Osteochondrosis is a lesion of interarticular and intervertebral cartilage.Osteochondrosis is diagnosed in all joints without exception, however, according to medical statistics, such lesions are more common in the intervertebral discs.
Functions of intervertebral discs
The main function of the intervertebral discs is to absorb shocks during walking and running.Few people think about the load placed on the spine during movement.Each step gives a push to the vertebrae.If there were no discs between them, the bones would wear out very quickly and the nerve endings of the spine would be constantly trapped between the vertebrae.
Its shock-absorbing abilities depend on the quality of the intervertebral disc.The younger the person, the more elastic the discs.In newborns, the articular cartilage and intervertebral discs consist of almost 80% water, which gives them the ability to be as elastic as possible, like a sponge.As we age, tissues deteriorate, dry out, become less flexible and lose their shock-absorbing properties.The older a person is, the higher the risk of developing complications of osteochondrosis, manifested by:
- hernia;
- radiculitis;
- extends.
Symptoms of intervertebral disc disease
There is osteochondrosis of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions.At the same time, problems in the cervical region may not be accompanied by any characteristic pain at all, while problems in the chest region may be reflected by pain not in the back, but in the chest, so patients often confuse them with pain in the heart or bronchi.
Sometimes osteochondrosis of the cervical spine manifests as pain in the arm.If there were no obvious injuries that could cause pain in the arm, such a symptom should be a reason to examine the cervical spine.
If the pain, concentrated in the sacral area, spreads to the legs and buttocks (usually only on one side), this indicates damage to the intervertebral disc in the lumbar region.After applying pressure to the injured area, you may experience numbness in the leg, arm, or tingling sensation in one of the limbs.The main striking symptoms of osteochondrosis of the intervertebral space are:
- Pain in the sacral region, preventing one from sitting.
- Back pain that prevents you from bending over.
- Pain that eases when walking.
At the first signs of damage to the intervertebral discs, you should avoid heavy physical activity on the back, that is, do not lift anything heavy.
Why does osteochondrosis occur?
There are several reasons that affect the condition of the disks.These include smoking and excessive exercise, especially when daily activities involve lifting heavy objects.On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet are a sure path to disc destruction.In addition, specific work that forces you to keep your torso in an uncomfortable position, constant load on only one shoulder, as well as sleeping on an incorrectly chosen mattress are a risk of developing osteochondrosis.
Sleep correctly on mattresses of medium firmness, so that the spine is in a natural and even position during rest.Soft feather beds just look comfortable.Lying on a soft bed for a long time causes back pain in the morning.This happens because the back muscles stretch when the back bends under its own weight.Stretching of the back muscles, which continues throughout the night, leads to pain not only in the lower back, but along the entire length of the spine.
Flat feet are a risk of developing osteochondrosis, because such a foot cannot fully perform the functions of a shock absorber.Because of this, the spine carries increased loads, and the discs wear out faster.
In addition, people who are overweight put more strain on the spine than those whose body mass index is close to ideal.You need to monitor your form so that the ratio of weight and height does not put additional stress on the skeleton.
However, completely healthy people who lead a sports lifestyle can have osteochondrosis.The main reason for this is injury.An unfortunate fall or blow to the spine often leads to hernia, protrusion and osteochondrosis.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
A surgeon, an orthopedist or a neurologist can make a diagnosis.Due to the fact that pain in the lumbar region often becomes a reason to contact a neurologist, such patients are first examined by a doctor of this particular specialty.First, the patient is examined.To diagnose, he must assess the patient's ability to twist the body, bend, sit, walk and bend the legs.After which the spine is palpated.Thanks to the manual examination, the doctor will be able to identify pain points and feel compression and even hernia between the vertebrae.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes an X-ray of the spine.This is the simplest test that can be performed even in a rural clinic.X-rays have long been available in medical practice and are an integral element of any trauma department.If the x-ray does not confirm the diagnosis, or when a more detailed study is required, a CT or MRI scan of the spine is prescribed.With the help of such an examination, it will be possible to reveal the quality of the discs, to assess their elasticity and integrity, as well as to identify hidden pathologies.
How to treat osteochondrosis
As a conservative treatment, a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed.If there are no serious lesions of the discs and the doctor noticed in the photo that the cause of the pain lies in the compression of the nerve by the inflamed muscle, then the treatment will be reduced to relieving the inflammatory process.In addition, heat therapy may be prescribed, which will reduce swelling, relax the muscles, and release the pinched nerve.
In case of protrusion or herniation of the intervertebral discs, the issue of back pain can be solved through surgery.Heavily worn vertebrae can be replaced with prostheses.