Spinal osteochondrosis: classification and treatment of diseases

Osteochondrosisis ​​a disease in modern society.

Lack of motivation and malnutrition can cause pathological changes in the spine.

Sternal osteochondrosis is much less than cervical and lumbar spine.

This is due to the low mobility of this part of the spine.

According to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10), the code of the disease is M42.

The essence of pathology

Thoracic osteochondrosis is a dystrophic change of spinal cartilage and bone tissue. The disease affects men and women between 25 and 50 years of age. The hidden danger of the disease is that the symptoms are "disguised" as signs of other diseases (cardiovascular or gastric disease), therefore, it is too late to diagnose sternal osteochondrosis.

Disease development algorithm:

• Under the influence of unfavorable factors, the nucleus of the intervertebral disc becomes thin and flat.
• The adjacent vertebrae are close to each other, and a focal point of inflammation appears between them.
• The joint capsule is stretched and the mobility of the spine is reduced.
• The spinal cord nerve root is squeezed.
• Compression of the spinal cord.
• The bone tissue of the vertebrae grows and bony processes (osteophytes) appear.

According to the degree of vertebral disease, the disease is divided into four stages

Phase 1	The vertebrae have no changes in expression and no obvious symptoms. At this stage, the treatment effect is good: damaged tissue can be restored.
Phase 2	This stage is characterized by microcracks in the vertebrae and impaired mobility. The vertebrae begin to move relative to each other. Treatment requires a lot of energy and time.
Phase 3	The intervertebral disc becomes thinner to the point of herniation and hernia. Mobility is minimized. At this stage, nerves are squeezed and the work of internal organs is destroyed. If treatment is not started, it will lead to disability.
Phase 4	The intervertebral disc is completely thinned, the function of the spine is destroyed, and the destruction of bone tissue is in progress. Nervous symptoms are obvious.

Sternal osteochondrosis has a wavy characteristic, that is, the remission period and the exacerbation period alternate.

Reason

So far,has not yet determined the exact cause of the disease. In medicine, there are many theories on this subject, but no one theory can accurately explain why spinal cartilage degeneration begins. The main "culprit" is walking upright.

takes predisposing factors into consideration:

• Heredity.
• Congenital spinal deformity.
• Infectious diseases.
• Obesity.
• Fluid dynamics.
• Stay in one position for a long time.
• Unbalanced diet, lack of vitamins and minerals.
• Injured back.
• Age-related changes.
• Large-scale sports events (during sports or work).
• Flat feet.
• Pregnant.
• Prolonged stress.
• Smoking.

Consequences

Without treatment, the consequences of osteochondrosis can be catastrophic.Degenerative changes caused the appearance of spinal hernias. Nervecompression can cause loss of sensation in the limbs. The most serious complication is paralysis of the arms or legs.

In addition,will destroy the work of all internal organs and systems: cardiovascular, urinary, and digestive systems. The patient developed vegetative vascular dystonia. The fact is that the blood vessels in the spinal cord are compressed and the oxygen supply to the brain is interrupted. Patients will continue to experience headaches, panic attacks, and sleep disturbances. Intercostal neuralgia is also a result of osteochondrosis.

Symptoms

The first symptom of the disease istension in the back muscles. Then there was a dull pain in the back. The rest of the manifestations may be similar to the signs of other diseases, therefore, chest osteochondrosis is called "chameleon".

The main symptoms of the disease are:

• "Chicken Skin ump";
Chest pain;
• Shoot pain between the shoulder blades, especially when turning the body;
• dizziness;
• Fainted;
• Pain that compresses the heart area;
• Swelling of hands and feet;
• Numbness in the hands;
• Indigestion;
• Decreased sexual function;
• Short-term acute pain in the rib area;
• Fatigue, decreased performance;
• General discomfort.

Diagnosis

The doctor can make a diagnosis by conducting a comprehensive examination.

It is important to distinguish osteochondrosis from other skeletal system diseases, such as:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis;
• Poliomyelitis;
• Spondylopathy.

Exclude visceral diseases:

• ischemia;
• Heart attack;
• Gastritis;
• stomach ulcer;
• Pancreatitis;
• Kidney stones;
• Pyelonephritis;
• Tumor.

Laboratory and instrumental methods for diagnosis:

• Blood test. White blood cells and ESR increased slightly.
• Blood test of electrolytes. When suffering from osteochondrosis, serum calcium levels decrease.
• Routine urine analysis.
• Blood Biochemistry.
• X-ray of the spine. Allows you to detect deformation of intervertebral discs, displacement of vertebrae, and the presence of hernias.
• MRI. With the help of layer-by-layer images, the degree of degenerative changes in the spine can be determined.
• Myelography. This is an X-ray examination of the spine using contrast. Allows you to assess the state of blood flow in the spinal vessels.

Treatment

The treatment of this disease is carried out on an outpatient basis. For this, conservative methods are used.Treatment targets:

• relieve pain;
• Reduce inflammation;
• Eliminate compression of nerve endings;
• Restore cartilage tissue.

If the patient is in severe pain, it is necessary to provide him with bed rest. For severe pain syndromes, neocaine blockade is performed. At the same time, put the dropper with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

The drugs include the following drugs:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs	Depending on the severity, these products can be used as injections, tablets or ointments.
Painkiller	-
Muscle relaxants	Use if the back muscles spasm.
Cartilage Protector	Restore cartilage tissue.
Diuretics	Reduce edema.
Group B vitamins	For overall strengthening of the muscles of the back, spine and central nervous system

In the third and fourth stages of the disease, treatment is more severe. Prescription hormone drugs.

MassageEnhance the tension of the back muscles and relieve pain.The following types of massage were used:

• Classic;
• embellishment;
• Canned food.

PhysiotherapyIt is stipulated in the remission phase and performed under the supervision of experts. These exercises are designed to strengthen muscle corsets, increase spine mobility and reduce nerve root compression. The patient's metabolism improves.

PhysiotherapyIt has a good therapeutic effect, especially in the 1-2 period. It is recommended that courses be conducted several times a year to prevent the illness from getting worse. They use magnetic therapy, laser irradiation, ultrasound, and electrophoresis.

Manual therapyis ​​an irreplaceable method for treating osteochondrosis. Restore blood circulation and improve the nutrition of spine tissue. The qualifications of experts are very important.

Spinal tractionis ​​a controversial method. On the contrary, some doctors believe that this will aggravate the patient's condition. The essence of traction is to use special equipment to increase the intervertebral space. In any case, this method must be used with caution.

Acupuncture. The influence on the activity point can not only relieve pain, but also balance the patient's psychology.

After a special diet. Suppose that the diet of animal fats decreases and the diet of plant foods increases. Nutrition should be balanced to provide the body with vitamins and minerals.

The therapeutic effect can be obtained by combining several treatment methods. If there is no effect of conservative treatment, surgical treatment will be extremely rare.

Prediction and prevention

The prognosis of the disease depends on the degree of spinal disease.It is impossible to completely cure the disease in 2-4 stages. The correct choice of therapy can only relieve inflammation and stop the progression of the disease. Through appropriate treatment, remission can be reached, and it must be maintained through preventive methods.

Prevention of osteochondrosis is:

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle;
• Observe proper nutrition;
• Eliminate excessive physical exertion;
• Avoid being in one position for a long time;
• lose weight;
• Treat infectious diseases promptly.

Conclusion

Sternal osteochondrosisis ​​a serious disease that "gets younger" every year. Since the spine is minimally active in the initial stage, the disease does not manifest itself.

The symptoms are not specific, so other internal organ diseases are suspected. It is important to make a differential diagnosis in order to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

The disease uses conservative methodsin combination. If serious complications occur, surgery is extremely rare. Without proper treatment, the internal organs of the patient will be destroyed and the quality of life will be greatly deteriorated.

You can choose appropriate treatment and adhere to preventive measures to help avoid adverse consequences.