Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is the cause of acute back pain in 67% of all cases. Lack of timely consultation with a doctor, consultation and treatment can lead to such consequences as disruption of the functioning of internal organs, damage to the spinal cord and damage to the nerve roots of the spine. What is osteochondrosis, what types of treatment exist for patients and how the disease is diagnosed - read on.

What is osteochondrosis?

Osteochondrosis is a degenerative dystrophic disease that leads to thinning of the intervertebral cartilage. Hyaline cartilage and intervertebral discs begin to "wear out", losing their ability to function fully.

Reference.In most cases, spinal osteochondrosis is diagnosed in people over 25 years of age. According to the WHO, in 2021, 43% of the population aged between 25 and 40 suffered from osteochondrosis and more than 92% of people in old age. The onset and exacerbation of the disease can be caused by surrounding adverse factors.

Types of osteochondrosis

Each part of the spine is subject to degeneration processes. Among the types of osteochondrosis of the spine, 3 main ones can be distinguished: cervical, thoracic and lumbar (due to the high load, it is more common than others).

1. Lumbar osteochondrosis.The lumbar region consists of 5 vertebrae that are subject to deformation due to the negative impact of external and internal factors. When nutrition and metabolic processes in the intervertebral discs are disrupted, pain occurs, caused by loss of elasticity and thinning of cartilaginous tissue.
2. Cervical osteochondrosis.The cervical spine consists of 7 vertebrae that are regularly exposed to stress. Pathological processes are activated when the body's metabolic processes fail.
3. Thoracic osteochondrosis.The thoracic region consists of 12 vertebrae. This type of osteochondrosis is the least common. The thoracic vertebrae are inactive. People who lead a passive lifestyle and regularly lift heavy objects are susceptible to the disease.

Causes of osteochondrosis

The number of people suffering from osteochondrosis is growing rapidly every year. This is due to the fact that people spend most of their time standing, providing maximum load to the intervertebral discs.

Important!With age/due to heavy loads, the discs and cartilage become deformed. Fissures and hernias may appear. As a result, compressed nerve roots, thinned discs, pathological processes in the spinal cord, muscle spasms and progressive pain.

The risk group includes: office workers, bricklayers, hairdressers, salespeople, drivers. Both men and women are equally susceptible to the onset of osteochondrosis.

The provoking factors of osteochondrosis include:

• presence of osteochondrosis in family history;
• overweight, obesity;
• passive lifestyle;
• flat foot.

Impaired depreciation of the spine and its deformation can be caused by the following factors:

1. Self-neglect (total lack of physical activity or excessive exercise).
2. Lack of awareness about the correct postures to reduce stress on the spine.
3. Constant work involving lifting/moving heavy objects.
4. Injuries.

Osteochondrosis: 4 stages of disease development

There are 4 stages of development of spinal osteochondrosis:

1. First step– there are no clear symptoms by which the disease can be diagnosed. Occasional back pain appears, usually after physical exertion or excessive exertion. Osteochondrosis at an early stage can be detected during a preventive examination or during a CT or X-ray examination.
2. Second stage.The next stage is characterized by moderate pain. The cartilaginous tissue begins to deform and the distance between the spinal discs decreases. When contacting the doctor, drug therapy (to reduce pain) and physiotherapy are prescribed.
3. Third stage– the spine becomes deformed, fibrous areas and hernias appear, the pain intensifies and becomes more pronounced and frequent. At this stage, everything depends on the existing symptoms. The doctor will help determine the patient's method of treatment (conservative or surgical).
4. Fourth stage– irreversible deformation of spinal function. It is almost impossible for the patient to move independently. The pain is sharp, constant and increases with any physical activity. Pathological bone tissue fills the intervertebral space, the patient becomes disabled.

Osteochondrosis symptoms

As mentioned earlier, there are 3 types of osteochondrosis and each of them is characterized by individual manifestations. Let's look at all the symptoms in more detail.

Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis

How to understand that you have lumbar osteochondrosis? You may notice characteristic symptoms:

• stiffness of movements;
• pain in the pelvis, sacrum, lower back, and lower extremities that becomes more intense with exercise or movement. The nature of the pain is aching, dull and sharp;
• pathological processes of the genitourinary system (problems with defecation and urination);
• weakness in the legs;
• commitment/lack of sensitivity.

Important!Self-medication is strictly prohibited. When lumbar osteochondrosis is detected, diagnosis and effective treatment are mandatory. The consequences of lack of therapy are hernias, protrusions, paralysis of the lower extremities.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

How to understand that you have cervical osteochondrosis? One or more symptoms may occur:

• frequent headaches;
• numbness of the upper and lower extremities;
• strong crushing in the cervical spine during physical activity;
• "spots", spots in the eyes, cloudiness and darkening;
• burning sensation and discomfort in the heart region;
• the appearance of tinnitus, hearing loss;
• causeless dizziness;
• pain in shoulders, neck, arms.

Important!Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is considered one of the most dangerous for humans, as it complicates the process of saturating the brain with blood. If left untreated, bumps and then hernias appear. Surgical intervention for cervical osteochondrosis carries a high risk of paralysis of the body. If symptoms appear, contact only qualified specialists.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

How to understand that you have thoracic osteochondrosis? Only a doctor (neurologist) can diagnose the disease, but the patient can assume the presence of osteochondrosis based on characteristic signs:

• discomfort, burning sensation localized in the chest;
• appearance of pain when lifting the arms, pain in the shoulder blades;
• dizziness and sudden loss of consciousness occur;
• chest pain.

Reference.During the transition of the disease to the acute phase, dorsago (shortness of breath, sharp/stiff pain in the chest, "lumbago") and dorsalgia (pain can be episodic or constant, sharp/dull in nature) may occur.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is difficult to diagnose. The disease is often confused with angina pectoris, heart attack or inflammatory processes in the lungs.

Diagnosis of spinal osteochondrosis

When visiting a doctor, a medical history and physical examination of the musculoskeletal system begin.
patient device. The specialist will check the integrity of the reflexes and the level of sensitivity of the painful areas. Blood tests and other laboratory tests are then ordered. To clarify the diagnosis, the neurologist prescribes one or more types of imaging diagnostics:

1. Ultrasound of the vertebral arteries.
2. X-ray of the entire spine or certain areas (cervical, thoracic, lumbar).
3. Computed tomography of the spine helps to identify the presence of degenerative processes, dislocations, deformations of the spine and its structures.
4. MRI of the spine - identifies soft tissue pathologies, helps to scan the spinal cord and intervertebral discs.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

The treatment of osteochondrosis is determined by the attending physician, depending on the type of disease, the severity of symptoms and the degree of pathological changes. As therapeutic therapy, the following can be used: physiotherapy, drug treatment, classes with a chiropractor, therapeutic massage, exercise therapy or surgical intervention (in the absence of positive dynamics from other treatment methods or at an advanced stage).

Drug treatment of osteochondrosis

When prescribing medical drug therapy, the doctor can use several groups of drugs at the same time:

• NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - to alleviate the symptoms of osteochondrosis, relieve pain and reduce inflammation. It can be used in pill form or injections (in severe cases). The duration of treatment is 7 to 14 days;
• chondroprotectors – to strengthen the intervertebral discs and cartilaginous tissue;
• B vitamins;
• vascular drugs - to improve the blood supply to the spine;
• glucocorticosteroids – used as injections into the affected area (for severe forms of the disease);
• muscle relaxants - to relax muscles, relieve pain and inflammation.

Massage for osteochondrosis

A massage course for osteochondrosis should be carried out once every six months. Massage therapy eliminates tension, relieves tension and improves blood circulation in the affected area. Only a doctor can say about the advisability of prescribing a massage, a prerequisite is remission of the disease.

Traction (spinal traction)

Artificial spinal traction is carried out only under the supervision of medical staff, using special equipment. High-quality traction allows you to evenly distribute the vertebrae in the spine. Pain, pinching and inflammation are reduced.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy for spinal osteochondrosis is used to correct curvature. The specialist applies a targeted effect on the patient's muscular and skeletal system. After therapy, blood and lymphatic circulation improves, stiffness disappears and mobility appears.

Physiotherapy treatment of osteochondrosis

It is practiced only during the period of remission of the disease; in the acute phase, this method of treatment is prohibited. Physiotherapy is used as an auxiliary therapy, together with drug treatment. To reduce the symptoms of osteochondrosis, experts use laser, magnets and current (low frequency).

Acupuncture

The basis of acupuncture is the correct action on reflex zones and pain points. Therapy is prescribed only in conjunction with therapeutic massage to increase effectiveness. The therapy restores the possibility of natural loading on the spine without pain.

Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis

Physiotherapy is effective for all types of osteochondrosis and can be prescribed to patients of any age group. The type of exercises and the duration of their execution are prescribed by the doctor. Moderate physical activity helps to strengthen the back muscles, increase the mobility and flexibility of the spine, and improve the patient's condition.

The following types of classes can be prescribed to the patient: kinesiotherapy, therapeutic swimming, health path, mechanotherapy.

Important!Physiotherapy classes are contraindicated during periods of exacerbation of osteochondrosis!

Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis

For spinal osteochondrosis, surgery is rarely prescribed as the only treatment option. The human spine has a complex structure with many vertebrae and nerve endings that influence the coordinated functioning of the entire body. With surgery there is a high risk of complications, which is why it is only prescribed in the most difficult cases or in the absence of improvement with other treatment methods.

Spinal osteochondrosis prevention

Prevention is the best way to reduce the risk of developing osteochondrosis and achieve remission of existing spinal diseases. The main thing to remember when carrying out preventive exercises is that they must be regular and only during the period of remission.

It is best to perform a series of simple gymnastics exercises at the same time. To avoid forgetting them, set a reminder on your cell phone or include them in your morning hygiene rituals.

1. Rest your forehead in the palm of your hand and tense your neck muscles. Execution – 3 sets of 5-7 seconds. Then repeat the same with the back of your neck and palm.
2. The position of the shoulders is level, the head is straight. Slowly tilt your head as far as possible to the right and then to the left. Perform 5 times (slowly).
3. Slowly tilt your head back a little. Tighten your neck muscles and gradually move your chin toward your chest. Do it 5-7 times.
4. Place the left palm near the left temporal area (then the right palm and the right temple). Apply pressure to the palm of your hand, tensing your neck muscles. Execution – 3 times for 10 seconds.

Important!Don't be in a hurry when doing the exercises. It is also prohibited to make circular movements with the head due to the high risk of injury and pinching of nerve endings.

The second set of preventive exercises against osteochondrosis can be performed at any time (especially after work or overexertion), but also regularly:

1. Stand upright, with your feet together, arms relaxed, take a deep breath. Raise your arms and exhale. Approach – 6-8 times.
2. Lie on your stomach, with your arms at your sides, relaxed. Bend up, rest your hands, try to lift your head and feet. Stay in this position for 5 seconds. Return to starting position. Repeat – 5-7 times.
3. Sit in a chair. Place your hands behind your head (take a deep breath), lean back 4-5 times so that your shoulder blades touch the back of the chair (exhale). Repeat – 5-7 times.
4. Stand up, lean back and take a deep breath. Relax your arms, lean forward, slowly lower your head and shoulders - exhale. Approach – 10 times.
5. Get on all fours. Go straight. Arch your back and stay in this position for 3-4 seconds. Return to starting position and repeat 5-7 times.

How to stand, lie and sit with osteochondrosis?

Knowledge of the correct postures that help to evenly distribute the load throughout the spine is necessary not only for patients suffering from osteochondrosis, but for all people. By following simple rules, you will notice a significant improvement in your general condition and a reduction in the load on your back. Additionally, you can protect your spine from many diseases with severe and painful symptoms.

How to sit correctly?

We learn to sit without squeezing, without causing the risk of deformation of the spine and the development of osteochondrosis:

• criteria for choosing a chair/chair: seat depth level - 2/3 of the length of the hips, the seat height level should be equal to the length of the leg. This way, your feet will be flat on the floor. Small people need to place a small step or bench under their feet;
• pay attention to the depth of the work area. It should be such that the legs do not need to be held to the side or strongly bent;
• When working for a long time while sitting, take a break every 20 minutes. Change the position of your legs, walk, do light gymnastics;
• Get behind the wheel with minimal stress. Your back must be supported on the seat; a small pillow or bolster placed between the chair and your lower back will help with this. If possible, get out of the car every 25-30 minutes to warm up;
• Heavily upholstered furniture is not good furniture for everyday use. For a uniform load on the spine, it is necessary to support the body on the ischial tuberosities, which is only possible while sitting on a semi-hard surface;
• Your back should always touch the back of the chair/work chair. Try to sit upright, avoiding strong neck flexions;
• do not sit/lie in the same position for a long time.

How to stand correctly?

If a person stays in the same position for a long time, a strong load is placed on the lower back (and the entire spine), which has a negative effect on it. To avoid putting too much pressure on the spine and increasing the risk of deformation, follow simple rules:

• do not stay in the same position for more than 10 minutes, change the position of your legs and arms;
• relieve tension in the neck - tilt your head to the right and left, stretch your arms forward, bend your back back and forth - relax your back and lower back;
• when lifting something from the floor, bend down, bend your knees or squat, find a support point for your hands;
• move around, walk short distances so as not to stand still;
• Try not to bend over too much (back, head) during household tasks (cleaning, ironing, cooking). When cleaning low or hard-to-reach surfaces, kneel.

How to lie down?

The ideal choice of sleeping surface is a bed with a medium-hard mattress (preferably orthopedic that preserves the physiological curves of the spine). The bed should not be made of wood or too soft.

How to lie down correctly if you feel severe pain?

• back pain - lie on your stomach, placing a small pillow under your lower back (so as not to increase the pain when bending over);
• leg pain - place a cushion (towel or blanket) under your knees. The pain syndrome will gradually subside;
• neck pain - place your hand under your head or a pillow under your neck.

How to get out of bed in the morning during an osteochondrosis attack?

• do a brief warm-up of the upper and lower extremities;
• change your position;
• move from a lying position to a sitting position, holding your leg with your hands bent at the knee;
• lower your legs to the floor one by one;
• get up gradually, any sudden movement can increase the pain.

How to lift and move weights correctly?

Improperly lifting and carrying heavy objects is one of the most common causes of hernias, osteochondrosis and protrusions. Sudden lifting of weights causes a sudden "shot" to different parts of the spine and the appearance of sharp pain that will persist for a long time. It is also prohibited to turn your body when carrying heavy objects.

How to lift a heavy object?

1. Wear a wide belt.
2. Squat. Keep your neck and back straight.
3. Hold the object with both hands, stand up slowly, keep your back straight.

How to move a heavy object?

• distribute the load evenly between both hands, do not carry everything in one hand;
• with diagnosed osteochondrosis, it is not recommended to lift weights exceeding 15 kg;
• buy a backpack (an important condition is an orthopedic back and wide straps). The advantages of using a backpack are uniform load on the spine + free hands;
• Do not lean forward or backward sharply.

Conclusion

Osteochondrosis of the spine most often develops between 25 and 40 years of age. The morbidity risk group includes people with a passive lifestyle, who spend most of their time standing or in incorrect positions, with a heavy load on the spine. Osteochondrosis can be cured with conservative methods, subject to timely consultation with a specialist. In advanced cases, surgical intervention is used. Self-medication is contraindicated.

Regular preventive exercises help reduce the symptoms of osteochondrosis and maintain the functionality of the spine, protecting against deformations. If you neglect your health, the patient may postpone going to the doctor until hernias, paralysis and disability occur.