Humans are the only mammal species that walks with a straight, vertical back.In this regard, the spine experiences a strong overload.On the one hand, there is the predominance of a sedentary lifestyle, on the other, physical activity associated with lifting heavy objects, sudden movements, even driving in public transport;All these factors contribute to the appearance of such a common disease as osteochondrosis.Moreover, this disease is most often detected in the working part of the population.
What is osteochondrosis, its types and stages
Osteochondrosis is a process in which the elasticity of the intervertebral discs is impaired.Under the influence of adverse factors, the disc loses fluid, becomes more compacted and less flexible.This happens due to the load placed on the spine during movement: pressure on the disc axis forces fluid out of it.During a night's rest, the spine should be fully restored, but with a sedentary lifestyle this does not happen, since muscles and ligaments gradually lose their ability to stretch, and therefore fully recover.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
This type of osteochondrosis is considered the most insidious.The vertebrae that make up the neck are very close to each other.Even a slight deformation of one of them leads to serious consequences: headaches, water hammer, heart pain.If the disease is advanced, numbness of the limbs, tinnitus, difficulty breathing and vision problems may appear.Some symptoms can easily be confused with regular headaches or fatigue, but if symptoms recur regularly, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to ensure a correct diagnosis is made in time.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
The main symptom of this type is chest pain.Most often it appears on one side and is defined as a pain or stabbing.A characteristic feature is the connection with movement and with static loads the pain intensifies.There are two types of chest pain: one is an acute but short-lived attack, the other is mild but prolonged.If you consult a doctor in time, it is possible to cure the disease without resorting to surgical methods.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
This is the most common type of osteochondrosis.It affects both men and women with the same frequency.In the area where the lumbar region transitions to the sacral region, sharp pain occurs.The main problem is the reduction of cartilage tissue, which leads to a reduction in the distance between the vertebrae, which is a direct path to the formation of an intervertebral hernia.Pain can appear for various reasons: compression of nerve endings, narrowing of veins, pinching of the sciatic nerve.The exact cause will be determined by the doctor.
Damage to two or more parts of the spine
Osteochondrosis affecting the entire spine or several parts worsens a person's general condition.The likelihood of hernias increases several times.Constant pain prevents you from leading a normal life.Before the process of changes in cartilage tissue becomes irreversible, it is necessary to begin treatment of the disease as early as possible.
The disease has four stages in its development:
- the initial stage is manifested by minor and short-term pain due to unstable functioning of the spine;
- in the second stage, the vertebrae are displaced, which shortens the distance between them;
- at the third stage, serious deformations of the intervertebral discs are already possible, up to the formation of a hernia;
- in the last stage, the person feels stiffness in movements, which may be accompanied by sharp pain.
Symptoms and signs
The onset of the disease is difficult to trace because there are no pronounced symptoms.Sometimes your back becomes numb after sitting or lying in the same position for a long time, and a tingling sensation appears in your legs.All these unpleasant sensations disappear quickly, just move or rub your stiff leg.Acute pain occurs, as always, unexpectedly: a person stumbles, turns around sharply - and a pain syndrome appears, in which it is scary even to think about the next step.Pressing on the troublesome area causes pain, movements are limited and muscles are tense.A protective spasm occurs;In this way, the body protects the painful area from further movements.This condition usually lasts about 24 hours until the muscles can relax.
So, the signs of osteochondrosis include discomfort in various parts of the body, accompanied by pain.Painful sensations can be concentrated in the neck, shoulders, back, chest.Symptoms described may include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, heart pain and loss of sensation in the limbs.Based on the localization of the pain syndrome, the doctor will be able to determine where the changes began in the spine.
Reasons for development
The causes of the disease include factors that interfere with proper nutrition of the disc and make its recovery impossible:
- prolonged stay of the body in positions that have a detrimental effect on the functioning of the spine (mainly sitting);
- injuries;This point particularly applies to people engaged in sports involving heavy loads on the spine (e.g. weightlifting);
- work associated with long-term static loads (for example, a worker on an assembly line, a hairdresser, etc.);With such work, muscle congestion and poor circulation are observed.
Since the main reason for the development of osteochondrosis is the uneven distribution of the load on the spine, other factors that at first glance seem unimportant can also affect human health.Carrying a bag in one hand, the habit of sitting hunched over, slumped back, sleeping on a soft feather bed, curvature of the neck position during sleep (high pillow), uncomfortable (albeit fashionable) shoes - all this also serves as a prerequisite for back diseases.An unhealthy lifestyle, obesity and scoliosis in adolescents can make the situation even worse.
Risk factors include:
- tall people because their back muscles are poorly developed;
- all those who lead a sedentary lifestyle;
- those who are forced by their profession to lift weights;
- truck drivers experiencing prolonged vibration;
- former athletes;
- those who have already had similar cases of the disease in their family;
- pregnant women and postmenopausal women;
- the elderly;
- smokers.
How to diagnose the disease
If the patient detects the above symptoms, then he should go to the local doctor, who will redirect him to a neurologist.To clarify the diagnosis, a neurologist can refer the patient to a more specialized specialist - a vertebroneurologist (a doctor who deals exclusively with diseases of the spine).A good chiropractor can also detect the condition by palpating the back.If a patient suspects a hernia, then a trauma surgeon is essential.
Instrumental methods are also used to make a diagnosis:
- x-ray of the spine;
- myelography (this is an image not only of bones, but also of nerve endings and other structures);
- examination of reflexes (the famous hammer of a neurologist);
- CT scan;
- nuclear magnetic resonance (the most accurate and safest diagnostic method);
- magnetic resonance imaging (indispensable method for intervertebral disc pathology).
The doctor also prescribes the usual tests to the patient.
During a general blood test, you should pay attention to the number of leukocytes and ESR.An increase in values will indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the body.Low hemoglobin will indicate a lack of protein foods, which can directly affect the development of degenerative processes.
A general urine test will show what percentage of mineral salts exist in the body.An increased rate indicates a violation of the proper balance of nutrients in food.
High blood sugar also indicates that the patient is not eating properly.In addition, it can be the first symptom of diabetes, leading to complications for all organs of the human body.
The analysis of cholesterol levels in the blood is also very important, because it shows the condition of the blood vessels.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
At the initial stage of the disease, drug treatment is used in minimal quantities.Medications are needed to alleviate the patient's condition, relieve inflammation and improve metabolism.If these procedures are not enough, the doctor prescribes a blockade, that is, injections, which are a fairly effective remedy.Older people are prescribed medications that do not accumulate in the body.
Physiotherapy complements drug treatment well.Physiotherapy methods include: ultrasound, the use of a magnetic field, low-frequency current, laser therapy, etc.The principle of action is aimed at dilating blood vessels and increasing blood circulation.In this way, an analgesic effect is achieved and the impaired immune response is normalized.
Physiotherapy also has a beneficial effect on the spine.A well-selected set of exercises can bring even the most neglected patients back on their feet.Under the influence of physical activity, not only impaired functions are restored, but the general mental state of the patient also improves.The very prescription of such therapy gives the patient confidence that he will be able to return to a full-fledged lifestyle.A simulator such as a special processing board has proven itself excellent.This is an inexpensive and effective way to restore spinal function.
The action of massage is based on complex metabolic processes.Thanks to it, blood and lymphatic circulation improves in the affected area, which promotes metabolism, relaxation of muscle tone, joint mobility and improvement in skin condition.Massage relieves pain, fatigue and improves the physical condition of the body.
Manual therapy should only be carried out by a professional, since an illiterate specialist can harm the patient.Such therapy is a set of measures that can radically improve a person's condition.A good specialist can free the patient from functional blockage and restore the ability to fully use the affected organ.The impact is carried out by pressure, twisting, pushing, shaking, etc.
Spinal traction gives good results.It can be underwater or dry.Used to increase the space between disks.Underwater, as the name suggests, takes place underwater and dry on tables with special equipment.The extension can be vertical or horizontal, depending on body position.
Complications linked to ignorance of the disease
It is believed that everyone suffers from chondrosis.But that’s no reason to ignore the problem.It is not a completely harmless diagnosis.In particularly advanced cases, the disease can lead to disability.
If treatment is ignored, the following complications may subsequently occur:
- hernia;
- protrusion (initial change of the intervertebral disc);
- kyphosis (hump on the back);
- radiculitis;
- salt deposits;
- spinal cord stroke;
- circulatory disorders;
- paralysis of the legs
Untreated cervical osteochondrosis can cause headaches, dizziness and insomnia.The chest turns into intercostal neuralgia.Lumbar leads to consequences such as inflammation of the sciatic nerve, dysfunction of the genitourinary system.The main condition for the treatment of osteochondrosis is compliance with the stages, and only constant targeted efforts will give a good result.
Disease prevention
Prevention plays an important role in maintaining a healthy spine.The first step is to reduce the risk of workplace injuries.This applies to dynamic and static loads.If such a possibility exists, you should change your workplace at the first feeling of pain in the back.Otherwise, you need to take the necessary measures: constantly change your body position, optimize your workplace, do gymnastics or at least some exercises.Yoga classes can play a special role.This ancient Indian system of poses, called asanas, can help remove all tension from the body, relax and stretch the spine.
Correct work with weights is of no small importance when it comes to prevention.
There are several rules that anyone who protects their back must respect:
- Do not lift weights with straight arms;it would be correct to sit down and, resting the load on your chest, stand up with a straight back;
- You cannot carry a load in one hand;it would be correct to distribute its weight into two approximately equal parts;
- even if the luggage weighs little, you should stop periodically and rest your hands;
- the spine must be prepared for the load;A regular set of exercises to strengthen the back, i.e. the muscular corset, can help with this.
If it is not possible to do exercises regularly, you can replace them with a more familiar walk.It is advisable to take at least 8,000 steps every day, but you must ensure good posture and combine the steps with good breathing;When walking, you can try different walking options: on tiptoes, on heels, lifting your legs high, walking.If you don't have time for this, even a short but energetic walk to and from work will benefit the body.
Swimming combines the possibility of relaxing the vertebrae and feeling physical activity.In water, Archimedes' law applies, which reduces the weight of the human body, so the muscles relax and the spine stretches.In addition, swimming helps keep your body in shape.
Running can also be used to prevent disease.We must not forget that both the lack of physical activity and its excess are harmful to the spine.You should carefully monitor the condition of your body and avoid pain.
If signs of inflammation appear, a medicinal applicator can help.When the needles come into contact with the patient's skin, the nerve endings are irritated, blood vessels dilate, blood circulation improves, and the pain syndrome weakens.Longer exposure, up to 40 minutes, results in muscle relaxation.
A good diet is one of the most effective means of prevention.
It should pursue several objectives:
- fight against excess weight;
- the required amount of vitamins and minerals;
- prevent dehydration of the body;
- slow down destructive processes.
For the diet to achieve its goals, food should be low in calories and include dairy products, fish, eggs, herbs and vegetable oil.Doctors advise eating dishes based on broths: soups, borscht, jellied meats, aspic.In fact, these foods contain protectants that protect cartilaginous tissues.But older people should approach such a diet with caution, because the fats contained in concentrated broths can clog a blood vessel in the brain.
Spinal health is in everyone's hands.If, at the first pain, you start doing gymnastics, join a swimming pool and revise your diet, you will be able not only to slow down the process of destruction of the vertebrae, but also to improve the health of the body in general.If you do not have the time or desire to lead an active lifestyle, then you should follow the basic safety rules described above in this article.