What is osteochondrosis?

In modern life, the imbalance between active physical activity and static loads leads to a decrease in back muscle tone and, therefore, an increase in axial loads on the intervertebral discs and spinal ligaments, creating conditions for their microtrauma. The cartilage tissue of the vertebrae, discs, and ligaments undergoes a process called degenerative dystrophy, all of which doctors collectively refer to as multilevel osteochondrosis.

Natural aging of the spinal discs occurs as we age and is exacerbated by the effects of vibration, jerking movements, heavy lifting, and falls. Various back injuries, physical overload, poor physical fitness, poor posture and curvature of the spine, flat feet and excess body weight can contribute to the development and worsening of osteochondrosis.

Causes of osteochondrosis

1. genetic predisposition;
2. Metabolic disorders in the body;
3. Overweight, poor diet (lack of fluids);
4. age-related changes;
5. spinal injuries;
6. Poor posture, scoliosis, flat feet;
7. sedentary lifestyle;
8. Work involving heavy lifting;
9. The spine is overloaded due to factors such as walking in high heels and pregnancy in women.

Common main symptoms of osteochondrosis

1. Persistent pain in the back and numbness in the limbs;
2. Pain that worsens with sudden movement, physical activity, or heavy lifting;
3. Reduced range of motion and muscle spasms;

People with cervical chondrosis suffer from arm and shoulder pain and headaches; they may suffer from what is known as vertebral artery syndrome, in which patients complain of noises in the head, dizziness, flashing "spots", colored spots in front of the eyes, andThere is a throbbing headache.

Thoracic osteochondrosis: pain in the chest (like a "wooden stake" in the chest), pain in the area of the heart and other internal organs; Lumbosacral osteochondrosis: pain in the lower back that radiates to the sacrum, legs, and sometimes pelvic organs.cervical osteochondrosis. Localization of cervical osteochondrosis is fairly common. People who work in monotonous jobs (designers, programmers, secretaries, dentists, etc. ) are more susceptible to cervical spine injuries. Often, driving and long periods of working in front of a computer promote the development of cervical osteochondrosis. The main signs and symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include: headache, dizziness, arm and chest pain, low back pain, and numb tongue. When suffering from cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms such as head pain, dizziness, darkened vision, and elevated blood pressure often occur. The tube called the vertebral artery passes through the transverse process of the cervical vertebrae. It goes directly into the cranial cavity and nourishes the brain. Displacement of the vertebrae can cause spasm of the vertebral arteries and, in severe cases, compression of the vertebral arteries. As a result, the blood supply to certain parts of the brain is disrupted.

When osteochondrosis worsens, radicular symptoms may also occur: pain radiates into the hands and sometimes to individual fingers, they become numb, and they become persistently cold. The cause is interference with the transmission of impulses along nerve fibers. The degree of numbness in a specific finger allows a neurologist to determine the displacement of a specific vertebrae. The clinical manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis have a variety of symptoms, which are due to the physiological characteristics of this segment.The thoracic spine is rarely affected by osteochondrosis. One of the main reasons for developmentThoracic osteochondrosisIs a curvature of the spine (scoliosis). Usually, the cause of osteochondrosis of the chest is caused by the school. The thoracic spine has the least mobility, so the signs and symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are quite different from those of cervical or lumbar osteochondrosis. In most cases, the main difference between osteochondrosis of the chest is the absence of acute pain, only a dull pain in the back. The main symptoms and signs of thoracic osteochondrosis include: chest pain, numbness, crawling sensation in the chest, heartache, liver pain, and stomach pain. Many times, thoracic osteochondrosis is disguised as other diseases (eg, myocardial infarction, peptic ulcer, gastritis). The pain associated with thoracic osteochondrosis is persistent and resembles intercostal neuralgia. Sometimes the pain may spread below the shoulder blade, raising suspicion of a heart attack. The difference between "heart" pain and intercostal neuralgia is that patients with osteochondrosis have normal electrocardiograms and no symptoms such as severe paleness, bluish skin, or cold sweats. Lumbosacral osteochondrosis. Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine occurs most frequently. This is because the lower back (lumbar spine) usually bears the main load. Most commonly, lumbar osteochondrosis may be complicated by lumbar intervertebral hernia. The main symptoms and signs of lumbar osteochondrosis include: low back pain (low back pain has plagued people for many years, is cyclical, and worsens in autumn and winter), limited mobility, and leg pain. Typically, with lumbar osteochondrosis, you experience acute (low back pain) or soreness in the legs that affects certain parts of the legs (for example, the back or sides). In addition to pain, the skin of the legs may become more or less sensitive to touch or pain—these symptoms of osteochondrosis may be explained by compression of the roots of the spinal cord.

The most common cause of lumbosacral osteochondrosis is trauma (compression fracture or chronic injury). In the lumbar region, the sciatic nerve is formed from nerve roots. When a nerve is pinched, pain can spread along the nerve trunk: to the hip area, below the knee, and sometimes to the calf or heel. Nutrition of the nerve trunks may be severely disrupted, and the legs may then become numb. Symptoms of sensory impairment can be very persistent, and sometimes numbness can last for a long time. When the sciatic nerve is pinched, the person begins to limp, leaning toward the healthy side to maximize the vertebrae in the affected part of the body, thereby reducing compression at the roots. The first clinical manifestation of lumbosacral osteochondrosis is pain in the waist and legs.

treat

Treatment of osteochondrosisIt is performed primarily with a conservative approach and aims to eliminate pain, spinal root dysfunction, and prevent the progression of dystrophic changes in spinal structures.

Osteochondrosis pain syndrome usually occurs in an exacerbating-remitting form. Additionally, doctors talk about chronic pain if the pain lasts for more than 3 months. It can increase patients' anxiety levels and make them depressed. As the pathogenesis of pain changes, standard treatment options become ineffective. In this case, the neurologist will add antidepressants to the treatment medications, which are included in standard treatments for chronic pain. The entire process can take a long time.Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate risk factors for osteochondrosis and change lifestyle. It can effectively relieve acute pain in a timely manner and prevent it from becoming chronic.

Acute pain occurs when tissue is damaged and inflamed. Therefore, the main drugs used in treatment are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Pain occurs when nociceptors are stimulated by arachidonic acid metabolites.The most popular NSAID was, and still is, diclofenac. This drug has been used for many years and is considered the "gold standard" for pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects. Diclofenac is widely used to relieve acute pain in osteochondrosis.

There is a lot of interest in a new drug containing diclofenac. This is a fast dissolving, buffer stable sachet. This release form is quickly absorbed, has therapeutic effects comparable to the injectable form, and works within 5 to 20 minutes. The new drug works quickly and has long-lasting effects.
The drug is used in doses of 50 to 100 mg, and the daily dose of the drug should not exceed 150 mg/day. The daily dose should be divided into 3 doses.In a clinical study, the effectiveness of diclofenac potassium in sachet form was compared to the injectable form of diclofenac. The results showed that bagged diclofenac potassium was superior to the injectable form. It seems that this new drug will greatly expand the possibilities of analgesic treatment for doctors in our country.

Effects of pain on the muscle component include: following isometric relaxation, massage and therapeutic exercises, including exercises to strengthen muscle corsets or stretch spastic muscles, and the use of muscle relaxants. These methods can be combined with reflexology and other physical therapy procedures (DDT, SMT, local anesthetic electrophoresis, hydrocortisone phonophoresis, etc. ).

prevention

The main methods of preventing osteochondrosis are: physical activity, having appropriate equipment, eliminating prolonged postural stress in the workplace, prompt relief of acute pain, and regular exercise therapy.

Successful treatment of patients with osteochondrosis depends on the correct management of restorative measures, especially in the early stages of the disease. Physical rehabilitation should be comprehensive.