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the back does not exist in modern medicine.First of all, it is worth clarifying that the term osteochondrosis itself is outdated and does not exist in the current version of ICD-10.It was replaced with a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs.But 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 in 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 gives flexibility to the body, allows you to walk independently and perform any movement with your hands.It is the connecting link between the head and the limbs.
The spine consists of individual vertebral bodies.They are connected to each other by means of joints and ligaments.There are long longitudinal ligaments that start in the coccyx area and end in the occiput area.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 a significant drawback - it completely lacks its own blood capillary network.It only receives fluid 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, the fibrous ring becomes dehydrated and cracks.In the initial stage, it takes fluid from the tissues of the nucleus pulposus located inside it.This gelatinous body ensures the disc's normal height and its shock-absorbing ability to evenly distribute the applied loads.
With a long course of this pathological process, the height of the intervertebral disc decreases.It loses its ability to protect the radicular nerves originating from the spinal cord against pressure from adjacent vertebral bodies.They get injured and radiculitis (inflammation of the radicular nerves) occurs.This is a dangerous condition.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 intervertebral discs and the person becomes disabled.
If you are concerned about back pain associated with degeneration of the cartilage tissue in the spine, we recommend that you do not wait for everything to go away on its own.Seek medical attention immediately.Treatment of osteochondrosis without surgery is possible at any stage, except for hernia sequestration.If part of the nucleus pulposus is separated from the intervertebral disc, then only surgical intervention can help in this situation.
You can make an appointment with a vertebrologist or neurologist.They will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective and safe treatment.
Causes of osteochondrosis in the back
The most common causes of osteochondrosis in the back are physical inactivity, excess body weight, sedentary work and rejection of regular physical activity.It is these factors that provoke the destruction of the cartilage tissue in the intervertebral discs at a young age.In a later period of 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;
- disturbance of capillary blood flow 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, potential causes of the development of osteochondrosis in the back can be traumatic injuries to the vertebral bodies, their spinous processes, ligaments and tendons.The incorrect organization of sleeping and working spaces is of no small importance.If a person does not pay attention to the position of his body during night sleep, his risk of spinal destruction and the development of osteochondrosis increases greatly.
You should also stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.These two bad habits cause disruption of the blood microcirculation in the area of the intervertebral discs, which triggers their degenerative dystrophic destruction.
The causes of osteochondrosis in the back can be nutrition and drinking regimen.An adult should drink at least 2 liters of clean water per day to maintain water and electrolyte balance.The diet should also contain all the vitamins and minerals used for the regeneration of hyaline cartilage, which makes up the tissues of the fibrous rings.If the diet is dominated by fatty and refined food, the body quickly begins to experience a lack of certain nutrients.This does not allow it to restore the integrity of all tissues, including vertebrates.
Therefore, when performing complex treatment of back osteochondrosis, an experienced doctor will certainly correct the patient's diet.She will give him the necessary recommendations regarding the correct organization of his sleeping and working space.
With osteochondrosis, the back muscles experience severe overload.They are responsible for supporting the spine and ensuring the safety of the radicular nerves.With long-term static tension, the blood circulation cycle in the capillaries changes.Myocytes begin to experience oxygen starvation and an ischemic response begins rapidly.At first, it causes severe pain in the back muscles.Then the myocytes begin to die.Short-term inflammation can occur against the background of muscle tissue necrosis.Then muscle fiber degeneration 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, you should immediately seek medical help.
Symptoms of back osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is the least common, since there is no wide range of mobility of the vertebral bodies.The height of the intervertebral spaces is further secured by fixing the costal 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 shock-absorbing and physical load associated with any movement of the human body.Symptoms of the pathology include a characteristic shooting pain in the lower back.It can spread along the inner, outer or back of the thigh and lower leg, extending to the heel or toes.Gradually, neurological clinical signs begin to appear, such as numbness, paresthesia, decreased muscle strength, pallor and coldness of the skin of the lower extremities.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical and cervicothoracic spine is no less often diagnosed.This disease most often develops in people involved in mental work.With long-term static tension in the neck muscles, the microcirculation of the blood is disrupted and the cartilage tissue is destroyed.
Clinical symptoms with this localization of degenerative dystrophic changes in the cartilage tissue of the discs can be more varied.The pain can radiate under the shoulder blade, in the heart area and in the upper limbs.Muscle weakness occurs quickly in the arms.There are signs of reduced 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 in the back appear, it is necessary to carry out a series of clinical examinations.First of all, X-rays of the affected part of the spine are prescribed.Based on them, the doctor can only make a provisional diagnosis.A more detailed examination of the condition of the spinal tissue is possible during an MRI examination.Doppler ultrasound, soft tissue ultrasound, biochemical and general blood tests, arthritis tests, etc. may also be required.
What to do and how to relieve pain?
The first thing to do in case of osteochondrosis of the back is to stop exercising any physical activity and give relative rest to the spine and muscles.In the first few days after an attack, it is better to observe strict bed rest.Treatment can only be prescribed by a neurologist or vertebrologist.It is not recommended to take medicine alone.Not only can they have a negative impact on your health, but they can also make it difficult to make an accurate diagnosis in the future.
The only thing you can do to relieve back pain due to osteochondrosis and not cause harm to your health is traction on the spine.It is important to restore the normal height of the intervertebral spaces.This will remove the pressure from the radicular nerves and all pain will disappear without further use of pharmacological drugs.Traction can be hardware, manual or using physical exercises.Only a doctor can decide which method is suitable in your individual case during an examination.
How to treat and cure osteochondrosis in the back?
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the back can be carried out exclusively by conservative methods, even at the stage of prolapse of the intervertebral hernia.Doctors know how to cure osteochondrosis in the back without surgery.For this purpose, osteopathy and massage, therapeutic exercises and kinesiotherapy, laser therapy, reflexology and much more are used.
Before treating osteochondrosis of the back, the doctor gives the patient extensive individual recommendations, the implementation of which eliminates potential causes and risk factors.An individual therapy course is then developed.During treatment, damaged cartilage tissue is completely restored.If all recommendations are followed, relapse of osteochondrosis does not occur.