Osteochondrosis is a disease of the whole organism

Degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine, or, more simply, osteochondrosis, not only affect an increasing number of the adult population of our planet, but also become much younger. Today, more than 80% of the working age population of our planet is periodically bothered by back pain.

Osteochondrosis- a disease of the spine, which results in degenerative-dystrophic damage of the intervertebral discs and the underlying bone tissue, accompanied by thickening of the vertebral processes and loss of ligament elasticity along the spine. This leads to aging, dehydration and loss of stability in cartilage tissues.

Osteochondrosis is not just a manifestation of back pain or impaired sensitivity in the limbs, it is a disease of the whole organism. And as many studies prove, osteochondrosis has a direct effect on all internal organs. For example, disorders of the cervical spine affect the functioning of the organs of sight, hearing, mental activity, and mental activity. In the thoracic region, they disrupt the work of the cardiovascular system, the gastrointestinal tract. And degenerative-dystrophic changes in the lumbar spine lead to organ-pelvic problemssmall, including in the urogenital area and lower extremities. For example, in the same lower limbs is associated with various pains, muscle cramps, "creeping cramps", numbness of the extremities and then their atrophy. Therefore, early detection and qualified treatment of this pathology is very important. Many people who first face the diagnosis of intervertebral hernia face the choice of their treatment methods. The proposal for surgical treatment leaves them in a state of shock, forcing them to seek alternative therapies. Some turn immediately to traditional healers, bone markers, others take various medications, others do nothing, adhering to the idea that the disease should be treated when it is very distressing. In this regard, there is a winged expression of neurosurgeons - "walking with a hernia is like walking with a grenade, no one knows when it will explode! " But, unfortunately, surgical treatment, whether neurosurgical ororthopedic, is not medicine. In many patients, even after surgery, back pain persists, accompanied by the development of cicatricial adhesions, and often relapses (a new worsening ("reversal") of the disease after a marked recovery) - recurrent hernias.

With osteochondrosis, the intervertebral discs are affected more often. These unique cartilage washers not only connect our 33 vertebrae to the spine. Its good working condition, mobility, elasticity, resilience, ability to withstand loads depend directly on the condition of the intervertebral discs. They serve as spring shock absorbers to soften the load.

Osteochondrosis already manifests itself in the first decades of life and, according to observations, in boys more often than in girls.

If you do not deal with the prevention and treatment of osteochondrosis, the disease will progress, gradually affecting the entire spine, which can ultimately lead to a disc herniation, tightening of the nerve endings and parts of the spinal cord. In severe cases, the consequences of osteochondrosis can be eliminated only with surgery with a long period of healing and rehabilitation.

Types of osteochondrosis

Depending on the part of the spine that was affected by the disease, the following types of osteochondrosis are distinguished:

• Osteochondrosis of the cervixor osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
• Chest osteochondrosisor osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.
• Osteochondrosis mesitor lumbosacral spine osteochondrosis.
• Common osteochondrosis,this is when the disease spreads to two or three parts of the spine at the same time.
• First:the main symptom of osteochondrosis at this stage is instability, manifested in the initial disorders of the vertebral discs. Feeling bad and embarrassed.
• The second:the main symptom of the second stage of osteochondrosis is disc protrusion. The destruction of the ring fibrosis begins, the gaps between the vertebrae are reduced, the tightening of the nerve endings with pain syndromes is possible.
• The third:at this stage of osteochondrosis, ring destruction occurs with the appearance of intervertebral hernias. The third stage is characterized by significant deformation of the spine.
• Fourth:the last and most severe stage of osteochondrosis. It becomes difficult to move. Every movement leads to acute pain. Periodically, there are improvements in condition, and the pain subsides, but this clearly indicates the formation of bone growths. They bind the beads, limiting the ability to move and leading to disability.

Four stages of osteochondrosis development

Characteristic symptoms of osteochondrosis

Patients suffering from osteochondrosis complain of persistent back pain, which is often accompanied by numbness and pain in the limbs. In the absence of adequate treatment, weight loss and limb atrophy occur. The main symptoms are:

• persistent back pain, feeling of numbness and pain in the limbs;
• increased pain with sudden movements, physical exertion, weight lifting, coughing and sneezing;
• reduced range of motion, muscle spasms;
• with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine: pain in the arms, shoulders, headache; possible development of the so-called vertebral artery syndrome, which consists of the following complaints: noise in the head, dizziness, glowing "flies", colored spots in front of the eyes in combination with a glowing headache. The cause of vertebral artery syndrome may be its spasm in response to direct irritation of its sympathetic plexus due to bone growths, disc herniation, osteoarthritis of the intervertebral joint and a reflex reaction due to irritation of any spinal receptorspinal. The presence of vertebral artery syndrome may exacerbate the course of coronary or cardiovascular pathology, if present;
• with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine: pain in the chest (like a "peg" in the chest), in the region of the heart and other internal organs;
• with osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine: back pain, radiating to the sacrum, lower extremities, sometimes to the pelvic organs;
• nerve root damage (with herniated intervertebral discs, bone growth, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthrosis): shooting pain and impaired sensitivity, hypotrophy, hypotension, nervous muscle weakness, decreased reflexes

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis

The establishment of a preliminary diagnosis is performed during the initial examination of the patient. The examination is usually performed by a neurologist in connection with the patient's complaints of local changes, which may appear as pain, deformity, or limited mobility. The spine is examined with the patient standing, sitting and lying down, both at rest and in motion. The level of the spinal cord lesion is determined by counting the number of vertebrae from certain anatomical points or according to a special scheme.

When examining the back, pay attention to posture, structural features of the trunk, mark the line of the spinous processes (middle groove of the back), lower corners of the shoulder blades, ridges of the iliac bones, lateral contours of the waist and neck, position of the beltof the shoulders, the deviation of the intergluteal groove from the vertical, reveal the elongation, the elongation of the spinous processes pay attention to the relief of the muscles located near the spine.

Spinal sensation allows you to complete examination data (presence or absence of deformity) to determine the location, extent, and nature of the pain. When palpating, muscle tension located near the spine is also noticed. most spinal injuries and diseases are associated with increased muscle tone.

Spinal flexion is used to determine the range of motion in different parts of the spine.

The main role in the study of the spine is assigned to radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance, with the help of which the level of the wound is determined, the diagnosis is clarified and concretized and the hidden pathologies are discovered. Diagnostic data allow the attending physician to determine treatment tactics and select the most effective treatment methods.

Spinal osteochondrosis, motion therapy

Complex conservative treatment includes physiotherapy exercises, physiotherapy, massage, manual therapy, spinal traction, reflexology, drug therapy.

Physiotherapy exercises (exercise therapy) - the main method of conservative treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, is the creation of dose loads aimed at decompressing nerve roots, correcting and strengthening the muscular corset, increasing the volume and developing a certain stereotype of movementsand correct behavior, giving the ligament-muscular apparatus the necessary flexibility, as well as to prevent complications. This is achieved with regular exercise with rehabilitation equipment and joint gymnastics. As a result of exercise, blood circulation is improved, metabolism and nutrition of the intervertebral discs are normalized, the intervertebral space increases, muscle corsets are formed and the load on the spine is reduced.

Physiotherapy is a method of treatment that uses physical factors: low frequency current, magnetic fields, ultrasound, laser, etc. Used to relieve pain, inflammation, rehabilitation after injuries and surgeries. When using physiotherapy methods, the treatment time for many diseases is shortened, the effectiveness of the use of medicines and a decrease in their dose are increased, there are no natural side effects in the treatment of medicines.

Massage is a set of methods of mechanical action measured in the form of friction, pressure, vibration, performed directly on the surface of the human body with the hands. Effectively relieves muscle tension, muscle pain, improves blood circulation, has a tonic effect.

Manual therapy is a individually tailored effect on the musculoskeletal system to relieve acute and chronic back and joint pain, as well as to increase range of motion and correct posture. One of the directions of manual therapy is manual visceral therapy, which helps restore normal organ mobility, improves blood supply, lymphatic circulation, normalizes metabolism, restores immunity and prevents exacerbations of chronic diseases.

Spinal traction is an effective method of treating back and joint pain syndromes using an individually selected load using special equipment. The procedure aims to increase the intervertebral space, relieve pain and restore the correct anatomical shape of the spine.

Reflexology - various therapeutic techniques and methods to affect the reflexogenic areas of the human body and acupuncture points. The use of reflexology in combination with other therapeutic methods significantly increases their effectiveness. Most often, reflexology is used for osteochondrosis, associated with pain, diseases of the nervous system, sleep disorders, mental imbalance, as well as overweight and smoking. By acting on certain points, you can bring the body into harmony and treat many diseases.

Medication therapy is indicated during an exacerbation of the disease, aimed at relieving pain, alleviating the inflammatory process, and increasing metabolic processes by taking or administering drugs using intramuscular or intravenous injections.

Although each of the above methods is very effective, a lasting therapeutic effect can only be obtained when combined with exercises on rehabilitation equipment, d. m. th. when creating a full muscle corset.

Recommendations for the prevention and prevention of osteochondrosis

To prevent osteochondrosis or reduce pain, people suffering from this disease are advised to be in a position for as long as possible in which the load on the intervertebral discs will be minimal, and at the same time, it isnecessary to stretch the back muscles as often as possible in order to support metabolic processes around the spine. The general recommendations contain the observance of the rules of a healthy lifestyle, in addition, in each case, the attending physician determines the private recommendations.

For prevention, the following rules must be observed:

1. Do not overload the spine, do not create favorable conditions for increasing the pressure in the intervertebral discs:
   • limit vertical loads;
   • do not make sudden movements, especially body curves when bending;
   • avoid falls and jumps from great heights, injuries and bruises of the spine;
   • change your body position more often;
   • keep your back straight;
   • try to maintain the natural physiological curves of the spine: in the supine position, the load on the spine is minimal, but the bed should be semi-rigid (preferably sleeping on a firm orthopedic mattress and orthopedic pillow); in a sitting position, keep your back straight due to the muscle or by pressing it to the back of a chair or stool (the seat should be strong enough, and the back should have a turn in the lumbar region), keep your head straight; in a standing position, change the foot on which you lean most often; getting out of bed or from a chair, as well as lying down and sitting down, should be done with the hands without getting tired or bending the back;
   • before physical activity, drink water and massage your back, this will disperse the blood, speed up metabolic processes and allow the intervertebral discs to absorb a sufficient amount of moisture;
   • do not lift or carry heavy objects on your outstretched arms, to lift an object, squat down and then stand with it, while the objects should be as close to the body as possible;
   • when carrying weights, try to distribute the load evenly, i. e. do not carry bags in one hand, etc. , if you have to carry an object in front of you, keep it as close to your body as possible and while passing it, do not stretch your arms forward, and also use to carry heavy loads, carts, bags or luggage on wheels, backpacks;
   • when performing heavy work related to lifting, moving or holding weights, use a wide belt or a special corset;
   • do not lift a load over 10 kg;
   • when doing any work, try to bend as little as possible and be in a bent position and periodically unload the spine (hanging on the bar, lying down with the arms raised, lying down);
   • wear comfortable shoes; women should limit walking in high-heeled shoes.
2. Exercise regularly to strengthen and maintain your corset. Swimming is useful.
3. Take a contrast shower, soothe the body.
4. Do not get too cold.
5. Avoid scandals, stressful situations.
6. Eat well.
7. Do not smoke.