Osteochondritis of the spine

As a rule, the first symptoms of the disease appear in humans during the period of physiological aging of the body. But there are situations where pathology begins to develop much earlier. And the reason for this is often the wrong lifestyle.

In medicine, there is also such a thing as chondrosis and it has similar symptoms and etiology. What is the difference between chondrosis and osteochondrosis? It is simple. Chondrosis is the initial stage in the development of osteochondrosis when the processes of replacing damaged tissue with fibrosis and the formation of osteophytes have not yet begun in the spine. When there is a pronounced deformation of the spine and the formation of new processes, we talk about osteochondrosis.

Provocative factors

What is chondrosis and osteochondrosis - figured out. Now we need to talk about the reasons for their development. After all, if you do not remove them, the treatment of the disease will not allow to achieve positive dynamics. As already mentioned in the beginning, the main reason for the onset of the pathology is an uneven load on the spine. It can be provoked by:

• carry heavy bags on one shoulder or in one hand;
• wrong posture while sitting;
• sleep on a soft mattress, high pillow;
• wearing uncomfortable and anatomically incorrect shoes.

And also osteochondrosis of the spine can develop against the background:

• hypodynamics (accompanied by decreased blood circulation, decreased muscle tone, shortness of breath);
• passive lifestyle;
• obesity;
• injuries (fractures, sprains, bruises);
• flat feet;
• other degenerative diseases leading to poor circulation in the spine.

Highlight the causes of osteochondrosis of the spine, it should also be noted:

• frequent physical stress;
• neuro-emotional exhaustion;
• metabolic disorders;
• poisoning (drugs, chemicals);
• pathology of the digestive tract;
• genetic predisposition;
• scoliosis;
• hypovitaminosis;
• pregnancy;
• smoking;
• beverages alcoholic beverages;
• prolonged / frequent dehydration.

There are many causes for the development of spinal osteochondrosis. Most often, its occurrence occurs immediately on the basis of the influence of several factors (for example, trauma, passive lifestyle, smoking, prolonged stay in the wrong position). It can only be established through a thorough diagnosis, examination of medical history.

Stages of development

Before talking about what to do if chondrosis begins to develop, it is also necessary to say about its stages of development, as not only the severity of symptoms but also the treatment tactics depends directly on them. There are 4 degrees in total:

• First stage. At this stage, pathological processes occur in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. Dehydration (dehydration) is noted in it, which ultimately contributes to a decrease in its height and the formation of cracks in the annulus fibrosus. There is no symptomatic picture at this stage of the disease. A person can only feel slight discomfort in the back area after intense physical exertion, being in an uncomfortable position for a long time, etc.
• Second phase. It is accompanied by a decrease in the intervertebral space, sagging of vertebral muscles and ligaments. Such changes lead to increased mobility of the vertebrae. And any provocative factor can cause them to shift or slip. As for the symptoms, at this stage, patients already have back discomfort and pain that occurs with certain types of strain, pos.
• Third stage. It is characterized by the appearance of prolapses and protrusions, subluxations, osteoarthritis of the intervertebral joints. At this stage, the disease often provokes stiffness of movements, a tingling sensation in the pathological area and numbness. The pain syndrome has a pronounced character, it occurs periodically even at rest, in the absence of heavy loads.
• Phase four. At this stage, the body is trying to adapt to the disorders that have occurred. His task is to do everything to improve the fixation of the spine. To do this, he begins to form osteophytes - bone formations that replace the cavities in the spine. But in this way, the body not only helps itself but also harms. After all, osteophytes lead to pinched nerves, damaging healthy vertebrae. And this becomes the cause of the development of fibrous ankylosis of the joints and intervertebral discs (an increase in the volume of fibrous tissue with its simultaneous fusion with the remnants of cartilage). If a person has microtrauma and violation at the same time, the severity of the pain syndrome increases. In their absence, the clinical picture diminishes.

Symptoms

When talking about what osteochondrosis is and how to get rid of it, one can not help but talk about the symptoms with which it can manifest itself. The main sign of its development is the presence of discomfort or pain in the neck, thoracic region and lower back. The severity of sensations depends directly on the degree of development of the disease.

A visual examination of the patient reveals a curvature of the spine in the transverse or longitudinal plane. Most often they are observed in the lumbar or neck, less often in the thoracic region.

If we talk about the patient's feelings themselves, there is among them periodic or constant fatigue in the back area as well as pain, which can be both worn and pronounced, depending on the severity of the pathological processes. It can be located in:

• neck,
• Shoulder belt;
• breast;
• lumbar region;
• perineum.

In this case, stiffness of movements is possible, which makes it difficult to perform household chores. It most often occurs in the upper limbs. The symptomatic picture can be supplemented with other signs. It all depends on the location of the focus, its severity and the characteristics of the organism. If a patient has dislocation of discs, protrusions, hernias, osteophytes, then this often leads to decreased blood circulation, dysfunction of the spinal canal, edema, fibrosis, squeezing. All of this provokes the appearance of symptoms that can complicate the diagnosis and lead to a misdiagnosis.

When we talk about how osteochondrosis manifests itself, it is necessary to highlight the most common symptoms that patients complain of. These include:

• pain occurring in neck, lower back, shoulder girdle, ribs;
• stiffness of movements, discomfort in the morning after waking up when bending, turning;
• feeling of numbness in arms, legs, neck;
• discomfort in joints and back muscles;
• frequent dizziness, migraine;
• rapid fatigue;
• heartache;
• violation of the sensitivity of the upper limbs;
• decreased muscle tone.

Signs of osteochondrosis depend directly on the location of the pathological focus:

• Cervical section. In this case, the pain is localized in the neck, arms, shoulder girdle. She can give to the shoulder blades and shoulders. Cervical osteochondrosis can also manifest as headache, tinnitus, "goosebumps" in front of the eyes and dizziness.
• Chest section. With this pathology, pain occurs in the chest. Can give to the upper shoulder, armpits. It often causes discomfort and tenderness in the heart region. It can provoke dysfunction of the respiratory system, shortness of breath.
• Lumbosacral region. Pain syndrome predominates in the lumbar spine. It also manifests as discomfort in the legs, hips and pelvic organs. Often provokes sexual dysfunction.

Any discomfort in the spine is a serious reason to see a doctor.

The presence of such signs as back fatigue, pain can also indicate not only the onset of the disease in question, but also the addition of other diseases that have nothing to do with dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs. Diagnoses of osteochondrosis or chondrosis can only be made by an experienced doctor after a thorough diagnosis.

Diagnostics

What causes osteochondrosis and how it can manifest itself, we talked. But I must say that it will not work to make the correct diagnosis only on the basis of a visual examination and the patient's own feelings. To do this, you need to undergo a thorough examination, which necessarily includes:

• X-ray of the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine (depending on the area of discomfort);
• myelography;
• neurological examination of sensitivity, reflexes.

As additional diagnostic methods are used:

• CT;
• MRI;
• NMR.

To rule out the presence of inflammatory or infectious diseases, laboratory tests are also prescribed:

• OAM;
• UAC;
• blood chemistry.

If necessary, a consultation of specialists with a narrower profile is appointed.

Treatment methods

Unlike chondrosis, with osteochondrosis in the area of the ridge, a chronic process occurs which cannot be eliminated by conservative methods. But that does not mean there is no need to struggle with it. The lack of adequate therapy can lead to serious consequences - the spine is deformed, fibrous tissue will appear instead of the bone structures, which are not able to perform the necessary functions, the person is disabled.

Conservative therapy

What to do with osteochondrosis, your doctor will tell you. As a rule, the following methods are used with such a disease:

• Drug therapy. In this case, drugs are used to eliminate painful sensations, relieve inflammation and restore metabolism. If the patient has severe pain, medication blockages are used, which in addition to the analgesic effect help to reduce the severity of muscle tonic syndrome. There are the following types of blockages used in osteochondrosis: blockage of trigger points, intraosseous, faceted, paravertebral, epidural.
• Physiotherapy activities. They are also used to reduce pain and improve the effectiveness of drugs. Most often used for osteochondrosis ultrasound therapy, magnetic fields, low frequency currents, laser beams, etc.
• Physiotherapy and Chinese therapy. All patients, without exception, are prescribed exercise therapy. It is performed under the supervision of specialists. Provides posture correction, increases muscle tone, relieves nervous tension. The systematic execution of special exercises also helps to increase the spaces between the discs, in order to distribute the uniform load on the musculoskeletal system.
• Massage. Manual massage helps to normalize blood circulation, relieve muscle spasms and cramps. If the patient has disorders of the nervous system, hydromassage is prescribed.
• Manual therapy. It is selected individually for each patient. Provides normalization of lymphatic outflow, blood circulation, metabolism, mobility of the spine. Prevents the development of complications, strengthens the immune system.
• Spinal traction. This method involves stretching the spine using special equipment. Thus, it is possible to achieve an increase in the intervertebral space and reduce the manifestation of osteochondrosis.

Surgical treatment

If conservative treatment does not help eliminate signs of osteochondrosis and does not provide any positive dynamics at all, they resort to surgery. The indications for this are:

• cauda equina syndrome, which develops in the presence of a massive hernia;
• stenosis of the spinal canal with compression of the brain and neurovascular bundles;
• combination of osteochondrosis with significant spondylolisthesis with severe segment instability;
• compression of the root at the level of the lumbar segment L5;
• cervical osteochondrosis occurring with discogenic syndrome of vertebral arteries.

Treatment of osteochondrosis by surgery can be performed in several ways:

• Laminotomy. This type of surgery involves removing a fragment of the bone structure and the yellow ligament.
• Laminectomy. Below that, most of the spine that restricts the spinal canal is removed.
• Foraminotami. The purpose of the surgery is to widen the radicular canal.
• Discetomy. In this operation, partial or complete removal of the intervertebral disc is performed.
• Laser evaporation of the disk core. It is performed with the participation of a special LED, which ensures partial destruction of the disc, leading to reverse development of the hernia.

How to get rid of osteochondrosis, only the doctor decides. It is necessary to understand that each case is individual, and the choice of any method of surgical intervention depends on the location of the pathology, its severity, the patient has other diseases.

Traditional methods

At home you can treat a disease of the spine. However, this should only be done in cases where there are still symptoms of chondrosis (the initial stages of the development of the disease) and after a preliminary consultation with a doctor.

When talking about what helps with chondrosis, the following alternative prescription medications should be highlighted:

1. You need to take 1 kg of coarse salt, mix it with 3 tbsp. l. dry mustard, add 100 ml of water, mix everything thoroughly. The resulting gruel should be set on low heat and heated to a temperature of 50 degrees. The mixture is applied to the painful area, a film is placed on top of it, then a warm handkerchief. With such a compress, the patient must lie down until it has cooled down completely. After the procedure, it is necessary to stay warm for another 2 hours.
2. Pour 1, 5 liters of water into a saucepan, add 3 handfuls of sawdust there and bring the resulting mixture to a boil, then strain it. The sawdust is laid out on a plastic foil, which has previously been covered with a sheet on the bed. A gauze napkin is laid on top of the sawdust, after which they lie back on it and cover it with a warm blanket on top. Thus lie for 30 to 40 minutes.
3. Take 200 g cinquefoil roots, 100 g Potentilla roots, 100 g elecampane. The herbs are placed in a 3-liter jar, filled to the brim with vodka. The resulting composition is placed in a dark place for 3 weeks and then filtered. Take 3 times a day before meals, 1 tbsp. l. the whole month. Then take a break of 10 days and repeat the course.

It is difficult to treat osteochondrosis. It is difficult to respond to conservative therapy methods. However, if you combine them with proper nutrition, home treatment, exercise therapy and all the doctor's recommendations, then the patient has every chance to get rid of the pains that plague him and prevent the development of complications.