Symptoms and treatments for spinal osteochondrosis

Weak discs or other spinal disease that complicates or limits movement indicates the development of a serious disease - osteochondrosis. It can happen to anyone, regardless of age. The spine is the load-bearing element of the skeleton, so changes in it affect quality of life and the condition of many organ systems. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the causes, signs and treatment methods of osteochondrosis in order to detect the lesions in time and prevent the development of the lesions.

What is osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a complex degenerative disease of the human spine characterized by dystrophic changes in the cartilage of the system.This disease can occur in any joint, but is more common in the intervertebral discs.The main symptoms indicating the development of the disease are pain in the back, neck and waist. In the future, you may experience pain in your shoulders, arms, and upper thighs. If left untreated, muscle tissue begins to atrophy and the sensitivity and activity of internal organs are disrupted, leading to an incurable condition.

ICD-10 code

The World Health Organization developed ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition).The essence is this: each disease has its own specific code, made up of numbers and letters. When a doctor sees such a code in front of him, he knows exactly what disease we are talking about and what treatment is needed to get the patient out of this problem.

According to ICD-10, osteochondrosis has the code M42 and belongs to the category "Disorders of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue" (group "dorsal cord disease", subgroup "dorsal cord disease").

Development causes and risk factors

Osteochondrosis occurs for a variety of reasons. They all depend on where in the spine the disease occurs—cervical, thoracic, or lumbar. The main reasons for the occurrence of this disease are as follows:

• genetic predisposition. Congenital anomalies can lead to the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• hormonal imbalance. Endocrine disorders, being overweight or underweight can negatively impact the musculoskeletal system;
• age-related body changes. As a result, muscle, bone, and cartilage tissue are destroyed, and the discs wear out with age;
• spinal injuries and bruises. Many people spend long periods of time in one position, such as sitting at a desk, while others perform the same type of physical work. All of these can lead to damage to the bones and ligaments of the spine, as well as damage to the intervertebral discs;
• Degenerative changes in muscle tissue. These processes occur due to excessive tension on individual muscle groups, which often leads to osteochondrosis of the chest.
• sedentary lifestyle. Muscles atrophy, causing circulatory problems and improper bone formation.

Most people do not pay attention to their diet and eat food that is not healthy at all. As a result, nutritional deficiencies can occur that negatively affect the integrity, mobility, and elasticity of the intervertebral cartilage.

There are several risk factors for developing this disease:

• low temperature;
• flatfoot;
• Complications following infectious diseases;
• overweight;
• Sedentary lifestyle;
• Spinal injury.

When the disc and cartilage tissue is damaged, it is important to determine the cause of the disease and begin appropriate treatment.

Types and symptoms

Depending on the location of the pathological process, several types of osteochondrosis can be distinguished.

cervical osteochondrosis

It presents as pain in the neck, back of the head, and between the shoulder blades. Neck movement may be restricted during sleep. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is often accompanied by numbness of the fingers. Dizziness and tinnitus were also noted. Different types of cervical osteochondrosis have different clinical manifestations:

• neck pain– With neck pain and limited movement; pain radiating into the shoulder area and the space between the shoulder blades; often tingling and burning sensations in the hands and fingers;
• Neck and cranial pain– Accompanied by pain from the neck to the top of the head, occipital part, shoulder girdle; muscle tension is characteristic, producing a feeling of petrification; headache, nausea, tinnitus, imbalance are observed;
• Neck and arm pain– Characterized by tingling, soreness, pulling and throbbing pain; turning and tilting the head can cause acute pain and body tension in the affected area, pain in the arms and fingers, leading to weakness in the upper limbs;
• discogenic root disease– Characterized by paroxysmal pain in the shoulders, forearms, and fingers, accompanied by numbness and coldness; symptoms worsen when coughing, sneezing, or turning the head sharply; may worsen at night, causing insomnia.

Thoracic osteochondrosis

This is a fairly rare form. Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are similar to other diseases, so a differential diagnosis is needed.Because the thoracic spine in this area is immobile, there is no severe pain when moving.The pain syndrome spreads to the sternum and below the shoulder blades. Osteochondrosis of the chest can lead to dysfunction of internal organs. The main clinical manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis are:

• Chest pain or intercostal neuralgia– This is the stimulation or compression of the intercostal nerves by muscles and tissues. When bending, stooping and turning the body, it is accompanied by chest pain, under the ribs, in the front of the chest, and when inhaling and exhaling; the pain may radiate tobetween shoulder and shoulder blade;
• pain syndrome, in which the pain is intrinsic; pain can be felt in the chest and abdomen; the condition is aggravated by movement, coughing, sneezing, laughing; sensitivity disorders are observed.

Chest pain (chest pain) is one of the most severe symptoms a person can experience. Sometimes, even doctors cannot immediately determine the cause of chest pain and find out whether this symptom is a sign of a life-threatening condition for the patient.

Lumbosacral osteochondrosis

The main reasons for this change are nutritional deficiencies and overload. Metabolism slows down, so the disk does not have time to renew itself, its structure and properties are destroyed. There are several types of lumbar osteochondrosis:

• Low back pain (acute low back pain)– Acute pain in the lumbar spine that occurs when lifting weights, doing physical activity or bending over; characterized by severe pain on the right or left side of the waist; they also differentiate low back pain from sciatica when the pain spreads to the buttocks and legs;
• Radiculovascular syndrome (nerve root ischemia)It occurs when the nerve radiculomedullary artery is damaged, accompanied by paralysis of the extensor and flexor muscles of the gluteal muscle group, and the foot is weak and droops without movement.

Spinal osteochondrosis with radiculovascular syndrome is a very dangerous pathology that presents with acute pain, since CSS is often the result of certain diseases.

development stage

The stage characteristics of osteochondrosis are as follows:

1. The initial stage begins with the loss of fluid reserves in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. thereforeThe physiological position of the intervertebral disc and the structure of the nucleus pulposus are destroyed.
2. Further progression of the disease (level one) is due to a decrease in disc height.Muscles and ligaments become overstrained and lose their ability to work properly.At this stage, vertebrae may shift.
3. The second degree is characterized by changes in bone tissue.Joint formation, subluxation occurs.
4. The third degree is determined by the following facts:Bone growths (osteophytes) form on the spine,This results in nerve root damage.

The development of osteochondrosis should not be ignored as the treatment and rehabilitation process increases with each subsequent stage. Complications that arise during the disease may lead to adverse consequences.

What is the difference between radiculitis and arthropathy?

The symptoms of osteochondrosis and radiculitis are very similar, but the main difference between them is that the first condition appears only in the later stages, while radiculitis is characterized by severe symptoms early on.Additionally, with radiculitis, compression of the paravertebral muscles or even tilting the head can cause severe pain, similar to electric shock, does not occur in osteochondrosis.Comparing osteochondrosis and arthropathy, it's worth noting that the second disease affects all parts of the joint, causing creaking and limited movement. Osteochondrosis, in turn, is characterized by destruction of the intervertebral discs and the formation of herniated herniations.

Differential diagnostic methods are used to identify disease. This is a comprehensive approach that takes effort and time.

diagnosis

If osteochondrosis is suspected, your doctor will perform a thorough diagnosis, which includes the following studies.

neurological examination

It is performed by a neurologist. This exam includes checking reflexes, muscle strength, and pain levels in other parts of the body.Neurologic examination is important in osteochondrosis, because this disease affects the function of nerve endings and spinal cord.

spinal myelography

Allows you to see how cerebrospinal fluid spreads within the spinal cord membrane. This helps identify pathology of the spine, diseases of the nerve roots and spinal cord. Under local anesthesia, a special dye is injected into the spinal cord and nerve areas. X-ray machines provide a complete picture of the spine, especially the bones. This method allows you to identify any deviations.

Computed tomography (CT)

These are pictures of one or two parts of the spine. Using this program, you can see pictures of bone tissue in specific areas of your spine. Doctors interpret the resulting images and if they can see a narrowing of the spaces between the vertebrae, it indicates that the patient has osteochondrosis.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create images of the body in a single scan.By this method, ligaments, tendons, and bony structures can be distinguished well.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

It is an effective procedure because it has a safe effect on the body - during the procedure, the results are obtained through the use of magnetic fields rather than radiation.

You cannot consent to treatment without an initial full diagnosis. This will only lead to worsening health conditions.

treatment method

Treatment of osteochondrosis involves many complex measures.Depending on the severity of the disease, specific treatment strategies are chosen.

medical treatement

Usually, treatment of osteochondrosis begins with taking a certain group of medications:

• Painkillers and various analgesics;
• Medications to relieve spasms;
• vitamins B and C;
• Medications to relieve inflammation;
• Medications that promote blood circulation.

In addition to oral medications, patients may take a variety of nonsteroidal ointments and gels to relieve pain and reduce swelling in problem areas.

physiotherapy

In addition to medication, various physical therapy procedures are used. With this method, drugs can be delivered directly to the site of inflammation. Main types of physical therapy:

• electrophoresis– Physiotherapy using electric fields modulated by electric current. This allows the drug to be introduced into the body. Helps relieve pain and muscle spasms;
• Magnet therapy. This painless physical therapy involves the positive effects of magnetic fields on the active cells of nerve and muscle fibers. Thereby activating the work of molecular structure and improving the functional characteristics of blood vessels;
• Ultrasound therapy. Ultrasound is sound waves produced in a range that cannot be detected by the human ear. As a result, blood circulation in the affected area improves, spasms are relieved, pain is eliminated, and inflammatory processes cease;
• vibration effect. The affected area is subjected to mechanical vibration;
• Balneotherapy. The essence of the method is the use of mineral water, which relaxes the muscles and has a beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal system. Use mineral water in the shower or bath.

Physical therapy should be performed when symptoms subside and are pain-free. In the acute stage of the disease, the doctor chooses a set of procedures that will eliminate the painful syndrome. After appropriate physical therapy, the patient no longer experiences pain and the spine becomes more mobile, indicating recovery.

traditional method

Treatment of osteochondrosis may include the use of folk recipes, the effectiveness of which depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Here are some of them:

1. You need 300 grams of radish juice, 200 grams of honey and 100 grams of vodka. Mix all ingredients and lubricate affected area twice daily.
2. You will need 1 tbsp. lake rye flour, 100 g butter, 1 tbsp. lake vinegar and 1 egg. Mix all ingredients and let sit for two days. Rub into affected area.
3. Grate raw potatoes and mix with a little honey. Apply the prepared toothpaste to the sore area for 2 hours.

Traditional treatments cannot be used as stand-alone treatments. To achieve noticeable and long-lasting results, you should combine medicinal, conservative and folk methods.

Traction

Spinal traction is often used to treat osteochondrosis. With the help of traction, muscle spasms are relieved, vertebrae displacement and spinal deformation are eliminated. The procedure is performed in a hospital. There are dry and underwater methods for spinal traction.Dry traction is performed under the influence of the patient's body weight while lying on an incline.To increase traction, the doctor may use additional weights. With underwater traction, the therapeutic effect is enhanced due to the effect of warm water on the body.

Under the influence of water, the distance between vertebrae increases, vasospasm in the affected area is eliminated, and blood supply improves.

Surgery

In cases of severe complications, surgical treatment of osteochondrosis is required.Such complications include: disc herniation, vertebral body displacement, and significant narrowing of the spinal canal cavity.In this case, various types of operations are performed. These include surgeries to fix displaced vertebrae with metal plates, insert artificial implants into the intervertebral joints, or remove individual bony growths.

physiotherapy

Physical therapy for osteochondrosis is one of the most important aspects of treatment. As a result, blood circulation is gradually restored, the vertebrae return to their normal position, and the spine is significantly strengthened.In the initial stages of the disease, it includes gymnastics.If gymnastics does not bring positive results, the doctor will choose a separate set of exercises for the patient, combined with other physical therapy procedures.

complication

The disease can cause the following complications:

• Inflammatory diseases of the nerve roots (radiculitis, radiculopathy);
• intervertebral hernia;
• vegetative vascular dystonia;
• various neurological complications;
• severe headache, migraine;
• limb atrophy;
• spinal stenosis;
• Spondyloarthropathy (hyperplasia of the joint surface margins due to joint deformation);
• Spinal cord stroke.

If medical treatment does not bring positive results, surgical treatment is required. The slightest delay and not starting treatment on time can lead to disability, as the spine will lose its properties and mobility.

If treatment is not started promptly, complications such as reproductive and urinary system organ dysfunction may occur.

prevention

Treating osteochondrosis is quite difficult. Therefore, every effort must be made to prevent disease from developing in the body. To prevent the occurrence of osteochondrosis, preventive measures need to be taken continuously:

• correctorganize a workplace;
• needed when you workshort breakdo light gymnastics;
• pay attention to your posture;
• DailyGait should be relaxed and unrestricted;
• Choose appropriate, comfortable pillows and a bouncy mattress.The sleeping surface should be flatbouncy;
• In your daily diet, you should try to eat less salty and sweet dishes and more calcium-rich foods. Vitamins C, E, and B are necessary to strengthen cartilage tissue and make it elastic.
• active lifestyle.
• preventivemassage.
• Medicinalgymnastics.

Preventative measures are also a major requirement during recovery. Following these simple rules can help you avoid a recurrence of the disease even after you have fully recovered.

in conclusion

1. Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disease of the human spine. Symptoms depend on the type of disease and where it occurs (neck, chest, lumbosacral area).
2. Complications of the disease not only destroy the integrity of the spine but also significantly affect the function of other organ systems.
3. Osteochondrosis can only be cured with comprehensive treatment, a combination of medication, physical therapy, and therapeutic exercises.
4. Not complicatedPreventive measures will help protect your body from serious pathologies.