Osteochondrosis is a problem of the spine, which affects literally every fourth inhabitant of the planet, at least according to experts from the WHO Statistics Center.
In the top five most common diseases in the world, osteochondrosis occupies an "honorable" third place, only cardiovascular diseases are ahead of it. In 2012, the media giant of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the BBC, published medical research data that are simply shocking: every year more than 5 million people die due to diseases caused by physical inactivity, that is, a sedentary lifestyle. A real pandemic of decreased physical activity has already covered a third of earthlings, and the latest results of scientific work prove that the culprit of many health-threatening ailments is not at all a genetic predisposition or viruses, but an unhealthy lifestyle. Almost all back problems - intervertebral hernias (hernias), osteoporosis, osteochondrosis and many other diseases associated with osteochondrosis - are the result of many hours of sitting, whether in front of the TV, at the desk or in the car seat. About 80% of all the reasons for which the back suffers and spinal ailments develop relate to elementary degenerative changes in the muscular corset and the lack of full-fledged reasonable physical activity.
Osteochondrosis and spine
The structure of the spinal column in living beings, whether animal or human, is basically the same. However, only man owns the proud title of Homo erectus, that is, Homo erectus. Until recently, it was believed that upright posture is the main cause of pathological changes in the spine. As if the vertical position of the body leads to an incorrect, uneven load on the spinal column. Static load, which is most exposed to the lower back and the sacrum, which consists of five vertebrae, is the most dangerous in terms of destructive effects on the intervertebral tissues. dynamic load, whichcharacterized by movements, the cervical spine is affected. The structure of the spine is quite complex, it consists of many vertebrae connected by cartilage tissue - disks. The discs, in turn, are multi-layered rings with a liquid core in the middle, which perform the function of shock absorption when the spine is set in motion. In addition, the vertebrae are connected by a large number of muscles and other tissues. The elasticity of this entire connecting system ensures the normal state of the spinal column. Simply put, the more elastic and adaptive the intervertebral discs, the more flexible and healthy the spine, the less risk that osteochondrosis will hit it. Today, the theory that upright posture is responsible for all degenerative diseases of the spine is being challenged. Relentless statistics convince clinicians that rather inactivity, physical inactivity are a factor provoking spinal diseases associated with dystrophy and degeneration of intervertebral tissues. In addition, excess weight, which really increases the load on the discs, can also aggravate destructive processes and provoke osteochondrosis. Conclusion: movement is life. The phrase is not new, it seems painfully hackneyed, banal, however, it does not require proof. A striking example of the fact that physical activity and flexibility can serve as the foundation for the health of the spinal column are examples of people who regularly do gymnastics, yoga and other types of body training. Nature itself gives children the opportunity to be flexible, because children's vertebral discs are very elastic, only in the disc nuclei there is up to 80% of the liquid. With age, the amount of life-giving "lubrication" may decrease, but it can be preserved by consciously performing simple exercises and observing the elementary rules of a healthy lifestyle. Osteochondrosis is a disease of people who are forced to sit or lie for hours, for years, no matter for what reason - on duty or of their own free will, due to obligations, laziness or simply out of ignorance.
What is osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a concept that includes all degenerative and dystrophic changes in the spine. It should be noted that in the European version of the classification of diseases there is not a word about osteochondrosis, there such diseases are classified as rheumatic and dorsopathic. In the ICD-10, since 1999, indeed, a group of diseases with typical manifestations in the form of pain in the spine, not associated with visceral causes, is defined as dorsopathy. Osteochondrosis, which is recorded as dorsopathy, is in turn divided into three large groups:
- Deforming diseases, dorsopathy - scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis, subluxation, spondylolisthesis.
- Spondylopathy - spondylosis, ankylosing spondylitis and other ossifying dystrophic pathologies that limit the mobility of the spine.
- Other, other dorsopathies are degenerative changes accompanied by hernias, protrusions.
Thus, osteochondrosis or osteochondrosis (from the Greek words - bone, cartilage and pain) is the general name for all problems in the spine that are caused by degeneration and malnutrition of the paravertebral tissues (degeneration and dystrophy). When deformed, the intervertebral shock-absorbing disk becomes thinner, becomes flat, which leads to overload of the vertebrae and their even greater deformation to such an extent that they begin to go beyond the normal boundaries of the spine. Nerve roots with such a pathology are pinched, inflamed, pain appears.
Osteochondrosis affects almost the entire back, and depending on which part of the spine has suffered more, the disease is called in clinical practice.
The most "popular", known to many, is lumbar osteochondrosis, there is also a definition of cervical, which ranks second in prevalence, there is sacral, thoracic and widespread osteochondrosis. There are also cross pathologies - lumbosacral or, for example, cervicothoracic.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis can be very diverse, but sooner or later they all increase and become clinically manifested. Of course, it is much easier and faster to treat osteochondrosis in the early stages of its development, when the following signs are noticeable:
- Aching, dull painful sensations in the part of the spine affected by the degenerative process.
- Chronic muscle tension (especially characteristic of cervical osteochondrosis).
- Cracking when turning the body, neck.
- Headache, including tension headache (with cervical osteochondrosis).
- Aching pain in the chest, often reminiscent of cardiological pain (with thoracic osteochondrosis).
Osteochondrosis in the inflammatory stage has symptoms that make a person see a doctor, because they cause more pronounced discomfort:
- Irradiation of pain in the limb.
- Numbness of fingers or toes.
- Irradiation of pain to the tips of the fingers of the extremities.
- Severe pain in the spine when performing simple physical activities.
- Increasing pain with small shocks, shakes, for example, when traveling in transport.
- The inability to perform simple work associated with rotations or tilts of the body.
- General limitation of mobility, motor activity.
The factors that can provoke problems with the spine, called osteochondrosis, are very diverse, but the already mentioned hypodynamia is in the first place. Other reasons include the following:
- Functional - monotonous work while maintaining the same posture.
- Biomechanical - flat feet, congenital anomalies in the development of the spine.
- Hormonal - changes in hormonal levels due to age-related changes.
- Infectious - dystrophy of the intervertebral environment caused by the inflammatory process.
- Metabolic - overweight or underweight.
Factors that provoke osteochondrosis, that is, deformation and dystrophy of the intervertebral discs, as a rule, act in combination and are almost never isolated.
The development of osteochondrosis is divided into the following stages:
- Changes in disc biomechanics as a result of tissue degeneration and dystrophic changes. This is the preclinical stage, when the signs, if any, are very weak, unmanifested. At this stage, the fibrous ring surrounding the disk begins to stretch or, conversely, shrink.
- The second stage is characterized by greater instability of the disc, the fibrous ring is not just stretched, its fibers are stratified, the ring begins to break. Due to the infringement of the nerve roots, pain appears in the spine, degenerative changes progress. Collagen tissue continues to break down, the normal height of the intervertebral distance decreases.
- The disc often ruptures completely, this pathology is accompanied by inflammation, herniation and infringement of nerve endings. Protrusion (prolapse) causes characteristic pain not only in the damaged area of the spine, but is also reflected in the limbs and nearby parts of the body.
- The most difficult stage, when spondylosis and other compensatory diseases of the spine join the dystrophy. Often, the vertebra is flattened to compensate for lost functions, and the elastic tissue of the fibrous ring is gradually replaced by scar and bone growths.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Almost everyone who is associated with intellectual activity, from schoolchildren to the elderly, suffer from one form or another of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is considered a disease associated with increased dynamic loads that cause degeneration of the intervertebral discs and their subsidence. Hardening and growth of cartilaginous tissue leads to a violation of the depreciation properties of this part of the spine, head movements - tilts, circular movements, turns become difficult and are accompanied by characteristic signs of osteochondrosis.
Symptoms that can cause osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in the early stages of the development of the disease are not specific and are similar to signs of other pathologies not related to the skeletal system. The list of manifestations of osteochondrosis, which must be differentiated and specified in order to determine the correct diagnosis, is as follows:
- Intense headaches resembling migraine attacks.
- Headache extending from occiput to neck.
- Headache that is aggravated by coughing, turning the head, sneezing.
- Headache radiating to the chest or shoulder.
- Dizziness, sensory disturbances - double vision, difficulty focusing. Noise in the ears, in advanced cases, impaired coordination of movements.
- Symptoms that are similar to cardiological pain, in particular with pain in angina pectoris - pain in the heart, extending to the cervical region or arm, under the shoulder blade. The pain may worsen and is not relieved by taking cardiac drugs.
- Pain similar to that of hypertension (heaviness in the back of the head).
Consequences and complications
Before treating osteochondrosis, however, like any other disease, it is necessary to find out its causes, which is very difficult when it comes to degenerative pathologies of the spinal column. Factors that provoke the deformation of the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine are associated with the anatomical specifics of this zone. The vertebrae of the neck almost constantly experience tension due to insufficient general motor activity. If we take into account the total "sedentary" lifestyle of more than half of the working population, then the problem sometimes becomes insoluble. In addition, the cervical vertebrae are smaller than the vertebrae of other areas of the spine, and the internal canal is much narrower. A huge number of nerve endings, an abundance of blood vessels, the presence of the most important artery that feeds the brain - all this makes the cervical area extremely vulnerable. Even the slightest contraction of the intervertebral spaceleads to infringement of the nerve roots, swelling, inflammation and, accordingly, to a deterioration in the blood supply to the brain. Often, a decrease in mental activity is due to the fact that a person develops osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. There is a historical anecdote, dating back to not so distant times, when Margaret Hilda Thatcher chastised her employee with the words: "Your problem is not a headache or your own view of the issue put to the vote. The thing is, your spine is just not connected to your brain, John. "This famous quote from the "iron" lady perfectly characterizes the condition that causes osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, when sometimes it happens - the spine does not provide proper "nutrition" to the head. As for "nutrition", in fact, not only the canal of the spinal cord is involved in it, but also the canal of the artery passing through the transverse nerve processes. The vertebral artery goes to the cranium in order to feed the cerebellum, and this artery also supplies nutrients and oxygen to the vestibular apparatus. The slightest disturbance of blood flow through these channels can either provoke or aggravate the course of the vegetative-vascular syndrome. In addition to VSD, osteochondrosis of the cervical region causes typical symptoms of radicular syndrome (sciatica), when the pain radiates to the fingertips or one finger, the pallor of the skin (marbling) is clearly visible. One of the most unpleasant complications provoked by cervical osteochondrosis is palmar fibromatosis, also called Dupuytren's contracture. With this disease, the aponeurosis (tendon plate) of the palm is affected and the flexion function of the fingers is disturbed.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is diagnosed by a specialist based on the patient's complaints, and it can be confirmed and specified using x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
A complete cure for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is possible only in its initial stages, however, it is possible to save a person from the painful symptoms of this disease, prevent exacerbations, and get rid of some pathological changes in the spine. Therefore, we should not forget about the importance of timely treatment of the disease.
How to treat osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is not easy to treat, as a rule, therapy is prescribed as comprehensively as possible, including all means available to modern medicine. In addition to conservative drug treatment, proven phytotherapeutic drugs, acupuncture, a therapeutic set of exercises, and sometimes surgical operations that eliminate hernias and subluxations of the vertebrae are also used. It should be recognized that osteochondrosis and treatment are two concepts that a sick person will face for quite a long time, sometimes all his life. In addition to the initial stage, which is aimed at relieving the pain symptom, therapy involves constant restorative, rehabilitation and preventive actions. Complex, multicomponent diseases are always treated for a long time. If a diagnosis is made - osteochondrosis, how to treat - this is the first question that is decided not only by the doctor, but also by the patient himself, since his direct participation and responsible observance, the fulfillment of all prescriptions often play a decisive role in recovery.
What to treat?
The list of drugs that are most often used as a remedy for osteochondrosis:
- A complex, effective homeopathic preparation that needs to be used for a long time, like any other homeopathy (in ampoules or in tablet form).
- An effective external remedy that relieves muscle and joint pain well.
- Anti-inflammatory non-steroidal agent (in the form of an ointment - externally, in tablets - orally).
- Ointment of complex effects from the category of homeopathic remedies.
- The drug in tablet form from the category of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
- A drug from the category of glucocorticoids.
- Ointment from the category of external anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal agents.
- Gel from the category of external non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- A drug from the category of external anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs.
If we summarize everything that involves the treatment of such a disease as osteochondrosis, treatment can be divided into the following stages and types:
- The use of NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, is considered the gold standard in the treatment of all degenerative, dystrophic pathologies of the bone and muscle systems. The first thing these drugs do is reduce the pain symptom, the second is a significant reduction in inflammation.
- Drugs that are called myelorelaxants, as they are really able to effectively relieve muscle clamps and spasms.
- Traction therapy is a traction treatment. In this rather painful, but effective process, there is a gradual stretching of the tissues, muscles that surround the vertebrae, respectively, the intervertebral distance increases, approaching the norm.
- Biogenic preparations, vascular agents that supply nutrition to dystrophic areas of tissues, B vitamins restore the functional abilities of a deformed spine well.
- Sedative drugs that normalize the state of the nervous system. Perfectly relieves muscle tension and nerve endings acupuncture.
- Physiotherapy procedures - electrophoresis, phonophoresis, UHF, massages, mud procedures, balneotherapy, magnetotherapy.
- Correction of the spine during the recovery period is carried out using manual therapy.
- Osteochondrosis treatment involves and with the help of constant exercise from the complex of physiotherapy exercises.
In the most extreme cases, when the course of osteochondrosis enters the last stage, surgical intervention is also indicated, which is performed in the area of localization of the inflammatory process. Most often, a hernia is operated on, and removal of the deformed bone tissue of neighboring vertebrae is also possible.
Where to treat osteochondrosis?
Self-treatment of almost all diseases is a trend that is observed in almost all countries, but it is especially characteristic of the post-Soviet countries, where the traditional healthcare structure is still undergoing changes. Confused by innovations, often simply out of ignorance, many of us try to cope with back, neck or lower back pain on our own. You can call this time the first, although not very effective, stage of treatment, since it is necessary to treat osteochondrosis only with the help of a doctor. The second stage, when independent actions do not lead to the desired, lasting result, a person thinks about a visit to the doctor and the question arises, osteochondrosis - how to treat, how to treat, and, most importantly, where to treat osteochondrosis? Firstly, you can contact a local therapist, who, most likely, will refer the patient for examination - x-rays, blood tests, and give a referral to a neurologist. Secondly, you can immediately make an appointment with a neurologist, preferably before the consultation, at least undergo an x-ray examination of the entire spine. In no case should you go to extremes and look for an experienced massage therapist, any massage, first of all, involves a preliminary scan of the state of the body, especially the state of the spinal column. The problem of osteochondrosis is also dealt with by vertebrologists and vertebroneurologists - doctors who specialize in diseases of the spine.
Osteochondrosis is a complex disease, but the examples of many people who overcome even severe spinal injuries prove that everything is feasible and achievable. The main thing is that at the first alarming signals that the back gives us, analyze our motor activity and take appropriate measures. You can immediately go to the doctor and start treatment, or, if the disease is not advanced, start moving, because, as Aristotle, the teacher of the great Alexander the Great, who was extremely active, said, "Life requires and needs movement, otherwise it is not life".
What does history say about osteochondrosis?
The etiology of osteochondrosis is still not clear, moreover, despite the clearly ancient origins of this disease, diseases of the spine began to be seriously dealt with only in the 18th century. Since then, disputes and discussions about the true "enemy" that provokes degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs have not ceased. Meanwhile, a long time ago, even in the time of Hippocrates, there were treatises on bone-cutting, which indicates that the ancient Hellenes also suffered from back pain. Hippocrates himself was also interested in spinal topics so much that he conducted medical experiments that were dubious from a modern point of view: his students diligently tied the patient by the arms and legs to a horizontal plane with his back up, stretching the limbs as much as possible. Then the great healer stood on the back of the sufferer and began to walk on it. The founding father of medicine was sincerely convinced that such fixation, stretching and massage would restore health to the spine, which, according to the ancient Greek sages, was the key to a happy lot of man. Some systematization of techniques that told how to treat osteochondrosis began only at the end of the 17th century. At the same time, terminology appeared that formalized applied areas in medicine, among which was bone-setting. Two centuries later, it split into chiropractic and osteopathy. The first direction was purely practical, using power techniques, osteopaths were more theorists and researchers. At the intersection of these sciences, manual therapy gradually emerged, without which the treatment of osteochondrosis is almost unthinkable today.
As for the term that defines the disease "osteochondrosis", then a typical story happened to osteochondrosis, which is typical for other ailments of unclear etiology. As soon as it was not called - and lumboischialgia, and sciatica, and Schmorl's hernia, and sciatica, and spondylosis. It took almost a century for doctors to figure out osteochondrosis and come to a consensus.