A certain therapist with 50 years of experience once commented: "When I started working, there was not a single young patient with osteochondrosis in the place. And today almost every 30-year-old has this problem."
A sedentary lifestyle, metabolic disorders, spinal injuries, excess weight, unbalanced diet, prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, stress, hypothermia, smoking are modern paths to chronic degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs and, later, in the vertebrae themselves.This is osteochondrosis (from the ancient Greek osteon - bone, chondros - cartilage).
Osteochondrosis is a disease caused by salt deposition in the spine
Wrong.The intervertebral disc consists of a nucleus pulposus, a fibrous ring, and hyaline cartilage covering it above and below.When these elements are destroyed, the balance between the load on the spine and the ability to support it is disturbed.As a result, the vertebrae begin to compress the adjacent nervous and muscular tissues and grow along the edges, forming the so-called.osteophytes, which produce a characteristic sound when moving (patients mistakenly explain it as “salt deposition”).
If your back and neck hurt, this is exclusively osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is not the only cause of back pain.Patients themselves often make this diagnosis.However, in addition to this pathology, which is part of the group of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine, there is also osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and differentiation can only be made after a complete examination.
Degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in 30–50% of cases in people aged 30–40 years, in 75–100% of people over 40 years of age.
These pathological processes account for 20.4% of the general structure of disabilities due to diseases of the osteoarticular system.
Walking a lot is bad for your spine
On the contrary.Physical activity has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the spine: it maintains muscle tone, preserves intervertebral mobility, stimulates blood circulation and metabolism.Physical inactivity and prolonged stay in an especially uncomfortable position are “culprits” for the progression of the disease.
Another issue is if an overweight person walks a lot and carries heavy things, then the spine suffers greater stress.
Flat feet contribute to the development of osteochondrosis
That's right.The arches of the feet, like the physiological curves of the spine, are designed to absorb shock loads when walking, running and jumping.If the foot does not offer adequate protection when interacting with the support, the spine receives additional stress, which significantly impairs the nutrition and functioning of its structures and accelerates the development of the disease.
Back pain is the only symptom of the disease
In truth no.As a rule, patients complain of constant back pain, often accompanied by numbness and a feeling of pain in the limbs.Over time, if left untreated, the muscles in the limbs atrophy, the joints in the spine become less mobile, and muscle spasms appear.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (see diagram), your arms and head may hurt.The so-called vertebral artery syndrome (noise in the head, dizziness, bright “spots” and colored spots before the eyes, throbbing and burning headache).This acute condition occurs due to arterial spasm in response to the impact of bone growths, as well as due to herniated disc, arthrosis of the intervertebral joint, as a reflex reaction to irritation of spinal receptors.
If a person suffers from coronary or cardiovascular pathology, vertebral artery syndrome will aggravate the course.
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, there is pain in the chest (a feeling as if a stake was stuck there) - in the region of the heart and other internal organs;with lumbosacral injuries - in the lumbar region (irradiation to the sacrum, lower extremities, sometimes to the pelvic organs).
If complications of osteochondrosis occur (intervertebral disc herniation, bone growth, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthrosis), damage to the nerve roots will be observed - the pain becomes sharp, sensitivity worsens, weakness appears in the innervated muscles, and the severity of reflexes decreases.
Osteochondrosis can cause dysfunction of a wide variety of organs and tissues
That's right.Hippocrates also taught that all human diseases are associated with the spine, because it is a kind of foundation of the body.
With osteochondrosis, there is an increased risk of circulatory disorders in the cerebellar, trunk and occipital regions of the brain.A constant headache appears - first in the back of the head, then it spreads to the crown and temples, intensifying with movements of the neck (more often in the morning).Elderly people may lose consciousness if they turn their head suddenly.This is preceded by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and hearing, nausea and vomiting.
Sometimes there is pain in the region of the heart - prolonged, pressing, boring.With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, especially in old age, soft tissues often change - they become denser.
Degenerative processes in the spine can cause congestion in the gastrointestinal tract, disruption of the bronchopulmonary system, which is fraught with inflammatory and other diseases.
Vegetative-vascular dystonia, intercostal neuralgia - consequences of osteochondrosis
In truth no.Osteochondrosis may be one of the reasons (by no means the only one) for the development of these diseases.When the intervertebral discs wear out and osteophytes grow, the intervertebral foramina and the vertebral artery canal become narrowed and deformed, which leads to the violation of various structures.In particular, when the nerve roots are compressed, signs of intercostal neuralgia appear, and when the vertebral artery is compressed, the same symptoms as vegetative-vascular dystonia appear.
It is impossible to cure osteochondrosis
In fact, spinal structures that have undergone degenerative changes cannot be completely restored.However, comprehensive and adequate treatment can eliminate the symptoms of the disease, prevent the development of pathology and avoid complications.
For problems with intervertebral discs, it is useful to warm up sore spots
Wrong.Temperature changes, especially extreme ones (for example, a beginner's trip to the bathhouse), can cause serious worsening.Moderate thermal procedures are used in complex treatments, but must be prescribed by a doctor.
If you perform circular movements with your head during osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, your health will worsen
That's right.These exercises are best done for prevention - they help maintain range of motion in the intervertebral joints.In severe osteochondrosis, careless circular movements can aggravate vertebral artery syndrome, radiculopathy, etc.
Treatment cannot be done without non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
In truth no.During the period of remission or when the pain is not intense, conservative therapy (physiology, reflexology and manual) is carried out;physical therapy and traction techniques are used.Drug treatment is indicated during an exacerbation and is aimed at relieving pain, relieving the inflammatory process and accelerating metabolic processes (intramuscular or intravenous injections).
Among the most effective medications are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), prescribed to relieve inflammation and pain (meloxicam, diclofenac, ibuprofen);for severe pain, novocaine blockades are used;steroid medications (epidural and intramuscular injections);NSAIDs in the form of ointments, gels and creams with analgesic and irritating effects (diclofenac, fastum gel, nise, capsicam, finalgon);muscle relaxants - to relieve muscle spasms (mydocalm, sirdalud);B vitamins - to improve metabolic processes in the spine (B1, B6, B12).
Osteochondrosis can lead to serious consequences
Yes. Due to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots, osteochondrosis can cause paralysis and, if the vertebral artery is pinched, loss of consciousness.
Exercises to “stretch” the spine help improve its condition
Extension, or traction, allows you to increase the intervertebral space, relieve pain and restore the anatomically correct shape of the spine.However, the individual load must be calculated correctly.“Too much” can lead to a reflex contraction of the paravertebral muscles and worsen the condition.
Only an orthopedic traumatologist has the right to treat osteochondrosis.
Wrong.Most patients are observed by a neurologist, and in cases of significant severity of the pathology, by a neurosurgeon or orthopedist-vertebrologist.
A local doctor may also prescribe drug therapy to alleviate an exacerbation.