Each person who at least once in his life felt pain in the back, lumbar, chest or neck of the spine. The first pain symptoms and signs of pathological disorders of articular cartilage manifest in people of the average age category after 30-35 years.
Symptomatic signs of osteochondrosis do not distinguish between a person’s sexual, and therefore can affect the spinal vertebrae in both men and women. However, there is a sad tendency to rejuvenate a bone-storage disease when osteochondrosis is observed in children of middle and senior school age.
What is it?
The International Classifier of Diseases of the 10th Assembly determines osteochondrosis to the class of diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissues. Osteochondrosis is divided into several categories:
- Youth osteochondrosis of the spine.
- Osteochondrosis of the spine in adults.
- Osteochondrosis of the spine is not specified.
The causes of osteochondrosis are associated with a violation of metabolism in the connecting tissues of the articular cartilage, characterized by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the ligamentous apparatus of the musculoskeletal system and a general violation of the musculoskeletal system in the structural segments of the spine.
The pain syndrome occurs as a result of a deformation disorder of the integrity of the intervertebral discs, leading to the axial displacement of the vertebrae, and as a result, the nerve roots in the vertebral channels are pinched. Symptoms and signs of osteochondrosis can affect any departments of the vertebral system, sometimes developing for several years, they do not cause a person uncomfortable sensations.
In most cases, the causes of osteochondrosis are associated with the professional activity of a person. The risk group includes the following professional categories:
- accountant;
- cashiers;
- IT workers;
- office employees;
- professional athletes;
- Drivers of vehicles.
However, it is noted that signs of osteochondrosis are much more often manifested in women than in representatives of the stronger sex. Many medical experts agree that the cause of osteochondrosis is prolonged wearing high -heeled shoes. As a rule, the first symptoms of manifestations of neurological diseases are diagnosed in women after 25 years.
There are frequent cases when the causes of osteochondrosis are caused by pregnancy. The lifestyle of a person is of no small importance. People prone to obesity make up the largest percentage of patients with a neurological clinic. The proper posture and growth of a person is also of great importance. It is in such patients that osteochondrosis of the spine of the spine is most often determined.
In general, the expected factors in the development of the disease include:
- obesity;
- physiological aging of the bone muscular system;
- metabolic violation;
- traumatic states of the spine;
- infectious damage to the articular components of the spinal column;
- improper nutrition;
- hard physical labor;
- A sedentary lifestyle.
However, the most significant causal factor in the development of neurological pathology is the hereditary (genetic) predisposition of a person to articular diseases, which makes itself felt in childhood or youth.
The development of the disease
With osteochondrosis, symptoms and treatment are determined depending on the severity of the disease. So, the development of osteochondrosis has 4 stages of the course of the disease:
- The first stage is the beginning of the pathological neuralgia, characterized by dehydration of the pulpos nucleus in the intervertebral disk. As a result of this, microcracks occur in a fibrous ring. Signs and symptoms of osteochondrosis at this stage of development of neurological pathology do not cause special discomfort to a person. Only in the case of active physical actions, the affected departments of the spinal column are concerned.
- The second stage during a diagnostic laboratory examination is determined by reducing the height of the intervertebral discs, and their distances to each other. The classic sign of a pathological state is the beginning of sagging ligaments in the musculoskeletal system. Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree - uncomfortable pain, even with slight physical exertion, when aching or pulling pain occurs in the area of damage to the support system.
- The third stage is a partial limitation of the mobility of the articular segments of the spine. At this stage of the development of neurological pathology, prolapse and a disk protrusion occur. In some cases, arthrosis is formed in the intervertebral joints. Depending on the localization of the damage zone, the patient feels pain symptoms of osteochondrosis in the neck, back or in the lower back.
- The fourth stage is the most difficult neurological disorders in the vertebral system, expressed in partial or complete limitation of joint mobility. In such a diagnostic state, bone growths (osteophytes) are formed in the place of the vertebral compounds, which cause micro injury to nervous branches and neighboring spine segments. In most cases, symptoms of osteochondrosis of the 4th degree do not cause pain and unpleasant sensations, since the joints acquire a petrified appearance.
Types
In neurology, osteochondrosis is divided into several types:
- Cervical osteochondrosis of the spine.
- Osteochondrosis of the thoracic in the vertebral system.
- Lumbosacral osteochondrosis of the spinal column.
There is also general osteochondrosis of the back, when several departments of the musculoskeletal system fall into the damage zone.
Symptoms
Consider what the causes of osteochondrosis are, and what symptoms of a neurological disease are manifested in a particular damage zone.
Cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms and signs:
- Pain symptoms in the cervical and occipital zone.
- Weakness in the muscles of the neck.
- Dizziness and headache in the temporal and/or occipital zone.
- Unstable intracranial pressure.
- The appearance of a crunch or click in the neck during tilting and/or turns of the head.
- Pain in the shoulders or forearm.
- Numbness of the upper extremities, especially the fingers.
With a neuralgic pathology of the thoracic spine, osteochondrosis is manifested by the following symptoms and signs:
- Pain in the heart.
- Pain symptoms in the chest limits breathing.
- Radiating pain under the shoulder blades.
- Crawling goosebumps in the body.
- Compression of the thoracic region and numbness of the limbs.
Before treating osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, it is necessary to clearly diagnose neurological pathology, since symptomatic signs are very similar to other diseases of the respiratory, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal system.
Osteochondrosis of the back is the most common category of neurological disorder of the vertebral system. The sacrifice and/or lumbar parts of the musculoskeletal structure of the spine fall into the defeat zone.
With back osteochondrosis, symptoms, causes and treatment, it is necessary to determine it is differentiated, since this anatomical part of the human body is most vulnerable to various injuries and neurological conditions. Often, the vertebral section of the lower back is subjected to other clinical pathologies, for example, pinching of the sciatic nerve, Ishias, radiculitis and so on.
The main feature of the neurological lesion of the lumbar zone is the pain that increases during physical exertion. Symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis:
- A tingling in the legs.
- Stupid or aching pain in the back or lower back, acute depreciation in these areas are often noted.
Osteochondrosis in children does not differ in pain symptoms from adult patients. Degenerative-dystrophic disorders in a child are a consequence of the genetic dependence of the musculoskeletal system. However, there is another cause of osteochondrosis in the child, when the young organism falls under the strongest overload of the musculoskeletal system. We are talking about professional sports or heavy physical work performed by children.
Diagnostics
Diagnostic examination includes the following measures:
- Patient history.
- X -ray scanning of problem areas of the spine.
- Myelography.
- Computer or magnetic resonance tomography.
- In case of need, nuclear-magnetic resonance is used.
Treatment
Effectively cure degenerative spinal disorders, possibly only at the initial stage of the disease, when there are no complicating factors, and clearly determining the causes of osteochondrosis. Treatment of the disease implies a comprehensive medical approach to the problem.
At the initial stage, a drug effect on articular cartilage is made, and physiotherapeutic procedures will help to restore the lost plasticity of the bone-muscular system. The final stage of the entire treatment of the musculoskeletal system is compliance with medical and preventive measures.
Having established the symptoms, signs and causes of osteochondrosis, the treatment of neuralgic pathology begins with conservative therapy, which allows to eliminate the pain syndrome and relieve inflammatory stress in the tissue structure of the spine. The relief of the pain symptom is carried out by various therapeutic blockade, epidural and other action. The services of medical workers have provided a wide selection of drug pharmacological groups and drugs that allow you to stop pain loads and reduce the muscle-tonic syndrome. Restore the activity of vertebrates using physiotherapy:
- actions of a static magnetic field;
- the use of low frequency currents;
- ultrasound correction;
- Laser radiation and so on.
In the recovery and preventive period, it is very effective in the use of massage (hydromassage) and physiotherapy and physical education (exercise therapy), which strengthen the muscle corset of the lower back, chest or cervical parts of the vertebral system, and also contribute to decompression of nerve roots.
Dietary recommendations for neurological pathology
Proper medical nutrition is of great importance, as it increases the activity of drug treatment. There are no special conditions when choosing a diet. Dietary recommendations are based only on limiting certain food products and compliance with a balanced rules for eating. The products used should provide the body with the necessary spectrum of beneficial vitamin and mineral components, with a minimum amount of salt.
Recommended food:
- Fresh vegetables (carrots, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and other agricultural gifts of nature).
- Dairy and dairy products (kefir, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese, sour cream).
- Dietary low -fat meat and fish.
- Fresh fruits and juices.
- Mushrooms, nuts, sunflower seeds.
Food products that should be limited in the daily diet:
- Grape.
- Legumes.
- Sugar, salt, smoked and pickled products.
- Sharp seasonings, tea, coffee, flour products and so on.
It is important to know that the daily use of two liters of purified water will stimulate the operation of the articular elements of the spine, and also improve the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract.
Recipes of traditional medicine
Treatment of traditional medicine is an alternative way to influence the articular structure of the spine. However, such treatment must be carried out together with officially prescribed drugs for drug therapy.
Recipe No. 1. Saber. Alcohol tincture of grassy perennial plant can be rubbed with problem spine areas. In 200 g. Dry raw materials are taken by 500 ml of alcohol or product, which is alcohol.
Recipe No. 2. Home ointment from osteochondrosis. The composition of the ingredients:
- Flour - 1 tbsp. L. ;
- chicken egg - 1 pc . ;
- butter - 80 g;
- Dining vinegar (9%) - 1 tbsp. l.
All therapeutic components are thoroughly mixed, and exhibited in a dry and dark place for 2-3 days. The medicinal product is rubbed into the problem areas of the vertebral corset.
Recipe No. 3. Tincture of black radish. To prepare a healing composition, it is necessary:
- 100 ml of vodka or diluted alcohol;
- 200 g of natural beekeeping product (honey);
- 300 ml of fresh black radish juice.
All ingredients are mixed and cost for 12 hours. Such a home compress will be an effective treatment for treatment not only for osteochondrosis, but also will help with other neurological disorders of the musculoskeletal system, for example, with radiculitis or rheumatism of the joints of the skeletal frame.
Preventive measures
Therapeutic prevention consists in proper nutrition, personal and sanitary hygiene, as well as in compliance with healthy norms of the hostel. You should also protect your body from exposure to infectious and bacterial agents. Daily physical education, walking in the fresh air, water procedures in summer and winter time, will have a favorable effect on the body as a whole, and on the articular segments of the spine, in particular. It is especially important to perform preventive medical acts with a growing body, that is, children.
Take care of yourself and be always healthy!