Osteochondrosis of the spine - symptoms and treatment, the reason, everything has been said, recounted. That this is not a disease, but the aging of the body, although stronger than concrete, it also fades, causing cracks. Unfortunately, this process of destruction, like old age, is inevitable, only slowed down. And most importantly, there are no pills, mixtures, powders, rejuvenating apples for osteochondrosis. More simply, this is a payment, from the fact that we live, walk, do stupid movements, sit, sleep. He could not carry out his functions with full force, as in his youth. By the way, about young people, why do they suffer from chondrosis? Here is a brief overview of 21st century disease. Let's determine the important function of the spine. Let's find out the causes of major complications in young people and those aged in a few years. We will discuss the diagnosis of the disease and its treatment methods. Let's explain the basics of prevention and how to save yourself from rapid aging.
Important functions of the spine
We must not forget that our spine has 3 main functions.
- Pivot - keep the body upright.
- Protector - protects the spinal cord.
- Pads - ligaments, cartilage soften our body's most diverse movements.
The spine absorbs loads in all areas, thanks to a unique intervertebral disc located in the spinal space structure.
The concept of the word "osteochondrosis"
The term "osteochondrosis" is only used in Russia, in the West they leave this name and instead use the concept of "degenerative disease of the intervertebral disc or cartilage, it can also be called". This definition describes the essence of what is happening on the disk.The result: if osteochondrosis - degeneration (dystrophy) of intervertebral cartilage from primitive movements. The conclusions from this definition are as follows: dystrophy - a violation of tissue nutrition, and degeneration is a change in tissue that gets worse.
While understanding the meaning of these words, it is clear what is happening in the spine and where the popular “osteochondrosis” disease comes from. By the way, what disease is this? Easy - early aging.
Degeneration has four stages and stages of development, developing in all three departments. Osteochondrosis occurs:
- cervix;
- dada;
- lumbar.
Tissue nutrient deficiency
Tissue is nourished by a large circulatory system. Arteries, veins, ducts and capillaries, as well as muscle tissue, are all actively involved in the nutritional process. Along with the blood, essential nutrients are transported to the spine, cartilage, and muscles, by contracting, helping the blood move at the right speed.
Discs, without blood vessels, absorb water and nutrients during vertebral relaxation. And when you press it, the same segment, on the other hand, gives a surplus. So it turns out that during the redemption of the spine, due to compression and expansion, the discs are saturated and cleaned by the method of osmosis. The more frequent the osmosis, the more satisfying and nutritious it is.
The muscles that surround the vertebrae from behind are the ones that carry the process of movement. It is not difficult to imagine if the muscles around the spine are immobile, blood circulation is slow, and full metabolism is disrupted. Cartilage suffers from malnutrition, and is inelastic and strong, so spinal dystrophy develops.
In the early stages of dystrophy, incorporating regular athletic movements into life can still be quickly improved. The younger generation has hope for complete healing.
What happens next? For a long time, in a state of motion, the muscles become weak, the ligaments stretch and atrophy so that they can not keep the spine in anatomical shape, various types of curvature appear:
- lordosis;
- kifosis;
- scoliosis.
Discs that do not get the necessary nutrients from the circulatory system for long periods of time and sufficient amounts of fluid for full existence begin to collapse. That is, degeneration occurs, modification is slow (destruction). Diagnosis is made - "Osteochondrosis" with all the symptoms and long-term treatment with less effective drugs without exercise therapy.
The fact is that the core of the cartilage, which is 80% water, is where the water gives it elasticity, loses its elasticity naturally with increasing age, and an inactive lifestyle accelerates this process. As a result, the force of the disc slows down, the water flows less, and its height decreases. But water and useful elements are needed not only for the disk, but for all its surrounding components:
- tendon;
- muscle;
- fasia;
- binding.
But in old age, due to slow blood circulation, some capillaries are still dry, so for decades they are not needed, the process of osteochondrosis takes root. At this age, it takes effort to be healthy.
Osteochondrosis is a complex of dystrophy disorders in the cartilage and segment. Often, the intervertebral layer is affected, but it also develops in the joints, only having different names - arthrosis, arthritis (how the disease is different, here), coxarthrosis and many other pathologies.
Symptoms and treatment of spinal osteochondrosis
Reason
There are causes of external and internal osteochondrosis, which cause damage.
- Internal problems include genetics, tissue nutrition disorders at a young, old age (this has been discussed above), nerve stress that creates muscle spasms and remains in this condition for a long time, or perhaps forever, as a trigger point.
- Outwardly (trauma, low and excessive physical activity).
The obvious reasons for internal and external factors are indisputable, except for old age. People go into aging the musculoskeletal system thanks to their laziness, from the moment they become independent. Realizing the benefits of morning training, a healthy lifestyle, at least in part, we deliberately use excuses, excuses for not doing anything. I do not hide, I myself like that.
Complications
Distrophical changes in the intervertebral disc by themselves are not a big deal. Many who live for a long time, do not go to the doctor, because they are not too worried about the complications of osteochondrosis. But for a variety of reasons, severe pain often appears. After seeing a doctor, a person receives a number of complications that have been identified after examination, such as protrusion, hernia, spondylosis (osteophytes), and vertebral instability.
It is believed that this complication leads to painful symptoms when compression occurs at the nerve endings at the level of the disc in any part of the spine. In addition to pain, there may be manifestations of weakness, decreased sensitivity, small pelvic dysfunction, increased blood pressure, in severe cases, paralysis.
- The protrusion is a slight protrusion of the annulus fibrosus beyond the boundaries of the vertebral body, due to an increase in the nucleus pulposus, sometimes cracks appear in the anterior fibrosus layer.
- A herniated disc is a loosening of the fibrosus annulus. The cartilage has lost its elasticity and is divided into several parts, and the excessive load from this condition causes it to protrude, leading to the appearance of a hernia. It can irritate nerve roots that appear at the level of the vertebrae from the spinal canal, then pain occurs with localization in one or another area of the body.
- Osteophytes - changes in the body of the vertebrae itself, the height of the disc decreases so that the growth of its marginal bones (called osteophytes) begins its destructive activity in relation to our health. The size of the opening where the spinal cord comes out, i. e. the root is reduced.
There are also different opinions about the appearance of discomfort and pain, forcing you to see a specialist. Pathology of soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia). Everything that makes our framework move, and they are the ones that signal, about the initial problem by sending a painful impulse. Diagnosis is made - sciatica, myositis, myalgia and more and all these, supposedly, symptoms against the background of spinal osteochondrosis and treatment are prescribed in the form of painkillers. And then it all happened again, the vicious circle.
In women after the age of 50-55 years, the extinction of reproductive function begins. He enters the climax phase. It seems like a natural transition, what can you do here. But if you do not take hormone replacement therapy or at least supplements. Then osteoporosis develops rapidly, often confused with osteochondrosis.
Diagnosis of spinal osteochondrosis
Self-diagnosis
- You can decide for yourself whether it exists or not. To do this, it is enough to assess how often the back pain. How quickly he got tired of a little physical work, stress. If there is a feeling of heaviness, discomfort, sometimes pain, then changes are already taking place in the spinal space. Because a healthy person does not feel such symptoms in the back, he is just healthy. Although now almost no one is healthy.
- You need to determine the flexibility of the spine. Flexibility depends entirely on stretching. The better, the healthier his spine.
Diagnostics in polyclinics
At a doctor's appointment, to make a correct diagnosis, a referral for an X-ray is given. And then appropriate treatment is prescribed.
Comparative layout for healthy and diseased segments. The layout shows how the vertebral disc and segment body are the ideal structures created by nature. The nerve endings move freely, are not pinched, the disc is high and has a large margin of safety, with an intervertebral disc a person can hold up to 800 kg.
And the model defective by disease is shown next to it, the difference is significant. The disc is flattened, the edges of the vertebral body grow and acquire a distorted appearance. This is exactly the view in the picture.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Unfortunately, neglected complications can not always be treated conservatively; often it must be resolved immediately. However, they are treated and they must be treated in a timely manner.
Osteochondrosis that occurs at age 70 is considered the norm by a person according to age, and his doctor does not cure it for many years. There are different approaches for young people, after diagnosing the symptoms, the necessary treatment is prescribed.
Treatments can only be combined.
- Relieves pain, if any.
- Refer to physiotherapy, reflexology, massage.
- exercise therapy.
Physiotherapy exercises are, in essence, the basis of treatment, as they help restore normal biomechanics of the spine. And this leads to the unloading of the intervertebral disc. Swimming is a wonderful relief. But the beginning of the class, only after the symptoms of pain subside.
Prevention of spinal osteochondrosis
Currently there are many professions that are inactive for 8 hours, or more, and no organism can withstand them.
The spine not only supports our skeleton, but is also a sheath for the spinal cord. 
The most important organ for the central nervous system. If the disease is ignored, you can become disabled. I do not want to scare, but limb paralysis, very seriously, I am used to this.
So, if there is a problem with the spine, you can not delay a visit to a specialist, it is more expensive for you. More often you need to think about a healthy lifestyle. Cycling, swimming pool, gym, morning workouts and walking. An affordable set of exercises at work to support your body physically and not become a wreck in the future.
To achieve results, it is necessary to develop habits, regularity and discipline is the basis of prevention. After all, you do not need much, the body is grateful, you should love it, pay attention to it, and it will respond with good health. And what do you think?
I hope this article gives you information, you realize that almost everyone has spinal osteochondrosis, only the symptoms and treatment are different. Studying your body in more depth, you can prevent disease, and learning from the inside, you will have something to ask your doctor.
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Take care of yourself and your spine!