Osteochondrosis is a problem of the spine, which affects literally every fourth inhabitant of the planet, at least according to experts of the WHO Statistics Center.
In the five most common diseases in the world, osteochondrosis takes the third "honorable" place, ahead of it are only cardiovascular diseases. In 2012, the media giant of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the BBC, published medical research data that is simply shocking: every year more than 5 million people die due to diseases caused by physical inactivity, that is, a sedentary lifestyle. A real epidemic of reduced physical activity has already covered a third of the earth's population, and the latest results of scientific work prove that the culprit of many health-threatening diseases is not a genetic predisposition or viruses at all, but an unhealthy lifestyle. Almost all back problems - intervertebral hernias (hernias), osteoporosis, osteochondrosis and many other diseases related to osteochondrosis - are the result of many hours of sitting, whether in front of the TV, at a desk or in a car seat. About 80% of all the reasons for which the back suffers and spine diseases develop are related to elementary degenerative changes in the muscular corset and the lack of reasonable full physical activity.
Osteochondrosis and spine
The structure of the spine in living beings, whether animals or humans, is essentially the same. However, only man holds the proud title of Homo Erectus, meaning Homo Erectus. Until recently, it was believed that upright posture is the main cause of pathological changes in the spine. As if the vertical position of the body leads to an incorrect, uneven load on the spine. The static load, which is most exposed to the lower back and the sacrum, which consists of five vertebrae, is the most dangerous in terms of destructive effects on the intervertebral tissues. dynamic load, which is characterized by movement, touches the poleof the cervix. The structure of the spine is quite complex, it consists of many vertebrae connected by cartilage - discs. Discs, on the other hand, are multi-layered rings with a fluid core in between, which perform the function of absorbing shock when the spine is put into motion. In addition, the vertebrae are connected by a large number of muscles and other tissues. The elasticity of this entire connective system ensures the normal condition of the spine. Simply put, the more elastic and adaptive the intervertebral discs are, the more flexible and healthy the spine is, the less the risk that osteochondrosis will strike it. Today, the theory that standing is responsible for all degenerative diseases of the spine is being challenged. Merciless statistics convince doctors that rather inactivity, physical inactivity is a provoking factor of spine diseases associated with dystrophy and degeneration of intervertebral tissues. In addition, excess weight, which really increases the load on the discs, can also aggravate the destructive processes and provoke osteochondrosis. Conclusion: movement is life. The phrase is not new, it seems painful, banal, however, it does not require proof. A great example of the fact that physical activity and flexibility can serve as a basis for the health of the spine are examples of people who regularly do gymnastics, yoga and other types of body training. Nature itself gives children the opportunity to be flexible, because children's vertebral discs are very elastic, only in the cores of the disc there is up to 80% of fluid. With age, the amount of life-giving "lubrication" can decrease, but it can be preserved by consciously performing simple exercises and observing the elementary rules of a healthy lifestyle. Osteochondrosis is a disease of people who are forced to sit or lie for hours, for years, regardless of what reason - on duty or of their own free will, due to obligations, laziness or simply ignorance.
What is osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a concept that includes all degenerative and dystrophic changes in the spine. It should be noted that in the European version of the classification of diseases there is no word about osteochondrosis, there such diseases are classified as rheumatic and dorsopathic. In ICD-10, since 1999, in fact, a group of diseases with typical manifestations in the form of pain in the spine, not associated with visceral causes, is defined as dorsopathy. Osteochondrosis, which is recorded as dorsopathy, in turn is divided into three large groups:
- Deformative diseases, dorsopathy - scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis, subluxation, spondylolisthesis.
- Spondylopathy - spondylosis, ankylosing spondylitis and other ossifying dystrophic pathologies that limit the mobility of the spine.
- Other dorsopathies, others are degenerative changes associated with hernias, protrusions.
Thus, osteochondrosis or osteochondrosis (from the Greek words - bone, cartilage and pain) is the general name for all problems in the spine that are caused by degeneration and malnutrition of paravertebral tissues (degeneration and dystrophy). When deformed, the shock-absorbing intervertebral disc becomes thinner, becomes flat, which leads to overloading of the vertebrae and their even greater deformation to the extent that they begin to go beyond the normal limits of the spine. Nerve roots with such a pathology are tight, inflamed, pain appears.
Osteochondrosis affects almost the entire back, and depending on which part of the spine has suffered the most, the disease is called in clinical practice.
The most "popular", known to many, is lumbar osteochondrosis, there is also a cervical definition, which ranks second in prevalence, there are sacral, thoracic and widespread osteochondrosis. There are also cross - lumbosacral or, for example, cervicothoracic pathologies.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis can be very different, but sooner or later they all increase and manifest clinically. Of course, it is much easier and faster to treat osteochondrosis in the early stages of its development, when the following signs are observed:
- Pain, dull painful sensations in the part of the spine affected by the degenerative process.
- Chronic muscle tension (especially characteristic of cervical osteochondrosis).
- Cracking when turning the body, neck.
- Headaches, including tension headaches (with cervical osteochondrosis).
- Aching pain in the chest, often reminiscent of cardiological pain (with thoracic osteochondrosis).
Osteochondrosis in the inflammatory phase has symptoms that make a person go to the doctor, because they cause more pronounced concerns:
- Radiating pain in the limb.
- Numbness in the fingers or toes.
- Radiating pain to the tips of the fingers of the extremities.
- Severe pain in the spine during simple physical activities.
- Increased pain with small pushes, swings, for example, when traveling in transport.
- Inability to perform simple tasks involving rotations or movements of the body.
- General limitation of mobility, motor activity.
The factors that can provoke problems with the spine, called osteochondrosis, are very different, but the already mentioned hypodynamia is in the first place. Other reasons include the following:
- Functional work - monotonous while maintaining the same posture.
- Biomechanical - flat feet, congenital anomalies in the development of the spine.
- Hormonal - changes in hormonal levels due to age-related changes.
- Infectious - dystrophy of the intervertebral environment caused by the inflammatory process.
- Metabolic - overweight or underweight.
The factors that provoke osteochondrosis, that is, the deformation and dystrophy of the intervertebral discs, as a rule, act in combination and are almost not isolated.
The development of osteochondrosis is divided into the following stages:
- Changes in disc biomechanics as a result of tissue degeneration and dystrophic changes. This is the preclinical stage, when the signs, if any, are very weak, unmanifested. At this stage, the fibrous ring surrounding the disc begins to stretch or, conversely, shrink.
- The second stage is characterized by greater instability of the disc, the fibrous ring not only stretches, its threads are layered, the ring begins to break. Due to damage to the nerve roots, back pain appears, degenerative changes progress. Collagen tissue continues to break down, the normal height of the intervertebral distance decreases.
- The disc often ruptures completely, this pathology is accompanied by inflammation, herniation and damage to nerve endings. Prolapse (prolapse) causes characteristic pain not only in the damaged area of the spine, but is also reflected in the limbs and nearby parts of the body.
- The most difficult stage, when spondylosis and other compensatory diseases of the spine are combined with dystrophy. Often, the vertebra flattens to compensate for lost function, and the elastic tissue of the annulus fibrosus is gradually replaced by scar tissue and bone growth.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Almost everyone who is associated with intellectual activity, from schoolchildren to the elderly, suffers from one form or another of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is considered a disease associated with increased dynamic loads that cause degeneration of the intervertebral discs and their reduction. The strengthening and growth of cartilaginous tissue leads to a violation of the cushioning properties of this part of the spine, the movements of the head - animations, circular movements, turns become difficult and are accompanied by characteristic signs of osteochondrosis.
Symptoms that can cause osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in the early stages of the development of the disease are not specific and are similar to the signs of other pathologies not related to the skeletal system. The list of manifestations of osteochondrosis, which must be differentiated and specified to determine the correct diagnosis, is as follows:
- Severe headaches that resemble migraine attacks.
- Headache extending from occiput to neck.
- Headache aggravated by coughing, turning head, sneezing.
- Headache that radiates to the chest or shoulder.
- Dizziness, sensory disturbances - double vision, difficulty focusing. Tinnitus, in advanced cases, impaired coordination of movements.
- Symptoms that are similar to cardiac pain, especially pain in angina pectoris - pain in the heart, extending to the cervical region or arm, under the shoulder blade. The pain may be increased and not relieved by taking cardiac drugs.
- Pain similar to that of hypertension (heaviness in the back of the head).
Consequences and complications
Before treating osteochondrosis, however, like any other disease, it is necessary to find out its causes, which is very difficult when it comes to degenerative pathologies of the spine. The factors that provoke the deformation of the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine are related to the anatomical specifics of this area. The vertebrae of the neck almost constantly experience tension due to insufficient general motor activity. If we consider the total "sedentary" lifestyle of more than half of the working population, then the problem sometimes becomes intractable. In addition, the cervical vertebrae are smaller than the vertebrae of other areas of the spine, and the internal canal is much narrower. A large number of nerve endings, an abundance of blood vessels, the presence of the most important artery that feeds the brain - all this makes the cervical area extremely vulnerable. Even the smallest contraction of the intervertebral space leads to damage to the nerve roots, swelling, inflammation and, accordingly, to a deterioration of the blood supply to the brain. Often, a decrease in mental activity is due to the fact that a person develops osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. There is a historical anecdote, dating back to not so distant times, when MargaretHilda Thatcher reprimanded her staffer with the words: "Your problem isn't a headache or your point of view on the issue. It's that your spine isn't connected to your brain, John. " This famous quote from Mrs. "iron" perfectly characterizes the condition that causes osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, when it sometimes occurs - the spine does not provide the proper "nutrition" to the head. As for "feeding", in fact, not only the canal of the spinal cord is included in it, but also the canal of the artery passing through the transverse nerve processes. The vertebral artery goes to the skull to feed the cerebellum, and this artery also supplies nutrients and oxygen to the vestibular apparatus. The slightest disturbance of blood circulation through these channels can provoke or worsen the course of the vegetative-vascular syndrome. In addition to VSD, osteochondrosis of the cervical region causes typical symptoms of radicular syndrome (sciatica), when the pain radiates to the fingertips or a finger, paleness of the skin (marbling) is clearly visible. One of the most unpleasant complications caused by cervical osteochondrosis is palmar fibromatosis, also called Dupuytren's contracture. With this disease, the aponeurosis (tendon plate) of the palm is affected and the function of bending the fingers is disrupted.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is diagnosed by a specialist based on the patient's complaints and can be confirmed and specified using x-rays, magnetic resonance and computed tomography.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
A complete cure for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is possible only in its initial stages, however, it is possible to save a person from the painful symptoms of this disease, prevent exacerbations and get rid of some pathological changes inback. Therefore, we must not forget the importance of treatment at the time of illness.
How to treat osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is not easy to treat, as a rule, therapy is prescribed as much as possible, including all the means available to modern medicine. In addition to conservative drug treatment, proven phytotherapeutic drugs, acupuncture, a set of therapeutic exercises and sometimes surgical operations that eliminate hernias and subluxations of the vertebrae are also used. It must be recognized that osteochondrosis and treatment are two concepts that a sick person will face for a long time, sometimes throughout his life. In addition to the initial phase, which aims to relieve pain symptoms, the therapy includes continuous restorative, rehabilitative and preventive actions. Complex, multicomponent diseases are always treated for a long time. If a diagnosis is made - osteochondrosis, how to treat it - this is the first question that is asked not only by the doctor, but also by the patient himself, since his direct participation and responsible compliance, the fulfillment of all prescriptions often play a decisive role. role in recovery.
What should be treated?
The list of drugs that are most often used as a medicine for osteochondrosis:
- A complex, effective homeopathic preparation that should be used for a long time, like any other homeopathy (in ampoules or in tablet form).
- An effective external remedy that relieves muscle and joint pain well.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (in the form of an ointment - externally, in tablets - orally).
- Ointment with complex effects from the category of homeopathic remedies.
- Drug in the form of tablets from the category of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
- A drug from the class of glucocorticoids.
- Ointment from the category of external non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.
- Gel from the category of external non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- A drug from the category of external non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
If we summarize everything that involves the treatment of a disease such as osteochondrosis, the treatment can be divided into the following stages and types:
- The use of NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, is considered the gold standard in the treatment of all degenerative, dystrophic pathologies of bones and muscle systems. The first thing these drugs do is reduce pain symptoms, the second is a significant reduction in inflammation.
- Medicines that are called myelorelaxants, since they are really able to effectively relieve muscle contractions and spasms.
- Attraction therapy is an attraction treatment. In this rather painful but effective process, a gradual stretching of the tissues and muscles surrounding the vertebrae is observed, respectively, the intervertebral distance increases, approaching the norm.
- Biogenic preparations, vascular agents that supply nutrition to dystrophic tissue areas, B vitamins well restore the functional abilities of the deformed spine.
- Sedative drugs that normalize the state of the nervous system. Perfectly relieves muscle tension and acupuncture of nerve endings.
- Physiotherapy procedures - electrophoresis, phonophoresis, UHF, massages, mud procedures, balneotherapy, magnetotherapy.
- Correction of the spine during the recovery period is carried out using manual therapy.
- Treatment of osteochondrosis includes and with the help of continuous exercises from the complex of physiotherapy exercises.
In the most extreme cases, when the course of osteochondrosis enters the last stage, surgical intervention is indicated, which is performed in the area of localization of the inflammatory process. More often, a hernia is operated on, and it is also possible to remove the deformed bone tissue of the neighboring vertebrae.
Where to treat osteochondrosis?
Self-treatment of almost all diseases is a trend observed in almost all countries, but it is especially characteristic of post-Soviet countries, where the traditional structure of health care is still undergoing changes. Confused by novelty, often simply out of ignorance, many of us try to cope with back, neck or back pain on our own. This time you can call the first stage, although not very effective, of treatment, since it is necessary to treat osteochondrosis only with the help of a doctor. The second stage, when independent actions do not lead to the desired, stable result, a person thinks about a visit to the doctor and the question arises, osteochondrosis - how to treat, how to treat and, most importantly, where to treat osteochondrosis.?First, you can contact a local therapist, who, most likely, will refer the patient for examination - x-rays, blood tests and will refer to a neurologist. Secondly, you can immediately make an appointment with a neurologist, preferably before the consultation, at least undergo an x-ray examination of the entire spine. In no case should you go to extremes and look for an experienced massage therapist, every massage, first of all, includes a preliminary scan of the condition of the body, especially the condition of the spine. The problem of osteochondrosis is also treated by vertebrologists and vertebroneurologists - doctors specializing in diseases of the spine.
Osteochondrosis is a complex disease, but the examples of many people who overcome even severe spinal injuries prove that everything is feasible and achievable. The main thing is that at the first alarming signals that the back gives us, we analyze our motor activity and take appropriate measures. You can immediately go to the doctor and start treatment, or, if the disease is not advanced, start moving, because, as Aristotle, the teacher of the great Alexander the Great, who was extremely active, said, "Life requires and hasneed movement. , otherwise it is not life".
What does history say about osteochondrosis?
The etiology of osteochondrosis is still not clear, moreover, despite the clearly ancient origin of this disease, diseases of the spine began to be treated seriously only in the 18th century. Since then, disputes and discussions about the real "enemy" that provokes degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs have not stopped. Meanwhile, long ago, even in the time of Hippocrates, there were treatises on cutting bones, which shows that the ancient Hellenes also suffered from back pain. Hippocrates himself was also interested in spinal topics so much that he conducted medical experiments that are questionable from a modern point of view: his students diligently tied the patient from the arms and legs in a horizontal plane with his back up, stretching the limbsjust as much. as much as possible. Then the great healer stood on the sick man's back and began to walk on him. The founding father of medicine was sincerely convinced that such fixation, stretching and massage would restore health to the spine, which, according to the ancient Greek sages, was the key to a happy person. Some systematization of techniques showing how to treat osteochondrosis began only at the end of the 17th century. At the same time, terminology appeared that formalized applied fields in medicine, among which was bone strengthening. Two centuries later, it split into chiropractic and osteopathy. The first direction was purely practical, using power techniques, osteopaths were more theoreticians and researchers. At the intersection of these sciences, manual therapy gradually appeared, without which the treatment of osteochondrosis is almost unimaginable today.
As for the term that defines the disease "osteochondrosis", then a typical story happened with osteochondrosis, which is typical for other diseases of unclear etiology. It was just not called - and lumboischialgia, and sciatica, and Schmorl's hernia, and sciatica, and spondylosis. It took almost a century for doctors to discover osteochondrosis and reach a consensus.