Osteochondrosis

Most cases of unpleasant pain in the lower back and spine are associated with a disease such as osteochondrosis.It affects around 40% of men and women aged between 30 and 40 and around 90% of the elderly.Therefore, the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more thoroughly the patient is examined, the more likely it is to stop the progression of osteochondrosis and maintain activity at an older age. 

Definition of disease, cause of disease

So, what is osteochondrosis, where does it develop, what structures are affected, what is the treatment method?The disease affects the spine and tissues between the vertebrae and is expressed in a violation of their shape, density, elasticity, and sometimes even integrity.As a result, the distance between the vertebrae decreases, the spine gradually loses stability, pinched nerves may occur and hernias may form, which is accompanied by back pain and discomfort during movements.

To briefly describe the essence of osteochondrosis, it is the gradual abrasion of the tissues of the intervertebral discs (cartilage), leading to instability of the spine.In the absence of treatment, degradation of ligaments and joints develops, osteophytes appear, posture is disturbed and movements are accompanied by pain. 

Causes of spinal osteochondrosis:

• inactive lifestyle with lack of muscle load;
• spinal injuries;
• systematic intense loads on the spine;
• heredity;
• overweight;
• hypothermia;
• hormonal and autoimmune diseases;
• toxic poisoning;
• congenital connective tissue deficiency;
• psychosomatic reasons (stress, depression, etc.).

Osteochondrosis symptoms

The disease is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation with varying degrees of symptom severity.The main symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis, characteristic of the main types of disease, lumbar, cervical and thoracic:

• localized pain in a specific area of the spine;
• referred pain syndrome associated with damage to nearby musculoskeletal tissues;
• myelopathy and radiculopathy, resulting from compression of the nerve endings of the spinal cord and blood vessels. 

Depending on which part of the spine is affected by the disease, the list of osteochondrosis symptoms may vary.Namely: patients notice tingling in the muscles, numbness in the limbs, other sensory disturbances, decreased strength in the arms and legs, attacks of headaches and heart pain, lower back pain.

Pathogenesis of osteochondrosis

Before the elastic fibrous core of the intervertebral disc begins to lose elasticity and deform, several processes suggestive of osteochondrosis occur in the human body:

• spasms, dystonia, inflammation;
• decreased blood circulation;
• damage to nerve cell processes.

Then cracks appear in the deformed fibrous ring, protrusion of the disc develops and a hernia forms.Typically, these predisposing factors for spinal diseases develop in childhood or adolescence and are often the result of poor posture, scoliosis, sports injuries, infectious diseases or congenital vascular pathologies.

Stages of osteochondrosis

There are three stages of development of spinal osteochondrosis:

• the first, in which the intervertebral disc begins to decrease in height, acquiring a flattened shape, loses moisture, elasticity and may swell;
• the second develops in the absence of treatment and is manifested by a violation of the structure of the fibrous ring of the vertebral disc, the appearance of cracks and the development of instability in a certain area of the spine;
• characterized by ruptures of intervertebral cartilage, development of hernia and formation of bone processes of osteophytes. 

Symptoms of the development of spinal osteochondrosis become more intense from the first to the third stage. 

Classification of osteochondrosis

The classification of osteochondrosis is based on several signs, the main of which is the zone of localization.They exist:

• lumbar osteochondrosis;
• osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
• osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.

Osteochondrosis in the lumbar spine is manifested by pain in the lower back, which intensifies when turning the body or lifting heavy objects.The pain may radiate to the leg or both legs and is characterized as aching.In case of severe syndrome, a hernia is suspected.With lumbar osteochondrosis, spasms in the leg muscles and peeling of the skin often occur.

With the development of spinal osteochondrosis in the cervical region, vertebrae 1-7 are affected.The disease is accompanied by a headache in the back of the head, pain in the neck, collarbones and shoulders.There may be a crunching sound when turning the head, numbness in the upper extremities, and a feeling of a lump in the throat.

With osteochondrosis of the spine in the thoracic region, the patient is bothered by pain in the chest, shoulders, armpits and heart.There may be a feeling of difficulty breathing and the development of attacks of intercostal neuralgia. 

Osteochondrosis in the lumbar spine is the most common, in the thoracic spine it is the rarest.

Complications of osteochondrosis

If the patient thinks too late about treating osteochondrosis, when the symptoms of the disease are pronounced, the following complications may occur:

• intervertebral hernia;
• stroke in the spinal cord;
• spinal kyphosis;
• boss;
• radiculitis;
• paralysis of the lower limbs.

In the absence of treatment, the patient begins to suffer regular exacerbations of the condition, which are characterized by an increase in pain that makes movement difficult and significantly worsens general well-being.The most terrible complication of spinal osteochondrosis is disability.Therefore, to prevent such serious changes in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system, timely and high-quality treatment of osteochondrosis is necessary.

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis

A disease such as osteochondrosis is primarily pain in the spine.But it is important to distinguish it from pain caused by problems unrelated to intervertebral disc degeneration.To do this, doctors carry out a step-by-step diagnosis, which includes:

• History, which involves a conversation between the specialist and the patient to identify the exact area where the pain is located and the factors that cause the condition to worsen.It is important to know the patient's occupation, the period in which the back problems began, when there was an exacerbation, what type of pain occurs in the lower back and other parts, what treatment methods the patient used.
• Physiological examinationallows you to determine the proportions of the body, the quality of movements and actions performed, the condition of the skin and the degree of sensitivity to pain.The doctor uses palpation to determine the condition of muscle tissue, the presence of impactions, swelling, etc.
• Radiography of the spine in two planesfor a visual assessment of the condition.It allows you to determine the displacement of the vertebrae, the presence of osteophytes and salt deposition. 

If the data collected for prescribing treatment is not sufficient, or serious pathology of the spine is suspected, the patient is prescribed computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, thanks to which it is possible to examine in detail the vertebrae, blood vessels, soft tissues, nerve processes and create a complete picture of the state of the spine affected by osteochondrosis to determine treatment tactics. 

Treatment of osteochondrosis

Like any disease, osteochondrosis requires identification of the cause that triggered its development.Reducing the severity of symptoms is not the main, but an important stage of treatment, the result of which depends on several factors.In some cases it is a complete cure, in others it is the prevention of complications and disabilities. 

In the treatment of spinal osteochondrosis, a group of measures is used:

• change in the patient's daily routine;
• prescribe medications to reduce symptoms;
• physiotherapeutic procedures (massage, acupuncture, electrophoresis, exercise therapy, etc.).

Changing the daily routine in the treatment of spinal osteochondrosis involves reducing the intensity of physical activity, bed rest for severe pain, and avoiding sudden bends and bends. 

Medicines for the treatment of spinal osteochondrosis

They can be divided into several groups: 

• muscle relaxants for pain relief, including tablets, injectable anesthetics and anti-inflammatory injections for osteochondrosis.The homeopathic medicine normalizes the functionality of the thyroid gland, improves lymphatic drainage and has an anti-inflammatory, detoxifying and immunomodulatory effect.
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.When used in patients with osteoarthritis, there is a reduction in the progression of inflammatory and destructive changes in the joints, improvement in the integrity, thickness and other characteristics of the cartilage and stimulation of bone tissue repair.
• anti-inflammatory ointments for topical applications and alternative transdermal patches.Such medicines have analgesic, antirheumatic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects.The mechanism of action is to reduce the production of inflammatory mediators, reduce body temperature and pain.
• chondroprotectors;
• means for therapeutic analgesic blocks;
• B vitamins.

Supportive treatments

Of the additional means that can be used for treatment, relief of the general condition and improvement of the function of the spine and intervertebral discs, the most effective are: 

• acupuncture;
• magnetic therapy;
• professional massage and self-massage;
• physical education courses;
• manual therapy. 

Prediction, prevention

If the spinal disease is not advanced and proceeds without serious complications, 1.5-2 months of competent treatment can significantly improve the condition and prevent the disease from becoming chronic.In difficult cases, doctors recommend surgical treatment.

Prevention of spinal osteochondrosis includes:

• maintain the correct daily routine, with changes in body position and moderate physical activity;
• regular visits to the pool;
• body weight control;
• wear comfortable shoes;
• balanced diet;
• sleep on a pillow and orthopedic mattress;
• take missing nutrients or preventive homeopathic medicines to boost immunity, improve overall health and eliminate dystonia.

It is necessary to have annual medical examinations and see a doctor for treatment immediately after the appearance of any back pain. 

It doesn't matter what type of osteochondrosis we are talking about - lumbar, cervical or thoracic, attention to one's own health should become a good habit, especially when it comes to the basis of the entire musculoskeletal system - the spine.