Osteochondrosis of the spine is a degenerative disease that is manifested by the destruction of cartilage and bone tissue. The pathology is chronic and occurs with frequent relapses. Firstly, it affects the intervertebral disc and then other structures of the axial spine and the central nervous system.
Initially, spinal osteochondrosis was considered a disease of the elderly, but recently the pathology has become significantly younger. Today, degenerative changes are often diagnosed in people aged 23 to 45 years.
Causes
A single cause of osteochondrosis has not been established. Ancient doctors believed that the disease develops against the background of the deposition of calcium salts that are not completely absorbed by bone tissue. Today, other versions of the occurrence of dystrophic destruction of the spine have been put forward.
The main ones are:
- back injuries;
- heredity;
- flat feet, congenital clubfoot;
- obesity;
- sedentary work, passive lifestyle;
- metabolic disorder;
- poor posture;
- asthenic body type, natural weakness of muscles and ligaments;
- harmful working conditions (vibration, jerks, body tremors);
- frequent lifting of heavy objects;
- hypothermia;
- stress;
- chronic inflammation of tissues of an infectious nature.
For the fairer sex, uncomfortable high-heeled shoes can be a provocation factor. Frequent pregnancies also contribute to the development of spinal injuries.
Symptoms
The degenerative destruction occurring in the body of the intervertebral disc leads to loss of elasticity, prevents the accumulation and release of fluid, and worsens the shock-absorbing properties of the axial spine.
As a result, the load on the fibrous ring increases, it becomes thinner and cracks, and the vertebrae move dangerously close to each other. Pathological compression of bone structures and cartilage develops.
The severe pain that occurs is accompanied by the following symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis:
- numbness, chills, burning sensation in the affected area;
- decreased mobility;
- back muscle fatigue;
- decreased performance, fatigue.
The considered signs of osteochondrosis are general. The specific symptoms of the disease depend on which segment of the spine has been destroyed.
With compression of the cervical spine, blood flow in the vessels worsens, which leads to frequent migraines, dizziness and loss of consciousness. The patient may complain of tinnitus, spots before the eyes, pain in the shoulders and arms.
Structural destruction in the lower back forces the person to assume a forced posture, slowly stand up and sit down. The pain appears in the buttock, radiating down the limb, down to the leg and foot. Intermittent claudication develops.
Most of the symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis belong to the vertebral type. Disorders that form outside the axial spine are called extravertebral syndrome. For example, vascular disorders in the brain caused by compression of the vertebral artery.
Types
Back osteochondrosis is classified according to the place of occurrence - cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral. More than half of cases occur in the lumbar spine, a third of all diagnoses refer to the cervical segment.
Which doctor treats osteochondrosis?
If you experience severe back pain, you should postpone seeing a neurologist or neurologist. If these specialists are not available at your local clinic, you should contact your general practitioner. After the initial examination, the doctor will prescribe treatment or refer you to other specialists.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis begins with an interview with the patient. The doctor is interested in the time of onset of symptoms, the intensity and nature of the pain, and its location. Next, the specialist begins visual inspection and palpation of the spine.
Due to the variety of symptoms, an obligatory element in the diagnosis of osteochondrosis is the use of instrumental studies:
- X-ray of the entire spine in 2 projections;
- magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography;
- Dopplerography of vessels and arteries of the cervical spine.
Unfortunately, X-rays do not provide a complete picture of the condition of the soft structures of the spine – the spinal roots and disc tissue remain unexamined. In this case, functional MRI comes to the rescue, which differs from the classical one in the location of the patient's body.
Treatment
How to treat spinal osteochondrosis? To combat the disease, conservative and surgical therapy is used. The main objective of both techniques is to eliminate pain and prevent further destruction of bone tissue and cartilage.
Non-operative treatment of back osteochondrosis includes:
- massage;
- exercise therapy;
- traction of the entire spine;
- manipulative therapy;
- impact on active points.
The effectiveness of the methods largely depends on the patient's persistence and the systematic nature of the manipulations.
The intensive period of therapy lasts 2–2. 5 months. At the beginning of the course, it is possible to increase pain and discomfort in the back area.
Surgical treatment of spinal osteochondrosis is prescribed when a conservative approach is ineffective. An indication for surgery is compression of the intervertebral space by 1/3 of the original distance. The main method of intervention for osteochondrosis is discectomy - partial or radical removal of the affected disc.
After spine surgery, the patient requires rehabilitation for at least six months. During this period, the patient is advised to visit sanatoriums, take a course of mineral baths, physiotherapy and massages.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely cure spinal osteochondrosis. Degenerative changes in bones and soft tissues are irreversible and appear chronically. The process of destruction can only be slowed down and the inherent symptoms alleviated.
Complications
Complications of spinal osteochondrosis often form as a result of compression of the spinal cord and supplying arteries. Against this background, the patient develops discogenic myelopathy, paresis of the limbs, impaired reflexes and dysfunction of the sphincters. A herniated disc can cause spinal cord infarction.
Damage to the cervical spine causes hearing loss, blurred vision, and constant migraines. The patient develops memory problems and decreased learning capacity.
If osteochondrosis is left untreated for a long time, severe damage to the pelvis and legs, paralysis of the limbs and intermittent claudication can occur. In women, prolonged spinal dystrophy often leads to infertility; in men, a decrease in potency is typical.
Prevention
No one is immune to a disease like osteochondrosis. In old age, the disease affects almost everyone. To prevent dystrophic changes, it is necessary to take care of the spine from a young age.
Moderate sports activity, a balanced diet with a sufficient amount of vitamins, a healthy lifestyle - all this will help you maintain your health for many years.
Prevention of spinal osteochondrosis includes more specific measures:
- avoiding stress;
- timely treatment of infections and pathologies of the musculoskeletal system;
- limit the weight of lifting objects;
- strengthening the immune system.
Women may be advised to choose the right shoes and monitor the appearance of valgus foot.
The development of spinal osteochondrosis can significantly complicate the patient's life. Only systemic and long-term treatment will help eliminate severe symptoms. The main thing is not to despair and fight for your health.