Osteochondrosis is a column disease characterized by the degeneration of the intervertebral disc with a significant decrease in its height, the sclerosis of the disc surfaces of the vertebrae and the reactive growth of regional osteophytes.
The cartilage tissue of the discs affected by the osteochondrosis gradually rebors and becomes a bone appearance.The hardened album decreases in size, loses the properties of the shock absorber between the vertebrae and begins to press the nerve endings, which leads to the appearance of painful sensations.
The initial stage of osteochondrosis is often not manifested with any unpleasant sensation in the spine and can be diagnosed as an internal organ disease, and a true diagnosis is detected only after passing numerous exams.
By location, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacred and common osteochondrosis are distinguished.Very often, lumbar osteochondrosis (more than 50%of cases), cervical osteochondrosis (more than 25%) and common (approximately 12%) are diagnosed.
The intervertebral disc is a chip fiber plate.In the middle of the disc there is a nucleus surrounded by a fibrous ring (cloth that resembles the tendons).The intervertebral disc does not have its vascular system and, therefore, eat at the expense of other tissues.An important source of nutrients for the disc is the muscles of the back, it is its dystrophy that often leads to the development of the disease.When lifting weights, jumps and other physical efforts, discs act as a shock absorber and support the required distance between the vertebrae.Since the largest load falls into the lumbar column, it is in it, protuberances and intervertebral hernias, which are a complication of this disease, are formed more frequently.
Intervertebral disc proteance- Protrusion (prolapse) of the disc without rupture of the fibrous ring.
An intervertebral album hernia- Protrusion (prolapse) of an album with a rupture of a fibrous ring and a "flow" of a jet nucleus.Especially, the hernia is formed when the column is formed or during the simultaneous inclination and turn the torso to the side, especially if there is a heavy object in the hands.In this position, the intervertebral discs experience a very large load, the pressure inside the intervertebral disc increases, the vertebrae is pressed on one side of the disc and the nucleus is forced to change on the opposite side and press the fibrous ring.At some point, the fibrous ring does not support such a load and the disc stands out (the fibrous ring stretches, but remains complete) or the hernia is formed (the fibrous ring is broken and part of the content of the nucleus "flows" through the break).With an increase in column load and create conditions to increase pressure on the damaged intervertebral disc, the hernia increases in size.
It is very important for the direction of the bump and the size of the hernia, if the hernia occurs or to the sides, this can cause pain and deteriorated work of some organs, and when protruding towards the spinal cord and the damage, the consequences can be much more serious.If intervertebral hernia affected the nerve processes or roots of a certain segment of the spine, this leads to a violation of the organ of the organ, by which the damaged segment of the column is responsible.Another option is possible: due to the protuberance of the disk in one direction, on the opposite side, the distance between the vertebrae decreases and this leads to pinches of nerve processes by the vertebrae itself.Intervertebral hernia in the lumbar region often causes leg pain, hernia in the thoracic region contributes to dizziness, heart pain, rapes of respiratory organs, etc., hernia in the cervical column can cause headaches, dizziness and numbness of the hands.The most dangerous intervertebral hernias are more than 10 mm in size, abruptly reducing the spinal channel, holding the blood vessels and nerve endings, prolonged exposure, whose prolonged exposure not only to severe pain, but also to circulatory disorders, loss of extremities with subsequent complications.But the most dangerous are the kidnapped hernias of the intervertebral discs, that is, the hernias are ready for the destruction or separation of the fragment, followed by reducing it in the spinal channel, which can lead to serious consequences: deteriorated functions of the pelvic organs and paralysis of the lower extremities.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Causes that cause changes in intervertebral discs are not completely studied.People begin to feel manifestations of osteochondrosis more frequently after 35 years.The development and exacerbation of this ailment is facilitated by several back injuries, static and dynamic overloads, as well as vibration.The greater the person, the more manifestations it has.But in recent years, more and more people between 18 and 30 have complained about back pain.There are many reasons for the early manifestation of the disease: weak physical training, posture violation and curvature of the column, flat feet and excess weight.
And then, we will highlight the main reasons:
- hereditary predisposition (genetics);
- Metabolic disorder in the body, infection, poisoning;
- Inadequate and inappropriate nutrition (lack of trace and liquid elements);
- changes related to age;
- column injuries (bruises, fractures);
- Posture violation, spine curvature, hypermobility (instability) of the spinal column segments, flat feet;
- adverse environmental conditions;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- work associated with the lifting of weights, frequent changes in the position of the body (turns, flexions and extension, shock movements);
- Prolonged exposure to inconvenient positions in the standing position, sitting, lying, when lifting and transferring pesos, when performing another work in which the pressure on the discs and the load in the column in general increases;
- Excessive physical activity, bone-mez system developed unequally;
- Spinal overloads associated with foot diseases, as well as as a result of the use of awkward shoes, high heels and pregnancy in women;
- acute cessation of regular training by professional athletes;
- Nervous Overfisos, stressful situations, smoking;
- Hypothermia, adverse climatic conditions (high moisture at low temperature).
Characteristic symptoms of osteochondrosis
Patients suffering from osteochondrosis complain of constant pain back pain, which often binds numbness and a sense of pain in the extremities.In the absence of proper treatment, weight loss and extremities are produced.
The main symptoms:
- constant painful pain in the back, a feeling of numbness and pains in the limbs;
- greater pain during sudden movements, physical effort, elevation of weights, coughing and sneezing;
- Reduction in the volume of movements, muscle cramps;
- With osteochondrosis of the cervical column: pain in the hands, shoulders, headaches;It is possible to develop the vertebral artery syndrome called So, which consists of the following complaints: head noise, dizziness, flickers of "flies", color spots in the eyes in combination with a burning pressing pain.The cause of the vertebral artery syndrome can be its spasm in response to the direct irritation of its sympathetic plexus due to bone growth, disc herniation, osteoarthritis of the intervertebral joint and the reaction reflects due to the irritation of any column receiver.The presence of vertebral artery syndrome can aggravate the course of coronary or heart-heart pathology if there is;
- with osteochondrosis of the thoracic column: pain in the chest (like a "stake" in the chest), in the heart and other internal organs;
- With osteochondrosis of the lumbosacra column: low back pain, irradia in the sacrum, lower limbs, sometimes in the pelvic organs;
- The injury of nerve roots (with hernias of intervertebral discs, bone growth, spondylolist, spondyllo osteoarthritis): shoot pain and sensitivity, hypotrophy, hypotension, weakness in the innervated muscles and a decrease in reflexes.
Osteochondrosis diagnosis
Preliminary diagnosis is established during the patient's initial exam.In general, a neurologist performs an exam in relation to the patient's complaints to local changes, which can manifest himself for pain, deformation or limitation of mobility.The column is examined in the position of the patient standing, sitting and lying, both at rest and moving.The level of column damage is determined by counting the number of vertebrae of certain anatomical reference points or according to a special scheme.
WHEN EXAMINING THE BACK, ATTENTION IS PAID TO POSTURE, THE STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF THE BODY, THE LINE OF SPINUSGroove from the verticals are Paid, The Protrusion of the Verticals Is Revealed, The Protrusion Muscles Located Next to the spine.
Feeling the column allows you to complement inspection data (the presence or absence of deformation), determine the location, degree and nature of pain.When you feel, the tension of the muscles located next to the column is also observed, because most of the lesions and diseases of the column are accompanied by an increase in muscle tone.
Column flexion is used to determine the amplitude of movements in various parts of the spine.
The main role in the study of the column is assigned to the radiography, the computerized tomography and the magnetic resonance, with which the level of damage is determined, the diagnosis is specified and hidden and concrete pathologies are revealed.These diagnoses allow the treating doctor to determine the tactics of the treatment and choose the most effective treatment methods.
Osteochondrosis treatment methods and its complications
Osteochondrosis treatmentAnd their complications are carried out using conservative methods aimed at eliminating pain syndrome, spinal root function disorders and preventing the progression of distributing changes in the structures of the spine.With the ineffectiveness of conservative treatment and in special indications, surgical (surgical) treatment is carried out, whose volume depends on the level of damage and clinical manifestations of the disease.
The duration of the treatment of osteochondrosis and its complications depends mainly on the severity of the disease, the changes related to age, treatment methods, as well as the recipes and conscientious recommendations of the attending physician.As the practice shows, the active phase of the treatment in most cases lasts 1-3 months when conservative methods are used, and the recovery period after surgery is approximately 1 year.At the beginning of treatment, in some patients, it is possible to increase pain syndrome associated with the reaction of the muscular system and other formations to unusual exposure for the body.The pain stops in a short time with physiotherapeutic procedures, medications, as well as special physical exercises.The result of the treatment depends largely on the behavior of the patients themselves, in which patience, perseverance, perseverance, some willpower, as well as the desire to recover.The greatest efficiency of conservative therapy and rehabilitation after surgery can be achieved in conditions of specialized medical and sanatorium centers equipped with a modern diagnosis and therapeutic base, as well as highly qualified professionals who use a comprehensive treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Conservative complex treatment includes physiotherapy, physiotherapy, massage, manual therapy, traction (traction) of the spine, reflexology and pharmacological therapy.
Medical Physical Education (exercise therapy): The main method of conservative treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system is to create dosing loads aimed at the decompression of nerve roots, the correction and strengthening of the muscle corset, increase the volume and development of a certain stereotype of movements and adequate posture, and the ligament apparatus of the necessary flexibility, as well as the prevention of complications.This is achieved by regular classes on rehabilitation and joint gymnastics equipment.As a result of the exercises, the blood circulation improves, the metabolism and the nutrition of the intervertebral discs are normalized, the intervertebral space increases, the muscle corset is formed and the load in the spine.
Physiotherapy is a treatment method that uses physical factors: low frequency currents, magnetic fields, ultrasound, laser, etc.It is used to relieve pain, inflammatory processes, rehabilitation after injuries and operations.By using physiotherapy methods, the treatment of many diseases, the effectiveness of the use of medications and a decrease in their dose increase, there are no side effects inherent in pharmacological treatment.
Massage is a set of techniques of mechanical doses in the form of friction, pressure, vibration, carried out directly on the surface of the human body with the hands.It effectively relieves muscle tension, muscle pain, improves blood circulation, has a general strengthening effect.
Manual therapy is a manual effect individually selected in the bone muscle system to eliminate acute and chronic pain in the spine and joints, as well as an increase in the volume of movements and posture correction.One of the areas of manual therapy is visceral manual therapy, which helps restore the normal mobility of organs, improves blood supply, lymphocionization, normalizes metabolism, restores immunity, prevents the dispersion of chronic diseases.
The extension (traction) of the spine is an effective method to treat pain syndromes in the spine, and the joints that use individually selected load using special equipment.The procedure aims to increase intervertebral space, eliminate pain and restore an anatomically correct form of the spine.
Reflexotherapy: various therapeutic techniques and methods of influence in the reflexogenic areas of the human body and acupuncture points.The use of reflexology in combination with other therapeutic methods significantly increases its effectiveness.Most of the time, reflexology is used for osteochondrosis, accompanied by pain, nervous system diseases, sleep disorders, mental imbalance, as well as overweight and tobacco curls.By acting at certain points, one can lead the body to harmony and treat many diseases.
Pharmacological therapy is indicated during the period of exacerbation of the disease, aimed at stopping pain syndrome, eliminating the inflammatory process and increasing metabolic processes by taking or managing medications using intramuscular or intravenous injections.
Although each of the above methods is a highly effective, still persistent therapeutic effect, can only be obtained with its combination with classes in rehabilitation equipment, that is, when creating a complete muscle corset.