Osteochondrosis: symptoms, causes, treatment methods

Excessive tension in the back muscles causes great discomfort and pain.Osteochondrosis, which causes a disruption of the structure of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, leads to severe pinching of the nerve endings.Often the pathology is accompanied by a deterioration of blood circulation, which causes disturbances in the nutrition of the brain and internal organs.

Osteochondrosis - what is it?

Osteochondrosis is a relapsing disease that occurs in a chronic form and is accompanied by destruction of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.Their tissues are disturbed, which causes a decrease in their elasticity with a subsequent change in shape.There is a gradual reduction of the intervertebral space.This causes a loss of spinal stability in areas where pathology develops.

The processes of pathological tissue destruction occur against the background of pinched nerve endings directed from the area where the spinal cord is located.As a result, the back muscles are in constant tension.In such a situation, patients complain of back pain and other symptoms.

Based on the specifics of localization of the spinal structures affected by degenerative changes, cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral varieties of the pathological process are distinguished.The main sign of the development of osteochondrosis is pain, the intensity and severity of which usually increases during physical activity.

There is also stiffness in movements.In addition, the clinical picture is characterized by the presence of signs of the spinal type - headaches, changes in blood pressure, deterioration of visual function, hearing and so on.

Development mechanism

The development of osteochondrosis is due to the fact that the nucleus pulposus begins to lose its hydrophilic properties.This semi-fluid structure contains connective tissue fibers and chondroitin, a gelatinous substance.During the development of the human body and its development, processes of reduction of the vascular bed actively occur in the intervertebral discs.Nutrients are supplied in a diffuse manner, which is manifested by spontaneous concentration stabilization.This characteristic causes difficulties in the complete restoration of damaged cartilage or excessive pressure on the spine.

Pathological deviations become more pronounced due to disturbances in the hormonal levels and in the human diet.Cartilage tissue begins to experience a lack of nutrients required for its normal development.Therefore, disorders manifest themselves in the form of:

• reduced strength and elasticity.
• changes to consistency parameters and configuration properties.

As part of the flattening of the intervertebral discs, radial cracks are formed in the fibrous rings.As a result, the intervertebral distance decreases and the facet joints begin to shift.Over time, pathological changes cover connective tissues associated with fibrous rings and ligaments.

As the tissue breaks down, the immune system produces immunoglobulins in increased amounts.This causes the development of the process of aseptic inflammation and edema is formed in the area where the facet joints are located.They also spread to nearby soft tissues.

Due to the stretching of the joint capsules, the intervertebral discs lose their ability to fix the vertebrae.Such instability in the position of the spinal structure increases the risk of pinching nerve roots or compressing blood vessels.This feature is characteristic, for example, of cervical osteochondrosis, which is accompanied by severe verbal symptoms.

Reasons for the development of the disease

The condition of the intervertebral discs can worsen with reduced tone of the skeletal muscles in the spine.Due to irrational and asymmetric muscle work, when an abnormal body position is maintained for a long time, cartilage tissue destruction can occur.This violation occurs as a result of carrying heavy bags on the same shoulder, using soft mattresses and high pillows.

The process of destruction of the intervertebral discs is accelerated due to the action of certain negative factors of an external and internal nature.These include:

• disorders in the functioning of the endocrine mechanism and metabolic disorders.
• pathologies of an infectious nature, including chronic ones.
• damage to the spine in the form of compression fractures, bruises;
• regular and prolonged hypothermia of the body.
• diseases of systemic and degenerative-dystrophic type - gout, psoriatic, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis.
• smoking and alcohol abuse, which disrupts the state of the vascular system, impairs blood circulation and causes a lack of nutrients in the cartilage.
• insufficient physical development, problems with posture, flat feet - these defects increase the load on the spine, since shock absorption will be insufficient.
• portliness;
• genetic predisposition;
• exposure to regular stress.

Symptoms

The main clinical sign of osteochondrosis of any location (cervical, thoracic or lumbosacral) is pain.In case of recurrence, the pain is piercing, radiating to nearby areas of the body.Even with slight movement it intensifies.This forces the patient to give a forced position to the body to minimize discomfort and pain:

• with cervical osteochondrosis, it would be better to turn not only one head, but the whole body.
• when the thoracic form of the disease is present, it is difficult for the patient to take a deep breath, and therefore, to avoid acute pain in the chest, he tries to minimize the depth and frequency of breathing.
• Patients with the lumbar type of the disease have difficulties when sitting, taking an upright position and moving, since the spinal nerve is pinched.

Typically, patients complain of the presence of dull, constant pain and a feeling of stiffness in movements in the morning after waking up.In this case, a differential diagnosis will be required to help eliminate the risks of developing myositis caused by inflammation of the skeletal muscles of the spine or osteoarthritis.

Aches and pains occur due to compensatory tension in the muscle tissue.This position is necessary to stabilize the range of motion of the spine.Persistent mild or moderate pain may also occur with significant intervertebral disc prolapse, resulting from aseptic inflammatory changes.

Osteochondrosis of a specific location is characterized by specific symptoms:

1. With cervical osteochondrosis, pain is felt in the cervical area, in the upper extremities.There is pain in the head and numbness in the fingers.If the disease manifests itself in a severe form, pinching of the vertebral artery may occur.In this case, the patient begins to complain of a significant deterioration in his health.
2. Thoracic localization is manifested by acute and back pain.there is visceral pain syndrome in the cardiac region, right hypochondrium and abdomen.Patients complain of numbness, paresthesia of the skin, difficulty breathing and tingling in the vertebrae.
3. Patients with lumbar osteochondrosis complain of pain in the back and lower limbs with increasing intensity during movement.Disorders in the functioning of the genitourinary system, problems with male potency and ovarian dysfunction are often diagnosed.During remission, the pain may decrease.However, exposure to a causative agent leads to its resumption.

4. When mixed osteochondrosis occurs, symptoms may appear in several areas at once.This condition is characterized by a more severe course of the disease.

It should be remembered that the displacement of the vertebrae and the formation of osteophytes cause compression of the vertebral artery.It nourishes the brain, providing its cells with oxygen.When stressed, nutrition is limited and therefore the patient has coordination problems, headaches, tinnitus and arterial hypertension.

Consequences if left untreated

The reason for the complicated course of osteochondrosis is the relatively rapid formation of herniations in the intervertebral discs.Their appearance is associated with posterior displacement of the vertebral structure.This causes a rupture of the posterior longitudinal ligament, resulting in the instability of the disc position and the protrusion of its individual parts into the region of the spinal canal.A hernia ruptures when the disc with the nucleus pulposus penetrates the area of the canal.

When pathological abnormalities occur in the spinal structures, the spinal cord begins to compress and the patient develops discogenic myelopathy.The symptoms of this condition are associated with numbness and weakness in certain muscle groups of the upper and lower limbs.Paresis, muscle atrophy and impaired tendon reflexes occur.In some cases, problems arise with emptying the bladder and bowels.

The formation of intervertebral hernias is dangerous due to the compression of the arteries that supply the spinal cord.The result of this pathology is the formation of ischemic zones where nerve cells are damaged and killed.The manifestation of the neurological effect is expressed in motor function disorders, a decrease in the degree of touch and trophic disorders.

Diagnosis of the disease

The initial diagnosis is made based on the patient's complaints and existing symptoms.The specialist examines the condition of the spine in different positions, asking the patient to be at rest or in motion.At the next stage, the patient is sent for laboratory diagnosis, which will help clarify the diagnosis or reject it.

Research methods used include:

1. X-ray– provides a complete examination of the spine with an assessment of the condition of the vertebrae, existing disorders in the form of increases, curvatures.The specialist will be able to determine the intervertebral spaces and the condition of the holes.To accurately locate osteochondrosis located in the thoracic or cervical region, a two-stage x-ray is performed.In the first stage, the patient lies on the side, and in the second - directly on his back.
2. Tomography method using magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomographythey provide highly informative data, which help to study the vertebrae in detail without interference from the organs covering them.The image shows the nerves and vascular system.MRI helps identify signs of many diseases of the spine and the location of the damage.Computed tomography visualizes herniations and identifies possible deviations in the structure of the spine.
3. Laboratory examinationto assess the condition of the blood and its main parameters.It allows you to clarify the diagnosis and determine the likelihood of concomitant diseases.

In many cases, as a result of examinations, doctors diagnose the presence of certain underlying diseases that are potentially dangerous due to their complications.We are talking, for example, about hernias, protrusion, radiculitis.The correct diagnosis of the problems helps to treat osteochondrosis more effectively.At the same time, the disease itself in the early stages of development is disguised as symptoms of other diseases.

Healing process

Osteochondrosis is treated conservatively or surgically.The choice depends on the severity of the condition, its neglect, the level of tissue damage and the causes of its appearance.

It is important to remember that it is not possible to completely cure osteochondrosis, as there are no drugs that help to completely restore the discs and vertebrae.The therapeutic effect is aimed at inhibiting the destruction process and increasing the duration and stability of remission.

For symptomatic treatment, chondroprotectors are used, the basis of which is chondroitin or glucosamine sulfate.

The effectiveness of the treatment process using chondroprotectors has been clinically confirmed on the basis of long-term tests.If you take these drugs for a long time (from 3 months), then a partial restoration of the cartilage and other elements of the connective type - the apparatus of ligaments-tendons, chest is observed.

The accumulation of glucosamine and chondroitin in the area of the intervertebral discs leads to an analgesic, anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effect.Therefore, there is a real opportunity to optimize the dosing of NSAIDs, glucocorticosteroids and muscle relaxants.You can count on reducing the medication burden for the patient.

The effectiveness of chondroprotectors is determined by the regularity of their use.Otherwise there will be no result.Inefficiency is also recorded in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree, which is accompanied by a significant destruction of the cartilage.

The following groups of drugs can be used to relieve pain:

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugshelp eliminate inflammatory disorders in the soft tissues caused by displacement of the vertebrae.NSAIDs are effective in reducing pain, swelling and stiffness.
2. Medicines from the group of glucocorticosteroids– blocks are usually used together with an anesthetic.They are able to relieve pain, restore the function of the immune mechanism and provide an anti-exudative effect.
3. Muscle relaxants.They are effective in combating muscle spasms due to nerve impingement.They help relax skeletal muscles and block reflexes of the multisynaptic type of the spine with an anticonvulsant effect.
4. External products with a heating effect.The irritation of the receptors of the subcutaneous tissue with the activation of blood flow is provided by special gels and ointments.These drugs have analgesic and anti-edematous effects.

Symptoms of the spondylogenic type, which appear due to the localization of the pathology in the cervical or thoracic region, can be eliminated by using medical means to activate the blood flow.Nootropics and drugs to improve microcirculation are also prescribed.In some cases, it may be necessary to take antidepressants, as well as pharmaceutical drugs with an anticonvulsant effect.

During the treatment of osteochondrosis they also resort to physiotherapy.UHF therapy, magnetic therapy, laser therapy, reflexology, massage, exercise therapy, hirudotherapy, as well as swimming and yoga may be prescribed.If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgery is performed using microdiscectomy, disc utilization puncture, laser reconstruction, or implant replacement.