Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic change in the complex of vertebrae, intervertebral discs and joints. Develops as a result of metabolic disturbances in cartilage and bone tissue in vertebrae and discs. In simple words, with chondrosis and osteochondrosis, the discs and adjacent bone structures wear out over time, compensating for the changes of the marginal growth of tissues and their compression. In the case of chondrosis - only the disc cartilage itself, and in the case of osteochondrosis - the vertebral bodies adjacent to it. This is a very common disease. According to WHO statistics, up to 80% of the world's inhabitants suffer from it. Doctors note that it most often occurs due to increased stress on the spine - excess weight and a sedentary lifestyle.
What to do with osteochondrosis and where to turn if you suspect the disease, neurologist Igor Matsokin and exercise therapy specialist Oksana Ivanova tell.
Classification
According to the ICD-10 classification, spinal osteochondrosis has code M42. It includes:
- M42. 0 Juvenile osteochondrosis of the spine Calf's disease, Scheuermann's disease
Excludes: positional kyphosis (M40. 0)
- M42. 1 Osteochondrosis of the spine in adults
- M42. 9 Spinal osteochondrosis, unspecified
Species
Depending on the location, there are several types:
Cervical
The cervical spine experiences a high load and a rather complex range of motion.
Symptoms:
A sense of crunching and clicking in the neck when the head is turned from side to side, stiffness on motion. You may feel a headache (tension headache), a painful sensation in the muscles of the shoulder girdle.
Constantly tense muscles can cause numbness and tingling in the hands.
The main focus of treatment is on recovery, relieving spasms and inflammation and restoring range of motion.
Breast
The chest region is less mobile than the rest of the body, where osteochondrosis occurs. Therefore, it rarely appears.
Symptoms: pain in the chest muscles, often aggravated by static load.
Brachial
Osteochondrosis of the shoulder joint occurs due to injury, stretching of tendons and muscles. Occurs most often when there is too much load on the shoulder in athletes and loaders. But it can also develop in the complex of cervical osteochondrosis.
There is pain and limitations in movement of the joints.
vertebrates
With osteochondrosis of the spine, intervertebral discs are destroyed. It happens that not one part of the spine is affected, but two or more. For example, in both the lower back and the cervix. This is called polysegmental or widespread osteochondrosis of the spine.
The loin
Osteochondrosis of the lower back is common. The spine in the lumbosacral region experiences the greatest stress.
Symptoms:
- pain in the lower back, legs
- pain when bending, turning - stiffness in movements in the back
Hip
In the case of osteochondrosis of the hip joint, the pain is not serious, but it is important to consult a doctor immediately so that surgical intervention is not required.
Knee
Disease of the knee joint. The cartilage, which ensures unimpeded sliding and movement of the joint, is destroyed and cannot be restored. Fibrous cartilage forms, causing pain and stiffness in the leg. It is pain and limitation of movement in the knee that are the main reasons for going to the doctor and making a diagnosis.
Youthful
The disease appears in children, most often between the ages of 10 and 18. Degenerative changes occur in the spine, affecting ligaments, joints, intervertebral discs and bones. Juvenile osteochondrosis progresses rapidly, but in the initial stage it is difficult to detect because there is no limitation of mobility. Only in the morning do you feel some discomfort after sleep.
Reasons
The disease occurs when there is a metabolic disorder. As we age, our cartilage tissue wears down. Lack of water, microelements and amino acids reduces the elasticity of intervertebral discs. Salt deposits are a consequence of osteochondrosis. The cause of pain is often irritation (or irritation) of the nerve roots.
The disease affects athletes who put a lot of strain on their backs, such as weightlifters. The risk increases after spinal injuries. Osteochondrosis often occurs in schoolchildren who sit for a long time, bending over their desks, and in drivers. Which factor causes the disease depends on lifestyle.
degrees
For osteochondrosis, there are 4 degrees (stages):
- 1st degree - chondrosis. There is already pain
- 2nd degree - instability. The affected vertebral disc is displaced in relation to the lower one, which causes acute pain.
- 3rd degree – formation of intervertebral hernia. They compress nerve fibers and blood vessels.
- Grade 4 - fibrosis of the intervertebral disc. Osteophytes may occur. It is bone growth with which the body tries to restore the support function.
When to prevent
Better late than never. If you are overweight and have a sedentary lifestyle, the sooner you start making changes, the more you will invest in your health.
Symptoms
How the disease can manifest itself in different departments:
- back hurts
- coldness and numbness in hands and feet
- headache
- restriction of movements
It is important not to confuse these signs with other diseases. The symptoms may be similar, for example, with osteochondrosis of the chest and diseases of the cardiovascular system. For accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment, consult a neurologist or therapist to receive a referral to a specialist.
Pain
Pain is the main problem with osteochondrosis, which is difficult to get rid of. In addition, it is not just the spinal disc or the joint itself that hurts – the pain radiates throughout the body. And it happens that the pain of thoracic osteochondrosis radiates to the heart, so the sensations are easily confused with heart disease.
How to distinguish heart pain from osteochondrosis:
- With heart problems, a burning sensation occurs in the chest, which can radiate to the arm or neck. Painful sensations occur suddenly and last no more than 30 minutes. The temperature rises, dizziness and chills occur. Accompanied by a feeling of lack of air, shortness of breath.
- Pain with osteochondrosis can be different: pressing, shooting. As a rule, it is moderate in nature. Not accompanied by shortness of breath and changes in blood pressure and heart rate. It has a shingles character, may last for several days, or may go away immediately.
Headache
Whether a headache can occur depends on the source of the disease. Headache occurs as a consequence of overloading the musculo-ligamentous apparatus of the neck, the influence of muscles on the channels for the passage of painful cutaneous branches of the trigeminal nerve and the influence on the trunks of the autonomic regulation of vascular tone.
Dizziness and noise in the head
Feelings of dizziness and noise in the head with osteochondrosis arise for the same reason as headaches: from muscle overload and irritation of certain areas of the autonomic nervous system with a subsequent vascular reaction. It is important to remember that similar sensations in the ears can be signs of other diseases.
Lump in throat
A lump in the neck with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a common symptom. This is due to the fact that the inflamed tissue increases in volume. A person may feel a tickling sensation, throbbing in the neck and even suffocation. It feels as if something is stuck in the throat, especially when swallowing. Such discomfort often forces you to consult a doctor. But this is not always osteochondrosis, it is important to exclude other pathologies, for example, an enlarged thyroid gland, chronic pharyngitis. If you feel something similar, it is better to start with an otolaryngologist. He will determine the cause and refer you to another specialist.
Dyspnoea
Shortness of breath occurs due to pinched vascular bundles. Appears with osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic regions. Because of the pain, it is not possible to breathe deeply, you have to breathe often and shallowly. As a result, respiratory functions deteriorate, headaches and dizziness occur due to lack of oxygen in the brain. This can lead to serious consequences. If you notice such a symptom, contact your doctor.
Panic attack
A neurosurgeon at a regional hospital claims that there is a direct link between panic attacks and osteochondrosis. One of the causes of panic attacks is a sign of a violation of the blood circulation of the brain. And this often happens precisely with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine due to compression of blood vessels and vertebral artery. Chest pain and shallow breathing can also cause panic due to this condition.
Temperature
Whether there can be temperature with osteochondrosis depends on many reasons. It is important to rule out other factors, such as acute respiratory infections.
Pressure
The disease can affect blood pressure, it is important to avoid such pressure increases.
Clinical guidelines
Upon diagnosis, conservative therapy followed by surgery is recommended to eliminate the cause of pain. The following drugs are prescribed in clinical guidelines:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of suppositories, injections, ointments, gels.
- For acute pain of high intensity, therapeutic blockades are indicated, where the main drugs are local anesthetics and glucocorticoids.
- Manual therapy, osteopathy, massage.
Aggravation
The sooner treatment is started, the easier it is to avoid future exacerbations. A common cause is lifting heavy objects, especially with one hand. It is important to distribute the weight evenly and not lift it suddenly. It is advisable not to lift heavy objects at all. If exacerbations occur, medicine will come to the rescue.
Treatment
The treatment is complex and uses several methods at once. The main goal is to relieve pain and prevent further breakdown of vertebrae and cartilage.
Therapeutic exercise (physiotherapy)
It is the most important method of conservative treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Dosed loads for
- nerve root decompression
- correction and strengthening of the muscle corset
- maintain correct posture and give the ligamentous-muscular system the necessary flexibility
- prevention of complications
To achieve their goals, patients are advised to regularly exercise using rehabilitation equipment and perform joint exercises. These exercises improve blood circulation, normalize metabolism and nutrition of the intervertebral discs, help to increase the intervertebral space, form a muscular cross and reduce the load on the spine.
However, the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system is not limited to exercise therapy. Physiotherapy based on the use of physical factors:
- low frequency currents
- magnetic fields
- ultrasound and laser
Use of physiotherapy
It allows you to speed up the treatment of many diseases, increase the effectiveness of drug treatment and reduce its dosage, as well as avoid side effects typical of drugs.
Massage
Effectively relieves muscle tension and pain, improves blood circulation and generally has a strengthening effect.
Manual therapy
The doctor's individual influence on the musculoskeletal system to relieve acute and chronic pain in the spine and joints, as well as to increase range of motion and correct posture.
Reflexology
Various therapeutic techniques and methods for influencing the body's reflexogenic zones and acupuncture points. The use of reflexology in combination with other treatment methods significantly increases their effectiveness.
Drug therapy
Indicated during the period of exacerbation of the disease and is aimed at relieving pain, eliminating the inflammatory process and improving metabolic processes. Medicines can be taken intramuscularly or intravenously.
It is important to note that although each of the mentioned methods is highly effective, the greatest therapeutic effect can only be achieved when they are combined with exercises using rehabilitation equipment. This allows you to create a full-fledged muscle cross and ensure lasting treatment results. How to treat each type of osteochondrosis depends on its location and the reasons for its appearance.
Treatment at home
At home, you can and should continue the treatment according to your doctor's recommendations. First of all, take care of your diet and do exercises at home. If you want to add folk remedies or decoctions to your treatment, check with your doctor to see if their combination with medication is safe.
Narcotics
Most medicines against osteochondrosis are aimed at relieving pain:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen and nimesulide. And not only in the form of tablets, but also ointments and gels. It is important to take tablets in stages and not systematically because of their effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
- Opioid analgesics (glucocorticoids) are prescribed by a doctor for severe pain if NSAIDs do not help relieve pain.
- Anticonvulsants or antidepressants are needed for neuropathic pain.
- vasodilators to avoid oxygen starvation.
- chondroprotectors for osteochondrosis - drugs to improve the functions of cartilage and joints.
- muscle relaxants help relieve pain from excessive muscle tension.
Applicators
Applicators for osteochondrosis are a popular addition to treatment. It affects nerve impulses and improves blood flow and helps relieve swelling. I mainly use two types of applicators:
- Kuznetsov applicator - mat with plastic spikes
- Lyapko applicator - covered with needles and alloys of various metals.
They can only be used with the permission of the attending physician.
Collar
A neck collar (or bandage) helps with cervical osteochondrosis to relax the neck muscles and reduce the load on it. As a result, the pain disappears and blood flow to the brain improves. Bandages come in different sizes and stiffnesses, so if you have neck pain, you should definitely consult a doctor and find out the cause. If it is osteochondrosis and you have no contraindications, your doctor will tell you which product is best for you.
Darson choice
Darsonval is a medical device that produces electricity in the form of a pulsed damped discharge. It has a very wide spectrum of effects, from dermatological problems to gastrointestinal diseases. Darsonval improves tissue permeability and improves local blood circulation. Because of this, the medication penetrates faster and deeper, and the muscles relax and spasms disappear.
Droppers
Droppers for osteochondrosis help to quickly relieve pain. They are prescribed in cases where other drugs are contraindicated. This happens, for example, in people with intolerance to the components of NSAID tablets.
The cross
The corset is used for osteochondrosis to fix the spine. This helps relieve tension and prevent displacement of the vertebrae. You can use it after consulting a doctor.
Plaster
Pain in the spine and joints can be alleviated with pain-relieving plasters. They are practical to use when it is not possible to apply ointment or cream because they stain clothes.
Injections
Injections help quickly relieve pain during an exacerbation. It is effective and fast acting. It is important to continue to take care of your body and even if you improve, follow your doctor's recommendations and do exercises. Injections are also a quick and effective way to supply nutrients to the intervertebral discs.
What to inject for osteochondrosis:
- chondroprotectors
- NSAIDs
- antispasmodics
- vitamins
The choice depends on the course of the disease, the presence of pain and the recommendations of the attending physician.
Vitamins
- Vitamin D helps with the absorption of calcium, which is necessary to restore the bone structure of the spine.
- Vitamins A, E, C contribute to the production of collagen and other tissues necessary for the joints.
- The medical journal tells about B vitamins (thiamine, pyridoxine and cyanocobalamin) which act as pain relievers in cervical osteochondrosis. Thanks to this, you can reduce the intake of painkillers.
Orthopedic pillows
Orthopedic sleeping pads will not replace treatment, but sleeping with them will be much more comfortable. Pillows come in different shapes and materials. For example:
- a rectangular pillow or one with a pillow is suitable for people with any type of osteochondrosis
- crescent shape for neck and shoulder pain
- a pillow with a depression in the middle or a depression to the shoulder will help people with cervical osteochondrosis to maintain proper blood circulation in any position during sleep. Optimal for the neck and its natural position.
It is also important to take into account not only the form of osteochondrosis, but also in which position a person prefers to sleep. A neurologist will tell you which pillow to choose correctly, after analyzing your sleep preferences and characteristics of the course of the disease.
Massage
Therapeutic massage can be performed only for osteochondrosis in a state of remission. It will help improve blood circulation, metabolic processes, flexibility of the spine and muscles. Proper massage slows or even stops the spread of the disease. But it is not always possible to visit a massage specialist. Special devices will come to the rescue, such as electric massagers for the back and neck. They are especially effective in the initial stages of cervical osteochondrosis. The main thing is to use it correctly and consult a doctor.
Diet
There is no special diet for osteochondrosis. The most important thing is to maintain a healthy weight. If you have extra pounds, you should discuss weight loss methods with your doctor and understand the reasons for your high weight.
What does a balanced diet mean:
- protein
- healthy saturated fats
- complex carbohydrates
- fruits and vegetables
It is also important to monitor the amount of salt you consume. It promotes water retention in the body.
Exercises
Special ones with a therapeutic effect stand out, for example after surgery to remove a hernia in the spine.
Moreover, these exercises are quite simple even for an unprepared person. For example, "first aid" to relieve tension in the neck:
Gymnastics to improve thoracic mobility:
You can relieve cervical and shoulder discomfort and improve them with the help of a double massage roller:
army
Whether a person with osteochondrosis is accepted in the army depends on the degree of the disease and accurate diagnosis. All documents and certificates must be in order: at least a neurologist's report and X-ray. Otherwise, after a medical examination, it is possible to make a decision on admission to military service.
In which cases they are not taken into the army:
- damage to three or more intervertebral discs
- anatomical changes are visible
- pronounced pain syndrome, including after weight lifting
If there are symptoms and certificates, the young man can receive category B - limited serviceability. This means that he is not taken into the army, but can be called up in case of military training.
It is almost impossible to obtain category D - complete exemption from military service. It is possible, for example, with osteochondropathy kyphosis - the last stage of osteochondrosis.
Questions and answers
Acupuncture for osteochondrosis
Acupuncture or acupuncture is used in conjunction with other treatments. It is especially effective in moments of exacerbation of pain syndromes.
The procedure has a number of advantages:
- low risk of allergic reactions
- quick results
- minimal risk of injury
It is important to understand that acupuncture helps relieve pain but does not cure the disease.
How to sleep properly with cervical osteochondrosis
There are two optimal positions: lying on your back and on your side.
Sleeping on your back is optimal for relaxing your body. For proper weight distribution, it is recommended to place a small pillow under your knees.
In side lying, the neck muscles relax, the load on the spine is reduced, and the blood circulation process is not disturbed.
It is important to choose the right pillow according to which position you prefer.
Is it possible to take a steam bath with osteochondrosis?
Most often, a bath is not a contraindication. On the contrary, due to high temperature, the blood flow improves and the symptoms are alleviated.
In case of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, the bath is contraindicated. If blood flow increases at the site of inflammation, it will cause complications.
Is it possible to play sports with osteochondrosis?
Moderate load is not only permissible, but also necessary for osteochondrosis. But there are exceptions:
- professional sports
- dangerous sport
- sport with weightlifting
Is it possible to warm the neck with cervical osteochondrosis?
You should not heat your neck to relieve pain. In this way, the blood will begin to flow even more to the inflammation, and it will intensify.
What not to do with osteochondrosis
- lifting weights, including in the gym
- make sudden movements, such as when playing sports
- sleeping on a mattress that is too soft or a pillow that is too high
- abuse high-calorie foods, coffee, alcohol
- take a bent position for a very long time, for example when cleaning or in the garden
- wear high heels
Yoga against osteochondrosis
Yoga is an excellent option for physical activity for osteochondrosis. There are no sudden movements or heavy objects. Yoga not only removes symptoms but also fights the cause of the disease. In rare cases, yoga is contraindicated, so you should still discuss it with your doctor.
Osteochondrosis is a serious, preventable condition. To do this, you need to monitor your diet and physical activity.