Osteochondrosis is a condition in which the number of irregularities in the articular cartilage degenerative in nature. Osteochondrosis can occur in different joints, but osteoarthritis most often affects the intervertebral discs. If we take into account the localisation of the disease, osteochondrosis can be divided into thoracic, cervical, lumbar.
Osteochondrosis is a disease that is causing the pain in my back is about 80% of the cases. In the event of a complication of degenerative disc disease with a herniated disc the pain can sometimes occur in the head, limbs, and other organs. The most common is a lumbar osteochondrosis, can cause pain in the legs. A lot of people complain about the symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease, in which the aching of the arms and the head. In the thoracic form of the disease the pain occurs in the internal organs.
The causes of osteochondrosis
The original cause of osteochondrosis is considered to be of human bipedalism. There are a lot of different theories about the causes of lower back pain. Thus, for example, to have a hereditary predisposition to the nature of the injury, a violation of the metabolic processes in the body. The determination of the causes of this disease is complicated by the fact that the disease occurs in people of diverse ages, physique, and physical levels of development of the economy.
There is also a theory that it is the cause of osteochondrosis becomes the accumulation of salts in the spine. However, experts say that it is a bit confusing. And that is a correct analysis of the root causes of the disease is through effective treatment of the disease.
In osteochondrosis of the nature of the disease, which is a non-inflammatory, degenerative-dystrophic. In the process of development of a disease, a disorder of nutrition of tissues, restores its structure. The people who are constantly active exercise, they are more durable, and the elastic tissue of the bone. This is because the discs of the spinal column in the adult's own vessels is not, therefore, oxygen and nutrients to the discs to come out of the tissues, which are located in the vicinity. A similar process can be completed only in the case of active transport, which is possible only in a process of constant intense muscle performance.
Each intervertebral disc is made up of two parts. In the center of the disc is the nucleus pulposus, which allows a flexible disk, and is surrounded by a strong fibrous ring. If the power supply to the intervertebral discs deteriorate, the structure of a biopolymer compound that can be destroyed. Due to the lower moisture content in the disc become brittle. And, if the spinal column is under pressure, the nucleus pulposus is divided into fragments. Due to its elasticity is greatly reduced. The fibrous rings and also to lose weight. Such a phenomena is the starting point for the manifestation of the man of degenerative disc disease.
In view of the manifestation of degenerative changes of the spine occurs , calcification of the damaged discs, ligaments, capsule. A similar phenomenon – the final stage in the development process of the disease.
Unfortunately, the reverse process is similar to the changes in the spinal column, it's pretty much impossible. Therefore, the main goal of treating osteoarthritis is to maintain the current situation.
In essence, the manifestations of the disease become more pronounced in humans when it reaches five years of age. Therefore, the older a person becomes, the more the symptoms can be noticed. More recently, however, with complaints of pain in the back, more and more young people go to the doctor.
The reasons for such an early onset of degenerative disc disease is mostly very weak to physical stress, problems with postureand a curved spine, flat feet, and obesity. To this day, are the main causes of osteochondrosis is considered to be as follows:
- hereditary tendency of a character;
- problems with metabolic processes, intoxication, infection;
- the presence of excess body weight, poor diet (low fluid intake-lack of micronutrients);
- injuries of the spine, curvature of, of incorrect posture, flat feet;
- the existence of poor environmental conditions;
- an inactive way of life, and
- regular lifting of heavy loads, work in awkward positions for long periods of time, the activity of which is the person that is often repeated, a jerk of movement is reversed, and the deflection of the hull;
- too much of a strong physical activity, overloading the spinal column, due to a disease of the feet, disturbances in the process of wearing the shoes, as well as stress during pregnancy;
- the sudden cessation of regular exercise people who exercise, stress, persistent Smoking.
The symptoms of a degenerative disease of the disk
People who are suffering from degenerative disc disease, in particular, shows the pain in his back. Sometimes the pain is accompanied by numbness and a feeling of pain in his body. If the treatment for osteochondrosis is not commenced in a timely manner, a person to quickly lose weight, you will see atrophy of the limbs. During exercise and stress, as well as in the process of lifting too many heavy objects in the process of sneezing and coughing, the pain may become more intense. In a patient with osteoarthritis, reducing the amount of movement that can occur spasms of the muscles.
Cervical degenerative disc disease is manifested due to the nature of the structure of the cervical spine. The cervical vertebrae are much smaller than that of the other vertebrae of the spinal column. Therefore, cervical degenerative disc disease is manifested as a result of constant stress to the neck. The symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease is manifested as follows: pain that is seen in the hands, the neck, the shoulders, may occur, and headaches. For this type of disease is characterized by the vertebral artery syndrome. The manifestation of this syndrome, the person feels that it is the presence of noise in the head, the eyes flashing "flies", vertigo. Before your eyes, you may get, along a man-he feels a strong headache pulsating nature. Symptoms of osteochondrosis sometimes resemble the signs of angina, but the patient in the study, there is no apparent change in heart.
In patients with osteochondrosis in the thoracic spine, the patient feels pain in the chest. The pain may radiate to the region of the heart and other internal organs.
Patients with osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine, the sensation of pain in the lower back that may radiate into the legs, pelvis, into the pelvic organs. Marvel at the nerve roots, the disturbed, the sensitivity may be reduced reflexes and hypotension occur.
A diagnosis of degenerative disease of the disk
A preliminary diagnosis of "low back pain" specialist determines during the initial treatment of the patient. As a rule, the examination is performed by a doctor-neurologist. Typically, a patient comes to the office complaining of pain and deformity, or limitation.
A study of the spinal column of the patient performed in the standing, supine and sitting, the doctor inspects it, and, in the motion and at rest. During the examination the doctor and make sure that you pay close attention to the posture of the man, especially his body, especially the spine, pain of the muscles, which are located along the spinal column.
Thank you for the feeling of the spinal column, and the results of the patient survey can be supplemented with information about whether or not the deformity of the spine, where pain is localized, and to determine the degree of its intensity. In the process, the emotions, it is also determined by how tense the muscles along your spinal column, because it tones the muscles of the accompanied by a the most of the illness or injury. For the determination of the amplitude of the movement of the various parts of the spinal column, we have to consider the possibility of its buckling.
The diagnosis of osteoarthritis is often used in computed tomography, x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging. These methods allow you to to figure out what is the rate of injury to the spine, to determine if there is a hidden pathology, and to determine a diagnosis.
With the proper approach to the diagnosis of a doctor can determine what type of tactics of treatment to choose him to be the most effective.
The treatment of degenerative diseases of the disc
The treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease, as well as other forms of the disease and its complications, which is carried out by using conservative methods, the aim of which is elimination of pain, restoration of function of spinal roots, as well as for the prevention of the degenerative phenomena in the structures of the spine.
If all methods of conservative treatment does not bring about the desired effect, and that there is a specific indication that patients were sometimes assigned surgical methods for the treatment of degenerative disc disease. The extent of surgical intervention depends on the impact of the spine and intense symptoms.
The severity of the disease also depends on the duration of the treatment. Typically, the active phase of treatment with conservative methods is, in general, about 1 to 3 months. After the surgery, the patient returned approximately one year. At the beginning of the conservative therapy for many patients with osteoarthritis and increases the pain. It is expressed the muscles, and the other parties to the treatment.
If the pain is too strong, it can be stopped relatively quickly with physiotherapeutic methods, medicines, and carry out a variety of exercises, particularly in patients with low back pain. It is important to note that it is an important factor which has an impact on the effectiveness of the treatment is to correct the behavior of the patient in the proper position, it is necessary to respect the developed method of treatment. It is important for the perseverance, patience, and desire to overcome the disease. It has been shown that the most effective way is the implementation of medical treatments and the recovery from the crisis in the health of the environment and the health centers, which spetsializiruyutsya on the treatment of this disease. If you have the necessary equipment and highly qualified medical practitioners a comprehensive treatment of the most effective and efficient manner.
In the complex therapy in the treatment of degenerative cervical disc disease must include therapeutic exercise, massage, physiotherapy, chiropractic, reflexology, the use of the drug.
One of the most important methods, which affect the musculoskeletal system of the human being is a therapeutic exercise. The patient is regularly performing a certain amount of activity, from which gradual decompression of the nerve roots, correction of the muscular system, increases the flexibility of the ligamentous-muscular apparatus. Special exercises with cervical osteochondrosis are also effective to prevent the further development of the disease. The main condition is the regularity of practice.
The use of physiotherapy treatment of osteoarthritis of the physical factors of magnetic field, a current of low frequency, ultrasound , etc, This technique allows to reduce the period of rehabilitation after the surgery, and to enhance the impact of a variety of drugs.
With the help of massage can relieve muscle tension, improve blood flow, to produce a strengthening effect on the whole.
For the relief of the intense pain used chiropractic. This technique also helps to correct your posture. The pain is also removed by means of traction of the spinal column procedures that will be performed on the specific equipment. After the reflexology, the impact of the reflex zones of the human body and can significantly enhance the effects of other methods.
At the time of exacerbation of the disease, the treatment uses a drug that relieves the inflammation, ease the pain, aktiviziruyutsya of metabolic processes. Medicinal product is administered intravenously or intramuscularly.
The most visible results of the treatment have been noticed with the use of multiple methods in conjunction with one another. However, in the treatment of degenerative cervical disc disease, and other forms of the disease, they should be appointed only the doctor.