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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.Everyone is susceptible to this disease, because due to the vertical posture, the human spine experiences enormous loads.If we take into account harmful factors, then between the ages of 40 and 50, 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 can be slowed down.You should learn how to properly manage the symptoms of osteochondrosis.





General characteristics of 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 increased mobility.The more active movements a person can make in the joints, the more prone the intervertebral discs are to injury and degeneration.Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is less common, but more serious.

The pathology is insidious in that it contributes to the appearance of other degenerative diseases in the body, in particular intervertebral hernia.In the early 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, leading to premature degeneration.

The intervertebral disc contains a fibrous ring covered with microcracks.A pulpy core appears on the surface of the damage - some parts begin to gradually escape.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 annulus fibrosus ruptures, the nucleus pulposus comes out.This is how an intervertebral hernia of the spinal cord appears.

If you slow down the process of degeneration, which causes osteochondrosis, hernias and protrusions appear later.The earlier treatment is started, the easier it is to combat 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 provoking osteochondrosis of the spine

In most situations, the disease is hereditary.In other cases, the disease occurs against the background of common adverse conditions that can cause 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, particularly endocrine pathologies.People with uncompensated hypothyroidism and diabetes are at risk of developing bone problems.These problems negatively affect calcium absorption.
  4. Being overweight.In case of 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. Poor diet.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 brittle bones.Moderate physical activity is beneficial.
  7. Lift weights.Like insufficient muscle activity, excessive overwork leads to 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 deterioration of blood circulation, which negatively affects the state of the skeletal system.

Factors influencing the onset of the disease:

  1. Congenital malformations of the spine.
  2. Bad posture.
  3. Have flat feet.
  4. Prolonged stay in a sitting or standing position.
  5. Belonging to the feminine 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, contributing to the appearance of osteochondrosis.
  6. Hypogonadism.In case of steroid hormone deficiency 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 gentle lifestyle.

Stages of disease development

The disease has 4 stages, including the following table:

  1. The initial phase is the phase of degenerative metabolic processes.The patient has no symptoms since the cartilage tissue has not started to actively deteriorate.Deformation of the intervertebral disc begins.Since there is no protrusion yet, the patient does not feel pain in the back.Usually, at the initial stage of osteochondrosis, the disease is rarely discovered, most 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 overexertion.The patient's back begins to hurt when standing or sitting for a long time.Also, such pain is associated with overwork and weakness of the muscle structure.
  2. At 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 experiences more vivid symptoms.The head may begin to hurt frequently and unexplained pressure spikes may occur.This 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 by radiography.
  3. In the third stage, the disease causes protrusion of the annulus fibrosus.During diagnosis, a 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 stage is transitional in terms of treatment.At this stage, it is still possible to resort to conservative treatment to make the patient feel better and slow down the progression of the hernia.
  4. Stage 4 – terminal.The vertebrae lose their elasticity and mobility.The patient suffers from pain not only during the day during movements, but also at night.Sleep is disrupted and neurological symptoms appear, because the discomfort is chronic.Chronic fatigue syndrome is getting worse.At this stage, significant hernias are already diagnosed, disrupting the patient's normal life.In this case, surgical intervention is indicated to remove osteophytes.Conservative treatment in advanced cases does not bring relief.

The earlier osteochondrosis is detected, the easier it will be to combat it.At stages 1-2, it is still possible to reverse the course of the pathology if you unconditionally follow medical prescriptions.

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 occur more often in one of the departments.More rarely, the pathology affects several segments of the crest.The cervical and lumbar regions are most often affected, as 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 increased load in the lower body.In addition, this part of the back is most prone to the formation of hernias and protrusions.If a patient with such a history develops complications, problems with mobility, stools and urination appear.Advanced cases require serious correction and surgery.

With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, severe pain and shooting 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 is less common, because 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, because the symptoms of the pathology resemble diseases of the heart, lungs or stomach.With thoracic osteochondrosis, radiating pain in the region of the ribs and heart is more 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, you should consult a neurologist or traumatologist.

The older the patient, the greater the risk that spinal joint degeneration will affect 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 early stages, the discomfort is minor, pressing.At night, the discomfort temporarily subsides.As spinal degeneration progresses, the pain becomes stronger and more frequent.In the worst cases, the pain doesn't stop and keeps you up at night.
  2. Weakness, constant fatigue.Spinal problems are often associated with impaired nerve conduction and poor blood circulation.If a patient actively develops osteochondrosis, chronic fatigue syndrome appears over time.The patient becomes increasingly unable to perform work tasks and does not get enough sleep.The more advanced the pathology, the worse the patient feels.
  3. Decreased mobility in a specific part of the spine.During the period of exacerbation, not only persistent pain appears, but the mobility of the affected area of the back is also significantly limited.This phenomenon is associated not only with the inflammatory process, but also with muscle spasticity.
  4. Muscle spasms in the affected part of the spine.Osteochondrosis is not only the result of natural degenerative processes in the body.Physical inactivity often triggers illness.In the absence of motor activity, the muscles atrophy and cannot adequately relieve the load on the spine.As a result, persistent tensions arise, which result in 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, increased pressure of the protruding nucleus pulposus on the nerve segments occurs.As a result, undesirable effects occur - limited mobility, pain, lumbago, paresthesias and, in severe situations, loss of sensation 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 comes on suddenly, and the attack itself often turns into a migraine, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness and water hammer.This 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 support the load, so these muscles are overloaded.Also, this condition is more common among office workers.The nature of the pain is throbbing, compelling, aching.
  3. Increased pressure.If an intervertebral hernia compresses the vascular bed, the patient experiences a hypertensive crisis that is not associated with problems in the cardiovascular system.
  4. The appearance of a feeling of compression 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, heart and throat pain 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 region 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.Most often this occurs against the background of static muscle overload.
  8. Numbness of arms, collarbones and fingers.Less often - in the lower back.

This is how the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis manifest:

  1. Pain in the lower back.
  2. Pulling sensations in the kidneys or lower abdomen.
  3. The appearance of a pinched sciatic nerve.
  4. The appearance of a symptom of a tight piriformis muscle.When muscle spasms occur, it compresses the sciatic nerve, causing specific symptoms including burning and shooting down the leg, starting with the gluteal region and ending with the thigh and lower leg.This neurological symptom most often indicates spinal problems.
  5. Problems with stools 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 intestines and bladder weakens significantly over time.As a result, intestinal atony and urinary retention develop.Such conditions are extremely dangerous and require qualified medical attention.
  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 by which you can detect the disease yourself.It is necessary to carry out a comprehensive diagnosis, after which the exact cause of the disease will be determined.

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the back

The primary diagnosis consists of taking a history.A neurologist or traumatologist inquires about the complaints and examines the patient's back.If the patient is unsure whether they specifically need to see these specialists, they should first consult a therapist.A general clinician will examine the patient, record complaints on a form and refer to a specialist.

The main problem in diagnosing osteochondrosis of the spine is that the pathology gives many false signs indicating other diseases.It is therefore necessary to consult specialists several times to ensure that there are no pathologies associated with 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 significant 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 assess the condition of the ridge.If there are gross defects or signs of a decrease in the distance of the intervertebral spaces, the patient will be referred to further procedures in order 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 detect hidden diseases that negatively affect the course of the disease.Usually, tests are carried out 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, you should follow the specialist's recommendations in order to endure the course of the spinal disease less painfully.There are pathologies from which we cannot completely cure.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 at an early stage, the best remedies are medications and conservative treatment.In advanced cases it is rare, but surgery may be necessary when medications are not enough and the patient loses feeling 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, these drugs are the first line of choice.Disadvantages of NSAIDs: You cannot inject them for more than two days.In oral form, some types of medications are used for up to three weeks.This limitation of use is explained by the high gastrotoxicity of the drugs.People suffering from peptic ulcer or gastritis are also prescribed medications to protect the gastric mucosa.
  2. Corticosteroids are hormonal painkillers.In case of severe pain and degenerative processes, special drugs are administered intra-articularly to eliminate local inflammation.It is recommended to use prolonged components.The active ingredient lasts up to 3-4 weeks.For some patients, a single 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 osteochondrosis of the spine, cartilage and bone tissue are weak, so it is necessary to strengthen them.Chondroprotectors do not stop the development of the disease and do not strengthen cartilage tissue, but help slow down degenerative processes.They are carried out over a long period of time.
  4. Muscle relaxers.Medicines used to relax tense muscles.The duration of treatment 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 exhibit 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 the hands of a specialist.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 more often associated with muscle weakness, as the spine cannot support the load, causing fatigue and discomfort.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 massage therapist, 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, which helps fight spasms.The procedure is contraindicated in the acute period and is carried out only during rehabilitation.
  4. Physiotherapy.Conservative treatment aims to improve blood flow in damaged tissues using a hardware method.Thanks to current or magnetic radiation, muscle communication is improved, which helps fight spasms and chronic pain.Physiotherapy allows the local use of systemic medications that penetrate well under the skin.

Disease prevention

Osteochondrosis of the spine can be avoided if you adopt a healthy lifestyle, including giving up bad habits, eating properly and combating physical inactivity.You should also watch your weight.Obese patients experience greater stress not only on the back, but also on the entire body.It is recommended to wear orthopedic shoes and monitor your posture.