Osteochondrosis is a degenerative malnutrition disease in which the intervertebral disc is affected, the type of disease, symptoms, and treatment.
The central part (nucleus pulposus) of the intervertebral disc expands and then contracts, losing its shock absorption performance. The annulus fibrosus located on the periphery of the intervertebral disc thins and forms cracks in it.
When the nucleus pulposus penetrates this crack, protrusions will appear. If the ring ruptures, the gel will fall off, forming a herniated disc. With age, the risk of developing osteochondrosis increases significantly.
important
Osteochondrosis can have different locations. The most common type is lumbosacral (50%). Cervical osteochondrosis is often found (in 25% of cases), and thoracic osteochondrosis is rare. In 12% of cases, the failure of the intervertebral disc affects multiple parts of the spine at the same time-this is the most serious form of the disease.
Regardless of its location, the disease has several stages.
The first stageIt is characterized by the instability of the spine segment, which is manifested as a violation of the intervertebral disc.
second stageIt is manifested as poor fixation between the vertebrae due to a herniated disc. The gap between the vertebrae is reduced.
inThe third phaseSevere deformities of the spine have occurred, such as annulus fibrosus destruction and intervertebral hernia formation. Pain syndrome and other symptoms largely depend on the location, shape, and size of the hernia.
inThe fourth stageThe patient has difficulty moving, and sudden movements can cause acute pain. Sometimes the pain will be reduced and the person's condition will be improved, but this is only a significant progress related to the fact that bone tissue grows between the vertebrae connecting the two vertebrae.
Self-check
For cervical osteochondrosis, there are:
- Pain in the form of neck pain or low back pain that radiates to the shoulder blades, back of the head or hand area;
- Tight neck muscles, when touched-painful sensation;
- Numbness, swelling of the tongue;
- Goose bumps and tingling sensation in the neck and arms;
- The neck and shoulder muscles are weak.
Thoracic osteochondrosis:
- Periodic severe pain, like a wooden stake in the chest;
- There is a feeling that the chest is squeezing the hoop;
- Pain between the ribs when walking. The pain worsens with breathing and does not go away after taking nitroglycerin, but it is usually short-lived.
The characteristics of lumbosacral osteochondrosis are:
- Pain in the waist and sometimes unable to straighten the back;
- Pain radiates to the legs, sacrum, and groin;
- Loss of leg sensitivity and inconvenience;
- Cold feet, goose bumps and tingling.
On notes
Many people think that sciatica is an independent disease. In fact, this is one of the manifestations of osteochondrosis. Injury to the intervertebral disc can cause adjacent vertebrae to move closer to each other and may invade the nerve fiber bundles that extend from the spinal cord. A herniated disc can also compress nerve roots. In this case, pain will occur. The pain will spread along the route of certain nerve fibers and thus transmit the pain to one or another part of the body. The most common is the lower back and one leg, and it is less common in the lower back and one leg. Neck or arms.
There is also the word "back pain". This is the name for acute pain in the lower back. It may occur during strenuous exercise, weight lifting, unsuccessful turning around, and uncomfortable postures for long periods of time. During an attack, a person often adopts a forced posture, and any attempt to move will increase the pain, usually with lumbar muscle cramps. Low back pain is also usually caused by osteochondrosis of the spine.
Risk factors
People with tall stature, poor posture or weak back and abdominal muscles are prone to osteochondrosis; obesity; office workers who lead a sedentary lifestyle, as well as movers and construction workers who often carry heavy objects. This is also common for professional drivers who have been exposed to vibrations for a long time.
Sports injuries from improper training can lead to osteochondrosis. This disease often surpasses former professional athletes who abruptly end high-intensity training.
Osteochondrosis is much more dangerous than it seems. It often becomes the cause of dysfunction of many organs and systems. Sometimes this disease can cause severe intolerable pain and compression of nerve roots-leading to partial or complete paralysis of the arms or legs.
If left untreated, cervical osteochondrosis can cause dizziness, headaches and insomnia. The fired thoracic osteochondrosis was full of complications such as intercostal neuralgia. Lumbar osteochondrosis is dangerous, and its consequences include the progression of spinal curvature and greater destruction of intervertebral discs, inflammation of the sciatic nerve (sciatica), and severe dysfunction of organs in the genitourinary system.
Patient Memo
For the treatment of deterioration of osteochondrosis, conservative treatment is adopted in most cases. Its main goal is to suppress pain and eliminate reflex muscle tension and exercise stiffness caused by pain. For this, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants are used.
In addition, medications are used to help speed up recovery: B vitamins, drugs that improve spinal blood supply and nerve root nutrition, biostimulants, and tranquilizers that support the nervous system, and are exhausted from prolonged pain.
In order to improve blood circulation and relieve tissue edema, and stimulate muscles, physical therapy methods are used: magnetic therapy and ultrasound therapy, sound waves and electrophoresis, darsonvalization, and electromyographic stimulation. Acupuncture, manual therapy, massage, and mud compresses are also used.
In order to unload the spine and increase the distance between the vertebrae, traction therapy is used. Without physical therapy exercises, it is impossible to successfully predict recovery, because physical therapy exercises allow patients to actively participate in the treatment process.
Surgical treatment is used for severe advanced cases.