Degenerative-destructive spinal cord injury, on the other hand:osteochondrosis- a disease that includes damage to a person's ligament and joint apparatus, intervertebral discs and vertebral bodies.
Osteochondrosis disease mainly affects elderly people irrespective of gender, although it should be noted that recently there has been a trend towards the rejuvenation of this disease. Such rejuvenation of osteochondrosis is directly related to the poor physical development of children and overweight in so many adolescents. Also, modern young people prefer sedentary pastimes near the TV or computer, avoiding sports. The combination of these factors leads to weakening of the back muscles, postural disorders and other negative consequences for the spine.
Osteochondrosis and its causes
At the heart of the disease with osteochondrosis is a disorder of trophism of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, which alters the normal structure of tissues. As a result, the cartilage disc loses its normal elasticity and shape, reducing the width of the spaces between the vertebrae. Violation of the intervertebral relationship leads to compression of the nerve endings of the spinal cord, as well as a significant overload of the spinal muscles, which explains the manifestation of pain in osteochondrosis. In addition, with osteochondrosis, quite serious complications often also occur, such as bulging of a part of the intervertebral disc, as well as vertebral hernia.
In the future, the degenerative-destructive changes that occur in osteochondrosis lead to the formation of bony growths in the vertebrae, also spreading to the intervertebral ligaments and small joints of the spine. It becomes difficult for people suffering from osteochondrosis to perform flexo-extensor movements, and over time they can develop pathologies - scoliosis or kyphosis.
All these degenerative-destructive spinal injuries are usually the result of the inevitable physiological aging of the human body, but for a number of reasons discussed later in this publication, the osteochondrosis process can accelerate significantly.
It should be noted from the outset that there is no single cause for the occurrence of osteochondrosis, but there are a large number of predisposing factors, the main ones being:
- bruises, fractures, dislocations and other spinal injuries;
- hereditary predisposition;
- various foot diseases that cause vertebral overload, such as clubfoot, flat foot and others, in addition to prolonged use of uncomfortable and tight shoes;
- obesity or overweight;
- natural age-related changes in the body;
- violation of metabolic processes in the body;
- maintain a sedentary lifestyle;
- abrupt cessation of professional sports;
- the specifics of the professional activity, for example, frequent body movements, lifting weights, uncomfortable body position during work;
- prolonged and frequent hypothermia, aggravated by high humidity;
- the presence of frequent and prolonged stressful conditions.
The presence of several or even one of the above factors can lead to the development of osteochondrosis, which is conventionally divided into four stages:
- First step- decrease in the amount of moisture contained in the intervertebral disc with a decrease in the intervertebral distance. In this case, small cracks appear in the cartilage.
- Second level- due to the reduction of intervertebral gaps, flaccidity of the ligament and muscular apparatus occurs, which causes unnatural mobility of the vertebral bodies, their displacement and sliding.
- third stage- due to the progressive degenerative-destructive lesion of the spine, there is extrusion of the intervertebral discs, as well as vertebral subluxations.
- fourth stage- to avoid subluxations and unnatural vertebral mobility, bone osteophytes grow between the vertebrae, in popular treatment they are called "salt deposits", which over time become so numerous that the vertebrae lose their mobility. With such bony growths, injuries inevitably occur to the nerves and vessels located near these vertebrae.
It should be noted that in the first and fourth stages of osteoarthritis, patients do not feel pain.
Osteochondrosis and its classification
Although osteochondrosis has many different classifications, the most common is the osteochondrosis classification, which takes into account the location of spinal injuries:
- cervical spine osteochondrosis;
- osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine;
- lumbar spine osteochondrosis;
- osteochondrosis of the sacral spine;
- common osteochondrosis, which includes a disease of two or more vertebral sections.
Osteochondrosis and its symptoms
Osteochondrosis, as a disease, is chronic in nature and is characterized by the alternation of the remission phase and the exacerbation phase, in which the symptoms of osteochondrosis are especially characteristic, depending on the location of the spinal disease, as well as the presence of possible complications.
Thus, for osteochondrosis of the cervical region, pain directly in the neck, in the hands, certain stiffness of movement, headache and numbness of the fingers will be characteristic. Well, in case of vertebral artery compression, the patient has a headache that is pulsating in nature, a decrease in hearing aid functions, dizziness and fainting is also possible.
A little different are the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. The patient is worried about back pain, which can also be acute in nature, difficulty breathing with full breasts, heart pain, as well as a sensation, called in popular treatment - "chest glue".
Symptoms of osteochondrosis in case of damage to the lumbar spine are manifested by pain in the lower back, legs, sacrum and are intensified when moving. In addition, numbness of the legs appears and various dysfunctions of Organs genitourinary organs may develop.
During the remission phase, a sick person may also experience pain that is not pronounced and occurs only in the case of provoking factors, for example, an uncomfortable position of the patient's body.
Osteochondrosis and its diagnosis
First, patients should take into account that a neuropathologist is involved in the treatment of osteochondrosis. The diagnosis of osteochondrosis, as a rule, includes the following steps:
- question the patient;
- external examination and palpation of the patient's spine in different body positions, as well as establishing a possible range of motion;
- special studies for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis by means of magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, as well as radiographic examination of the patient;
- special studies of peripheral nerves and blood vessels, but only in cases necessary for the correct diagnosis of osteochondrosis.
If you do not engage in the timely and correct treatment of osteochondrosis, preferably without resorting to folk remedies, then there is a real danger of developing various complications in the form of diseases such as, for example, sciatica, herniated discs, migraine, vegetovascular dystonia , and with lumbar osteochondrosis - also stroke. Therefore, the diagnosis of osteochondrosis and its treatment must be given due attention, avoiding independent alternative treatment methods, so as not to initiate the development of this disease.
Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis
In the treatment of osteochondrosis in medical institutions, in contrast to traditional medicine, classical methods of its treatment are used. At the same time, the attending physician uses a strictly individual approach to the patient. The treatment of osteochondrosis to achieve effectiveness is carried out in a complex way. Conservative methods of treating osteochondrosis themselves are divided into the following groups:
- Treatment of osteochondrosis with medication.
- Physiotherapeutic treatment of osteochondrosis, especially magnetotherapy, through the use of special medical devices.
- Sanitary treatment of osteochondrosis.
- Organization of proper nutrition with the help of a special diet.
Surgical intervention in the treatment of osteochondrosis
Treatment of osteochondrosis with the help of surgery is carried out only in cases where the above conservative methods do not produce the desired effect. The most common is the removal of an intervertebral hernia, in which the surgical incision does not exceed one centimeter, and the patient can get up the next day after this operation. Well, the patient's complete rehabilitation course is completed within six months after the surgery.
There is also a method of treating osteochondrosis through surgical intervention, in which the affected intervertebral disc is removed and in its place an implant or silicone prosthesis is installed, which leads to the restoration of the necessary distance between the vertebrae and, as a result, , the elimination of symptoms of osteochondrosis.
Prevention of osteochondrosis diseases
First of all, for the prevention of osteochondrosis, you should:
- avoid increased stress on the spine by wearing comfortable shoes;
- try not to stay too long in an uncomfortable position of the body;
- exercise regular control of your weight, avoiding the yoke of excess;
- maintain correct posture at all times;
- when lifting weights, use both hands evenly;
- performing general strengthening exercises daily, as well as paying attention to regular yoga or pool classes;
- follow a diet that includes in your diet foods such as fish, leafy vegetables and greens, dairy products, jams and jellies, broths, eggs, butter and olive oil;
- avoid alcohol, carbonated drinks, overly strong coffee, salty foods and fatty meats.