Osteochondrosis is a problem of the spine, which affects literally every fourth inhabitant of the planet, at least according to experts from the WHO Statistical Center.
In the five most common diseases in the world, osteochondrosis takes the "honorable" third place, only cardiovascular diseases are ahead of it. In 2012, the media giant British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, published shocking medical research data: every year more than 5 million people die from diseases caused by physical inactivity, i. e. a sedentary lifestyle. A real pandemic of decreased physical activity has covered a third of the earth's population, and the latest scientific work proves that the cause of many health-threatening diseases is not genetic predisposition or viruses at all, but an unhealthy lifestyle. Almost all back problems - intervertebral hernia (hernia), osteoporosis, osteochondrosis and many other diseases related to osteochondrosis - are the result of sitting for hours, whether in front of the TV, at the table or in the car seat. About 80% of all the reasons why the back suffers and spinal diseases develop are related to basic degenerative changes in the muscle corset and a lack of fully reasonable physical activity.
Osteochondrosis and spine
The structure of the spine in living things, whether animal or human, is basically the same. However, only humans have the proud title of Homo erectus, i. e. Homo erectus. Until recently, it was believed that upright posture was the main cause of pathological changes in the spine. It seems that the vertical position of the body leads to an incorrect and uneven load on the spine. Static loads, which are most exposed to the lower back and sacrum, which consists of five vertebrae, are the most dangerous in terms of damaging effects on the intervertebral tissue. dynamic load, characterized by movement, cervical spine is affected. The structure of the spine is quite complex, it consists of many vertebrae connected by cartilage tissue - discs. The disc is a multi-layered ring with a fluid core in the middle, which performs the function of absorbing shock when the spine is moved. In addition, the vertebrae are connected by a large number of muscles and other tissues. The elasticity of the entire connective system ensures the normal condition of the spinal column. In short, the more elastic and adaptive the intervertebral disc, the more flexible and healthy the spine, the less the risk of osteochondrosis will strike it. Today, the theory that upright posture is responsible for all degenerative diseases of the spine is being challenged. Statistics endlessly convince doctors that lack of activity, lack of physical activity is a factor that triggers diseases of the spine related to dystrophy and degeneration of intervertebral tissue. In addition, excess body weight, which really increases the load on the disc, can also aggravate the destructive process and trigger osteochondrosis. Conclusion: movement is life. The expression is not new, it seems offensive, superficial, however, it does not need proof. A notable example of the fact that physical activity and flexibility can serve as a foundation for spine health is the example of people who regularly do gymnastics, yoga and other types of physical exercise. Nature itself gives children the opportunity to be flexible, because the children's vertebral discs are very elastic, only in the nucleus of the disc there is up to 80% fluid. With age, the amount of life-giving "lubrication" may decrease, but it can be preserved by consciously doing simple exercises and following the basic rules of a healthy lifestyle. Osteochondrosis is a disease of people who have to sit or lie down for hours, for years, no matter what the reason - on duty or of their own free will, because of duty, laziness or simply because of ignorance.
What is osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a concept that includes all degenerative and dystrophic changes in the spine. It should be noted that in the European version of the classification of diseases there is no word about osteochondrosis, there are such diseases classified as rheumatic and dorsopathic. In ICD-10, since 1999, indeed, a group of diseases with typical manifestations in the form of pain in the spine, not associated with visceral causes, is defined as dorsopathy. Osteochondrosis, which is recorded as dorsopathy, is in turn divided into three large groups:
- Deformation disease, dorsopathy - scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis, subluxation, spondylolisthesis.
- Spondylopathy - spondylosis, ankylosing spondylitis and other dystrophic ossifying pathologies that limit the mobility of the spine.
- Others, other dorsopathies are degenerative changes accompanied by hernias, protrusions.
Therefore, osteochondrosis or osteochondrosis (from the Greek words - bone, cartilage and pain) is a general name for all problems in the spine caused by degeneration and malnutrition of paravertebral tissue (degeneration and dystrophy). When deformed, the intervertebral shock-absorbing discs become thinner, become flat, which leads to excessive load on the vertebrae and greater deformation until they begin to exceed the normal boundaries of the spine. Nerve roots with such pathology are pinched, inflamed, pain appears.
Osteochondrosis affects almost the entire back, and depending on which part of the spine is more affected, the disease is called in clinical practice.
The most "popular", known to many, is lumbar osteochondrosis, there is also a cervical definition, which ranks second in prevalence, there is sacral, thoracic and extensive osteochondrosis. There are also cross pathologies - lumbosacral or, for example, cervicothoracic.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis can be very diverse, but sooner or later they all increase and become clinically apparent. Of course, it is easier and faster to treat osteochondrosis in the early stages of its development, when the following signs are visible:
- A painful and dull sensation in the part of the spine affected by the degenerative process.
- Chronic muscle tension (mainly characteristic of cervical osteochondrosis).
- Cracking when turning the body, neck.
- Headaches, including tension headaches (with cervical osteochondrosis).
- Painful pain in the chest, often reminiscent of cardiological pain (with thoracic osteochondrosis).
Osteochondrosis in the inflammatory stage has symptoms that make a person see a doctor, because it causes more significant discomfort:
- Irradiation of pain in the limbs.
- Numbness of fingers or toes.
- Pain radiating to the tip of the toe.
- Severe pain in the spine when doing simple physical activity.
- Increases pain with small pushes, jolts, for example, when traveling in transport.
- Inability to perform simple tasks involving rotation or tilting of the body.
- General limitation of mobility, motor activity.
The factors that can trigger problems with the spine, called osteochondrosis, are very diverse, but the already mentioned hypodynamia is in the first place. Other reasons include the following:
- Functional - boring work while maintaining the same posture.
- Biomechanical - flat feet, congenital anomalies in the development of the spine.
- Hormones - changes in hormone levels due to age-related changes.
- Infectious - dystrophy of the intervertebral environment caused by the inflammatory process.
- Metabolic - overweight or underweight.
The factors that trigger osteochondrosis, that is, deformation and dystrophy of the intervertebral disc, as a rule, act in combination and are almost never isolated.
The development of osteochondrosis is divided into the following stages:
- Changes in disc biomechanics as a result of tissue degeneration and dystrophic changes. This is the preclinical stage, when the signs, if any, are very weak, not real. At this stage, the fibrous ring that surrounds the disc begins to stretch or, conversely, shrink.
- The second stage is characterized by greater instability of the disc, the fibrous ring is not only stretched, the fibers are stratified, the ring begins to break. Due to the violation of the nerve root, pain appears in the spine, degenerative changes develop. Collagen tissue continues to break down, the normal height of the intervertebral space decreases.
- The disc often ruptures completely, this pathology is accompanied by inflammation, herniation and violation of nerve endings. Protrusion (prolapse) causes characteristic pain not only in the damaged area of the spine, but also reflected in nearby limbs and body parts.
- The most difficult stage, when spondylosis and other compensatory diseases of the spine join dystrophy. Often, the vertebrae are flattened to compensate for the lost function, and the elastic tissue of the fibrous ring is gradually replaced by scar and bone growth.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Almost everyone who is associated with intellectual activity, from school children to the elderly, suffers from one form or another of cervical spine osteochondrosis. Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is considered a disease associated with increased dynamic loads that cause degeneration of the intervertebral disc and its decrease. The hardening and growth of cartilaginous tissue leads to a violation of the depreciating nature of this part of the spine, head movements - tilting, circular movements, turns become difficult and are accompanied by characteristic signs of osteochondrosis.
Symptoms that can cause osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in the early stages of the development of the disease are not specific and similar to the signs of other pathologies that are not related to the skeletal system. The list of manifestations of osteochondrosis, which must be distinguished and determined to determine the correct diagnosis, is as follows:
- A severe headache resembles a migraine attack.
- Headache extending from occiput to neck.
- Headache that worsens with coughing, turning, sneezing.
- Headache spreads to the chest or shoulders.
- Dizziness, sensory disturbances - double vision, difficulty focusing. Noise in the ears, in advanced cases, movement coordination is impaired.
- Symptoms similar to cardiology pain, especially with pain in angina pectoris - pain in the heart, extending to the cervical region or arm, under the shoulder blade. The pain may worsen and not go away with heart medication.
- Pain similar to hypertension (heaviness in the back of the head).
Consequences and complications
Before treating osteochondrosis, however, like any other disease, it is necessary to know its causes, which is very difficult when it comes to degenerative pathologies of the spine. The factors that trigger the deformation of the intervertebral disc of the cervical spine are associated with the anatomical specificity of this zone. The cervical spine is almost always in tension due to insufficient general motor activity. If we take into account the total "sedentary" lifestyle of more than half of the working population, then the problem sometimes becomes intractable. In addition, the cervical vertebrae are smaller than the vertebrae of other areas of the spine, and the internal canal is much narrower. A large number of nerve endings, many blood vessels, the presence of the most important artery that feeds the brain - all this makes the cervical area very vulnerable. Even a slight contraction of the intervertebral space leads to violation of nerve roots, swelling, inflammation and, thus, to the deterioration of blood supply to the brain. Often, a decrease in mental activity is due to the fact that a person develops osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. There are historical anecdotes, from a time not so distant, when MargaretHilda Thatcher chastises her workers with the words: "Your problem is not that you are dizzy or that your own views on the issue are voted on. The problem is that your spine is not connected to your brain, John. " This famous quote from the "iron" woman perfectly characterizes the situationwhich causes osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, when sometimes it happens - the spine does not provide proper "nutrition" to the head. As for "nutrition", in fact, not only the spinal canal is involved in it, but also the arterial canal that passes through the transverse nerve process. The vertebral artery goes to the skull to feed the cerebellum, and this artery also supplies nutrients and oxygen to the vestibular apparatus. Slight disruption of blood flow through these channels can trigger or worsen the course of vegetative-vascular syndrome. In addition to VSD, osteochondrosis of the cervical region causes typical symptoms of radicular syndrome (sciatica), when the pain radiates to the tip of a finger or one finger, pallor of the skin (marbling) is clearly visible. One of the most unpleasant complications caused by cervical osteochondrosis is palmar fibromatosis, also called Dupuytren's contracture. With this disease, the aponeurosis (tendon plate) of the palm is affected and the flexion function of the fingers is disturbed.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is diagnosed by a specialist based on the patient's complaints, and it can be confirmed and determined using x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
A complete cure for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is possible only in its early stages, however, it is possible to save a person from the painful symptoms of this disease, prevent aggravation, and get rid of some pathological changes in the spine. Therefore, we should not forget the importance of timely treatment of the disease.
How to treat osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is not easy to treat, as a rule, therapy is prescribed as comprehensively as possible, including all the means available to modern medicine. In addition to conservative drug treatment, proven phytotherapeutic drugs, acupuncture, a set of therapeutic exercises, and sometimes surgical operations that remove hernias and vertebral subluxations are also used. It should be recognized that osteochondrosis and treatment are two concepts that the sick person will face for a long time, sometimes throughout his life. In addition to the initial stage, which aims to relieve the symptoms of pain, therapy involves ongoing rehabilitation, rehabilitation and prevention. Complex, multicomponent diseases are always treated for a long time. If a diagnosis is made - osteochondrosis, how to treat - this is the first question that is decided not only by the doctor, but also by the patient himself, since direct participation and responsible compliance, the fulfillment of all prescriptions often play a decisive role. role in rehabilitation.
What needs to be treated?
List of drugs most often used as a medicine for osteochondrosis:
- A complex and effective homeopathic preparation that needs to be used for a long time, like any other homeopathy (in ampoules or in tablet form).
- An effective external remedy that relieves muscle and joint pain well.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (in the form of ointment - externally, in tablets - orally).
- Complex effect ointment from the category of homeopathic medicines.
- Medicines in the form of tablets from the NSAID category (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
- Medicines from the category of glucocorticoids.
- Ointment from the category of external nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents.
- Gel from the category of external non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Medicines from the category of external non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
If we summarize everything that involves the treatment of diseases such as osteochondrosis, treatment can be divided into the following stages and types:
- The use of NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, is considered the gold standard in the treatment of all degenerative, dystrophic pathologies of the bone and muscle system. The first thing these drugs do is reduce the symptoms of pain, the second is a significant reduction of inflammation.
- Drugs called myelorelaxants, because they are really able to effectively relieve spasms and muscle spasms.
- Attraction therapy is an attraction treatment. In this rather painful, but effective process, there is a gradual stretching of the tissue, the muscles that surround the vertebrae, respectively, the intervertebral distance increases, approaching the norm.
- Biogenic preparations, vascular agents that supply nutrition to areas of dystrophic tissue, B vitamins restore well-functioning abilities of the deformed spine.
- A sedative drug that normalizes the state of the nervous system. Perfectly relieve muscle tension and nerve ending acupuncture.
- Physiotherapy procedures - electrophoresis, phonophoresis, UHF, massage, mud procedures, balneotherapy, magnetotherapy.
- Correction of the spine during the recovery period is carried out using manual therapy.
- Treatment of Osteochondrosis involves and with the help of continuous exercise from the complex of physiotherapy exercises.
In the most severe cases, when the course of osteochondrosis enters the final stage, surgical intervention is also indicated, which is performed in the area of localization of the inflammatory process. Often, the hernia is operated, and the removal of the defective bone tissue of the neighboring vertebra is also possible.
Where to treat osteochondrosis?
Self treatment foralmost any disease is a trend observed in almost all countries, but it is a characteristic of post-Soviet countries, where traditional health care structures are still undergoing changes. Confused by innovation, often out of ignorance, many of us try to overcome back, neck or lower back pain on our own. You can call this time the first, although not very effective, stage of treatment, because it is necessary to treat osteochondrosis only with the help of a doctor. The second stage, when independent actions do not lead to the desired and lasting results, one thinks about a visit to the doctor and the question arises, osteochondrosis - how to treat, how to treat, and, most importantly, where to treat osteochondrosis? First, you can contact a local therapist, who, most likely, will refer the patient for examination - x-ray, blood test, and give a referral to a neurologist. Secondly, you can immediately make an appointment with a neurologist, preferably before the consultation, at least undergo an x-ray examination of the entire spine. In any case, you should not go to extremes and look for an experienced massage therapist, any massage, first of all, involves a preliminary scan of the condition of the body, especially the condition of the spine. The problem of osteochondrosis is also dealt with by vertebrologists and vertebroneurologists - doctors who specialize in diseases of the spine.
Osteochondrosis is a complex disease, but the examples of many people who overcome even severe spinal injuries prove that everything is feasible and achievable. The main thing is that at the first alarming signal that the back gives us, analyze our motor activity and take appropriate measures. You can immediately go to the doctor and start treatment, or, if the disease does not progress, start moving, because, like Aristotle, the great teacher of Alexander the Great, who was very active, said, "Life needs and needs movement. , otherwise it is notlife".
What does history say about osteochondrosis?
The etiology of osteochondrosis is still not clear, moreover, despite the obvious ancient origins of this disease, the disease of the spine began to be treated seriously only in the 18th century. Since then, the dispute and discussion about the real "enemy" that triggers degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc has not stopped. Meanwhile, once upon a time, even in the time of Hippocrates, there is a treatise on bone cutting, which shows that the ancient Hellenes also suffered from back pain. Hippocrates himself was so interested in the topic of the spine that he conducted a medical experiment that is dubious from a modern point of view: his students diligently tied the patient by the hands and feet to a horizontal plane with his back up, stretching the limbs as much as possible. possible. Then the great healer stood behind the patient and began to walk over him. The founding fathers of medicine were truly convinced that such fixation, stretching and massage would restore the health of the spine, which, according to the ancient Greek sages, was the key to many happy human beings. Some systematization of techniques that inform how to treat osteochondrosis began only at the end of the 17th century. At the same time, terms appeared that formalized fields used in medicine, among which was bone fixation. Two centuries later, it split into chiropractic and osteopathy. The first direction is purely practical, using power techniques, osteopaths are more theoreticians and researchers. At the crossroads of this science, manual therapy gradually appeared, without which the treatment of osteochondrosis is almost unthinkable today.
As for the term that defines the disease "osteochondrosis", then a typical story applies to osteochondrosis, which is typical for other diseases whose etiology is unclear. As soon as it is not called - and lumboischialgia, and sciatica, and Schmorl's hernia, and sciatica, and spondylosis. It took doctors almost a century to find out about osteochondrosis and reach a consensus.