Osteochondrosis of the spine is a degenerative disease manifested by the destruction of cartilage and bone tissue. The pathology is chronic and occurs with frequent relapses. First of all, it affects the intervertebral disc, and then other structures of the axial column and the central nervous system.
At first, osteochondrosis of the spine was considered a disease of the elderly, but recently the pathology has become much younger. Today, degenerative changes are often diagnosed in people aged 23 to 45.
Causes
No cause of osteochondrosis has been identified. Doctors of old practice believed that the disease develops against the background of the deposition of calcium salts that are not fully absorbed by the bone tissue. Today, other versions of the occurrence of dystrophic destruction of the spine have been presented.
The main ones are:
- back injuries;
- heredity;
- flat feet, congenital club feet;
- obesity;
- sedentary work, passive lifestyle;
- metabolic disorder;
- bad posture;
- asthenic body type, natural weakness of muscles and ligaments;
- harmful working conditions (vibrations, jolts, shaking of the body);
- frequent lifting of heavy objects;
- hypothermia;
- stress;
- chronic tissue inflammation of an infectious nature.
For the fairer sex, uncomfortable high-heeled shoes can be a provoking factor. Frequent pregnancies also contribute to the development of spinal lesions.
Symptoms
Degenerative destruction that occurs in the body of the intervertebral disc leads to a loss of elasticity, interferes with the accumulation and release of fluid and worsens the cushioning properties of the axial column.
As a result, the load on the fibrous ring increases, it becomes thinner and cracks, and the vertebrae come dangerously close to each other. Pathological compression of bone structures and cartilage develops.
The severe pain that occurs is accompanied by the following symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine:
- numbness, tingling, burning in the affected area;
- reduced mobility;
- back muscle fatigue;
- decrease in performance, fatigue.
The considered signs of osteochondrosis are general. The specific symptoms of the disease depend on which segment of the spinal column is destroyed.
Compression of the cervical spine leads to deterioration of blood flow in the vessels, which leads to frequent migraines, dizziness and loss of consciousness. The patient may complain of ringing in the ears, spots before the eyes, pain in the shoulders and arms.
Structural destruction in the lower back forces the person to adopt a forced posture, slowly stand up and sit down. The pain appears in the buttocks, spreads to the extremity and all the way to the lower leg and foot. Intermittent claudication develops.
Most of the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine 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.
Species
Osteochondrosis of the back is classified according to the place of origin - cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral. More than half of the cases occur in the lumbar spine, a third of all diagnoses refer to the cervical segment.
Which doctor treats osteochondrosis?
If you experience severe back pain, you should postpone your appointment with a neurologist or neurologist. If such specialists are not available in your local clinic, you should contact your GP. After the initial examination, the doctor will prescribe treatment or refer you to other specialists.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis begins with a conversation with the patient. The doctor is interested in the time of onset of symptoms, the intensity and nature of the pain, and its localization. Then the specialist begins a visual examination and palpation of the spinal column.
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;
- Doppler imaging of blood 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 spinal column - the spinal roots and disc tissue remain unexplored. In this case, functional magnetic resonance comes to the rescue, which differs from the classical one by the location of the patient's body.
Treatment
How to treat osteochondrosis of the spine? Conservative and surgical therapy is used to fight the disease. 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;
- influence on active points.
The effectiveness of the methods largely depends on the patient's persistence and systematic manipulations.
The intensive period of therapy lasts 2-2. 5 months. At the beginning of the course, increased pain and discomfort in the back area is possible.
Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine is prescribed when the conservative approach is ineffective. The indication for surgery is compression of the intervertebral space by 1/3 of the original distance. The leading method of intervention in osteochondrosis is discectomy - partial or radical removal of the affected disc.
After spinal surgery, the patient needs rehabilitation for at least six months. During this period, the patient is recommended to visit sanatoriums, a course of mineral baths, physiotherapy and massage.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely cure osteochondrosis of the spine. Degenerative changes in bones and soft tissues are irreversible and manifest in a chronic manner. The process of destruction can only be slowed down and its inherent symptoms alleviated.
Complications
Complications of osteochondrosis of the spine often arise as a result of compression of the spinal cord and feeding arteries. In view of this, 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 a reduced ability to learn.
If osteochondrosis is not treated 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, and in men, a decrease in potency is typical.
Prevention
No one is immune from a disease such as osteochondrosis. In old age, the disease affects almost everyone. In order to prevent dystrophic changes, it is necessary to take care of the spine from an early 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 osteochondrosis of the spine includes more specific measures:
- avoiding stress;
- timely treatment of infections and pathologies of the musculoskeletal system;
- limiting the weight of objects to be lifted;
- strengthening the immune system.
Women can be advised to choose the right shoes and monitor the appearance of foot valgus.
The development of osteochondrosis of the spine can significantly complicate the patient's life. Only long-term and systemic treatment will help to get rid of severe symptoms. The main thing is not to despair and fight for your health.