Osteochondrosis and regular back pain affect 60-80% of the population over the age of 30 years. Untreated osteochondrosis reduces quality of life and can lead to disability and disability, so it is important to recognize it in the early stages of development and seek medical help.
In this article we will talk about osteochondrosis, its symptoms and diagnostic methods, as well as how to distinguish osteochondrosis from other diseases that are manifested by back pain and what to do if signs of spinal osteochondrosis appear.
What is spinal osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease in which the nucleus accumbens is gradually destroyed. Over time, damage to the intervertebral disc involves other structures in the spine in the pathological process and causes disorders of the musculoskeletal system and nervous system. Osteochondrosis is also characterized as a premature aging of the joint apparatus or as a pathology resulting from spinal cord injury, for example, after an injury.
The development of osteochondrosis is influenced by many factors, so researchers have systematized the causes of the system:
- Induction - Inflammatory processes and other injuries of the spine cause premature aging of cartilage, for example, as a result of a sedentary life;
- Degenerative - disorders of the intervertebral discs occur as a result of metabolic failure, for example, as a result of an unbalanced diet and alcohol abuse;
- Dimetabolic - Osteochondrosis occurs in the intervertebral disc as a result of improper nutrition, due to which the number of blood vessels that supply blood decreases with age.
The development of osteochondrosis is a cascade in which one pathological process initiates another. So for example, due to age-related changes and a decrease in the number of vessels in the disc, nutrition is disrupted, leading to a lack of biochemical processes and damage to the intervertebral disc.
As degenerative and dystrophic changes develop in the spine, muscle tone and the work of nerve roots that exit the spinal cord through the natural openings of the spinal cord are disrupted. This leads to consequences on the part of the nervous and muscular system.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine
Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease with periodic exacerbations provoked by trauma, a sedentary lifestyle, heavy lifting, hypothermia, and psycho-emotional stress. The most common and characteristic symptom of dystrophic disorders in the nucleus accumbens is regular back pain in various segments: neck, chest and lumbar region.
There are two types of osteochondrosis symptoms: reflex and compression. Reflex symptoms develop due to irritation of the spinal cord roots. They manifest themselves in the form of spasms or vasodilation, muscle tremors, weakening of muscle strength. Symptoms of compression develop due to nerve compression (more often caused by a spinal hernia) and manifest as loss of sensation in the affected segment (neck, arms, or lumbar region).
Also, osteochondrosis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Tension and pain in the muscles of the neck and spine;
- Spine curve on side, back or front;
- Disorders of sensitivity and nervous regulation: there is a sensation of crawling on the skin, heat and cold on the skin of the back and limbs, numbness of the hands or feet;
- Weakening of the strength of the muscles of the limbs;
- Frequent urination - 10-12 times a day.
Where can osteochondrosis be done?
In osteochondrosis the pain is localized not only in the back. They extend to the upper and lower limbs. Feet:
- Buttocks;
- The back and sides of the thigh;
- Lower leg and inner ankle;
- Back legs;
- toes;
- Heels.
Also, pain may spread to the arms:
- Deltoid muscle;
- Outer edge of hand, below fingers;
- The back of the hand;
- Three middle fingers;
- Ring and little finger (rare).
How is osteochondrosis diagnosed?
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is based on examination, physical examination, and instrumental examination methods. Specific methods of examination will be identified during the consultation.
The doctor begins the diagnosis by taking a medical history: it determines the probable causes of back pain, determines the localization of pain and their duration, determines the presence of concomitant pathologies, such as allergies, congenital diseases and drug intolerance. Then goes on to check. Physical examination is performed while standing or sitting. Your doctor can determine the curvature of the spine, assess muscle strength and reflexes, and look at skin color. To clarify the picture of the disease it is necessary to consult with relevant specialists: neurologist, neurosurgeon, oncologist, rheumatologist and phthisiologist.
A neurologist diagnoses osteochondrosis if:
- Regular excruciating back pain;
- Increased pain during weight gain, wheezing, coughing;
- Numbness and painful joints;
- Reduce movement in movements;
- Muscle spasm;
- Damage to nerve roots;
- X-ray changes of the spine.
Do you need a spine x-ray?
X-ray or spondylography is one of the mandatory examinations of osteochondrosis, with the help of which it is possible to detect structural disorders of the spine. Spondylography allows you to find abnormal changes, such as thinning of the intervertebral disc. Typically, x-rays are done for the cervix, chest, and lumbar spine in two (and sometimes three) projections to get more details.
Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging allow us to identify pathologies associated with osteochondrosis: disc herniation and dimming of the lumen of the spinal canal, in the spinal canal of the intervertebral disc, and compression of the spinal cord.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has two main symptoms - cervical and cervical. The cervix is a severely painful cervical lumbago that occurs during movement and tension of the cervical spine muscles. Cervicalgia is a painful and severe pain in the neck. Paraesthesias are accompanied by cervicalgia - a sensory disturbance in the form of numbness and a sensation of crawling on the skin.
If the defeat of the nuclei of the intervertebral discs of the neck develops, cervical sciatica occurs - painful sensations in the occiput. The pains are characterized by regularity, in addition, they sometimes intensify, especially when moving.
This triad - cervicalgia, cervical sciatica, and cervix - can be complicated by nocturnal dysesthesia syndrome in the hands in which the sensitivity is distorted. For example, a warm object may be cooled by the fingers, but if you move it by hand, the sensitivity is restored.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is most commonly characterized by painful lumbago (dorsalgia). Chest pain is worse with hand movements, sneezing, coughing and weight lifting. Most often, the pain is in the belt. Also, paresthesia often occurs in the chest. Sometimes damage to the nuclei of the intervertebral discs is disguised as a disease of internal organs, such as gastritis or angina, because the pain may be localized in the upper abdomen and heart.
How to tell - heart pain or osteochondrosis?
Pectalgia syndrome is pain in the anterior wall of the chest that may resemble pain in the heart. Pectalgia can be a sign of both osteochondrosis and heart problems.
However, angina and myocardial infarction pain are different from osteochondrosis pectalgia syndrome. The peculiarities of angina pectoris and myocardial infarction are that they are compressive in nature and extend to the left scalp, arm, and jaw.
In osteochondrosis, pectalgia syndrome does not extend beyond the boundaries of the anterior wall of the chest, does not extend to the arm and veins, and is not accompanied by fear of death. However, these are only subjective feelings. Therefore, in order to rule out heart pathology, it is necessary to consult a doctor and do an electrocardiogram, which will reveal a rhythm disorder or signs of myocardial infarction.
If the pain starts on the left shoulder, arm, jaw, is accompanied by a feeling of fear, is not eliminated by taking nitroglycerin and lasts longer than 10-15 minutes, it is necessary to call an ambulance.
Why is lumbar spine osteochondrosis dangerous?
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine most often occurs in the lumbar or lumbar region - regular lumbar and painful pain in the lumbar region. Because of the constant pain, movements are limited: a person cannot bend, exercise, or lift a heavy object.
Lumbago can go on its own. However, they are prone to exacerbation, and each exacerbation indicates additional displacement in the intervertebral disc. As the destruction of the intervertebral disc progresses, lumbosacral sciatica develops, accompanied by pain in the lumbar region that radiates to the buttocks and thighs.
What is the difference between osteochondrosis and osteoarthritis?
Osteochondrosis and osteoarthritis (spondylogenic osteoarthritis) belong to the class of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. However, there is a fundamental difference between them: in osteochondrosis, the nucleus accumbens and osteoarthritis of the intervertebral joints are affected. This is the difference in symptoms and treatment.
Spinal pain in osteochondrosis is regular and painful, manifests itself in calmness and increases in movement, while the onset of pain in spondyloarthritis is associated with extension and flexibility of the spine. Usually, the pain syndrome in osteoarthritis of the spine is one-sided and is characterized by a tight nature. Also, spondylogenous osteoarthritis is characterized by morning stiffness that lasts from 30 to 60 minutes.
What is the difference between osteochondrosis and sciatica?
Sciatica is an inflammation of the roots of the spinal cord accompanied by pain along the affected nerves. In fact, these are two different diseases, but sciatica is a common complication of osteochondrosis, so it is often one of the symptoms of osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of sciatica
In osteochondrosis, sciatica most often occurs in the cervix and lumbar spine. Sciatica is manifested by pain along the damaged nerve, sensory disturbances, and sometimes movement disorders. Sciatica is characterized by pain that extends beyond the back and extends to the thighs, buttocks, lower extremities, and legs.
VSD or cervical osteochondrosis?
Vegetative vascular dystonia is a syndrome in which the autonomic nervous system is disrupted. VSD is a functional disorder in which no structural changes occur in either the spinal column or the nuclei of the intervertebral discs.
Vegetative-vascular dystonia has a mental origin - it is a neurosis associated with intrapersonal conflicts or childhood trauma. Externally, VSD and osteochondrosis may be similar: headache, dizziness, pain in the anterior wall of the chest.
Instrumental diagnosis is required to diagnose diseases - X-ray of the cervix and other parts, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Diagnosed with VSD, no organic changes occur, unlike osteochondrosis.
Treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia
Vegetative dystonia is treated with medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle adjustments. Patients are prescribed symptomatic treatment: sedatives, anxiolytics, hypnotics, restoratives, as well as vitamins. The task of psychotherapy with VSD is to teach the patient to regulate negative emotions and increase stress resistance. Lifestyle is also adjusted: you need to balance work and rest, exercise and follow a balanced diet.
Are you treating osteochondrosis or not?
Osteochondrosis can be cured. The goal of treatment is to eliminate back pain and tightness, restore muscle tone, prevent or stop neurological complications, and improve a person’s standard of living. If you follow your doctor's instructions, the disease can be cured.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home?
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home is not recommended. There are several reasons for this:
- It is impossible to accurately diagnose osteochondrosis at home, since back pain is of different origins: neurogenic, vascular, viscerogenic (due to diseases of internal organs) and psychogenic. That is, a person is being treated for osteochondrosis, but in fact the back pain has arisen, for example, due to kidney disease;
- It is impossible to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of treatment without a control diagnosis;
- The patient may not be able to adequately choose the treatment for themselves and folk remedies have no evidence, so they are likely to be ineffective and may cause side effects.
Home treatment can be done in one case - only after consultation with a doctor, who correctly diagnoses, prescribes adequate treatment and periodically monitors the effectiveness of therapy using X-rays, CT or MRI.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine
Treatment of osteochondrosis is conservative and surgical. Which method will be the main, it depends on the stage of the disease and the lining of the musculoskeletal system.
Conservative treatment includes medication, exercise therapy, and lifestyle adjustments. Medications include mainly anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants to relieve pain and normalize muscle tone. One of the main conditions for recovery in physiotherapy exercises is early activation, ie 1-3 days after the elimination of pain it is necessary to walk, jog, exercise in the pool or ride a bike. It is also important to actively change your lifestyle, as a sedentary person is one of the factors in the development of back pain and destruction of the nuclei of the intervertebral discs.
Surgical treatment is used when conservative therapy has been ineffective for 2-4 weeks and in cases where there are marked structural changes in the spine. What type of surgery is needed is determined by the surgeon after consultation with a neurologist and review of research data. For example, in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, methods are used that relieve the spinal cord from pressure from the spine or hernia (discectomy and decompression).
If you experience back pain accompanied by lumbar spine or neck pain, chest pain, muscle weakness in the arm or leg, unpleasant tactile sensations on the skin, and numbness, consult a neurologist for advice.