Under the osteoarthritis refers to a degenerative process in the intervertebral discs. The spine is compressed, crushing the disks that lie between the vertebrae. With the hours they lose their elasticity, and begin now to constricted and the nerve endings of the spinal cord.
Like any other disease, you need to treat low back pain under the supervision of a physician. Dalia, we will explain in detail what is this disease, why it occurs and which symptoms are characteristic for him.
What is osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a disease of the spine characterized by phenomena is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the intervertebral discs, and then the very tissue of the vertebrae.
Degenerative changes in disc lead to the weakening of its external fibrous ring. Therefore, patients with degenerative disc disease often have such serious etnia complications like protrusion (bulging part of the disc) and hernia (overhang let of the kernel disk into the spinal canal).
According to the results of medical studies, problems with the spine suffers every second man after 30 years. In 70% of cases the cause of pain in the spine is the low back pain, which is Yes neurological diseases affecting the ligaments of the spine.
Like any other disease, low back pain may not arise by itself, for no reason, hitting the back of a sharp pain. The first signs of osteochondrosis of the spine are not apparent immediately, gradually.
According to hell a place of pain there are three types of osteoarthritis:
- Cervical;
- Thoracic;
- Lumbar.
Important! Yes, the main complications of degenerative disc disease include disc protrusion, hernia Shmorlja, ankylosis of the spine, pinching the roots of spinal nerves and vessels.
Reasons
According to many experts who study this disease, the main cause of the phenomena phenomena phenomena of degenerative disc disease is incorrectly distributed load on the spinal ripped. As a result, patients directly in the field, which is the excess of physical pressure, there is a change in the structure of cartilage.
The causes of osteochondrosis:
- Genetic predisposition and diseases.
- Presence of diseases the endocrine system – metabolic disorders.
- The development of orthopedic diseases such as flat feet, curvature of posture, diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
- A variety of injuries, injuries of the spine.
- Lifestyle: lack of activity, poor diet with a predominance of fast-food dishes and harmful products.
- The presence of excess weight.
- Bad habits – Smoking, alcoholism.
- Stress, protoplanet.
- Pregnancy.
In most cases the causes of osteochondrosis are related to the professional activity of the person. The risk group includes the following professional categories:
- accountant;
- cashiers;
- IT-workers.
- office staff;
- professional athletes;
- drivers of vehicles.
Noted, however, that signs of osteoarthritis were detected much more often in women than men.
Stage of development
The development of degenerative disc disease occurs in 4 of stages (degree):
Low back pain stage 1
Is characterized by early pathological process in polipozom the nucleus of the intervertebral disc is dehydrated (dehydration), and in consequence the height of the disc decreases. Thus in the fibrous ring of the phenomena begin to appear cracks. At this stage the patient usually does not feel any changes. Discomfort can manifest in unusual for a person to the position of the seat, or active charge.
Stage 2
In the second stage of osteochondrosis of the continued degenerative changes and disc protrusion. Reduced the gap between the vertebrae, is the destruction of the fibrous capsule. In the result, violated the spinal nerve roots, which causes the phenomenon of the emergence point of pain, the intensity of which increases with tilt, swivel, and other movements. Perhaps the phenomena of the appearance of weakness, decreased performance.
Stage 3 degenerative disc disease of the spine
Is characterized by the Erasure of the cartilage pads between the discs, thinning tissue is well noticeable if to make renthenznimky. The symptoms of osteochondrosis bright expressed, are intensive, and a pain does not pass, and shoot it is only capable of potent painkillers.
Stage 4
The fourth stage is a very complex neurological disorder in the spinal system, which is expressed in a partial or complete restriction of mobility of joints. With this diagnostic the mill in the place of vertebral joints formed bony growths (osteophytes) that cause microtrauma to the nerve branches and the adjoining segments of the spine.
In most cases, the symptoms of osteochondrosis of 4 degrees does not cause pain and discomfort as the joints become fossilized form.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis in adults
Osteochondrosis – degenerative-dystrophic changes (destruction) of bone tissue of the spine, articular cartilage, ligaments and intervertebral discs. Over the disease is formed abnormal mobility of the spinal column, which violated the soft tissue, nerve fibers and blood vessels located close to the lesion – causing pain.
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis:
- back pain, cervical, lower back, shoulders, and ribs;
- discomfort, stiffness of the back in certain movements, lifting something;
- numbness of extremities (hands and/or feet);
- feeling aches in arms and legs, tremors;
- muscle spasms;
- disorders in the genital organs;
- headaches, dizziness;
- pain in region of heart;
- loss of sensitivity
- muscle hypotonia;
- fatigue, hours, and eyes.
To facilitate the occurrence of acute symptoms may excessive exercise, fatigue, hypothermia, injuries, a concussion and the effects of vibration.
Complications
Degenerative processes that affect primarily the intervertebral discs, lead to a reduction in their density, lose their shock-absorbing functions. The result of these changes are phenomenon is the excessive mobility of the spine affects the facet joints, muscles and ligaments.
Involved in the destructive processes paravertebral structures cause compression (squeezing) of the spinal cord, its nerve endings. As a result, the patient with osteoarthritis feels pain, which is accompanied by such symptoms and diseases:
- severe headache, migraine;
- the decrease in visual acuity.
- partial hearing loss;
- radiculopathy (sciatica);
- autonomic dysfunction (VSD);
- dysfunction of the urogenital system;
- sciatica (compressions of sciatic nerve);
- disc herniation;
- spondiloarthrosis;
- lumbago, lumbalgia;
- osteophytes, spondylosis;
- the spinal stenosis.
Worst of all, along with osteochondrosis you start phenomena to appear and other diseases. The fact that damaged the neurovascular bundle, deteriorating blood circulation, as a result, the disease of the whole organism.
Aggravation of degenerative disc disease
Spring often comes a worsening of the lower spine, in the winter of acute thoracic. Aggravation can be when the weather changes I, stress, physical exertion. During exacerbation of the disease is prescribed with painkillers, local ointments, medications that relieve swelling and muscle spasm. Diuretic used in severe edema, but at the same time it is necessary to apply preparations of sodium and potassium.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis is based on the following methods:
- Collecting history — is the study of the complaints of the patient, and ascertain the hour of occurrence, cause, duration, characteristics of the disease.
- Physiological review:
- provides diagnosis of the whole situation, walking, AB the pit of the patient's movement;
- studied the skin to detect areas of redness, peeling, rash;
- palpable painful areas to determine the local temperature, presence of edema, muscle spasms, seals;
- for detection of the site of pain radiation is the drums the fingers or a special hammer;
- tingling needle helps to determine pain sensitivity.
Instrumental methods of diagnosis of osteoarthritis:
- X-ray diagnostics plays a key role in this disease. Conventional radiography allows to identify such signs of disease, such as narrowing the gap between the vertebrae.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – research method, which allows accurate diagnosis which occur in the spine processes. With his help, in particular, it is possible to determine the presence grimestone disk and its localization.
- Computed tomography (CT) are similar in their diagnostic capabilities and MRI. The disadvantage of CT phenomena is the presence of the radiation during the study.
How to treat osteochondrosis?
There is no specific and only correct method of treating degenerative disc disease – this process under any circumstances requires a comprehensive approach. If the doctor says otherwise, you should think about his professional qualifications and to consider finding another expert.
A comprehensive program traditionally includes the following components:
- physiotherapeutic methods of influence;
- special exercises and massages;
- methods of manual therapy;
- medication;
- reflexology, electrophoresis, etc.;
- traction.
Recommendations for treatment of degenerative disc disease at home:
- The rejection of bad habits and a gradual transition and the acquisition of useful habits. Smoking, alcohol and result in spasms and without the entrapped vessels, dorsal artery.
- Diet — refusal hell fat and contain cholesterol foods: eggs, Bolena, skins of birds and pigs.
- Restrict intake of strong coffee and tea, gradually switch to herbal teas and fresh juices.
- To choose the right mattress and pillow to sleep, preferably orthopedic.
- The restoration of normal blood circulation in satiksi muscles and disks by massage, self-massage, complex physical therapy, compresses, rubbing and intake of herbal infusions and alcoholic tinctures of herbs.
Drugs from osteoarthritis
Specialists in the treatment of such patients, prescribe medications, which have the following properties: relieve inflammation, restore the function of musculoskeletal system, stimulate the regeneration of tissues of the intervertebral discs and cartilage and prevent the progression of osteoarthritis.
Treatment of osteoarthritis is on the traditional ways of treatment of many diseases of the musculoskeletal system: assigned to NSAIDs to eliminate the inflammatory process in the tissues, chondroprotectors to restore the level of synovial fluid and corticosteroids, if the first two drugs proved to be ineffective.
Massage
In order to get rid of hell of osteoarthritis, using various therapy treatments, including massage. It has many useful properties — reduces muscle tone, blood flow in the spine is stimulated, the spinal discs become stronger.
Manual therapy in osteochondrosis
Manual therapy relieves hell acute pain, helps to restore posture. One of the most commonly used methods phenomenon is visceral therapy. In the course of conducting a qualitative study of joints, improve the circulation of blood, strengthen the immune system. To prevent aggravation of various chronic diseases.
Physical therapy — therapeutic exercise
Physiotherapy or physical therapy in osteochondrosis may very important. So, special exercises to strengthen back muscles contribute to the formation of the muscular corset, which in turn provides uniform distribution of load on the spine. In addition, due to the regular practice improves blood circulation and nutrition of tissues, including intervertebral discs, is that the patient develops the correct posture, increase range of motion in the spine.
To therapeutic physical training and gymnastics to bring the expected effect, must adhere to the following rules:
- Exercises with osteochondrosis need to perform regularly.
- All movements should be smooth and slow.
- The breathing should be smooth.
- Follow the pulse rate.
- If you experience discomfort and pain in the muscles and spine to reduce the amplitude and intensity of movements.
- Gymnastics and gymnastics can be practised at any hour of the day.
- For medical gymnastics and physical education choose comfortable clothes made of natural fabrics.
- Before you start doing exercises and physical training, you need to consult with your doctor.
Physical therapy
Helps to effectively deal with painful manifestations in the places of localization of the pathological process. There are many types of physiotherapeutic treatment. Often turn and use of magnetotherapy, ultrasound therapy, and exposure to low frequency currents.
Effect hell thisprocedure can be:
- normalization of metabolism in the affected areas;
- the increasing resistance of the organism;
- pain relief;
- improvement of microcirculation in the spine and paravertebral tissues;
- removal of edema;
- the reduction of the inflammatory process;
- improvement of mobility of the spine.
Low back pain as any other disease of the spine requires immediate treatment. At the first signs, be sure to consult and orthopedist. Be healthy!