A disease such as osteochondrosis of the back does not exist in modern medicine.First of all, it is necessary to clarify that the term osteochondrosis itself is outdated and does not exist in the current edition of the ICD-10.It was replaced by a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs.However, we will tell you about osteochondrosis of the back, its symptoms and treatment, since many patients call their disease that way.And you will understand what this article is about.
So, osteochondrosis is a degeneration of the intervertebral discs of dystrophic origin.Everything else is indirectly related to this disease.But to understand this process, it is worth taking a short excursion into anatomy and physiology.The main element of the human musculoskeletal system is the spine.With its help, a stable position of the internal organs abdominal cavity and chest is ensured.Inside the spine is the spinal cord, a structure that provides vitality to the entire body.The spine gives the body flexibility, allows you to walk independently and perform any movements with your hands.It is the connecting link between the head and limbs.
The spine consists of individual vertebral bodies.They are connected to each other via joints and ligaments.There are long longitudinal ligaments that start in the coccyx area and end in the back of the head.There are short transverse ligaments that connect adjacent vertebral bodies.Intervertebral discs consist of a dense outer shell (annulus fibrosus) that can withstand even the most extreme loads.However, the fibrous ring has one significant disadvantage: it does not have its own blood capillary network at all.It only receives fluid when the surrounding muscles actively contract and relax.In addition, some nutrition is provided by the diffuse exchange between the intervertebral disc and the endplate that separates it from the vertebra.
If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle and his back muscles do not work actively and regularly, the fibrous ring dehydrates and tears.In the initial stage, it withdraws fluid from the tissue of the nucleus pulposus located within it.This gelatinous body ensures the normal height of the disc and its shock-absorbing ability to evenly distribute the applied loads.
With a prolonged course of this pathological process, the height of the intervertebral disc decreases.It loses its ability to protect the root nerves originating from the spinal cord from the pressure of neighboring vertebral bodies.They are injured and radiculitis (inflammation of the root nerves) occurs.This is a dangerous condition.Therefore, the body takes measures to compensate for the lost capacity of the intervertebral discs.This leads to excessive tension in the back muscles.This further disrupts the diffuse nutrition of the remaining cartilage tissue.Therefore, osteochondrosis of the back is considered a rapidly developing and spreading disease.Without treatment, all intervertebral discs are quickly affected and the person becomes disabled.
If you are worried about back pain associated with degeneration of the cartilage tissue of the spine, we recommend that you do not wait for everything to go away on its own.Seek medical help immediately.Treatment of osteochondrosis without surgery is possible at any stage, with the exception of hernia sequestration.If part of the nucleus pulposus has separated from the intervertebral disc, only surgical intervention can help in this situation.
You can make an appointment with a vertebral doctor or neurologist.They can give you an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective and safe treatment.
Causes of back osteochondrosis
The most common causes of back osteochondrosis are lack of exercise, obesity, sedentary work and refusal to engage in regular physical activity.It is these factors that lead to the destruction of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs at a young age.At a later period of life (after 50 years), osteochondrosis develops for slightly different reasons:
- hormonal changes that lead to the leaching of calcium and phosphorus from bone tissue;
- gerontological degenerative changes in the body;
- Disturbance of capillary blood flow against the background of atherosclerotic deformations of blood vessels;
- Metabolic disorders such as diabetes or changes in thyroid function;
- age-related decline in muscle mass;
- changes in posture and curvature of the spine;
- chronic diseases of internal organs that affect a person's physical activity.
In addition, traumatic injuries to the vertebral bodies, their spinous processes, ligaments and tendons can be possible causes of the development of osteochondrosis of the back.The correct organization of sleeping and working spaces is of no small importance.If a person does not attach importance to the position of his body during night sleep, the risk of spinal destruction and the development of osteochondrosis increases sharply.
You should also stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.These two bad habits lead to disruption of blood microcirculation in the area of the intervertebral discs, which leads to their degenerative-dystrophic destruction.
The causes of osteochondrosis of the back can be diet and drinking habits.An adult needs to drink at least 2 liters of clean water daily to maintain water and electrolyte balance.In addition, the diet should contain all the vitamins and minerals needed for the regeneration of the hyaline cartilage that makes up the tissue of the fibrous rings.If the diet is dominated by fatty and refined foods, the body quickly becomes deficient in certain nutrients.This makes it impossible to restore the integrity of all tissues, including vertebrates.
Therefore, an experienced doctor, when carrying out complex treatment of back osteochondrosis, will definitely correct the patient's diet.She gives him the necessary recommendations for the correct design of his sleeping and working space.
Osteochondrosis causes severe overloading of the back muscles.They are responsible for supporting the spine and keeping the root nerves safe.With prolonged static tension, the blood circulation in the capillaries changes.There is a lack of oxygen in the myocytes and an ischemic reaction quickly occurs.Initially there is severe pain in the back muscles.Then the myocytes begin to die.Short-term inflammation may occur against the background of muscle tissue necrosis.Then the degeneration of the muscle fibers begins.This brings a number of negative consequences.Patients may develop myofascial pain syndrome.It persists for many years even after successful treatment of osteochondrosis.
Therefore this process cannot be started.As soon as the first signs of osteochondrosis appear, see a doctor immediately.
Symptoms of back osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic back is the least common because the mobility of the vertebral bodies is not extensive.The height of the intervertebral spaces is also ensured by the attachment of the costal arches.Therefore, we will not consider the symptoms of this type of disease separately.
Most often, osteochondrosis develops in the lumbar region, since it bears the main shock absorption and physical stress associated with movements of the human body.Symptoms of pathology include a characteristic stabbing pain in the lumbar region.It can spread along the inside, outside or back of the upper and lower leg and extend to the heel or toes.Neurological clinical symptoms such as numbness, paresthesia, reduced muscle strength, pallor and coldness of the skin of the lower extremities gradually appear.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical and cervical spine is diagnosed no less often.This disease most often develops in people who work mentally.If the neck muscles are statically tensed for a long time, the microcirculation of the blood is disrupted and cartilage tissue is destroyed.
The clinical symptoms with this localization of degenerative dystrophic changes in the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs can be more diverse.The pain can radiate under the shoulder blade, into the heart area and into the upper limbs.Muscle weakness quickly occurs in the arms.There are signs of impaired circulation in the posterior vertebral arteries.These are dizziness, reduced mental performance, frequent fluctuations in blood pressure, drowsiness, apathy, etc.
When symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back appear, it is necessary to conduct a number of clinical studies.First, x-rays of the affected part of the spine are prescribed.Based on this, the doctor can only make a preliminary diagnosis.A more detailed examination of the condition of the tissue of the spine is possible as part of an MRI scan.Doppler ultrasound, soft tissue ultrasound, biochemical and general blood tests, rheumatic examinations, etc. may also be required.
What to do and how to relieve pain?
The first thing you should do with osteochondrosis of the back is to stop all physical activity and provide the spine and muscles with relative rest.In the first few days after an attack, it is better to maintain strict bed rest.Treatment can only be prescribed by a neurologist or vertebrologist.Taking medication alone is not recommended.Not only can they negatively impact your health, but they can also make it difficult to make an accurate diagnosis in the future.
The only thing you can do to relieve back pain due to osteochondrosis and not harm your health is spinal traction.It is important to restore the normal height of the intervertebral spaces.This reduces the pressure on the root nerves and all pain disappears without the additional use of pharmacological drugs.Traction can be done with hardware, manually, or with the help of physical exercises.Only a doctor can carry out an examination to determine which method is suitable for your individual case.
How to treat and cure osteochondrosis of the back?
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the back can be carried out exclusively using conservative methods even at the stage of prolapse of the intervertebral hernia.Doctors know how to cure osteochondrosis of the back without surgery.For this purpose, osteopathy and massage, therapeutic exercises and exercise therapy, laser therapy, reflexology and much more are used.
Before treating osteochondrosis of the back, the doctor gives the patient comprehensive individual recommendations, the implementation of which eliminates possible causes and risk factors.An individual course of therapy is then developed.During the treatment, damaged cartilage tissue is completely restored.If all recommendations are followed, relapses of osteochondrosis will not occur.