With the osteochondrosis of the spine, the bone tissue and cartilage of one or more departments of the spine is destroyed.This disease is chronic and develops in almost all elderly people.This is due to the usual aging of the body.
The intervertebral discs are subjected to atrophic changes and at what age this will happen depends on many factors:
- injuries;
- Diseases and overload of the spine.
Spinal overload belongs to:
- Walk with a curved back;
- improper seat;
- Characteristics of the structure of the spine;
- Insufficient nutrition of spine tissues due to hereditary anomalies.
With osteochondrosis, the nucleus located among the vertebrates loses part of the water.For this reason, metabolic disorders are disturbed in the nucleus and various minerals and vitamins are difficult to access.
After some time, the cracks appear on the disc, becomes flat.Subsequently, the nearby joints and ligaments begin to be affected, forming inflammation of the tissues.Due to inflammation, a movement of the nearby vertebrae occurs.This is dangerous for the appearance of root symptoms: pain along the interested nerve.
The aspect of intervertebralnia is also possible and, in turn, can cause compression of the spinal cord.Osteocondrosis is characterized by the appearance of osteophytes - bone growths on vertebral bodies.These growths can squeeze the spinal cord and cause rooser syndrome.
Very often, the cervical and lumbar parts are subject to osteocondrosis.
Cervical osteochondrosis
Reasons:
- sports activities (heavy athletics);
- Excess weight;
- metabolic violation;
- Sedentary work (programmers, accountants, drivers, etc.);
- flat feet;
- spine injuries;
- hypothermia.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of osteochondosis of the cervical column are pain in the head and neck.The person is worried about serious headache, neck pain, giving in hand, pain in the sternum.The patient can complain about the shelters: the appearance of severe neck pain, a spasm of muscle muscles and the restriction of the movement.
In addition, a person can hear a crunch when turning the neck.Due to the pinch of nerves and blood vessels, a person can have an numbness of the language and fingers.The patient complains of a decrease in hearing and vision, increasing the blood pressure and weakness of the muscles of the arms and legs.
Thoracic osteochondosis
This type of osteochondrosis is quite rare.This is due to the anatomical structure of the thoracic spine.It consists of 12 vertebrae, which are connected to the ribs due to the joints.In view of the ribs they are connected by the sternum.Therefore, an excellent frame of the spine, sternum and ribs is created, which protects the internal organs from various injuries.
The vertebrae of the thoracic region have a small height and long spicy processes that are located above the other, like a tile.Because of this structure, this spine is a small mobility.The intervertebral discs of the thoracic region are rarely injured.
The reasons for the formation of this type of osteochondrosis:
- distribution of the irrational load;
- delay in the diet of intervertebral discs;
- Sedentary work;
- The presence of scoliosis.
Symptoms
As with other types, the main symptom of osteochondosis of the thoracic region is pain.
But with thoracic osteochondrosis, the pain can be different.Dorsalgia - Long discomfort and weak pain along the thoracic vertebrae.Pain can influence cervical and lumbar areas.
Dorsago is one of the signs of osteochondosis of the thoracic region, in which pain occurs in the form of an attack.By nature, it is intense, acute, leads to difficulty breathing, leads to limiting muscle movements.In addition to pain, patients may have a feeling of numbness in the chest, a compromised sexual function, pain in the heart, kidneys and stomach.
Why is the damage to the thoracic region dangerous?
The spine is arranged so that in the thoracic region it shrinks, therefore the hernias that occur due to the osteocondrosis will quickly lead to the compression of the spinal cord.This will easily lead to heart problems, pancreas, liver and kidneys, because the thoracic region is associated with all these organs of the nerve fibers.That's why it is very important to consult a doctor in time.It will help to discover where the signs of osteochondrosis that bothers you and will lead a competent treatment of the disease.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
The lumbar column osteochondrosis occurs due to the severity of the lifting.Normally, in the center of the intervertebral disc, is a nucleus containing a large amount of water.Due to the liquid, the nucleus becomes little compressed and 500 kg will be compressed for its break.
However, the album hit by the osteocondrosis becomes weaker and only 200 kg will be needed to break it.If a person who weighs 70 kg raises 15 kg of load in a bent position and for the spine this is a load of 200 kg, the intervertebral disc can burst.That's why the first symptoms of the osteocondrosis of the spine are manifested when raising gravity.
Symptoms
- lumbar pain;
- the impossibility of the movement in the lower part of the back;
- compromised sleep;
- irritability;
- fatigue;
- the impossibility of satisfying domestic needs;
- decrease in sexual function in men;
- violation of the menstrual cycle;
- Cold leg syndrome.
In the transition of osteocondrosis in the sacral region, the patient has pain in the kidneys and urination.
Diagnostics
The treatment of osteocondrosis is carried out by a neurologist.To begin with, examine the spinal column, pay attention to the presence of scoliosis.After the feeling, the doctor will be able to understand how am surprised the spinal column, the tendons and the nerves.
After the neurologist suspects the osteochondosis of the spine, he will direct the patient for further examination.This includes the passage of the radiological examination, magnet-resonance imaging.In case of suspicion of the destruction of the intervertebral disc, discography is performed.It is also prescribed to determine the degree of damage to the nerve paths.
In general, the diagnosis of "osteochondrosis of the spine" is very difficult.After all, a person can complain about pain in the heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas or sexual dysfunction.However, after a careful examination, an expert doctor will be able to suspect this disease and prescribe the correct treatment.
Treatment
Osteocondrosis therapy is a very long and serious process.In the acute period, the patient needs the peace of the segment concerned.If the cervical department is interested, the patient should wear a collar to fix boots.If the lumbar region hurts, the patient needs bed rest.It is better to put the patient in the hospital.Only there will be able to completely observe the appointed regime.The bed of such a patient should be difficult.To do this, put a wooden shield under the mattress.
Pharmacological treatment
As mentioned above, the main symptom of the disease is pain.Therefore, an analgesic is prescribed to the patient to relieve pain and other symptoms of osteocondrosis.
Non -pounding anti -inflammatory drugs are also prescribed.
Unfortunately, the prolonged use of these drugs causes damage to the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract and the patient has the following symptoms:
- nausea;
- vomit;
- stomach pain;
- Feel in the stomach.
Gastric ulcer can also exacerbate gastric bleeding.Therefore, before using these drugs, you need to consult a doctor.If the pain caused by the osteocondrosis lasts 3 months, antidepressants are prescribed together with these drugs.It has been established that in addition to a relaxing effect, they are able to reduce pain.
All the above drugs can be attributed to symptomatic therapy.They will help relieve pain, but they will not save a person from the disease itself.
To restore intervertebral discs and cartilage, chondroprotectors are prescribed.These drugs improve metabolism in the connective tissue and contribute to the restoration of the cartilage.The drugs require a long period of time, on average - 4-6 months.
In addition to restoring tissues and improving the metabolism in them, these drugs also have an analgesic effect.Another group of drugs necessary for osteochondosis of the spine are drugs that improve blood circulation.Their use contributes to the expansion of the blood vessels and if antioxidant preparations are prepared in combination with them, then the metabolism of the nerve cells will improve in humans.
As with any disease, patients need calcium preparations.The activity of the bone tissue will restore, the strength of ligaments and tendons will increase and will also become a prevention of osteoporosis, a disease that accompanies osteochondosis.
Medical physical education
The loading load on the spine will improve the patient's condition.But you have to perform extremely carefully exercises.In the acute period, physical education lessons are contraindicated.Only with the subsidence of the pain can start being engaged in a while.
The exercises will improve blood circulation in the spine, strengthen the muscles.Due to the bloodstream, the metabolism will improve and the restoration of damaged intervertebral discs will begin.But we must also remember that lessons should be held regularly, otherwise there will be no result.
Exercises for damage to the cervical region
- Lie on the back and straighten.Put a hand on the stomach and the second on the chest and take a breath, collect the breath for 10 minutes, then exhale and relax.The duration of the exercise is 3-5 minutes.A day it is necessary to perform 3-5 times.
- Lie on the stomach and straighten your legs.Based on the stomach and legs, it is necessary to raise the head and the top of the chest.Exercise to do 3-5 minutes with a 30 second interval.
- Lie on the back and bend your knees.In this position, turn left and right.Exercise to do 3-5 minutes with a 30 second interval.
Exercises for damage to the thoracic region
- Lie on the stomach.Put your hands on the floor and fold back.Keep in this position for 5-10 seconds.Exercise to do 3-5 minutes with a 20 second interval.
- Lying on the back.Raise your head and legs up ("boat").Lied for 10-20 seconds.Exercise to do 3-5 minutes with a 20 second interval.
Exercises for damage to the lumbar
- Lie on the back, bend your knees and press them on your chest.Swing back and back and roll from the back to the sacred and back.Oscillate up to 2 minutes.So you have to lie down calmly and relax.
- It is necessary to stay on four legs and fold as much as possible.Exercise to do 3-5 minutes with a 20 second interval.
- In an upright position, imagine that the circle returns for 2-3 minutes.Exercise performs 10 times a day.
Surgical treatment
In the absence of the effect of the conservative treatment and the appearance of complications of the osteocondrosis, surgical treatment is prescribed.During the operation, stabilization of the spine, the pressure on the spinal cord and the roots are eliminated.If a person has an intervertebral hernia, it is removed.Since when performing this operation, damage to the spinal cord and nerves is possible, it is performed only according to vital indications.
Physiotherapy treatment
The appointment of physiotherapy procedures positively affects the course of the disease and accelerates the recovery process.With osteochondrosis, it is allowed:
- Visit a sauna or a bathroom;
- swim in the pool;
- massage;
- paraffin therapy;
- manual therapy;
- laser therapy;
- various bathrooms;
- mud;
- electrophoresis with anti -inflammatory or relaxing muscle drugs;
- magnetotherapy;
- D 'Arsonval.
All these procedures improve blood circulation in the sick area, allow you to relax in the muscles and relax the whole body.The physiotherapy procedures are prescribed in the rehabilitation period, when the patient is not disturbed by severe pain.
Prevention
Nobody is safe from osteocondrosis.After all, we are all aged and with us all our body is aging.In order for the disease to not destroy your plans, you still have to practice sports by young people.Moderate physical activity helps improve blood circulation, normal metabolism.In addition, it trains the muscles that protect the spinal column.For the prevention of osteocondrosis, everyone must:
- Eating correctly - vitamins and minerals necessary for the body;
- abandon bad habits;
- engage in physical education;
- Don't bend down;
- Protect your back from hypothermia;
- Do not raise too heavy objects;
- take a contrast shower and harden;
- Avoid stress.
It is particularly important for people who suffer from this disease to follow all recommendations, because their inability to conformity with an exacerbation.When back pain, which does not go for a long time, it is necessary to ask a specialist for help.Only one doctor will be able to carry out a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Do not tighten with a visit to the clinic, because it is better to treat the disease in the early stages.In addition, do not truly self -level: any drug has its contraindications, which you may not know.He strictly observe all the doctor's recommendations and therefore the disease will soon retire!