A certain therapist with 50 years of experience once remarked: "When I started working, there was not a single young patient suffering from osteochondrosis on 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 pathways leading to chronic degenerative processes of the intervertebral discs, and then 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
Fake.The intervertebral disc consists of a nucleus pulposus, a fibrous annulus and hyaline cartilage covering it above and below.When these elements are destroyed, the balance between the load on the spine and the ability to support it is disrupted.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 noise during movement (patients wrongly explain this by a “salt deposit”).
If you have back and neck pain, 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 is part of the group of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine, there are also osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and the differentiation can be made only after a thorough examination.
Degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in 30-50% of cases among 30-40 year olds, in 75-100% of people over 40 years old.
These pathological processes represent 20.4% of the overall structure of disability due to diseases of the osteoarticular system.
A long walk is bad for the spine
On the contrary.Physical activity has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the spine: it maintains muscle tone, preserves intervertebral mobility, stimulates blood circulation and metabolism.Physical inactivity and prolonged stay in a particularly uncomfortable position are “responsible” for the progression of the disease.
It's another matter if an overweight person walks a lot and carries heavy objects, then the spine experiences increased stress.
Flat feet contribute to the development of osteochondrosis
It's true.The arch, like the physiological curves of the spine, is designed to absorb shock when walking, running and jumping.If the foot does not provide adequate protection when interacting with the support, the spine experiences 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.Typically, patients complain of constant back pain, often accompanied by numbness and a feeling of pain in the limbs.Over time, if left untreated, the muscles of the limbs atrophy, the joints of the spine become less mobile, and muscle spasms appear.
In case of 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 before the eyes, burning and throbbing headaches).This acute condition occurs due to arterial spasm in response to the impact of bone growths, as well as disc herniation, arthrosis of the intervertebral joint, as a reflex reaction to irritation of the spinal receptors.
If a person suffers from coronary or cardiovascular pathology, 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 is stuck there) - in the area of the heart and other internal organs;with lumbosacral lesions - in the lower back (irradiation of the sacrum, lower extremities, sometimes pelvic organs).
If complications of osteochondrosis develop (intervertebral disc herniation, bone growths, spondylolisthesis, spondyloarthrosis), then damage to the nerve roots is noted - the pain becomes throbbing, 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
It's true.Hippocrates also taught that all human diseases are associated with the spine, because it is a kind of foundation of the body.
With osteochondrosis, there is an increased risk of circulatory disorders in the cerebellar, stem and occipital regions of the brain.A constant headache appears - first in the back of the head, then spreads to the crown and temple area, intensifies with neck movements (more often in the morning).Older people may lose consciousness if they suddenly turn their head.This is preceded by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and hearing, nausea and vomiting.
Sometimes there is pain in the heart region - prolonged, pressing, annoying.With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, especially in older people, soft tissues often change - they become denser.
Degenerative processes in the spine can cause congestion of the gastrointestinal tract, disruption of the bronchopulmonary system, which is fraught with inflammatory and other diseases.
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 canal arteriosus narrow and deform, which leads to a 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 appear as in vegetative-vascular dystonia.
It is impossible to cure osteochondrosis
Indeed, spinal structures that have undergone degenerative changes cannot be completely restored.Nevertheless, comprehensive and adequate treatment can eliminate the symptoms of the disease, stop the development of pathology and avoid complications.
For intervertebral disc problems, it is useful to warm the painful points
Fake.Temperature changes, especially extreme (for example, a beginner's trip to the bathhouse), can cause serious aggravation.Moderate thermal procedures are used in complex treatments, 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
It's true.It is best to perform these exercises for preventive purposes: they help maintain the range of motion of 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 intense, conservative therapy (physio-, reflexology and manual) is carried out;physiotherapy and traction techniques are used.Drug treatment 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 medications are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), prescribed to relieve inflammation and pain (meloxicam, diclofenac, ibuprofen);in case of severe pain, novocaine blockades are used;steroid medications (epidural, 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.
Exercises to “stretch” the spine help improve your condition
Extension, or traction, helps increase the intervertebral space, relieve pain and restore the anatomically correct shape of the spine.However, the individual load must be correctly calculated.“Too much” can cause reflex contraction of the paraspinal muscles and make the situation worse.
Only an orthopedic traumatologist has the right to treat osteochondrosis.
Fake.Most patients are observed by a neurologist, and in the case of significant pathology, by a neurosurgeon or an orthopedist-vertebrologist.
A local doctor may also prescribe drug treatment to relieve an exacerbation.