Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease of various parts of the spine, in which degenerative and dystrophic changes occur in the intervertebral discs. Men between the ages of 25 and 60 suffer from this disease more often. The disease is typical for young and old. Women get sick less often, and their symptoms are not so obvious. At the initial stage of the disease, it is possible to achieve stable remission and get rid of pain and discomfort for many years.
What are the types of osteochondrosis by location
The classification of osteochondrosis of the spine has many forms and criteria. They differ in the location of the affected section and the severity. All types of osteochondrosis are pathologies fraught with destructive changes in cartilage and connective tissue.
The most common and understandable for a simple layman, far from medicine, the classification is made according to the location of the lesion:
- Cervical osteochondrosis - it is characterized by painful occipital, cervical and interscapular syndromes. Over the past decade, this disease has been increasingly diagnosed in young people.
- Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is very rare, because it has more discs than cervical and lumbar combined, the discs are smaller and thinner. Part of the load is taken by the ribs. Therefore, in the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine, degenerative and dystrophic changes rarely occur.
- Lumbar osteochondrosis often occurs in people over the age of forty with a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle. It is characterized by severe back pain, pinching of the nerves and arteries of the abdominal organs, and numerous concurrent diagnoses of internal organs.
Stages of the disease
Depending on the flow, the degree of degenerative changes, the manifestation of symptoms, four stages of the disease can be distinguished:
- The initial stage is characterized by instability of symptoms. The patient does not yet feel severe pain. Sometimes a "pulling" pain in the affected area of the back is possible.
- The second stage is characterized by a significant deterioration in the interaction of the vertebrae due to the progression of degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs. The development of the disease at this stage is provoked by improper physical activity, a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle.
- In the third stage, intervertebral hernias may begin to develop (some patients will pass this fate). In some cases, there is severe back pain. Concomitant diagnoses develop, which in one way or another affect all systems of the body. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the hernia and the location of the chondrosis.
- The fourth step is the most difficult. The patient is unable to lead a fulfilling life and enjoy freedom of movement. Almost all postures occupied by the body cause sharp pain at the site of localization of osteochondrosis. At this stage, we can talk about the appointment of a disability to the patient.
Causes of occurrence
Osteochondrosis brings a lot of suffering, worsens the quality of life, can lead to complete or partial immobilization of the patient and disability. What are the reasons for the appearance of this disease? They are as follows:
- Sedentary lifestyle, static sitting or lying down in one position. The muscles atrophy, the vertebrae wear down the cartilage and the discs between them. This process can take years, but will inevitably lead to osteochondrosis.
- Modern young men and women go to the gym and perform exercises with a barbell and dumbbells, poor performance of which leads to chronic diseases of the spine. For example, the poor technique of performing the "squat with a bar" exercise has presented surgeons and orthopedists with tens of thousands of young patients with acute osteochondrosis and scoliosis.
- People who, due to their work activities, have to sit at the table in the same position for several hours at a time are also at risk. According to WHO statistics, office workers account for the lion's share of patients with osteochondrosis.
The main symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The vertebrae of the cervical spine gradually lose fluid and become fragile. As a result of this process, the veins and arteries are compressed. The nutrition of the brain is disrupted and subsequently the death of its cells. Cervical osteochondrosis has the maximum negative effect on the part of the brain responsible for the activity of the heart muscle. Often the optic or auditory nerve is pinched, resulting in loss of vision and hearing impairment.
Types of cervical osteochondrosis:
- radicular, or the so-called "cervical radiculitis" - it is characterized mainly by severe pain in the occiput, neck, head;
- irritative reflex - discomfort in the chest, back, numbness in the fingers;
- heart disease, which is characterized by symptoms of cardiovascular disease.
Only an orthopedic surgeon or surgeon can make an accurate diagnosis. Regardless of the type of cervical osteochondrosis, the treatment will be almost the same.
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
The rarest type of disease. Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are characteristic of many other diseases. An inexperienced doctor can often diagnose arrhythmias, angina pectoris, cardiomyopathy (while waiting for ECG results), pancreatitis, or even gastritis. Only an experienced orthopedist or spinal surgeon can provide accurate information about the type of thoracic osteochondrosis.
With a pronounced pathological process, there is a disruption in the work of certain parts of the spinal cord. The main signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine:
- Dorsago - sharp and unbearable chest pain, feeling of shortness of breath, the patient seems to be suffocating or the heart rate is abnormal.
- Back pain - the patient experiences less discomfort than with the back pain. The pain is less pronounced and radiates to the hands, fingers (therefore, doctors often confuse symptoms with diseases of the cardiovascular system).
Symptoms and consequences of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
The most common type of osteochondrosis is the lumbar spine. This is due to the fact that it is the lower back that experiences the most stress in the process of daily living.
At the first stage, the main symptom is a slight stretching of the lower back. People rarely attach importance to such mild conditions. As the intervertebral discs wear down, the negative symptoms also increase. In particular, the patient can no longer lie or sit in one position for a long time due to the pain.
In the third or fourth stage of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, there are:
- lumbago - sharp, sudden pain, which can lead to partial immobilization of the patient;
- sciatica - unilateral entrapment of the sciatic nerve;
- sciatica - compression of the nerve endings of the lumbar spine;
- weakness of the lower extremities, muscle atrophy, venous congestion, impaired sexual function and the work of the abdominal and pelvic organs are also often observed;
- radiculoischemia - a failure of blood circulation as a result of vascular compression.
Generalized osteochondrosis
This type of disease affects not only the spine, but also the joints. Most often, the shoulder and the hip. Symptoms of generalized osteochondrosis are neurological in nature, in rare cases with damage to internal organs due to impaired blood circulation.
In the hip joint, the disease is manifested by changes in cartilage tissue, dryness of interarticular fluid. Over time, the joint partially and then completely loses its former mobility.
Polysegmental osteochondrosis
The manifestations of the disease are not in one, but in several parts of the body. For example, often there is a combination of the defeat of the third vertebra and the twelfth - in this case, osteochondrosis will be considered polysegmental.
Treatment in this case will be exactly the same as for standard signs of cervical or thoracic osteochondrosis. Magnetotherapy and other physiotherapy procedures have been shown to be excellent for exacerbating pain and discomfort due to polysegmental chondrosis. Now you know what types of spinal osteochondrosis are there.
Medication for osteochondrosis
Pharmacological means for relieving the manifestation of symptoms of osteochondrosis can be divided into the following groups:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs - to relieve the symptoms of pain and swelling in the affected area. There are two types: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticoids.
- Pain relief.
- Muscle relaxants to relieve muscle spasms.
- Hondoprotectors - drugs to improve the nutrition of cartilage tissue.
- Vitamin and mineral complexes - to restore normal blood circulation and activate metabolism.
- Medicines to improve and restore impulse conduction in nerve cells.
In some cases, you need to use diuretics to relieve swelling in the muscles and connective tissue between the vertebrae. It is strictly forbidden to prescribe drugs on your own - you can not only not be cured, but also worsen the course of the disease.
Therapeutic gymnastics and physical education for osteochondrosis
Any orthopedist will confirm the importance of physical exercise in obtaining remission in the chronic course of osteochondrosis.
What type of sport is safe for osteochondrosis? It is better to prefer swimming, stretching, Pilates, flexing the body - those directions in which there are no sudden movements. Traumatic martial arts and weightlifting sports with osteochondrosis are prohibited. The patient should not work with a weight of more than five kilograms.
Don't underestimate the benefits of daily morning exercise. It should not be done on a case-by-case basis, but on an ongoing basis. Only in this case there will be benefits for the spine. Simple hand swings, "mill", "bicycle" - exercises, familiar to everyone from childhood, will help stretch your back and relieve pain. All movements should be executed as smoothly and precisely as possible to avoid injury.
Office workers should step away from the computer once an hour and do a five-minute warm-up. This will serve as an excellent prevention and treatment of existing osteochondrosis.
Massage and manual therapy
Of all the types of osteochondrosis treatment, this one is the most enjoyable. It all depends on the choice of a specialist - both the result and the feeling. Types of massage for osteochondrosis - classic, acupressure, canned, hardware, honey.
With manual therapy, the situation is more complicated. First of all, this procedure is painful: often patients of manualists cannot suppress a cry of pain during manipulations with the spine. Second, if the chiropractor is inexperienced, this procedure can be dangerous. Choose specialists with good patient opinions, a real diploma and a wealth of therapeutic experience.