Osteochondrosis of the spine is a degenerative disease manifested by the destruction of cartilage and bone tissue. 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 23-45 years.
Cause
A cause of osteochondrosis has not been established. Doctors of old practice believe that the disease develops against the background of the deposition of calcium salts that are not fully absorbed by the bone tissue. Today, another version of the dystrophic destruction of the spine has been put forward.
The main ones are:
- back injury;
- descent;
- flat feet, congenital club feet;
- obesity;
- sedentary work, passive lifestyle;
- metabolic disorders;
- poor posture;
- asthenic body type, natural weakness of muscles and ligaments;
- dangerous working conditions (vibration, jerking, body shaking);
- frequently lifting heavy objects;
- hypothermia;
- pressure;
- chronic inflammation of tissue that is infectious.
For representatives of the fairer sex, uncomfortable high-heeled shoes can be a provoking factor. Frequent pregnancies also contribute to the development of spinal lesions.
symptoms
The degenerative destruction that occurs in the body of the intervertebral disc leads to a loss of elasticity, prevents the accumulation and release of fluid, and worsens the shock-absorbing properties of the axial column.
As a result, the load on the fibrous ring increases, it becomes thinner and cracks, and the vertebrae move dangerously close to each other. Pathological compression of bone and cartilage structures develops.
The severe pain that occurs is accompanied by the following symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine:
- numbness, tingling, burning sensation in the affected area;
- decreased mobility;
- back muscle fatigue;
- decreased performance, fatigue.
The considered signs of osteochondrosis are general. The specific symptoms of this disease depend on which segment of the spine has been destroyed.
With compression of the cervical spine, blood flow in the vessels worsens, which leads to frequent migraines, dizziness and loss of consciousness. Patients may complain of tinnitus, spots in front of the eyes, pain in the shoulders and arms.
The destruction of the structure in the lower back forces a person to take a forced posture, slowly standing up and sitting down. Pain appears in the back, radiating down the limbs to the lower legs and feet. 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 referred to as extravertebral syndromes. For example, vascular disorders in the brain caused by compression of the vertebral arteries.
Type
Osteochondrosis of the back is classified according to its place of occurrence - cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral. More than half of the cases occur in the lumbar spine, a third of all diagnoses are related to the cervical segment.
Which doctor treats osteochondrosis?
If you have severe back pain, you should postpone your appointment with a neurologist or neurologist. If such a specialist is not available at your local clinic, you should contact your general practitioner. After the initial examination, the doctor will prescribe treatment or refer you to another specialist.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis begins with interviewing the patient. Doctors are interested in the time of onset of symptoms, the intensity and nature of the pain, and its location. 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;
- Dopplerography of cervical spinal canal and artery.
Unfortunately, X-rays do not provide a complete picture of the state of the soft structures of the spine—the spinal roots and disc tissue remain unexamined. In this case, functional MRI comes to the rescue, which differs from the classical one in the location of the patient's body.
Treatment
How to treat osteochondrosis of the spine? To combat this disease, conservative therapy and surgery are used. The main goal of both techniques is to eliminate pain and prevent further destruction of bone and cartilage tissue.
Non-surgical treatment of back osteochondrosis includes:
- massage;
- exercise therapy;
- whole spine traction;
- manipulative therapy;
- effect on the active point.
The effectiveness of the method largely depends on the persistence of the patient and the systematic nature of the manipulation.
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 conservative approaches are ineffective. The indication for surgery is compression of the intervertebral space by 1/3 of the original distance. The main method of intervention for osteochondrosis is discectomy - partial or radical removal of the affected disc.
After spinal surgery, patients need at least six months of rehabilitation. During this period, the patient is recommended to visit the sanatorium, take 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 themselves chronically. The destruction process can only be slowed down and the existing symptoms reduced.
Complications
Complications of osteochondrosis of the spine are often formed due to compression of the spinal cord and feeding arteries. Against this background, patients develop discogenic myelopathy, limb paresis, impaired reflexes, and sphincter dysfunction. A herniated disc can cause spinal cord infarction.
Damage to the cervical spine causes hearing loss, blurred vision, and persistent migraines. Patients experience memory problems and decreased learning ability.
If osteochondrosis is not treated for a long time, severe damage to the pelvis and legs, paralysis of the limbs, and intermittent claudication may develop. In women, long-term spinal dystrophy often leads to infertility; in men, a decrease in potency is typical.
Prevention
No one is immune from diseases like osteochondrosis. In old age, this disease affects almost everyone. To avoid dystrophic changes, it is necessary to take care of the spine from a young age.
Moderate sports activity, a balanced diet with sufficient amounts 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:
- avoid stress;
- timely treatment of infections and pathologies of the musculoskeletal system;
- limit the weight of lifting objects;
- strengthen 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 get rid of severe symptoms. The main thing is not to lose hope and fight for your health.