A certain 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 thirty-year-old has this problem."
A sedentary lifestyle, metabolic disorders, spinal injuries, excess weight, unbalanced diet, prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, stress, hypothermia, smoking are modern ways to chronic degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs, and then in the vertebrae themselves.This is osteochondrosis (from the ancient Greek osteon - bone, chondros - cartilage).
Osteochondrosis is a disease caused by salt deposition in the spine
Wrong.The intervertebral disc consists of the nucleus pulposus, the fibrous ring and the hyaline cartilage that covers it above and below.When these elements are destroyed, the balance between the load on the spinal column and its carrying capacity is disturbed.As a result, the vertebrae begin to compress the adjacent nerve and muscle tissues and grow along the edges, forming the so-calledosteophytes, which produce a characteristic crunching sound when moving (patients mistakenly explain this as "salt deposition").
If your back and neck hurt, then it is exclusively osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is not the only cause of pain in the spine.Patients often make this diagnosis themselves.However, in addition to this pathology, which belongs to the group of degenerative-dystrophic changes on 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 in 30-40-year-olds, in 75-100% of people over 40 years old.
These pathological processes make up 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 work of the spinal column: it maintains muscle tone, maintains intervertebral mobility, stimulates blood circulation and metabolism.Physical inactivity and prolonged stay in one particularly uncomfortable position are "to blame" for the progression of the disease.
Another thing is 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 feet, like the physiological curves of the spine, are designed to absorb shock loads when walking, running and jumping.If the foot does not provide adequate protection when interacting with the support, then the spinal column receives additional stress, which significantly impairs the nutrition and functioning 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 pain in the back, which is often accompanied by numbness and a feeling of pain in the limbs.Over time, if left untreated, limb muscles atrophy, spinal joints become less mobile, and muscle spasms appear.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (see diagram), your hands and head may hurt.The syndrome of the so-called vertebral artery (noise in the head, dizziness, flickering "spots" and colored spots before the eyes, burning, throbbing headache).This acute condition occurs due to spasm of arteries as a response to the impact of bone growths, as well as due to disc herniation, arthrosis 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.
In case of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, pain occurs in the chest (feeling as if a stake is stuck there) - in the area 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 (herniation of intervertebral discs, bone growths, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthrosis), then damage to the nerve roots is noted - pain becomes shooting, sensitivity worsens, weakness appears in the innervated muscles, and the weight of reflexes decreases.
Osteochondrosis can cause dysfunction of a large number of organs and tissues
That's right.Hippocrates also taught that all human diseases are related to the spine, because it is a kind of foundation of the body.
With osteochondrosis, there is an increased risk of circulatory disorders in the cerebellum, stem and occipital part of the brain.A constant headache appears - first in 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 may lose consciousness if they turn their head suddenly.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, boring.In osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, especially in old age, soft tissues often change - they become denser.
Degenerative processes of the spinal column can cause congestion in the gastrointestinal tract, disorder of the bronchopulmonary system, which is full of inflammatory and other diseases.
Vegeto-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 grow, the intervertebral openings and the canal of the vertebral artery narrow and deform, which leads to disruption 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 appear as in vegetovascular dystonia.
It is impossible to cure osteochondrosis
Indeed, the structures of the spinal column that have undergone degenerative changes cannot be completely restored.However, adequate comprehensive treatment can remove the symptoms of the disease, stop the development of pathology and avoid complications.
In case of problems with intervertebral discs, it is useful to heat the painful places
Wrong.Changes in temperature, especially extreme ones (for example, a beginner's trip to the bathroom), can cause a serious aggravation.In complex treatment, moderate thermal procedures are used, but they 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's right.These exercises are best done for prevention - they help maintain the range of motion in the intervertebral joints.In severe osteochondrosis, careless circular movements can aggravate vertebral artery syndrome, radiculopathy, etc.
Treatment cannot be done without non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Not really.In the period of remission or when the pain is not severe, conservative therapy (physio-, reflexotherapy and manual) is carried out;physical therapy and traction techniques are used.Drug treatment is indicated during an exacerbation and is aimed at alleviating pain, alleviating the inflammatory process and accelerating metabolic processes (intramuscular or intravenous injections).
Among the most effective drugs are nonsteroidal 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 analgesic and irritating 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 compressed, loss of consciousness.
Exercises to "stretch" the spine 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 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 pathology, a neurosurgeon or an orthopedist-vertebrologist.
The local doctor may also prescribe drug therapy to alleviate the exacerbation.