Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome is a very common pathology that develops in a person as a result of prolonged treatment of dystrophic disorders in the articular cartilage of the spinal column. The disease is very often accompanied by various complications. Initially, even a profiled specialist will not be able to say what they will be, because they depend on the reason why osteochondrosis developed, as well as on structures that underwent physiological changes.
general information
Dystrophic processes in the intervertebral joints most often develop in people who have metabolic problems. Cartilage, as well as soft and bone tissues do not receive the proper amount of nutrients, as a result of which they begin to change their natural structure. As a result, the fibrous ring expands and begins to collapse, passing cerebrospinal fluid. Thus, the vertebrae exert pressure on each other, squeezing the nerve column.
The disease is very serious, because it is not only accompanied by severe pain, but also limits the physical ability of a person. It becomes difficult for him to cope even with basic everyday tasks. And in the absence of proper therapy for a long time, dystrophic changes become irreversible, therefore it is very important to go to the hospital as soon as possible and begin treatment.
What is radicular syndrome?
Radiculopathy is a frequently diagnosed neuralgic syndrome, accompanied by pronounced symptoms. It develops as a result of compression of the roots of the spinal nerves and in fact is a more complex form of dystrophic changes in the articular cartilage. As a rule, osteochondrosis of the spine with radicular syndrome develops in the second or third year of the course of the pathology, when the patient for some reason did not seek help from a medical institution or refused therapy. In this case, irreversible complications may develop, and it will be no longer possible to help the patient.
The main causes of the development of pathology
As mentioned earlier, most often radicular syndrome is a complication of osteochondrosis. However, this is far from the only reason why it can develop. There are a number of factors that significantly increase the risk of radiculopathy.
Among the main premises, the following can be distinguished:
- displacement of the spinal disc ;
- inflammatory process;
- destruction or damage to the myelin sheath;
- nerve ischemia.
According to statistics, osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome is diagnosed in approximately half of people living in our country who have exceeded the mark of 40 years. And at the age of 70 years, almost every inhabitant of the planet suffers from this pathology. However, it is important to understand here that far from always lesions of the intervertebral discs are accompanied by pinching of the nerve column.
Effects
You should get acquainted with them first. The following factors affect the development of complications:
- excessive physical load on the spine, which is most often associated with difficult working conditions, overweight or wearing uncomfortable shoes with too high heels;
- curvature of the spinal column;
- asymmetry of the lower extremities;
- flat feet;
- severe hypothermia;
- various infectious diseases;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- injuries received.
It is worth noting that lumbar osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome can also develop due to malnutrition. At higher risk are people who consume insufficient amounts of vitamins, minerals and nutrients or an excess of salt, do not support the body's water balance or are prone to overeating.
Clinical manifestations
If you have osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome, the symptoms here depend on the severity of the course of the disease, as well as on what part of the spine has undergone dystrophic changes. Most often, patients complain of severe pain, which can manifest both locally and pass along the entire back. In addition, numbness of the lower or upper extremities, most often the first, burning, tingling, and impaired sensitivity may be observed.
Clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
This type of disease is diagnosed much less frequently than pathologies of the chest or lower back. In this case, the main symptoms of osteochondrosis are manifested , radicular syndrome can also develop, there is strong pain in the neck that occurs during turning the head or coughing, as well as limited mobility. However, even in the presence of pronounced clinical manifestations, only a specialized specialist can make an accurate diagnosis and determine the severity of the disease.
The doctor palpates the patient, during which he draws attention to the following:
- With dystrophic damage to the first and second root, pain occurs in the crown of the head. In addition, it may be accompanied by numbness of the skin. In some cases, the patient has protein-energy deficiency and decreased muscle tone.
- With the defeat of the third root during palpation of the cervical spine there is a piercing acute pain and numbness of the epidermis. Also, severe swelling of the tongue is sometimes observed, as a result of which the person's speech is disturbed and it becomes difficult to speak.
- Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome, in which the fourth nerve node is compressed, patients complain of pain and numbness in the shoulder girdle, scapula and clavicle, so they often confuse pathology with cardiac colic. On palpation, doctors often find muscle sagging.
- With dystrophic changes in the fifth root, discomfort is localized on the outside of the shoulder joint. In this case, numbness and weakness in the upper limbs, as well as their poor mobility, are often observed.
- If the sixth nerve node is affected, then the pain syndrome spreads from the crown of the head to the scapula itself, and also affects both hands.
- Squeezing the seventh root is accompanied by a similar symptomatology, which is described above, but fingers are also added here.
- With the defeat of the eighth node, in addition to discomfort and limited mobility, there is also a strong weakness in the upper limbs.
Regardless of which particular nerve node struck osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome, treatment should be started immediately. Otherwise, irreversible processes may begin, in which, as a rule, therapy is useless.
Damage to the thoracic spine
This osteochondrosis of the spine, radicular syndrome, as a rule, is pronounced, is also accompanied by very strong and acute pain, the localization of which depends on which of the nerve nodes was affected. In total, there are twelve of them in the thoracic region of the human spinal column.
When squeezing the first root, the pain is aching in nature, and they are also accompanied by a decrease in the sensitivity of the epidermis in the region of the shoulder blades and forearm. More complex is the form of the disease that affects the first six nerve nodes of the thoracic spine. In this case, very often the patient experiences some discomfort of the esophagus, which makes eating a little difficult.
If the 7th and 8th nerve nodes were squeezed, then the clinical manifestations are almost completely similar to those described above, but the discomfort extends to a large area of the body. In addition, the patient often experiences pain in the abdominal region and around the heart.
If a person has osteochondrosis of the lumbar, radicular syndrome can be of varying severity, with damage to the 9th and 10th nerve nodes, the pain spreads along almost the entire length of the chest and back. At the same time, it becomes difficult for a person to perform not only any physical actions, but also to sit and lie. In the case when the 11th or 12th root was pinched, then in addition the symptoms described above are accompanied by numbness and discomfort in the area from the chest to the groin.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar
It is on this region of the spine that the largest load is created, therefore, the manifestations during its defeat will be most intense. Symptoms, as in previous cases, depend on which nerve nodes were pinched.
The clinical picture is as follows:
- from 1st to 3rd root - sharp aching pains and numbness of the skin in the thigh area;
- 4th nerve node - discomfort covers the lower back, lower leg and part of the thigh;
- 5th root - severe pain along almost the entire length of the lower extremities.
It is worth noting that the symptomatology becomes more pronounced during the performance of any actions and calms down a little when a person is in a prone position.
Diagnostics
As already mentioned, to confirm or refute osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome can only be a specialized specialist after a comprehensive examination of the patient.
This pathology has a common symptomatology with some other diseases, so doctors prescribe the following laboratory tests:
- X-ray of the spine in several planes;
- magnetic resonance imaging.
If the results do not produce anything, then in this case it may be necessary to consult with other specialists who deal with problems associated with the cardiovascular and digestive systems.
The main methods of therapy
If osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome has been confirmed, treatment is aimed at relieving the patient from pain.
To do this, appoint:
- painkillers and injections;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle relaxants;
- drugs that improve blood circulation and normalize metabolic processes;
- massages;
- physiotherapy;
- physiotherapy.
In addition, patients are contraindicated in any physical activity. Moreover, they must adhere to strict bed rest, limiting any mobility.
Conclusion
Radicular syndrome is a dangerous pathology that is diagnosed in a huge number of people around the world. If you first suspect this disease, you must go to the hospital to start treatment. Self-medication in this case can lead to very serious consequences, up to disability. Therefore, do not risk your health, but immediately take appropriate measures.