Osteochondrosis

If your lower back, back or neck hurts, it is difficult to straighten up, the spine creaks – many people automatically diagnose themselves: “of course – osteochondrosis!”The reasons for this "disease" seem to be extremely clear: we live in the 21st century, we move little, we eat badly...

However, in reality everything is a little more complicated.

What is it: spinal osteochondrosis?How appropriate is such a diagnosis?And what happens in the spine?

In scientific terms, osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease (i.e. leading to premature "aging", "wear and tear") of the spine (by the way, it can also affect other joints).The pathological process begins with the intervertebral discs and gradually spreads to the vertebrae.

Osteochondrosis of the spine: is there such a diagnosis?

In English-speaking medicine, this term denotes a completely different group of diseases that have nothing to do with our “native” osteochondrosis.In the International Classification of Diseases, a book that all neurologists should refer to when indicating a diagnosis, there are terms such as “adult osteochondrosis of the spine,” “juvenile osteochondrosis of the spine,” and “osteochondrosis of the spine, unspecified.”

However, sometimes this diagnosis is not made quite justifiedly, when the doctor actually cannot fully understand what is happening to the patient.This term can cover diseases such as:

• Myofascial pain syndrome– a condition in which spasm occurs constantly in the same muscles.
• Muscle injuries.After an injury, the pain starts to bother you and after a while it goes away on its own.
• Otolithiasis– a condition in which calcium salt crystals build up in the inner ear.They lead to dizziness - sometimes they are mistaken for a manifestation of diseases of the spine.
• Heachache.They are also often associated with degenerative changes in the cervical spine.In fact, more often they have other reasons.

Treatment of spinal osteochondrosis

The standard set of therapeutic measures for exacerbation of the disease looks like this:

• Anti-inflammatories and painkillers..
• If the pain is very strong and does not go away- novocaine blocks are used.The doctor, armed with a needle and syringe, injects the anesthetic into special points where it blocks the transmission of pain nerve impulses.
• Physiotherapy helps:medicinal electrophoresis with anesthesia, ultrasound, ultraviolet irradiation, diadynamic currents.
• If the pain forces you to be constantly in nervous tension,Prescribe medications to calm you down.
• In the area of paindry heat is applied.
• To unload the spine,Different types of traction are used.The patient can be placed on a special bed with a raised headboard and fixed with rings under the armpits.Underwater traction in the pool is also used.
• Your doctor may recommend ityou should visit a chiropractor, acupuncture sessions.
• During an exacerbationwear special orthopedic devices that help relieve muscles and support the spine: corsets, Shants collar.

When the exacerbation passes, it is necessary to take measures to prevent a new one.Therapeutic exercises and massages help strengthen the muscles that support the spine.Physiotherapy courses are prescribed.Swimming is good for you.All methods of treating osteochondrosis have contraindications, they must be used wisely, so self-medication is not the best choice.Visit your doctor.

Sometimes the symptoms of the disease, despite treatment, continue to increase and the patient's condition worsens.In this case, the neurologist may raise the question of surgical treatment.

Why should you visit a doctor soon?Firstly, "real" osteochondrosis is not such a harmless disease.Over time, it can make a person disabled if left untreated.Secondly, the symptoms can be caused by the same myofascial pain syndrome - a neurologist will be able to quickly detect the cause of the pain and eliminate it. 

Back pain is a symptom that, according to statistics, more than 90% of people experience at least once in their life.Most often it is attributed to osteochondrosis.Not all people who experience spinal pain turn to doctors.Many people treat themselves with drugs that can be purchased without a prescription or with folk remedies.Sometimes such "treatment" brings temporary relief, but in the meantime the disease can continue to progress and, perhaps, next time the back or lower back will "twist" much more.

An experienced neurologist will be able to correctly assess the symptoms of osteochondrosis, understand its causes and prescribe the correct treatment for osteochondrosis.

Pain, the main manifestation of osteochondrosis, can be fought more or less successfully for a long time with the help of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs and some folk remedies.But this doesn't solve the main problem;pathological changes in the spine continue to increase.

Over time, this is fraught with compression of the spinal cord and the arteries supplying it and the development of serious neurological complications: severe weakening, up to complete loss, of movement and sensation, loss of control over the bladder and rectum.

What symptoms usually manifest as spinal osteochondrosis?

A typical manifestation of the disease is pain.As a rule, they are sore, constantly bothered, accompanied by a feeling of numbness, pain in the arms and legs.Usually, pain intensifies during sudden movements, heavy lifting, physical work, sneezing, coughing and prolonged stay in a monotonous and uncomfortable position.

The muscles surrounding the spine respond to pain.Tension arises in them.For this reason the patient can find himself in an antalgic position, in which the pain does not bother him so much.Gradually this leads to curvature of the spine.

Over time, if the disease is not treated, the pain intensifies and becomes excruciating.Other signs of osteochondrosis occur:

• Sensitivity is impaired, a sensation of numbness, tingling and "creeping" is felt in the arms and legs.
• The muscles of the limbs weaken and decrease in size over time: their atrophy develops.
• With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, patients complain of headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, "spots" and bright spots before the eyes.
• With thoracic osteochondrosis, heart pain is bothersome.The person may feel "as if a stake had been driven through their chest."
• If compression of the nerve roots of the spine occurs (for example, during the formation of a herniated disc, bony growths on the vertebrae), severe shooting pains occur.

Correct treatment of symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis

The key to effective treatment is a correct and timely diagnosis.During a neurological examination at the clinic, a specialist doctor will evaluate the symptoms and the degree of impairment of certain nerve functions.

Here you can undergo an examination using new, modern equipment - this will help you understand in detail what is happening to your spine, nerve roots, surrounding tissues and muscles.

Treatment should be directed not only against the symptoms of osteochondrosis.You must try to eliminate the cause, and if this is not possible, understand how you can most effectively control the disease and prevent its progress.The neurologist will draw up the correct treatment program and adjust it taking into account changes in your condition.

To defeat the enemy, you must know him by sight.This is the case with any disease: a careful examination by a doctor, modern instrumental studies and laboratory tests help to establish an accurate diagnosis, understand what is happening in the patient's body and prescribe effective treatment for osteochondrosis.

The main manifestation of osteochondrosis is back pain, a symptom that can occur with many other diseases.To establish the exact cause and deal with it, the help of a specialist is needed. 

Neurological examination in the diagnosis of osteochondrosis: how does the appointment take place in the neurologist's office?

During the visit, the doctor will ask you some questions:

• What complaints bother you?
• Where does the pain usually occur?
• How long does the pain last?How strong is it?
• What is the nature of the pain: are they stabbing, shooting, aching, pulling?
• When do symptoms usually appear?What causes them?
• When and after what do you feel better?

Subsequently the doctor will carry out a neurological examination, checking the sensitivity of the skin, muscle strength and tone, reflexes, sense of balance and coordination of movements.The neurologist can press on specific points near the spine to determine pain.Subsequently, to clarify the diagnosis, you will be prescribed a program of tests.

Our neurologists work according to the same standards: they will examine you carefully, will not miss anything and will prescribe all the necessary tests.

What diagnostic methods are used for osteochondrosis?

Most often, the following diagnostic methods are prescribed for osteochondrosis:

• X-ray.It is performed in at least two projections: frontal and profile.If necessary, photographs are taken in other locations.
• X-ray contrast studies.To better examine pathological changes in the spine, a contrast solution may be injected into the spinal canal (myelography), intervertebral disc (discography), and blood vessels (angiography).These studies are performed only for special indications.
• Computed tomography.It helps to examine bone structures in more detail than with x-ray, to detect a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc and bony growths on the vertebrae.
• Magnetic resonance imaging.Helps detect changes in soft tissue with high accuracy.

The doctor may also prescribe other diagnostic methods for osteochondrosis.The specialist will make sure you get an appointment with the right doctor and undergo all the necessary tests, so you don't have to overpay for unnecessary procedures.

Prevention of osteochondrosis

To keep your back healthy, follow these tips:

• Your nutrition should be complete.
• You need regular physical activity.If you suffer from chronic diseases, consult your doctor and ask him to recommend a suitable gymnastic complex.
• Maintaining a normal weight will help prevent not only osteochondrosis, but also many other "sores".
• If you have a sedentary job, take breaks more often to walk and stretch.
• Lift weights correctly.Don't bend at the waist.Keep your back straight – your legs should do the work.

Osteochondrosis belongs to a group of diseases that are scientifically called "degenerative diseases".In other words, these are diseases in which the vertebrae, intervertebral discs and the joints themselves “wear out”, “age” prematurely (this is not an entirely accurate explanation, but in general it helps to roughly imagine what is happening to the spine).But what causes this premature wear?

Why does osteochondrosis occur?

Spinal osteochondrosis is a disease that has no specific cause.Various factors lead to its occurrence:

• Injuries.Osteochondrosis can become a strong echo of a fracture or ligament damage suffered previously.
• Microtraumas.They can be caused by frequent similar movements in the spine, prolonged stay in a monotonous and uncomfortable position.
• Congenital anomalies of the spine.They are different: failure to fuse the vertebral arches, changes in the number of vertebrae in the lumbar and sacral region, incorrect localization of the articular processes in the lumbar region.A person may not suspect all his life that he has one of these conditions and then, when his back "gets sick", the abnormality is revealed during an examination.
• Autoimmune conditionsin which immune cells appear in the intervertebral discs, attacking the body's tissues.
• Circulatory disorders.The tissues of the spine stop receiving the necessary amount of oxygen-rich blood.

Who suffers most often from osteochondrosis?

Some conditions contribute to spinal problems:

• Sedentary lifestyle, low physical activity.Office workers are most at risk.
• Overweight.Every extra kilogram adds stress to the spine.
• Excessive physical activity.Overload during training in athletes.
• Bad nutrition.In order for vertebrae, ligaments and muscles to be strong and withstand loads, they must receive the necessary substances - "building material".
• Previous injuries to the neck, back, lower back.
• Untreated postural disorders, scoliosis.
• Constant stay, work in an uncomfortable forced position, when you often have to stand or sit bent over for a long time.
• If you have close relatives suffering from osteochondrosis, the risks also increase.

What happens to the spine during osteochondrosis?

The development of osteochondrosis is mainly based on the wear of the intervertebral disc.Its structure changes at the molecular level.Initially, the intervertebral disc swells, then it “dries out”, its height decreases, it begins to protrude beyond the vertebral body, and cracks and tears appear in its external part.Through them, vessels grow inside, the disk becomes denser and calcification begins in it.The vertebra becomes loose.

Subsequently, the degenerative process spreads to the vertebrae themselves and the intervertebral joints.The muscles surrounding the affected part of the spine are constantly under tension and compactions appear in them.

To compensate for the increased load on the vertebrae, bone growths (osteophytes) appear on them, which increase their surface area.

Depending on where the pathological changes occur, cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis are distinguished.Two or all three sections may be affected at the same time.