Spine osteochondrosis is not a sentence.Causes, symptoms, modern treatment methods

Spinal osteochondrosis -This is a chronic dystrophic disease in which the intervertebral disc of the cartilage and vertebrae disk is deformed.Recently, more and more often you should hear about this disease.And it's not surprising, because if previous osteochondrosis was considered a pathology of older people, it is now very "younger".We live in an era of scientific and technological progress-we have elevators and escalators, transportation and media that allow you to quickly transmit information, applying a minimum of physical effort to this.As a result, for speed and comfort, we pay the health of our column.But don't despair, osteochondrosis is not a sentence.Let's find out what changes occur in the spine with osteochondrosis, how it manifests itself, and we will analyze modern methods to treat this condition.

Spine osteochondrosis: causes

The spine consists of vertebrae, interconnected by cartilaginous intervertebral discs.They serve as a shock absorber and provide elasticity and mobility of the spine.

Our body grows up to 20 to 25 years.At this time, the intervertebral disc is equipped with blood vessels, with which active nutrition occurs.After interrupting growth, blood supply to.Then the disc receives energy from adjacent tissues, especially from the muscles.The discs eat like a sponge, when compressed, provide metabolic products and, with stretching, absorb nutrients.If, for any reason, the intervertebral disk does not receive enough energy, it begins to collapse.

Consider the causes of spine osteochondrosis:

• A sedentary lifestyle.We already know that the cartilage disk feeds when compressing and stretching and, for that, the spine must be moved.
• Forced pose.This applies to workers and office drivers, because a leaning leaning session forwards leads to an irregular load in the spine.Imagine that the whole mass of the upper body is not pressure throughout the disc, but at certain points.The power of cartilage tissue at these points is disturbed, which leads to its destruction.

Long-term sitting on the computer when tilted forward increases the load in the spine by 50-70%.

• Excessive physical activity.In addition to the load in the spine, muscle tension occurs, as a result of which the blood circulation of the muscles is disturbed and the intervertebral disc does not receive the necessary nutrition.
• Incorrect posture.A persistent change in the configuration of the spine overloads the intervertebral discs.
• Obesity.Excess mass of the upper body has a load in the spine.
• Age -related changes.This is a natural process as a result of which metabolic processes of cartilage and bone tissue decrease.

Spinal changes with osteochondrosis

Column osteochondrosis is characterized by a violation of nutrition (trophicism) of intervertebral discs.First of all, the shape of the disc change - it projects towards the spinal channel.If the intervertebral disc stabbage occurs without a rupture of the fibrous-chryshot ring, then this condition is calledprotrusion.This is one of the stages of spine osteochondrosis.The next step is the rupture of the fibrous-chryshot ring, which is accompanied by a displacement of the intervertebral disc nucleus.Then formedIntervertebral hernia.

The bone tissue of the vertebrae is also involved in the process.It grows and forms bone osteophytes or peaks.They compensate for the load in the spine while limiting the movement.

Often osteophytes are called "deposition of salts."In fact, there are no salts.These are bone formations that, to remove with the help of massage and manual techniques, of course, will not work.

The muscles of osteochondrosis are also subject to certain changes.To keep the column deformed in a normal position, they are in a state of constant tension.Muscle cramps for osteochondrosis are accompanied by pain and further worsen the trophic structures of the spine.

A change in the shape of the spinal structures leads to a displacement of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.In this case, compression (compression) of the root nerves occurs.They become inflamed and cause intense pain.

The osteochondros of the spine with root syndrome is manifested by pain in the legs, arms, chest and internal organs - the heart, the lungs, the stomach, the intestine, the kidneys, etc.Standard of arms, legs, face and osteochondrosis tongue - are also a sign of root nerve compression.

Spine osteochondrosis symptoms

Whatever the spine involved in the pathological process, the disease manifests itself by two main symptoms - pain and limitation of the movement of the spine and limbs.

Symptoms of cervical spine osteochondrosis

Cervical vertebrae are the smallest and more mobile.In addition, the blood vessels that feed the brain pass them.This is why the cervical spine is considered the most vulnerable.Osteochondrosis of the cervical region manifests itself by characteristic symptoms:

• The pain in the neck that can be given to the back of the head, shoulders, spatula.The pain intensifies as it tilted the head;
• Headache, dizziness, noise and tap the ears.Against the background of the disease, hearing deduction is possible;

Headaches for osteochondrosis are a very common occurrence.People suffering from systematic headaches should necessarily be examined by a neuropathologist.According to statistics, in 30% of cases, the cause of headache is cervical osteochondrosis.

• Hand and chest pain.Restriction of hand movements;
• Violation of Movement Coordination;
• In some cases, vision and speech suffer;
• Increasing blood pressure.

Vertebral artery syndrome with cervical osteochondrosis is a complex of symptoms that need to be aware.The vertebral artery nourishes the brain and, when compressed, its blood circulation is disturbed.Vertebral artery syndrome with cervical osteochondrosis has the following signs:

• Noise in the ears;
• Headache, dizziness;
• Tachycardia (fast heartbeat);
• Visual violation, the appearance of "flies" before the eyes;
• Loss of consciousness.

If you have these symptoms, you need to get urgent to contact a neurologist.Vertebral artery syndrome is the most common cause of strokes at an early age.

Symptoms of thoracic spine osteochondrosis

The thoracic column is less mobile than cervical or lumbar.In this sense, it is more difficult to heal.In the thoracic cavity, there are vital organs - the heart, large blood vessels and lungs, so that the symptoms of thoracic region can be confused with thoracic cavity diseases.

Signs of thoracic spine osteochondrosis:

• Painful pain between the shoulder blades and in the chest area.The pain intensifies after a long stay in a forced position or during physical exertion;
• Pain and stiffness of movement during breathing;
• Pain between the ribs (intercostal neuralgia);
• Skin numbness, the feeling of "goose bumps";
• Pain can give in to the heart, lungs, stomach and kidneys;
• Movement restriction during inclinations, raising the hands and twists of the body.

How to distinguish osteochondrosis from the spine from pain in the heart?

Pain in thoracic spine osteochondrosis can be so intense that you can easily suspect heart disease.Let's take a look at how osteochondrosis differs from heart pain with angina pectoris:

1. The duration of pain.With spine osteochondrosis, pain can last days and weeks and with angina pectoris - up to 10 minutes.
2. Relocation (termination) of pain.With angina pectoris, the pain is interrupted by nitroglycerin and, with osteochondrosis, painkillers are effective - diclofenac, meloxicam, etc.
3. ECG changes are characteristics of cardiac pathology and with normal osteochondrosis ECG.

Symptoms of lumbar spine osteochondrosis

The lumbar spine is more susceptible to physical effort.Any of our home levels somehow involves this part of the spine.Almost everyone faced pain in the lower back, and this is the most common symptom with which they seek help to a doctor.

Signs of lumbar spine osteochondrosis:

• Back pain with the back, "shots" during physical exertion and a long -term forced position.Pain in lumbar region osteochondrosis is combined by the termRadiculitis.
• Violation of the work of the genital authorities.Renal pain, difficulty urinating.Women may have a violation of the menstrual cycle, ovarian and uterus pain, and men have problems with power.
• Pain in buttocks, hips, legs and feet.Violation of leg sensitivity, tingling, numbness.
• With the prolonged compression of nerve roots and blood vessels, interspersed lameness can develop.When walking, a person starts to mantle and needs to stop and relax.

Treatment of spine osteochondrosis

Having dealt with the symptoms of osteochondrosis, there is a logical question - what to do next, how to deal with osteochondrosis?Fortunately, we will heal osteochondrosis.With a small reserve - with timely treatment and desire to get involved in your health.And a lot in our hands.Like any chronic disease, spinal osteochondrosis is treated for a long time.Don't expect you to get rid of symptoms in a week.

Currently, conservative treatment is actively practicing, which includes a whole range of measures.The main thing the patient needs to understand is passively treated.With intense pain, you will receive analgesics and anti -inflammatory drugs, as well as muscle relaxants.But in some cases you can run out of medicines.Let's look at the treatment methods used to treat osteochondrosis.

Preparations for the treatment of spine osteochondrosis

• Non -steroid anti -inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).These medications will help relieve pain and inflammation.They are used in the form of injections, tablets and local products - gels or ointments.It is necessary to keep in mind that non -steroid anti -inflammatory drugs for the treatment of osteochondrosis cannot be taken continuously as they can lead to gastritis and stomach ulcer.
• Muselaxantes- A group of medicines that relieve muscle tension, thus reducing the load in the spine and improving its blood circulation.They relieve muscle spasm with spine osteochondrosis.Work more effectively in combination with NSAIDs.
• Chondoprotectors- Restorate and protect the cartilage of destruction.They are elements of the joint cartilage structure (derivatives of hyaluronic acid).They are used in the form of pills, intramuscular and intra -rapid.Its significant less is a very long treatment.The ideal course is 6 months.Not every patient is able to obediently comply with the recommendations all this time.
• VasodilateFor osteochondrosis, it is used to improve blood circulation.

It is worth noting that any medical medicine removes only pain with osteochondrosis, but does not heal the problem.The medications will not place the vertebrae and intervertebral discs and will not return the ancient anatomical structure to them.

NO -Drug methods of osteochondrosis treatment

• Massage.The main massage task for spine osteochondrosis is to relieve muscle spasm and increase blood flow.Thus, cartilage nutrition improves, edema decreases, pain disappears, joint movement is restored.Unfortunately, massage gives a temporary effect.We know that with osteochondrosis, there are changes in the spine, so it will not work to restore it completely.Moreover, if the osteophytes have already formed, which are confused with "salts".
• Manual therapy.Previously, this method of treatment of osteochondrosis was quite skeptical.However, a large -scale clinical study conducted in 2017 showed the effectiveness of manual therapy.However, manual osteochondrosis therapy should be taken very carefully.First of all, you need to do a magnetic resonance imaging to determine the exact location of damage.Many manual therapists act intuitively, without certain knowledge and skills.But this is not the case where intuition is required, especially with intervertebral hernies.Manual therapist with an inept approach can harm more than the disease itself;Therefore, before making a decision in the course of such procedures, you should be taken responsibly to the search for a specialist.
• Medical Physical Education (Exercise Therapy)- Perhaps the most effective method of treatment of osteochondrosis.As this disease is usually a consequence of the lack of amount of spine, exercise is what you need!The expert will select a set of exercises and monitor their implementation.To maintain the effect after the training course, it is necessary to continue the exercises.You can choose a suitable sport for people with osteochondrosis.An ideal option for spine osteochondrosis is swimming, yoga and pilates.It is good to hang on the horizontal bar several times a week (if there is no against -indications).Stretching exercises help "pull" the spine and relax the tense muscles.

Not every sport is suitable for osteochondrosis.For example, the race may aggravate the disease.Therefore, before making this or this decision, it is advisable to consult a physical therapy specialist.

And of course, you should think of changing your lifestyle.Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease, respectively, it is necessary to treat for a long time.Medicines or massage will not return the spine with an untouched look, and this should be reconciled.And that means that it will be necessary not only to do special exercises, but also to adjust some of your habits.

Prevention of spine osteochondrosis

• First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to your workplace.If you work sitting, try to avoid slope forward.The chair must have a hard back and a lumbar curve.
• Follow the posture.It is not only beautiful, but also good for health.
• Try not to lift weights.If necessary, place a special dressing or a corset back.
• If the cause of spine osteochondrosis becomes overweight, you will have to get rid of extra pounds.

The health of the column is in our hands!