Osteochondrosis is a chronic recurring disease that occurs in the context of constant destruction of vertebrae and intervertebral discs.Depending on the location of vertebrates experiencing degenerative changes, they distinguish between the breast, the pathology of lumbosacralis, as well as the neck.The main symptoms of osteochondrosis are pain, whose severity increases during physical effort, the stiffness of movements.In the clinical picture, there are often vertebral signs: headaches, jumps in blood pressure, a decrease in visual acuity and hearing.
The diagnosis is based on the results of the instrumental research: Radiography, MRI, CT.In Osteochondrosis therapy, medications from several clinical and pharmacological groups are used.To increase its clinical efficiency, physiotherapeutic and massage procedures are carried out.One of the main therapy and prevention methods are physiotherapy exercises.
The disease development mechanism
The pathogenesis of osteochondrosis is based on the loss of octosus by the core of its hydrophilic properties.This semi -liquid structure consists of fibers and connective tissue jacket.As a person grows, there is a decrease in the vascular channel on each disc between the vertebrae.The intake of nutrients in it occurs diffusely, that is, according to the principle of spontaneous leveling of concentrations.This explains the impossibility of the complete restoration of cartilaginous tissues after an injury or excessive physical effort in the spine.
Osteochondrosis processes aggravate changes in the hormonal background and an unbalanced diet.The amount of sufficient nutrients for its complete operation does not enter the cartilage tissue, which causes the following disorders of its structure and properties:
- Strength and elasticity are lost;
- The form, consistency and configuration change.
Intervertebral discs are flattened and radial cracks are formed in fibrous rings.This causes a reduction in the distance between neighboring rooms.Little by little, the connective tissues of fibrous rings and ligaments are involved in the pathological process.In response to the decomposition of the tissues, the immune system begins to produce immunoglobulins, which leads to aseptic inflammation and the formation of edema in the joint of the joints and soft tissues located nearby.The capsules of the joints are stretched, so the intervertebral discs stop reliably fixing the vertebrae.And with the instability of the intervertebral segments, it increases the probability of infringement of the nerve root or the siring of the blood vessels.This often happens with cervical osteochondrosis and causes its pronounced symptoms.
Provocative causes and factors
In the state of the intervertebral discs, the reduced tone of the skeletal muscles of the spinal column affects negatively.The irrational and asymmetric functioning of the muscles occurs with a prolonged person in a non -physiological position, for example, with a head down while working on the computer.The destruction of cartilaginous fabrics can be caused by the constant use of a heavy bag on one shoulder, a dream in a soft mattress and a high pillow.
The following external and internal negative factors also accelerate the destruction of intervertebral discs:
- endocrine and metabolic disorders;
- infectious pathologies, especially chronic;
- previous spinal injuries (compression fractures, bruises);
- frequent hypothermia;
- The presence of systemic or degenerative-dystophical, psoriatic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis.
If a person has bad habits, then he is at risk.Smoking and alcohol abuse worsen the state of blood vessels, lead to insufficient blood circulation and nutrient deficiency in the cartilage tissues of the discs.
In the presence of flat feet or club foot, the risk of developing osteochondrosis of any location increases significantly.Such congenital or acquired defects become the reason to increase the load in the column due to the impossibility of guaranteeing adequate depreciation with the support.The factor that predisposes to the appearance of pathology is obesity.
With the deposition of adipose tissues in various parts of the body, support for balance is complicated, which leads to the effects of excessive loads on intervertebral joints.
Clinical image
The first clinical manifestation of cervical osteochondrosis, chest or lumbar is back pain.During relapses, it is impregnating, radiating to the nearby part of the body.The slightest movement leads to an increase in the severity of pain syndrome.The response of a person is the adoption of a forced position in which the intensity of awkward sensations is minimal:
- People with cervical osteochondrosis prefer to separate their heads, but the whole body;
- With a pathology of the breast, a person is even afraid to breathe, since this becomes the cause of acute pain in the thoracic region;
- Patients with lumbar osteochondrosis are difficult to sit down, get up and leave due to the infraction of the spinal nerve.
Most patients complain to the doctor about stupid constant pains and a sensation of restriction of movements in the morning.This requires an additional differential diagnosis to exclude myositis (inflammatory process in the skeletal muscles of the back) and osteoarthritis.The reason for the appearance of Dolores Dolores is the compensatory stress of muscle tissue to stabilize the affected vertebral segment.The constant pain syndrome of weak or medium severity also occurs due to a significant stretching of the intervertebral disc and the development of aseptic inflammation.
For osteochondrosis of a certain location, specific symptoms are characteristic.For example, with lumbar pathology, lumboyshalgia often occurs: an attack of pain in the lower back and the back of the thigh.Thoracic osteochondrosis is clinically manifested by visceral pains in the cardiac region, right hypochondrium, stomach, numbness, increased skin sensitivity, crunch in vertebrae.But the most pronounced and diverse symptoms are distinguished by a pathology that affects cervical intervertebral discs.
As a result of the displacement of the vertebrae, the formation of osteophytes, the vertebral artery is compressed, which feeds the cells of the brain, which provides them oxygen.A person suffers from violation of the coordination of movements, noise in the ears, headaches, arterial hypertension.
What can be in the absence of treatment?
Most of the complications of osteochondrosis occur due to the formation of intervertebral disc.It is formed when this vertebral structure moves, which leads to a breakdown of the posterior longitudinal ligament.The album becomes even more unstable, and part of it stands out on the Cephalorraquído channel.A hernia is considered an explosion if, in the process of its formation, together with the disk, its core of the purpose penetrates the channel.
Such a pathological state of vertebrates predisposes to the compression of the spinal cord and the development of discogenic myelopathy.Clinically, it manifests itself in the lethargy, the weaknesses of some muscle groups of the legs or arms, paresis, muscular atrophy, a change in the tendon reflexes.You can also observe disorders of emptying the bladder and (O) intestines.As a result of the formation of intervertebral hernia, the arteries that feed the spinal cord is squeezed.Ischemic areas are formed, in which all nerve cells were killed.The SO neurological deficit occurs: the movements are violated, the sensitivity is reduced and trothy is annoying.
Treatment tactics
Osteochondrosis does not lend to complete the cure, since until now the medications have not yet synthesized, whose intake would help restore damaged intervertebral discs and vertebrae.But therapeutic schemes necessarily include condoprotectors: symptomatic agents of a slow action.The preference is given to medications with active chondroitin ingredients with sulfate and (O) glucosamine sulfate (hydrochloride).
The clinical effectiveness of these medications is confirmed by the results of many years of research.With prolonged income (from 3 months to 2 years), a partial regeneration of cartilaginous tissues is produced, as well as other connective tissue structures: ligaments, tendons, bournes.As they accumulate in the intervertebral discs of glucosamine and chondroitin, they begin to exert a pronounced, decongestant and anti -inflammatory analgesic effect.This allows you to reduce NSAID doses, glucocorticosteroids, muscle relaxants, thus reducing the pharmacological load in the body.
MEDICINES FOR THE ARTICULATIONS are ineffective with irregular use or their use for the treatment of third degree osteochondrosis, when a significant destruction of cartilage tissues is observed.
To eliminate the symptoms that generally occur with cervical or breast osteochondrosis, medications are used to improve blood circulation, nootropics, a drug that improves the microcirculation of the labyrinth used for the pathology of the vestibular device.
If necessary, antidepressants, anticonvulsions are included in therapeutic schemes.
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, physiotherapeutic procedures are used: UHF therapy, magnetotherapy, laser therapy.Reflexotherapy, massage, exercise therapy, hirudotherapy, swimming, yoga are used.With the ineffectiveness of conservative treatment, the patient is shown surgical intervention.The practices are practiced by the disc, their laser reconstruction or implant replacement.