Osteochondrosis is a damage to the inter-articular and inter-vertebral cartilages.Osteochondrosis is diagnosed in all joints without exception, however, according to medical statistics, such injuries are more common in intervertebral discs.
Functions of intervertebral discs
The main function of intervertebral discs is to absorb shock during walking and running.Few people think about the load placed on the spine during movement.Every step pushes the vertebrae.If there were no discs between them, the bones would wear out very quickly and the nerve endings of the spinal column would be continuously compressed between the vertebrae.
Its ability to absorb shock depends on the quality of the intervertebral disc.The younger the person, the more elastic the discs.In newborns, articular cartilage and intervertebral discs are almost 80% water, which allows them to be as elastic as possible, like a sponge.As we age, fabrics deteriorate, dry out, become less flexible and lose shock-absorbing properties.The older a person is, the higher the risk of developing complications of osteochondrosis, which manifests as:
- hernias;
- sciatica;
- bulging
Symptoms of intervertebral disc disease
Cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis is observed.In addition, problems in the cervical area may not be accompanied by characteristic pain at all, and in the chest area, not by the spine, but by the chest, which is why patients often confuse them with heart or bronchial pain.
Sometimes osteochondrosis of the cervical spine manifests as pain in the arm.If there were no obvious injuries that could cause pain in the arm, such a symptom should be the reason for examining the cervical spine.
If the pain, concentrated in the sacral area, flows to the leg and buttock (usually only on one side), this indicates an injury to the intervertebral disc in the lumbar region.After applying pressure to the affected area, you may experience numbness or tingling in your leg, arm, or one of your limbs.The main visible symptoms of osteochondrosis of the intervertebral space are:
- Pain in the sacrum that prevents sitting.
- Back pain that prevents bending.
- Pain that disappears when walking.
At the first signs of damage to the intervertebral discs, you should avoid heavy physical load on the back, that is, do not lift anything heavy.
Why does osteochondrosis occur?
There are several reasons that affect the condition of the disks.These include smoking and excessive exercise, especially when daily activities involve heavy lifting.On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition are sure ways to destroy the disc.In addition, the danger of developing osteochondrosis is specific work that forces you to keep your body in an uncomfortable position, constant load on only one shoulder, as well as sleeping on an incorrectly selected mattress.
Sleep properly on a mattress of moderate firmness so that the spine is in a natural, even position while resting.Soft feather beds just look comfortable.Lying on a soft bed for a long time causes back pain in the morning.This is because the back muscles are stretched as the back bends under its own weight.Stretching of the back muscles, which continues throughout the night, causes pain not only in the lower back, but also along the entire length of the spine.
Flat feet pose a risk of developing osteochondrosis, because such a foot cannot fully perform the functions of a shock absorber.Because of this, the spine bears an increased load, and the discs wear out faster.
In addition, people who are overweight put more stress on the spine than those whose body mass index is close to ideal.You need to control your form so that the ratio of weight and height does not put additional stress on the skeleton.
However, perfectly healthy people who lead a sports lifestyle can have osteochondrosis.The main reason for this is injury.An unfortunate fall or blow to the spine often leads to herniation, protrusion and osteochondrosis.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
A surgeon, orthopedist or neurologist can make a diagnosis.Since pain in the lower back is often the 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 turn the body, bend, sit, walk and bend the legs.After which the spinal column is palpated.Thanks to the manual examination, the doctor will be able to identify pain points and feel the compression between the vertebrae and even a hernia.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will order 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 a more detailed examination is needed, a computed tomography or MRI of the spine is prescribed.By means of such an examination, it will be possible to find out the quality of the disks, to evaluate their elasticity and integrity, and also to identify hidden pathologies.
How to treat osteochondrosis
As a conservative treatment, a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed.If there are no serious injuries to the disks and the doctor noticed in the pictures that the cause of the pain lies in the stretching of the nerve by the inflamed muscle, then the treatment will be reduced to the relief of the inflammatory process.In addition, warming therapy may be prescribed to reduce swelling, relax the muscle, and release the pinched nerve.
In the case of protrusion or herniated intervertebral discs, the issue of back pain can be solved surgically.Severely worn vertebrae can be replaced with a prosthesis.