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What is osteochondrosis?

As people age, many people experience musculoskeletal disorders.The most common disease in this field of medicine is osteochondrosis of the spine.Unfortunately, today it affects not only representatives of the older generation, but also young, full of energy.There are many reasons for this - sedentary work, lack of sports or other physical activity, etc.

What is that

Doctors define vertebral osteochondrosis as a whole complex of disorders of joints and cartilage that connect tissues and organs, developing in any joint, but most often affecting the intervertebral disc.

Depending on the location, cervical, thoracic and lumbar-crucial osteochondrosis are distinguished.Despite the fact that vertebral osteochondrosis appears after 40 years, the first signs of osteochondrosis are already visible at the age of 20.

back pain due to osteochondrosis

Reason

There may be many factors that trigger the development of this disease.These include hypothermia, vertebral displacement due to injury, and strenuous physical exercise.

However, the main causes of osteochondrosis of the spine are as follows:

  • The habit of bending your back;
  • Lack of a solid muscle corset;
  • Scoliosis of various types;
  • Stress, nervous shock, depression, chronic fatigue;
  • Sedentary lifestyle;
  • Frequent heavy lifting;
  • Metabolic disorders (the body may lack calcium in the blood, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and many other useful substances);
  • Ancestry;
  • Untreated viral infection;
  • Changes in hormone levels, both in women and men;
  • Various back injuries.

Often, athletes, loaders, builders and all people whose work is associated with active physical labor are prone to osteochondrosis.For those who, on the other hand, lead a sedentary lifestyle, doctors recommend moving more, engaging in some types of preventive sports, as well as proper nutrition so that the body receives all the necessary vitamins, minerals and microelements.

symptoms

Symptoms of osteochondrosis directly depend on the area of the affected vertebrae.

  • Osteochondrosis of the cervical spineThe spine is accompanied by neck pain that often goes to the back and chest, tense neck muscles, which can cause pain when touched, swelling and numbness of the tongue, tingling and tingling in the neck and palms, a general feeling of weakness in the neck and shoulders.
  • Osteochondrosis of the thoracic regionspine has the following symptoms: sharp pain in the sternum, feeling of chest compression, and intercostal pain may occur during physical activity.
  • Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral regionspine is usually accompanied by lower back pain, which can radiate to the legs, sacrum and groin, lack of sensitivity in the legs, cold hands and feet, pins and needles sensation in the lower part.

If one or more symptoms of this disease occur, you should immediately see a specialist, because osteochondrosis can cause disturbances in the functioning of many organs and systems, pinched nerves, as well as migraines, dizziness, and insomnia.Lumbosacral osteochondrosis is particularly dangerous, because later there is a risk of developing heart and vascular diseases, diseases of the genitourinary system, scoliosis and intervertebral disc displacement.

level

Osteochondrosis develops gradually and has several stages of development:

  • In the first stageIt is still difficult to understand that the disease has arisen.The symptoms are not clear, the patient only experiences mild discomfort.Small pains in the back and lower back occur from time to time, but often they are associated with overwork and increased physical activity.Often, osteochondrosis of the first stage is diagnosed accidentally during a routine examination of the patient.
  • In the second stagepain occurs more often and becomes more severe, and the process of cartilage tissue deformation begins.The easiest way to treat osteochondrosis is in the second stage, because the doctor can already see all the changes that occur in the body.Painkillers can be added to general complex therapy.
  • To the third stageDeformation of the spine occurs, scoliosis, kyphosis and other back diseases begin to develop.Treatment aims to modify the spinal deformity and minimize the deformity that has occurred.
  • In the fourth stageosteochondrosis, it becomes difficult for the patient to move, cartilage tissue thickens and some vertebrae become displaced.Pain accompanies a person constantly.Often, in the fourth stage of the disease, the patient is recognized as disabled.
spinal lesions due to osteochondrosis

Diagnostics

Doctors can provide an initial diagnosis based on the above symptoms.First of all, the doctor will check the condition of the patient's spine in various positions, as well as in movement.After that, hardware diagnostics will be carried out to clarify the diagnosis and clarify possible complications.

The main types of diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the musculoskeletal system include:

  • MRI;
  • CT (computed tomography);
  • X-ray examination;
  • Ultrasound (ultrasound examination);
  • study of cerebral arteries.

After analyzing the patient's condition, the doctor will identify possible concomitant diseases, such as hernia, radiculitis and displaced intervertebral disc.

The patient, in turn, needs to remember that the symptoms of osteochondrosis can be signs of other diseases, therefore, the quality of the diagnosis must be the highest, because based on the final result the treatment will be prescribed.

Consequences

One of the most dangerous consequences of osteochondrosis is complete or partial muscle atrophy.For most patients, the pain is relieved only with painkillers.

If you do not contact a specialist in time, there is a risk of developing hernias, cholesterol plaques, as a result of which blood pressure and oxygen supply to cells are disturbed.

In patients with fourth-degree osteochondrosis, heart rhythm disturbances, abnormal respiratory system functions may occur;organs of vision and hearing may also be affected, and movement coordination may be affected.

Due to the fact that osteochondrosis primarily affects the blood supply system, the entire human body is at risk.Keep in mind that people with impaired metabolism most often suffer from this disease.Osteochondrosis is often accompanied by vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Treatment

Treatment of osteochondrosis can be of two types:

  • conservative;
  • surgery.

The choice of treatment method depends on the severity of the disease, identified complications and the internal strength of the body to recover after surgery.

With conservative treatment methods, patients will be given various types of drugs and other techniques, such as massage, therapeutic exercises, exercise therapy.This method of therapy includes taking drugs and hardware treatments.

The most commonly used conservative treatment methods are as follows:

  • Therapeutic physical education, exercises that will be individually adapted to the condition of the patient's body.
  • Acupuncture.
  • Massage and hydromassage.
  • Magnetic therapy and vibration stimulation.
  • Ultrasound and laser therapy.
  • Medicines.
  • Proper nutrition, which will also be individually tailored for the patient.
  • Psychotherapy.

It should be noted that if conservative treatment is chosen incorrectly, the patient's condition can worsen.Self-medication for osteochondrosis is excluded.

Surgical methods to treat osteochondrosis aim to stabilize the motor activity of the damaged spinal segment.In the event of a hernia in the spine, surgery can be performed in two ways: standardly using a scalpel or using a laser.The choice is made by the doctor together with the patient, taking into account not only his wishes, but also the state of the body.According to statistics, surgical intervention is performed in 15% of cases.However, the success rate is only 3%.

Prevention

It should be remembered that no one is immune from osteochondrosis, so it is better to carry out prevention of this disease in time:

  • First of all, you should always monitor your posture, keeping your back and neck straight even while working in front of the computer.
  • It is also necessary to devote enough time to sports or any other physical activity, thus strengthening your muscle corset.Swimming pool exercises are ideal for this purpose.
  • Special orthopedic mattresses and pillows can also be a good prevention of osteochondrosis.
  • Particular attention should be paid to the method of lifting weights - to relieve the spine from excessive pressure, you must first squat and then pick up heavy objects.It should be noted that you cannot lift more than 17 kg at a time.
  • The basic principle of diet is also an important element in the treatment of osteochondrosis.Food should deliver all the beneficial vitamins and minerals to the body, especially during periods of vitamin deficiency.Avoid consuming too much caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, fast food and carbonated drinks.The diet should include vegetables and fruits as sources of fiber, as well as meat, fish and legumes as sources of protein.

Everyone should remember that undetected osteochondrosis can be very dangerous for the whole body;all organs and body systems are at risk.It is necessary to carefully monitor the general state of your health and undergo an examination with a specialist every six months.