A certain therapist with 50 years of experience once remarked: "When I started working, there was not a single young patient with osteochondrosis on the site. And today, almost every second 30-year-old has this problem."
A sedentary lifestyle, metabolic disorders, spinal cord injuries, excess weight, unbalanced diet, prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, stress, hypothermia, smoking are modern pathways 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 deposits in the spine
Wrong.The intervertebral disc consists 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 carry it is disturbed.As a result, the vertebrae begin to compress the adjacent nerve and muscle tissue and grow along the edges, forming the so-called.osteophytes, which produce a characteristic crunching sound when they move (patients mistakenly explain it as "salt deposition").
If your back and neck hurt, then this is exclusively osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is not the only cause of pain in the spine.Patients often make this diagnosis themselves.But in addition to this pathology, which is part of the group of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine, there is also osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and differentiation can only be done after a comprehensive examination.
Degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in 30-50% of cases in 30-40-year-olds, in 75-100% of people over 40 years of age.
These pathological processes account for 20.4% of the total structure of disability from diseases of the osteoarticular system.
Long walks are bad for the spine
On the contrary.Physical activity has a beneficial effect on the function 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 "to blame" for the progress of the disease.
It is another matter if an overweight person walks a lot and carries heavy things, then the spine experiences increased stress.
Flat feet contribute to the development of osteochondrosis
That's right.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 sufficient protection when it interacts with the support, the spine receives additional stress, which significantly impairs the nutrition and function of its structures and accelerates the development of the disease.
Back pain is the only symptom of the disease
Not really.As a rule, patients complain of constant aching back pain, which is often accompanied by numbness and a feeling of tenderness in the limbs.Over time, if they are not treated, the muscles of the limbs will atrophy, the joints of the spine will become less mobile, and muscle spasms will 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 in front of the eyes, burning throbbing headache).This acute condition occurs due to arterial spasms as a reaction to the influence of bone growth, as well as due to disc herniation, arthrosis of the intervertebral joint, as a reflex reaction to irritation of the spinal receptors.
If a person suffers from coronary or cardiovascular pathology, vertebral artery syndrome will worsen the course.
With osteochondrosis in the thoracic region, there is pain in the chest (a feeling as if a stake was stuck there) - in 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 (herniated intervertebral discs, bone growth, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthrosis), then damage to the nerve roots is noted - the pain becomes shooting, sensitivity worsens, weakness appears in the innervated muscles, and the severity of reflexes decreases.
Osteochondrosis can cause dysfunction of a wide range of organs and tissues
That's right.Hippocrates also taught that all human diseases are connected to the spine, because this is a kind of foundation for the body.
With osteochondrosis, there is an increased risk of circulatory disturbances in the cerebellar, stem and occipital areas of the brain.A constant headache appears - first on the back of the head, then spreads to the area of the crown and temples, intensifies with neck movements (more often in the morning).Elderly people can 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 region of the heart - long-lasting, 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 really.Osteochondrosis can be one of the reasons (by no means the only one) for the development of these diseases.As intervertebral discs wear and osteophytes grow, the intervertebral foramina and vertebral artery canal become narrowed and deformed, and this leads to 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 in vegetative-vascular dystonia occur.
It is impossible to cure osteochondrosis
In fact, the structures of the spine that have undergone degenerative changes cannot be completely restored.Nevertheless, sufficiently comprehensive treatment can eliminate the symptoms of the disease, stop the development of pathology and avoid complications.
In the case of problems with intervertebral discs, it is useful to warm up the tender places
Wrong.Temperature changes, especially extreme ones (for example, a beginner's trip to the bathhouse), can cause serious aggravation.Moderate thermal procedures are used in complex treatment, but they must be prescribed by a doctor.
If you perform circular movements with your head during osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, your health will deteriorate
That's right.These exercises are best done for prevention – they help maintain the range of motion of the intervertebral joints.In severe osteochondrosis, careless circular movements can aggravate vertebral artery syndrome, radiculopathy, etc.
Treatment cannot be carried out without non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Not really.During the period of remission or when the pain is not severe, conservative therapy (physio-, reflexology and manual) is carried out;physiotherapy 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 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are prescribed to relieve inflammation and pain (meloxicam, diclofenac, ibuprofen);for severe pain, novocaine blockades are used;steroid drugs (epidural, intramuscular injections);NSAIDs in the form of ointments, gels and creams with an analgesic and irritating effect (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 will help improve your condition
Extension, or traction, allows you to increase the intervertebral space, relieve pain and restore the anatomically correct shape of the spine.However, the individual load must be correctly calculated."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 pathology, by a neurosurgeon or orthopedic vertebrologist.
A local doctor may also prescribe drug therapy to relieve an exacerbation.