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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 gradual thinning of the cartilaginous tissue in the intervertebral discs.All people are susceptible to this disease, since due to the upright posture the human spine is subjected to enormous loads.If we take into account the harmful factors, then at the age of 40-50 years osteochondrosis of the back is found in almost everyone.The pathology cannot be completely cured.It is impossible to stop the age-related degenerative process, but with the right treatment it is possible to slow it down.You should learn how to properly deal with 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 are diagnosed more often, since these areas have greater mobility.The more active movements a person can make in the joints, the more the intervertebral discs are prone to injury and degeneration.Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region occurs less frequently, but is more serious.

The pathology is insidious as 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-phosphorus metabolism already appear, which disrupt the bone structure of the spine.Blood circulation in the affected area deteriorates, which leads to premature degeneration.

The intervertebral disc contains a fibrous ring covered with microcracks.A nucleus pulposus appears on the surface of the damage: parts of it begin to gradually come out.Against the background of degenerative processes, the fibrous ring begins to weaken and stretch, which leads to an increase in the area of microdamage.When the fibrous ring breaks, the nucleus pulposus comes out.This is what an intervertebral hernia of the spinal cord looks like.

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

Causes that provoke osteochondrosis of the spine

In most cases, 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 disorders.People with hypothyroidism and uncompensated 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 on the joints.Heavy weight puts pressure on the musculoskeletal system, which negatively affects the health of the spine.
  5. Bad nutrition.A daily diet poor in nutrients and microelements causes hypovitaminosis, which causes the human body to suffer systemically, which can negatively affect the condition of the spine.
  6. Physical inactivity.A sedentary lifestyle has been proven to lead to bone fragility.Moderate physical activity is beneficial.
  7. Weightlifting.Like insufficient muscle activity, excessive strain is fraught with microtraumas and damage that provoke diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
  8. Previous viral or bacterial infections.Examples: osteomyelitis, polio.
  9. Having bad habits.Alcohol and nicotine abuse causes deterioration of blood circulation, which negatively affects the condition of the skeletal system.

Factors influencing the onset 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 long-term deficiency of calcium and other minerals, a degenerative process occurs in the spine, which 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, such conditions occur very rarely.In this case we are talking about mutations.

Considering the above risk factors, you should try to maintain a calm lifestyle.

Stages of development of the disease

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

  1. The initial stage is the stage of degenerative metabolic processes.The patient has no symptoms, since the cartilaginous tissue has not begun to actively deteriorate.Deformation of the intervertebral disc begins.Since there is no protrusion yet, the patient does not experience back pain.Usually, in the initial stage of osteochondrosis, the disease is discovered rarely, more often by chance.Not all specialists are able to 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.In addition, such pain is associated with overload and weakness of the muscle structure.
  2. In the second phase, active destruction of the fibrous ring 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 experiences more vivid symptoms.The head may start to hurt frequently and unexplained pressure spikes may occur.It often hurts the lower back, neck or shoulder blades.The patient can no longer tolerate prolonged exercise and tires quickly.At this stage, osteochondrosis is detected using X-rays.
  3. In the third stage, the disease causes protrusion of the fibrous ring.During the diagnosis, the patient is diagnosed with a protrusion or small intervertebral hernia, which creates serious problems in everyday life.The cartilage is already weakened and the patient feels very bad.The third phase is transitory in terms of treatment.At this stage it is still possible to use conservative treatment to make the patient feel better and slow down the development of the hernia.
  4. Phase 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, as the discomfort is chronic.Chronic fatigue syndrome is getting worse.At this stage, significant hernias that interfere with the patient's normal life are already diagnosed.In this case, surgery to remove the osteophytes is indicated.Conservative treatment in advanced cases does not bring relief.

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

Types of spinal osteochondrosis

The spine is made up of 3 sections, including the lower back, the thoracic region, and the 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 most often affected, since increased 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.Furthermore, this part of the back is more prone to the formation of hernias and bumps.If a patient with such a history develops complications, problems with mobility, bowel movements and urination appear.Advanced cases require serious correction and surgery.

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

Thoracic osteochondrosis occurs less frequently, since due to well-developed muscles and reduced mobility, this area is less 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, so the disease is confused with ischemic heart disease and signs of a heart attack.An important diagnostic criterion is that if, complaining of chest pain, no heart problems are detected, it is necessary to visit a neurologist or traumatologist.

The older the patient, the greater the risk that spinal joint degeneration will affect more 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.Considering the degree and localization of the pathological process, the patient experiences different degrees of pain.In the initial stages, the discomfort is mild, urgent.At night, the discomfort temporarily decreases.As spinal degeneration progresses, the pain becomes stronger and more frequent.In the worst case, the pain doesn't stop and prevents you from sleeping at night.
  2. Weakness, constant tiredness.Spine problems are often associated with reduced nerve conduction and poor blood flow.If a patient actively develops osteochondrosis, chronic fatigue syndrome manifests itself over time.The patient becomes increasingly unable to carry out work tasks and the person does not get enough sleep.The more advanced the disease, the worse the patient feels.
  3. Decreased mobility in a specific part of the spine.During the period of exacerbation, not only does persistent pain occur, 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 often triggers the disease.In the absence of motor activity, the muscles atrophy and are unable to 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 need to be relieved with medications.
  5. Radicular syndrome.This phenomenon is typical for all types of osteochondrosis, without exceptions.When the pathology is complicated by the appearance of hernias, there is an increase in pressure of the nucleus pulposus protruding on the nerve segments.As a result, adverse effects occur: limited mobility, pain, low back pain, paresthesia and, in severe situations, loss of sensation in the fingers and lower limbs.
  6. Other vegetative manifestations.These include symptoms resembling vegetative-vascular dystonia, neurological disorders, signs of the heart, lungs and stomach.

Distinctive symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:

  1. Heachache.It occurs suddenly, and the attack itself often turns into a migraine, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness and changes in blood pressure.The condition is often associated with persistent poor circulation in 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.Furthermore, this condition occurs more often among office workers.The nature of pain is annoying, constricting, painful.
  3. Increased 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 squeezing sensation in the neck and throat.The phenomenon is also associated with muscle spasticity, which causes pinching of the vessels in the neck.
  5. Shootings in the fingers, collarbones and arms.This is a purely neurological symptom associated with pinched nerve roots.
  6. Shortness of breath, heart pain, and throat pain are less common.

Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis look like this:

  1. Sensation 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 in the depths of 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 the arms, collarbones and fingers.Less often - in the lower back.

This is how the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis manifest themselves:

  1. Lower back pain.
  2. Pulling sensations in the kidney area or lower abdomen.
  3. The occurrence of pinching of the sciatic nerve.
  4. The appearance of a symptom of a tight piriformis muscle.If this muscle contracts, it compresses the sciatic nerve, causing specific symptoms, including burning and aching down the leg, starting from the buttock area and ending with the thigh and lower leg.This neurological symptom most often indicates spinal problems.
  5. Problems with bowel movements and urination.When a hernia or protrusion compresses the lower parts of the nerve endings, the force of contraction of the smooth muscles of the intestine and bladder weakens significantly over time.As a result, intestinal atony and urinary retention develop.Such conditions are extremely dangerous and require qualified medical care.
  6. Over time, the patient's gait changes and lameness 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 on your own.It is necessary to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis, after which the exact cause of the ailment will be determined.

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the back

The primary diagnosis consists of taking a medical history.A neurologist or traumatologist asks about complaints and examines the patient's back.If the patient is not sure whether he needs to consult these specialists specifically, he should initially turn to a therapist.A general practitioner will examine the patient, record complaints in a card and make a referral 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 related to the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems.

What types of diagnostics are usually prescribed:

  1. X-ray.This type of examination is quick and does not require large financial costs.The image can be obtained free of charge if the patient undergoes the procedure at the clinic at the place of registration.An x-ray image can superficially evaluate the condition of the ridge.If there are gross defects or signs of decrease in the distance of the intervertebral spaces, the patient will be referred to other procedures to clarify the diagnosis.
  2. MRI or CT.These types of studies clearly see soft tissues, therefore 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 to discover 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 recommendations of the specialist to endure the course of the spinal disease less painfully.There are pathologies that cannot be completely cured.These include osteochondrosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

There are many treatment options for this spinal disease.They are used depending on the stage of the complication.If the pathology is in an early stage, the best remedies are drugs and conservative treatment.In advanced cases, it is rare, but surgery may be necessary when medications do not help and the patient loses sensation in the limbs, becoming 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, within a day.Therefore, such drugs are the first choice.Disadvantages of NSAIDs: You cannot inject them for more than two days.In oral form, some types of drugs are used for no more than three weeks.This limitation in 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 drugs are administered intra-articularly to eliminate local inflammation.It is recommended to use extended components.The active ingredient lasts up to 3-4 weeks.For some patients, just one injection is enough to forget about the 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 and build cartilaginous tissue, but help slow down degenerative processes.They are taken for a long course.
  4. Muscle relaxants.Medicines used to relax tense muscles.The duration of therapy is from 2 to 4 weeks.
  5. B vitamins. Neurotropic substances - B1, B6 and B12 help in case of sciatica or pinched sciatic nerve.In large doses, these substances show an analgesic effect and nourish damaged nerve fibers.

Conservative treatment methods include:

  1. Manual therapy.The method allows you to relax tense muscles through the work of the hands of a specialist.During a flare-up, this type of treatment should not be used.
  2. Physical therapy.With the help of physical therapy, you can strengthen your muscles.It has been proven that back pain is most often associated with muscle weakness, since the spine cannot withstand the load, which is why fatigue and discomfort occur.In order for the patient to feel relief, it is necessary to perform the exercises consistently 2-3 times a week.Physical education improves posture and eliminates pain.
  3. Massage.With the help of a massager it is possible to improve blood circulation in damaged muscles, which has a positive effect on well-being.The increased blood flow nourishes and relaxes the tissues, helping to fight 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.By using current or magnetic radiation, muscle communication is improved, which helps fight spasms and chronic pain.Physiotherapy allows the use of systemic drugs locally, which penetrate well under the skin.

Disease prevention

Osteochondrosis of the spine can be prevented if you adhere to a healthy lifestyle, including abandoning bad habits, proper nutrition and combating physical inactivity.You also need to monitor your body weight.Obese patients experience increased stress not only on their back, but also on the entire body.It is recommended to wear orthopedic shoes and monitor your posture.