Osteochondrosis

Osteocondrosis is a deductive degenerative deductive lesion of the spine, which includes the defeat of the bodies of the vertebrae, the joint apparatus, the binding apparatus and the intervertebral discs. This disease is quite common in a uniform way in all countries - from 45 to 85% of the population suffers from this disease. The beginning of the osteocondrosis occurs in patients over the age of 30-35, however, cases of a previous onset of the disease are known. Men and women get sick with approximately the same frequency.

Causes

There is no unified cause of the development of osteocondrosis. There is a large number of predisposing causal factors. The main ones are as follows:

• Spinal lesions (fractures, bruises, dislocations);
• Hereditary predisposition;
• Foot diseases that cause an overload of the spine: this includes flat feet, various foot deformations, Valgus of the foot deformation;
• Wearing narrow and uncomfortable shoes for a long time (also causes an overload of the spine);
• Overweight and obesity;
• Age -related changes;
• Sedentary lifestyle;
• Athletes who abruptly abandon their training and lessons;
• Metabolic disorders;
• Spinal curvature (kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis);
• Professional characteristics: weight lifting, frequent curves and body stools, work in a position of the uncomfortable body;
• Frequent and prolonged hypothermia;
• Stress;
• A specific climate, both in the place of residence and in the workplace: low air temperatures and high humidity.

If exposed to one or more causal factors, the development of the disease begins. It is customary to divide it into four main phases:

• The first stadium. There is a decrease in the amount of humidity in the nucleus of the intervertebral disc, it becomes more flat, the distance between the vertebrae decreases. The cartilage is covered with small cracks.
• The second stage. Due to the reduction of the distance between the vertebrae, the muscle and binding apparatus of the vertebrae occurs. This leads to the pathological mobility of the vertebral bodies, to their movements.
• The third phase. Due to the progressive processes in the spine, the squeezing (protrusion) of the intervertebral discs occurs, the subluxation of the vertebrae occurs.
• The fourth phase. Among the vertebrae, bone peaks (osteophytes) appear, which aim to eliminate the mobility of the vertebrae, the prevention of dislocations. Over time, there are so many that the affected vertebrae completely lose their mobility. In this case, there is a trauma of blood vessels and nerves that pass near the vertebrae and leave the spinal column.

In the first and last phases of the disease of clinical manifestations (pain), the patient does not have.

Classification

There are many classifications of osteochondrosis. Each doctor chooses the most acceptable for himself. The following classifications are used more often:

Classification on the defeat of the spine:

• Cervical osteochondrosis;
• Thoracic osteochondrosis;
• Lumbar osteochondrosis;
• Crown osteochondrosis;
• Extended osteochondrosis (common) - affects 2 or more spine.

Classification by degree of change in the intervertebral disc (radiological phases):

• 0 internships - There is no change in the disc;
• 1st stage - minor changes, including maximum internal tears;
• 2 stadiums - serious changes in the disc keeping the surface external;
• Phase 3-the entire disc is completely influenced (cracks with diffusion on the external surface, tightening the disc from under the bodies of the vertebrae, etc. ).

Classification for clinical events and degree of altered spinal operation:

• 1st stage - The functioning of the spine has not changed, the patient feels a slight pain in the injury;
• 2 stadiums: the functioning of the spine is disturbed (subluxtental bodies occur, protrusion of the disc, pinching of the nerves), pain in the destruction site intensifies;
• PHASE 3 - The spine is deformed, hernias of intervertebral discs occur, significant pain;
• PHASE 4 - The patient is difficult to move, the mobility of the spine decreases, pain during the slightest movement. The patient is administered disability.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis

The symptoms of osteocondrosis depend on the area of damage to the spine and the degree of disorders that occur in it.

For the expanded clinical picture of the osteochondosis of the cervical column, the following signs are characteristic:

• Violation of visual acuity;
• Dizziness;
• Tinnitus;
• "Flies" trembling in front of the eyes and the appearance of colored spots;
• Hearing loss;
• Headache in the cloud, temporal and parietal region, intensifying when the cervical column moves;
• Loss of consciousness;
• Snore;
• Rauco of the voice or his weakening;
• Numbness and loss of sensitivity on the skin of the face, neck and hands;
• Dental destruction;
• Blood pressure advice.

For osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, the following symptoms are characteristic:

• Pain in the heart, which lasts for a long time, painful or pressing, often acute, stitching, acute, patients may show a specific point of pain;
• Numbness of the skin in the chest, abdomen and back;
• The pain in the spine, especially among the shoulder blades, strongly expressed;
• Pain when your hands get up;
• Pain with acute and deep breath, and then add to the epilation;
• Pain, discomfort and difficulty during the inclinations of the body in any direction.

The following symptoms are characteristic of the osteochondosis of the lumbar and sacred column:

• Pain in the area of the lumbar and sacred column (low back pain), which can give in one or both legs, intensifying with any movement of the spine in the affected area;
• The legs freeze at a comfortable temperature for other parts of the body;
• Almost constant tension in the back muscles, particularly in the lumbar region;
• A feeling of numbness, crawling the goosebumps and tingling on the skin of legs and buttocks;
• Varicose veins on the legs;
• Violation of power in men;
• Increase in sweating;
• Pallor of the skin on the legs;
• Irregular menstruation in women.

With prolonged and neglected osteochondrosis, when the affected vertebrae merge with each other, the patient is concerned only by the impossibility of movements in a particular spine, pain, as a rule, decreases or leaves completely.

Diagnostics

First of all, the doctor leads a survey and examination of the patient, establishing a preliminary diagnosis. For confirmation, further examination methods are assigned. With osteochondrosis, they are only instrumental, because the laboratory (test) will not show any confirmation change.

The main diagnostic methods include the following:

• X -Ray exam. It allows you to determine the degree of damage to the vertebrae, their position, the bone formations. With indirect methods, it is possible to determine the condition of bone channels and intervertebral discs;
• Computerized tomography (CT). It allows you to determine the condition of the intervertebral discs, their structure and shape, deformation of the vertebrae and compression of the endings and nerve roots;
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It allows you to determine the smaller violations in the spine and is prescribed in cases where controversial issues remain in charge of CT;
• Ultrasound procedure. It allows you to identify the degree of blood flow in the pots that feed the spinal cord and other organs;
• Myelography. The radiography method of the spine using a question of contrast. It allows you to identify intervertebral hernias.

Treatment of osteocondrosis

Conservative treatment

In the treatment of osteocondrosis, conservative treatment methods are mainly used. In this case, the approach to each patient should be individual and complex. Conservative treatment methods can be divided into 4 main groups:

• Pharmacological treatment;
• Physiotherapy;
• Spa treatment;
• Diet (bases of correct nutrition).

Pharmacological treatment of osteochondrosis

Medicines used in the treatment of osteocondrosis must be used during periods of exacerbations. They contribute to a decrease in symptoms and also influence some causal factors in the development of the disease. The main groups of drugs used in the treatment of osteocondrosis:

• Fanse. Non steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs have anesthetic and anti -inflammatory effects and also reduce the high temperature of the tissues concerned of the spine and its structures. With pronounced symptoms, the first days of exacerbation of the disease are prescribed in the form of injections. The frequency of use is 1-2 times a day. Subsequently, they move on to forms of compressed drugs with a treatment rate of 10-30 days, if necessary. The admission frequency ranges from 1 to 4 times a day. In addition, together with tablets and injections, ointments or creams are shown, which are applied to the skin in the area of the spine 1-3 times a day.
• Musorelassanti. The preparations of this group make an excellent front with an increase in muscle tone, relaxing the broken muscle fibers transversely and facilitating the patient's conditions. On average, the course of treatment is about 1 month. With serious symptoms, the treatment begins with forms of injection of drugs. The dosage must start with a minimum, gradually increasing until the therapeutic effect is reached, after which it gradually reduces also to the complete cancellation.

Several other groups are used as additional medicines:

• Vitamins. Accelerating the processes of restoring tissue, normalizing nervous conductivity, accelerating the metabolism, etc. Almost always these drugs for osteochondrosis are prescribed in the form of injections, courses for 10 days. These are vitamins B1, B2, B6, E.
• Blood preparations. These drugs normalize the blood flow in the veins and arteries, restore the muscle tone of the blood vessels and restore the metabolism. Very often forms of tablet release are used. The duration of the treatment with these agents is between 1 and 3 months. In addition, in extreme cases, the injection of the drug is possible for the first 5-10 days, with the subsequent transition to the tablets.
• Glucocorticosteroids. They have anti -inflammatory, decongestant effects, improve the work of fans and muscle relaxants. Depending on the severity of the patient's condition, they are prescribed in the form of intramuscular or intra - -face injections or in the form of tablets for oral administration. The course of the treatment has been selected individually, for several days at several weeks. The abolition of the drug should take place with a gradual reduction in dosage.
• Biogenic stimulants. Accelerating the metabolism, stimulate the restoration of the tissues, reduce the inflammation and swelling of the tissues and much more. More often used in the form of injection and a little less common in the form of tablets or other forms for oral administration. The course of treatment can vary from 1 week to 2-3 months, depending on the severity of the disease.

Physiotherapy treatment of osteochondrosis

The physiotherapy measures, combined with medicines, allow to accelerate the recovery processes and also extend the remission period when used outside the exacerbations. There are many physiotherapy methods and most of them are well practiced in the treatment of osteocondrosis:

• Electrophoresis. Depending on the drug used in this procedure, an analgesic effect is obtained. The metabolism has improved and the normalization of the blood flow in the tissues concerned.
• Acupuncture (acupuncture). With the help of special special agents and their effects on active points located on the patient's skin, an analgesic effect is achieved, recovery and metabolic processes are stimulated and inflammation decreases.
• Magnetotherapy. It reduces the pain, swelling and inflammation of the tissues, accelerates nervous conductivity, normalizes metabolic processes
• Manual therapy. Mobility is restored in the joints of the spine, pain syndrome is reduced.
• Massage. Normalizes muscle tone, eliminates back pain, restores nervous conductivity.
• Operating therapy. Restoration of the mobility of the spine, a decrease in pain, the restoration of the usual lifestyle, strengthening the muscle frame of the back, the relaxation of the back muscles, the acceleration of the metabolism.
• The traction of the spine. The mobility of the spine is restored, prevents the progression of the disease and the development of complications and anesthetization.
• Laser therapy. It improves the flow of blood, stimulates the regeneration of the tissues, reduces pain and inflammation, reduces the swelling of the spine.
• Thermotherapy. Anesthetic effect, normalization of blood flow and lymph through blood vessels, a decrease in inflammation in the tissues, acceleration of the recovery of the cartilage.
• Mudreing (fur therapy). It reduces the pain to the spine, reduces muscle spasm, slightly reduces inflammation processes, improves blood flow and metabolism.

A patient can be prescribed for 1 physiotherapy event and their complex. It depends on the severity of the osteochondrosis process and accompanying pathologies. The duration of the course of the treatment on average is 10-15 days. It is recommended to repeat 3-4 times during the year. Therefore, it is possible to repeat the frequency of exacerbations and the progression rate of osteochondosis several times.