A therapist with 50 years of experience once observed: "When I started working, there was not a single young patient with osteochondrosis on the site. And today almost every second thirty-year-old has this problem."
A sedentary lifestyle, metabolic disorders, spinal injuries, excess weight, unbalanced diet, prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, stress, hypothermia, smoking are modern paths to chronic degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs and subsequently in the vertebrae themselves.This is osteochondrosis (from the ancient Greek osteon - bone, chondros - cartilage).
Osteochondrosis is a disease caused by salt deposition in the spine
Wrong.The intervertebral disc is made up of a nucleus pulposus, a fibrous ring and hyaline cartilage that covers it above and below.When these elements are destroyed, the balance between the load on the spine and the ability to bear it is disrupted.As a result, the vertebrae begin to compress the adjacent nerve and muscle tissues and grow along the edges, forming the so-called.osteophytes, which produce a characteristic creaking sound during movement (patients mistakenly explain this as “salt deposition”).
If your back and neck hurt, it is exclusively osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is not the only cause of spinal pain.Patients often make this diagnosis on their own.However, in addition to this pathology, which is part of the group of degenerative-dystrophic changes of the spine, there is also arthrosis, osteoporosis, and differentiation can only be made after a comprehensive examination.
Degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in 30-50% of cases in people aged 30-40, in 75-100% of people over 40.
These pathological processes represent 20.4% of the overall structure of disability from diseases of the osteoarticular system.
Walking for a long time is bad for the spine
On the contrary.Physical activity has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the spine: it maintains muscle tone, preserves intervertebral mobility, stimulates blood circulation and metabolism.Physical inactivity and prolonged stay in a particularly uncomfortable position are "responsible" for the progression of the disease.
Another thing is that if an overweight person walks a lot and carries heavy objects, the spine experiences increased stress.
Flat feet contribute to the development of osteochondrosis
Exact.The arches of the foot, like the physiological curves of the spine, are designed to absorb shock loads when walking, running and jumping.If the foot does not provide adequate protection when interacting with the support, the spine receives additional stress, which significantly impairs the nutrition and functioning of its structures and accelerates the development of the disease.
Back pain is the only symptom of the disease
Not exactly.As a rule, patients complain of constant pain in the back, which is often accompanied by numbness and a feeling of pain in the limbs.Over time, if left untreated, the muscles of the limbs atrophy, the joints of the spine become less mobile and muscle spasms appear.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (see diagram), your arms and head can hurt.The so-called vertebral artery syndrome (noise in the head, dizziness, flashing "spots" and colored spots before the eyes, throbbing and burning headache).This acute condition occurs due to spasm of the arteries as a response to the impact of bone growths, as well as due to herniated disc, arthrosis of the intervertebral joint, as a reflex reaction to irritation of spinal receptors.
If a person suffers from coronary or cardiovascular pathologies, vertebral artery syndrome will aggravate the course.
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, pain is felt in the chest (a feeling as if a stake had been stuck there) - in the area of the heart and other internal organs;with lumbosacral lesions - in the lower back (irradiation to the sacrum, lower extremities, sometimes to the pelvic organs).
If complications of osteochondrosis develop (intervertebral disc herniation, bone growths, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthrosis), damage to the nerve roots is noted: the pain becomes excruciating, sensitivity worsens, weakness appears in the innervated muscles, and the severity of reflexes decreases.
Osteochondrosis can cause dysfunction in a wide variety of organs and tissues
Exact.Hippocrates also taught that all human diseases are associated with the spine, because this is a kind of foundation of the body.
With osteochondrosis, the risk of circulatory disorders in the cerebellar, stem and occipital regions of the brain increases.A constant headache appears: first in the back of the head, then spreading to the area of \u200b\u200bthe crown and temples, intensifies with neck movements (most often in the morning).Older people may lose consciousness if they suddenly turn their head.This is preceded by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and hearing, nausea and vomiting.
Sometimes there is pain in the heart area: prolonged, pressing, dull.With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, especially in old age, soft tissues often change: they become denser.
Degenerative processes in the spine can cause congestion in the gastrointestinal tract, disruption of the bronchopulmonary system, which is fraught with inflammatory and other disorders.
Vegetative-vascular dystonia, intercostal neuralgia - consequences of osteochondrosis
Not exactly.Osteochondrosis may be one of the reasons (not the only one) for the development of these diseases.When the intervertebral discs wear out and osteophytes grow, the intervertebral holes and the canal of the vertebral arteries narrow and deform, causing the violation of various structures.In particular, when the nerve roots are compressed, signs of intercostal neuralgia appear, and when the vertebral artery is compressed, the same symptoms as vegetative-vascular dystonia appear.
It is impossible to cure osteochondrosis
In fact, the structures of the spine that have undergone degenerative changes cannot be completely restored.However, adequate comprehensive treatment can eliminate the symptoms of the disease, stop the development of the pathology and avoid complications.
For intervertebral disc problems it is useful to heat the sore points
Wrong.Temperature changes, especially extreme ones (for example, a beginner's trip to the bathhouse), can cause serious aggravations.Moderate thermal procedures are used in complex treatment, but they must be prescribed by a doctor.
If you make circular movements with your head during osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, your health will worsen
Exact.These exercises are best performed for preventive purposes: they help maintain the range of motion of the intervertebral joints.With severe osteochondrosis, careless circular movements can aggravate vertebral artery syndrome, radiculopathy, etc.
Treatment cannot be carried out without non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Not exactly.During the remission period or when the pain is not severe, conservative therapy (physio-reflexological and manual) is carried out;Physical therapy and traction techniques are used.Drug treatment is indicated during an exacerbation and is aimed at relieving pain, alleviating the inflammatory process and accelerating metabolic processes (intramuscular or intravenous injections).
Among the most effective drugs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), prescribed to relieve inflammation and pain (meloxicam, diclofenac, ibuprofen);for severe pain, novocaine blocks are used;steroid drugs (epidural, intramuscular injections);NSAIDs in the form of ointments, gels and creams with analgesic and irritating effects (diclofenac, fastum gel, nise, capsicam, finalgon);muscle relaxants - to relieve muscle spasms (mydocalm, sirdalud);B vitamins - to improve metabolic processes in the spine (B1, B6, B12).
Osteochondrosis can lead to serious consequences
Yes. Due to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots, osteochondrosis can cause paralysis and, if the vertebral artery is pinched, loss of consciousness.
Exercises to “stretch” the spine help improve your condition
Extension, or traction, allows you to increase intervertebral space, relieve pain and restore the anatomically correct shape of the spine.However, the individual load must be calculated correctly.“Too much” can lead to a reflex contraction of the paravertebral muscles and worsen the condition.
Only an orthopedic traumatologist has the right to treat osteochondrosis.
Wrong.Most patients are observed by a neurologist and, in cases of significant severity of the pathology, by a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic vertebrologist.
A local doctor may also prescribe drug therapy to relieve a flare-up.