Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion that is localized in the vertebral tissues. The disease causes a pathological process in the intervertebral discs, on adjacent surfaces of the joints, and in the ligament apparatus of the spine.
The disease has a significant impact on human health. The bones and ligaments are damaged. The onset of the disease is indicated by painful symptoms, muscle atrophy, and dysfunction of the internal organs. The most common age for the development of osteochondrosis is over 30 years.
Why does osteochondrosis occur?
There is a lot of information available in medicine about the causes of the disease. These include mechanical damage, hereditary factors, and impaired metabolism. It is very difficult to find the cause that contributes to the development of the disease, as osteochondrosis can occur in both adults and teenagers.
A common factor in the development of the disease is the deposition of vertebrae. X-rays diagnose outgrowths in the vertebrae as the joints crack and squeak while walking.
Osteochondrosis can also occur with pre-existing infectious disease, permanent spinal overload, exposure to chemicals, and deteriorating posture. Those who lead unhealthy lifestyles, abuse smoking and alcohol, are overweight and are under constant stress are at risk.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis are defined depending on the type of disease. What are the types of osteochondrosis and how they manifest are analyzed in more detail.
Cervical osteochondrosis
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are:
- headache;
- impaired coordination;
- impairment of auditory, vocal and visual systems;
- occurrence of snoring.
The most common symptom is a headache, which negatively affects a person’s normal lifestyle. The neck, throat and teeth are most common. The pain spreads to the shoulders and arms and increases with movement.
Medicine divides all the symptoms of osteochondrosis into several groups:
Root symptoms. In other words, cervical sciatica. The pain originates from the neck, descends along the shoulder blades, and then all over the body back to the fingers.
reflex symptoms. A common symptom is pain characterized by a sharp and burning character. Location - neck or occipital zone. Often, the pain radiates to the heart and chest spine, and one confuses osteochondrosis with the presence of heart disease.
Symptoms of a vertebral artery. The most common symptom is a headache. Possible damage to the hearing and vision system.
cardiac symptoms. The heart seems to hurt, but it doesn’t. This is just irradiation of heart pain, but not heart disease. In this case, the symptoms are similar to angina pectoris. There are cases where a doctor misdiagnoses and treats a non-existent disease.
Self-treatment is not recommended in osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Before prescribing the necessary treatment, the doctor will make a diagnosis. The main method of diagnosis is X-ray. Treatment should be comprehensive, including the elimination of the source of the disease as well as the symptoms.
The early stages of the disease include manual therapy and practical therapy. The course of osteochondrosis requires more thorough treatment and sometimes surgery. Once the main treatment is over, the doctor will prescribe a gymnastics.
Chest osteochondrosis
Chest spine disease is characterized by pain attacks in the heart, sternum, back, side of the torso, upper abdomen. In other words, pain all over the body.
Painful feelings in the heart raise suspicions of a pathological process such as angina pectoris. The difference is that in the case of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, nitroglycerin does not eliminate the pain in the heart region, and electrocardiography did not show any abnormalities in the heart. And the pain doesn’t go away after taking heart medicine.
Depending on the location of the pathological process, intercostal osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is characterized by symptoms:
Radiculopathy develops with disc herniation. In the case of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine covering the upper segment, pain occurs in the shoulders, shoulder blades, back, heart.
When compressing the spinal cord. In other words, compression myelopathy. It is a fairly rare phenomenon characterized by pain, numbness and weakness in the lower extremities.
The clinical symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine alone are as follows:
Neurological symptoms - constant pain that gets worse with a deep cough and inhalation.
- costovertebralis arthrosis;
- vertebral symptoms.
Visceral syndromes - heart pain, worsened by physical exertion, rotation of the body.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine should be comprehensive. A special place is occupied by manual therapy, movement therapy and physiotherapy.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
Intervertebral osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is characterized by pain in the lumbar region and the dorsal region of the body. Irradiation is observed on the thighs, buttocks, legs, very rarely in the heart.
Lumbosacral osteochondrosis is characterized by urination, defecation, decreased sweating, tingling in the lower extremities, dryness and peeling of the skin.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is performed by a neurologist. Before starting treatment, the doctor will perform the necessary diagnostic measures, which will consist of a personal examination, a probe of the vertebrae. X-rays, MRI and CT scans are also needed. Based on the results of such studies, treatment is prescribed.
Treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis should include measures to relieve pain and restore normal functioning of the affected area.
Comprehensive treatment includes:
- medical method. Medications can relieve pain, inflammation, swelling.
- Physiotherapy treatment. With such treatment, you can also relieve pain and discomfort and make significant progress toward full recovery.
- practice therapy. Prevention and treatment with the help of a therapeutic and sports complex will help to significantly improve health and achieve full recovery. It is forbidden to perform gymnastics during the aggravation of the disease! Along with physical education, it is necessary to follow a healthy lifestyle, eat properly and prevent stress.
Diagnostic measures
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis usually consists of several stages:
- Section 1. The doctor listens to the person’s complaints and reveals his or her medical history: the area affected, the duration of the discomfort, the cause of the pain, the cause of the pain relief.
- Section 2. Your doctor will examine your skin to identify or determine the absence of redness, peeling, and rashes. The doctor will feel the affected area to determine the temperature system of the skin, identify the swelling, the painful compression.
- Section 3. X-ray examination is required to determine abnormal motility, displacement, salt deposits, and osteophyte formation in the vertebrae.
- Section 4. CT helps to identify the compression of the nerve roots, tears, all kinds of lesions, marginal growth.
MRI contributes to the examination of the condition of blood vessels, neural processes, and intervertebral discs.
Treatment at home
In the event that painful feelings are experienced (in other words, a period of exacerbation), various active activities are strictly prohibited. Kneading and massaging the affected area is not recommended, as the pain may only increase. Rest of the body should be ensured: take up the most comfortable posture with minimal pain. It also requires muscle relaxation. Sometimes your doctor will recommend the use of a corset for more comfortable movement.
In case of thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis, it is recommended to warm the affected area. The most effective way to warm up is to use a belt made of dog or sheep wool. Thanks to the belt, the pain disappears and the inflammatory process is weakened. The belt can be found in almost every pharmacy. In some cases it is possible to visit the spa, so it is good to heat the affected area. The bath is allowed only during the period when the aggravation of the disease ceases.
The old grandmother’s recipes are also effective. You can apply various tinctures by rubbing the affected area. no less effective are the various ointments that can be made at home or purchased at a pharmacy. However, such ointments should be used with caution as they can cause burns to the skin. Therefore, it is important to read the instructions before use.
Gymnastics for osteochondrosis
Training therapy contributes to the treatment of osteochondrosis and is also excellent prophylactic. Physical education should be planned and selected individually for each case of the disease.
The therapeutic and physical culture complex should be performed only during the remission phase, but not during the exacerbation period. At the same time, physical education helps to strengthen the tape device and the muscular corset of the back. Thanks to physical education, you can get around the main medication.
Preventive measures
In order not to aggravate your health and prevent the development of osteochondrosis of any part of the spine, there is special prevention. Its main rules are:
Drink water before starting physical activity or exercise. This is necessary to maintain the moisture exchange in the plates and prevent them from drying out.
A good tool for prevention is back massage, which one can do on one's own, even at home. Massage helps to increase blood flow throughout the body and speeds up metabolic processes.
Under no circumstances should you lift or hold heavy objects or things at your fingertips. This increases the load. You can squat down to lift an object while keeping your spine straight.
It is not recommended to make sudden movements, turns and tilts.
An even distribution of loads is required.
Prevention of osteochondrosis includes a proper lifestyle and proper nutrition. There is no need for any disease. Timely hospital treatment helps to avoid negative consequences.