Osteochondrosis of the spine is a degenerative disease manifested by the destruction of cartilage and bone tissue. The pathology is chronic and appears with frequent relapses. First of all, it affects the intervertebral disc, and then other structures of the axial column and the central nervous system.
Initially, 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.
Causes
A single cause of osteochondrosis has not been determined. Doctors of old practice believed that the disease develops against the background of the deposition of calcium salts that are not completely absorbed by bone tissue. Today, other versions of the manifestation of dystrophic destruction of the spine are presented.
The main ones are:
- back injuries;
- inheritance;
- flat feet, congenital soles;
- obesity;
- sedentary work, passive lifestyle;
- metabolic disorder;
- poor posture;
- asthenic body type, natural weakness of muscles and ligaments;
- harmful working conditions (vibration, vibration, body shaking);
- frequent lifting of heavy objects;
- hypothermia;
- stress;
- chronic tissue inflammation of an infectious nature.
For representatives of the fairer sex, uncomfortable shoes with high heels can be a provocative factor. Frequent pregnancies also contribute to the development of spinal lesions.
Symptoms
The degenerative destruction that occurs in the body of the intervertebral disc leads to loss of elasticity, prevents the accumulation and release of fluid and worsens the shock-absorbing properties of the axial column.
As a result, the load on the fibrous annulus increases, it becomes thinner and cracks, and the vertebrae move dangerously close to each other. Pathological compression of bone and cartilage structures develops.
The severe pain that appears is accompanied by the following symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis:
- numbness, lumps, burning sensation in the affected area;
- decreased mobility;
- back muscle fatigue;
- decreased performance, fatigue.
The considered signs of osteochondrosis are general. 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 deteriorates, which leads to frequent migraines, dizziness and loss of consciousness. 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 get up and sit down. The pain appears in the buttocks, radiating down the limb to the lower leg and foot. Intermittent claudication develops.
Most of the symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis belong to the vertebral type. Disorders that form outside the axial column are called extravertebral syndromes. For example, vascular disorders in the brain caused by compression of the vertebral artery.
The types
Osteochondrosis of the back is classified according to its place of occurrence - cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral. More than half of the cases occur in the lumbar spine, a third of all diagnoses are related to the cervical segment.
Which doctor treats osteochondrosis?
If you have severe back pain, you should postpone the appointment with a neurologist or neurologist. If such specialists are not available at your local clinic, you should contact your GP. After the initial examination, the doctor will prescribe treatment or refer you to other specialists.
Diagnosing
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis begins with interviewing the patient. The doctor is interested in the time of onset of symptoms, the intensity and nature of the pain and its location. Then the specialist begins visual inspection 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 comes to the rescue, which differs from the classical one in the location of the patient's body.
Treatment
How to treat spinal osteochondrosis? To fight the disease, conservative and surgical therapy is used. The main goal of both techniques is to eliminate pain and prevent further destruction of bone tissue and cartilage.
Non-operative treatment of osteochondrosis of the back includes:
- massage;
- exercise therapy;
- traction of the entire spine;
- manipulative therapy;
- impact on active points.
The effectiveness of the methods depends mainly on the persistence of the patient and on the systematic nature of the manipulations.
The intensive therapy period lasts 2-2. 5 months. At the beginning of the course, it is possible to increase pain and discomfort in the back area.
Surgical treatment of spinal osteochondrosis is prescribed when a conservative approach is ineffective. An indication for surgery is compression of the intervertebral space by 1/3 of the original distance. The main method of intervention for osteochondrosis is discectomy - partial or radical removal of the affected disc.
After spine surgery, the patient needs rehabilitation for at least six months. During this period, the patient is recommended to visit sanatoriums, take a course of mineral baths, physiotherapy and massage.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely cure spinal osteochondrosis. Degenerative changes in bones and soft tissues are irreversible and appear chronically. The process of destruction can only be slowed down and its inherent symptoms alleviated.
Complications
Complications of spinal osteochondrosis are often formed as a result of compression of the spinal cord and feeding arteries. Against this background, the patient develops discogenic myelopathy, limb paresis, impaired reflexes and sphincter dysfunction. 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 left untreated for a long time, severe damage to the pelvis and legs, paralysis of the limbs and intermittent claudication can develop. In women, long-term spinal dystrophy often leads to infertility; in men, a decrease in potency is typical.
Preventing
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 health for many years.
Prevention of spinal osteochondrosis includes more specific measures:
- avoiding stress;
- timely treatment of infections and pathologies of the musculoskeletal system;
- weight limitation 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 eliminate severe symptoms. The main thing is not to despair and fight for your health.