Many patients do not know how to understand that you have osteochondrosis, but at the same time they are happy to make such a diagnosis on their own. Meanwhile, the causes of back, lower back, or neck pain can be many. These can be curvature of the spine, disruption of internal organs, tumors, infections, instability of the position of the vertebral bodies, etc. Therefore, you shouldn't self-diagnose. Consult a doctor in case of pain.
There is no reliable algorithm on how to recognize osteochondrosis without special examinations. But there are some clinical signs that make it possible to suspect this disease. We will talk about this in the material brought to your attention. In the meantime, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the development mechanism of osteochondrosis.
Degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs - this is what scientifically calls osteochondrosis. As it develops, it leads to dorsopathy, which is complicated by back pain, sciatica, sciatica, sciatica, low back pain, and other syndromes associated with damage to various tissues.
Osteochondrosis is a consequence of maintaining a person's wrong lifestyle. The contributing factors are:
- excess body weight - each kilogram creates an additional depreciation and mechanical load on the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral disc;
- a sedentary lifestyle without regular exercise on the muscle structure of the back;
- eating large amounts of carbohydrates, refined foods;
- wearing tight and uncomfortable clothes and shoes;
- incorrect posture, habit of bending over, bending over, tilting the body in one direction or another;
- incorrect setting of the foot in the form of flat feet or clubfoot;
- curvature of the spine;
- sedentary work or heavy physical work;
- smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages;
- insufficient consumption of drinking water during the day.
All these factors slow down the microcirculation of blood in the capillary network in the thickness of the muscle tissue. It is unable to carry out a diffuse exchange in all respects with the cartilage tissues of the intervertebral discs. They don't have their own circulatory system. This is how the mechanism of destruction of the surface of the fibrous ring (this is the outer shell of the disc) is initiated. It forms a deposit of calcium salts. They prevent the reception of liquids from the outside. Therefore, the fibrous ring begins to suck fluid from the nucleus pulposus located inside it. This gelatinous body is responsible for maintaining the normal height and shape of the intervertebral disc. Therefore, with the loss of fluid, the nucleus pulposus loses its ability to maintain the height of the disc. The second stage of osteochondrosis develops - protrusion.
At the third stage the fibrous ring breaks and part of the nucleus pulposus comes out. This is a herniated disc. It presses on the surrounding soft tissues, causes an inflammatory reaction, etc.
The fourth stage of osteochondrosis is the sequestration of the intervertebral hernia. Part of the nucleus pulposus separates or exits entirely through the consequent rupture of the fibrous ring. If the hernia enters the cavity of the spinal canal, its seizure requires emergency surgery. Otherwise, a person can remain disabled with body paralysis for the rest of their life.
As you can see, this is a very serious disease, which must be diagnosed in a timely manner. The earlier a complex treatment is started, the greater the chances of a complete restoration of the integrity of the intervertebral disc and its functions.
When the first signs of osteochondrosis appear, you can make an appointment with a vertebrologist or neurologist. Doctors will conduct a manual examination and examination. They will make an accurate diagnosis and recommend any necessary additional examinations. After making an accurate diagnosis, you will be offered a course of treatment.
How to recognize cervical osteochondrosis
How to understand that you have cervical osteochondrosis and not myositis and what to do next? Before recognizing cervical osteochondrosis, it is necessary to collect an anamnesis:
- when pains appear;
- what actions provoke their appearance;
- how long ago was the first kidnapping;
- there are additional clinical signs;
- how the sleeping place and the work place are organized;
- what bad habits there are;
- workplace and profession.
How to understand that cervical osteochondrosis according to all this information? First of all, it is important to know that degenerative degenerative disease of the intervertebral discs manifests itself in the form of pain, stiffness of movements, excessive strain on the muscles of the neck and collar area only in the initial stage. Then, to these signs are added tension headache, dizziness, impaired hearing and vision, increased fatigue, decreased mental performance, etc.
A distinctive feature of cervical osteochondrosis is that the exacerbation of symptoms begins at the end of the working day. And the patient's professional activity in most cases is associated with prolonged static tension of the muscles of the neck and collar area. On examination, there is pain on palpation of the spinous processes of the vertebrae, excessive muscle tension and increased pain when trying to turn the head.
Before recognizing osteochondrosis of the cervical region, the doctor recommends the patient to take an x-ray. Shows the reduced spaces between the vertebral bodies. This indicates that a ledge is developing. With the help of an X-ray image, an experienced vertebrologist will be able to exclude the instability of the position of the vertebral bodies, their subluxations, retrolisthesis, antelisthesis, destruction of the intervertebral joints and a number of others severe pathologies. If this examination is not sufficient, an MRI or CT scan is recommended. If the development of posterior vertebral artery syndrome is suspected, an ultrasound of the vessels of the neck and head is recommended.
How to recognize osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
Before recognizing thoracic osteochondrosis, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of developing pathologies of internal organs, such as the heart, coronary circulatory system, lungs, pleura, bronchi, etc. Consider how to recognize osteochondrosis of the thoracic region:
- the most important diagnostic technique is palpation, if the pain is determined exclusively by the spinous processes of the vertebrae and in the region of the paravertebral muscles degenerative destruction of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs is not excluded;
- mobility is limited and any twists and tilts of the body increase pain;
- the pain attack was provoked by physical exertion, hypothermia or psychological stressors;
- taking a deep breath does not aggravate the pain.
It is very important to know how to understand the heart or osteochondrosis, as acute chest pain is not uncommon a precursor to myocardial infarction. And in this condition, the patient should immediately receive cardiac care.
So, if anxiety, panic and fear of death are felt during a pain attack, then this is a 90% chance of a heart attack and you need to call an ambulance urgently. If a tonometer is present, blood pressure should be measured and pulse counted. When the pulse slows down to bradycardia (less than 50 beats per minute) and with an increase in blood pressure of 20-40 mm Hg above the age norm, an attack of unstable angina pectoris with a possible transition should also be suspected to myocardial infarction.
You shouldn't look for information on how to understand a heartache or osteochondrosis, it is much more productive to seek medical help. Even the most common ECG, performed in the hospital emergency room, will show what gives the pain syndrome: the heart or the spine. Regardless, you can rely only on sensations during palpation. As a rule, with damage to the heart muscle, palpation of the spinous processes of the vertebrae does not give unpleasant sensations. But at the same time, there are clinical symptoms of osteochondrosis such as shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of air, paleness of the skin, a feeling of cold, sticky sweat on the skin, cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle, and severe muscle weakness.
How to recognize lumbar osteochondrosis
Quite acute is the question of how to understand that lumbar osteochondrosis causes severe pain. In addition, with the defeat of some paired radicular nerves and nerve plexuses, clinical symptoms occur that resemble diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary system. These are constipation, diarrhea, frequent urination, etc.
How to understand that osteochondrosis of the back causes pain and all other clinical signs:
- no increase in body temperature;
- no nausea and vomiting;
- the tongue is not covered with a white or yellow coating;
- when urinating, the color of urine does not differ from normal;
- when emptying the intestines, there is no tenesmus and other pain sensations;
- there is no admixture of blood or mucus in the stool.
To rule out kidney pathology, a test for Pasternatsky's symptom is performed. The patient stands up with his back to the doctor. The doctor with the edge of the palm lightly hits the edge of the lower costal arch. If pain occurs, there is a high chance that low back pain is associated with damage to the kidneys and ureters.
How to recognize lumbar osteochondrosis by indirect signs:
- with any movement, the pain sharply increases;
- exacerbation of the condition begins after severe physical exertion, heavy lifting, hypothermia or overheating of the body;
- stiffness of movements is felt, often associated with muscle weakness;
- the muscles in the lumbar region are strongly tense, painful on palpation;
- pain can spread along the course of large nerves, for example, in the groin area, on the anterior abdominal wall, along the lower limbs;
- at rest, the pain syndrome fades quickly.
When the characteristic symptoms of osteochondrosis appear, it is important to contact a neurologist or vertebrologist as soon as possible. Only an experienced doctor can rule out the possibility of spinal displacement, herniated disc, spinal stenosis and other dangerous pathologies that require immediate medical attention.
What to do with osteochondrosis pain
We figured out how to understand that pain comes from osteochondrosis. Right now, this is important information. You need to know how to behave correctly and what to do to get rid of such a disease.
A degenerative degenerative disease of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs does not go away by itself. This is due to a number of factors. First of all, calcification of the surface of the fibrous ring occurs, as a result of which it loses the ability to absorb the fluid secreted by the working muscles. Secondly, in the process of reducing the height of the intervertebral discs, a secondary contraction of the ligaments and tendons occurs. It will be impossible to restore the height of the intervertebral spaces necessary to straighten the discs on your own.