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Osteochondrosis of the spine - symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Osteochondrosis of the spine

Osteochondrosis of the spine is a degenerative-dystrophic damage caused by the gradual thinning of the cartilage tissue in the intervertebral discs.All people are susceptible to this disease, because due to the upright posture, the human spine experiences enormous loads.If we take into account the harmful factors, then by the age of 40-50, osteochondrosis of the back is found in almost everyone.The pathology cannot be completely cured.It is impossible to stop the age-related degenerative process, but with the right treatment it can be slowed down.You need to learn how to properly deal with the symptoms of osteochondrosis.





General characteristic of the pathology

The disease develops in three parts of the ridge - cervical, thoracic and lumbar.Cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis are diagnosed more often, as these areas have increased mobility.The more active movements a person can make in the joints, the more prone the intervertebral discs are to injury and degeneration.Osteochondrosis of the chest occurs less often, but is more severe.

The pathology is insidious, as it contributes to the appearance of other degenerative diseases in the body, including intervertebral hernia.In the initial stages, the patient does not feel pain, but persistent metabolic changes in the calcium-phosphorus metabolism already occur, which disrupts the bone structure of the spine.Blood circulation in the affected area deteriorates, leading to premature degeneration.

The intervertebral disc contains a fibrous annulus that is covered with microcracks.A pulpy nucleus appears on the surface of the damage - parts of it begin to gradually leak out.Against the background of degenerative processes, the fibrous ring begins to weaken and stretch, which leads to an increase in the area of microdamage.When the annulus fibrosus tears, the nucleus pulposus emerges.This is how the intervertebral hernia of the spinal cord appears.

If you delay the degeneration process that causes osteochondrosis, hernias and protrusions appear later.The sooner treatment begins, the easier it is to fight signs of deterioration.Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back depend on the location of the ridge and the effect of concomitant diseases on the body.

Causes provoking osteochondrosis of the spine

In most cases, the disease is hereditary.In other cases, the disease occurs against the background of general unfavorable conditions that can provoke an exacerbation, including:

  1. Previous back injuries, including bone, joint and tendon damage.
  2. Musculoskeletal problems, including poor posture and flat feet.
  3. History of metabolic disorders, including endocrine pathologies.People with uncompensated hypothyroidism and diabetes are at risk of developing bone problems.These problems negatively affect the absorption of calcium.
  4. Overweight.With obesity and a high body mass index, a person experiences premature wear and tear on the joints.Heavy weight puts pressure on the musculoskeletal system, which negatively affects the health of the spine.
  5. Bad nutrition.A daily diet depleted of nutrients and trace elements causes hypovitaminosis, due to which the human body suffers systemically, which can negatively affect the condition of the spine.
  6. Lack of physical activity.A sedentary lifestyle has been shown to lead to brittle bones.Moderate physical activity is beneficial.
  7. Weight lifting.Like insufficient muscle activity, excessive overexertion is fraught with microtrauma and damage, which provokes diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
  8. Previous viral or bacterial infections.Examples: osteomyelitis, poliomyelitis.
  9. You have bad habits.Abuse of alcohol and nicotine leads to deterioration of blood circulation, which negatively affects the condition of the bone system.

Factors affecting the occurrence of the disease:

  1. Congenital spinal defects.
  2. Bad posture.
  3. You have flat feet.
  4. Prolonged sitting or standing.
  5. Belonging to the female gender.Women during pregnancy and menopause experience increased bone loss.With a long-term deficiency of calcium and other minerals in the spine, a degenerative process occurs, which contributes to the appearance of osteochondrosis.
  6. Hypogonadism.With a deficiency of steroid hormones in both sexes, calcium is practically not fixed in the bone tissue.As a result, the patient suffers from age-related osteochondrosis.At a young age, such conditions are very rare.In this case we are talking about mutations.

Keeping the above risk factors in mind, you should try to maintain a frugal lifestyle.

Stages of disease development

The disease has 4 stages of the disease, including the following picture:

  1. The initial stage is the stage of degenerative metabolic processes.The patient has no symptoms because the cartilage tissue has not begun to actively deteriorate.Deformation of the intervertebral discs begins.Since there is still no protrusion, the patient does not feel pain in the back.Usually, in the initial stage of osteochondrosis, the disease is rarely detected, more often by accident.Not every specialist is able to notice the first signs of degeneration.In rare cases, the patient may experience minimal discomfort associated with overfatigue.The patient's back starts to hurt when he stands or sits for a long time.Also, such pain is associated with overexertion and weakness of the muscular framework.
  2. In the second stage, active destruction of the fibrous ring begins, which leads to a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc.At this stage, the attentive patient already turns to a specialist, as he feels more vivid symptoms.The head may begin to ache frequently and inexplicable pressure spikes may occur.It often hurts the lower back, neck or shoulder blades.The patient can no longer tolerate prolonged exertion and quickly tires.At this stage, osteochondrosis is detected by X-ray.
  3. In the third stage, the disease causes bulging of the fibrous ring.During the diagnosis, the patient is diagnosed with a protrusion or a small intervertebral hernia, which creates serious problems in everyday life.The cartilage is already weakened and the patient feels very ill.The third stage is transitional in terms of treatment.At this stage, it is still possible to use conservative treatment to make the patient feel better and slow down the development of the hernia.
  4. Stage 4 – terminal.Vertebrae lose elasticity and mobility.The patient suffers from pain not only during the day during movements, but also at night.Sleep is disturbed and neurological symptoms appear, and the discomfort is chronic.Chronic fatigue syndrome is getting worse.At this stage, significant hernias have already been diagnosed, which interfere with the patient's normal life.In this case, surgical intervention to remove osteophytes is indicated.Conservative treatment in advanced cases does not bring relief.

The sooner osteochondrosis is detected, the easier it will be to fight it.At stages 1-2, it is still possible to reverse the development of the pathology if you unconditionally follow medical prescriptions.

Types of osteochondrosis of the spine

The spine consists of 3 sections, including the lower back, chest and neck.Depending on the individual situation, degenerative lesions appear more often in one of the departments.Less often, the pathology affects several segments of the ridge.The cervical and lumbar areas are most often affected, as increased mobility is observed in these places.When the thoracic spine is affected, the pathology is more severe due to the anatomical features of the ridge in this area.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is most common.The spread of the pathology is associated with an increased load in the lower part of the body.In addition, this part of the back is most susceptible to the formation of hernias and protrusions.If a patient with such an anamnesis develops complications, problems with motility, bowel movements and urination occur.Advanced cases require serious correction and surgery.

With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, severe pain and shooting in the head appear.Most often, the disease occurs against the background of prolonged sedentary work and increased physical activity.Patients with this disease also require an integrated approach to therapy.Damage to the cervical spine is also due to the presence of increased mobility in the shoulders and head.

Thoracic osteochondrosis occurs less often, because due to well-developed muscles and reduced mobility, this area is the least susceptible to such a pathological process.This type of osteochondrosis is difficult to diagnose, because the symptoms of the pathology resemble diseases of the heart, lungs or stomach.With thoracic osteochondrosis, radiation of pain is more often observed in the region of the ribs and heart, so the disease is confused with ischemic heart disease and signs of a heart attack.An important diagnostic criterion is that if a complaint of chest pain does not reveal heart problems, you should visit a neurologist or a traumatologist.

The older the patient, the higher the risk that the degeneration of the spinal joints will affect multiple parts of the spine.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine

Symptoms can be divided into general and specific.The second option is typical for osteochondrosis of any part, depending on the location.Common signs of degenerative back disease include:

  1. Pain, discomfort and discomfort.Depending on the extent and localization of the pathological process, the patient experiences varying degrees of pain.In the initial stages, the discomfort is minor, pressing.At night, the discomfort temporarily subsides.As the degeneration of the spine progresses, the pain becomes stronger and more frequent.In the worst case, the pain does not stop and prevents you from sleeping at night.
  2. Weakness, constant fatigue.Spinal problems are often associated with impaired nerve conduction and poor blood flow.If the patient actively develops osteochondrosis, chronic fatigue syndrome appears over time.The patient becomes increasingly unable to perform work duties and the person does not get enough sleep.The more advanced the pathology, the worse the patient feels.
  3. Reduced mobility in a certain part of the spine.During the exacerbation period, there is not only constant pain, but also the mobility of the affected area of the back is significantly limited.This phenomenon is related not only to the inflammatory process, but also to muscle spasticity.
  4. Muscle spasm in the affected part of the spine.Osteochondrosis is not only the result of natural degenerative processes in the body.Lack of physical activity often triggers the disease.In the absence of motor activity, the muscles atrophy and cannot adequately remove the load from the spine.As a result, a constant tension arises, which is fraught with severe deterioration.The patient experiences multiple spasms that must be relieved with medication.
  5. Radicular syndrome.This phenomenon is characteristic of all types of osteochondrosis without exception.When the pathology is complicated by the appearance of a hernia, there is increased pressure of the bulging nucleus pulposus on the nerve segments.As a result, adverse effects occur - limited mobility, pain, lumbago, paresthesias, and in severe situations - loss of sensitivity in the fingers and lower limbs.
  6. Other vegetative manifestations.These include symptoms reminiscent of vegetative-vascular dystonia, neurological disorders, signs of the heart, lungs and stomach.

Distinctive symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:

  1. Headache.It occurs suddenly, and the attack itself often turns into a migraine, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness and pressure spikes.The condition is often associated with persistent poor circulation in the affected area and pinched nerve roots.
  2. Pain in the neck, trapezium, or upper back.This symptom is associated with increased muscle spasticity.The spine cannot withstand the load, so these muscles are overworked.In addition, this condition is more common among office workers.The nature of the pain is intrusive, limiting, painful.
  3. Increased pressure.If the intervertebral hernia compresses the vascular bed, the patient gets an attack of hypertension, which is not related to problems of the cardiovascular system.
  4. The appearance of a feeling of pressure in the neck and throat.The phenomenon is also associated with muscle spasticity, which causes pinching of the neck vessels.
  5. Shooting in fingers, clavicles, and hands.This is a purely neurological symptom associated with pinched nerve roots.
  6. Shortness of breath, pain in the heart and throat are less common.

Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis look like this:

  1. A feeling of tightness in the chest.
  2. The occurrence of attacks of intercostal neuralgia.
  3. Pain in the area of the heart that is not related to cardiac pathology.
  4. Complaints of shortness of breath, pain in the depths of the chest.
  5. Coughing is not related to problems with the respiratory system.
  6. Discomfort in the stomach or esophagus.
  7. Pain in the interscapular region.It is characterized by a chronic course.More often it happens against the background of static muscle overload.
  8. Numbness of hands, collarbones and fingers.Less often - in the lower back.

Here are the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis:

  1. Back pain.
  2. Pulling sensations in the area of the kidneys or lower abdomen.
  3. Occurrence of sciatic nerve pinching.
  4. The appearance of a symptom of a tight piriformis muscle.If this muscle spasms, it compresses the sciatic nerve, which causes specific symptoms, including burning and shooting in the leg, starting from the gluteal area and ending in the thigh and lower leg.This neurological symptom most often indicates problems with the spine.
  5. Problems with bowel movements and urination.When a hernia or protrusion compresses the lower parts of the nerve endings, the force of contraction of the smooth muscles of the bowel and bladder weakens significantly over time.As a result, intestinal atony and urinary retention develop.Such conditions are extremely dangerous and require qualified medical assistance.
  6. Over time, the patient's gait changes and lameness appears in one leg.The condition is also associated with pinching of nerve endings.

If the patient has several symptoms in a certain part of the spine, reminiscent of advanced osteochondrosis, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.There are no specific diagnostic criteria that allow you to detect the disease yourself.It is necessary to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis, after which the exact cause of the disease will be determined.

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the back

Primary diagnosis consists of taking an anamnesis.A neurologist or traumatologist inquires about complaints and examines the patient's back.If the patient is not sure that he should refer specifically to these specialists, he should first visit a therapist.A general practitioner will examine the patient, record the complaints in a chart and issue a referral to a specialist.

The main problem in the diagnosis of spinal osteochondrosis is that the pathology gives many false signs indicating other diseases.That is why it is necessary to visit specialists several times to make sure that there are no pathologies related to the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems.

What types of diagnostics are usually prescribed:

  1. Radiography.This type of examination is quick and does not require large financial costs.The image can be obtained free of charge if the patient undergoes the procedure at the clinic at the place of registration.An X-ray image can superficially assess the condition of the ridge.If there are gross defects or signs of a decrease in the distance of the intervertebral spaces, the patient will be referred to other procedures to clarify the diagnosis.
  2. MRI or CT.These types of research clearly see the soft tissues, which is why they are the main diagnostic methods that recognize various degenerative processes - displacements, disc herniations, protrusions.With the help of such diagnostics, not only osteochondrosis is detected, but also hernias, protrusions and pinched nerves.
  3. Laboratory studies.Sometimes it is necessary to undergo a series of blood tests that will help to detect hidden diseases that negatively affect the course of the disease.Complex tests are usually taken - OBC, OAM, sugar, regulators of calcium-phosphorus exchange, rheumatological tests.

Based on the data obtained, the doctor makes a final diagnosis.After receiving the conclusion, you should follow the recommendations of the specialist in order to endure the course of the spinal disease less painfully.There are pathologies that cannot be completely cured.These include osteochondrosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

There are many treatment options for this spinal disease.They are used depending on the stage of the complication.If the pathology is at an early stage, then the best means are drugs and conservative treatment.In advanced cases, it is rare, but surgical intervention may be necessary when drugs do not help and the patient loses sensitivity in the limbs, becoming disabled.

What is used among medical products:

  1. NSAIDs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.These drugs quickly relieve pain associated with inflammation or irritation.The therapeutic effect is achieved quickly, within one day.Therefore, such drugs are the first choice.Disadvantages of NSAIDs - you cannot inject them for more than two days.In oral form, some types of drugs are used for no more than three weeks.This limitation in use is explained by the high gastrotoxicity of the drugs.People suffering from peptic ulcer or gastritis are additionally prescribed drugs to protect the stomach lining.
  2. Corticosteroids are hormonal pain relievers.In case of severe pain and degenerative processes, special drugs are administered intra-articularly to eliminate local inflammation.The use of extended components is recommended.The active ingredient lasts up to 3-4 weeks.For some patients, one injection is enough to forget about the pain for a long time.
  3. Chondroprotectors are drugs used to strengthen and nourish cartilage tissue.In many patients suffering from osteochondrosis of the spine, cartilage and bone tissue is weak, so it is necessary to strengthen it.Chondroprotectors do not stop the development of the disease and build cartilage tissue, but help to slow down the degenerative processes.They are taken for a long time.
  4. Muscle relaxants.Medicines used to relax tight muscles.The duration of therapy is from 2 to 4 weeks.
  5. B vitamins. Neurotropic substances - B1, B6 and B12 help with sciatica or pinched sciatic nerve.In large doses, these substances have an analgesic effect and nourish damaged nerve fibers.

Conservative treatment methods include:

  1. Manual therapy.The method allows you to relax tight muscles through the work of the hands of a specialist.During an exacerbation, this type of treatment should not be used.
  2. Exercise therapy.With the help of physical therapy, you can strengthen your muscles.It has been proven that back pain is more often associated with muscle weakness, because the spine does not withstand the load, which is why fatigue and discomfort appear.In order to feel relief, it is necessary to perform the exercises consistently 2-3 times a week.Physical education improves posture and relieves pain.
  3. massage.With the help of a massage therapist, it is possible to improve blood flow to damaged muscles, which has a positive effect on well-being.The increased blood flow nourishes and relaxes the tissues, which helps fight spasms.The procedure is contraindicated in the acute period and is performed only during rehabilitation.
  4. Physiotherapy.Conservative treatment is aimed at improving blood flow in damaged tissues using a hardware method.With the help of current or magnetic radiation, muscle communication is improved, which helps fight spasms and chronic pain.Physiotherapy allows local use of systemic drugs that penetrate well under the skin.

Disease prevention

Osteochondrosis of the spine can be prevented if you adhere to a healthy lifestyle, including giving up bad habits, eating right and fighting physical activity.You should also monitor your body weight.Obese patients experience greater stress not only on the back, but also on the whole body.It is recommended to wear orthopedic shoes and monitor your posture.