Such a disease as osteochondrosis of the back does not exist in modern medicine.Firstly, it is worth clarifying that the term osteochondrosis itself is outdated and does not exist in the current edition of ICD-10.It was replaced by a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs.However, we will talk 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.
Thus, osteochondrosis is the 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 of 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 provides flexibility to the body, allows you to walk independently and perform any movements 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 through joints and ligaments.There are long longitudinal ligaments that begin in the coccyx region and end in the occipital region.There are short transverse ligaments that connect adjacent vertebral bodies.Intervertebral discs consist of a dense outer layer (fibrous ring) 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 receives fluid only at the moment when the surrounding muscles actively contract and relax.Furthermore, part of the nutrition is provided by the diffuse exchange between the intervertebral disc and the endplate that separates it from the vertebra.
If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle and the back muscles do not work actively and regularly, the fibrous ring becomes dehydrated and cracks.In the initial phase, it removes fluid from the nucleus pulposus tissues located inside it.This gelatinous body guarantees the normal height of the disc and its shock absorption capacity to evenly distribute the applied loads.
With a long course of this pathological process, the height of the intervertebral disc decreases.It loses the ability to protect the radicular nerves originating from the spinal cord from the pressure of the adjacent vertebral bodies.They become injured and radiculitis (inflammation of the root nerves) occurs.This is a dangerous condition.Therefore, the body takes measures to compensate for the loss of capacity of the intervertebral discs.This causes excessive strain on the back muscles.As a result, the diffuse nutrition of the remaining cartilaginous tissues is further disturbed.Therefore, back osteochondrosis 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 cartilaginous tissue of the spine, we recommend that you do not wait for it to go away on its own.Seek medical help immediately.Treatment of osteochondrosis without surgery is possible at any stage, except for hernia sequestration.If part of the nucleus pulposus has separated from the intervertebral disc, 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 back osteochondrosis
The most common causes of back osteochondrosis are physical inactivity, excess body weight, sedentary work and refusal from regular physical activity.It is these factors that provoke the destruction of the cartilaginous tissue of 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 the leaching of calcium and phosphorus from bone tissue;
- degenerative gerontological changes in the body;
- interruption 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 decrease in muscle mass;
- changes in posture and curvature of the spine;
- chronic diseases of internal organs that reduce a person's physical activity.
Also, 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 inadequate organization of sleeping and working spaces is of no small importance.If a person does not attach importance to the position of his body during night sleep, the risk of spinal destruction and the development of osteochondrosis increases dramatically.
You should also stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.These two bad habits cause disruption of blood microcirculation in the region of the intervertebral discs, which triggers their degenerative dystrophic destruction.
The causes of osteochondrosis of the back can be nutrition and drinking regime.An adult needs to drink at least 2 liters of clean water per day to maintain water and electrolyte balance.Furthermore, the diet must contain all the vitamins and minerals that are used in the regeneration of hyaline cartilage, which constitutes the tissues of the fibrous rings.If the diet is dominated by fatty and refined foods, the body quickly begins to experience a deficiency of certain nutrients.This does not allow restoring the integrity of all tissues, including vertebrates.
Therefore, when carrying out complex treatment of osteochondrosis of the back, an experienced doctor will certainly correct the patient's diet.She will give you the necessary recommendations on the proper organization of your sleeping and working space.
With osteochondrosis, the back muscles experience serious overload.They are responsible for supporting the spine and ensuring the safety of the radicular nerves.With prolonged static tension, the blood circulation cycle in the capillaries changes.Myocytes begin to experience a lack of oxygen and an ischemic reaction quickly begins.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 the degeneration of muscle fibers begins.This leads to a series 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, seek medical help immediately.
Symptoms of back osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic back is the least common, since there is no wide range of mobility of the vertebral bodies.The height of the intervertebral spaces is additionally guaranteed by the fixation of 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 physical and shock-absorbing load associated with any movements of the human body.Symptoms of the pathology include a characteristic sharp pain in the lower back.It can spread along the inner, outer, or back surface of the thigh and 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 limbs.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical and cervicothoracic spine is no less frequently diagnosed.This disease most often develops in people involved in mental work.With prolonged static tension in the neck muscles, blood microcirculation is disturbed and cartilaginous tissue is destroyed.
Clinical symptoms with this localization of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the cartilaginous tissues of the discs can be more varied.The pain can radiate under the shoulder blade, in the heart region and in the upper limbs.Muscle weakness occurs quickly in the arms.There are signs of impaired blood circulation in the posterior vertebral arteries.These are dizziness, decreased mental performance, frequent changes in blood pressure, drowsiness, apathy, etc.
If symptoms of osteochondrosis appear in the back, it is necessary to carry out a series of clinical studies.First of all, x-rays of the affected part of the spine are prescribed.Based on them, the doctor can only make a preliminary diagnosis.A more detailed examination of the condition of the spinal tissues is possible during an MRI examination.Doppler ultrasound, soft tissue ultrasound, biochemical and general blood tests, rheumatic examinations, etc.
What to do and how to relieve the pain?
The first thing to do in the case of back osteochondrosis is to stop any physical activity and provide relative rest to the spine and muscles.In the first few days after an attack, it is best to adhere to strict bed rest.Treatment can only be prescribed by a neurologist or vertebrologist.It is not recommended to take medication on your own.Not only can they have a negative impact on your health, but they can also make an accurate diagnosis difficult in the future.
The only thing you can do to alleviate back pain caused by osteochondrosis and not cause harm to your health is spinal traction.It is important to restore the normal height of the intervertebral spaces.This will remove pressure from the radicular nerves and all pain will disappear without additional use of pharmacological medications.Traction can be by hardware, manual or with the help of physical exercises.Only a doctor can determine which method is suitable for your individual case during an examination.
How to treat and cure back osteochondrosis?
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the back can be carried out exclusively by conservative methods, even at the stage of intervertebral hernia prolapse.Doctors know how to cure back osteochondrosis without surgery.For this purpose, osteopathy and massage, therapeutic exercises and kinesiotherapy, laser therapy, reflexology and much more are used.
Before treating back osteochondrosis, the doctor gives the patient comprehensive individual recommendations, the implementation of which eliminates possible causes and risk factors.Then an individual course of therapy is developed.During treatment, damaged cartilaginous tissue is completely restored.If all recommendations are followed, recurrences of osteochondrosis do not occur.