A therapist with 50 years of experience once remarked: "When I started working, there was not a single young patient with osteochondrosis on the site. And today almost every second 30-year-old has this problem."
A sedentary lifestyle, metabolic disorders, spinal injuries, excess weight, unbalanced diet, prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, stress, hypothermia, smoking are modern ways to chronic degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs, and subsequently in the vertebrae themselves.This is osteochondrosis (from the ancient Greek osteon - bone, chondros - cartilage).
Osteochondrosis is a disease caused by the deposition of salts in the spine
false The intervertebral disc consists of a pulpous nucleus, a fibrous annulus, and hyaline cartilage covering it above and below.When these elements are destroyed, the balance between the load on the spine and the ability to bear it is disturbed.As a result, the vertebrae begin to press the neighboring nerve and muscle tissues and grow along the edges, forming the so-calledosteophytes that make a characteristic grinding sound when moving (patients mistakenly explain it as "salt deposition").
If your back and neck hurt, then this is exclusively osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is not the only cause of pain in the spine.Often patients make this diagnosis themselves.However, in addition to this pathology, which is part of the group of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine, there is also osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and the differentiation can be made only after a comprehensive examination.
Degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in 30-50% of cases in 30-40-year-olds, in 75-100% of people over 40 years of age.
These pathological processes represent 20.4% of the total structure of disability from diseases of the bone and joint system.
Long walking is harmful to the spine
On the contrary.Physical activity has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the spine: it maintains muscle tone, preserves intervertebral mobility, stimulates blood circulation and metabolism.Lack of physical activity and prolonged stay in a particularly uncomfortable position are "to blame" for the progression of the disease.
Another issue is if an overweight person walks a lot and carries heavy things, then the spine experiences increased stress.
Flat feet contribute to the development of osteochondrosis
that's right The arches of the foot, like the physiological curves of the spine, are designed to absorb shock loads from walking, running and jumping.If the leg does not provide adequate protection when interacting with the support, then the spine receives additional stress, which significantly worsens the nutrition and functioning of its structures and accelerates the development of the disease.
Back pain is the only symptom of the disease
Not quite.As a rule, patients complain of constant back pain, which is often accompanied by numbness and a feeling of pain in the extremities.Over time, if it is not treated, the muscles of the limbs atrophy, the joints of the spine become less mobile, muscle spasms appear.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (see diagram), your hands and head may hurt.The so-called vertebral artery syndrome (noise in the head, dizziness, flashing "spots" and colored spots before the eyes, burning throbbing headache).This acute condition occurs due to spasm of the arteries as a response to the impact of bone growths, as well as due to disc herniation, arthrosis of the intervertebral joints, as a reflex reaction to irritation of the spinal receptors.
If a person suffers from coronary or cardiovascular pathology, then the vertebral artery syndrome will worsen the course.
With osteochondrosis of the chest, there is pain in the chest (feeling that a stake is stuck there) - in the area of the heart and other internal organs;with lumbosacral lesions - in the lower back (irradiation to the sacrum, lower limbs, sometimes to the pelvic organs).
If complications of osteochondrosis develop (herniation of the intervertebral discs, bone growths, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthrosis), then damage to the nerve roots is noted - the pain becomes shooting, sensitivity worsens, weakness appears in the innervated muscles and the severity of reflexes decreases.
Osteochondrosis can cause dysfunction of a wide variety of organs and tissues
in the same way, Hippocrates also taught that all human diseases are related to the spine, because it is a kind of foundation of the body.
With osteochondrosis, there is an increased risk of blood circulation disorders in the cerebellar, stem and occipital regions of the brain.A constant headache appears - first in the back of the head, then spreads to the crown and temples, intensifies when the neck is moved (more often in the morning).Elderly people may lose consciousness if they suddenly turn their head.This is preceded by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and hearing, nausea and vomiting.
Sometimes there is pain in the region of the heart - continuous, pressing, dull.With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, especially in old age, soft tissues often change - they become denser.
Degenerative processes in the spine can cause congestion in the gastrointestinal tract, disruption of the bronchopulmonary system, which is fraught with inflammatory and other diseases.
Vegeto-vascular dystonia, intercostal neuralgia - consequences of osteochondrosis
Not quite.Osteochondrosis can be one of the reasons (far from the only one) for the development of these diseases.With wear of the intervertebral discs and the growth of osteophytes, the intervertebral openings and the canal of the vertebral artery are narrowed and deformed, which leads to the disruption of various structures.In particular, when the nerve roots are compressed, signs of intercostal neuralgia appear, and when the vertebral artery is compressed, the same symptoms as in vegetative-vascular dystonia appear.
It is impossible to cure osteochondrosis
Indeed, the structures of the spine that have undergone degenerative changes cannot be completely restored.Nevertheless, adequate comprehensive treatment can eliminate the symptoms of the disease, stop the development of the pathology and avoid complications.
For problems with the intervertebral discs, it is useful to heat the affected areas
wrong Temperature changes, especially extreme ones (for example, a beginner's trip to the bathroom), can cause serious deterioration.In the complex treatment, moderate thermal procedures are used, but they must be prescribed by a doctor.
If you make circular movements with your head during osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, your health will deteriorate
that's right These exercises are best done for prevention - they help maintain the range of motion in the intervertebral joints.In severe osteochondrosis, careless circular movements can worsen vertebral artery syndrome, radiculopathy, etc.
Treatment cannot be done without nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Not quite.In the period of remission or when the pain is not strong, conservative therapy (physio-, reflexotherapy and manual) is carried out;physical therapy and traction techniques are applied.Drug treatment is indicated during an exacerbation and is aimed at relieving pain, easing the inflammatory process and accelerating metabolic processes (intramuscular or intravenous injections).
Among the most effective drugs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are prescribed to relieve inflammation and pain (meloxicam, diclofenac, ibuprofen);in severe pain, novocaine blockades are used;steroid drugs (epidural, intramuscular injections);NSAIDs in the form of ointments, gels and creams with an analgesic and irritating effect (diclofenac, fastum gel, naise, capsicam, finalgon);muscle relaxants - to relieve muscle spasms (mydocalm, sirdalud);Vitamins of group B - to improve metabolic processes in the spine (B1, B6, B12).
Osteochondrosis can lead to serious consequences
yes Due to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots, osteochondrosis can cause paralysis, and if the spinal artery is compressed, loss of consciousness.
Spinal "stretching" exercises help improve your condition
Extension or traction allows you to increase the intervertebral space, relieve pain and restore the anatomically correct shape of the spine.However, the individual load must be correctly calculated."Too much" can cause reflex contraction of the paravertebral muscles and worsen the condition.
Only an orthopedic traumatologist has the right to treat osteochondrosis.
wrong Most patients are monitored by a neurologist, and in case of significant severity of the pathology - by a neurosurgeon or orthopedic-vertebrologist.
The local doctor may also prescribe drug therapy to relieve flare-ups.