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Osteochondrosis of the spine: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Osteochondrosis of the spine

Osteochondrosis of the spine is a degenerative-dystrophic destruction caused by the gradual thinning of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs.All people are susceptible to this disease, since due to upright posture the human spine experiences enormous stress.If we take into account the damaging factors, then between the ages of 40 and 50, osteochondrosis of the back is found in almost all people.The pathology cannot be completely cured.It is impossible to stop the degenerative process associated with age, but with appropriate treatment it can be stopped.You must learn how to properly treat the symptoms of osteochondrosis.





General characteristics of the pathology.

The disease develops in three parts of the ridge: cervical, thoracic and lumbar.Cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis is diagnosed more frequently because these areas have greater mobility.The more active movements a person can perform in the joints, the more prone the intervertebral discs will be to injury and degeneration.Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region occurs less frequently, but is more severe.

The pathology is insidious because it contributes to the appearance of other degenerative diseases in the body, including intervertebral hernia.In the initial stages, the patient does not feel pain, but persistent metabolic changes in calcium and phosphorus metabolism already appear, which alters the bone structure of the spine.Blood circulation in the affected area deteriorates, leading to premature degeneration.

The intervertebral disc contains a fibrous annulus that is covered with microfissures.A nucleus pulposus appears on the surface of the damage;parts of it gradually begin to seep out.Against the background of degenerative processes, the annulus fibrosus begins to weaken and stretch, which leads to an increase in the area of microdamage.When the annulus fibrosus ruptures, the nucleus pulposus comes out.This is how an intervertebral hernia of the spinal cord appears.

If the degeneration process that causes osteochondrosis is slowed down, hernias and protuberances subsequently appear.The sooner treatment is started, the easier it will be to combat signs of deterioration.Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back depend on the location on the ridge and the effect of concomitant diseases on the body.

Causes that cause osteochondrosis of the spine.

In most situations, the disease is hereditary.In other cases, the disease occurs against the background of common unfavorable conditions that can provoke an exacerbation, including:

  1. Previous back injuries, including damage to bones, joints, and tendons.
  2. Problems with the musculoskeletal system, including poor posture and flat feet.
  3. History of metabolic disorders, including endocrine pathologies.People with decompensated hypothyroidism and diabetes are at risk of developing bone problems.These problems negatively affect calcium absorption.
  4. Having excess weight.With obesity and a high body mass index, a person experiences premature wear and tear of the joints.Heavy weight puts pressure on the musculoskeletal system, which negatively affects spinal health.
  5. Poor nutrition.A daily diet poor in nutrients and microelements causes hypovitaminosis, which causes the human body to suffer systemically, which can negatively affect the state of the spine.
  6. Physical inactivity.A sedentary lifestyle has been shown to cause brittle bones.Moderate physical activity is beneficial.
  7. Weightlifting.Like insufficient muscle activity, excessive exertion is fraught with microtrauma and damage that causes diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
  8. Previous viral or bacterial infections.Examples: osteomyelitis, poliomyelitis.
  9. Have bad habits.Alcohol and nicotine abuse causes a deterioration in blood circulation, which negatively affects the state of the skeletal system.

Factors that influence the appearance of the disease:

  1. Congenital spinal defects.
  2. Bad posture.
  3. Have flat feet.
  4. Prolonged stay in a sitting or standing position.
  5. Belonging to the female gender.Women during pregnancy and menopause experience increased bone loss.With a prolonged deficiency of calcium and other minerals, a degenerative process occurs in the spine that contributes to the appearance of osteochondrosis.
  6. Hypogonadism.With a deficiency of steroid hormones in both sexes, calcium is practically not fixed in bone tissue.As a result, the patient suffers from age-related osteochondrosis.At a young age, these conditions occur very rarely.In this case we are talking about mutations.

Taking into account the above risk factors, one should try to maintain a gentle lifestyle.

Stages of disease development

The disease has 4 stages of the disease, including the following picture:

  1. The initial stage is the stage of degenerative metabolic processes.The patient has no symptoms, as the cartilage tissue has not begun to actively deteriorate.Deformation of the intervertebral disc begins.Since there is no lump yet, the patient does not feel pain in the back.Usually, at the initial stage of osteochondrosis, the disease is rarely discovered, more often by chance.Not all specialists can notice the first signs of degeneration.In rare cases, the patient may experience minimal discomfort associated with overwork.The patient's back begins to hurt when standing or sitting for a long time.Furthermore, this pain is associated with overexertion and weakness of the muscle structure.
  2. In the second stage, active destruction of the annulus fibrosus begins, which causes a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc.At this stage, the attentive patient already turns to a specialist, as he feels more vivid symptoms.The head may begin to hurt frequently and unexplained pressure surges may occur.The lower back, neck or shoulder blades often hurt.The patient no longer tolerates prolonged exercise and tires quickly.At this stage, osteochondrosis is detected by x-ray.
  3. In the third stage, the disease causes protrusion of the annulus fibrosus.During diagnosis, the patient is diagnosed with a protrusion or a small intervertebral hernia, which creates serious problems in everyday life.The cartilage is already weakened and the patient feels very unwell.The third stage is temporary in terms of treatment.At this stage it is still possible to use conservative treatment to make the patient feel better and stop the development of the hernia.
  4. Stage 4 – terminal.The vertebrae lose elasticity and mobility.The patient suffers from pain not only during the day during movements, but also at night.Sleep is disturbed and neurological symptoms appear, since the discomfort is chronic.Chronic fatigue syndrome is getting worse.At this stage, significant hernias are already diagnosed that interfere with the patient's normal life.In this case, surgical intervention is indicated to remove the osteophytes.Conservative treatment in advanced cases does not provide relief.

The earlier osteochondrosis is detected, the easier it will be to combat it.In stages 1-2, it is still possible to reverse the development of pathology if medical prescriptions are unconditionally followed.

Types of spinal osteochondrosis

The spine consists of 3 sections, including the lower back, thoracic region, and neck.Depending on the individual situation, degenerative lesions most often occur in one of the departments.Less commonly, the pathology affects several segments of the ridge.The cervical and lumbar regions are the most affected, since greater mobility is observed in these places.If the thoracic spine is affected, the pathology is more serious due to the anatomical characteristics of the ridge in this area.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is the most common.The prevalence of pathology is associated with an increased load on the lower part of the body.Additionally, this part of the back is more prone to the formation of hernias and bulges.If a patient with such a history develops complications, problems with mobility, bowel movements and urination appear.Advanced cases require serious correction and surgical intervention.

With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, severe pain and stitches in the head occur.Most often, the disease occurs against the background of prolonged sedentary work and increased physical activity.Patients with this disease also require an integrated therapeutic approach.Damage to the cervical spine is also due to the presence of increased mobility in the shoulders and head.

Thoracic osteochondrosis occurs less frequently, since due to well-developed muscles and reduced mobility, this area is the least susceptible to such a pathological process.This type of osteochondrosis is difficult to diagnose, since the symptoms of the pathology resemble diseases of the heart, lungs or stomach.With thoracic osteochondrosis, pain radiating to the region of the ribs and heart is most often observed, which is why the disease is confused with ischemic heart disease and signs of a heart attack.An important diagnostic criterion is that if cardiac problems are not detected when complaining of chest pain, a neurologist or traumatologist should be visited.

The older the patient, the greater the risk of spinal joint degeneration affecting multiple parts of the spine.

Symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis.

Symptoms can be divided into general and specific.The second option is typical for osteochondrosis of any part, depending on the location.Common signs of degenerative back disease include:

  1. Pain, discomfort and discomfort.Taking into account the degree and localization of the pathological process, the patient experiences varying degrees of pain.In the initial stages, the discomfort is mild and pressing.At night, the discomfort temporarily disappears.As spinal degeneration progresses, the pain becomes stronger and more frequent.In the worst case, the pain does not stop and prevents you from sleeping at night.
  2. Weakness, constant fatigue.Spinal problems are often associated with nerve conduction problems and poor blood flow.If a patient actively develops osteochondrosis, chronic fatigue syndrome occurs over time.The patient becomes increasingly unable to perform work tasks and does not get enough sleep.The more advanced the pathology is, the worse the patient feels.
  3. Decreased mobility in a specific part of the spine.During the exacerbation period, not only persistent pain occurs, but also the mobility of the affected area of the back is significantly limited.This phenomenon is associated not only with the inflammatory process, but also with muscle spasticity.
  4. Muscle spasm in the affected part of the spine.Osteochondrosis is not only the result of natural degenerative processes in the body.Physical inactivity usually triggers the disease.In the absence of motor activity, the muscles atrophy and cannot adequately remove the load from the spine.As a result, persistent tension arises, which is fraught with serious deterioration.The patient experiences multiple spasms that must be relieved with medication.
  5. Radicular syndrome.This phenomenon is typical for all types of osteochondrosis, without exception.When the pathology is complicated by the appearance of hernias, there is an increase in the pressure of the nucleus pulposus that protrudes over the nerve segments.As a result, adverse effects occur: limited mobility, pain, lumbago, paresthesia and, in severe situations, loss of sensitivity in the fingers and lower extremities.
  6. Other vegetative manifestations.These include symptoms reminiscent of vegetative-vascular dystonia, neurological disorders, signs of the heart, lungs and stomach.

Distinctive symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:

  1. Headache.It occurs suddenly and the attack itself often turns into a migraine, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness and pressure surges.The condition is often associated with persistent poor circulation to the affected area and pinched nerve roots.
  2. Pain in the neck, trapezius, or upper back.This symptom is associated with increased muscle spasticity.The spine cannot withstand the load, so these muscles are overloaded.Additionally, this condition occurs most frequently among office workers.The nature of pain is annoying, restrictive, painful.
  3. Greater pressure.If an intervertebral hernia compresses the vascular bed, the patient experiences an attack of hypertension that is not associated with problems of the cardiovascular system.
  4. The appearance of a feeling of tightness in the neck and throat.The phenomenon is also associated with muscle spasticity, which causes pinching of the vessels in the neck.
  5. Shots in fingers, collarbones and arms.This is a purely neurological symptom associated with pinched nerve roots.
  6. Shortness of breath, pain in the heart and throat are less common.

Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis look like this:

  1. Feeling of tightness in the chest.
  2. The appearance of attacks of intercostal neuralgia.
  3. Pain in the heart area not associated with cardiac pathology.
  4. Complaints of shortness of breath, pain deep in the chest.
  5. Cough not associated with respiratory system problems.
  6. Discomfort in the stomach or esophagus.
  7. Pain in the interscapular area.Characterized by a chronic course.More often it occurs against the background of static muscle overload.
  8. Numbness in arms, collarbones and fingers.Less frequently, in the lumbar area.

This is how the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis manifest:

  1. Pain in the lower back.
  2. Pulling sensations in the kidney area or lower abdomen.
  3. The appearance of pinching of the sciatic nerve.
  4. The appearance of a symptom of tension of the piriformis muscle.If this muscle goes into spasm, it compresses the sciatic nerve, causing specific symptoms, including burning and throbbing along the leg, starting from the buttock area and ending in the thigh and lower leg.This neurological symptom usually indicates problems with the spine.
  5. Problems with bowel movements and urination.When a hernia or bulge compresses the lower parts of the nerve endings, the contraction force of the smooth muscles of the intestines and bladder weakens significantly over time.As a result, intestinal atony and urinary retention develop.These conditions are extremely dangerous and require qualified medical attention.
  6. Over time, the patient's gait changes and limping appears in one leg.The condition is also associated with pinching of nerve endings.

If a patient has several symptoms in a specific part of the spine, reminiscent of advanced osteochondrosis, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.There are no specific diagnostic criteria that allow you to detect the disease yourself.It is necessary to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis, after which the exact cause of the ailment will be determined.

Diagnosis of back osteochondrosis.

The primary diagnosis consists of taking a history.A neurologist or traumatologist asks about the complaints and examines the patient's back.If the patient is not sure whether they specifically need to consult these specialists, they should first visit a therapist.A general clinical doctor will examine the patient, record complaints on a card and refer him to a specialist.

The main problem in the diagnosis of spinal osteochondrosis is that the pathology gives many false signs indicating other diseases.Therefore, it is necessary to visit specialists several times to ensure that there are no pathologies associated with the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems.

What types of diagnoses are usually prescribed:

  1. Radiography.This type of exam is quick and does not require large financial costs.The image can be obtained free of charge if the patient undergoes the procedure in the clinic at the place of registration.An X-ray image can superficially evaluate the condition of the ridge.If there are severe defects or signs of a decrease in the distance of the intervertebral spaces, the patient will be referred for other procedures to clarify the diagnosis.
  2. MRI or CT scan.These types of studies clearly see the soft tissues, so they are the main diagnostic methods that recognize various degenerative processes: displacements, herniated discs, protrusions.With the help of such diagnostics, not only osteochondrosis is detected, but also hernias, protrusions and pinched nerves.
  3. Laboratory tests.Sometimes it is necessary to undergo a series of blood tests that will help find hidden diseases that negatively affect the course of the disease.Usually, tests are performed in combination: OBC, OAM, sugar, regulators of calcium-phosphorus metabolism, rheumatological tests.

Based on the data obtained, the doctor makes a final diagnosis.After receiving the conclusion, it is necessary to follow the specialist's recommendations in order to endure the course of the spinal disease with less pain.There are pathologies that cannot be completely cured.These include osteochondrosis.

Osteochondrosis treatment

There are many treatment options for this spinal disease.They are used depending on the stage of the complication.If the pathology is at an early stage, the best remedies are medications and conservative treatment.In advanced cases it is rare, but surgical intervention may be necessary when medications do not help and the patient loses sensation in the extremities, leaving them disabled.

What is used among medical products:

  1. NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.These medications quickly relieve pain associated with inflammation or irritation.The therapeutic effect is achieved quickly, in one day.Therefore, these medications are the first choice.Disadvantages of NSAIDs: they cannot be injected for more than two days.In oral form, some types of medications are used for no more than three weeks.This limitation of use is explained by the high gastrotoxicity of the drugs.People suffering from peptic ulcers or gastritis are also prescribed medications to protect the gastric mucosa.
  2. Corticosteroids are hormonal pain relievers.In case of severe pain and degenerative processes, special medications are administered intra-articularly to eliminate local inflammation.It is recommended to use long components.The active ingredient lasts up to 3-4 weeks.For some patients, one injection is enough to forget about pain for a long time.
  3. Chondroprotectors are drugs used to strengthen and nourish cartilage tissue.In many patients suffering from spinal osteochondrosis, the cartilage and bone tissue are weak, so it is necessary to strengthen them.Chondroprotectors do not stop the development of the disease or strengthen cartilage tissue, but they help to slow down degenerative processes.They are taken in a long course.
  4. Muscle relaxants.Medications used to relax tense muscles.The duration of therapy is 2 to 4 weeks.
  5. B vitamins. Neurotropic substances: B1, B6 and B12 help with sciatica or pinched sciatic nerve.In large doses, these substances have an analgesic effect and nourish damaged nerve fibers.

Conservative treatment methods include:

  1. Manual therapy.The method allows you to relax tense muscles thanks to the work of a specialist's hands.During an exacerbation, this type of treatment should not be used.
  2. Exercise therapy.With the help of physiotherapy you can strengthen your muscles.It has been proven that back pain is most often associated with muscle weakness, as the spine cannot support the load, resulting in fatigue and discomfort.For the patient to feel relief, it is necessary to perform the exercises constantly 2-3 times a week.Physical education improves posture and eliminates pain.
  3. Massage.With the help of a massage therapist, it is possible to improve blood flow in damaged muscles, which has a positive effect on well-being.Increased blood flow nourishes and relaxes tissues, which helps combat spasms.The procedure is contraindicated in the acute period and is performed only during rehabilitation.
  4. Physiotherapy.Conservative treatment is aimed at improving blood flow in damaged tissues using a hardware method.Using current or magnetic radiation improves muscle communication, which helps combat spasms and chronic pain.Physiotherapy allows the local use of systemic drugs that penetrate well under the skin.

Disease prevention

Osteochondrosis of the spine can be prevented by following a healthy lifestyle, which includes giving up bad habits, proper nutrition, and combating physical inactivity.You also need to monitor your body weight.Obese patients experience increased load not only on the back, but also on the entire body.It is recommended to use orthopedic footwear and control posture.