A disease like osteochondrosis of the back does not exist in modern medicine.First of all, it is worth clarifying that the term osteochondrosis itself is outdated and does not exist in the current edition of ICD-10.It was replaced with a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs.However, we will tell you about osteochondrosis of the back, its symptoms and treatment, since many patients call their condition that.And they will understand what this article is about.
So, osteochondrosis is the degeneration of intervertebral discs of dystrophic origin.Everything else is indirectly related to this disease.But to understand this process it is worth taking a short excursion into anatomy and physiology.The main element of the human musculoskeletal system is the spinal column.With its help, a stable position of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity and chest is ensured.Inside the spinal column is the spinal cord, a structure that provides vitality to the entire body.The spine provides flexibility to the body, allows you to walk independently and perform any movements with your hands.It is the link between the head and the limbs.
The spinal column is made up of individual vertebral bodies.They are connected to each other via joints and ligaments.There are long longitudinal ligaments that begin in the coccyx area and end in the occiput area.There are short transverse ligaments that connect adjacent vertebral bodies.Intervertebral discs consist of a dense outer shell (fibrous ring) that can withstand even the most extreme loads.But the fibrous ring has a significant disadvantage: it is completely devoid of its own network of blood capillaries.It receives fluid only when the surrounding muscles actively contract and relax.Furthermore, part of the nutrition is provided by the diffuse exchange between the intervertebral disc and the endplate that separates it from the vertebra.
If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle and the back muscles do not work actively and regularly, the annulus fibrosus becomes dehydrated and breaks down.In the initial phase it takes liquids from the tissues of the nucleus pulposus located inside it.This gelatinous body ensures the normal height of the disc and its shock absorption capacity to evenly distribute the applied loads.
With a long course of this pathological process, the height of the intervertebral disc decreases.It loses its ability to protect the radicular nerves that originate from the spinal cord from the pressure of the adjacent vertebral bodies.They get injured and radiculitis (inflammation of the root nerves) occurs.This is a dangerous condition.Therefore, the body takes measures to compensate for the lost capacity of the intervertebral discs.This causes excessive tension in the back muscles.As a result, widespread nutrition of the remaining cartilaginous tissues is further disrupted.Therefore, osteochondrosis of the back is considered a rapidly developing and spreading disease.Without treatment, it quickly affects all intervertebral discs and the person becomes disabled.
If you are worried about back pain associated with the degeneration of the cartilaginous tissue of the spine, we advise you not to wait for everything to pass by itself.Seek medical attention promptly.Treatment of osteochondrosis without surgery is possible at any stage, except for hernia sequestration.If part of the nucleus pulposus has separated from the intervertebral disc, only surgical intervention can help in this situation.
You can make an appointment with a vertebrologist or neurologist.They will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an effective and safe treatment.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the back
The most common causes of osteochondrosis of the back are physical inactivity, excess body weight, sedentary work and refusal of regular physical activity.It is these factors that cause the destruction of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs at a young age.In a later period of life (after 50 years), osteochondrosis develops for slightly different reasons:
- hormonal changes leading to the leaching of calcium and phosphorus from bone tissue;
- degenerative gerontological changes in the body;
- disruption of capillary blood flow against the background of atherosclerotic deformations of blood vessels;
- metabolic disorders, such as diabetes or changes in thyroid function;
- age-related decrease in muscle mass;
- changes in posture and curvature of the spine;
- chronic diseases of internal organs that reduce a person's physical activity.
Also, potential causes of the development of osteochondrosis of the back can be traumatic injuries to the vertebral bodies, their spinous processes, ligaments and tendons.Of no small importance is the incorrect organization of rest and work spaces.If a person does not attach importance to the position of his body during night sleep, the risk of destruction of the spine and the development of osteochondrosis increases significantly.
You should also stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.These two bad habits cause a disruption of blood microcirculation in the area of the intervertebral discs, which triggers their dystrophic degenerative destruction.
The causes of osteochondrosis of the back can be nutrition and diet.An adult needs to drink at least 2 liters of clean water a day to maintain water and electrolyte balance.In addition, the diet should contain all the vitamins and minerals used in the regeneration of hyaline cartilage, which constitutes the tissues of the fibrous rings.If the diet is dominated by fatty and refined foods, the body quickly begins to experience a deficiency of certain nutrients.This does not allow him to restore the integrity of all tissues, including vertebrates.
Therefore, when carrying out complex treatment of osteochondrosis of the back, an experienced doctor will certainly correct the patient's diet.It will give him the necessary recommendations regarding the correct organization of his space for sleeping and working.
With osteochondrosis, the back muscles experience severe overload.They are responsible for supporting the spine and securing the root nerves.With prolonged static voltage, the blood circulation cycle in the capillaries changes.Myocytes begin to experience oxygen starvation and an ischemic reaction quickly begins.At first it gives severe pain in the back muscles.Then the myocytes begin to die.Short-term inflammation can occur against the background of necrosis of muscle tissue.Then the degeneration of muscle fibers begins.This leads to a number of negative consequences.Patients may develop myofascial pain syndrome.It persists for many years even after successful treatment of osteochondrosis.
Therefore, this process cannot be started.As soon as the first signs of osteochondrosis appear, seek medical help immediately.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic back is the least common, since there is no wide range of mobility of the vertebral bodies.The height of the intervertebral spaces is also guaranteed by the fixation of the costal arches.Therefore, we will not consider the symptoms of this type of disease separately.
Most often, osteochondrosis develops in the lumbar region, as it bears the main physical and shock-absorbing load associated with any movement of the human body.Symptoms of the pathology include a characteristic shooting pain in the lumbar region.It may spread along the inner, outer, or back surface of the thigh and lower leg, extending to the heel or toes.Gradually, neurological clinical signs begin to appear, such as numbness, paresthesia, decreased muscle strength, paleness and coldness of the skin of the lower limbs.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical and cervicothoracic spine is no less often diagnosed.This disease develops more often in people engaged in mental work.With prolonged static tension in the neck muscles, blood microcirculation is disrupted and cartilage tissue is destroyed.
Clinical symptoms with this localization of degenerative dystrophic changes in the cartilaginous tissues of the discs can be more varied.The pain can radiate under the shoulder blade, in the heart area and in the upper limbs.Muscle weakness occurs quickly in the arms.There are signs of reduced blood circulation in the posterior vertebral arteries.These are dizziness, decreased mental performance, frequent changes in blood pressure, drowsiness, apathy, etc.
If symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back appear, it is necessary to conduct a series of clinical studies.First of all, x-rays of the affected part of the spine are prescribed.Based on them, the doctor can only make a preliminary diagnosis.A more detailed examination of the condition of the tissues of the spine is possible during an MRI examination.Doppler ultrasound, soft tissue ultrasound, biochemical and general blood tests, rheumatic tests, etc. may also be needed.
What to do and how to relieve the pain?
The first thing to do in case of osteochondrosis of the back is to stop any physical activity and give relative rest to the spine and muscles.In the first days after the attack it is best to stick to strict bed rest.Treatment can only be prescribed by a neurologist or vertebrologist.It is not recommended to take medications alone.Not only can they have a negative impact on your health, but they can also make it difficult to make an accurate diagnosis in the future.
The only thing you can do to relieve back pain due to osteochondrosis and not cause harm to your health is spinal traction.It is important to restore the normal height of the intervertebral spaces.This will eliminate pressure on the root nerves and all pain will disappear without the additional use of pharmacological drugs.Traction can be hardware, manual or with the aid of physical exercises.Only a doctor can determine during an examination which method is suitable for your individual case.
How to treat and cure osteochondrosis of the back?
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the back can be carried out exclusively with conservative methods, even in the phase of prolapse of the intervertebral hernia.Doctors know how to cure osteochondrosis of the back without surgery.For this purpose, osteopathy and massage, therapeutic exercises and kinesitherapy, laser therapy, foot reflexology and much more are used.
Before treating osteochondrosis of the back, the doctor provides the patient with comprehensive individual recommendations, the implementation of which eliminates potential causes and risk factors.Then an individual course of therapy is developed.During treatment the damaged cartilage tissue is completely restored.If all recommendations are followed, relapses of osteochondrosis do not occur.