Spinal Osteochondrosis - Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Spinal osteochondrosis is a degenerative dystrophic destruction caused by the progressive thinning of the cartilage tissue in the intervertebral discs.All people are susceptible to this disease because the human spine is subjected to huge loads due to the upright posture.If harmful factors are taken into account, then by the age of 40-50 almost everyone will develop osteochondrosis of the back.The pathology cannot be completely cured.The age-related degenerative process is impossible to stop, but it can be slowed down with the right treatment.You should learn how to properly manage the symptoms of osteochondrosis.

General features of pathology

The disease occurs in three parts of the spine - cervical, thoracic and lumbar.Osteochondrosis of the cervical and lumbar spine is more commonly diagnosed because of increased mobility in these areas.The more frequently a person moves their joints, the more susceptible the discs are to injury and degeneration.Osteochondrosis of the chest occurs less frequently but is more severe.

This pathology is insidious because it can lead to the development of other degenerative diseases in the body, including intervertebral hernias.In the initial stages, the patient does not feel pain, but there are already persistent metabolic changes in calcium and phosphorus metabolism that destroy the bony structure of the spine.Blood circulation in the affected area deteriorates, leading to premature degeneration.

The intervertebral disc contains an annulus fibrosus, which is covered with microcracks.The nucleus pulposus appears on the surface of the injury, and part of the nucleus pulposus begins to gradually ooze out.In the context of degenerative processes, the annulus fibrosus begins to weaken and stretch, resulting in an increase in the area of microdamage.When the annulus fibrosus ruptures, the nucleus pulposus is shed.This is how spinal cord herniation occurs.

If the degenerative process that leads to osteochondrosis is slowed, hernias and protrusions will appear later.The earlier you start treatment, the easier it is to fight signs of deterioration.Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back depend on the position of the spine and the impact of the accompanying disease on the body.

causing osteochondrosis of the spine

In most cases, the disease is hereditary.In other cases, the disease occurs in the context of common adverse conditions that may worsen the condition, including:

1. Previous back injuries, including injuries to bones, joints, and tendons.
2. Musculoskeletal system problems, including poor posture and flat feet.
3. History of metabolic disorders, including endocrine pathology.People with uncompensated hypothyroidism and diabetes are at risk for bone problems.These problems can negatively affect calcium absorption.
4. Being overweight.Due to obesity and high body mass index, a person can experience premature wear and tear on the joints.Heavy body weight can negatively impact spinal health by placing stress on the musculoskeletal system.
5. Malnutrition.Lack of nutrients and trace elements in the daily diet can lead to vitamin deficiencies, which lead to damage throughout the body, negatively affecting the condition of the spine.
6. Lack of physical activity.It has been proven that a sedentary lifestyle can lead to brittle bones.Moderate physical activity is beneficial.
7. weightlifting.Just like muscle underactivity, overexertion can lead to microtrauma and damage that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders.
8. Previous viral or bacterial infection.For example: osteomyelitis, poliomyelitis.
9. Have bad habits.Alcohol and nicotine abuse can lead to worsening of blood circulation, which can negatively affect the condition of the skeletal system.

Factors affecting the occurrence of the disease:

1. Congenital spinal defects.
2. Bad posture.
3. Suffering from flat feet.
4. Remaining in a sitting or standing position for long periods of time.
5. Belongs to the female gender.Bone loss increases in women during pregnancy and menopause.Due to a long-term lack of calcium and other minerals, degenerative processes occur in the spine, leading to the appearance of osteochondrosis.
6. Hypogonadism.Due to a lack of steroid hormones in both sexes, calcium is virtually unable to be anchored in bone tissue.As a result, the patient suffered from age-related osteochondrosis.At a young age, this rarely happens.In this case, we're talking about mutations.

Taking into account the above risk factors, you should try to maintain a moderate lifestyle.

stage of disease development

The disease has 4 stages, including the following:

1. The initial phase is the phase of the degenerative metabolic process.The patient has no symptoms because the cartilage tissue has not yet begun to seriously deteriorate.The disc begins to deform.Since there is no protrusion yet, the patient will not experience back pain.Usually, in the initial stages of osteochondrosis, the disease is rarely detected and more often discovered incidentally.Not every expert notices the first signs of deterioration.In rare cases, patients may experience mild discomfort from overexertion.The patient's back begins to hurt when standing or sitting for long periods of time.Additionally, this pain is associated with excessive tension and weakness in the muscle framework.
2. In the second stage, the annulus fibrosus begins to actively destroy, resulting in a reduction in disc height.At this stage, the attentive patient has turned to a specialist because he feels more pronounced symptoms.Frequent pain may begin in the head, and there may be unexplained surges in pressure.Usually it hurts the lower back, neck, or shoulder blades.The patient can no longer tolerate prolonged exercise and quickly becomes tired.At this stage, osteochondrosis is detected via X-rays.
3. In the third stage, the disease causes herniation of the annulus fibrosus.During the diagnostic process, the patient is diagnosed with a herniation or small intervertebral hernia, which can cause serious problems in daily life.The cartilage has weakened and the patient is experiencing great discomfort.The third stage is the transitional stage of treatment.At this stage, conservative treatment can still be used to make the patient feel better and slow down the progression of the hernia.
4. Stage Four - The End.The vertebrae lose elasticity and mobility.Patients not only experience pain during daytime activities but also at night.Because the discomfort is chronic, sleep is disrupted and neurological symptoms develop.Chronic fatigue syndrome is getting worse.At this stage, a severe hernia has been diagnosed, interfering with the patient's normal life.In this case, surgical intervention is required to remove the osteophytes.Conservative treatment of advanced cases does not relieve symptoms.

The earlier osteochondrosis is detected, the easier it is to fight it.In stages 1-2, if medical prescriptions are followed unconditionally, it is still possible to reverse the development of the pathology.

Types of spinal osteochondrosis

The spine is made up of 3 parts including the lower back, chest area, and neck.Depending on the individual situation, degenerative lesions tend to occur in one of the departments.Less commonly, the pathology affects several parts of the alveolar ridge.The neck and lumbar areas are most commonly affected due to increased mobility in these areas.If the thoracic spine is affected, the pathology will be more severe due to the anatomical characteristics of the ridge in this area.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is the most common.The prevalence of this pathology is associated with increased loading on the lower body.Additionally, this part of the back is most susceptible to hernias and protrusions.If patients with such a history develop complications, they may have problems with mobility, bowel movements, and urination.Advanced cases require serious correction and surgical intervention.

Cervical osteochondrosis can cause severe pain and shooting in the head.Most often, this disease occurs against the background of long periods of sedentary work and increased physical activity.Patients with this disease also require a comprehensive treatment approach.Cervical spine injuries are also caused by increased shoulder and head mobility.

Osteochondrosis of the chest occurs less frequently, since this area is the least susceptible to this pathological process due to muscular development and reduced mobility.This type of osteochondrosis is difficult to diagnose because the pathological symptoms resemble those of heart, lung, or stomach disease.With thoracic osteochondrosis, pain radiates to the ribs and heart area more commonly, so the disease is confused with signs of ischemic heart disease and heart attack.An important diagnostic criterion is that if no heart problem is found when complaining of chest pain, you should see a neurologist or traumatologist.

The older a patient is, the higher the risk of spinal joint degeneration affecting multiple parts of the spine.

Symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis

Symptoms can be divided into general symptoms and special symptoms.The second option is typical for osteochondrosis of any location, depending on the location.Common symptoms of degenerative back disease include:

1. Pain, discomfort and discomfort.Patients experience varying degrees of pain, taking into account the extent and location of the pathological process.In the initial stages, the discomfort is mild and pressing.At night, the discomfort subsides temporarily.As spinal degeneration progresses, pain becomes stronger and more frequent.In the worst cases, the pain won't stop and keeps you awake at night.
2. Weakness and persistent fatigue.Spinal problems are often related to impaired nerve conduction and poor blood flow.If a patient actively develops osteochondrosis, chronic fatigue syndrome may develop over time.The patient is increasingly unable to perform work responsibilities and suffers from sleep deprivation.The more advanced the pathology, the worse the patient feels.
3. Decreased mobility in specific parts of the spine.During the exacerbation period, not only persistent pain occurred, but also the mobility of the affected part of the back was significantly limited.This phenomenon is associated not only with inflammatory processes but also with muscle spasms.
4. Muscle spasm in the affected part of the spine.Osteochondrosis is not just the result of natural degenerative processes in the body.Lack of physical activity often triggers this disease.In the absence of motor activity, the muscles atrophy and are unable to adequately relieve the load on the spine.As a result, persistent tensions emerged and led to serious deterioration.The patient experiences multiple spasms that must be relieved with medication.
5. Nerve root syndrome.This phenomenon is typical of all types of osteochondrosis without exception.When the pathology is complicated by the presence of a hernia, the pressure of the herniated nucleus pulposus on the nerve segment increases.As a result, adverse reactions occur - limitation of movement, pain, low back pain, paresthesia, and in severe cases - loss of sensation in the fingers and lower limbs.
6. Other plant manifestations.These symptoms include vegetative vascular dystonia, neurological disorders, cardiac, pulmonary, and gastric symptoms.

Unique symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:

1. Headache.It happens suddenly, and the attack itself often turns into a migraine, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness, and a surge in stress.This condition is often associated with ongoing poor circulation and nerve root compression in the affected area.
2. Neck, trapezius, or upper back pain.This symptom is associated with increased muscle spasms.The spine cannot bear the load, so these muscles are overloaded.Additionally, this condition is more common among office workers.The nature of pain is annoying, oppressive, and painful.
3. The pressure increases.If an intervertebral hernia compresses the vascular bed, the patient may develop hypertensive episodes that are not related to problems with the cardiovascular system.
4. A squeezing sensation in the neck and throat.This phenomenon is also associated with muscle spasms, which cause blood vessels in the neck to constrict.
5. Shot in the fingers, collarbone and arm.This is a purely neurological symptom related to nerve root compression.
6. Shortness of breath, heart and throat pain are less common.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are as follows:

1. A feeling of tightness in the chest.
2. Intercostal neuralgia attacks occur.
3. Pain in the heart area is not related to heart disease.
4. Complaints of shortness of breath and deep chest pain.
5. Coughing is not related to respiratory problems.
6. Stomach or esophageal discomfort.
7. Pain in the interscapular area.It is characterized by a chronic course.More commonly, it occurs in the context of static muscle overload.
8. Numbness of arms, collarbone, and fingers.Less frequently - on the lower back.

This is the symptom of lumbar osteochondrosis:

1. Lower back pain.
2. A pulling sensation in the kidney area or lower abdomen.
3. Sciatic nerve compression occurs.
4. The appearance of symptoms of piriformis tension.If this muscle spasms, it can compress the sciatic nerve, causing specific symptoms including burning and shooting down the leg, starting in the buttock area and ending in the thigh and calf.This neurological symptom often indicates a problem with the spine.
5. Problems with bowel movements and urination.When a hernia or protrusion compresses the lower nerve endings, the contractility of the smooth muscles of the intestines and bladder can weaken significantly over time.As a result, intestinal weakness and urinary retention occur.This condition is extremely dangerous and requires qualified medical attention.
6. Over time, the patient's gait changed and he developed lameness in one leg.The condition is also associated with pinching of nerve endings.

If the patient develops a variety of symptoms in a specific part of the spine that are reminiscent of advanced osteochondrosis, it is necessary to see a doctor as soon as possible.There are no specific diagnostic criteria that allow you to test for this disease yourself.A thorough diagnosis is required before the exact cause of the disease can be determined.

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the back

Initial diagnosis involves taking a medical history.The neurologist or traumatologist will ask about the patient's symptoms and examine the patient's back.If a patient is not sure whether he needs to see one of these specialists specifically, he should see a therapist first.A general clinician will examine the patient, note the complaint on a card and make a referral to a specialist.

The main problem with diagnosing spinal osteochondrosis is that pathology gives many false signs that are indicative of other diseases.Therefore, it is necessary to visit a specialist several times to ensure that there are no pathologies related to the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems.

What types of diagnoses are usually prescribed:

1. Radiography.This inspection is quick and does not require significant financial expense.If the patient undergoes surgery at a clinic at a registered location, the images can be obtained free of charge.X-ray images allow superficial assessment of the condition of the alveolar ridge.If there is a significant defect or evidence of reduced intervertebral distance, the patient will be referred to other surgeries to confirm the diagnosis.
2. MRI or CT.These types of studies allow clear visualization of soft tissue, so they are the primary diagnostic method for identifying various degenerative processes (displacement, disc herniation, herniation).With the help of such diagnosis, not only osteochondrosis, but also hernias, protrusions and pinched nerves can be detected.
3. Laboratory testing.Sometimes a series of blood tests are needed, which will help uncover hidden diseases that are negatively affecting the course of the disease.Usually tests are done in combination - OBC, OAM, sugar, calcium phosphorus metabolism regulator, rheumatism test.

Based on the data obtained, the doctor makes a final diagnosis.After receiving the conclusion, you must follow the advice of experts in order to relieve the pain of spinal disorders.Some conditions cannot be completely cured.These include osteochondrosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

There are several treatment options for this spinal disorder.Their use depends on the stage of the complication.If the pathology is in its early stages, the best treatments are medications and conservative treatments.In advanced cases, this is rare, but when medications don't work and the patient loses feeling in their limbs and becomes disabled, surgical intervention may be needed.

What is used in medical products:

1. NSAIDs or NSAIDs.These medications can quickly relieve pain associated with inflammation or irritation.The therapeutic effect is achieved quickly, within a day.Therefore, such drugs are preferred.Disadvantages of NSAIDs - injections cannot last longer than two days.Some types of oral medications should be used for no longer than three weeks.The reason for this restriction of use is the high gastric toxicity of the drug.People with peptic ulcers or gastritis also need to take medications to protect the stomach lining.
2. Corticosteroids are hormonal pain relievers.In cases of severe pain and degenerative disease, special medications may be injected into the joint to eliminate local inflammation.It is recommended to use long components.Active ingredients last up to 3-4 weeks.For some patients, a single injection is enough to forget about pain for a long time.
3. Chondroprotectants are medications used to strengthen and nourish cartilage tissue.In many patients with spinal osteochondrosis, the cartilage and bone tissue are fragile and require strengthening.Chondroprotectants do not prevent the progression of the disease and the formation of cartilage tissue, but they help slow down the degenerative process.They received a lengthy course.
4. Muscle relaxants.Medications used to relax tense muscles.The duration of treatment is 2 to 4 weeks.
5. B vitamins.Neurotrophins - B1, B6, and B12 help relieve sciatica or pinched sciatic nerve.In large doses, these substances exhibit analgesic effects and nourish damaged nerve fibers.

Conservative treatments include:

1. Manual therapy.This method allows you to relax tight muscles with expert hands.This type of treatment should not be used during an exacerbation of the condition.
2. Exercise therapy.With the help of physical therapy, you can strengthen your muscles.It turns out that back pain is often related to muscle weakness as the spine is unable to bear the load, which is why fatigue and discomfort occur.In order for patients to feel relief, they need to exercise 2-3 times a week.Physical education can improve posture and eliminate pain.
3. massage.With the help of a massage therapist, blood flow to damaged muscles can be improved, which can have a positive impact on health.Increased blood flow nourishes and relaxes tissues, helping to fight spasms.The procedure is contraindicated in the acute phase and is performed only during recovery.
4. physiotherapy.The goal of conservative treatment is to improve blood flow to damaged tissue using hardware methods.The use of electrical current or magnetic radiation can improve muscle communication and help combat spasms and chronic pain.Physical therapy allows for the topical use of systemic medications that penetrate well under the skin.

disease prevention

Spinal osteochondrosis is preventable if you adhere to a healthy lifestyle that includes giving up bad habits, proper nutrition, and avoiding physical inactivity.You also need to monitor your weight.Obese patients not only experience greater pressure on their backs, but also on their entire body.It is recommended to wear orthopedic shoes and monitor your posture.