The osteochondrosis – causes, symptoms and treatments of the disease

21 April 2020

The disease osteochondrosis: what it is, causes, stages, techniques, and methods of treatment, we will consider in this article.

The disease osteochondrosis – description and methods of treatment

Under current health statistics, at present, the osteochondrosis suffer almost 90% of the population of the planet.

In this number are included, and the people with small manifestations of the symptoms of degenerative disc disease, and those who have the disease has gone far and beyond, and already a painful punishment, and pain.

The physicians of all countries, sound the alarm: in recent years, this disease is significantly "younger", and now the average age of onset of osteochondrosis is 30 years old!!!

But what is most troubling, according to the doctors is that when the conditions of the signs of the degenerative disc disease may appear in more early life, especially if they are present long, loads are not uniform or excessive load on the back and legs, as well as the consequences of the injury.

What is osteochondrosis?

As you progress (development) of the osteochondrosis, these transfers of defeat are applied in the tissue of the vertebrae.

The main symptom that should alert – is the appearance of pain in the neck, back, in the lumbar area.

Often the pain "da" in the hands, the chest, the shoulders, in the upper part of the thigh, etc

All this clearly indicates that the spine is initiated the pathological changes and of the urgency of taking measures, provided the disease has not gone too far, because, the negative of the dynamics of the degenerative disc disease are possible:

the atrophy of muscle tissue;
disorders of the sensitivity;
the violation of work of the internal organs;
the displacement of the internal organs, etc

In the absence of timely treatment of osteochondrosis develops the incurable state!!!

The causes of degenerative disc disease

The main factor of development of osteochondrosis is the charge density on the backbone.

A frequent cause of confusion (unequal) the distribution of the load of the spinal column are:

the habit of carrying the bag on one shoulder or in the hand;
incorrect posture in the seated position;
sleep too soft mattress;
sleep on a mattress of high;
the use of anatomically incorrect types of shoes.

Additional risk factors are also:

physical inactivity (sedentary);
the presence of excess weight;
a back injury;
injuries of the lower extremities;
flat feet;
any other violation of the locomotor system;
of age the degenerative processes of the spinal column, because it impairs the blood supply to the spinal column.

In the etiology (origin) of the osteochondrosis can play the role of factors such as:

physical over-exertion of the body;
neuro-emotional exhaustion;
metabolic disorders, poisoning, unhealthy food, alcohol, medications, gastrointestinal diseases – all of this prevents the normal and full absorption of the nutrients in the food;
occupational hazards (work, occurs, bad and regular load on the spinal column, which has a bad position for a long period of time or short-term test, but superstrong load);
genetic predisposition (small percentage, but the likelihood is possible);
the violation of posture in the period of active growth of the organism;
not detected in time or not prior treatment in a timely manner the scoliosis children;
the use of the narrow, uncomfortable shoes and high-heeled shoes 3 cm;
long-term and/or regular dehydration;
defective and not a balanced diet for the hypovitaminosis;
smoking;
pregnancy (especially multiple) in combination with little-used muscle-ligamentous apparatus: by displacement of the center of gravity of the body begin the degenerative processes of the spine.

Stages of development of degenerative disc disease

To develop, the osteochondrosis always goes through four stages:

The first stage is characterized by the appearance of the pathology is in the nucleus of the intervertebral disc. For the natural reason of the load starts the process of dehydration (dehydration) of the nucleus, which leads to a decrease of the height of the intervertebral of the unit and to the appearance of cracks fibrous rings.The symptoms in this stage, typically, do not exist or are very minor – can lead to a slight discomfort, prolonged stay in uncomfortable static posture, during active movement, etc
During the second phase of the disease occurs discomfort as the pain, especially when certain types of loads, movements and body positions. During the second stage, occurs the reduction of the distance between the vertebrae and the flaccidity of the vertebrate muscles, and ligaments. All of this leads to an increase of the mobility of the vertebrae with the dead disk, which is quite dangerous and a threat to their displacement or slippage.
The third stage of osteochondrosis is characterized by the formation of the prolapse and bulging of the. It may be accompanied by subluxation and/or development of osteoarthritis of the intervertebral joints. When certain movements are possible, the feeling of tightness and lack of mobility. In the extremities, they may arise feelings of tingling and numbness. At this stage of osteochondrosis is clearly feel the pain in the back, in the neck, in the back and in the sacrum department of a backbone, in the area of the tailbone (it all depends on the location of the dead disk).
During the fourth stage of osteochondrosis body, trying to correct the effects of hypermobility (excess mobility) of the vertebrae, begins to adapt to the violations of the functionality of the spinal column, and in the contact areas of the vertebrae begin to form osteophytes (new bone of education, in order to improve the fixation of the vertebra.

But, unfortunately, in some cases, the osteophytes cause the violation of the nerves, and still more injure the vertebrae. Accordingly, in the intervertebral discs and the joints begins fibrous ankylosis.

The symptoms of degenerative disc disease

The main symptoms of the degenerative disc disease is a feeling of discomfort and/or pain in the area of the neck and back.

Then, in the measure will be intense, unpleasant sensations, as well as what other symptoms are manifested during the development of the degenerative disc disease depends on the stage of the disease and the individual case.

The pathology is of the intervertebral discs, neck and back, are here much more that degenerative and dystrophic changes in the area of the sternum.

The symptoms of degenerative disc disease refers to:

periodic or permanent feeling of fatigue of the back;
little or vented (depending on the stage of the disease) syndrome of pain in the neck, back, chest, shoulder belt;
the changes, chained by the motion of the upper extremities.

The clinical presentation of degenerative disc disease depends largely on the location (location) of the pathology is, the degree of development of the process, the individual characteristics of the patients.

Pathology is of the intervertebral disc, the displacement, the propeller, the hernia and the increase of osteophytes give rise to the most diverse consequences.

Among the most common is the rape of normal circulation of the blood in the tissues, crushing the nerve endings of the dysfunction spinnomozgovogo of the canal, swelling, fibrosis of tissues and structures.

The consequences can be accompanied by a variety of different symptoms, which leads to the difficulty for an accurate diagnosis of the disease.

The most common symptoms of degenerative disc disease are such manifestations:

the pain in the back, in the neck, the lower part of the back, on the shoulder with the belt, in the area of the ribs;
the discomfort and stiffness of the movements of the trunk, which occur in certain positions of the body: slopes, curves, with an increase of the muscle tension;
sensation of numbness upper and lower extremities;
muscle and articulately discomfort, muscle cramps;
headaches, dizziness, fatigue;
the pain in the heart;
the violation of the sensitivity of the hands;
the muscle weakness.

The symptoms of degenerative disc disease varies depending on the place where is located the pathology is:

The osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, dominated by the pain in the neck, the hands, in the shoulder belt, which can "give" in the area of the scapula and shoulder. They are also present headaches, dizziness, flashing "flies" or spots before the eyes, ringing in the ears.
The defeat of the clinic of the division of pain is located in the area of the rib cage, the heart, the internal surface of the shoulder, in the area of the armpits. Available discomfort when breathing, shortness of breath.
The osteochondrosis lumbar-part sacrum of the spinal column manifested with pains in the lower part of the back with "giving" the pain in the legs, in the upper part of the thighs, in the organs of the pelvis. Very often binds to the sexual dysfunction.

Important!!! Surface – symptoms such as fatigue and back pain – can indicate not only on the presence of degenerative disc disease, but also about the accession of other diseases, or the development of other pathological processes, and of offences not related to dystrophy, intervertebral discs, therefore, the diagnosis of "osteochondrosis" should put only a specialist, and self-treatment with these symptoms unacceptable!!!

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Diagnosis of degenerative disc disease

For an accurate diagnosis and specialist maps as tools of survey methods, such as:

x-ray of the spine;
if it is necessary, – the myelography of the spine;
in the neurological clinic of the sensitivity and reflexes of the spine.

Other methods that can be assigned to a physician for the diagnosis and the stage of the pathological processes have been installed with the greatest possible precision, are:

computed tomography of the spine;
the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging
the magnetic resonance imaging.

The address in therapy in the treatment of degenerative disc disease – how to cure the disease

The treatment competent always relies only on an integrated approach. Is adjusted on the basis of the degree of tweak of the osteochondrosis in each case, and in the state of health of the patient.

The conservative treatment of the disease consists in reception of medicines and implementing complex treatment of corrective actions from exercises.

The surgical treatment in virtually any situation may not be the method of first choice.

The surgical treatment is assigned only in the absence of the dynamics of the Russian language and active progression of the disease in the background quite prolonged conservative therapy that does not result in a positive change in the direction of improvement.

In addition to medical methods for the therapy should follow a diet and take other measures, which are very important and necessary for healing.

Conservative treatment of degenerative disc disease

Conservative therapy focuses on the offensive (solution) the syndrome of pain, to normalize the functionality of the spine and in the prevention of negative changes in the future.

In the conservative treatment of degenerative disc disease includes the following types of therapy:

Medical therapy

Medications to the osteochondrosis is applied to the outrage of pain, eliminate the inflammation in the tissues and for the standardization of the processes of change in the body, the improvement of the processes of vascularization of the tissues and regeneration.

Very clear syndrome painful, or in case of acute complications can be assigned to medicamentous blockade of the nerve endings, which also contribute to reduce the severity of the stiffness of the muscles.

Important!!! You must understand clearly that the disease osteochondrosis can't be cured only the intake of the drugs!!!

Know that, when not expressed calcifications of the changes, and the evident pain syndrome, medications may be considered unexcused. This information can help you to avoid the evil assigned to the treatment of unskilled workers to specialists.

Medications that are applied to the outrage of the pain and the treatment of degenerative disc disease:

anti-inflammatory group of drugs;
the antispasmodic drugs;
drugs antioxidants (vitamins);
tools to improve the blood flow to the tissues;
drugs for the regeneration and/or prevention of cartilage degeneration.

The medicine may be designated in the form of ointments, creams for local use to the pain, in the sensations, in the form of tablets for oral administration in the form of injections and in the form of treatment of patches that have started the pain syndrome and improve the condition of the patient in a fairly long period, without side effects, that arise when taking the pills, and the use of the injection.

The patches for pain in the back and osteochondrosis

At this moment there are such medicinal for the pain of the patches:

the patches with the hassle of the action (spray, patch, poultice of mustard).
the patches with a reflective of the action (which store heat).
the patches with an analgesic action based on: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory means, on the basis of local anesthetic action, on the basis of medicinal herbs and food (nanoplastyri).
the patches on the basis of the chondroprotectors.
the patches of fusion of the exposure.

Medicinal patches have a number of advantages:

the almost total lack of contra-indications;
the absence of side effects;
the national liberation of the load in the organs of digestion, which occurs when taken by mouth for the funds of the therapy, which is especially important when there are diseases already existing;
the comfort of use;
save a lot the effect of the anesthesia – from 12 to 24 hours;
the absence of a toxic effect on the body (this is especially inherent chinese medicinal analgesic patches at the base of the organic components);
and many other advantages.

The physiotherapeutic methods.

Help to reduce the pain and increase the effect of medications. In the treatment of osteochondrosis is more common to use ultrasonic waves, magnetic fields of currents of low frequency, laser beams, etc

The methods of treatment of physical education (physical therapy) and kinesitherapy (movement therapy). Methods of physical therapy and kinesiotherapy procedures aimed at the standardization of the processes of change, in the recovery of the nutrition of the intervertebral disc, the recovery of the location of the vertebrae and the discs between them, in the uniform distribution of the load on the musculo-skeletal system motor the apparatus.

Therapeutic massage techniques. The massage is used to improve blood flow to the tissues, to relieve the muscle spasm and of the pliers, for in general, to improve the circulation of the blood.

Jets of water, as a type of therapeutic massage, supplements the manual method of massage (with the hands) and also helps to normalize the functioning of the entire nervous system of the body.

Therapy by the method of traction (traction) of the spinal column with the use of special equipment. The goal of such manipulations – the increase of the intervertebral space to normal size and correct breaches in spinal post.

A proper diet to osteochondrosis

The task of diet in the disease osteochondrosis – improves the metabolism, the saturation of the organism of nutrients benefits of essential oils, vitamins, minerals, the inclusion of foods with a high content of antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids and the compounds that contribute to the regeneration of cartilage tissue.

The mode of drinking at the time of the disease is very important, and includes the consumption of drinking water in the calculation of 30 ml for each kilogram of body weight of a person, evenly distributed throughout the day (most of the water is recommended to drink in the first half of the day).

Eating should drobno, 5-6 times a day. The basis of the diet with milk and fermented milk products, low fat meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, cereals, vegetables in great quantity and mushrooms.

Especially recommends the inclusion in the diet of meat and fish from the jelly, the jelly, the flooding of the dishes, the use of an olive oil of the first extraction without the temperature processing (salads, etc).

Are preferable methods of food processing, steam, bake, the process of digestion. Limit flour, sweet, fatty, spicy, salted, canned and smoked. Coffee, tea, sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages – a complete taboo!

What are are the complications of osteochondrosis?

If in bad faith respecting assigned to medical treatment or long to prevent the visit of a specialist from the survey, will clearly contribute to the progression of the disease and leading to the development of the complications, pathologies and new diseases, such as:

the hernia of the intervertebral disc (herniation of the spine);
main;
the kyphosis;
low back pain;
salt deposits in the intervertebral space;
spills of the spinal cord;
the decrease of the muscle mass of the limbs, muscle atrophy due to disturbances of the blood circulation;
the paralysis of the lower limbs and disability.

The prevention of the degenerative disc disease

Recommended that you stick to the general rules and by a healthy lifestyle:

exclude physical inactivity and increase physical activity;
prolonged stay in the static posture that you must take breaks for warming up every 45 minutes for the recovery of the circulation of the blood in the spinal column;
you must choose the chairs and armchairs with services of support of the spine, monitoring the situation of the hands on the table and feet on the ground, to learn to maintain your posture (smooth back, lazy shoulders);
for a night of sleep should be elastic, best a layer of extra padding and a pillow;
if necessary, lift and/or carry heavy objects, when the participation of security forces in sports – strictly comply with the technical safety;
choose bar correct shoes;
whenever possible, walk barefoot on an uneven surface: strengthen muscles of the foot and relieves tension with the locomotor system;
eat correctly, comply with the regimen of a drink;
learn techniques of total relaxation: it is going to shoot the tension of the muscles;
periodically courses of obshcheukrepljajushchego massage.

Is ğsemántica, disease-osteochondrosis exceed soon the face.

Greetings!