Osteochondrosis -degenerative-dystrophic damage to the tissue of the spine, characterized by damage to the intervertebral discs, adjacent joint surfaces and bodies of the vertebrae, and the ligamentous apparatus of the spine.
Most often, pathological processes in osteochondrosis first affect the bones and ligaments.We usually find out that the disease has already started when complications appear - pain, sensory disturbances, muscle atrophy, dysfunction of internal organs.
Who suffers from osteochondrosis?
Today, osteochondrosis affects 40 to 90% of the world's population.Most often, the disease affects people over 30 years old.However, the first symptoms of osteochondrosis may appear in adolescence.
Stages of development of osteochondrosis of the spine
- The first stage of the development of osteochondrosis.
Dehydration of the nucleus pulposus begins.This leads to a reduction in the height of the disc.Cracks appear in the fibrous ring, but the pathological process does not extend beyond the intervertebral disc.
- The second stage of the development of osteochondrosis.
As a result of the reduction in disc height, the connection points of muscles and ligaments belonging to two adjacent vertebrae are brought closer together.Because of this, the muscles and ligaments relax.This can lead to excessive mobility of two vertebrae in relation to each other, i.e. instability of the vertebral movement segment is formed.In this phase, it is characteristic that the vertebrae slide or move relative to each other with the formation of spondylolisthesis.
- The third stage of the development of osteochondrosis.
During this period, the most pronounced morphological changes occur, which primarily affect the intervertebral discs themselves: disc prolapse and protrusions are formed.The articular apparatus of the spinal movement segment also suffers.Subluxations occur in intervertebral joints and non-vertebral joints and forms of arthrosis.
- The fourth stage of the development of osteochondrosis.
In this phase, adaptive changes occur in the affected segments of the spine.The body tries to overcome the excessive mobility of the vertebrae and immobilize the spine in order to preserve its supporting and protective functions.In this regard, marginal bone growths appear on the adjacent surfaces of the vertebral bodies, in other words, osteophytes.An osteophyte growing "in the wrong place" causes microtrauma of the nerve root.In the fourth stage, processes of fibrous ankylosis usually begin in the intervertebral discs and joints.In the end, the motor segment of the vertebrae seems to be embedded in the shell - clinical manifestations disappear.
Causes of osteochondrosis
In each of the numerous existing theories about the development of osteochondrosis, different reasons are accepted that are responsible for the onset of the disease, for example, mechanical trauma, hereditary predisposition or metabolic disorders.A particular difficulty in determining the cause of osteochondrosis is the fact that this disease can occur in both old and young people, both well-built and less well-trained people.It is widely believed that the cause of osteochondrosis is the deposition of salts in the spine: allegedly, on x-rays, salts can be seen in the form of "growths" or "hooks" on the vertebrae.If you hear crunching and creaking in the joints when moving, as if sand has been poured between them, for many patients the only reason for this condition is the notorious "salt deposition".Such misconceptions are not at all harmless: the correct idea about how to treat the disease can be determined based on the analysis of the causes that caused it.
The term "osteochondrosis" comes from the Greek roots osteon - "bone" and chondr - "cartilage".The ending "-oz" means that the disease of bones and cartilage is not related to inflammatory processes, but is of a degenerative-dystrophic nature, that is, the basis of the disease is a violation of tissue nutrition and, as a consequence, degeneration of its structure.Like all living tissues, the bone tissue of the vertebrae and the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs are constantly renewed and self-renewing.Under the influence of regular physical activity, they gain strength and elasticity, and in the absence of load, tissue strength decreases.
This is due to the peculiarities of nutrition and blood supply of bone and cartilage tissue.Adult discs do not have their own receptacles;they receive nutrients and oxygen from neighboring tissues.Therefore, for the proper nutrition of the discs, it is necessary to activate blood circulation in the tissues surrounding the discs.And that can only be achieved by intensive muscle work.
Based on its composition, the intervertebral disc can be divided into two parts: it is the nucleus pulposus, which gives elasticity to the disc, located in the center and the strong fibrous ring that surrounds it.Due to the deterioration of nutrition of the intervertebral discs, the complex structure of the biopolymeric compounds that make up the nucleus pulposus is destroyed.The moisture content of the nucleus pulposus decreases and it becomes brittle.When exposed to even minor overloads, the nucleus pulposus can break into fragments.This leads to a decrease in its elasticity to an even greater extent.There is also a decrease in the strength of the fibrous rings of the discs.All these factors create the basis and cause the development of osteochondrosis.
In order to restore the function of the spine, it is necessary to heal the scar from the damage of the intervertebral disc, to mobilize the compensatory abilities of the spine, as well as the musculoskeletal system as a whole, and not to solve "salt deposits" or eliminate "spikes" on the vertebrae.During the X-ray examination after the end of the treatment, you can see that the vertebrae have not changed their shape.And the notorious "spikes" are not the cause of osteochondrosis, but the consequence of adaptive processes.Marginal processes increase the area of the supporting surface of the vertebral body.Due to the increase in surface area, the specific pressure decreases, which allows compensation for the decrease in strength and elasticity of the intervertebral disc.
Degenerative-dystrophic changes occurring in the spine are accompanied by calcification (calcification) of damaged discs, individual parts of joint ligaments, cartilage and capsules.This process can only tentatively be called salt precipitation.Therefore, this is not the cause of osteochondrosis, but only a consequence and the final stage of the process described above.
Reversal of structural changes in the spine is almost impossible.But minimizing them is a very real task.If no effort is made to maintain the spine in the same condition that was achieved as a result of the treatment, the pain may recur.
Clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis
Clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis are very diverse.They depend on the stage of development of osteochondrosis.The main clinical symptoms of osteochondrosis occur when the pathological process spreads to the posterior part of the fibrous ring and the posterior longitudinal ligament.Depending on the stage of degeneration of the intervertebral discs, there is irritation, compression or conduction disturbances of the spinal cord roots, compression of blood vessels or the spinal cord.Different neurological syndromes develop - reflex and compression.
The main cause of pain in osteochondrosis is the so-called nerve root irritation.In this case, circulation disorders, swelling and the subsequent development of fibrosis of the surrounding structures occur, which is accompanied by an increase in the sensitivity of the roots to various influences (movements in the affected segment of the spine, etc.).
Vascular disorders in osteochondrosis are often associated with disturbed vasomotor innervation.Mechanical compression of blood vessels by osteophytes is also possible, for example in the cervical spine.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
One of the characteristics of osteochondrosis of the spine that worsens the process is that its symptoms are too extensive.The disease can manifest itself in completely different parts of the body.It can be pain or numbness in the limbs or disturbances and pain in the internal organs.At the same time, often a person does not connect heart pain, dysfunction of genital organs, headache, pain and numbness in the legs in any way with osteochondrosis and in general with the spine, directly "treating" the symptoms of osteochondrosis with the help of various types of painkillers, all types of drugs and other drugs, food supplements.But this time it only makes it worse.Osteochondrosis continues to develop, and the treatment methods used in the best case simply do not lead to significant improvement, except for temporary pain relief, and in the worst case they can harm the body even more.
Therefore, it is important to carefully analyze your condition and the changes that occur in it.It is necessary to move in the right direction: consult a doctor in a timely manner, undergo the necessary diagnostics and only after establishing the correct diagnosis, start treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis include, first of all, pain and discomfort in the back.At the same time, pain can be periodic, inconsistent, appear and disappear.But the first feeling of discomfort or pain in the spine should make you think.The appearance of the first pains is a signal to at least pay attention to it and try to remember the reason why they appeared.Such a reason can be lifting a heavy object, sudden movement, fall, etc.
Another symptom of osteochondrosis is accompanying discomfort or pain in the back along with pain and numbness in the extremities (arms or legs).The pain most often radiates to the left extremity, that is, to the left arm or leg.In addition, pain can manifest itself in the region of the heart, in the back, and not only in the area of the spine, but, for example, in the ribs, etc.It is especially important in this case to pay attention to the nature of the pain change depending on the patient's actions, comparing the sensations of pain in the back with pain, for example, in the leg.If the patient sat for a long time and pain or numbness appeared in the foot, discomfort in the lower back, and after a short warm-up or walking the pain disappeared, then this will be an indirect sign that determines lumbar osteochondrosis of the spine.The same picture can be with the neck and the hand.In short, we can say that the main symptoms of osteochondrosis include pain and discomfort in the back.In cases where these symptoms coincide with pain in other parts of the body, osteochondrosis can be complicated by protrusion, disc herniation or nerve entrapment.
In addition, I would like to point out that even when the first pain in the spine appears, special attention should be paid to this problem.After all, osteochondrosis can manifest itself weakly or not at all for a long time.At the same time, it will continue to develop successfully in the spine, which will lead to the degradation of an increasing number of discs.Therefore, a timely visit to the doctor will allow osteochondrosis to be diagnosed at an earlier stage, which will facilitate its treatment.
Osteochondrosis and salt deposition
Osteophytes or hooked growths of the vertebrae appear to reduce the load on the intervertebral discs.In this case, the appearance of osteophytes damages the mobility of the intervertebral joints.
The widespread belief in everyday life that salt deposition is the main cause of osteochondrosis is wrong.Therefore, treating osteochondrosis with a salt-free diet is pointless.
The most common complaints in osteochondrosis of the spine
The most common complaints with osteochondrosis are the following:
- Discomfort in different parts of the spine.The pain can vary from minor, dull, nagging pain to strong, sometimes very intense and unbearable - with shooting.
- Increased fatigue during work, physically and mentally.
- Loss of sensitivity in the limbs and various parts of the body, cold hands or feet.
- The pain spreads to the legs, along the nerve trunks.
- Pain that radiates to the scapula, shoulder, as well as pain in the neck and back of the head.
- A frequent companion of cervical osteochondrosis is headache and dizziness.Increased visual fatigue or reduced visual acuity is often noticed.
- When the lumbosacral region is affected, disorders of the reproductive system are common - various sexual dysfunctions.Therefore, most men experience an increase in sexual power after treatment.In women, the normal functioning of the lumbosacral area increases the probability of conception and contributes to a pleasant pregnancy.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
To diagnose osteochondrosis, it is necessary to collect anamnesis.Determining the patient's complaints is of crucial importance.Certain symptoms of osteochondrosis are quite characteristic.Others, on the contrary, must be distinguished from the signs of other diseases.It is important that nervous, vascular and trophic disorders that occur in osteochondrosis can imitate various diseases, such as angina pectoris, gastritis, stomach ulcer and acute surgical diseases of abdominal organs.Therefore, in order to avoid a wrong diagnosis and the subsequent prescription of the wrong treatment, each symptom must be subjected to a detailed analysis.
When collecting the anamnesis, including the patient's complaints, the history of the current illness and the patient's life, the doctor pays attention to his age, because osteochondrosis most often develops in the elderly, and to the development of symptoms from the moment they appear until consultation with the doctor.Osteochondrosis is characterized by slow development, in which periods of exacerbation are periodically replaced by periods of remission.Additional research methods are prescribed to clarify the diagnosis.
X-ray studies for osteochondrosis
The most accessible method for diagnosing osteochondrosis, and at the same time quite informative, is an X-ray examination.There are several types of X-ray methods for diagnosing this disease:
An overview radiograph of the spine is the simplest radiological method for diagnosing osteochondrosis.Its essence is to obtain an X-ray of the spinal column as a whole or its individual segments.Targeted radiography is most often performed - based on the symptoms of the disease and the patient's complaints, the location of the spinal lesion is determined.On the X-ray of the segment of the spine affected by osteochondrosis, it is possible to see a decrease in the thickness (atrophy) of the intervertebral discs, which manifests itself in the form of a decrease in the space between the vertebrae, the appearance of bony growths of the vertebral body - osteophytes, partial dissolution - resorption of the spinal segment of the vertebral body, a change in the shape of the spine.for example, smoothing lumbar lordosis.
Myelography is a more complex and dangerous diagnostic method.During this examination, a certain amount of contrast liquid is injected into the spinal canal.The risk of this method of examination is the possibility of allergic reactions to the contrast agent or the risk of damage to the spinal cord during the puncture of the spinal canal.Myelography can determine the internal structure of the spinal canal.This method is particularly informative for determining spinal hernias.
Computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance are the most modern, but also the most expensive and difficult to access methods for diagnosing osteochondrosis.These diagnostic methods are usually used when it is necessary to distinguish osteochondrosis from other diseases of the spine that have similar symptoms, for example, tumors of the spinal canal.
For a comprehensive assessment of the patient's condition, it is mandatory to conduct a neurological examination of the patient with osteochondrosis.Thanks to a neurological consultation, it is possible to clarify the localization and degree of motor and sensory disorders.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
The clinic provides effective treatment of all forms of osteochondrosis.Treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis.Treatment is based on a comprehensive program aimed at quickly eliminating the underlying syndrome and the cause of suffering.As part of complex therapy, the following methods can be used:
- acupuncture;
- vacuum therapy;
- gentle manual therapy techniques (post-isometric relaxation);
- laser therapy;
- pharmacopuncture;
- dry traction;
- magnetopuncture;
- electrical stimulation and other treatment methods.
On average, the course of treatment is 10-15 sessions, and the elimination of acute pain syndrome is from 1 to 3 sessions.
The sooner the treatment starts, the better the result!
Is complete relief from osteochondrosis real?
It depends on the form of the disease, severity, correctness and timeliness of the treatment.Complete healing is possible only in the initial stages.
But you can prevent exacerbations of osteochondrosis and not feel pain for years.If a person had osteochondrosis, but now does not feel discomfort, this does not mean that it passed without a trace.There may be changes in the spine.
The main task is to stop the development of the disease and do everything so that some of the pathological changes in the spine disappear, the symptoms disappear or decrease (back pain, coldness and numbness of the hands, legs, headache, etc.).