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osteochondrosis

symptoms of osteochondrosis

Back pain is a problem faced by every adult.Often this is not a one-time occurrence but is a symptom of a dangerous disease.Osteochondrosis often occurs in people aged 30-35 years (about 40% of the population), and up to 90% of cases occur in the elderly.

Prompt diagnosis and correct treatment can eliminate pathological development and prevent complications.Therefore, it's important to understand what back pain actually means, which doctor to contact when you have back pain, and how to treat osteochondrosis.

What is osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a group of chronic diseases caused by the destruction of vertebrae and intervertebral discs and damage to cartilage tissue.

As we age and are affected by uneven loads, the bone tissue of the vertebrae undergoes deformation and destruction, and muscle tissue develops unevenly.This leads to various manifestations of osteochondrosis: hernias, spinal curvatures, etc.

Osteochondrosis is an outdated term; in world medicine, it is known as back pain syndrome.There are different types of diseases of the connective tissue and musculoskeletal system, with different treatments.

Types of osteochondrosis

When classifying the disease, the following factors are considered: the location of the pain, the area of the disc that is damaged, and the extent of the disease.

localization of pain sensation

Considering the areas of pain caused by spinal disorders, there are:

  • Lombardinia.Chronic pain in the lower back often leads to lameness.In particularly severe cases, it can cause numbness in the legs.Most commonly, this symptom occurs when a person has an intervertebral hernia.When the roots of the spinal cord are compressed, the limbs may become paralyzed.
  • Lumbar pain.Pain that radiates along the back of the leg (from hip to knee) into the lower back or lower extremities.Clinical manifestations occur when the sciatic and spinal nerves are compressed.
  • Low back pain.Severe pain or sharp pain at one point in the lower back.Often confused with radiculitis.Most often, attacks occur when a person attempts to bend sharply or straighten the back, as well as suddenly lift heavy objects.
  • Chest pain.Pain in the chest area.It is considered a very dangerous symptom, and sometimes even doctors cannot immediately determine its cause.Unpleasant sensations are not always related to physical movement.The pain is particularly severe in the area from the chest to the armpits.
  • Neck pain.Pain occurs in the neck area and may spread to the upper limbs.Pathological manifestations may be accompanied by dizziness, numbness in the back of the head, and skin redness and swelling.

The pathology requires urgent treatment because disruption of blood circulation to the brain, compression of nerve roots, and interruption of venous blood outflow may result.Neck pain often triggers inflammatory processes and herniated discs.

The locations where the most pain is felt indicate areas of damage to the vertebrae and discs.Often pain is reflected, that is, it is not recorded where the source of the disease is actually located.

Sort by location

There are several types of osteoporosis based on where in the spine the disc and tissue damage occurs.

cervix

It consists of seven small vertebrae that are subjected to constant pressure.The pathology is accompanied by thinning of the cervical spine and compression of the arterial canals.Cervical osteochondrosis is very dangerous because it causes disruption of the brain's blood saturation process.

The formation of a protrusion can lead to a hernia.Surgery performed in the neck area may result in immobility.

Chest

Diseases in this part of the spine are rare and are related to low mobility of the vertebrae.The onset of pain is observed in people who move heavy objects or who remain in a certain position for a long time.

Chest osteochondrosis is often confused with pneumonia, heart disease, and angina.

Important!

Only physicians should be involved in differential diagnosis.

lumbosacral region

There are five vertebrae in the waist.If the nutritional and metabolic processes in the intervertebral disc are disrupted, the disc loses its elasticity, decreases in size and is no longer able to function taking into account the loads it endures.Lack of treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis can lead to the following complications: hernia, herniation, sciatica.

Important!

A very dangerous phenomenon is spinal cord compression, as it can lead to paralysis of the lower limbs.

Another type of osteochondrosis is multisegmental.During its development, segmental degeneration occurs simultaneously in different parts of the spine.The disease is characterized by loss of sensitivity in the back of the head and dysfunction of the speech organs.

Disease development characteristics

Depending on the degree of changes in the intervertebral disc, experts divide pathology into 4 stages, which are diagnosed by radiological examination:

  1. There are no noticeable changes in the spine.
  2. The disc ruptures internally, but there are no changes on the outside.
  3. There are no externally corrupted changes in the recorded disc.
  4. The intervertebral discs were severely damaged.The crack spreads to the inner surface and the disc appears to be pushed out of the vertebrae.  

Taking into account the clinical manifestations, the development of osteochondrosis can be divided into four stages:

  1. The spine functions as normal.A person feels pain in the affected area.Patients complain of general weakness, chronic fatigue, and less commonly, loss of appetite and sleep disturbance.
  2. Cracks develop in the intervertebral discs and the spinal segments lose stability.Pain may intensify, initially as a one-off event and later as a chronic condition, associated with nerve compression, vertebral subluxation, and the formation of protrusions.
  3. The pain worsens and the spine becomes deformed, forming an intervertebral hernia.At the same stage, lordosis (curvature of the spine) occurs.
  4. The spine loses its normal mobility.The cartilage tissue thickens and osteophytes (cartilage growths on the joints) develop.In particularly difficult cases, patients lose the ability to move.

Important!

People diagnosed with stage 4 osteochondrosis become disabled.

Causes of osteochondrosis

There are numerous theories to explain the occurrence of pathology.Causes include hormonal changes, genetics, cardiovascular system problems, mechanical damage, and more.Researchers agree that the most common cause is overloading of various segments of the spine.

The human spine has 32-34 vertebrae (7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, 5 lumbar vertebrae, 5 sacral vertebrae, and 3-5 coccygeal vertebrae).Each segment consists of two vertebrae and the disc between them.The integrity of this structure is ensured by the joints and articular processes.

The intervertebral disc consists of a jelly-like core surrounded by a dense annulus fibrosus, which is covered with a layer of cartilage tissue on top.They are shock-absorbing and prevent damage to the vertebrae when jumping, running and walking.The design is highly flexible, providing flexibility and stability to the spine.

In the first stages of osteochondrosis, the disc begins to degenerate and destroy, the amount of fluid in its core decreases, and the cartilage tissue becomes thinner and less elastic.

Most often, osteochondrosis is diagnosed in older adults and people with sedentary lifestyles.Doctors believe that the main cause of this disease is uneven load distribution in the spine and vertebrae.This can lead to their damage and the destruction of cartilage tissue.

Most often, this disease occurs due to a sedentary lifestyle, irregular exercise, excessive physical activity and jobs related to constant stress on the back.

Improper body posture while walking, sitting, carrying and lifting heavy objects, tight and uncomfortable clothing and shoes can lead to disc damage/displacement leading to the development of osteochondrosis.

Other causes of pathological development include:

  • Spinal fractures, bends and injuries;
  • hormonal imbalance;
  • Pregnant;
  • Hypothermia and sudden changes in temperature.

Important!

Stress in the cervical spine while working in front of a computer can also lead to the development of osteochondrosis.

Risk factors for osteochondrosis

There are many diseases that can cause osteochondrosis.These include:

  • flatfoot;
  • Scoliosis;
  • arthritis;
  • Osteoporosis;
  • joint;
  • Nervous and emotional exhaustion;
  • diabetes;
  • obesity.

Other risk factors include metabolic disorders, strenuous physical activity (especially weight lifting), nutritional deficiencies, natural age-related changes in the body, and genetic predispositions.

Regular smoking and drinking can significantly weaken the disc tissue.A lack of calcium may be a factor in the development of this disease.

Signs and symptoms of osteochondrosis

Pain is the main symptom of pathology.The nature of the pain may vary and may be:

  • Acute, intense, worsening with movement (usually, patient tries to remain still);
  • Dull, smooth (slow movements).

In addition to localized pain where the vertebrae and discs begin to break down, patients often experience pain that projects far away from the problem area.Due to pain, muscle strength in the lower and upper limbs decreases, movement disorders and general weakness occur.

Patients often complain of general symptoms of osteochondrosis, such as:

  • Stiffness and discomfort when moving;
  • muscle spasms;
  • Migraines and headaches;
  • Frequent dizziness and visual impairment;
  • Pain in the joints of the limbs;
  • a feeling of coldness in the extremities;
  • reduced sensitivity;
  • circulatory system diseases;
  • Loss of consciousness.

In some cases, patients experience numbness in the extremities and tingling in the neck, lower back, and sternum.

Osteochondrosis usually presents with several characteristic syndromes:

  • vertebra.Acute or chronic back pain with poor circulation.
  • heart.A form of angina.
  • Vertebral artery syndrome.Pain caused by vertebral artery circulatory disorders.
  • Koreshkovi.The pain is caused by compression of the spinal roots where the spinal cord branches.

Depending on the type of location where osteochondrosis is located, symptoms of the disease may vary.

For cervical osteochondrosisIt is characterized by migraines, numbness in the fingers, difficulty moving the head and neck, and pain in the back of the head.Additionally, patients with cervical osteochondrosis complain of facial numbness, sleep problems, frequent dizziness, and tinnitus.

Lumbar osteochondrosisCauses pain in the buttocks and perineum, which can lead to movement problems.Patients experience severe pain when bending over, in the lower back (after sleeping for a long time or sitting in one place for a long time).Numbness, dizziness, and general weakness occur.The disease often causes pain in the kidney area, erectile dysfunction, and frequent urination.Scoliosis often occurs with lumbar osteochondrosis.

Thoracic osteochondrosisWith shortness of breath, chest stiffness, pain between shoulder blades and ribs.Patients often worry about problems with the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and pancreas.Specific manifestations of thoracic spine pathology include dry skin, peeling skin on the extremities, and brittle nails.

Osteochondrosis: Diagnosis

If you experience back pain (any type), muscle spasms, and sensory disturbances in your back and extremities, you should consult a doctor (a chiropractor or neurologist).

Visiting a neurologist or chiropractor requires no additional preparation.It is important to provide your doctor with a list of recent pain medications you have taken.All steps taken during self-treatment must also be reported before scheduling a consultation.

During your appointment, your doctor will perform a comprehensive examination, which may include:

  • Collect medical history and research patient's medical history and chief complaints;
  • Physiological examination, palpation, assessment of skin condition, and localization of pain;
  • Determine the nature of pain (acute, dull pain, reflex pain, local pain, etc.);
  • Blood tests (indicators of calcium levels in the blood and erythrocyte sedimentation rate are important);
  • Cardiac electrocardiogram and ultrasound (to rule out or confirm a link between the pain syndrome and diseases of the cardiovascular system);
  • Dual scan of the arteries of the head and neck (to assess blood flow quality and measure vasoconstriction).

To confirm the diagnosis, additional radiologic tests may be needed, including:

  • Spine X-ray.A complete image of the two projections, taking each individual part of the spine if necessary.Functional radiography - a study in which a specialist takes pictures in different body positions - can also be done.
  • Computed tomography of a single intervertebral disc.The study revealed the condition of the vertebral body, blood vessels, nerve endings, ligaments and soft tissue, disruption of the disc contour, disc height, changes in the dura mater, marginal growth and vertebral body instability.
  • Myelography.Myelogram.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging.This is an alternative to a disc CT scan.Allows you to assess the condition of blood vessels and cartilage tissue.

X-ray studies confirm osteochondrosis if the image shows:

  • Pathological movement of the vertebrae deviates from normal;
  • The displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other;
  • Salt deposits in the intervertebral discs;
  • There is uniform narrowing of the intervertebral space in the lumbar spine and neck, and a wedge-shaped narrowing in the chest area;
  • Osteophyte formation (marginal growth);
  • Marginal sclerosis is the development of compaction on the affected disc.

As part of the diagnosis, the doctor may recommend consultation with another specialist (otolaryngologist, cardiologist, urologist, etc.).

Important!

The main task of the diagnostician is to determine the cause of osteochondrosis.Based on the results obtained during the examination, the doctor will determine the type of pathology and prescribe appropriate treatment for the specific case.

Complications of osteochondrosis

Spinal osteochondrosis is an unpleasant disease that in its final stages may lead to the development of other diseases and pathologies.The most common are:

  • Herniation (herniated disc);
  • intervertebral hernia;
  • salt deposits between vertebrae;
  • Kyphosis (curvature of the spine);
  • Muscle atrophy;
  • Spinal stroke (disorder of circulation in the spinal cord);
  • Radiculitis;
  • Disorders of the genitourinary system (urinary problems, erectile dysfunction in men, inflammatory processes of the uterus, ovaries and adnexa in women);
  • Quadriplegia.

Prompt consultation with your doctor when you first experience pain and regular osteochondrosis prevention will help avoid complications.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

At Nalan Clinic, doctors take a comprehensive approach to treating osteochondrosis.

Tibetan medicine uses four methods of treatment:

  • Correction of nutrition according to dosha
  • lifestyle modification
  • herbal medicine

A set of external procedures:

  • Nutritional correction.A balanced diet according to the body's dosha promotes a surge of energy and cell renewal in all organs and organ systems of the body.
  • Phytotherapy.Tibetan medicines and mixtures are used according to the recipes of ancient healers.Restores the body's natural balance, promotes its rejuvenation and eliminates many diseases.

External influences on the body:

  • Energy acupressure - normalizes internal organs and restores full function, helps improve blood circulation throughout the body and restores immunity;
  • Acupuncture - eliminates pain and inflammation, relieves discomfort caused by external symptoms, improves fluid circulation in the body;
  • Vacuum therapy (cupping) – improves innervation, removes waste products and toxins, normalizes regulatory and metabolic processes;
  • Lithotherapy – beneficial to the cardiovascular system, blood pressure, relieving muscle spasms, restorative sleep;
  • Moxibustion, or bioactive acupoint therapy, has been used in Tibetan medicine for over five thousand years.For burning or heating, cigars made from mugwort, edelweiss, juniper, poplar leaves, and pressed coal are used.

Prevent osteochondrosis

The main method of prevention is to evenly distribute the load on the spine.In practice, this includes:

  • active lifestyle;
  • Moderate exercise (morning exercise, yoga, swimming, walking, running, cycling, muscle-strengthening abdominal exercises);
  • sleeping on orthopedic mattresses and pillows;
  • Wear comfortable shoes, or better yet, orthopedic shoes;
  • Eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of minerals and vitamins;
  • Regular preventive check-ups with neurologists and chiropractors;
  • Quit smoking and drinking.

When sitting for long periods of time and working at a stationary job, it is important to take regular breaks, change positions, and warm up, which will help relax and reduce the load on the spine.

When lifting weights, you don't need to do it fast or violently, just a smooth half-squat.When carrying heavy items, it is better to choose a backpack with orthopedic walls rather than a bag with shoulder straps.

Avoid spending long periods in static, uncomfortable positions, especially standing and raising your arms, which can damage ligaments and increase load on the discs.

Important!

Doctors recommend adopting a physiologically correct sitting posture: shoulders are relaxed, abdominal muscles are toned, the weight of the hips is evenly distributed, the spine is straight, and even the back of the chair is emphasized.

Manual therapy, various physical therapies and acupuncture methods also have positive results as preventive measures for spinal osteochondrosis.

Treatment of osteochondrosis is divided into three stages:

  1. Relieve or reduce pain.
  2. Eliminate disc and vertebrae conditions and dysfunction.
  3. Prevent complications.

You can avoid complications and the need for surgical treatment if you consult a specialist immediately at the first sign of the disease.That's why it's so important to get annual preventive checkups with a neurologist and chiropractor, even if you don't suffer from spinal pain.

Important!

Only a qualified doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, identify the disease and its cause, and develop effective treatment.