Osteochondrosis of the spine is a degenerative disease manifested by the destruction of cartilage and bone tissue. The pathology is chronic and occurs with frequent relapses. First of all, it affects the intervertebral disc, and then other structures of the axial column and the central nervous system.
Initially, spinal osteochondrosis was considered a disease of the elderly, but recently the pathology has become significantly younger. Today, degenerative changes are often diagnosed in people aged 23–45 years.
Causes
A single cause of osteochondrosis has not been established. Doctors of old practice believed that the disease develops against the background of the deposition of calcium salts that are not completely absorbed by the bone tissue. Today, other versions of the occurrence of dystrophic destruction of the spine have been put forward.
The main ones are:
- back injuries;
- heredity;
- flat feet, congenital clubfoot;
- obesity;
- sedentary work, passive lifestyle;
- metabolic disorder;
- poor posture;
- asthenic body type, natural weakness of muscles and ligaments;
- harmful working conditions (vibration, jerking, body shaking);
- frequent lifting of heavy objects;
- hypothermia;
- stress;
- chronic inflammation of tissues of an infectious nature.
For representatives of the fairer sex, uncomfortable high-heeled shoes can be a provoking factor. Frequent pregnancies also contribute to the development of spinal lesions.
Symptoms
Degenerative destruction that occurs in the body of the intervertebral disc leads to loss of elasticity, impedes the accumulation and release of fluid, and worsens the shock-absorbing properties of the axial column.
As a result, the load on the fibrous ring increases, it becomes thinner and cracks, and the vertebrae move dangerously close to each other. Pathological compression of bone structures and cartilage develops.
The severe pain that occurs is accompanied by the following symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis:
- numbness, goosebumps, burning sensation in the affected area;
- decreased mobility;
- back muscle fatigue;
- decreased performance, fatigue.
The considered signs of osteochondrosis are general. The specific symptoms of the disease depend on which segment of the spinal column has been destroyed.
With compression of the cervical spine, blood flow in the vessels worsens, which leads to frequent migraines, dizziness and loss of consciousness. The patient may complain of tinnitus, spots before the eyes, pain in the shoulders and arms.
Structural destruction in the lower back forces a person to take a forced posture, slowly stand up and sit down. Pain appears in the buttock, radiating to the limb all the way to the lower leg and foot. Intermittent claudication develops.
Most symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis belong to the vertebral type. Disorders that form outside the axial column are referred to as extravertebral syndrome. For example, vascular disorders in the brain caused by compression of the vertebral artery.
Kinds
Osteochondrosis of the back is classified according to the place of its occurrence - cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral. More than half of the cases occur in the lumbar spine, a third of all diagnoses relate to the cervical segment.
Which doctor treats osteochondrosis?
If you experience severe back pain, you should postpone your appointment with a neurologist or neurologist. If such specialists are not available at your local clinic, you should contact your general practitioner. After the initial examination, the doctor will prescribe treatment or refer you to other specialists.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis begins with interviewing the patient. The doctor is interested in the time of onset of symptoms, the intensity and nature of the pain, and its location. Then the specialist begins visual inspection and palpation of the spinal column.
Due to the variety of symptoms, a mandatory element in the diagnosis of osteochondrosis is the use of instrumental studies:
- X-ray of the entire spine in 2 projections;
- MRI and CT;
- Dopplerography of vessels and arteries of the cervical spine.
Unfortunately, X-rays do not provide a complete picture of the condition of the soft structures of the spinal column—the spinal roots and disc tissue remain unexamined. In this case, functional MRI comes to the rescue, which differs from the classical one in the location of the patient’s body.
Treatment
How to treat spinal osteochondrosis? To combat the disease, conservative and surgical therapy is used. The main goal of both techniques is to eliminate pain and prevent further destruction of bone tissue and cartilage.
Non-operative treatment of back osteochondrosis includes:
- massage;
- exercise therapy;
- traction of the entire spine;
- manipulative therapy;
- impact on active points.
The effectiveness of the methods largely depends on the patient’s persistence and the systematic nature of the manipulations.
The intensive period of therapy lasts 2–2. 5 months. At the beginning of the course, increased pain and discomfort in the back area is possible.
Surgical treatment of spinal osteochondrosis is prescribed when a conservative approach is ineffective. An indication for surgery is compression of the intervertebral space by 1/3 of the original distance. The leading method of intervention for osteochondrosis is discectomy - partial or radical removal of the affected disc.
After spinal surgery, the patient requires rehabilitation for at least six months. During this period, the patient is recommended to visit sanatoriums, take a course of mineral baths, physiotherapy, and massage.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely cure spinal osteochondrosis. Degenerative changes in bone and soft tissues are irreversible and manifest themselves in a chronic manner. The destruction process can only be slowed down and its inherent symptoms alleviated.
Complications
Complications of spinal osteochondrosis often form as a result of compression of the spinal cord and feeding arteries. Against this background, the patient develops discogenic myelopathy, paresis of the limbs, impaired reflexes, and dysfunction of the sphincters. A herniated disc can cause a spinal cord infarction.
Damage to the cervical spine causes hearing loss, blurred vision, and constant migraines. The patient develops memory problems and decreased learning ability.
If osteochondrosis is left untreated for a long time, severe damage to the pelvis and legs, paralysis of the limbs, and intermittent claudication may develop. In women, long-term spinal dystrophy often leads to infertility; in men, a decrease in potency is typical.
Prevention
No one is immune from a disease such as osteochondrosis. In old age, the disease affects almost everyone. To prevent dystrophic changes, it is necessary to take care of the spine from a young age.
Moderate sports activity, a balanced diet with a sufficient amount of vitamins, a healthy lifestyle - all this will help you maintain health for many years.
Prevention of spinal osteochondrosis includes more specific measures:
- avoiding stress;
- timely treatment of infections and pathologies of the musculoskeletal system;
- limiting the weight of lifting objects;
- strengthening the immune system.
Women can be advised to choose the right shoes and monitor the appearance of foot valgus.
The development of spinal osteochondrosis can significantly complicate the patient’s life. Only long-term and systemic treatment will help get rid of severe symptoms. The main thing is not to despair and fight for your health.