Osteochondrosis is a pathological changes in the tissues of the spine due to degenerative-dystrophic processes. It is characterized by lesions of intervertebral discs, vertebral bodies, articular surfaces, ligaments of the spine.
REASONS
The causes of the disease have not been studied. The first symptoms of osteochondrosis begin to appear most often after 35 years. Spinal injuries, dynamic or static loads, vibration, poor physical fitness, flat feet, poor posture or curvature of the spine, overweight, hereditary predisposition, metabolic pathology in the body, lack of trace elements in the food, age-related changes, adverse environmental conditions, nerve overstrain, instability of spinal column segments, excessive physical exertion, sedentary lifestyle, overload spine associated with wearing high heels, uncomfortable shoes and pregnancy, stress, bad habits.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
In osteochondrosis, constant aching back pain occurs, which may be accompanied by numbness and a feeling of aches in the limbs. Pain increases with weight lifting, sudden movements, exercise, coughing or sneezing. Reduced range of motion, muscle spasms occur. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is characterized by pain in the arms, shoulders, headache. Sometimes the so-called vertebral artery syndrome develops, in which a pulsating headache periodically occurs in combination with noise in the head, flickering of “flies” or colored spots before the eyes, dizziness. The cause of this syndrome is vertebral artery spasm. Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is usually accompanied by pain in the region of the heart, in the chest. In osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine, pain is localized in the lower back, giving to the sacrum, lower limbs. In case of damage to the nerve roots (with spondyloarthrosis, herniated intervertebral discs, spondylolisthesis ), the pain is usually shooting, accompanied by a violation of sensitivity, a decrease in tone, weakness in muscles, a decrease in reflexes.
DIAGNOSTICS
The diagnosis is established by a neurologist in the presence of complaints of pain, change in the shape of the joint, restriction of mobility. The main role in the diagnosis of the disease is assigned to x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography.
TYPES OF DISEASE
There are osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, thoracic, lumbosacral, common osteochondrosis (when two or all parts of the spine are affected).
ACTION OF THE PATIENT
If symptoms of the disease appear, you should contact your family doctor or neuropathologist to clarify the diagnosis and select the optimal treatment.
TREATMENT OF OSTEOCHONDROSIS
Osteochondrosis can be treated at home. Therapeutic measures are aimed at eliminating pain, dysfunction of the spinal roots and preventing the progress of pathological changes in the structures of the spine. Drug therapy includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are prescribed to relieve the inflammatory process and pain syndrome (diclofenac, ibuprofen, meloxicam ) and glucocorticosteroids ( diprospan ). Used steroid drugs in the form of epidural administration, intramuscular injection. Locally used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of ointments, creams and gels with anesthetic and local irritating effect (diclofenac, nimesulide ). Muscle relaxants ( sirdalud , mydocalm ) are shown to relieve muscle spasm . Vitamins of group B (B1, B6, B12) are used to improve metabolic processes in the spine. Effective in osteochondrosis physiotherapy, physical therapy (magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, laser therapy, ultrasound), massage therapy, stretching (traction), Manual therapy, reflexology. With the ineffectiveness of conservative methods requires surgical treatment, the amount of which depends on the clinical manifestations and the level of the lesion.
COMPLICATIONS
The following complications of osteochondrosis include disc protrusion (the initial stage of the hernia), intervertebral herniac, radiculitis ( radiculopathy ), lumbago, sciatica, vascular dysfunction, Schmorl’s hernia , spondylolysis , spondylolisthesis , spondyloarthrosis, osteotene , osteoma,sphyllosis , spondylolysis , spondylolisthesis , spondyloarthrosis, osteoma , schmorl hernia , spondylolysis , spondylolisthesis , spondyloarthrosis, osteopathy , osteoporosis
PREVENTION
To prevent osteochondrosis, you should monitor your posture, exercise, avoid hypothermia, visit a massage therapist or knead your back with a roller or brush massager. A large load on the spine occurs when the body is overweight, the poet needs to monitor the quality of nutrition.