Osteochondrosis: treatment, symptoms, signs, causes

This is another pathology that is considered to be age-related, but usually not related to age.

For example, the fact that more than half of osteochondrosis patients worldwide notice the first signs of its development at the age of 25. Yes, no one thought that old age would come so quickly. . . Some people think that these years are mature, some people are more accustomed to calling them almost adolescence, and for some people, 60 does not seem to be the cause of physical discomfort. But everyone will definitely agree that for the aging process, to put it mildly, it is not an age.

What's the problem? In fact, it is multifaceted and may seem complicated to the uninitiated. But it's actually nothing complicated. In the herniated part of the intervertebral disc, we say that its content is water in which protein has been dissolved, right? Therefore, all osteochondrosis, along with its speed, severity, and treatment plan, are actually based on these proteins. What do we mean? Everything will be clear now.

The proteins in the "filler" of the intervertebral disc are called glycosaminoglycans. Maybe we don’t need to remember this name.

But we absolutely need to remember that the main purpose of glycosaminoglycans is to retain water. In addition, it may be gradually released under pressure. In other words, the jelly-like protein of the "filling" of the optical disc is made so that the water is heated in a static state and gradually squeezed out under load.

Of course, the water itself is too fluid to do such a thing. This is why the body synthesizes special proteins-unique! Carrageenan, gum, starch and other food gelling agents analogs.

In order to keep the contents of the intervertebral disc (we remember it as the basis of its cushioning properties) in order, we need to live our lives:

• Monitor our diet to avoid lack of important substances, especially protein;
• Avoid back muscle spasms;
• Maintain the active circulation of cerebrospinal fluid and blood, and normalize the metabolic process of spinal tissue;
• Avoid damage and infection of spinal tissue;
• Maintain the water and salt metabolism rate in the body.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis

So, in the beginning, our backs will start "tap dancing" with the beat of each of our actions. However, for a long time, this crunch can only be heard. In the future, there will be a period of feeling-constant pulling, soreness and discomfort in the area affected by osteochondrosis. They let themselves feel rested, and as they exercise, they gradually increase. Subjectively, the patient notices that the joints affected by this process seem to fatigue faster than other joints. Therefore, as fatigue intensifies, soreness also intensifies.

But this is of course far from over, although it is no longer the beginning. After all, the condition of the intervertebral disc has not improved, and as the disease prolongs, the condition of the cartilage will deteriorate, and quickly. Over time, sit-ups themselves become painful.

Every such sound is now accompanied by a dull pain in the place where it appears and in any type of tissue nearby. It seems to propagate in the form of a broad wave of pain from one point of the joint-precisely according to the law of resonance.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

If we have a problem with our cervical spine, we may feel:

• Headaches that are resistant to standard treatment-dull, painful, throbbing, continuous and evenly distributed throughout the head. It coincides with an increase in neck pain, similar to headaches that occur when blood pressure rises. Usually, for osteochondrosis, excessive stress can cause headaches;
• Unmotivated dizziness attacks throughout the day: sudden changes in posture, head movement, tremors. Usually, dizziness occurs at the same time as the breathing rhythm-a dangerous "lightness" of the head appears every time you inhale, and it disappears when you exhale. This symptom means that the intracranial pressure is reduced at this time, rather than excessive as in the previous example. Usually, these two symptoms alternate in all patients with cervical osteochondrosis, appearing periodically and lasting for several days. Sometimes one replaces the other, sometimes they are separated by periods of relative stress;
• Pain in the neck, especially at the base of the skull. The initial manifestation is the faint discomfort during the day and the crunching sound when turning the head. But touching the spine in this area or trying to massage the muscles can cause muscle fiber soreness and stiffness. Later, the pain is permanent and worsens as the head turns to one side and bends toward the chest after sleeping on a high pillow or a pillow that is too soft;
• Chest pain (as if under the ribs), recovery of muscles under the shoulder blades, shoulders and upper chest. They are similar to the onset of angina or coronary artery disease, like the pain of a herniated disc, but are more permanent. For example, in cardiovascular diseases, pain rarely lasts more than a few hours and hardly depends on breathing rhythm. For osteochondrosis, it is constant and will increase with each breath, lasting for several days or longer;
• "Low back pain" runs along the entire line of the shoulder, usually down to the fingertips. Generally, depending on the degree of osteochondrosis, patients suffer from short-term "back pain" of the shoulder joint, or numbness along the entire inner surface of the shoulder joint and prolonged acute "back pain" at the same time. arm. As for the invasion of small neurons in the shoulder, it does not make itself feel rested, but worsens sharply with the first movement of the head after a long period of inactivity. Patients describe it as "discharge in the muscles of the spine and shoulders. Exposure to the hands is often accompanied by spasm of the wrist muscles and infringement of the sensitivity of the ring finger and little finger;
• Very often, although in all cases of cervical osteochondrosis, less than half of the people's tongue sensitivity and mobility will decrease. The patient may become unable to distinguish certain tastes (cannot distinguish bitter, sour, and sweet, but can easily tell mixed tastes). Some people report changes in wording, especially when they need to speak quickly and/or clearly.

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis

Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis:

• Chest pain, "somewhere under the ribs". Unlike coronary heart disease, patients find it difficult to determine their center more accurately. This pain is largely dependent on the breathing rhythm-it gets worse with inhalation and coughing. For all the uncertainty in the position of the chest, each such attack clearly echoes in the causal vertebrae/vertebrae. Among 99 cases out of 100 cases, the displaced vertebrae suffered the most damage;
• Sensitivity and mobility of the lung diaphragm-there is a feeling of incomplete inhalation and the inability to perform lower exhalation;
• Gastrointestinal pain and discomfort-especially the stomach, upper intestine, liver, and pancreas. The pain can range from mild, inaudible discomfort to obvious cramps. Therefore, thoracic osteochondrosis is often mistaken for stagnant gastritis, enteritis, colitis, and chronic pancreatitis.

Lumbar osteochondrosis symptoms

Lumbar osteochondrosis, also called low back pain (so we know it is one and the same), is the most common form of the disease.

With him, we will have:

• Sore waist, worsen when bending over, sitting or standing for a long time-in general, almost all body movements. Usually, it disturbs the patient at night because of the habit of sleeping on the back with the legs straight. It only subsides when it stays for a long time or when it is used to sleeping in a fetal position. In other words, keep your knees in front of your chest. Patients with lumbar osteochondrosis can quickly and voluntarily switch from a soft bed to a hard bed, because it is easier to keep the embryos on the hard floor overnight;
• Lumbar stiffness syndrome. This means that the inability to bend down quickly after standing or sitting for a long time is not related to pain, but is related to the general decrease in muscle extensibility and bone stiffness in the affected area; rapid numbness in the lumbar area when sitting or standing is related to the vertebraPosition related to acute invasion of nerve endings;
• Entrapment of the sciatic nerve (the main nerve trunk of the leg that enters the spine in the coccyx region). Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacrum is a type of sciatica, although it is not the only one. Although there are several other variants, sciatica is usually a painful complication of osteochondrosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

We have to receive treatment for a long time, so first of all we have to improve the quality of life on our back.

1. Let's remove the feather bed and feather pillow from the bed. Let's leave a main mattress and get an orthopedic pillow-dense, low, with a fixed depression in the middle. Usually, these pillows are made of filled polyester. Therefore, you need to make sure that it is not too soft-now it is harmful to us. And the possibility of it being "blown away" and turning into a flat pancake within a week is very high. The thickness of the roller along the edge should be equal to the length of our neck from the bottom of the skull to the 7th vertebra protruding when the head is tilted. It is even better if it is 1. 5-2 cm lower.
2. We will buy another pillow that is not too thick or use our old feathers with new quality. From now on, when lying on the back, we always need to put this pillow under the thighs or buttocks, and when the fetal position is sleeping, put this pillow under the upper knee. Let's experiment with the optimal height, width, and position of the pillow-putting the right thing in the right position will immediately eliminate the pain at the most prominent focal point of this particular position.
3. It is strictly forbidden to carry any items weighing more than 10 kg to prevent suffering from osteochondrosis. Therefore, any training should be carried out with us at your own weight or minimum weight. For any type of osteochondrosis, we'd better not do it ourselves, but go to the gym. This is in the gym, because aerobic exercise (treadmill, bicycle, skiing) is not the same as fitness. We now, in any case, need to organize our backs for extra support and work in exactly the same and correct body posture. The most suitable for this purpose is the simulator-a steel frame where we and the weight being lifted can only move within the limits of the structure.
4. After any fatigue (including regular walking upright), we should massage the back lightly and gently stretch it. It can be used to heat the areas where the back pain is particularly severe-of course, provided that the focus of the pain does not move with the change of posture. And because pain migration is a common phenomenon in osteochondrosis, sometimes a simple "five minutes" on a pad like the Lyapko applicator turns out to be five times more effective than any heating pad. After all, we really can't afford a warm mattress! Moreover, in the warm season, heating such a vast area is at risk of heatstroke. . .

If we understand all this, consider and ensure that we will not forget, we will activate the metabolic processes of our spine tissues. As mentioned earlier, people with osteochondrosis should not exercise at home. More precisely, people should not feel overwhelmed by this-it is best to work with a professional orthopedic surgeon or coach, where there are equipment that can compensate for the lack of strength in our spine. But, alas, not everyone has such an opportunity. We still dare to recommend some warm-up exercises to reduce the possibility of complications.

There is only one rule that should not be broken. That is: if we decide to do it ourselves, we definitely need to order or buy special medical bandages or corsets before we start training. A bandage used to securely fix the part of the back with pathological processes. You should only work in it to provide support for the problematic part of the spine, which is currently lacking.

so:

1. We will sit next to the table on a narrow, high-backed chair, and the lid of the table will rest on our stomachs. We must have firm support for the back of the head and the back of the head. Let us lean our entire back on the back of the chair, lean back, extend our arms, and slide them along the lid to the maximum. It is even necessary to relax a little and push the shoulder blades forward, but it is forbidden to tear the back of the head or back from the support. On the line where our palm stays at this position, an object weighing more than 10 kg should be placed. Its shape and surface should be comfortable, because then we need to gently pick up the object from below with the palm of the hand and pull it towards ourselves, instead of lifting it from the surface. You need to use your hand to move it, instead of using the effort of the shoulder blade muscles to move it, they are now trying to restore the forward stretched forearm to its normal position. As you can see, we are talking about a "domestic" rowing machine that has been slightly adjusted to meet our needs. More precisely, its modification means putting a simple weight on oneself. In any case, this exercise can well exercise the muscles in the middle of the back-between the shoulder blades and the latissimus dorsi. After we pull the heavy object towards us, it should move backwards, and the towing should be repeated 15 times.
2. Let us approach the table we are already familiar with and place our pelvis on the edge of the lid. Let us put our hands behind our heads, let our heads hang down, and let our foreheads rest on the table. At the same time, the back should not be round-we will round it later. Now, our task is to bend towards the table 15 times, with our back straight and our hands behind our heads. The correct posture of the body means that if we fall on the table in the future, we will be our entire face, not our forehead. Therefore, on the lid itself, we should linger and avoid relying on it.
3. We use one of the exercises detailed in the section on preventing back diseases. That is: we are lying prone on the floor with our arms stretched above our head and our legs close together. Lift one (any) arm from the floor while extending the other leg forward. Of course, you should not try to lift your leg above your head, but use a kick to pull it back. Then put down your limbs, count to three in your heart, and repeat with another pair of "hands back legs". In total, you need to do 20 repetitions for two pairs of limbs.
4. We are sitting on the floor with our backs against the wall and our legs stretched out in front of us. Don't lean our back against the wall too tightly, put our palms firmly on the floor. Now we need to use one hand to raise the body to the floor as high as possible. It is best to keep your legs straight while sitting. If it doesn't fit straight, you can try to squeeze them to your chest. In this case, you must consider that changing the position of your legs will shift your center of gravity and require you to rest your head against the wall. Repeat 5-7 times.
5. We will get a special weightlifting belt-wide and made of thick leather, which can perfectly hold the lower back. In milder osteochondrosis, it is likely that only a bandage to fix the affected area is left. Put a 15-liter basin or bucket in the bathroom that we use on the farm. We fill it with water so that it does not splash to the edge, and we take it to any free space. The plate with water should be placed on the floor, and the legs should be slightly separated and bent. Keep your knees stable and move your body forward slightly. We should get a very ambiguous posture-a slight forward bend, the hips are clearly backward, but there is a uniform spine line on the upper torso. From the perspective of human anatomy, this is completely normal and correct. After reaching the desired position, we should still sit down until we can grasp the handles of the pelvis without rounding the back. After that, the pelvis must be raised, and the knees and lower back must be straightened with synchronized movements.

As mentioned above, self-massage is easier for most people to understand intuitively, relying on the feeling in the process. We recommend that you use the massager to perform independent massages regularly (daily) to find out the structural features of your back-as well as all pathologies and proportions. Despite this, there are no two identical spins in the world. Therefore, no masseur or doctor can study this organ better than us. At the same time, the individual details of our back structure may be very important here. Especially if only a part of the spine is affected or its damage includes curvature, hernia, deformity and mental "aggravation".

However, here are some suggestions related to the nuances of massage in each department. In fact, in the original version, they are only known to experts, and they are often omitted in the introduction of popular massage techniques. so:

For cervical osteochondrosis, this process affects both types of muscles equally frequently and strongly. Therefore, regular but in-depth massage does not always get the patient's wish. After all, the shoulder straps are the largest in the body, and there is no place where the skeletal muscles are "hidden" so deeply.

In order to be completely satisfied with the results, we will consider several provisions that make them easier to obtain:

• When massaging the painful deltoid muscle, it is easiest to "touch" the outer edge of the deltoid muscle by pressing your fingers from above into the depression between the clavicle and the "bump" of the shoulder joint. You shouldn't press your fingers hard-there. In addition to the muscles, the ligaments of the shoulder are also located. However, when we knead a stiff muscle head, we will begin to distinguish its soft fibers and elastic ligament devices more accurately. It is necessary to use a soft head exclusively and knead it with a twisting motion. Then you can walk up 2-3 cm along the shoulder line and continue to work from above;
• The inner edge of the deltoid muscle (the most problematic shoulder muscle in daily life) is connected to the 7th vertebra. As they said, when we bow our heads, he is stronger than the others. But there are many skeletal muscles under the head of the deltoid muscle, which completely covers them so as not to operate from above. At the same time, most osteochondrosis "discharges" through their fibers. Therefore, we need to lie on our back on a soft surface.

The middle part of the back will bring us fewer muscle fiber count problems. However, their design is very complicated-in a sense, most of the muscle heads here are not attached to the edges of the bones, but below them. This is especially true for the scapula, where all the muscles in the middle are attached to one side of the scapula, but none of these attachments are directly on the edge or top of the bone:

• If we are tormented by burning or tingling "somewhere under the shoulder blade", it doesn't matter whether the pain is observed on the top, under or in the middle of the scapula. The fact is that we cannot reach these places in the usual lying position. We need to lie down so that the massaged hands can hang freely on the bed and lie on the floor. The working hand is always the opposite, it should be wrapped tightly behind the head from above. Inconvenient, but effective. It is best to use a harder massager to massage the middle part under the shoulder blades-our fingers are almost inaccessible, so we won't be able to press. In order to increase the area we can reach, we can put a pillow under the elbow of the working hand;
• How to stretch the upper corner of the latissimus dorsi and put your hands on it, even an acrobatic genius can't do it. Latissimus dorsi is a muscle that enables bodybuilders and people with well-developed bodies to show the classic V-shaped stretch of the back from the torso to the shoulders. Rowing machines are well-developed, they are the ones that pull heavy objects to the chest. They are located on the upper back, strictly on the sides. The value of the developed latissimus dorsi to the strength of the arms and lower back cannot be overestimated, so it is not only necessary to develop, but also to monitor your own condition. Moreover, most people don't pay attention to them at all, and they rarely use them directly in daily life. For latissimus dorsi massage, it is best to use a lateral position. In this case, for stability, the legs should be pulled closer to the stomach, and the working hand should be pulled forward along the bed and placed under the armpit of the arm being massaged. For convenience, the hand being massaged does not need to be kept lowered along the side-it is more appropriate to lower it on the chest level on the bed. Then the lower edge of the scapula stretches behind it, and the latissimus dorsi immediately attaches to it.

The lumbar region has its own structural characteristics. First, the same row of small skeletal muscles run along the spine here, moving the vertebrae when turning. Secondly, in this place, many muscles from above are attached to the sacrum. In other words, connecting the lower back to the upper back—in fact, allows you to maintain and maintain the speed of the S-shaped back curvature throughout your life cycle. By the way, for this reason, weakness in the middle of the back (scoliosis) is usually accompanied by curvature of the lower back-lordosis and kyphosis. The main muscle of the lumbar spine is the latissimus dorsi. Without her health, our ears would not see a normal S-shaped bend. Even without osteochondrosis, the sacrum and coccyx will continue to hurt us.

So let's get started:

• It should be remembered that the latissimus dorsi muscle is strongly inclined: its upper edge connects to the lower part of the scapula, while the lower part connects to the sacrum, the coccyx. Therefore, if we walk directly from under the armpits and walk down the side with our fingers or a massager, we will knead the muscles that are also related to the back and abdomen-the oblique muscles. This is not the latissimus dorsi that connects the lower back and shoulders-the oblique muscles are responsible for tilting the body strictly to one side. The main reason is to successfully correct this tilt. She is deeply troubled by scoliosis and pelvic disease. For us, its main part is the lower part, close to the femur itself. There are two heads, which are connected to the tibia joint. One is close to the buttocks (merging with the uppermost lobe), and the second is slightly forward to reach the groin area. So if we take it as a habit, massaging the area around the entire pelvic protrusion will definitely not become superfluous;
• If for some reason (usually because of pain) we decide to warm up the hips, it is best to lie on your side with your knees in front of your chest. This position allows all buttocks muscles to be massaged. For the first time, in our opinion, the buttocks may be very painful, as if they are composed entirely of tendon tissue-they will feel so dense to the touch. In fact, they shouldn't be like that-it's a spasm. It is particularly noticeable in the upper leaf and the middle part. Under normal circumstances, the fingers in the middle of the buttocks should be able to press freely to the depth of a phalanx-the arrangement of the gluteal muscles is not less than the arrangement of the shoulder muscles. This is what we need to achieve without considering any burning pain.