Osteochondrosis is a disease of the interarticular and intervertebral cartilage.Osteochondrosis is diagnosed in all joints without exception, but according to medical statistics, this pathology is more common in the intervertebral discs.
function of intervertebral disc
The main function of the intervertebral discs is to absorb shock during walking and running.Few people consider the loads placed on the spine during movement.Each step creates a pushing force on the vertebrae.Without discs between them, the bones would wear out quickly and the spinal nerve endings would be constantly squeezed between the vertebrae.
Its shock-absorbing capacity depends on the quality of the disc.The younger a person is, the more elastic the discs become.A newborn's joint cartilage and intervertebral discs are made up of almost 80% water, which allows them to be as elastic as possible, like a sponge.As we age, tissues degrade, dry out, become less flexible, and lose their shock-absorbing properties.The older a person is, the higher the risk of complications from osteochondrosis, including:
- hernia;
- Radiculitis;
- protrude.
Symptoms of intervertebral disc disease
There are osteochondrosis of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine.At the same time, problems in the neck area may not be accompanied by any characteristic pain at all, while problems in the chest area may reflect not spinal pain, but chest pain, which is why patients often confuse it with heart or bronchial pain.
Sometimes cervical osteochondrosis presents with arm pain.If there is no obvious injury causing arm pain, this symptom should be reason to check the cervical spine.
If the pain is centered in the sacral area and spreads down the leg and buttocks (usually only on one side), it indicates damage to the discs in the lower back.After applying pressure to the damaged area, you may feel numbness in your legs, arms, or tingling in one of your limbs.The main notable symptoms of intervertebral osteochondrosis are:
- Pain in sacral area, unable to sit down.
- Back pain prevents you from bending over.
- Pain is reduced when walking.
When the first signs of disc damage appear, it is necessary to avoid heavy physical activity on the back, i.e. do not lift anything heavy.
Why does osteochondrosis occur?
There are several reasons that can affect the condition of your disk.These include smoking and excessive exercise, especially if daily activities involve lifting heavy objects.On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition can definitely lead to disc destruction.Additionally, certain jobs that force you to hold your torso in an uncomfortable position, constant load on only one shoulder, and sleeping on the wrong choice of mattress all put you at risk for osteochondrosis.
Sleep properly on a mattress of moderate firmness so that your spine is in a natural, even position while you rest.The soft feather bed looks very comfortable.Lying on a soft bed for long periods of time can cause back pain in the morning.This happens because the back muscles are stretched when the back bends under its own weight.Continuously stretching your back muscles throughout the night can cause pain not only in your lower back, but throughout your entire spine.
Flat feet are at risk for osteochondrosis because such feet cannot fully function as shock absorbers.As a result, the load on the spine increases and the discs wear out faster.
Additionally, overweight people put more stress on the spine than people with a body mass index closer to the ideal.You need to monitor your body shape so that the ratio of weight to height does not put additional stress on your bones.
However, perfectly healthy people who lead an active lifestyle can also suffer from osteochondrosis.The main reason for this is injury.An unfortunate fall or blow to the spine often results in hernias, herniations, and osteochondrosis.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
A surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, or neurologist can make the diagnosis.Since lower back pain is often the reason for contacting a neurologist, such patients are first examined by a doctor in this specific specialty.First, the patient is examined.To make a diagnosis, he assesses the patient's ability to twist, bend, sit, walk and bend the legs.The spine is then palpated.Through manual examination, the doctor will be able to identify pain points and feel for compaction or even hernias between the vertebrae.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will take an X-ray of the spine.This is the simplest test and can be performed even in rural clinics.X-rays have long been used in medical practice and are an integral part of every trauma department.If X-rays do not confirm the diagnosis, or if more detailed studies are needed, a CT scan or MRI scan of the spine will be done.With the help of this type of examination, it is possible to pinpoint the quality of the intervertebral disc, assess its elasticity and integrity, and identify hidden pathologies.
How to treat osteochondrosis
As conservative treatment, a course of NSAIDs may be prescribed.If there is no serious disease in the disc, and the doctor notices in the picture that the cause of the pain is inflamed muscles pressing on the nerves, then treatment will be reduced to relieving the inflammatory process.Additionally, heat therapy may be performed to reduce swelling, relax muscles, and release pinched nerves.
In cases of herniated or herniated discs, back pain can be solved with surgery.Severely worn vertebrae can be replaced with prosthetics.