Osteochondrosis is a disease, which has a number of irregularities in the articular cartilage degenerative nature. Osteochondrosis can occur in different joints, but osteoarthritis most often affects the intervertebral discs. If we consider the localization of the disease, osteochondrosis can be divided into thoracic, cervical, lumbar.
Osteochondrosis is a disease that causes pain in the back is about 80% of cases. In the case of complications of degenerative disc disease, herniated disc sometimes pain occurs in the head, limbs, other organs. The most common is lumbar osteochondrosis, provokes pain in the legs. Many people complain of symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease, with sore hands and head. In the thoracic form of the disease, pain occurs in internal organs.
The causes of osteochondrosis
The original reason for osteochondrosis is considered human bipedalism. There are many different theories about the causes of lower back pain. Such, for example, have a tendency to hereditary nature, injury, violation of metabolic processes in the body. Determining the cause of this disease is complicated by the fact that the disease occurs in people of different age, physique and physical level of development.
There is also a theory that the cause of osteochondrosis comes from the accumulation of salts in the spine. However, experts say that it is a little misleading. And it is the correct analysis of the causes of the disease is through effective treatment of the disease.
Osteochondrosis of the nature of the disease is non-inflammatory, degenerative-dystrophic. The process of the development of the disease disturbed nutrition of tissues, reform its structure. People who are constantly active exercise, are more durable and flexible tissue skeletal. This is due to the fact that the discs of the spine adult's own ships did not, therefore, oxygen and nutrients into the discs come tissues, which are located near the. A similar process can be performed only in the case of active circulation, which is possible only in the process of constant intense muscle performance.
Each intervertebral disc consists of two parts. In the middle of the disc the nucleus pulposus, which makes the elastic plate, and surrounded by a strong fibrous ring. If the power supply of the intervertebral discs become worse, the structure of biopolymer compounds can be destroyed. The lower the moisture content in the plate it becomes brittle. And if the spine is under pressure, the nucleus pulposus is divided into fragments. As a result of its flexibility is greatly reduced. The fiber-ring you also lose power. Such phenomena as the starting point for the manifestation of the man of degenerative disc disease.
Taking the manifestation of degenerative changes of the spine occurs , calcification of the damaged discs, tendons, capsules. A similar phenomenon – the last stage of the development process of the disease.
Unfortunately, the reverse process, when similar changes in the spine almost impossible. Therefore, the main goal of treatment in osteoarthritis is to maintain the status quo.
Basically the symptoms of the disease become more pronounced in humans after reaching thirty-five years. Thus, the older a person becomes, the more symptoms, he said. Recently, however, complaints of back pain more and more young people go to the doctor.
The reason for the early occurrence of degenerative disc disease is primarily a very weak physical activity, problems with posture, and curved spine, flat feet, and obesity. So far, the main causes of osteochondrosis are considered as follows:
- the tendency of the hereditary nature;
- problems with metabolic processes, intoxication, infection;
- the presence of excess weight, poor nutrition (low fluid intake lack of micronutrients);
- injuries of the spine, its curvature, incorrect posture, flat feet;
- the existence of poor environmental conditions;
- active lifestyle;
- regular lifting of heavy loads, work in awkward positions for a long time activities, in which people often play the jerk in the night, turns and bending of the frame;
- too intense physical activity, overloading the spine, due to diseases of the foot, disorders of the, in the process of wearing shoes, as well as stress during pregnancy;
- sudden cessation of regular exercise people who exercise, stress, constant Smoking.
Symptoms of degenerative disc disease
People who suffer from degenerative disc disease, primarily manifested by pain in the back. Sometimes this pain is accompanied by numbness and a feeling of aching limbs. If the treatment of osteochondrosis does not start in a timely manner, a person quickly loses weight, it occurs atrophy of the limbs. During exercise and exertion, as well as in the process of lifting too heavy objects, the process of sneezing and coughing, the pain may become more intense. Patients with osteoarthritis, decreases the amount of movements that occur spasms of the muscles.
Cervical degenerative disc disease occurs due to the nature of the structure of the cervical spine. The cervical vertebrae are much smaller than the other vertebrae in the spinal column. Accordingly, cervical degenerative disc disease occurs because of the constant load on the neck. Symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease is expressed as follows: pain occur on the hands, neck, shoulders, may occur and headaches. This type of disease is characterized by the vertebral artery syndrome. The manifestation of this syndrome, the person feels the presence of noise in the head, eyes flashing "fly", dizziness. In front of the eyes can occur colored spots, parallel man feels like a strong headache pulsating nature. Symptoms of osteochondrosis sometimes resemble the signs of angina, but patients in the study no changes were observed in the heart.
In patients with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine the patient feels pain in the chest. The pain may radiate to the region of the heart and other internal organs.
In patients with osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine feel pain in the lower back, which may radiate to the legs, the pelvis, the pelvic organs. They marvel at the nerve roots, disturbed sensitivity, may be reduced reflexes and hypotension occur.
The diagnosis of degenerative disc disease
A preliminary diagnosis of "low back pain" expert set during the initial examination of the patient. As a rule, inspection is performed by a doctor-neurologist. Typically, the patient comes to the office complaining of pain and deformity or limitation.
Studies of the spine of the patient performed in the standing, lying and sitting, the doctor examines him and in motion and at rest. During the examination the doctor, be sure to pay attention to the posture of people, especially his body, especially the spine, relief of muscles located near the spine.
Thank you for feeling the spine, the results of the patient survey can be supplemented with information about whether there is deformity of the spine, where the pain is localized, and to determine the degree of its intensity. In the process of feelings is also defined by how tense the muscles near the spine, as the muscle tone involved in most illnesses and injuries. In order to determine the amplitude of the movements of the different parts of the spine, we explore the possibility of its bending.
The diagnosis of osteoarthritis is often used in computed tomography, x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging. These methods will allow you to figure out what level of spinal damage, find out if there is a hidden pathology and specify the diagnosis.
With the right approach to the diagnosis the doctor can determine what tactics of treatment to choose her to be the most effective.
For the treatment of degenerative disc disease
Treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease, as well as other forms of the disease and its complications is carried out using conservative methods, which aim is to eliminate pain, restore function of the spinal roots, as well as the prevention of degenerative phenomena, the structures of the spine.
If all methods of conservative treatment does not bring the desired effect, and for this there are special indications, that patients are sometimes prescribed to surgical methods for the treatment of degenerative disc disease. The volume of surgical intervention depends on how it affects the spine and severe symptoms.
Disease severity also depends on the duration of treatment. Typically, the active phase of treatment with conservative methods is usually about 1 to 3 months. After surgery, patients recover in about one year. After the start of conservative treatment many patients with osteoarthritis have increased pain. It is expressed in the reaction of muscles and other communities for treatment.
If the pain is too strong, it can stop relatively quickly physiotherapeutic methods, medicines and to implement a wide variety of exercises specifically designed for patients with low back pain. It is important to note that the most important factor that affects the effectiveness of treatment is the correct behavior of the patient adequate attitude need to adhere to the developed method of treatment. It is important perseverance, patience and desire to overcome the disease. It is shown that the most effective is to implement medical treatment and recovery after surgery health the environmental and health centers, which spetsializiruyutsya treatment of this disease. If you have the necessary equipment and qualified doctors comprehensive treatment is the most effective and efficient.
In the complex treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease is are therapeutic exercise, massage, physiotherapy, chiropractic, reflexology, the use of drugs.
One of the most important methods to affect the musculoskeletal system of the people is therapeutic exercise. The patient to regularly perform a certain amount of exercise, during which the gradual decompression of the nerve roots, the repair of the muscular system, improves flexibility of the ligamentous-muscular apparatus. Special exercises with cervical osteochondrosis also enable effective prevention of further disease development. The main condition is the regularity of the exercises.
When using physiotherapy is the treatment of osteoarthritis, in which physical factors – the magnetic field, the current low frequency, ultrasound , etc. This technique allows to reduce the rehabilitation after surgery, and strengthens the effect of different drugs.
With the help of massage can relieve muscle tension, improve blood circulation, producing a strengthening effect in General.
To relieve sharp pain used chiropractic. This technique also helps to correct posture. The pain is also removed by means of traction of the spine – procedures performed in the special equipment. When reflexology is the impact on the reflex zones of the human body and can significantly improve the results of other methods.
During acute disease, the treatment is to apply the medication, which relieve inflammation, relieve pain, aktiviziruyutsya metabolism. The drug is administered intravenously or intramuscularly.
The most tangible results of treatment are observed, when several methods are used together. However, the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease and other forms of the disease, they should be appointed only the doctor.