Osteochondrosis: symptoms, causes, treatment methods.

Excessive tension in the back muscles causes a lot of discomfort and pain.Osteochondrosis, which causes alterations in the structure of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, causes severe pinching of the nerve endings.Often, pathology is accompanied by impaired blood circulation, which causes disturbances in the nutrition of the brain and internal organs.

Osteochondrosis: what is it?

Osteochondrosis is a recurrent disease that occurs chronically and is accompanied by destruction of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.Their tissues are altered, causing a decrease in their elasticity with a subsequent change in shape.There is a gradual decrease in intervertebral space.This causes a loss of stability of the spine in the areas where the pathology develops.

The processes of pathological tissue destruction occur against the background of pinched nerve endings leading from the area where the spinal cord is located.As a result, the back muscles are in constant tension.In such a situation, patients complain of back pain and other symptoms.

Depending on the peculiarities of the localization of spinal structures affected by degenerative changes, cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral varieties of the pathological process are distinguished.The main sign of the development of osteochondrosis is pain, the intensity and severity of which usually increases during physical activity.

There is also rigidity in movements.In addition, the clinical picture is characterized by the presence of vertebral-type signs: headaches, changes in blood pressure, deterioration of visual and auditory function, etc.

Development mechanism

The development of osteochondrosis is due to the fact that the nucleus pulposus begins to lose its hydrophilic qualities.This semi-liquid structure contains connective tissue fibers and chondroitin, a gelatinous substance.During the development of the human body and its growth, processes of reduction of the vascular bed in the intervertebral discs actively occur.Nutrients are supplied diffusely, which is manifested in a spontaneous stabilization of the concentration.This characteristic causes difficulties in the complete restoration of cartilage that has suffered damage or excessive pressure on the spine.

Pathological deviations become more pronounced due to disturbances in hormonal levels and human nutrition.Cartilage tissue begins to experience a lack of nutrients necessary for its normal development.Therefore, the disorders manifest themselves in the form of:

• decreased strength and elasticity;
• changes to consistency parameters and configuration properties.

Against the background of flattening of the intervertebral discs, radial cracks form in the fibrous rings.As a result, the intervertebral distance is reduced and the facet joints begin to shift.Over time, pathological changes cover the connective tissues related to the fibrous rings and ligaments.

As tissue breaks down, the immune system produces immunoglobulins in greater quantities.This provokes the development of the aseptic inflammation process and swelling forms in the area where the facet joints are located.They also spread to nearby soft tissues.

Due to the stretching of the joint capsules, the intervertebral discs lose their ability to fix the vertebrae.Such instability in the position of the spinal structure increases the risk of pinching nerve roots or squeezing blood vessels.This feature is characteristic, for example, of cervical osteochondrosis, which is accompanied by intense verbal symptoms.

Reasons for the development of the disease

The condition of the intervertebral discs can worsen with a decrease in the tone of the skeletal muscles of the spine.Due to irrational and asymmetric muscle work, when a non-physiological body position is maintained for a long time, destruction of cartilage tissue can occur.This violation occurs as a result of carrying heavy bags on the same shoulder, using soft mattresses and high pillows.

The process of destruction of intervertebral discs is accelerated due to the action of a number of negative factors of an external and internal nature.These include:

• disorders in the functioning of the endocrine mechanism and metabolic disorders;
• pathologies of an infectious nature, including chronic ones;
• damage to the spine in the form of compression fractures, bruises;
• regular and prolonged hypothermia of the body;
• diseases of a systemic and degenerative-dystrophic type: gouty, psoriatic, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis;
• smoking and alcohol abuse, which alters the state of the vascular system, disrupts blood circulation and causes a lack of nutrients in the cartilage;
• insufficient physical development, posture problems, flat feet - these defects increase the load on the spine, since shock absorption will be insufficient;
• obesity;
• genetic predisposition;
• exposure to regular stress.

Symptoms

The main clinical sign of osteochondrosis of any location (cervical, thoracic or lumbosacral) is pain.In case of relapse, the pain is stabbing and radiates to nearby areas of the body.Even with a slight movement it intensifies.This forces the patient to give the body a forced position to minimize discomfort and pain:

• with cervical osteochondrosis, it would be preferable to turn not only one head, but the entire body;
• when the thoracic form of the disease is present, the patient finds it difficult to breathe deeply and therefore, to avoid acute chest pain, tries to minimize the depth and frequency of breathing;
• Patients with the lumbar type of the disease have difficulty sitting, assuming an upright position, and moving because the spinal nerve is pinched.

Typically, patients complain of a constant dull pain and a feeling of stiffness in movements in the morning after waking up.In this case, a differential diagnosis will be necessary to help eliminate the risks of developing myositis caused by inflammation of the skeletal muscles of the spine or osteoarthritis.

Aching, squeezing pains occur due to compensatory tension in muscle tissue.This condition is necessary to stabilize the area of movement of the spine.Constant, mild or moderate pain may also appear, with significant stretching of the intervertebral disc, as a result of aseptic inflammatory changes.

Osteochondrosis of a particular localization is characterized by special symptoms:

1. With cervical osteochondrosis, pain is felt in the cervical area, in the upper extremities.There is pain in the head and numbness in the fingers.If the disease manifests itself severely, a pinching of the vertebral artery may occur.In this case, the patient begins to complain of a significant deterioration in his health.
2. The thoracic location is manifested by a sharp, aching pain in the back;there is visceral pain syndrome in the cardiac region, right hypochondrium and abdomen.Patients complain of numbness, skin paresthesia, shortness of breath, and cracking in the vertebrae.
3. Patients with lumbar osteochondrosis complain of pain in the back and lower extremities that increases in intensity when moving.Disturbances in the functioning of the genitourinary system, problems with male potency and dysfunctional ovarian disorders are often diagnosed.During remission, pain may decrease.However, exposure to a provoking factor leads to its resumption.

4. When mixed osteochondrosis appears, symptoms can appear in several areas simultaneously.This condition is characterized by a more severe course of the disease.

It should be remembered that the displacement of the vertebrae and the formation of osteophytes cause compression of the vertebral artery.Nourishes the brain and provides oxygen to its cells.When it is squeezed, nutrition is limited and therefore the patient has coordination problems, headaches, tinnitus and high blood pressure.

Consequences if not treated

The reason for the complicated course of osteochondrosis is the relatively rapid formation of hernias in the intervertebral discs.Its appearance is associated with a posterior displacement of the vertebral structure.This causes a rupture of the posterior longitudinal ligament, which causes instability of the position of the disc and protrusion of its individual sections into the spinal canal area.A hernia ruptures when the disc with the nucleus pulposus penetrates the canal area.

When pathological abnormalities occur in the vertebral structures, the spinal cord begins to compress and the patient develops discogenic myelopathy.Symptoms of this condition are associated with numbness and weakness in certain muscle groups of the upper and lower extremities.Paresis, muscle atrophy and alteration of tendon reflexes appear.In some cases, problems arise when emptying the bladder and intestines.

The formation of intervertebral hernias is dangerous due to the compression of the arteries that nourish the spinal cord.The result of this pathology is the formation of ischemic areas where nerve cells are damaged and die.The manifestation of the neurological effect is expressed in alterations in motor function, a decrease in the degree of tactility and trophic disorders.

Diagnosis of the disease.

The initial diagnosis is made based on the patient's complaints and existing symptoms.The specialist examines the condition of the spine in different positions, asking the patient to be at rest or in movement.At the next stage, the patient is sent for laboratory diagnosis, which will help clarify the diagnosis or refute it.

Research methods used include:

1. Radiography– provides a complete examination of the spine with an assessment of the condition of the vertebrae, existing disorders in the form of growths and curvatures.The specialist will be able to determine the intervertebral spaces and the state of the holes.To accurately identify osteochondrosis localized in the thoracic or cervical area, a two-stage X-ray examination is performed.In the first stage, the patient lies on his side, and in the second, directly on his back.
2. Tomography method using magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography.They provide very informative data that helps study the vertebrae in detail without interference from the organs that cover them.The image shows the nerves and vascular system.MRI helps identify signs of many spinal diseases and the location of damage.CT scan visualizes hernias and determines possible deviations in the structure of the spine.
3. laboratory examto evaluate the state of the blood and its main parameters.It allows you to clarify the diagnosis and determine the possibility of developing concomitant diseases.

In many cases, as a result of examinations, doctors diagnose the presence of certain underlying diseases that are potentially dangerous due to their complications.We are talking, for example, about hernias, protrusions, radiculitis.Correct diagnosis of problems helps to more effectively treat osteochondrosis.At the same time, the disease itself in the early stages of development disguises itself as symptoms of other diseases.

therapeutic process

Osteochondrosis is treated conservatively or surgically.The choice depends on the severity of the condition, its neglect, the level of tissue deterioration and the causes of its appearance.

It is important to remember that it is not possible to completely cure osteochondrosis, since there are no medications that help completely restore the discs and vertebrae.The therapeutic effect is aimed at inhibiting the destruction process and increasing the duration and stability of remission.

For symptomatic therapy, chondroprotectors are used, the basis of which is chondroitin or glucosamine sulfate.

The effectiveness of the therapeutic process with chondroprotectors has been clinically confirmed by long-term tests.If you take these drugs for a long time (from 3 months), a partial restoration of cartilage and other elements of the connective type is observed: the ligamentous-tendinous apparatus, the bursa.

The accumulation of glucosamine and chondroitin in the area of the intervertebral discs produces an analgesic, anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effect.Therefore, there is a real opportunity to optimize the dose of NSAIDs, glucocorticosteroids and muscle relaxants.You can expect a reduction in medication burden for the patient.

The effectiveness of chondroprotectors is determined by the regularity of their use.Otherwise there will be no result.Ineffectiveness is also recorded in the treatment of third degree osteochondrosis, accompanied by significant destruction of cartilage.

The following groups of medications can be used to relieve pain:

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugsHelps eliminate inflammatory disorders in soft tissues that are caused by vertebral displacement.NSAIDs are effective in reducing pain, swelling, and stiffness.
2. Medications from the glucocorticosteroid group.– Blocks are usually used in conjunction with an anesthetic.They are able to relieve pain, restore the functioning of the immune mechanism and provide an anti-exudative effect.
3. Muscle relaxants.They are effective in combating muscle spasms due to pinched nerves.They help relax skeletal muscles and block polysynaptic spinal-type reflexes with an antispasmodic effect.
4. External products with a heating effect.Irritation of the receptors of the subcutaneous tissue with activation of blood flow is achieved using special gels and ointments.These drugs have analgesic and antiedematous effects.

Vertebrogenic type symptoms, which appear due to the localization of the pathology in the cervical or thoracic area, can be eliminated using medical means to activate blood flow.Nootropics and medications are also prescribed to improve microcirculation.In some cases, it may be necessary to take antidepressants, as well as drugs with anticonvulsant effects.

During the treatment of osteochondrosis, they also resort to physiotherapy.UHF therapy, magnetotherapy, laser therapy, reflexology, massage, physiotherapy, hirudotherapy, as well as swimming and yoga may be prescribed.If conservative treatment is not effective, surgery is performed through microdiscectomy, evaluation by disc puncture, laser reconstruction or implant replacement.