What is osteochondrosis

As people age, many develop musculoskeletal disorders.The most common disease in this field of medicine is osteochondrosis of the spine.Unfortunately, today it affects not only representatives of the older generation, but also dynamic young people.There are many reasons for this – sedentary work, lack of exercise or any other physical activity, etc.

what is it

Doctors define vertebral osteochondrosis as an overall complex of diseases of the joints and cartilage that connect tissues and organs. It can occur in any joint but most commonly affects the intervertebral discs.

According to different locations, it can be divided into cervical osteochondrosis, thoracic osteochondrosis and lumbar osteochondrosis.Although vertebral osteochondrosis does not appear until 40 years later, the first signs of osteochondrosis are already evident by the age of 20 years.

reason

There may be many factors that trigger the development of the disease.This includes hypothermia, displacement of vertebrae from injury, and strenuous physical exertion.

However, the main causes of spinal osteochondrosis are the following:

• habit of stooping;
• lack of solid muscle bodice;
• Various types of scoliosis;
• Stress, nervous shock, depression, chronic fatigue;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• Lift weights regularly;
• Metabolic disorders (the body may lack calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and many other useful substances in the blood);
• genetics;
• untreated viral infection;
• changes in female and male hormone levels;
• Various back injuries.

Most commonly, athletes, loaders, construction workers, and all people in occupations that involve active manual labor are susceptible to osteochondrosis.On the contrary, for those who lead a sedentary lifestyle, doctors recommend getting more exercise, participating in some kind of preventive exercise, and proper nutrition so that the body gets all the vitamins, minerals, and trace elements it needs.

symptom

The symptoms of osteochondrosis depend directly on the area of the vertebra that is affected.

• cervical osteochondrosisThe spine is accompanied by frequent neck pain, extending to the back and chest, the neck muscles are tense and painful when touched, the tongue is swollen and numb, there are goose bumps and tingling sensations on the neck and palms, and a general feeling of weakness in the neck and shoulders.
• Osteochondrosis of the chestThe following symptoms occur in the spine: severe pain in the sternum, pressure in the chest, and intercostal pain may occur during physical activity.
• Lumbosacral osteochondrosisThe spine is often accompanied by low back pain that can radiate to the legs, sacrum and groin, lack of sensitivity in the legs, cold hands and feet, and a pins and needles sensation in the lower limbs.

If one or more symptoms of this disease occur, you should consult a specialist immediately, since osteochondrosis can lead to dysfunction of many organs and systems, pinched nerves, as well as migraines, dizziness and insomnia.Lumbosacral osteochondrosis is particularly dangerous because of the subsequent risk of cardiac and vascular disease, genitourinary disease, scoliosis, and disc displacement.

stage

Osteochondrosis develops gradually and has several stages of development:

• first stageThe disease's emergence remains incomprehensible.The symptoms are not obvious and the patient only feels mild discomfort.Mild pain in the back and waist occurs from time to time, but is usually caused by overexertion and increased physical activity.Many times, grade one osteochondrosis is accidentally diagnosed during a patient's routine examination.
• second stageThe pain occurs more frequently and becomes more severe, and the cartilage tissue begins to deform.The easiest way to treat osteochondrosis is in the second stage, because doctors can already see all the changes happening in the body.Pain relievers can be added to general comprehensive treatment.
• to the third stageThe spine becomes deformed and back diseases such as scoliosis and kyphosis begin to develop.The goal of treatment is to modify spinal defects and minimize those that have already occurred.
• Stage 4In osteochondrosis, it becomes difficult for the patient to move, the cartilage tissue becomes thicker, and some vertebrae become displaced.Pain is always with a person.Typically, in the fourth stage of the disease, patients are considered disabled.

diagnosis

Doctors can make a preliminary diagnosis based on the above symptoms.First, the doctor will check the condition of each position and movement of the patient's spine.Hardware diagnostics will then be performed to confirm the diagnosis and identify possible complications.

The main diagnostic types of osteochondrosis of the musculoskeletal system include:

• MRI;
• CT (computed tomography);
• X-ray examination;
• Ultrasound (sonography);
• Study of cerebral arteries and blood vessels.

After analyzing the patient's condition, the doctor identifies possible concomitant diseases such as hernia, radiculitis, and disc displacement.

In turn, patients need to remember that the symptoms of osteochondrosis can be signs of any other disease, therefore the quality of the diagnosis must be of the highest possible, since treatment is based on its final result.

as a result of

One of the most dangerous consequences of osteochondrosis is complete or partial muscle atrophy.For many patients, pain relief is only possible with painkillers.

If you do not contact a specialist promptly, you risk developing a hernia, cholesterol plaques, which interfere with blood pressure and oxygen supply to cells.

People with stage 4 osteochondrosis may experience cardiac arrhythmias and respiratory abnormalities; visual and auditory organs may also be affected, and motor coordination may be impaired.

Since osteochondrosis primarily affects the blood supply system, the entire human body is at risk.It is important to note that people with impaired metabolism are most susceptible to this disease.Osteochondrosis is often accompanied by vegetative vascular dystonia.

treat

There are two types of treatment for osteochondrosis:

• conservative;
• surgical.

The choice of treatment depends on the severity of the disease, the complications identified, and the body's internal capacity to recover after surgery.

With a conservative approach, patients receive a range of medications and other techniques such as massage, therapeutic exercises, and exercise therapy.This treatment includes medications and hardware.

The most widely used conservative treatments are as follows:

• Therapeutic physical education, the exercises of which are individually tailored to the patient's physical condition.
• acupuncture.
• Massage and hydromassage.
• Magnetic therapy and vibration stimulation.
• Ultrasound and laser treatments.
• drug.
• Proper nutrition will also be tailored to the patient.
• Psychotherapy.

It is important to note that if conservative treatment options are not appropriate, the patient's condition may worsen.Self-treatment of osteochondrosis was excluded.

Surgical approaches to osteochondrosis are aimed at stabilizing the movement of damaged segments of the spine.If a spinal hernia occurs, surgery can be performed in two ways: standard with a scalpel or with a laser.The choice is made jointly by the doctor and the patient, taking into account not only the patient's wishes but also the patient's physical condition.According to statistics, 15% of cases require surgical intervention.However, the success rate is only 3%.

prevention

It should be remembered that no one is immune to osteochondrosis, so it is better to prevent this disease in time:

• First of all, you should always pay attention to your posture and keep your back and neck straight even when working in front of the computer.
• It is also necessary to devote enough time to sports or any other physical activity that strengthens your muscles.Swimming pool exercises are ideal for these purposes.
• Special orthopedic mattresses and pillows are also good at preventing osteochondrosis.
• Pay special attention to how you lift weights - to relieve excessive stress on your spine, you must first squat down before picking up the weight.It should be noted that the weight lifted at one time cannot exceed 17 kilograms.
• Basic principles of diet are also important factors in the treatment of osteochondrosis.Food should provide the body with all the beneficial vitamins and minerals, especially during vitamin deficiencies.Avoid excessive caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, fast food and carbonated drinks.The diet should include vegetables and fruits as sources of fiber, and meat, fish, and legumes as sources of protein.

Everyone needs to remember that undetected osteochondrosis can be extremely dangerous to the entire body.All organs and systems of the body are at risk.It is necessary to closely monitor your general health and undergo a specialist check-up every six months.