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What is osteochondrosis

As we age, many people suffer from musculoskeletal disorders.The most common disease in this area of medicine is spinal osteochondrosis.Unfortunately, today it affects not only representatives of the older generation, but also young people, full of energy.The reasons are many: sedentary work, lack of sport or any other physical activity and so on.

Things?

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

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

back pain due to osteochondrosis

Reasons

There may be many factors that provoke the development of the disease.This includes hypothermia, vertebral displacements following injury, and intense physical exertion.

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

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

Most often, athletes, loaders, builders and all those whose occupation is associated with active physical work are susceptible to osteochondrosis.For those who, on the contrary, lead a sedentary lifestyle, doctors recommend moving more, practicing some kind of preventive sport, as well as proper nutrition so that the body receives all the vitamins, minerals and microelements it needs.

Symptoms

The symptoms of osteochondrosis directly depend on the affected vertebral region.

  • Osteochondrosis of the cervical spineThe spine is accompanied by frequent neck pain going to the back and chest, tension of the neck muscles, which can cause pain to touch, swelling and numbness of the tongue, sensation of goosebumps and tingling in the neck and palms, a feeling of general weakness in the neck and shoulders.
  • Osteochondrosis of the thoracic regionthe spine has the following symptoms: sharp pain in the sternum, sensation of chest compression and intercostal pain may occur during physical activity.
  • Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral regionthe spine is usually accompanied by lower back pain, which can radiate to the legs, sacrum and groin, lack of sensation in the legs, cold hands and feet, tingling sensation in the lower limbs.

If you experience one or more symptoms of this disease, you should immediately consult a specialist, as osteochondrosis can lead to disturbances in the functioning of many organs and systems, pinching of nerves, as well as migraines, dizziness and insomnia.Lumbosacral osteochondrosis is especially dangerous, since subsequently there is a risk of developing heart and vascular diseases, diseases of the genitourinary system, scoliosis and displacement of intervertebral discs.

Phases

Osteochondrosis develops gradually and has several stages of its development:

  • In the first phaseIt is still difficult to understand that the disease has arisen.The symptoms are not pronounced, the patient feels only mild discomfort.Mild pain in the back and lower back occurs from time to time, but most often it is attributed to overwork and increased physical activity.Most often, first-degree osteochondrosis is diagnosed accidentally during routine examination of the patient.
  • In the second phasethe pain occurs more often and becomes more severe, and the processes of deformation of the cartilaginous tissue begin.The easiest way to treat osteochondrosis is in the second stage, since the doctor can already see all the changes occurring in the body.Painkillers can be added to general complex therapy.
  • To the third phasedeformation of the spine occurs, scoliosis, kyphosis and other back diseases begin to develop.Treatment is aimed at modifying spinal defects and minimizing defects that have occurred.
  • To the fourth phaseosteochondrosis, it becomes difficult for the patient to move, the cartilaginous tissue thickens and some vertebrae shift.Pain constantly accompanies a person.Very often, at the fourth stage of the disease, the patient is recognized as disabled.
spinal lesions due to osteochondrosis

Diagnostics

Your doctor can provide a preliminary 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 motion.After that hardware diagnostics will be performed in order to clarify the diagnosis and clarify possible complications.

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

  • MRI;
  • CT (computed tomography);
  • radiographic examination;
  • Ultrasound (ultrasound examination);
  • study of the arterial vessels of the brain.

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

The patient, in turn, must remember that the symptoms of osteochondrosis can be signs of any other disease, therefore the quality of the diagnosis should be the highest, since it is on the final result that treatment will be prescribed.

Consequences

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

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

In patients with fourth stage osteochondrosis, heart rhythm disorders, abnormal functioning of the respiratory system may occur;the organs of vision and hearing may also be affected and coordination of movements may be impaired.

Since osteochondrosis primarily affects the blood supply system, the entire human body is at risk.It is worth noting 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;
  • surgical.

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

With a conservative treatment method, the patient will be prescribed a whole range of drugs and other techniques, such as massage, therapeutic exercises, physical therapy.This method of therapy involves taking medications and treating the hardware.

The most used conservative treatment methods are the following:

  • Therapeutic physical education, the exercises of which will be individually adapted to the patient's body condition.
  • Acupuncture.
  • Massages and hydromassage.
  • Magnetotherapy and vibrational stimulation.
  • Ultrasound and laser therapy.
  • Medicines.
  • Correct nutrition, which will also be individually adapted to the patient.
  • Psychotherapy.

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

The surgical method of treating osteochondrosis is aimed at stabilizing the motor activity of the damaged segments of the spine.In case of spinal hernia, surgery can be performed in two ways: normally 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 condition of the body.According to statistics, surgery is resorted to 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 timely prevention of this disease:

  • First of all, it is a good idea to always monitor your posture, keeping your back and neck straight even while working on the computer.
  • It is also necessary to devote a sufficient amount of time to sports or any other physical activity, thereby strengthening the muscle corset.Pool exercises are suitable for these purposes.
  • Special orthopedic mattresses and pillows can also be a good prevention of osteochondrosis.
  • Particular attention should be paid to the method of weight lifting: to relieve the spine from excessive stress, you must first squat, and then pick up a heavy thing.It should be noted that you cannot lift more than 17 kg at a time.
  • The basic principles of diet are also important elements in the treatment of osteochondrosis.Food should provide all the beneficial vitamins and minerals to the body, especially during the period of vitamin deficiency.Avoid consuming too much caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, fast food and carbonated drinks.The diet should include fruits and vegetables as sources of fiber, as well as meat, fish and legumes as sources of protein.

Each person must remember that undetected osteochondrosis can be extremely dangerous for the entire body;all organs and systems of the body are at risk.It is necessary to carefully monitor the general state of health and undergo specialist checks once every six months.