Osteochondrosis — a disease in which there were a number of irregularities in the articular skin of the degenerative character. Osteochondrosis can manifest itself in various joints, but most commonly osteochondrosis amazes intervertebral discs. If we consider the place of localization of a fault, then the osteochondrosis taken divided into thoracic, cervical, lumbar.
Osteochondrosis – a disease which becomes the cause of painful sensations in the back, probably in 80% of cases. In the case of, complications of degenerative disc disease of herniated intervertebral disc pain, sometimes appear on the head, the limbs, in other organs. The most common is considered a lumbar osteochondrosis, provoking pain in the legs. Many people complain of the manifestations of cervical degenerative disc disease, in which the arm and the head. In the thoracic form of the disease the pain arises in the internal organs.
Causes of degenerative disc disease
The primary cause of degenerative disc disease of the spine is considered to be the bipedalism of humans. There are many different theories about the causes of degenerative disc disease. So, for example, are a predisposition to hereditary nature, injury, violation of metabolic processes in the body. Definition of the causes of this disease is complicated by the fact that the disease manifests itself in people of different ages, of different stature and physical levels of development.
There is also a theory about what is causing the degenerative disc disease becomes the deposition of salts in the spine. However, experts argue that to a certain extent, is a delusion. And it is exactly the right analysis of the causes of the occurrence of the disease is the basis of effective treatment of this disease.
In osteochondrosis of the character of the disease is non-inflammatory, degenerative-degenerative. In the process of development of the disease is the impaired nutrition of the tissue, reborn its structure. People who constantly have an active physical exercise, have a more durable and elastic tissue of the bone. This is due to the fact that the discs of the spine in an adult person's own blood vessels do not have, and therefore oxygen, and nutrients in the discs originate from the tissues that are found in the vicinity. This process can be complete only in the case that there is an active circulation, which is possible only in the process of constant intense work the muscles.
Each intervertebral disc consists of two parts. In the center of the disk is located a gelatinous core, which makes the disk flexible, and surrounded by fibrous chunky ring. If the nutrition of the intervertebral disc is to become worse, then the structure of the biopolymer connections may break down. Due to the reduction of the moisture content in the disk becomes unstable. And when the spine is exposed in the knees, gelatinous nucleus is divided into fragments. As a result its strength is significantly reduced. Fibrous ring also lose strength. Similar phenomena are becoming the starting point for the manifestations of human degenerative disc disease.
Since the manifestations of degenerative-degenerative changes in the spine occurs calcification of damaged discs, ligaments, capsule. A similar phenomenon – the last stage of the process of development of the disease.
Unfortunately, the reverse process after similar changes in the spine, it is virtually impossible. Therefore, the main task of treatment of degenerative disc disease is a status quo.
In essence, manifestations of degenerative disc disease are more pronounced in people after achieving the thirty-five age. In this case, than the older a person becomes, the more manifestations of the disease in him. However, in recent times with complaints of pain in the back, more and more young people are turning to the doctor.
The reasons for such early occurrence of degenerative disc disease is first and foremost a very weak physical activity, problems with posture, and also twisted the spine, flat feet and obesity. To date, the main causes of degenerative disc disease generally assumes the following:
- predisposition to hereditary nature;
- problems with exchange processes, intoxication, infection;
- the presence of excess weight, inappropriate food (a small fluid intake lack of trace elements);
- the availability of spinal injury, and its curvature, poor posture, flat feet;
- the existence of bad environmental conditions;
- inactive lifestyle;
- regular lifting weights, work in uncomfortable positions longer period of time, an activity by which a person often repeats the jerk movement, rotation and bending of the torso;
- too strong physical load, overloading of the spine due to diseases of the feet, difficulties in the process of wearing of shoes, and also the burden in the period of pregnancy;
- abrupt discontinuation of regular exercise people who engage in sports, stress, harmful smoking.
Symptoms of degenerative disc disease
In people who get sick osteochondrosis, in the first place to manifest the tangible back pain. Sometimes similar feelings of pain are accompanied by numbness as well as pain sensations in the extremities. If therapy degenerative disc disease, before the start of the on time, then a person fast weight loss, it happens atrophy of the limbs. During physical exercise and load, as well as in the process of lifting too heavy objects, during sneezing and coughing, the pain can become more intense. In a patient of osteochondrosis reduces the amount of movements, which are manifested by muscle spasms.
Cervical osteochondrosis manifested due to the peculiarities of the structure of the cervical spine. The vertebrae of the neck have a significantly smaller size than the vertebrae of other divisions of the spine. Respectively, cervical osteochondrosis manifested a constant load on the neck. Symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease are expressed as follows: feelings of pain are manifested on the hands, the neck, the shoulders, may occur and headaches. For this type of disease is typical for the syndrome of the vertebral artery. When the manifestation of this syndrome, a person feels the presence of noise in my head, before my eyes flit "flies", dizziness. Before the eyes can appear colored spots, parallel man feels a strong headache pulsating nature. Symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease, sometimes resemble the symptoms of angina pectoris, but it is handicapped in research, it is not observed changes in the heart.
In patients osteochondrosis of the breast department of the spine, when the patient feels pain on the chest. The pain can give in the region of the heart, as well as in other internal organs.
Sick osteochondrosis of the lumbar-sacral department of the spine, who are feeling the pain in the lower back, which can put on the feet, the sacrum, on the organs of small pelvis. In them affects the nerve roots, is violated sensitivity, may decrease reflexes and manifested hypotension.
The diagnosis of degenerative disc disease
A preliminary diagnosis of "osteochondrosis" specialist sets already during the primary examination of the patient. As usual, the examination performed by the doctor-neurologist. Usually the patient comes to reception to complain about the pain, and also to deformation or restriction of mobility.
The study of the spine of the patient is performed standing up, lying down and sitting up, the doctor examines him and in the motion and at rest. During the examination the doctor necessarily pays attention to the posture of the person, features of its body, especially the spine, relief of muscles, which are located near the spine.
Thanks to the feel of the spine the results of the examination of the patient can be supplemented with information about whether there is a deformation of the spine, where the localized pain, and also to determine the degree of its intensity. In the process of feelings also determines how tense the muscles near the spine because the muscle tone accompanies the majority of diseases and injuries. To determine the amplitude of the movements of the different divisions of the spine, they studied the possibility of its bending.
In the diagnosis of degenerative disc disease is often used computed tomography, x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging. These methods allow you to find out what is the level of lesions of the spine, to determine if there are hidden pathology and narrow differential diagnosis.
Thanks to the correct approach to the diagnosis of the doctor can determine what kind of tactics therapy select him, that the result was the most highly effective.
Treatment of degenerative disc disease
Treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease, as well as other forms of the disease and its complications is carried out with the use of conservative methods, which aim to remove the pain, restore the function of the spinal roots, and also for warning the degenerative phenomena in the structures of the spine.
If all methods of conservative treatment does not bring the desired effect, and for this purpose there are special values, it is wrong sometimes there are surgical methods of treatment of degenerative disc disease. The volume of surgery directly depends on how impressed the spine and intense symptoms of the disease.
The severity of the disease depends also length of therapy. As usual, the active phase of treatment using conservative methods usually takes about 1-3 months. After the surgery the patient recovers, roughly around one year. After the initiation of conservative treatment in many patients, osteochondrosis has occurred to strengthen painful sensations. It translates the response of the muscles and other departments for treatment.
If the painful is too strong, it can be stopped relatively quickly with the help of physiotherapy techniques, medication and use of a complex of specially developed exercises for patients osteochondrosis. It is important to note that a significant factor that affects the effectiveness of the treatment is to correct the behavior of the patient, its adequate you need to hold the developed methods of treatment. It is important to perseverance, patience and the desire to defeat the disease. It is shown that the most effective is to hold the conservative treatment and recovery after surgery in a sanatorium environment, as well as in medical centers that specialize in the treatment of this disease. When the availability of the necessary equipment, and also qualified doctors comprehensive treatment is the most effective and efficient.
In the complex therapy in the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease necessarily involves therapeutic exercise, massage, physical therapy, manual therapy, reflex therapy, the application of drug funds.
One of the most important methods, the impact on the state of the musculoskeletal system of humans is a therapeutic physical education. The patient regularly performs a certain number of exercises in which gradually occurs decompression of the nerve roots, correction of muscular corset, increasing the elasticity of the ligamentous-muscular apparatus. Special exercises cervical osteochondrosis can also provide effective prevention of further development of the disease. The main condition is the regularity of the implementation of all exercises.
When using physiotherapy takes place the treatment of degenerative disc disease by physical factors – the magnetic field current of low frequency, ultrasound , etc. This technique allows you to shorten the period of rehabilitation after surgery, and also to strengthen the effect of various drug resources.
With the help of massage can relieve muscle tension, improve blood circulation, make the firming impact in general.
To mitigate the sharp painful sensations uses a manual therapy. This technique also allows you to adjust your posture. Pain also be removed by using a traction the spine – a procedure carried out on a special device. When reflexology is the impact reflex zones of the human body, and allows you to significantly improve the effects of other methods.
During exacerbation of the disease is applied the treatment using the drug of the funds, with which it is removed inflammation, docked pain, activates metabolic processes. Drugs are injected intravenously or intramuscularly.
The most tangible results of the treatment are observed in the use of multiple methods in the premises. However, in the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease and other forms of the disease, prescribe is a must only by the attending physician.