Osteochondrosis of the spine - symptoms and treatment, causes, everything has already been said, repeated. That this is not a disease, but the aging of the body, even if it is stronger than concrete, 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 rejuvenating pills, mixtures, powders, apples for osteochondrosis. It is easier to understand, this is compensation, from the fact that we live, walk, make stupid movements, sit, sleep. He cannot fully perform his functions, as in his youth. By the way, about young people, why do they have chondrosis? Here's a quick look at 21st century disease. We define the important functions of the spine. Let's find out the reasons for the main complications in young people and those who are over the years. We will discuss the diagnosis of the disease and methods of treatment. Let's clarify the basics of prevention and how to save ourselves 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: the ligaments, the cartilage soften the most varied movements of our body.
The spine absorbs any load in all areas, thanks to the unique intervertebral discs found in the structure of the spine.
The concept of the word "osteochondrosis"
The term "osteochondrosis" is used only in Russia, in the West they have abandoned this name and instead use the concept of "degenerative disease of the intervertebral disc or cartilage, you can also call it that". This definition reflects the essence of what happens on records.
Result: if osteochondrosis - degeneration (dystrophy) of the intervertebral cartilage by primitive 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 happening in the spine and where such a popular disease "osteochondrosis" comes from. By the way, what kind of disease is this? Simple: premature aging.
Degeneration has four stages and degrees of development, it develops in all three departments. Osteochondrosis occurs:
- cervical;
- chest; lumbar
- .
Tissue malnutrition
The tissue is nourished by the enormous circulatory system. Arteries, veins, vessels and capillaries, as well as muscle tissue, are all actively involved in the nutritional process. Together with the blood, important nutrients are transferred to the vertebrae, cartilage and muscles, by contracting, help the blood to move at the right speed.
The discs, having no blood vessels, suck up water and nutrients when the vertebrae relax. And when you press them, the same segments, on the contrary, give away the excess. Then it turns out that during the depreciation of the spine, due to compression and expansion, the discs are saturated and cleaned by the osmosis method. The more often osmosis occurs, the more satisfying and well fed they are.
It is the muscles surrounding the vertebrae from the back that carry out the movement process. It is not difficult to imagine if the muscles around the spine are not very mobile, blood circulation is slow, and complete metabolism is impaired. Cartilage suffers from a lack of nutrition and cannot be elastic and strong, dystrophy of the spine develops.
In the early stages of dystrophy, incorporating regular athletic movements into life can still be corrected fairly quickly. The younger generation has hope for a complete recovery.
What happens next? For a long time, being in a motionless state, the muscles weaken, the ligaments stretch and atrophy to such an extent that they cannot keep the spine in anatomical shape, various types of curvature appear:
- lordosis;
- kyphosis;
- scoliosis.
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-fledged existence begin to collapse. That is, degeneration occurs, a slow modification (destruction). A diagnosis is made - "Osteochondrosis" with all symptoms and long-term treatment with drugs that are not very effective without physical therapy.
The fact is that the core of the cartilage, which is made up of 80% water, where it is water that gives it elasticity, loses its elasticity in nature with age and a sedentary lifestyle acceleratesthis process. Therefore, the power of the disc slows down, less water flows and becomes thinner in height. But water and useful elements are needed not only for the disk, but for all components around it:
- tendons;
- muscles;
- fascia;
- associations.
But with old age, due to slow 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 an effort to be fit.
Osteochondrosis is a complex of dystrophic disorders of the cartilage and segments. Most often, the intervertebral pads are affected, but it also develops in the joints, only it has 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.
- Internal ones include genetics, nutritional tissue disorders at a young age (this was mentioned above), nerve stresses that spasm the muscles and remain in this state for a long time, or perhaps forever, forming trigger points.
- Outside (trauma, low and excessive physical activity).
The obvious reasons for internal and external factors cannot be disputed, except for old age. People go to the aging of the musculoskeletal system thanks to their laziness, from the moment they become independent. Understanding the benefits of morning exercise, a healthy lifestyle, at least in part, we deliberately use excuses, excuses for doing nothing. I do not hide, I myself was like that.
Complications
Dystrophic changes in the intervertebral disc per se are not a big deal. Many live a long time, do not go to doctors, as they are not very worried about the complications of osteochondrosis. But due to various reasons, severe pain often appears. After visiting a doctor, a person receives a lot of complications identified after the examination, such as protrusion, hernia, spondylosis (osteophyte), and vertebral instability.
These complications are thought to lead to painful symptoms when compression occurs on the nerve endings in the disc in 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 fibrous ring beyond the boundaries of the vertebral body, due to an increase in the nucleus pulposus, cracks sometimes appear in the layers of the annulus fibrosus.
- A herniated disc is a loosening of the fibrous ring. The cartilage has lost its elasticity and has split into parts, and the excessive load of this condition causes it to stick out, so a hernia appears. It can irritate the nerve root that emerges at the level of the vertebra from the spinal canal, so pain occurs with localization in one or another area of the body.
- Osteophytes - changes in the vertebral bodies themselves, the disc height decreases so much that its marginal bone growths (which are 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 on the appearance of discomfort and pain, forcing you to see a specialist. Soft tissue disorders (muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia). Everything that sets our skeleton in motion, and it is they who report the initial problems by sending a painful impulse. Diagnoses are made: sciatica, myositis, myalgia and much more, and all this is presumably symptoms against the background of osteochondrosis of the spine, and treatment is prescribed in the form of painkillers. And then it all repeats itself again, a vicious circle.
In women after the age of 50-55 the extinction of the reproductive functions begins. Enter the climacteric phase. It would seem like a natural transition, what can you do here. But if you don't take HRT or at least dietary supplements. So osteoporosis develops rapidly, which is often confused with osteochondrosis.
Diagnosis of spinal osteochondrosis
Self-diagnosis
- You can determine for yourself whether it is present or not. To do this, it is enough to evaluate how often your back hurts. How quickly get tired of little physical work, stress. If there is heaviness, discomfort, sometimes pain, then the changes are already taking place within the spine. Since a healthy person has no such back symptoms, she is simply healthy. Although there are hardly any healthier ones now.
- It is necessary to determine the flexibility of the spine. Flexibility is entirely dependent on stretching. The better it is, the healthier the spine.
Diagnostics in a polyclinic
At the doctor's appointment, to make the correct diagnosis, a referral for an x-ray is given. And then the appropriate treatment is prescribed.
Comparison layout for healthy and diseased segment. The layout shows how the vertebral disc and the segment body are the ideal structure that nature has created. The nerve endings move freely, they are not pinched, the disc is high and has a large margin of safety, with such an intervertebral disc a person can withstand up to 800 kg.
And next to it is shown a model deformed by the disease, the difference is significant. The disc is flattened, the edges of the vertebral body grow and acquire a distorted appearance. This is exactly the view in the photo.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Unfortunately, neglected complications cannot always be treated conservatively; they often need to be treated promptly. But in any case, they are treated and must be treated in a timely manner.
Osteochondrosis that occurs at the age of 70 is considered the norm of a person by age, and his doctors do not treat it for years. There is a different approach to young people, after diagnosing the symptoms, the necessary treatment is prescribed.
Treatment should only be combined.
- Eliminates pain, if any.
- Prescribe physiotherapy, reflexology, massage.
- Physical therapy.
Physiotherapy exercises, in principle, are the basis of treatment, because they help restore the normal biomechanics of the spine. And this leads to the discharge of the intervertebral discs. Swimming is a wonderful respite. But the beginning of classes, only after the pain symptoms have subsided.
Prevention of spinal osteochondrosis
Nowadays there are many sedentary professions for 8 hours, or even more, and no organism can resist that.
The spine is not only a support for our skeleton, but also a case for the spinal cord.
The most important organ for the central nervous system. And if the disease is neglected, you can become disabled. I don't want to scare, but limb paralysis, very severe, I'm familiar with this firsthand.
Therefore, in case of problems with the spine, you should not delay the visit to a specialist, it is more expensive for you. More often you need to think about a healthy lifestyle. Cycling, swimming pool, gym, basic morning exercises and walks. A convenient set of exercises at work to physically support your body and not be a wreck in the future.
To obtain a result it is necessary to develop a habit, regularity and discipline are the basis of prevention. After all, you don't need much, the body is grateful, you should love it, pay attention to it, and it will respond with good health. And what do you think?
I hope the article was informative for you, you realized that almost everyone has osteochondrosis of the spine, only the symptoms and treatment are different. By studying your body deeper, you can prevent disease, and by studying from the inside, you will have something to ask your doctor.
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Take care of yourself and your spine!