Spinal osteochondritis

Osteochondrosis is a disease characterized by degenerative changes in the cartilaginous tissues of the spine. Lack of adequate therapy leads to a violation of the structure and dysfunction of the intervertebral discs, deformity of the spine. Depending on the location of the pathological process, there are the following types of osteochondrosis: cervical, thoracic, lumbar. As statistics show, this disease is observed in more than half of the world population in people over 35 years old. The main reasons for its development are injuries, uneven systematic loads on the back and legs.

What is it

Speaking of what is osteochondrosis, it is necessary to say that this disease provokes a violation of the tissue structure of the intervertebral discs themselves, reducing their elasticity and changing their shape. At the same time, there is a decrease in the distance between them, which eventually leads to a loss of spinal stability.

As a result of the contraction of the intervertebral space, the nerve endings coming from the spinal cord are caught. This causes an increase in muscle tone and pain.

A decrease in elasticity causes the formation of intervertebral hernia and the development of elongation (a disease in which the vertebrae begin to swell in the spinal canal without rupture of the annulus fibrosus). And if the treatment is performed incorrectly or absent at all, then this will lead to degradation of the spinal joints and ligaments with further formation of osteophytes (bone processes).

The development of osteochondrosis provokes a violation of motor functions. The person begins to suffer from constant pain in the area of pathological focus, which intensifies during flexion / extension of the back. There is a high probability of subluxation, curvature of the back.

As a rule, the first symptoms of the disease appear in humans during the period of physiological aging of the body. But there are situations when the pathology begins to develop much earlier. And the reason for this is often the wrong way of living.

In medicine, there is also such a thing as chondrosis, and it has similar symptoms and etiology. What is the difference between chondrosis and osteochondrosis? It's easy. Chondrosis is the initial stage in the development of osteochondrosis, when the processes of replacing damaged tissue with fibrosis and the formation of osteophytes have not yet begun in the spine. When there is a pronounced deformation of the spine and the formation of new processes, we talk about osteochondrosis.

Provocative factors

What is chondrosis and osteochondrosis - understood. Now we need to talk about the reasons for their development. After all, if you do not eliminate them, the treatment of the disease will not allow the achievement of positive dynamics. As already mentioned at the beginning, the main reason for the onset of pathology is an uneven load on the spine. Can be provoked by:

• carrying heavy bags on one shoulder or one hand;
• improper posture while sitting;
• sleeping on a soft mattress, high pillow;
• wearing uncomfortable and anatomically incorrect shoes.

And also osteochondrosis of the spine can develop in the background:

• hypodynamics (associated with impaired blood circulation, decreased muscle tone, shortness of breath);
• passive lifestyle;
• obesity;
• injuries (fractures, sprains, bruises);
• flat feet;
• other degenerative diseases leading to poor circulation in the spine.

Emphasizing the causes of osteochondrosis of the spine, it should also be noted:

• frequent physical stress;
• neuro-emotional fatigue;
• metabolic disorders;
• intoxication (drugs, chemicals);
• digestive tract pathology;
• genetic predisposition;
• scoliosis;
• hypovitaminosis;
• pregnancy;
• smoking;
• drinking alcoholic beverages;
• prolonged / frequent dehydration.

There are many reasons for the development of osteochondrosis of the spine. Most often, its occurrence occurs immediately against the background of the influence of several factors (for example, trauma, passive lifestyle, smoking, prolonged stay in the wrong posture). It can only be established through a thorough diagnosis, anamnesis study.

Stages of development

Before we talk about what to do if chondrosis starts to develop, it is also necessary to say about the stages of its development, as not only the severity of the symptoms, but also the treatment tactics depend directly on them. There are 4 degrees in total:

• The first phase. At this stage, pathological processes occur in the pulposus nucleus of the intervertebral disc. Dehydration (dehydration) is observed in it, which ultimately contributes to the reduction of its height and the formation of cracks in the annulus fibrosus. There are no symptomatic symptoms at this stage of the disease. A person may feel only slight discomfort in the back area after an intense physical exertion, being in an uncomfortable position for a long time, etc.
• Second phase. It is associated with decreased intervertebral space, decreased muscle and vertebral ligaments. Such changes lead to increased vertebral motility. And any provocative factor can cause them to shift or slide. In terms of symptoms, at this stage, patients already have the discomfort and back pain that occur with certain types of loads, pos.
• The third phase. It is characterized by the appearance of prolapse and extensions, subluxations, arthrosis of the intervertebral joints. At this stage, the disease often provokes stiffness of movements, tingling in the pathological area and numbness. The pain syndrome has a pronounced character, it appears periodically even at rest, in the absence of heavy loads.
• The fourth stage. At this stage, the body tries to adapt to the disorders that have arisen. His task is to do everything possible to improve the fixation of the spine. To do this, he begins to form osteophytes - bone formations that replace cavities in the spine. However, in this way the body not only helps itself but also harms itself. After all, osteophytes lead to nerve compression, damage to healthy vertebrae. And this becomes the reason for the development of fibrous ankylosis in the joints and intervertebral discs (an increase in the volume of fibrous tissue with its simultaneous fusion with the remnants of cartilage). If a person has microtrauma and violations at the same time, then the severity of the pain syndrome increases. In their absence, the clinical picture decreases.

Symptoms

Talking about what osteochondrosis is and how to get rid of it, we can not talk about the symptoms with which it can appear. The main sign of its development is the presence of discomfort or pain in the neck, chest region and lower back. The severity of the sensations depends directly on the degree of development of the disease.

A visual examination of the patient reveals a curvature of the spine in the transverse or longitudinal plane. Most often they are observed in the lower back or neck, less often in the chest region.

If we talk about the feelings of the patient himself, then among them there are periodic or constant fatigue in the back area, as well as pain, which can be tired and pronounced, depending on the severity of pathological processes. Can be located at:

• qafe,
• shoulder girdle;
• chest;
• lumbar region;
• perineum.

In this case, stiffness of movements is possible, which makes it difficult to perform homework. Most often it appears on the upper limbs. The symptomatic picture may be supplemented by other signs. It all depends on the location of the focus, its severity and the characteristics of the organism. If a patient has disc displacement, protrusion, hernia, osteophyte, then this often leads to impaired blood circulation, spinal canal dysfunction, edema, fibrosis, pinching. All of this provokes the appearance of symptoms that can complicate the diagnosis and lead to a misdiagnosis.

Speaking of how osteochondrosis manifests itself, it is necessary to highlight the most common symptoms that patients complain of. This includes:

• pain arising in the neck, waist, shoulder girdle, ribs;
• stiffness of movements, discomfort in the morning after waking up, during bending, turning;
• feeling of numbness in the arms, legs, neck;
• discomfort in the joints and muscles of the back;
• frequent dizziness, migraine;
• rapid fatigue;
• heart pain;
• violation of the sensitivity of the upper limbs;
• decrease in muscle tone.

The signs of osteochondrosis depend directly on the location of the pathological focus:

• Cervical department. In this case, the pain is localized in the neck, arms, shoulder girdle. It can give the edges and shoulders. Osteochondrosis of the cervix can also present as headaches, tinnitus, "goose bumps" in front of the eyes, and dizziness.
• Chest section. With this pathology, pain appears in the chest. Can give in the upper shoulder, armpits. It often causes discomfort and pain in the heart region. May provoke respiratory system dysfunction, shortness of breath.
• Lumbosacral region. Pain syndrome predominates in the lumbar spine. It also manifests as discomfort in the legs, hips and pelvic organs. Often provokes sexual dysfunction.

Any discomfort in the spine is a serious reason to see a doctor.

The presence of signs such as back fatigue, pain can also indicate not only the onset of the disease in question, but also the addition of other diseases unrelated to dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs. The diagnosis of osteochondrosis or chondrosis can only be made by an experienced physician after a thorough diagnosis.

Diagnosing

What causes osteochondrosis and how it can manifest, we talked. But I must say that it will not work to make an accurate diagnosis based solely on a visual examination and the patient's own feelings. To do this, you must undergo a thorough examination, which necessarily includes:

• X-ray of the back of the cervix, chest or lumbar (depending on the area of concern);
• myelography;
• neurological examination of sensitivity, reflexes.

The following are used as additional diagnostic methods:

• CT;
• MRI;
• NMR.

To rule out the presence of inflammatory or infectious diseases, laboratory tests are also prescribed:

• OAM;
• UAC;
• blood chemistry.

If necessary, a consultation of specialists of a narrower profile is scheduled.

Treatment methods

In contrast to chondrosis, with osteochondrosis in the ridge region, a chronic process occurs, which cannot be eliminated by conservative methods. But that does not mean there is no need to fight it. Lack of adequate therapy can lead to serious consequences - the spine is deformed, instead of bone structures will appear fibrous tissue, which is unable to perform the necessary functions, the person will become incapacitated.

Conservative therapy

What to do with osteochondrosis, the doctor will tell you. As a rule, with such a disease, the following methods are used:

• Drug therapy. In this case, medications are used to eliminate painful sensations, relieve inflammation, and restore metabolism. If the patient has severe pain, drug blocks are used, which in addition to the analgesic effect, help reduce the severity of musculoskeletal syndrome. There are the following types of blockades used in osteochondrosis: blockade of stimulus points, intraosseous, facet, paravertebral, epidural.
• Physiotherapy activities. They are also used to reduce pain and improve the effectiveness of medications. Most often, for osteochondrosis, ultrasound therapy, magnetic fields, low frequency current, laser beam, etc. are used.
• Physiotherapy and kinesitherapy. Exercise therapy is prescribed to all patients, without exception. It is performed under the supervision of specialists. Provides posture correction, increasing muscle tone, relieving nervous tension. Systematic fulfillment of special exercises also helps to increase the gaps between the discs, to distribute the uniform load in the musculoskeletal system.
• Massage. Manual massage helps to normalize blood circulation, relieve spasms and muscle cramps. If the patient has disorders of the nervous system, hydromassage is recommended.
• Manual therapy. Selected individually for each patient. Provides normalization of lymph flow, blood circulation, metabolism, mobility of the spine. Prevents the development of complications, strengthens the immune system.
• Spinal traction. This method involves stretching the spine using special equipment. Thus, it is possible to achieve an increase in the intervertebral space and reduce the manifestation of osteochondrosis.

Surgical treatment

If conservative treatment does not help eliminate the signs of osteochondrosis and does not give any positive dynamics, they resort to surgery. Indications for it are:

• cauda equina syndrome, which develops in the presence of a massive hernia;
• spinal canal stenosis with compression of the brain and neurovascular bundles;
• combination of osteochondrosis with significant spondylolisthesis with severe segment instability;
• root compression at the level of the lumbar segment L5;
• cervical osteochondrosis, occurring with discogenic vertebral artery syndrome.

Treatment of osteochondrosis with surgery can be performed in several ways:

• Laminotomy. This type of surgery involves removing a fragment of bone structure and the yellow ligament.
• Laminectomy. During it, most of the spine that borders the spinal canal is removed.
• Foraminotamia. The purpose of the operation is to widen the radicular canal.
• Disketomy. In this operation, partial or complete removal of the intervertebral disc is performed.
• Laser evaporation of the disk core. It is performed with the participation of a special LED, which provides partial destruction of the disc, which leads to the reverse development of the hernia.

How to get rid of osteochondrosis, decides only the doctor. It is necessary to understand that each case is individual, and the choice of one or another method of surgical intervention depends on the location of the pathology, its severity, the patient has other diseases.

Traditional methods

At home, you can treat a spinal disease. But this should be done only in cases where there are still symptoms of chondrosis (initial stages of disease development) and after a preliminary consultation with a doctor.

Speaking of what helps with chondrosis, the following prescriptions of alternative medicine should be noted:

1. You should take 1 kg of coarse salt, mix it with 3 tablespoons. l. dry mustard, add 100 ml of water, mix everything thoroughly. The resulting nozzle should be put on low heat and heated to a temperature of 50 degrees. The mixture is applied to the painful area, a film is placed on top of it, then a warm handkerchief. With such a compress, the patient should be stretched until completely cooled. After the procedure, it is necessary to stay warm for another 2 hours.
2. Pour 1. 5 liters of water into a saucepan, add 3 handfuls of sawdust there and bring the resulting mixture to a boil, then drain. The sawdust is laid on a plastic wrap, which is previously covered with a sheet on the bed. A gauze napkin is placed on top of the sawdust, after which they lie back on it and cover it with a warm blanket on top. Thus, lie down for 30 to 40 minutes.
3. Take 200 gr of foil root, 100 Potentilla root, 100 gr elecampane. The herbs are placed in a 3-liter jar, filled to the brim with vodka. The resulting composition is placed in a dark place for 3 weeks, and then filtered. Take 3 times daily before meals, 1 tbsp. l. throughout the month. Then take a 10-day break and repeat the course.

It is difficult to treat osteochondrosis. It is difficult to respond to conservative methods of therapy. But if you combine them with proper nutrition, home treatment, exercise therapy and all the doctor's recommendations, then the patient has every chance to get rid of the pain that torments him and prevent the development of complications.