Osteochondrosis of the spine - symptoms and treatment, causes, everything has already been said, retold. That this is not a disease, but the aging of the body, even if it is stronger than concrete, it also wears out, gives cracks. Unfortunately, this process of destruction, like old age, cannot be avoided, but only slowed down. And most importantly, there are no pills, mixtures, powders, rejuvenating apples for osteochondrosis. It's easier to understand, it's a fee, than the fact that we live, walk, make some stupid moves, sit, sleep. He cannot perform his functions with full force, as in his youth. By the way, for young people, why do they have chondrosis? Here's a quick look at the disease of the 21st century. Let's define the important functions of the spine. Let's understand the causes of the main complications in young people and those who are years later. We will discuss the diagnosis of the disease and methods of treatment. Let's clarify the basics of prevention and how to save ourselves from rapid aging.
Important functions of the spine
We must not forget that our spine has 3 main functions.
- Pivot - keeps the body upright.
- Protective - protects the spinal cord.
- Softening - ligaments, cartilage soften the most diverse movements of our body.
The spine absorbs any load in all areas, thanks to the unique intervertebral discs that are located in the structure of the spine.
The concept of the word "osteochondrosis"
The term "osteochondrosis" is used only in Russia, in the West they abandon this name and instead use the term "degenerative disease of the intervertebral disc or cartilage, it can also be called". This definition reflects the nature of what is happening in the disks.Result: if osteochondrosis - degeneration (dystrophy) of the intervertebral cartilage from primitive movements. The conclusion of this definition is the following: dystrophy - a violation of tissue nutrition, and degeneration is a change in the tissue for the worse.
Even understanding the meaning of these words, it is clear what is happening in the spine and where such a popular disease "osteochondrosis" comes from. By the way, what kind of disease is this? Simply - earlier aging.
Degeneration has four stages and stages of development, developing in all three departments. Osteochondrosis occurs:
- cervical;
- breasts;
- lumbar.
Tissue malnutrition
Tissues are nourished by the vast circulatory system. Arteries, veins, vessels and capillaries, as well as muscle tissue, are actively involved in the eating process. Along with the blood, important nutrients are transported to the vertebrae, cartilage and muscles, through contraction, helping the blood to move at the right speed.
Discs that do not have blood vessels suck up water and nutrients when the vertebrae relax. And when you click on them, the same segments, on the contrary, give off a surplus. Thus, it turns out that during the amortization of the spine, due to compression and expansion, the discs are saturated and cleaned by the method of osmosis. The more often osmosis occurs, the more satisfying and well-nourished they are.
These are the muscles surrounding the posterior vertebrae that perform the process of movement. It is not difficult to imagine if the muscles around the spine are not very mobile, blood circulation is slow and complete metabolism is disrupted. Cartilage suffers from malnutrition and cannot be elastic and healthy, as many spinal dystrophies develop.
In the early stages of dystrophy, the inclusion of regular sports movements in life can still be corrected relatively quickly. The younger generation has hope for a complete cure.
What happens next? For a long time, being immobile, the muscles weaken, the ligaments stretch and atrophy to such an extent that they cannot keep the spine in an anatomical shape even, various types of distortion appear:
- lordosis;
- kyphosis;
- scoliosis.
Discs that do not receive the necessary nutrition from the circulatory system for a long time and enough fluid for a full existence, begin to collapse. That is, degeneration occurs, slow modification (destruction). He was diagnosed with "Osteochondrosis" with all the symptoms and long-term treatment with drugs that are not very effective without exercise therapy.
The fact is that the nucleus of cartilage, which is 80% water, where water gives it elasticity, loses its elasticity by nature with age and a sedentary lifestyle accelerates this process. Therefore, the power of the disc slows down, less water flows and it becomes thinner in height. But water and useful elements are needed not only for the disk, but also for all components around it:
- tendons;
- muscles;
- fascia;
- commitments.
But by old age, due to slow blood circulation, some of the capillaries still dry out, because for decades they were not needed, the process of osteochondrosis takes root. At this age, it takes effort to stay in shape.
Osteochondrosis is a complex of dystrophic disorders in cartilage and segments. The intervertebral membranes are most often affected, but it also develops in the joints, but there are different names - osteoarthritis, arthritis (how these diseases differ here), coxarthrosis and many other pathologies.
Symptoms and treatment of spinal osteochondrosis
Causes
There are external and internal causes of osteochondrosis that lead to damage.
- Internal ones include genetics, eating disorders in young, old age (discussed above), nerve stresses that spasm the muscles and remain in this state for a long time or perhaps forever, forming trigger points.
- To external (trauma, low and excessive physical activity).
Complications
Dystrophic changes in the intervertebral disc are not a big deal in themselves. Many live for a long time, do not go to doctors because they do not deal with the complications of osteochondrosis. But for various reasons, severe pain often occurs. After visiting a doctor, a person gets a whole bunch of identified complications after the examination, such as protrusion, hernia, spondylosis (osteophyte) and spinal instability.
These complications are thought to lead to painful symptoms when compression of the nerve endings occurs at the level of the disc on any part of the spine. In addition to pain, there may be weakness, decreased sensitivity, pelvic dysfunction, high blood pressure, in severe cases, paralysis.
- Protrusion is a slight protrusion of annular fibrosis outside the vertebral body, due to an increase in the nucleus pulposus, sometimes cracks appear in the layers of annular fibrosis
- Disc herniation is a loosening of the fibrous ring. The cartilage has lost its elasticity and is divided into parts, and the excessive load of this condition makes it protrude, so that a hernia appears. It can irritate the nerve root, which comes out of the spinal canal at the level of the vertebrae, after which there is pain localized in one or another area of the body.
- Osteophytes - changes in the vertebral bodies themselves, the height of the disc decreases so much that its marginal bone growths (which are called osteophytes) begin their destructive activity in relation to our health. The size of the hole through which the spinal nerve, ie its root, exits decreases.
There is also a different opinion about the appearance of discomfort and pain, which forces you to visit a specialist. Soft tissue pathologies (muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia). Everything that drives our skeleton and they signal the initial problems, sending a painful impulse. Diagnoses are made - sciatica, myositis, myalgia and many others and all this, presumably, symptoms on the background of osteochondrosis of the spine and treatment is prescribed in the form of painkillers. And then everything repeats itself again, a vicious circle.
In women over the age of 50-55, fertility begins to fade. It enters the menopausal phase. It seems a natural transition, what can you do here. But if you do not take hormone replacement therapy or at least dietary supplements. Osteoporosis then develops rapidly, which is often confused with osteochondrosis.
Diagnosis of spinal osteochondrosis
Self-diagnosis
- You can decide for yourself if it's there or not. To do this, it is enough to assess how often your back hurts. How quickly you get tired of a little physical work, stress. If there is heaviness, discomfort, sometimes pain, then changes are already happening in the spine. Because a healthy person does not feel such symptoms from behind, he is simply healthy. Although now there are almost no healthy ones.
- It is necessary to determine the flexibility of the spine. Flexibility depends entirely on stretching. The better, the healthier the spine.
Diagnosis in the clinic
When a doctor is appointed to make the correct diagnosis, an X-ray referral is given. And then the appropriate treatment is prescribed.
Comparative layouts for healthy and sick segment. The layout shows how the spinal disc and the body of the segment are the ideal structure created by nature. The nerve endings move freely, are not compressed, the disc is high and has a large safety margin, with such an intervertebral disc a person can withstand up to 800 kg.
And next to it there is a model deformed by the disease, the difference is significant. The disc is flattened, the edges of the vertebral body grow and acquire a distorted appearance. This is exactly the view in the photo.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Unfortunately, neglected complications cannot always be cured conservatively; often they need to be treated promptly. But in any case, they are treated and must be treated promptly.
Osteochondrosis, which occurs at the age of 70, is considered the norm for an elderly person and has not been treated by doctors for years. There is a different approach to young people, after diagnosing the symptoms the necessary treatment is prescribed.
Treatment should only be combined.
- Eliminate pain, if any.
- Appoint physiotherapy, reflexology, massage.
- training therapy.
Physiotherapy exercises are generally the basis of treatment because they help to restore the normal biomechanics of the spine. And this leads to unloading of the intervertebral discs. Swimming is a wonderful relief. But the beginning of the hours only after the symptoms of pain subside.
Prevention of spinal osteochondrosis
Nowadays, there are many sedentary occupations for 8 hours or even more and no organism can resist this.
The spine is not only a support for our skeleton, but also a cover for the spinal cord.
The most important organ for the central nervous system. And if the disease is ignored, you can become disabled. I do not want to scare, but the paralysis of the limbs is very serious, I know this first hand.
Therefore, in case of problems with the spine, you should not delay the visit to a specialist, it is more expensive for yourself. You need to think about a healthy lifestyle more often. Cycling, swimming pool, fitness, basic morning exercises and walking. An affordable set of exercises in the workplace to keep your body physically fit and not be a waste in the future.
To achieve a result it is necessary to develop a habit, regularity and discipline are the basis of prevention. In the end, you don't need much, the body is grateful, you have to love it, pay attention to it and it will respond with good health. And what do you think?
I hope the article was informative for you, you realized that almost everyone has osteochondrosis of the spine, only the symptoms and treatment are different. By studying your body more deeply, you can prevent disease, and by studying from the inside, you will have something to ask your doctor.
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Take care of yourself and your spine!