be triggered by diabetes mellitus or gout.
- With congenital or acquired injuries of the musculoskeletal system, cartilages of the spine are disproportionately heavy, which leads to their abrasion.
- Pathology is possible with a weak muscle frame supporting the spine.
- Chronic liver disease can change metabolism to such an extent that the intervertebral cartilage begins to break down.
- Osteoarthritis of the spine often occurs against the background of inflammation caused by tuberculosis, gonorrhea or syphilis.
Whatever the cause of the development of the disease, self-diagnosis in this matter is impossible. A correct and complete examination can only be carried out by a qualified specialist.
Symptoms of the disease
Osteoarthrosis of the cervical spine or its other part has the characteristic features characteristic of any part of the spinal column:
- Severe pain syndrome that occurs on the affected area - neck, thoracic region, lower back, sacrum. At the initial stage of the disease, such sensations disappear after a warm-up. As the disease progresses, the pain becomes constant.
- Over time, the joint is deformed.
- The soft tissues around the affected joint swell.
- Osteoarthrosis of the lumbar spine limits the ability to move.
- The progression of the disease affects the state of the central nervous system, since during the disease the arteries supplying the brain with blood, which means fresh oxygen, are significantly narrowed. This situation leads to frequent loss of consciousness, impaired memory and other dangerous conditions.
- Osteoarthrosis of the thoracic spine is accompanied by pain when trying to take a deep breath.
- When moving or tilting in the back, a characteristic crunch is heard.
Classification
Treatment of osteoarthrosis of the spine depends on the type of pathology:
- lumbararthrosis - damage to the lumbar spine;
- cervicoarthrosis - pathology of the cervical spine;
- dorsarthrosis - the lesion is localized in the thoracic region.
Cervicoarthrosis, in addition to the pain characteristic of the pathology during movement, is manifested by neurological abnormalities. For example, a patient's vision may worsen, black dots appear in front of his eyes, frequent dizziness with loss of consciousness occurs. Hearing is also disturbed, a continuous ringing appears in the ears.
With lumbararthrosis, the pain affects not only the lower back and sacrum, it is also reflected in the buttocks and thighs, sometimes depriving a person of the ability to move completely. The cause of this disease is too much load on the lower back, associated with professional activity or obesity, or, conversely, the extremely low mobility of a person. During the course of the disease, the legs up to the ankle lose their sensitivity.
Dorsarthrosis is characterized by pain in the thoracic spine, and sometimes it is reflected in the front of the sternum. An unknowing person decides that these are not symptoms of spinal osteoarthritis, but signs of heart pathologies. The spasm arises sharply, in fits, especially at the time of emotional experiences, which actually prompts the patient to incorrect diagnosis of his condition and, accordingly, to inadequate self-medication.
Diagnostic measures
Spine disease is diagnosed only by professionals using modern equipment. Self-diagnosis leads to improper treatment, which means a health hazard.
First of all, the doctor collects an anamnesis, during which he finds out the patient's lifestyle, type of activity, diet and bad habits. All these aspects affect the development of diseases of the spine and, accordingly, should be taken into account when making a diagnosis.
Then the patient undergoes an external examination and is sent for an instrumental examination. The most common method for diagnosing spinal diseases is radiography.
For a more accurate diagnosis and a visual picture of the pathology, computed tomography is performed. But this procedure allows you to reflect only one section of the spine. For a complete examination of the entire spinal column, magnetic resonance imaging is performed.
Drug treatment of osteoarthrosis
Drug treatment is used in the initial stages of the disease in combination with other methods of therapy.
First of all, the patient is prescribed a drug that relieves pain and inflammation. This is achieved by using Diclofenac, Piroxicam, Baralgin, Analgin, or Dicloberl.
To strengthen bone tissue and cartilage, the patient should take B vitamins and calcium. For the same purpose, he is assigned a chondroprotector: Arthrin or Chondroflex. Drugs are taken orally or intramuscularly.
Muscle relaxants can also be prescribed to relieve muscle spasm that causes pain.
Physiotherapeutic treatment of osteoarthrosis
This type of therapy is a continuation and addition of drug treatment. It is used quite widely and has a positive effect on the entire spine as a whole. Although special treatment may be prescribed for osteoarthritis of the cervical spine, thoracic and lower. Physiotherapy consists of several procedures - massage, acupuncture, swimming, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis and laser therapy.
Surgery
This type of therapy is used only in exceptional cases, when conservative treatment did not improve the patient's condition. Surgery is also used for a sharp deterioration in the situation. For example, when the spinal cord is compressed by the vertebrae or stenosis of the spinal cord canal occurs. These phenomena can cause failure of the lower extremities or some internal organs.
During the operation, the growth on the vertebra is removed or the affected intervertebral disc is replaced with an artificial implant.
The importance of gymnastics and exercise therapy for osteoarthritis
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of exercise therapy and gymnastics in diseases of the spine. Daily exercises can restore the normal circulation of blood to the soft tissues around the spine, which means the flexibility of the entire spinal column. The pain from spasms disappears, the risk of pinching nerves is reduced. The inflammation decreases.
The main condition for physiotherapy exercises is the regularity of classes: at least 2 times a day for 15-20 minutes. You need to start only under the supervision of a physiotherapist, so that in the future all movements are done correctly. And in no case should you perform gymnastics with pain in the spine. The effectiveness of exercise therapy increases if, along with it, the patient undergoes physiotherapeutic treatment and takes the prescribed medications.
Alternative methods of treatment
There are a number of traditional medicine recipes that can alleviate the suffering of the patient. But one must understand that this kind of therapy will be effective in the case of complex treatment, which includes a conservative approach, special physical education and diet.
Alternative methods of treatment involve the use of tinctures and homemade ointments. It is believed that if rubbed in the spine tincture on birch buds, then inflammation will pass. And if you grease your back with ointment with mustard and salt, the pain will pass. When symptoms of osteoarthritis of the spine appear, treatment begins with eucalyptus ointment, it relieves pain well. And if you regularly massage the patient with rubbing olive oil mixed with lemon juice, then the therapeutic effect will be enhanced by 2 times. Be that as it may, before using any method of treatment with traditional medicine, you should definitely consult a doctor.
Disease prevention
Osteoarthrosis of the joints of the spine is a disease associated with very unpleasant consequences. This is scoliosis, and fusion of the vertebrae among themselves, and pinching of the nerve roots. Therefore, instead of treating this condition for years, you just need to follow preventive measures and try to thereby avoid its occurrence in principle.
First of all, one must realize the importance of sports. You need to train regularly, at least 1 time per day for 2 hours. And it doesn’t matter what kind of sport it will be, running, gymnastics or swimming. The main thing is regularity. This is especially important for people leading a sedentary lifestyle associated with their professional activities.
You also need to follow a diet. Nothing complicated, you just need to exclude fried, fatty, spicy, preservatives, dyes and sweet pastries from your diet. Everything else can be eaten, only to comply with the measure. Ideally, you should eat 6-7 times a day, but in small portions.
Along with the diet, you need to observe the regimen of the day: at the same time go to bed and wake up. This measure will strengthen a person’s nervous state.
It is very important to get rid of bad habits: smoking and drinking alcohol. They destroy blood vessels and the body's immune system, which leads to all kinds of diseases.
Conclusion and Conclusions
Osteoarthrosis is a dangerous disease that can immobilize a person. However, in the early stages, the pathology is successfully treated. For the timely detection of osteoarthritis and other diseases, you need to regularly check your health at the district clinic or in any medical institution.
And the most important thing for an adult is the need to accustom your child to all preventive measures from childhood. A healthy lifestyle needs to be a pleasant habit for him.