A therapist with 50 years of experience once remarked: "When I started working, there was not a single young patient with osteochondrosis at the site. And today almost every second 30-year-old has this problem."
Sedentary life, metabolic disorders, spinal injuries, excess weight, unbalanced diet, prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, stress, hypothermia, smoking are modern paths for chronic degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs and then in the vertebrae themselves.It is osteochondrosis (from the ancient Greek osteon - bone, chondros - cartilage).
Osteochondrosis is a disease caused by salt deposition in the spine
Error.The intervertebral disc consists of a nucleus pulposus, an annulus fibrosus, 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 withstand it is disturbed.As a result, the vertebrae begin to compress the adjacent nerve and muscle tissues and grow along the edges, forming the so-called.osteophytes, which produce a characteristic crunching sound when moving (patients mistakenly interpret this as "salt deposition").
If your back and neck hurt, then this is exclusively osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is not the only cause of spinal pain.Patients often make this diagnosis on their own.However, in addition to this pathology, which belongs to the group of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine, there is also osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and the differentiation can be made only after a comprehensive examination.
Degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in 30-50% of cases at the age of 30-40 years, in 75-100% of people over 40 years old.
These pathological processes represent 20.4% of the total structure of disability from diseases of the osteoarticular system.
Long walking is bad for the spine
On the contrary.Physical activity has a beneficial effect on the function of the spine: it maintains muscle tone, maintains intervertebral mobility, stimulates blood circulation and metabolism.Physical inactivity and prolonged stay in a particularly uncomfortable position are "to blame" for the progression 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 is correct.The arches of the foot, like the normal curves of the spine, are designed to absorb the shock loads of walking, running and jumping.If the leg does not provide sufficient protection when interacting with the support, then 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 back pain, which is often accompanied by numbness and a feeling of pain in the extremities.Over time, if left untreated, limb muscles atrophy, spinal joints become less mobile, and muscle spasms occur.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (see diagram), your arms and head may 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 spasm of arteries in response to the impact of bony growths, as well as due to disc herniation, arthropathy of the intervertebral joint, as a reflex reaction to irritation of spinal receptors.
If a person suffers from coronary or cardiovascular pathology, then the vertebral artery syndrome will worsen the course.
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, there is pain in the chest (a feeling as if a stake had been stuck there) - in the region of the heart and other internal organs.with lumbosacral lesions - in the lower back (radiation to the sacrum, lower extremities, sometimes to the pelvic organs);
If complications of osteochondrosis develop (herniated intervertebral discs, bone growths, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthritis), then damage to the nerve roots occurs - the pain becomes shooting, the sensitivity worsens, weakness appears in the innervated muscles, and the severity of reflexes decreases.
Osteochondrosis can cause dysfunction of a wide variety of organs and tissues
That is correct.Hippocrates also taught that all human diseases are connected to the spine, because this is a kind of foundation of the body.
With osteochondrosis, there is an increased risk of circulatory disorders in the cerebellum, stems and occipital regions of the brain.A constant headache appears - first in the back of the head, then spreads to the crown and temples, intensifies with movements of the neck (more often in the morning).Elderly people may lose consciousness if they turn their head suddenly.They are preceded by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and hearing, nausea and vomiting.
Sometimes there is pain in the region of the heart - prolonged, pressing, dull.With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, especially in old age, the 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 ailments.
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.When the intervertebral discs wear out and osteophytes develop, the intervertebral foramina and the vertebral artery canal narrow and deform, and this leads to the 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 appear.
It is impossible to cure osteochondrosis
Indeed, spinal structures that have undergone degenerative changes cannot be fully restored.However, adequate comprehensive treatment can eliminate the symptoms of the disease, stop the development of the pathology and avoid complications.
For problems with intervertebral discs, it is useful to heat the painful points
Error.Temperature changes, especially extreme ones (for example, a beginner's trip to the bathhouse), can cause severe aggravation.Moderate thermal procedures are used in complex treatment, but must be prescribed by a doctor.
If you make circular movements with your head during osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, your health will deteriorate
That is correct.These exercises are best done for prevention - they help maintain range of motion in the intervertebral joints.With severe osteochondrosis, careless circular movements can aggravate vertebral artery syndrome, radiculopathy, etc.
Treatment cannot be done without non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Not really.During the remission period or when the pain is not severe, conservative treatment (physiotherapy, reflexology and manual therapy) is carried out.physical therapy and traction techniques are used.Medication is indicated during an exacerbation and is aimed at relieving pain, relieving 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 blocks are used.steroid drugs (epidurals, intramuscular injections);NSAIDs in the form of ointments, gels and creams with analgesic and irritant effects (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.
Spinal "stretching" exercises 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 calculated correctly."Too much" can lead to a reflex contraction of the paraspinal muscles and worsen the condition.
Only an orthopedic traumatologist has the right to treat osteochondrosis.
Wrong.Most patients are monitored by a neurologist, and in cases of significant pathology, by a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic-spinalologist.
A local doctor may also prescribe drug therapy to relieve a flare-up.