Such a disease as osteochondrosis of the back does not exist in modern medicine.First of all, it is worth clarifying that the term osteochondrosis itself is outdated and does not exist in the current version of ICD-10.It was replaced by a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral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 condition that way.And they will understand what this article is about.
So, osteochondrosis is degeneration of 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 of the abdominal cavity and chest is ensured.Inside the spine is the spinal cord, a structure that provides vitality to the entire body.The spine provides flexibility to the body, allows you to walk independently and make any movements with your hands.It is the connecting link between the head and the limbs.
The spine is made up of individual vertebral bodies.They are connected to each other using joints and links.There are long longitudinal ligaments that start in the coccyx region and end in the occipital region.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.But the fibrous ring has one major drawback - it completely lacks its own blood capillary network.It receives fluid only at a time when the surrounding muscles are actively contracting and relaxing.Also, part of the nutrition is provided by 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, then the annulus fibrosus becomes dehydrated and cracks.In the initial stage, it takes fluid from the tissues of the nucleus pulposus located within it.This gelatinous body ensures the disc's normal height and shock-absorbing ability to evenly distribute applied loads.
With a long course of this pathological process, the height of the intervertebral disc decreases.It loses its ability to protect the nerve roots coming from the spinal cord from pressure from the adjacent vertebral bodies.They are injured and radiculitis (inflammation of the root nerves) occurs.This is a dangerous situation.Therefore, the body takes measures to compensate for the lost capacity of the intervertebral discs.This causes excessive tension in the back muscles.As a result, the diffuse nutrition of the remaining cartilaginous tissues is further disturbed.Therefore, osteochondrosis of the back is considered a rapidly developing and spreading disease.Without treatment, it quickly affects all the intervertebral discs and the person becomes disabled.
If you are concerned 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.Get medical help immediately.The treatment of osteochondrosis without surgery is possible at any stage, except for the commitment of the hernia.If part of the nucleus pulposus has separated from the intervertebral disc, then only surgery can help in this situation.
You can make an appointment with a spondylologist or a neurologist.They will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective and safe treatment.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the back
The most common causes of osteochondrosis of the back are physical inactivity, excess body weight, sedentary work and refusal of regular physical activity.It is these factors that cause the destruction of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs at a young age.In later life (after 50 years), osteochondrosis develops for slightly different reasons:
- hormonal changes that lead to leaching of calcium and phosphorus from bone tissue.
- gerontological degenerative changes in the body.
- capillary blood flow disorder 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 reduce a person's physical activity.
In addition, possible causes of the development of osteochondrosis of the back can be traumatic injuries to the vertebral bodies, spinous processes, ligaments and tendons.The inappropriate organization of sleeping and working areas is of no small importance.If a person does not attach importance to the position of his body during night sleep, then the risk of destruction of the spine and the development of osteochondrosis increases sharply.
You should also stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.These two bad habits cause disruption of blood microcirculation in the area of the intervertebral discs, which triggers their degenerative dystrophic destruction.
The causes of osteochondrosis of the back can be diet and drink.An adult needs to drink at least 2 liters of pure water a day to maintain water and electrolyte balance.Also, the diet should contain all the vitamins and minerals used to regenerate the hyaline cartilage, which composes the tissues of the annulus fibrosus.If the diet is dominated by fatty and processed foods, the body quickly begins to experience a lack of certain nutrients.This does not allow him to restore the integrity of all tissues, including vertebrates.
Therefore, when carrying out complex treatment of osteochondrosis of the back, an experienced doctor will definitely correct the patient's diet.It will give him the necessary recommendations regarding the proper organization of his sleeping and working space.
With osteochondrosis, the back muscles experience severe overload.They are responsible for supporting the spine and for the safety of the nerve roots.With prolonged static tension, the cycle of blood circulation in the capillaries changes.The myocytes begin to experience oxygen starvation and an ischemic reaction quickly begins.At first it gives severe pain in the back muscles.Then the myocytes begin to die.Short-term inflammation can occur against the background of necrosis of muscle tissue.Then the degeneration of the muscle fibers begins.This entails 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, seek medical help immediately.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic back is the least common, since there is no great range of motion of the vertebral bodies.The height of the intervertebral spaces is additionally ensured by the fixation of the lateral arches.Therefore, we will not consider the symptoms of this type of disease separately.
Most often, osteochondrosis develops in the lumbar region, as it bears the main load of shock absorption and physical load associated with any movements of the human body.Symptoms of pathology include a characteristic shooting pain in the lumbar region.It can spread along the inner, outer or back surface of the thigh and lower leg, extending to the heel or toes.Gradually, neurological clinical signs begin to appear, such as numbness, paresthesia, reduced muscle strength, pallor and coldness of the skin of the lower extremities.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical and cervicothoracic spine is diagnosed no less often.This disease develops more often in people engaged in mental work.With prolonged static tension in the neck muscles, blood microcirculation is disturbed and the cartilage tissue is destroyed.
Clinical symptoms with this localization of degenerative dystrophic changes in the cartilaginous tissues of the discs can be more varied.The pain can radiate below the shoulder blade, in the region of the heart and in the upper extremities.Muscle weakness occurs quickly in the arms.There are signs of impaired blood circulation in the posterior vertebral arteries.These are dizziness, reduced mental performance, frequent changes in blood pressure, drowsiness, apathy, etc.
If symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back appear, it is necessary to conduct a series of clinical studies.First of all, X-rays of the affected part of the spine are prescribed.Based on these, the doctor can only make a preliminary diagnosis.A more detailed examination of the condition of the spinal tissues is possible during an MRI examination.Doppler ultrasound, soft tissue ultrasound, biochemical and general blood tests, rheumatic tests, etc. may also be required.
What to do and how to relieve the pain?
The first thing to do in case of osteochondrosis of the back is to stop any physical activity and provide relative rest to the spine and muscles.In the first days after an attack, it is best to observe strict bed rest.Treatment can only be prescribed by a neurologist or spondylologist.It is not recommended to take medication on your own.Not only can they have a negative impact on your health, but they can also make it difficult to get an accurate diagnosis in the future.
The only thing you can do to relieve back pain caused by osteochondrosis and not harm your health is spinal traction.It is important to restore the normal height of the intervertebral spaces.This will take the pressure off the root nerves and all the pain will go away without additional use of pharmacological drugs.Traction can be hardware, manual or with the help of physical exercises.Only a doctor can determine which method is suitable for your particular case during an examination.
How to treat and cure osteochondrosis of the back?
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the back can be carried out exclusively by conservative methods, even at the stage of intervertebral hernia prolapse.Doctors know how to treat osteochondrosis of the back without surgery.For this purpose, osteopathy and massage, therapeutic exercises and kinesitherapy, laser therapy, reflexology and many others 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 treatment is then developed.During treatment, the damaged cartilage tissue is completely restored.If all recommendations are followed, relapses of osteochondrosis do not occur.