Osteochondrosis is a lesion of the interarticular and intervertebral cartilage.Osteochondrosis is diagnosed in all joints without exception.However, according to medical statistics, these lesions are more common in the intervertebral discs.
Functions of the intervertebral discs
The main function of the intervertebral discs is to absorb shock when walking and running.Few people think about the load placed on the spine during movement.Each step gives a push to the vertebrae.If there were no discs between them, the bones would wear out very quickly and the nerve endings in the spine would continually be pinched between the vertebrae.
Its shock absorption capabilities depend on the quality of the intervertebral disc.The younger the person, the more elastic the discs are.In the newborn, the articular cartilage and intervertebral discs are made up of almost 80% water, which gives them the ability to be as elastic as possible, like a sponge.With age, tissues deteriorate, dry out, become less flexible and lose their shock absorption properties.The older a person is, the higher the risk of developing complications of osteochondrosis, manifested by:
- hernias;
- radiculitis;
- protrudes.
Symptoms of intervertebral disc disease
There is osteochondrosis of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions.At the same time, problems in the cervical region may not be accompanied by any characteristic pain, while problems in the thoracic region may result in pain not in the spine, but in the chest, which is why patients often confuse them with pain in the heart or bronchi.
Sometimes osteochondrosis of the cervical spine manifests itself as pain in the arm.If there were no obvious injuries that could cause pain in the arm, such a symptom should be a reason to examine the cervical spine.
If the pain, concentrated in the sacral area, spreads to the leg and buttock (usually on one side), this indicates damage to the intervertebral disc in the lumbar region.After applying pressure to the damaged area, you may feel numbness in the leg, arm, or tingling in one of the limbs.The main striking symptoms of osteochondrosis of the intervertebral space are:
- Pain in the sacral area, preventing the person from sitting.
- Back pain that prevents you from bending over.
- Pain that eases when walking.
At the first signs of damage to the intervertebral discs, you should avoid any intense physical activity on your back, that is, do not lift anything heavy.
Why does osteochondrosis appear?
There are several reasons that affect the condition of disks.These include smoking and excessive exercise, especially when daily activities involve lifting heavy objects.On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet are a surefire path to disc destruction.In addition, specific work that requires you to hold your torso in an uncomfortable position, a constant load on one shoulder, as well as sleeping on a poorly chosen mattress constitute a risk of developing osteochondrosis.
Sleep properly on mattresses of moderate hardness so that the spine is in a natural and uniform position during rest.Soft feather beds only seem comfortable.Lying on a soft bed for a long time causes morning back pain.This happens because the back muscles are stretched as the back bends under its own weight.Stretching the back muscles, which continues throughout the night, leads to pain not only in the lower back, but along the entire length of the spine.
Flat feet pose a risk of developing osteochondrosis, since such a foot cannot fully perform the functions of a shock absorber.As a result, the spine bears increased loads and the discs wear out more quickly.
Additionally, overweight people put more strain on their spines than those whose body mass index is close to ideal.You need to monitor your form so that the weight-to-height ratio does not put additional pressure on the skeleton.
However, completely healthy people who lead a sports lifestyle may suffer from osteochondrosis.The main reason for this is injury.An unfortunate fall or blow to the spine often leads to hernias, protrusions and osteochondrosis.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
A surgeon, orthopedist or neurologist can make a diagnosis.Since pain in the lumbar region often becomes a reason for contacting a neurologist, such patients are first examined by a doctor of this specialty.First, the patient is examined.To make a diagnosis, he must assess the patient's ability to twist the body, bend, sit, walk and bend the legs.After which the spine is palpated.Thanks to the manual examination, the doctor will be able to identify painful points and feel compaction or even hernias between the vertebrae.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor orders an x-ray of the spine.This is the simplest test that can be performed even in a rural clinic.X-rays have long been available in medical practice and are an integral part of every trauma department.If the x-ray does not confirm the diagnosis, or when further study is necessary, a CT or MRI of the spine is prescribed.With the help of such an examination, it will be possible to find out the quality of the discs, assess their elasticity and integrity, and also identify hidden pathologies.
How to treat osteochondrosis
As a conservative treatment, a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed.If there is no serious damage to the discs and the doctor noticed on the images that the cause of the pain lies in the pinching of the nerve by the inflamed muscle, then treatment will be reduced to relieving the inflammatory process.Additionally, warming therapy may be prescribed, which will reduce swelling, relax the muscle, and release the pinched nerve.
In case of protrusion or herniation of the intervertebral disc, the problem of back pain can be solved by surgery.Severely worn vertebrae can be replaced with prostheses.