Osteochondrosis of the spine - symptoms and treatment, causes, everything has been said, told. That it is not a disease, but the aging of the body, even if it is stronger than concrete, it also wears out, gives cracks. Unfortunately, this process of destruction, like old age, cannot be avoided, only slowed down. And most importantly, there are no pills, mixtures, powders, rejuvenating apples for osteochondrosis. It's easier to understand, it pays off, because we live, walk, do stupid movements, sit, sleep. He cannot fully exercise his functions, as in his youth. By the way, about young people, why do they have chondrosis? Here is a look at the disease of the 21st century. Let's define the important functions of the spine. Let's find out the reasons for the main complications in young people and those who have been for years. We will discuss the diagnosis of the disease and methods of treatment. Let's clarify the basics of prevention and how to save yourself from rapid aging.
Important functions of the spine
We must not forget that our spine has 3 main functions.
- Pivot - keeps the body upright.
- Protective - protects the spinal cord.
- Cushioning - ligaments, cartilage soften the most varied movements of our body.
The spine absorbs all load in all areas, thanks to the unique intervertebral discs that are located in the structure of the spine.
The concept of the word "osteochondrosis"
The term "osteochondrosis" is only used in Russia, in the West they have abandoned this name and instead use the concept of "degenerative disease of the disc or intervertebral cartilage, it can also be called so". This definition reflects the essence of what happens in the discs.
Result: if osteochondrosis - degeneration (dystrophy) of the intervertebral cartilage from primary movements. The conclusion of this definition is as follows: dystrophy - a violation of tissue nutrition, and degeneration is a change in the tissues for the worse.
Even understanding the meaning of these words, it is clear what is going on in the spine and where such a popular disease "osteochondrosis" comes from. By the way, what kind of disease is it? Simple - early aging.
Degeneration has four stages and stages of development, develops in the three departments. Osteochondrosis occurs:
- cervical;
- chest;
- lumbar.
Tissue malnutrition
The tissues are nourished by the enormous circulatory system. Arteries, veins, vessels and capillaries, as well as muscle tissue, are all actively involved in the process of nutrition. Along with the blood, important nutrients are transported to the vertebrae, cartilage and muscles, by contracting, helping the blood to move at the correct speed.
The discs, devoid of blood vessels, suck water and nutrients when the vertebrae relax. And when you press on it, the same segments, on the contrary, give excess. So it turns out that when damping the spine, due to compression and expansion, the discs are saturated and cleaned by the method of osmosis. The more frequent the osmosis, the more they are satisfactory and well nourished.
These are the muscles surrounding the vertebrae in the back that perform the process of movement. It is not difficult to imagine if the muscles around the spine are not very mobile, the blood circulation is slow, and the entire metabolism is impaired. The cartilage suffers from lack of nutrition and cannot be elastic and strong, this very dystrophy of the spine develops.
In the early stages of dystrophy, the incorporation of regular athletic movements into life can still be corrected fairly quickly. The younger generation is hoping for a full recovery.
What happens next? For a long time, being in an immobile state, the muscles weaken, the ligaments stretch and atrophy to such an extent that they can not even maintain the spine in anatomical form, various types of curvatures appear:
- lordosis; kyphosis
- ; Scoliosis
- .
The discs that do not receive the necessary nutrition from the circulatory system for a long time and a sufficient amount of fluid for a full existence begin to collapse. In other words, degeneration occurs, a slow change (destruction). A diagnosis is made - "Osteochondrosis" with all symptoms and long-term treatment with drugs that are not very effective without exercise therapy.
The point is that the core of cartilage, which is 80% water, where it is water that gives it elasticity, loses its elasticity in nature with age, and asedentary lifestyle accelerates this process. As a result, the power of the disc slows down, less water flows and it becomes thinner in height. But water and useful elements are needed not only for the disk, but for all the components around it:
- tendons;
- muscles; fascia
- ;
- links.
But in old age, due to the slowing of blood circulation, part of the capillaries still dry out, because for decades they were not needed, the process of osteochondrosis takes root. At this age, it takes effort to be in good shape.
Osteochondrosis is a complex of dystrophic disorders of the cartilage and segments. Most often, the intervertebral linings are affected, but they also develop in the joints, but they have different names - osteoarthritis, arthritis (how these diseases differ, here), coxarthrosis and many other pathologies.
Symptoms and treatment of spinal osteochondrosis
Reasons
There are external and internal causes of osteochondrosis, which lead to damage.
- Interns include genetics, tissue malnutrition at a young age, old age (this was mentioned above), nervous stresses that constrict muscles and stay in this state for a long time, if not forever, forming trigger points.
- Externally (trauma, weak and excessive physical activity).
The obvious reasons of internal and external factors cannot be disputed, except for old age. People go to aging of the musculoskeletal system thanks to their laziness, from the moment they become independent. Realizing the benefits of morning exercises, of a healthy lifestyle, at least partially, we deliberately use excuses, excuses for doing nothing. I'm not hiding, I was like that myself.
Complications
Dystrophic changes in the intervertebral disc by themselves are not a big problem. Many live a long time, they do not go to the doctor, because they are not very concerned about the complications of osteochondrosis. But for various reasons, severe pain often appears. After seeing a doctor, a person gets a whole bunch of complications identified after the examination, such as protrusion, hernia, spondylosis (osteophyte), and spinal instability.
These complications are believed to cause painful symptoms when compressing nerve endings in the disc of any part of the spine. In addition to pain, there may be a manifestation of weakness, decreased sensitivity, dysfunction of the small pelvis, increased blood pressure, in severe cases, paralysis.
- Protrusion is a slight protrusion of the fibrosus ring beyond the limits of the vertebral body, due to an increase in the nucleus pulposus, sometimes cracks appear in the layers of annulus fibrosus.
- A herniated disc is a loosening of the fibrous ring. The cartilage has lost its elasticity and divided into parts, and the excessive load of this condition causes it to come out, so that a hernia appears. It can irritate the nerve root that emerges from the spinal canal at the level of the vertebra, then pain occurs with localization in one or another area of the body.
- Osteophytes - changes in the vertebral bodies themselves, the height of the disc decreases so much that its marginal bony growths (called osteophytes) begin their destructive activity in relation to our health. The size of the hole through which the spinal nerve exits, that is, its root, decreases.
There is also a different opinion of the appearance of discomfort and pain, forcing you to see a specialist. Soft tissue pathologies (muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia). Everything that sets our skeleton in motion, and it is they who signal, on the starting problems, by sending a painful impulse. Diagnoses are made - sciatica, myositis, myalgia and much more and all this, so-called, symptoms against the background of osteochondrosis of the spine, and treatment is prescribed in the form of painkillers. And then everything repeats again, a vicious circle.
In women after 50-55 years, the extinction of reproductive functions begins. It enters the climacteric phase. It would seem like a natural transition, what can you do here. But if you are not taking hormone replacement therapy or at least dietary supplements. Then osteoporosis develops rapidly, which is often confused with osteochondrosis.
Diagnosis of spinal osteochondrosis
Self-diagnosis
- You can determine for yourself whether it exists or not. To do this, it is enough to assess how often the back hurts. How quickly she gets tired of the little physical work, the stress. With heaviness, discomfort, sometimes pain, changes are already occurring inside the spine. Because a healthy person does not experience such symptoms in their back, they are simply healthy. Although there are hardly any healthy ones now.
- It is necessary to determine the flexibility of the spine. Flexibility depends entirely on stretching. The better, the healthier the spine.
Diagnostics in a polyclinic
During the doctor's appointment, in order to make a correct diagnosis, a referral for an x-ray is given. And then the appropriate treatment is prescribed.
Comparison models for healthy and diseased segments. The layout shows how the spinal disc and segment body are the ideal structure created by nature. Nerve endings move freely, are not pinched, the disc is high and has a large safety margin, with such an intervertebral disc a person can withstand up to 800 kg.
And a disease-distorted model is shown alongside, the difference is significant. The disc is flattened, the edges of the vertebral body expand and acquire a distorted appearance. This is exactly the view in the picture.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Unfortunately, neglected complications cannot always be cured conservatively; they often need to be dealt with quickly. But in any case, they are dealt with and they should be dealt with in a timely manner.
Osteochondrosis that occurs at the age of 70 is considered the norm for a person by age, and his doctors do not cure it for years. There is a different approach for young people, after diagnosing the symptoms, the necessary treatment is prescribed.
Treatment should not be combined.
- Eliminates pain, if present.
- Prescribe physiotherapy, reflexology, massage. Exercise therapy
- .
Physiotherapy is, in principle, the basis of treatment, as it helps restore the normal biomechanics of the spine. And this leads to the unloading of the intervertebral discs. Swimming is a wonderful relief. But at the start of classes, only after the symptoms of pain disappear.
Prevention of spinal osteochondrosis
Nowadays there are many sedentary professions for 8 hours or more, and no organism can resist them.
The spine is not only a support for our skeleton, but also a sheath for the spinal cord.
The most important organ in the central nervous system. And if the disease is neglected, you can become disabled. I don't mean to scare, but limb paralysis, very serious, I know this firsthand.
Therefore, in case of problems with the spine, you should not delay the visit to a specialist, it costs you more. Most often you need to think about a healthy lifestyle. Cycling, swimming pool, gym, basic morning exercises and walking. An affordable set of workouts to support your body physically and not be a wreck in the future.
To achieve a result, it is necessary to develop a habit, regularity and discipline are the basis of prevention. After all, you don't need a lot, the body is grateful, you should like it, pay attention to it, and it will respond healthy. And what do you think?
Hope the article has been informative for you, you have realized that almost everyone has osteochondrosis of the spine, only the symptoms and treatment are different. By studying your body more deeply you can prevent disease, and by studying the inside you will have something to ask your doctor about.
Don't forget to share with your friends, subscribe to the update. Be sure to leave a comment.
Take care of yourself and your spine!