Recommend

Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a destructive degenerative lesion of the column, which includes the defeat of the bodies of the vertebrae, the joint apparatus, the ligamentary apparatus and the intervertebral discs. This disease is common enough in all countries: from 45 to 85% of the population suffers from this disease. The beginning of osteochondrosis occurs in patients over 30-35 years, however, cases of a previous start of the disease are known. Men and women get sick with approximately the same frequency.

Causes

Osteochondrosis

There is no unified cause of osteochondrosis development. There are a lot of predisposing causal factors. The main ones are the following:

  • Column injuries (fractures, bruises, dislocations);
  • Hereditary predisposition;
  • Foot diseases that cause an overload of the column: this includes flat feet, variety of foot, deformation of the feet;
  • Use near and uncomfortable shoes for a long time (it also causes column overload);
  • Overweight and obesity;
  • Changes related to age;
  • Sedentary lifestyle;
  • Athletes that abruptly abandon their training and classes;
  • Metabolic disorders;
  • Spinal curvature (kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis);
  • Professional characteristics: weightlifting, frequent and idiots of the body, work in an uncomfortable body position;
  • Frequent and prolonged hypothermia;
  • Stress;
  • A specific climate, both in the place of residence and in the workplace: low air temperatures and high humidity.

When exposed to one or more causal factors, the development of the disease begins. It is customary to divide it into four main stages:

  • The first stage. There is a decrease in the amount of humidity in the nucleus of the intervertebral disc, it becomes flatter, the distance between the vertebrae decreases. The cartilage is covered with minor cracks.
  • The second stage. Due to the reduction in the distance between the vertebrae, the muscle and ligament apparatus of the vertebrae occurs. This leads to the pathological mobility of vertebral bodies, to their displacements.
  • The third stage. Due to the progressive processes in the spine, the site (protuberance) of the intervertebral discs occurs, the subluxation of the vertebrae occurs.
  • The fourth stage. Among the vertebrae, bone picos (osteophyte) appear, which are destined to eliminate the mobility of the vertebrae, the prevention of dislocations. Over time, there are so many of them that affected vertebrae completely lose their mobility. In this case, there is a trauma of blood vessels and nerves that pass near the vertebrae and leave the spinal column.

In the first and last stages of the disease of clinical manifestations (pain), the patient does not have.

Classification

There are many classifications of osteochondrosis. Each doctor chooses the most acceptable to himself. The following classifications are used more frequently:

Classification on column defeat:

  • Cervical osteochondrosis;
  • Thoracic osteochondrosis;
  • Lumbar osteochondrosis;
  • Coronation osteochondrosis;
  • Extensive (common) osteochondrosis: affects 2 or more spine.

Classification by the degree of change in the intervertebral disc (radiological stages):

  • 0 stage: there is no disc change;
  • First stage: minor changes, including maximum internal tears;
  • 2 stages: severe changes on the disc while the external surface is maintained;
  • Stage 3: The complete album is completely affected (cracks with the external surface, squeezing the disc under the bodies of the vertebrae, etc. ).

Classification by clinical manifestations and degree of deteriorated spinal operation:

  • First stage: the functioning of the column does not change, the patient feels a slight pain in the injury;
  • 2 Stages: The functioning of the column is altered (subluxuses of the vertebral bodies, the protuberance of the disc, the pinched of the nerves) are produced, the pain in the site of destruction intensifies;
  • Stage 3: The column is deforms, intervertebral discs are produced, significant pain;
  • Stage 4: The patient is difficult to move, the mobility of the column decreases, pain during the slightest movement. The patient is given disabilities.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis

Symptoms of osteochondrosis

The symptoms of osteochondrosis depend on the area of damage to the column and the degree of disorders that occur in it.

For the expanded clinical image of the osteochondrosis of the cervical column, the following signs are characteristic:

  • Violation of visual acuity;
  • Dizziness;
  • Tinnitus;
  • Flashing "fly" in front of the eyes and the appearance of colored spots;
  • Hearing loss;
  • Headache in the neck, the temporal and parietal region, intensifying when moving the cervical column;
  • Loss of consciousness;
  • Snore;
  • Ronco de la Voz or its weakening;
  • Numbness and loss of sensitivity in the skin of the face, neck and hands;
  • Dental destruction;
  • Blood pressure board.

For the osteochondrosis of the thoracic column, the following symptoms are characteristic:

  • Heart pain, which lasts a long time, hurting or pressing, often sharp, sewing, sharp, patients may show a specific pain point;
  • Numbness of the skin in the chest, the abdomen and the back;
  • Column pain, especially among the shoulder blades, strongly expressed;
  • Pain when lifting your hands;
  • Pain with acute and deep breathing, and then join when exhaling;
  • Pain, discomfort and difficulties during body inclinations in any direction.

The following symptoms are characteristic of the osteochondrosis of the lumbar and sacred column:

  • Pain in the area of the lumbar and sacred column (lumbalgia), which can give in one or both legs, intensifying with any movement of the column in the affected area;
  • The legs freeze at a comfortable temperature for other parts of the body;
  • Almost constant tension in the back muscles, especially the lumbar region;
  • A feeling of numbness, spending the skin of chicken and tingling on the skin of the legs and buttocks;
  • Varicose veins in the legs;
  • Violation of power in men;
  • Greater sweating;
  • Paleness of the skin on the legs;
  • Irregular menstruation in women.

With prolonged and careless osteochondrosis, when the affected vertebrae fuses with each other, the patient is only concerned about the impossibility of movements in a particular backbone, pain, as a rule, decreases or the leaves completely.

Diagnosis

First, the doctor performs a survey and an examination of the patient, establishing a preliminary diagnosis. For confirmation, additional exam methods are assigned. With osteochondrosis, they are only instrumental, because the laboratory (tests) will not show any confirmation change.

The main diagnostic methods include the following:

  • X -ray exam. It allows you to determine the degree of damage to the vertebrae, its location, bone formations. By indirect methods, you can determine the condition of bone channels and intervertebral discs;
  • Computed tomography (CT). It allows you to determine the condition of the intervertebral discs, their structure and form, the deformation of the vertebrae and the compression of the terminations and nerve roots;
  • Magnetic resonance images (MRI). It allows you to determine smaller violations in the spine and is prescribed in cases where controversial problems remain the TC post;
  • Ultrasound procedure. It allows you to identify the degree of blood flow in the vessels that feed the spinal cord and other organs;
  • MyelographyThe column radiography method using a contrast matter. It allows you to identify intervertebral hernias.

Osteochondrosis treatment

Conservative treatment

In the treatment of osteochondrosis, conservative treatment methods are mainly used. In this case, the approach of each patient must be individual and complex. Conservative treatment methods can be divided into 4 main groups:

  • Pharmacological treatment;
  • Physiotherapy;
  • SPA treatment;
  • Diet (basic concepts of adequate nutrition).

Pharmacological treatment of osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis treatment

The medications used in the treatment of osteochondrosis should be used during periods of exacerbations. They contribute to a decrease in symptoms and also affect some causal factors in the development of the disease. The main groups of drugs used in the treatment of osteochondrosis:

  • NSAID. Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory medications have anesthetic, anti -inflammatory effects, and also reduce the high temperature of the affected tissues of the column and their structures. With pronounced symptoms, the first days of exacerbation of the disease are prescribed in the form of injections. The frequency of use is 1-2 times a day. After that, they change to the forms of medicines of medicines with a treatment rate of 10-30 days, if necessary. The admission frequency is 1 to 4 times a day. In addition, together with tablets and injections, ointments or creams are shown, which apply to the skin in the column area 1-3 times a day.
  • Musorelaxantes. The preparations for this group make a large poster with the increase in muscle tone, relaxing the transversely broken muscle fibers and facilitating the patient's condition. On average, the treatment course is approximately 1 month. With serious symptoms, treatment begins with drug injection forms. The dose should begin with a minimum, gradually increasing until the therapeutic effect is achieved, after which it also gradually reduces to the complete cancellation.

Several more groups are used as additional medications:

  • VitaminsAccelerate tissue restoration processes, normalize nerve conductivity, accelerate metabolism, etc. Almost always these medications for osteochondrosis are prescribed in the form of injections, courses for 10 days. These are vitamins B1, B2, B6, E.
  • Blood preparationsThese drugs normalize blood flow in the veins and arteries, restore the muscle tone of blood vessels and restore metabolism. Most of the time, forms of tablets are used. The duration of treatment with these agents is 1 to 3 months. In addition, in extreme cases, drug injection is possible during the first 5-10 days, with the transition after the tablets.
  • Glucocorticosteroids. They have anti -inflammatory and decongestant effects, improve the work of NSAIDs and muscle relaxants. Depending on the severity of the patient's condition, they are prescribed in the form of injections intramuscularly or intrafast, or in the form of tablets for oral administration. The treatment course is selected individually, several days to several weeks. The abolition of the drug should take place with a gradual decrease in the dose.
  • Biogenic stimulants. Accelerate metabolism, stimulate tissue restoration, reduce inflammation and swelling of tissues and much more. It is used more often in the form of injection and somewhat less common in the form of tablets or other forms for oral administration. The treatment course can vary from 1 week to 2-3 months, depending on the seriousness of the disease.

Physiotherapeutic treatment of osteochondrosis

Physiotherapeutic measures, combined with medications, allow you to accelerate recovery processes and also extend the referral period when used outside exacerbations. There are many physiotherapy methods and most of them are well practiced in the treatment of osteochondrosis:

  • ElectrophoresisDepending on the drug used in this procedure, an analgesic effect is obtained. Metabolism improved and normalization of blood flow in affected tissues.
  • Acupuncture (acupuncture). With the help of special needles of the best and their effects on the active points located on the patient's skin, an analgesic effect is achieved, recovery and metabolic processes are stimulated and inflammation decreases.
  • MagnetotherapyReduces pain, swelling and inflammation of tissues, accelerates nerve conductivity, normalizes metabolic processes
  • Manual therapyMobility is restored in column joints, pain syndrome is reduced.
  • Massage. Normalizes muscle tone, eliminates back pain, restores nerve conductivity.
  • Exercise therapy. Restoring the mobility of the spine, a decrease in pain, the restoration of the usual lifestyle, strengthening the muscle frame of the back, the relaxation of the muscles of the back, the acceleration of metabolism.
  • The traction of the spine. The mobility of the spine is restored, avoids the progression of the disease and the development of complications, and anesthesia.
  • Laser therapy. Improves the blood supply, stimulates tissue regeneration, reduces pain and inflammation, reduces swelling column swelling.
  • ThermotherapyAnesthetic effect, normalization of blood flow and lymph through blood vessels, a decrease in tissue inflammation, acceleration of cartilage restoration.
  • Mudreing (therapy with peloid). It reduces pain in the column, reduces muscle spasm, slightly reduces inflammation processes, improves blood supply and metabolism.

A patient can be prescribed for 1 physiotherapeutic event and its complex. It depends on the seriousness of the Osteochondrosis process and accompanying pathologies. The duration of the treatment course on average is 10-15 days. It is recommended to repeat from 3 to 4 times during the year. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the frequency of exacerbations and the progression rate of osteochondrosis several times.