Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is the cause of acute back pain in 67% of total cases. Lack of timely consultation with a doctor, consultation and treatment can lead to consequences such as disruption of the functioning of internal organs, damage to the spinal cord and damage to the nerve roots of the spine. What is osteochondrosis, what types of treatment exist for patients and how the disease is diagnosed - read on.

What is osteochondrosis?

Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic disease that leads to thinning of the intervertebral cartilage. The hyaline cartilage and intervertebral discs begin to "wear out", losing the ability to fully function.

Reference.In most cases, spinal osteochondrosis is diagnosed in people over the age of 25. According to the WHO, in 2021, 43% of the population aged between 25 and 40 suffer from osteochondrosis and more than 92% of people of advanced age. The onset and exacerbation of the disease can be caused by surrounding unfavorable factors.

Types of osteochondrosis

Every part of the spinal column is subject to degeneration processes. Among the types of osteochondrosis of the spine, 3 main ones can be distinguished: cervical, thoracic and lumbar (due to the high load it is more common than others).

1. Lumbar osteochondrosis. The lumbar region is made up of 5 vertebrae subject to deformation due to the negative impact of external and internal factors. When nutrition and metabolic processes in the intervertebral discs are disrupted, pain occurs, caused by loss of elasticity and thinning of cartilage tissue.
2. Cervical osteochondrosis.The cervical spine is made up of 7 vertebrae that are regularly exposed to stress. Pathological processes are activated when the body's metabolic processes fail.
3. Thoracic osteochondrosis.The thoracic region is made up of 12 vertebrae. This type of osteochondrosis is the least common. The thoracic vertebrae are inactive. People who lead a passive lifestyle and regularly lift heavy objects are susceptible to the disease.

Causes of osteochondrosis

The number of people suffering from osteochondrosis is growing rapidly every year. This is due to the fact that people spend most of their time standing, providing maximum load to the intervertebral discs.

Important!With age/due to heavy loads, the discs and cartilage become deformed. Fissures and hernias may appear. As a result, compressed nerve roots, thinned discs, pathological processes in the spinal cord, muscle spasms and progressive pain.

The risk group includes: office workers, builders, hairdressers, sellers, drivers. Both men and women are equally susceptible to the appearance of osteochondrosis.

Factors that cause osteochondrosis include:

• presence of osteochondrosis in a family history;
• overweight, obesity;
• passive lifestyle;
• flat feet.

Impaired depreciation of the spine and its deformation can be caused by the following factors:

1. Self-neglect (complete lack of physical activity or excessive exercise).
2. Lack of awareness about correct postures to reduce stress on the spine.
3. Constant work involving lifting/moving heavy objects.
4. Injuries.

Osteochondrosis: 4 stages of development of the disease

There are 4 stages of development of spinal osteochondrosis:

1. First stage– there are no clear symptoms by which the disease can be diagnosed. Back pain occasionally appears, often after physical exertion or excessive strain. Early-stage osteochondrosis can be detected during a preventive examination or during a CT or x-ray examination.
2. Second phase.The next stage is characterized by moderate pain. The cartilaginous tissue begins to deform and the distance between the spinal discs decreases. When contacting a doctor, drug therapy (to reduce pain) and physical therapy are prescribed.
3. Third phase– the spine becomes deformed, fibrous areas and hernias appear, the pain intensifies and becomes more pronounced and frequent. At this stage, it all depends on the existing symptoms. The doctor will help determine the method of treatment for the patient (conservative or surgical).
4. Fourth phase– irreversible deformation of spinal function. It is almost impossible for the patient to move independently. The pain is sharp, constant and increases with any physical activity. Pathological bone tissue fills the intervertebral space, the patient becomes disabled.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis

As mentioned above, there are 3 types of osteochondrosis, and each of them is characterized by individual manifestations. Let's look at all the symptoms further.

Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis

How to understand that you have lumbar osteochondrosis? You can notice characteristic symptoms:

• stiffness of movements;
• pain in the pelvis, sacrum, lower back, and lower extremities that becomes more intense with exercise or movement. The nature of pain is painful, dull, acute;
• pathological processes of the genitourinary system (problems with defecation and urination);
• weakness in the legs;
• impairment/lack of sensation.

Important!Self-medication is strictly prohibited. When lumbar osteochondrosis is detected, diagnosis and effective treatment are mandatory. The consequences of lack of therapy are hernias, protrusions, paralysis of the lower limbs.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

How to understand that you have cervical osteochondrosis? One or more symptoms may occur:

• frequent headaches;
• numbness of the upper and lower limbs;
• strong creaking of the cervical spine during physical activity;
• "spots", spots in the eyes, cloudiness and darkening;
• burning sensation and discomfort in the heart area;
• the appearance of tinnitus, hearing loss;
• causeless dizziness;
• pain in shoulders, neck, arms.

Important!Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is considered one of the most dangerous for humans, as it complicates the process of saturation of the brain with blood. If left untreated, bumps and then hernias appear. Surgery for cervical osteochondrosis has a high risk of paralysis of the body. If symptoms appear, contact only qualified specialists.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

How to understand that you have thoracic osteochondrosis? Only a doctor (neurologist) can diagnose the disease, but the patient can assume the presence of osteochondrosis based on characteristic signs:

• discomfort, burning sensation localized in the chest;
• the appearance of pain when raising your arms, pain in the shoulder blades;
• dizziness and sudden loss of consciousness occur;
• chest pain.

Reference.During the passage of the disease to the acute phase, dorsago (lack of air, sharp/stiff pain in the chest, "low back pain") and dorsalgia (the pain can be episodic or constant, of an acute/startling nature) may occur.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is difficult to diagnose. The disease is often confused with angina pectoris, a heart attack or inflammatory processes in the lungs.

Diagnosis of spinal osteochondrosis

When visiting a doctor, the medical history and physical examination of the musculoskeletal system begin.
patient device. The specialist will check the integrity of the reflexes and the level of sensitivity of the painful areas. Blood tests and other laboratory tests are then ordered. To clarify the diagnosis, the neurologist prescribes one or more types of imaging:

1. Ultrasound of the vertebral arteries.
2. X-ray of the entire spine or some areas (cervical, thoracic, lumbar).
3. CT of the spine helps to identify the presence of degenerative processes, displacements, deformations of the spine and its structures.
4. MRI of the spine: identifies soft tissue pathologies, helps scan the spinal cord and intervertebral discs.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

How to treat osteochondrosis is determined by the attending physician, depending on the type of disease, the severity of symptoms and the degree of pathological changes. As therapeutic therapy can be used: physiotherapy, drug treatment, classes with a chiropractor, therapeutic massage, physical therapy or surgery (in the absence of positive dynamics from other treatment methods or at an advanced stage).

Pharmacological treatment of osteochondrosis

When prescribing medical therapy with drugs, the doctor may use several groups of drugs at once:

• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - to relieve the symptoms of osteochondrosis, relieve pain and reduce inflammation. It can be used in the form of tablets or injections (in more severe cases). The duration of the treatment cycle ranges from 7 to 14 days;
• chondroprotectors – to strengthen intervertebral discs and cartilaginous tissue;
• B vitamins;
• vascular drugs - to improve blood supply to the spine;
• glucocorticosteroids – used as injections into the affected area (for severe forms of the disease);
• muscle relaxants - to relax muscles, relieve pain and inflammation.

Massage for osteochondrosis

A course of massage for osteochondrosis must be completed once every six months. Therapeutic massage eliminates tension, relieves tension and improves blood circulation in the affected area. Only the doctor can say about the advisability of prescribing a massage, the prerequisite is remission of the disease.

Traction (spinal traction)

Artificial traction of the spine is carried out only under the supervision of medical personnel, using special equipment. High-quality traction allows you to evenly distribute the vertebrae in the spine. Pain, tingling and inflammation are reduced.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy for spinal osteochondrosis is used to correct the curvature. The specialist applies a targeted effect on the patient's muscular and skeletal system. After therapy, blood and lymph circulation improves, stiffness disappears and mobility appears.

Physiotherapy treatment of osteochondrosis

It is practiced only during the period of remission of the disease; in the acute phase this method of treatment is prohibited. Physiotherapy is used as an auxiliary therapy, along with drug treatment. To reduce the symptoms of osteochondrosis, specialists use lasers, magnets and current (low frequency).

Acupuncture

The basis of acupuncture is the correct action on reflex zones and painful points. The therapy is prescribed only in combination with therapeutic massage to increase its effectiveness. The therapy restores the possibility of natural load on the spine without pain.

Physical therapy for osteochondrosis

Physical therapy is effective for all types of osteochondrosis and can be prescribed to patients of any age group. The type of exercises and the duration of their implementation are prescribed by the doctor. Moderate physical activity helps strengthen the back muscles, increase the mobility and flexibility of the spine, and improve the patient's condition.

The following types of lessons can be prescribed to the patient: kinesitherapy, therapeutic swimming, health program, mechanotherapy.

Important!Physical therapy classes are contraindicated during periods of exacerbation of osteochondrosis!

Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis

For spinal osteochondrosis, surgery is rarely prescribed as the only treatment option. The human spine has a complex structure with numerous vertebrae and nerve endings that influence the coordinated functioning of the entire body. With surgery there is a high risk of complications, so it is prescribed only in the most difficult cases or in the absence of improvement with other treatment methods.

Prevention of spinal osteochondrosis

Prevention is the best way to reduce the risk of developing osteochondrosis and achieve remission of existing spinal diseases. The main thing to remember when performing preventive exercises is that they should be regular and only during the period of remission.

It is better to simultaneously perform a set of simple gymnastic exercises. To avoid forgetting them, set a reminder on your phone or include them in your morning hygiene rituals.

1. Rest your forehead on the palm of your hand, tense your neck muscles. Execution – 3 sets of 5-7 seconds. Then repeat the same with the back of your head and palm.
2. The position of the shoulders is horizontal, the head is straight. Slowly tilt your head as far as possible to the right, then to the left. Do 5 times (slowly).
3. Tilt your head back slightly. Contract your neck muscles and gradually move your chin towards your chest. Do 5-7 times.
4. Place your left palm near the left temporal area (then your right palm and right temple). Apply pressure on the palm of your hand, tensing the neck muscles. Execution – 3 times for 10 seconds.

Important!Don't rush when doing the exercises. It is also forbidden to perform circular movements with the head due to the high risk of injury and crushing of the nerve endings.

The second set of preventive exercises against osteochondrosis can be performed at any time (especially after work or excessive exertion), but also regularly:

1. Stand straight, feet together, arms relaxed, take a deep breath. Raise your arms, exhale. Approach – 6-8 times.
2. Lie on your stomach, with your arms along your body, relaxed. Bend up, rest your hands, try to lift your head and feet. Stay in this position for 5 seconds. Return to the starting position. Repeat – 5-7 times.
3. Sit on a chair. Place your hands behind your head (take a deep breath), bend back 4-5 times so that your shoulder blades touch the back of the chair (exhale). Repeat – 5-7 times.
4. Stand up, lean back, take a deep breath. He relaxes his arms, bend forward, slowly lower his head and shoulders-exhale. Approach – 10 times.
5. Get on all fours. Go right. Arch your back and stay in this position for 3-4 seconds. Return to starting position, repeat 5-7 times.

How to stand, lie and sit with osteochondrosis?

Knowledge of correct postures that help to evenly distribute the load over the entire spine is necessary not only for patients suffering from osteochondrosis, but for all people. By following simple rules you will notice a significant improvement in your general condition and a reduction in the load on your back. In addition, you can protect your spine from many diseases with serious and painful symptoms.

How to sit correctly?

Let's learn to sit loosely, without causing the risk of deformation of the spine and the development of osteochondrosis:

• criteria for choosing a chair/chair: seat depth level - 2/3 of the length of the hips, seat height level should be equal to the length of the lower leg. This way your feet will rest on the floor. Small people need to put a small step or bench under their feet;
• pay attention to the depth of the desktop. It should be such that the legs do not have to be held to the side or bent strongly;
• When working for a long time while sitting, take a break every 20 minutes. Change the position of your legs, walk, do light gymnastics;
• sit behind the wheel with minimal stress. Your back should rest against the seat; a small pillow or cushion placed between the chair and your lower back will help with this. If possible, get out of the car every 25-30 minutes to warm up;
• Heavily padded furniture is not suitable for daily use. For a uniform load on the spine it is necessary to rest the body on the ischial tuberosities, which is only possible while sitting on a medium-hard surface;
• Your back should always touch the back of the chair/work chair. Try to sit upright, avoiding strong bends in your neck;
• do not sit/lie in the same position for a long time.

How to stand correctly?

If a person stays in the same position for a long time, a strong load is placed on the lumbar region (and the entire spine), which has a negative effect on it. To avoid excessive strain on the spine and increasing the risk of deformations, follow simple rules:

• do not stay in the same position for more than 10 minutes, change the position of your legs and arms;
• relieve tension in the neck - tilt your head to the right and left, stretch your arms forward, bend your back forward and backward - relax your back and lower back;
• when you lift something from the floor, bend down, bend your knees or squat, find a place to rest your hands;
• move, walk short distances so as not to stay still;
• try not to bend too much (back, head) during household chores (cleaning, ironing, cooking). When cleaning low or hard-to-reach surfaces, kneel down.

How to lie down?

The ideal choice of bed surface is a bed with a medium hardness mattress (ideally orthopedic which preserves the physiological curves of the spine). The bed should not be wooden or too soft.

How to lie down correctly if you suffer from severe pain?

• back pain - lie on your stomach, placing a small pillow under your lower back (so as not to increase the pain by bending over);
• leg pain: place a pillow (from a towel or blanket) under the knees. The pain syndrome will gradually decrease;
• neck pain: place your hand under your head or a pillow under your neck.

How to get out of bed in the morning during an attack of osteochondrosis?

• do a short warm-up of the upper and lower limbs;
• change your location;
• move from a lying position to a sitting position, clasping the leg with the hands bent at the knee;
• lower your legs to the floor one by one;
• stand up gradually, any sudden movement can increase the pain.

How to lift and move weights correctly?

Improper lifting and carrying heavy objects is one of the most common causes of hernias, osteochondrosis and protrusions. Sharp lifting of weights is fraught with a sudden "shooting" in different parts of the spine and the appearance of sharp pain that will persist for a long time. It is also forbidden to turn your body when carrying heavy objects.

How to lift a heavy object?

1. Wear a wide belt.
2. Crouch down. Keep your neck and back straight.
3. Block the object with both hands, stand up slowly, keep your back straight.

How to move a heavy object?

• distribute the load evenly on both hands, do not carry everything in one;
• with diagnosed osteochondrosis, it is not recommended to lift weights exceeding 15 kg;
• buy a backpack (an important condition is an orthopedic back and wide straps). The advantages of using a backpack are an even load on the spine + free hands;
• Do not lean forward or backward sharply.

Conclusion

Osteochondrosis of the spine most often develops at the age of 25-40 years. The group at risk of morbidity includes people with a passive lifestyle, those who spend most of the time standing or in incorrect positions, with a high load on the spine. Osteochondrosis can be treated with conservative methods, after timely consultation with a specialist. In advanced cases, surgery is used. Self-medication is contraindicated.

Regular preventive exercises will help reduce the symptoms of osteochondrosis and maintain the functionality of the spine, protecting it from deformation. If you neglect your health, the patient can delay the visit to the doctor until hernias, paralysis and disability occur.