Osteochondrosis refers to degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the tissue of the spine and joints with progression. The more neglected the disease, the more pronounced the symptoms that affect the person's lifestyle and ability to work. When the structure of the spine is damaged, a person has such problems, for example, how to live in pain, how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis.
In practice, pathology of various parts of the spine, coccyx and joints often occurs. Previously, only people over the age of 25 were sick, but recently there has been a tendency to "rejuvenate" the disease. Symptoms of juvenile or juvenile osteochondrosis have become common.
The reasons
The causes of osteochondrosis can be different and depend on which part of the body is damaged. After any injury, the normal structure of the spine, the coccyx is disturbed and the process of salt deposition and destruction of the disc structure begins. People who are overweight, sedentary lifestyles and athletes are susceptible to this.
During pregnancy, the risk of illness increases due to weight gain and lack of vitamins. Lymph nodes also enlarge during pregnancy. The heart, other organs suffer from it, and in combination with osteochondrosis, it is very dangerous. The load on the shoulder, knee, neck and tailbone increases.
With age, almost all people suffer from osteochondrosis of the spine. Professions associated with a long stay in a sitting position, monotonous movements pose a threat to the neck, lower back and tailbone. The following conditions affect the occurrence of the disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- the course of pregnancy;
- endocrine, infectious diseases;
- poisoning or exposure to drugs, toxic and chemical substances;
- eating disorder, lifestyle.
In addition to the spine, there are often cases of osteochondrosis of the joints. The pathology is dangerous for the knee, elbow, shoulder joint, coccyx. When considering osteochondrosis of the knee joint, it is worth paying attention to causes such as obesity or malnutrition, a lifestyle associated with excessive loads on the legs, as well as injuries or inflammatory processes in the body.
The leg muscles bear enormous loads, unlike the joints, so the latter suffer more often.
Symptoms of elbow joint damage can be seen along with current osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic region. Often the pathology is combined with arthritis or arthrosis. Injury and constant overexertion of the elbow joint are predisposing factors.
Due to the constant movements of the neck and head, as well as the hands, over time, the joints begin to wear out, salt deposits appear. This leads to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and shoulder joint. The causes can be congenital, by compression of the nerve plexuses in the shoulder region, or by external factors. Injuries to the neck, shoulder blades, or hands cause osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the spine
Osteochondrosis of the spine occurs in different departments. The most common is lumbar pathology. The disease is associated with severe stress on the lower back and is dangerous because of the threat of pinching the sciatic nerve and the formation of hernias.
There are symptoms such as aching pain, worse at night or during exercise. It is difficult to find the right position during sleep and at rest. There may be "lumbago" of the lower back or impaired sensation of the legs, especially of the knee joint, coccyx. When exacerbated, the lymph nodes become inflamed.
The tailbone area is often affected, making it difficult to sit properly. If the sciatic nerve in the coccyx area is inflamed, the pain goes down to the lower extremities, buttocks, up to the knee joint. To relieve pain, it is best for the person to get into a comfortable position and drink antispasmodics, relaxants, or pain relievers.
During pregnancy, osteochondrosis of the lower back sometimes makes vaginal delivery difficult. Then you need to do the operation. Antispasmodics are taken during this period with care not to harm the fetus.
In diseases of the spine, doctors use the identification of specific symptoms for diagnosis - the Lasegue symptom. For a neuropathologist, Lasegue's symptom is important in determining the extent of the disease.
Lasegue's symptom is always performed when a neurological disorder is suspected. With the Lasegue method, the doctor slowly lifts the leg into a straightened state, not allowing the knee to bend. Lasegue's sign is tested in three phases by flexing and extending the leg. Based on the appearance of pain in certain postures. During pregnancy, the Lasegue method is not performed.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is often combined with injuries to the shoulder and elbow joints. There are pains in the neck, in the head, spread to the shoulder blades and arms, pains in the heart appear. They are bought with antispasmodics. There is noise in the ears, vision deteriorates.
The pain is aggravated by movement of the neck, head, or shoulder blade. In the acute period, lymph nodes may be affected, muscle pain in the neck and elbow joint may occur. Then urgent treatment is needed to avoid complications in the heart, brain, blood vessels.
The patient is constantly tormented by the question: how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis and correctly position the head on the pillow?
This is especially true for women during pregnancy. Only antispasmodics and treatment help.
Pathology of the thoracic region is less common. Symptoms of pain in the heart, shoulder area, shoulder girdle, neck are recorded. Lymph nodes are inflamed, sometimes because of the pain it is impossible to lift your hands, take a deep breath. Osteochondrosis is often confused with heart pain. If you take antispasmodics, pain in the muscles, the heart goes away. If the disease is in an advanced stage, antispasmodics do not always help and the following symptoms come together:
- violation of the sensitivity of the legs;
- increased pain at night, with movement, breathing;
- burning sensation, itching in the heart, scapular area, along the ribs.
Often, in practice, osteochondrosis affects several parts of the spine. Symptoms during pregnancy are especially unpleasant, when taking antispasmodics is undesirable. Timely rescues started treatment.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes performing hardware studies, questioning and examining the patient. It is important to pay attention to specific signs like Lasegue's symptom. To exclude pathology in the heart and other internal organs, ultrasound, ECG is performed. X-rays, MRI, CT scans are performed to examine the spine.
The treatment of osteochondrosis must be long and complex. Treatment is divided into symptomatic therapy and rehabilitation. Against pain, muscle relaxants, NSAIDs, analgesics, antispasmodics are prescribed. Muscle relaxants can not only relieve pain for a long time, but also improve mobility. Relaxants are of peripheral and central action. Which drug to choose, the doctor decides.
Treatment includes a combination of physical therapy, massage, reflexology. Treatment allows manual therapy, banks, ointments and folk methods.
Osteochondrosis of the joints
Often there are diseases of the elbow, knee, shoulder joint. Osteochondrosis of the knee joint often occurs in pregnant women and is accompanied by pain and limited mobility. The elbow joint is characterized by symptoms such as pain during movement, swelling, deformity. Incorrectly chosen hand posture brings discomfort and pain. In the affected area, the lymph nodes become inflamed. Also, the lymph nodes can hurt not only in the affected area, but also capture the adjacent lymph nodes.
To diagnose correctly, X-rays, CT scans, MRIs are used, they are examined, palpated and the Lasegue symptom is checked. To restore the function of muscles and joints, complex treatment is required. You need massage, TRE, antispasmodics, NSAIDs, relaxants. In advanced cases, an operation is performed. But first, conservative treatment is always prescribed, especially during pregnancy.