Osteochondrosis of the spine is a degenerative disease manifested by the destruction of cartilage and bone tissue. The pathology is chronic in nature and often occurs with relapses. First of all, it affects the intervertebral disc, and then other structures of the axial column and the central nervous system.
At first, spinal osteochondrosis was considered a disease of the elderly, but recently the pathology has become significantly younger. Today, degenerative changes are often diagnosed in people aged 23-45.
Reasons
A single cause of osteochondrosis has not been identified. Doctors of the old practice believed that the disease develops against the background of the deposition of calcium salts that are not completely absorbed by the bone tissue. Today, other versions of the occurrence of dystrophic destruction of the spine are put forward.
The main ones are:
- back injuries;
- heredity;
- straight legs, congenital clubfoot;
- obesity;
- sedentary work, passive lifestyle;
- metabolic disorder;
- poor posture;
- asthenic body type, natural weakness of muscles and ligaments;
- harmful working conditions (vibration, shaking, body shaking);
- frequent lifting of heavy objects;
- hypothermia;
- stress;
- chronic inflammation of tissues of an infectious nature.
For the fairer sex, uncomfortable high-heeled shoes can be a provocative factor. Often, pregnancy also contributes to the development of spinal lesions.
Symptoms
Degenerative destruction of the body of the intervertebral disc leads to loss of elasticity, prevents the accumulation and release of fluid, and worsens the shock absorption properties of the axial column.
As a result, the load on the fibrous ring increases, it thins and cracks, and the vertebrae become dangerously close to each other. Pathological compression of bone structures and cartilage develops.
The severe pain that occurs is accompanied by the following symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis:
- numbness, gas bubbles, burning sensation in the affected area;
- decreased mobility;
- back muscle fatigue;
- decreased performance, fatigue.
Considered symptoms of osteochondrosis are common. The specific symptoms of the disease depend on which segment of the spine is destroyed.
With compression of the cervical spine, the blood flow in the vessels worsens, which often leads to migraines, dizziness and fainting. The patient may complain of tinnitus, spots before the eyes, pain in the shoulders and arms.
Structural destruction in the lower back forces a person to take a forced posture, slowly stand up and sit down. The pain appears in the buttock and spreads around the lower leg and foot. Intermittent claudication develops.
Most symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis refer to the vertebral type. Disorders occurring outside the axial column are called extravertebral syndromes. For example, vascular disorders in the brain due to compression of the vertebral artery.
Species
Osteochondrosis of the back is classified according to the place of occurrence - cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral. More than half of the cases occur in the lumbar region, one-third of all diagnoses are in the cervical segment.
Which doctor treats osteochondrosis?
If you have severe back pain, you should postpone your appointment with a neurologist or neurologist. If your local clinic does not have such specialists, you should contact your general practitioner. After the initial examination, the doctor will prescribe treatment or refer to other specialists.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis begins with an interview with the patient. The doctor is interested in the time of onset of symptoms, the intensity and nature of the pain, and the location. Then the specialist begins a visual examination and palpation of the spine.
Due to the variety of symptoms, a mandatory element in the diagnosis of osteochondrosis is the use of instrumental studies:
- X-ray of the entire spine in 2 projections;
- MRI and CT;
- Dopplerography of the vessels and arteries of the cervical spine.
Unfortunately, X-rays do not give a complete picture of the condition of the soft structures of the spine - the spinal roots and disc tissue remain unexamined. In this case, functional MRI, which differs from the classic one in the location of the patient's body, comes to the rescue.
Treatment
How to treat spinal osteochondrosis? Conservative and surgical therapy is used to fight the disease. The main goal of both techniques is to relieve pain and prevent further destruction of bone tissue and cartilage.
Non-operative treatment of back osteochondrosis includes:
- massage;
- exercise therapy;
- stretching of the entire spine;
- manipulation therapy;
- affects active points.
The effectiveness of the methods mainly depends on the persistence of the patient and the systematic nature of the manipulations.
The intensive period of therapy lasts 2-2, 5 months. At the beginning of the course, increased pain and discomfort in the back region is possible.
Surgical treatment of spinal osteochondrosis is prescribed when the conservative approach is ineffective. The indication for surgery is compression of the intervertebral space by 1/3 of the original distance. The leading method of intervention for osteochondrosis is discectomy - partial or radical removal of the affected disc.
After spinal surgery, the patient requires rehabilitation for at least six months. During this period, the patient is recommended to visit sanatoriums, mineral baths, physiotherapy courses, massage.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely cure osteochondrosis of the spine. Degenerative changes in bones and soft tissues are irreversible and manifest chronically. The destruction process can only be slowed down and its characteristic symptoms alleviated.
Complications
Complications of osteochondrosis of the spine are often caused by compression of the spinal cord and feeding arteries. Against this background, the patient develops discogenic myelopathy, paresis of limbs, impaired reflexes, and dysfunction of sphincters. A herniated disc can cause a spinal cord infarction.
Damage to the cervical spine causes hearing loss, blurred vision and constant migraines. The patient develops memory problems and reduced learning ability.
If osteochondrosis is not treated for a long time, severe damage to the pelvis and legs, paralysis of the limbs, and intermittent claudication may develop. In women, long-term spinal dystrophy often leads to infertility, in men, a decrease in potency is typical.
Prevention
No one is immune from a disease like osteochondrosis. In old age, the disease affects almost everyone. To prevent dystrophic changes, it is necessary to take care of the spine from a young age.
Moderate sports activity, a balanced diet with a sufficient amount of vitamins, a healthy lifestyle - all this will help you maintain your health for many years.
Prevention of spinal osteochondrosis includes more specific measures:
- avoid stress;
- timely treatment of infections and pathologies of the musculoskeletal system;
- limit the weight of lifting objects;
- strengthening the immune system.
Women can be advised to choose the right shoes and monitor the appearance of foot valgus.
The development of spinal osteochondrosis can significantly complicate the patient's life. Only long-term and systematic treatment will help to get rid of severe symptoms. The main thing is not to despair and fight for your health.