Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease of various parts of the spinal column, in which degenerative and dystrophic changes occur in the intervertebral discs. More often than not, men aged 25-60 suffer from this ailment. The disease is characteristic of both young people and the elderly. Women get sick less often, and their symptoms are not so obvious. At the initial stage of the disease, it is possible to achieve a stable remission and get rid of pain and discomfort for many years.
What are the types of osteochondrosis by localization
Classification of osteochondrosis of the spine has many forms and criteria. They differ in the location of the affected section and the severity. All types of osteochondrosis are pathologies that are fraught with destructive changes in cartilage and connective tissue.
The most common and understandable to a simple layman, far from medicine, the classification is according to the location of the lesion:
- Cervical osteochondrosis - it is characterized by occipital, cervical and interscapular pain syndromes. This disease in the last decade is increasingly being diagnosed in young people.
- Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is a rarity, since it has more disks than in the cervical and lumbar combined, the disks are smaller and thinner. Ribs take part of the load. Therefore, in the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine, degenerative and dystrophic changes rarely occur.
- Lumbar osteochondrosis more often occurs in people over the age of forty years from a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle. It is characterized by severe lower back pain, pinching of the nerves and arteries of the abdominal organs, many concomitant diagnoses of internal organs.
Stages of the disease
Four stages of the disease can be distinguished depending on the speed of the course, the degree of degenerative changes, the manifestation of symptoms:
- The initial stage is characterized by instability of symptoms. The patient does not yet experience serious pain. Occasionally, a "shooting" pain in the affected area of the back.
- The second stage is characterized by a significant deterioration in the interaction of the vertebrae due to the progression of degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs. The development of the disease at this stage is provoked by improper physical activity, a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle.
- At the third stage, intervertebral hernias can begin to develop (for some patients this fate will pass). In some cases, there are severe back pains. Concomitant diagnoses develop that somehow affect all body systems. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the hernia and the localization of chondrosis.
- The fourth stage is the most difficult. The patient is not able to lead a full-fledged lifestyle and enjoy freedom of movement. Almost all postures occupied by the body bring acute pain at the site of osteochondrosis. At this stage, we can talk about the appointment of a patient with a disability.
Causes of occurrence
Osteochondrosis brings a lot of suffering, worsens the quality of life, can lead to complete or partial immobilization of the patient and disability. What are the causes of this ailment? They are as follows:
- A sedentary lifestyle, static sitting or lying in one pose. Muscles atrophy, vertebrae abrade cartilage and discs between each other. Such a process can last for years, but will inevitably lead to osteochondrosis.
- Modern boys and girls go to the gym and perform exercises with a barbell and dumbbells, improper performance of which leads to chronic diseases of the spine. For example, the incorrect technique of performing the exercise "squat with a barbell" presented to surgeons and orthopedists tens of thousands of young osteochondrosis and scoliosis in the acute stage.
- People who are forced to sit at the table in the same position for many hours in a row due to their professional activities are also at risk. According to WHO statistics, it is office workers who make up the lion's share among patients with osteochondrosis.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
Vertebrae of the cervical spine gradually lose fluid, become fragile. As a result of this process, compression of the veins and arteries occurs. The nutrition of the brain is broken and subsequently the death of its cells. Cervical osteochondrosis has the maximum negative effect on the area of the brain responsible for the activity of the heart muscle. The optic or auditory nerve is often pinched, which leads to loss of vision and hearing impairment.
Types of cervical osteochondrosis:
- radicular, or the so-called "cervical sciatica" - it is characterized primarily by severe pain in the neck, neck, head;
- irritative-reflex - discomfort in the chest, back, numbness of the fingers;
- cardiac, which is characterized by symptoms of cardiovascular disease.
Only an orthopedic surgeon or surgeon can accurately diagnose. Regardless of the type of cervical osteochondrosis, the treatment will be almost identical.
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
The rarest type of disease. Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are characteristic of many other diseases. An inexperienced doctor can often diagnose arrhythmia, angina pectoris, cardiomyopathy (before ECG results), pancreatitis, or even gastritis. Only an experienced orthopedist or spinal surgeon can provide accurate information about the type of thoracic osteochondrosis.
With a pronounced pathological process, a malfunction of the spinal cord occurs. The main signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine:
- Dorsago - sharp, unbearable pain in the chest, a feeling of lack of air, the patient seems to be suffocating or knocked down by a heart rhythm.
- Dorsalgia - the patient experiences less discomfort than with dorsago. The pain is less pronounced and gives in the hands, fingers (therefore, doctors often confuse symptoms with diseases of the cardiovascular system).
Symptoms and consequences of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
The most common type of osteochondrosis is the lumbar. This is due to the fact that it is the lower back that experiences the greatest load in the process of daily life.
In the first stage, the main symptom is a light pull on the lower back. People rarely attach importance to such mild ailments. With the abrasion of the intervertebral discs , negative symptoms also increase. In particular, the patient can no longer lie or sit in one position for a long time due to pain.
At the third or fourth stage of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine occur:
- lumbago - a sharp and sudden pain, the result of which may be partial immobilization of the patient;
- sciatica - unilateral infringement of the sciatic nerve;
- sciatica - squeezing of nerve endings in the lumbar spine;
- weakness of the lower extremities, muscle atrophy, venous congestion, impaired sexual function and the functioning of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis are also often observed;
- sciatica - circulatory failure as a result of vascular compression.
Generalized osteochondrosis
This kind of disease affects not only the spine, but also the joints. Most often, the shoulder and hip. Symptoms of generalized osteochondrosis are neurological in nature, in rare cases with damage to internal organs due to impaired circulation.
In the hip joint, the disease manifests itself as changes in the cartilage tissue, drying of the inter-articular fluid. Over time, the joint partially and then completely loses its former mobility.
Polysegmental osteochondrosis
Manifestations of the disease are not in one, but in several parts of the body. For example, there is often a combination of lesions of the third vertebra and the twelfth - in this case, osteochondrosis will be considered polysegmental.
The therapy in this case will be exactly the same as with standard signs of cervical or thoracic osteochondrosis. Magnetotherapy and other physiotherapy proved to be excellent in exacerbating pain and discomfort due to polysegmental chondrosis. Now you know what types of spinal osteochondrosis exist.
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis
Pharmacological agents to alleviate the symptoms of osteochondrosis can be divided into the following groups:
- Anti-inflammatory medications - in order to relieve symptoms of pain and swelling from the affected area. There are two types - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticosteroids.
- Pain medication.
- Muscle relaxants to relieve muscle spasms.
- Chondoprotectors - medicines to improve the nutrition of cartilage tissue.
- Vitamin-mineral complexes - to restore normal blood circulation and activate metabolism.
- Medicines to improve and restore the conductivity of impulses along nerve cells.
In some cases, you have to resort to diuretics to relieve swelling from the muscles and connective tissue between the vertebrae. Self-administered drugs are strictly prohibited - you can not only not cure, but also aggravate the course of the disease.
Therapeutic gymnastics and physical education for osteochondrosis
Any orthopedist will confirm the importance of physical exercise in achieving remission in the chronic course of osteochondrosis.
What sport is safe for osteochondrosis? It is better to prefer swimming, stretching, Pilates, body flex - those areas in which there are no sudden movements. Traumatic martial arts and weightlifting sports in osteochondrosis are prohibited. The patient can not work with a weight of more than five kilograms.
Do not underestimate the benefits of daily morning exercises. It should be carried out not from case to case, but on an ongoing basis. Only in this case will the spine benefit. Simple hand swings, “mill”, “bicycle” - exercises familiar to everyone from childhood will help stretch your back and relieve pain. All movements must be performed as smoothly and accurately as possible to avoid personal injury.
Office workers must once a hour to tear themselves away from the computer and conduct a five-minute warm-up. This will serve as an excellent prevention and treatment of existing osteochondrosis.
Massage and manual therapy
Of all types of treatment for osteochondrosis, this is the most pleasant. Much depends on the choice of a specialist - both the result and the sensations. Types of massage for osteochondrosis - classic, acupressure, can, hardware, honey.
Manual therapy is more complicated. Firstly, this procedure is painful: often patients of manualists cannot hold back a cry of pain during manipulations with the spine. Secondly, with a lack of experience with a chiropractor, this procedure can be dangerous. Choose specialists with good patient reviews, with a real diploma and rich therapeutic experience.