Osteochondrosis of the spine - symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Osteochondrosis of the spine is a degenerative-dystrophic destruction caused by the gradual thinning of cartilage tissue in the intervertebral discs.All people are susceptible to this disease, since due to upright posture the human spine experiences enormous loads.If we take into account harmful factors, then by the age of 40-50, osteochondrosis of the back is found in almost everyone.The pathology cannot be completely cured.It is impossible to stop the age-related degenerative process, but with the right treatment it can be slowed down.You should learn how to properly deal with the symptoms of osteochondrosis.

General characteristics of the pathology

The disease develops in three parts of the ridge - cervical, thoracic and lumbar.Cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis is more often diagnosed, since these areas have increased mobility.The more active movements a person can make in the joints, the more prone the intervertebral discs are to injury and degeneration.Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region occurs less frequently, but is more severe.

The pathology is insidious in that it contributes to the appearance of other degenerative diseases in the body, including intervertebral hernia.At the initial stages, the patient does not feel pain, but persistent metabolic changes in calcium-phosphorus metabolism already appear, which disrupts the bone structure of the spine.Blood circulation in the affected area deteriorates, which leads to premature degeneration.

The intervertebral disc contains a fibrous ring, which is covered with microcracks.A nucleus pulposus appears on the surface of the damage - parts of it begin to gradually leak out.Against the background of degenerative processes, the fibrous ring begins to weaken and stretch, which leads to an increase in the area of microdamage.When the annulus fibrosus ruptures, the nucleus pulposus comes out.This is how an intervertebral herniation of the spinal cord appears.

If you slow down the process of degeneration, which causes osteochondrosis, hernias and protrusions appear later.The earlier treatment is started, the easier it is to combat signs of deterioration.The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back depend on the location in the ridge and the effect of concomitant diseases on the body.

Causes provoking osteochondrosis of the spinal column

In most situations, the disease is hereditary.In other cases, the disease occurs against the background of common unfavorable conditions that can provoke an exacerbation, including:

1. Previous back injuries, including damage to bones, joints and tendons.
2. Problems with the musculoskeletal system, including poor posture and flat feet.
3. History of metabolic disorders, including endocrine pathologies.People with uncompensated hypothyroidism and diabetes are at risk of developing bone problems.These problems negatively affect calcium absorption.
4. Having excess weight.With obesity and a high body mass index, a person experiences premature wear of the joints.Heavy weight puts pressure on the musculoskeletal system, which negatively affects the health of the spine.
5. Poor nutrition.A daily diet depleted of nutrients and microelements causes hypovitaminosis, which causes the human body to suffer systemically, which can negatively affect the condition of the spine.
6. Physical inactivity.It has been proven that a sedentary lifestyle leads to brittle bones.Moderate physical activity is beneficial.
7. Lifting weights.Like insufficient muscle activity, excessive overexertion is fraught with microtraumas and damage, which provokes diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
8. Previous viral or bacterial infections.Examples: osteomyelitis, poliomyelitis.
9. Having bad habits.Abuse of alcohol and nicotine causes a deterioration in blood circulation, which negatively affects the condition of the skeletal system.

Factors influencing the occurrence of the disease:

1. Congenital spinal defects.
2. Poor posture.
3. Having flat feet.
4. Prolonged stay in a sitting or standing position.
5. Belonging to the female gender.Women during pregnancy and menopause experience increased bone loss.With a long-term deficiency of calcium and other minerals, a degenerative process occurs in the spine, contributing to the appearance of osteochondrosis.
6. Hypogonadism.With a deficiency of steroid hormones in both sexes, calcium is practically not fixed in bone tissue.As a result, the patient suffers from age-related osteochondrosis.At a young age, such conditions occur very rarely.In this case we are talking about mutations.

Considering the above risk factors, you should try to maintain a gentle lifestyle.

Stages of disease development

The disease has 4 stages of the disease, including the following picture:

1. The initial stage is the stage of degenerative metabolic processes.The patient has no symptoms, since the cartilage tissue has not begun to actively deteriorate.Intervertebral disc deformation begins.Since there is no protrusion yet, the patient does not feel pain in the back.Usually, at the initial stage of osteochondrosis, the disease is rarely discovered, more often by chance.Not every specialist is able to notice the first signs of degeneration.In rare cases, the patient may experience minimal discomfort associated with overwork.The patient's back begins to hurt when standing or sitting for a long time.Also, such pain is associated with overstrain and weakness of the muscle frame.
2. At the second stage, active destruction of the fibrous ring begins, which causes a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc.At this stage, the attentive patient already turns to a specialist, as he feels more vivid symptoms.The head may begin to hurt frequently, and unexplained pressure surges may occur.Often it hurts the lower back, neck or shoulder blades.The patient can no longer tolerate prolonged exercise and gets tired quickly.At this stage, osteochondrosis is detected by x-ray.
3. In the third stage, the disease causes protrusion of the annulus fibrosus.During the diagnosis, a patient is diagnosed with a protrusion or a small intervertebral hernia, which creates serious problems in everyday life.The cartilage is already weakened and the patient feels very unwell.The third stage is transitional in terms of treatment.At this stage, it is still possible to use conservative treatment to make the patient feel better and slow down the development of the hernia.
4. Stage 4 – terminal.The vertebrae lose elasticity and mobility.The patient suffers from pain not only during the day during movements, but also at night.Sleep is disturbed and neurological symptoms appear, as the discomfort is chronic.Chronic fatigue syndrome is getting worse.At this stage, significant hernias are already diagnosed, interfering with the patient’s normal life.In this case, surgical intervention is indicated to remove osteophytes.Conservative treatment in advanced cases does not bring relief.

The sooner osteochondrosis is detected, the easier it will be to fight it.At stages 1-2, it is still possible to reverse the development of pathology if you follow medical prescriptions unconditionally.

Types of spinal osteochondrosis

The spine consists of 3 sections, including the lower back, thoracic region and neck.Depending on the individual situation, degenerative lesions occur more often in one of the departments.Less commonly, pathology affects several segments of the ridge.The cervical and lumbar regions are most often affected, as increased mobility is observed in these places.If the thoracic spine is affected, the pathology is more severe due to the anatomical features of the ridge in this area.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is most common.The prevalence of the pathology is associated with increased load in the lower body.Also, this part of the back is most prone to the formation of hernias and protrusions.If a patient with such a history develops complications, problems with mobility, bowel movements and urination appear.Advanced cases require serious correction and surgical intervention.

With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, severe pain and shooting in the head occur.Most often, the disease occurs against the background of prolonged sedentary work and increased physical activity.Patients with this disease also require an integrated approach to therapy.Damage to the cervical spine is also due to the presence of increased mobility in the shoulders and head.

Thoracic osteochondrosis occurs less frequently, since due to well-developed muscles and reduced mobility, this area is least susceptible to such a pathological process.This type of osteochondrosis is difficult to diagnose, since the symptoms of the pathology resemble diseases of the heart, lungs or stomach.With thoracic osteochondrosis, radiating pain to the region of the ribs and heart is more often observed, so the disease is confused with ischemic heart disease and signs of a heart attack.An important diagnostic criterion is that if, when complaining of chest pain, no heart problems are detected, you should visit a neurologist or traumatologist.

The older the patient, the higher the risk that spinal joint degeneration will affect multiple parts of the spine.

Symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis

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

1. Pain, malaise and discomfort.Considering the degree and localization of the pathological process, the patient experiences varying degrees of pain.At the initial stages, the discomfort is minor, pressing.At night, the discomfort temporarily subsides.As spinal degeneration progresses, the pain becomes stronger and more frequent.In the worst case, the pain does not stop and prevents you from sleeping at night.
2. Weakness, constant fatigue.Spinal problems are often associated with impaired nerve conduction and poor blood flow.If a patient actively develops osteochondrosis, chronic fatigue syndrome occurs over time.The patient becomes increasingly unable to perform work duties, and the person does not get enough sleep.The more advanced the pathology, the worse the patient feels.
3. Decreased mobility in a specific part of the spine.During the period of exacerbation, not only persistent pain occurs, but also the mobility of the affected area of the back is significantly limited.This phenomenon is associated not only with the inflammatory process, but also with muscle spasticity.
4. Muscle spasm in the affected part of the spine.Osteochondrosis is not only the result of natural degenerative processes in the body.Physical inactivity often triggers the disease.In the absence of motor activity, the muscles atrophy and cannot adequately remove the load from the spine.As a result, persistent tension arises, which is fraught with severe deterioration.The patient experiences multiple spasms that must be relieved with medication.
5. Radicular syndrome.This phenomenon is typical for all types of osteochondrosis, without exception.When the pathology is complicated by the appearance of hernias, increased pressure of the protruded nucleus pulposus on the nerve segments occurs.As a result, adverse effects occur - limited mobility, pain, lumbago, paresthesia, and in severe situations - loss of sensation in the fingers and lower extremities.
6. Other vegetative manifestations.These include symptoms reminiscent of vegetative-vascular dystonia, neurological disorders, signs of the heart, lungs, and stomach.

Distinctive symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include:

1. Headache.It occurs suddenly, and the attack itself often turns into a migraine, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness and pressure surges.The condition is often associated with persistent poor circulation in the affected area and pinched nerve roots.
2. Pain in the neck, trapezius, or upper back.This symptom is associated with increased muscle spasticity.The spine cannot withstand the load, so these muscles are overloaded.Also, this condition occurs more often among office workers.The nature of the pain is nagging, constraining, painful.
3. Increased pressure.If an intervertebral hernia compresses the vascular bed, the patient experiences an attack of hypertension that is not associated with problems of the cardiovascular system.
4. The appearance of a squeezing sensation in the neck and throat.The phenomenon is also associated with muscle spasticity, which causes pinching of the vessels in the neck.
5. Shootings in fingers, collarbones and arms.This is a purely neurological symptom associated with pinched nerve roots.
6. Shortness of breath, pain in the heart and throat are less common.

Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis look like this:

1. Feeling of tightness in the chest.
2. The appearance of attacks of intercostal neuralgia.
3. Pain in the heart area not associated with cardiac pathology.
4. Complaints of shortness of breath, pain in the depths of the chest.
5. Cough not associated with respiratory system problems.
6. Discomfort in the stomach or esophagus.
7. Pain in the interscapular area.Characterized by a chronic course.More often it occurs against the background of static muscle overload.
8. Numbness in the arms, collarbones and fingers.Less often - in the lower back.

This is how the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis manifest themselves:

1. Pain in the lower back.
2. Tugging sensations in the kidney area or lower abdomen.
3. The occurrence of pinching of the sciatic nerve.
4. The appearance of a symptom of a tight piriformis muscle.If this muscle spasms, it compresses the sciatic nerve, which causes specific symptoms, including burning and shooting along the leg, starting from the gluteal area and ending with the thigh and lower leg.This neurological symptom most often indicates problems with the spine.
5. Problems with bowel movements and urination.When a hernia or protrusion compresses the lower parts of the nerve endings, the force of contraction of the smooth muscles of the intestines and bladder weakens significantly over time.As a result, intestinal atony and urinary retention develop.Such conditions are extremely dangerous and require qualified medical care.
6. Over time, the patient's gait changes and lameness appears in one leg.The condition is also associated with pinching of nerve endings.

If a patient has several symptoms in a specific part of the spine, reminiscent of advanced osteochondrosis, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.There are no specific diagnostic criteria that allow you to detect the disease yourself.It is necessary to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis, after which the exact cause of the ailment will be determined.

Diagnosis of back osteochondrosis

Primary diagnosis consists of taking an anamnesis.A neurologist or traumatologist asks about complaints and examines the patient’s back.If the patient is not sure that he needs to see these specialists specifically, he should initially visit a therapist.A general clinical practitioner will examine the patient, record complaints in a card and issue a referral to a specialist.

The main problem in diagnosing spinal osteochondrosis is that the pathology gives many false signs indicating other diseases.Therefore, it is necessary to visit specialists several times to make sure there are no pathologies associated with the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems.

What types of diagnostics are usually prescribed:

1. Radiography.This type of examination is quick and does not require large financial costs.The image can be obtained free of charge if the patient undergoes the procedure at the clinic at the place of registration.An x-ray image can superficially assess the condition of the ridge.If there are gross defects or signs of a decrease in the distance of the intervertebral spaces, the patient will be referred to other procedures in order to clarify the diagnosis.
2. MRI or CT.These types of studies clearly see soft tissues, therefore they are the main diagnostic methods that recognize various degenerative processes - displacements, disc herniations, protrusions.With the help of such diagnostics, not only osteochondrosis is detected, but also hernias, protrusions, and pinched nerves.
3. Laboratory tests.Sometimes it is necessary to undergo a series of blood tests that will help find hidden diseases that negatively affect the course of the disease.Usually tests are taken in combination - OBC, OAM, sugar, calcium-phosphorus metabolism regulators, rheumatological tests.

Based on the data obtained, the doctor makes a final diagnosis.After receiving the conclusion, you must follow the specialist’s recommendations in order to endure the course of the spinal disease less painfully.There are pathologies that cannot be completely cured.These include osteochondrosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

There are many treatment options for this spinal disease.They are used depending on the stage of the complication.If the pathology is at an early stage, then the best remedies are medications and conservative treatment.In advanced cases, it is rare, but surgical intervention may be required when medications do not help and the patient loses sensation in the limbs, becoming disabled.

What is used among medical products:

1. NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.These medications quickly relieve pain associated with inflammation or irritation.The therapeutic effect is achieved quickly, within a day.Therefore, such medications are the first line of choice.Disadvantages of NSAIDs - you can’t inject them for more than two days.In oral form, some types of drugs are used for no more than three weeks.This limitation in use is explained by the high gastrotoxicity of the drugs.Persons suffering from peptic ulcers or gastritis are additionally prescribed medications to protect the gastric mucosa.
2. Corticosteroids are hormonal pain relievers.In case of severe pain and degenerative processes, special medications are administered intra-articularly to eliminate local inflammation.It is recommended to use prolonged components.The active ingredient lasts up to 3-4 weeks.For some patients, one injection is enough to forget about the pain for a long time.
3. Chondroprotectors are drugs used to strengthen and nourish cartilage tissue.In many patients suffering from spinal osteochondrosis, the cartilage and bone tissue is weak, so it is necessary to strengthen it.Chondroprotectors do not stop the development of the disease and build up cartilage tissue, but help slow down degenerative processes.They are taken over a long course.
4. Muscle relaxants.Medicines used to relax tight muscles.Duration of therapy is from 2 to 4 weeks.
5. B vitamins. Neurotropic substances - B1, B6 and B12 help with sciatica or pinched sciatic nerve.In large doses, these substances exhibit an analgesic effect and nourish damaged nerve fibers.

Conservative treatment methods include:

1. Manual therapy.The method allows you to relax tight muscles through the work of a specialist’s hands.During an exacerbation, this type of treatment should not be used.
2. Exercise therapy.With the help of physical therapy, you can strengthen your muscles.It has been proven that back pain is more often associated with muscle weakness, since the spine cannot withstand the load, which is why fatigue and discomfort occur.For the patient to feel relief, it is necessary to perform the exercises consistently 2-3 times a week.Physical education improves posture and eliminates pain.
3. Massage.With the help of a massage therapist, it is possible to improve blood flow in damaged muscles, which has a positive effect on well-being.Increased blood flow nourishes and relaxes tissues, which helps fight spasms.The procedure is contraindicated in the acute period and is performed only during rehabilitation.
4. Physiotherapy.Conservative treatment is aimed at improving blood flow in damaged tissues using a hardware method.Using current or magnetic radiation, muscle communication is improved, which helps fight spasms and chronic pain.Physiotherapy allows the use of systemic drugs locally, which penetrate well under the skin.

Disease prevention

Osteochondrosis of the spine can be prevented if you adhere to a healthy lifestyle, including giving up bad habits, proper nutrition and combating physical inactivity.You also need to monitor your body weight.Obese patients experience greater stress not only on the back, but also on the entire body.It is recommended to wear orthopedic shoes and monitor your posture.