Osteochondrosis should be taken seriously. Only non -initiates think this is a simple disease that is easy to deal with without the help of an expert. For effective treatment, you should comprehensively address the problem. Delete large loads, take a measured lifestyle, eat correctly and do special exercises. In the acute phase, support for medicines and constant supervision of a doctor will be required.
Osteochondrosis - What is it?
Dystrophic processes that lead to a partial or complete change in intervertebral discs. The vertebrae, contracting, crushing discs that, under the influence of cargo, infections, malnutrition, lose their elasticity. Cleaning, the discs begin to crush nerve endings, which causes unbearable pain. The disease at an early stage does not cause serious problems, but the sooner the patient becomes a specialist, the more effective treatment will be.
At the beginning of the disease, minor changes in the spine occur. Osteochondrosis is unnoticed. Small pains appear in different parts of the spine that signaling degenerative-distribution processes on discs.
If you do not immediately start treatment, the process can become irreversible and transfer to the vertebrae tissue. Disc dystrophy leads to a gradual weakening of external fibrous rings. Patients with osteochondrosis usually face complications such as protrusion and vertebral hernia.
Studies conducted regularly in this area provide disappointing statistical data. People over thirty often face spine disease, 70% of patients suffer from different forms of osteochondrosis. This is a neurological disease that affects intervertebral compound ligaments. It is accompanied by acute pain, peak pressure and other symptoms that usually do not allow people to carry a family lifestyle and work normally.
Osteochondrosis does not occur for no reason, markedly, with acute pain. The first symptoms are insignificant and discreet. With an unexpected deterioration in the well, the appearance of unpleasant sensations in the passing spine, do not neglect the signs of the body. You must immediately consult a doctor to advise and undergo a complete exam. Opposite treatment will help to avoid serious complications.
Important. Neglecting the treatment and tips of doctors, you can find a protrusion or separation of a part of the disc - a hernia, in which part of the Pulpic nucleus is hung on the cephalorean channel and may cause paralysis, the infraction of nerve endings expressed in unquestionable pain.
There are several types of osteochondrosis, named after location and position of pain in the spine.
- Cervical
- Thoracic
- Lumbar.
In the exam, the expert will determine the degree of injury, the exposure site and choose the complex treatment method. The efficacy of treatment of osteochondrosis depends largely on the exact observance of all prescriptions of the attending physician.
Causes
After numerous in -depth studies, experts have come to the conclusion that the main reason for the appearance of osteochondrosis is an unequal distribution of cargo in different parts of the spine column. The root cause can be intensive work under unusual conditions, a long session in one position, heavy loads during sports training and blows. The result of an unexpected or prolonged load in a particular area of the column is a gradual change in the structure of intervertebral discs.
Among the main causes of appearance and gradual development of the disease, several basics can be distinguished:
- Hereditary changes in body development, leading to the appearance of osteochondrosis.
- Endocrine system diseases, a failure in the work of metabolic processes.
- Inadequate development of the skeletal-muscular system, leading to pathological changes in the body.
- Any back injuries, lower back, falling neck, training, clear loads, strikes.
- Cheap lifestyle, heavy by malnutrition.
- Osteochondrosis is an unchanged satellite of overweight people who suffer from obesity.
- Alcohol and nicotine abuse necessarily leads to the destruction of intervertebral discs.
- Constant psychological and physical effort, stress and over work become the root cause of intervertebral cartilage dystrophy.
- Women in different stages of pregnancy usually find manifestations of osteochondrosis.
The scarce of the spine muscles that supports the spine is more durable by the representatives of the strong half of humanity. Women with large big breasts and sports practitioners will necessarily collide with cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis.
The development of osteochondrosis
No disease occurs for no reason and begins immediately. The body always passes step by step changes. The disease has four main stages you need to know to consult a doctor for help.
- Gradually, the onset of dystrophic changes in intervertebral cartilage nuclei usually occur imperceptibly. Disc dehydration becomes the root cause of the occurrence of micro -swallows, loss of elasticity and cartilage thickening. Often people at this stage feel a little discomfort with a long session in a pose or with intensive charge.
- The second stage is difficult to not notice. The degenerative change in the tissue leads to the appearance of protrusion. The fibrous capsule is destroyed and spinal space is reduced. The result will be pinching nerve endings, the appearance of acute pain in individual back sections. Pain syndrome is actively expressed for any inclination, clear twists and running. Osteochondrosis is accompanied by a strong loss of performance and the appearance of weakness in the body.
- Complete or partial abrasion of intervertebral cartilage due to osteochondrosis. The tissue thinning is perfectly noticeable during the radiography. The symptoms of the disease are pronounced and can lead to partial paralysis. It is impossible to relieve pain and you should resort to injections and other drugs in the disease fireplace. Only powerful drugs and complete help of peace.
- This is the last stage, characteristic of the complete destruction of intervertebral cartilage. A complex violation of the neurological system, leading to the appearance of bone growths at the cartilage site. Joint mobility is completely disturbed. Osteophytes are able to hurt the nerve endings of the vertebrae and bone segments. In this phase of treatment, the help of a surgeon may be required.
Osteochondrosis symptoms
Osteochondrosis is a pathological change in the tissues of the cartilage of the spine connection discs. Degenerative-distribution changes occur for various reasons and lead to the formation of ligament and intervertebral disks disease. During osteochondrosis, soft tissues and nerve endings are violated. The vessels and nerve endings, which are close to the fireplace, experience serious changes, which causes severe pain and violation of nutrient supply.
The main symptoms speak of the development of osteochondrosis
It must be aware of any change, even insignificant in the body. The faster preventive measures of influence on the emerging focus of the disease, the more effective treatment will be.
- There are pain in the neck, chest, lower back and ribs.
- There is rigidity of movements during shifts, slopes and quick walking, running. When lifting weights, short -term pains appear.
- Hands and legs lose their sensitivity, drive and swell.
- The chills appear even at high temperatures on the street. Lomota at the lower and upper ends.
- Unexpected and very painful cramps of the legs and arms muscles.
- A dysfunction pronounced in the work of the genitals appears, capable of causing serious psychological injuries.
- The appearance of dizziness and sharp headaches.
- Acute pain in the chest area, strongly reminiscent of the heart attack.
- The fingertips are partial or totally or sensitive.
- Secure muscle hypotension.
- A sharp decrease in performance, high fatigue, loss of visual acuity.
Characteristic symptoms of disease development in different parts of the spine;
Cervical. Sharp and rapid pain in the shoulders and arms, the appearance of nausea, dizziness and acute migraine attacks can signal the disease. Inexplicable pressure presumptions that are not related to the operation of the cardiovascular system.
The appearance of constant noise in the ears, stars before your eyes speak of the problems of the cervical spine. The elderly can suddenly lose consciousness when walking.
Thoracic. The appearance of sharp pain in front of the chest body, stomach, between the ribs. Breathing becomes more frequent and difficult. Pressure weight in the chest area. Acute pain in the shoulder blades during shifts, movement and inclinations. Gastrointestinal tract disorder. Pancreatitis, swelling, diarrhea attacks. Members are unexpectedly numb and people may lose their balance when walking. Weakness appears, a feeling of shaking under the skin appears.
Lumbar. The appearance of growing increasing pain in the lower back. She can give in to one leg, leading to a loss of balance when moving. There is unpleasant tingling at the lower ends, even during rest. When sloping, it is difficult to straighten without outside help. Violation in the work of the genitourinary system.
Possible complications
Partial or complete destruction of intervertebral ties leads to the development of numerous chronic diseases. Even a slight spine pain, which appeared unexpectedly and also disappeared quickly, should make a person undergo a complete exam. This will help identify outbreaks of the origin of the disease and with the help of preventive means to avoid further development of the disease.
Ignoring the first signs, you can face more serious problems:
- The appearance of clear and prolonged pain in the head, migraine and dizziness.
- Cervical spine problems can lead to strong vision loss.
- Often, hearing loss is a consequence of a violation of the upper spine.
- The development of osteochondrosis can cause autonomic dysfunction.
- Problems in the lower back lead to a clear exacerbation of diseases of the genitourinary system.
- Great loads and lack of systemic treatment become the cause of intervertebral hernia.
- People face diseases such as lumbago, spondylartrose, lumbalgia.
- Long -term development of unqualified non -treatment osteochondrosis leads to stenosis of vertebral channels.
It is necessary to clearly understand that any disorders in the work of the spine will necessarily lead to the development of more complex chronic diseases of the internal organs. Damage to vascular fried beams complicates the rhythm of the organs, violate the supply of the necessary amount of nutrition and the removal of toxins and toxins.
This negatively affects the whole body. Damaged cells and toxins that accumulate in tissues inside stimulate the development of malignant formations. Suddenly you can find that excellent health has suffered serious damage caused by mild pain in the lower back, back or neck.
Osteochondrosis exacerbation phase
People are faced with a sharp deterioration in their health in spring at the bottom of the spine. This may be due to the lack of the necessary number of minerals and vitamins. Clear physical loads and temperature changes on the street. In winter, the thoracic region suffers above all. Due to infectious diseases, hypothermia and irrational nutrition. In the cervical department, a sedentary lifestyle or work in a position sitting above all. In the first symptoms, you need to use ointments, try to get rid of cramps and edema as soon as possible. An immediate appeal to an expert will help deal with osteochondrosis effectively. When using strong edema, using diuretics, be sure to take drugs containing potassium and calcium.
Diagnosis
The doctor who is approached by a patient with sharp pain in the spine should take several steps sequentially
- Hang -up Collection. Conducting a detailed conversation with the patient. The goal is to clarify the main causes of the occurrence of the disease. When the most striking attacks arise, which implied the occurrence of pain. Individual characteristics of the course of the disease "osteochondrosis".
- A complete personal examination by a specialist. An examination of the skin is performed for the presence of a rash and edema. The flexibility of the joints and the severity of the reflexes are verified. Palpation of a painful area will help locate problematic points and find exacerbation. Percussion with special fingers or tools helps determine the radiation of pain. Tingling with needles, the degree of sensitivity in different parts of the body is determined.
To get the most complete image of the body condition and identify hidden outbreaks, a hardware examination must be applied, which necessarily includes:
- Diagnosis using an X -ray. The image of the affected area allows you to immediately notice the narrowing of the gap allowed between the thorny vertebrae. The drying of intervertebral discs is clearly visible at root X.
- MRI, modern technology that guarantees precise diagnosis of diseases in the department of the spine. The use of resonance tomography magnetically helps determine and locate the place of intervertebral hernia formation.
- Computed tomography in its meaning and effectiveness is not much different from magnetic resonance imaging. The only disadvantage is an increase in radiation load, so CT is not recommended to use children.