Osteochondrosis of the spine is a degenerative disease that is manifested by the destruction of cartilage and bone tissue. The pathology is chronic and presents with frequent relapses. First, it affects the intervertebral disc and then other structures of the axial spine and the central nervous system.
Initially, spinal osteochondrosis was considered a disease of older people, but recently the pathology has become significantly younger. Today, degenerative changes are usually diagnosed in people between 23 and 45 years old.
Causes
A single cause of osteochondrosis has not been established. Doctors of ancient practice believed that the disease develops against the background of the deposition of calcium salts that are not completely absorbed by bone tissue. Today, other versions of the occurrence of dystrophic destruction of the spine have been proposed.
The main ones are:
- back injuries;
- inheritance;
- flat foot, congenital clubfoot;
- obesity;
- sedentary work, passive lifestyle;
- metabolic disorder;
- poor posture;
- asthenic body type, natural weakness of muscles and ligaments;
- harmful working conditions (vibrations, shocks, body shocks);
- frequent lifting of heavy objects;
- hypothermia;
- stress;
- Chronic inflammation of tissues of an infectious nature.
For the weaker sex, uncomfortable high-heeled shoes can be a provoking factor. Frequent pregnancies also contribute to the development of spinal injuries.
Symptoms
The degenerative destruction that occurs in the body of the intervertebral disc causes a loss of elasticity, prevents the accumulation and release of fluid and worsens the shock absorption properties of the axial column.
As a result, the load on the annulus fibrosus increases, it becomes thinner and cracks, and the vertebrae become dangerously close to each other. Pathological compression of bone structures and cartilage develops.
The severe pain that occurs is accompanied by the following symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis:
- numbness, goosebumps, 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 the disease depend on the segment of the spine that has been destroyed.
With compression of the cervical spine, blood flow in the vessels worsens, which causes frequent migraines, dizziness and loss of consciousness. The patient may complain of tinnitus, spots before the eyes, pain in the shoulders and arms.
Structural destruction in the lumbar area forces the person to adopt a forced posture, getting up and sitting down slowly. The pain appears in the buttocks and radiates down the limb to the lower leg and foot. Intermittent claudication develops.
Most of the symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis belong to the vertebral type. Disorders that form outside the axial column are called extravertebral syndrome. For example, vascular disorders in the brain caused by compression of the vertebral artery.
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Osteochondrosis of the back is classified according to the place of appearance: cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral. More than half of cases occur in the lumbar spine, a third of all diagnoses relate to the cervical segment.
Which doctor treats osteochondrosis?
If you experience severe back pain, you should postpone your appointment with a neurologist or neurologist. If such specialists are not available at your local clinic, you should contact your GP. After the initial examination, the doctor will prescribe treatment or refer you to other specialists.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis begins with an interview with the patient. The doctor is interested in the time of onset of symptoms, the intensity and nature of the pain, and its location. Then the specialist begins visual inspection and palpation of the spine.
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 scan;
- Dopplerography of vessels and arteries of the cervical spine.
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 classic one in the location of the patient's body.
Treatment
How to treat spinal osteochondrosis? To combat the disease, conservative and surgical therapy is used. The main goal of both techniques is to eliminate pain and prevent further destruction of bone and cartilage tissue.
Non-surgical treatment of osteochondrosis of the back includes:
- massage;
- exercise therapy;
- traction of the entire spine;
- manipulative therapy;
- Impact on active points.
The effectiveness of the methods largely depends on the patient's perseverance and the systematic nature of the manipulations.
The intensive therapy period lasts 2 to 2. 5 months. At the beginning of the course, increased pain and discomfort in the back area is possible.
Surgical treatment of spinal osteochondrosis is prescribed when a conservative approach is not effective. An indication for surgery is compression of the intervertebral space to 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, the patient requires rehabilitation for at least six months. During this period, the patient is recommended to visit sanatoriums, take a course of mineral baths, physiotherapy and massage.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely cure spinal osteochondrosis. Degenerative changes in bones and soft tissues are irreversible and manifest themselves chronically. You can only slow down the destruction process and alleviate its inherent symptoms.
Complications
Complications of spinal osteochondrosis often form as a result of compression of the spinal cord and nutritional arteries. In this context, the patient develops discogenic myelopathy, paresis of the extremities, impaired reflexes and sphincter dysfunction. A herniated disc can cause a spinal cord infarction.
Damage to the cervical spine causes hearing loss, blurred vision, and constant migraines. The patient develops memory problems and decreased learning ability.
If osteochondrosis is left untreated 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 to a disease like osteochondrosis. In old age, the disease affects almost everyone. To prevent dystrophic changes, it is necessary to take care of the spine from an early age.
Moderate sports activity, a balanced diet with a sufficient amount of vitamins, a healthy lifestyle - all this will help you maintain health for many years.
Prevention of spinal osteochondrosis 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 appropriate shoes and monitor the occurrence of pes valgus.
The development of spinal osteochondrosis can significantly complicate the patient's life. Only systemic and long-term treatment will help eliminate severe symptoms. The main thing is not to despair and fight for health.