Osteochondrosis of the spine - symptoms and treatment, causes, everything has already been said, retold. That this is not a disease, but the aging of the body, even if it is stronger than concrete, wears away, it leads to cracks. Unfortunately, like old age, this process of destruction cannot be avoided, only slowed down. And most importantly, there are no pills, mixtures, powders, rejuvenating apples for osteochondrosis. It is easier to understand that this is a fee because we live, walk, make silly movements, sit, sleep. He cannot fully exercise his functions as he did in his youth. By the way, why do young people have chondrosis? Here's a quick look at 21st century disease. Let's define the important functions of the spine. Let's find out the reasons for the main complications in young people and in years. We will discuss the diagnosis of the disease and the methods of treatment. Let's clear the basics of prevention and how we can protect ourselves from aging rapidly.
Important functions of the spine
We must not forget that our spine has three main functions.
- Pivot - keeps the body upright.
- Protection - protects the spinal cord.
- Damping - ligaments, cartilage soften the most varied of movements in our body.
Thanks to the unique intervertebral discs that are located in the structure of the spine, the spine absorbs any stress in all areas.
The concept of the word "osteochondrosis"
The term "osteochondrosis" is only used in Russia, in the West they have given up this name and instead use the concept of "degenerative disease of the intervertebral disc or cartilage, you can also call it that". This definition reflects the essence of what is happening on the hard drives.
Result: if osteochondrosis - degeneration (dystrophy) of the intervertebral cartilage due to primitive movements. The conclusion from this definition is as follows: dystrophy - a violation of tissue nutrition, and degeneration is a change in tissue for the worse.
Even if you understand the meaning of these words, it is clear what happens in the spine and where such a popular disease "osteochondrosis" comes from. What kind of disease is that by the way? Simple - early aging.
The degeneration consists of four stages of development and develops in all three departments. Osteochondrosis occurs:
- cervical;
- chest;
- lumbar spine.
Tissue malnutrition
The tissue is nourished by the huge circulatory system. Arteries, veins, vessels and capillaries as well as muscle tissue are actively involved in the nutritional process. Along with the blood, important nutrients are transferred to the vertebrae, cartilage, and muscles by contracting and helping the blood move at the right speed.
Discs without blood vessels suck in water and nutrients when the vortex relaxes. And when you press it, in contrast, the same segments give off excess. So, it turns out that during the amortization of the spine, due to compression and expansion, the intervertebral discs are saturated and cleaned by the osmosis method. The more frequent osmosis occurs, the more satisfying and nourished they are.
It is the muscles that surround the vertebrae from behind that perform the movement process. It's not hard to imagine that the muscles around the spine aren't very flexible, blood flow is slow, and full metabolism is compromised. Cartilage suffers from a lack of nutrition and cannot be elastic and strong, so dystrophy of the spine develops.
In the early stages of dystrophy, the inclusion of regular exercise in life can still be corrected relatively quickly. The younger generation has hope of a complete healing.
What happens next? In a motionless state, the muscles weaken for a long time, the ligaments stretch and atrophy so much that they cannot even hold the spine in an anatomical shape. There are several types of curvature:
- lordosis;
- kyphosis;
- scoliosis.
The fact is that the core of cartilage, which is 80% water, the water giving it elasticity, naturally loses its elasticity with age and a sedentary lifestyle speeds up this process. Therefore, the performance of the disc slows down, less water flows and the altitude becomes thinner. However, water and useful elements are not only needed for the hard drive, but for all components in the environment:
- tendons;
- muscles;
- fascia;
- bindings.
But in old age some of the capillaries still dry out due to the slow blood flow, because they were not needed for decades, the process of osteochondrosis is rooted. At this age, it takes effort to be in shape.
Osteochondrosis is a complex of dystrophic diseases of the cartilage and segments. The intervertebral linings are most often affected, but it also develops in the joints, only it has different names - osteoarthritis, arthritis (how these diseases differ here), coxarthrosis, and many other pathologies.
Symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine
reasons
There are external and internal causes of osteochondrosis that lead to damage.
>The obvious reasons for internal and external factors cannot be disputed except for age. People, thanks to their laziness, move on to the aging of the musculoskeletal system from the moment they become independent. We recognize the benefits of morning exercise, a healthy lifestyle, at least in part, and we deliberately use all excuses, excuses for not doing anything. I'm not hiding, I was like that myself.
Complications
Dystrophic changes in the intervertebral disc are not a big deal in and of themselves. Many live a long time, they do not go to the doctor, because they are not very concerned about the complications of osteochondrosis. However, severe pain is common for various reasons. After visiting a doctor, a person will receive a whole host of identified complications such as protrusion, hernia, spondylosis (osteophyte), and vertebral instability after examination.
These complications are believed to result in painful symptoms when compression occurs on nerve endings at the level of the intervertebral disc of part of the spine. In addition to the pain, there may be a manifestation of weakness, decreased sensitivity, dysfunction of the pelvis, increased blood pressure, in severe cases paralysis.
- Protrusion is a slight protrusion of the annulus fibrosus beyond the boundaries of the vertebral body. Due to an increase in the nucleus pulposus, cracks sometimes appear in the annulus fibrosus layers.
- A herniated disc is a loosening of the annulus fibrosus. The cartilage has lost its elasticity and is divided into parts, and the excessive stress on this condition causes it to protrude, so that an inguinal hernia occurs. It can irritate the nerve root emerging from the vertebral canal at the level of the vertebra. Then pain in localization occurs in one area or another of the body.
- Osteophytes - a change in the vertebral bodies themselves, the height of the intervertebral disc decreases so much that its marginal bone growths (which are called osteophytes) begin their destructive activity in relation to our health. The size of the opening through which the spinal nerve exits, that is, its root, decreases.
There is also another opinion about the appearance of discomfort and pain that force you to see a specialist. Pathologies of soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons, fasciae). Everything that sets our skeleton in motion, and they signal the incipient problems by sending a painful impulse. Diagnoses are made - sciatica, myositis, myalgia and much more, and all these are supposedly symptoms against the background of osteochondrosis of the spine, and treatment is prescribed in the form of pain relievers. And then everything repeats itself again, a vicious circle.
In women after 50-55 years, the reproductive functions begin to die out. It enters the climacteric phase. It seems like a natural transition, what can you do here. But if you're not taking hormone replacement therapy or at least dietary supplements. Then osteoporosis quickly develops, which is often confused with osteochondrosis.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the spine
Self diagnosis
- You can decide for yourself whether it is available or not. It is enough to assess how often the back hurts. How quickly does she get tired of little physical work, stress. When there is heaviness, discomfort or sometimes pain, changes are already taking place in the spine. Since a healthy person does not feel such symptoms in the back, he is simply healthy. Although there are hardly any healthy ones at the moment.
- It is necessary to determine the flexibility of the spine. Flexibility depends entirely on stretching. The better it is, the healthier the spine.
Diagnosis in a polyclinic
At the doctor's appointment, a referral for an X-ray will be made for a correct diagnosis. And then the appropriate treatment is prescribed.
Comparison layouts for healthy and diseased segments. The layout shows how the intervertebral disc and the body of the segment are the ideal structure that nature created. Nerve endings move freely, are not pinched, the intervertebral disc is high and has a large margin of safety. With such a disc a person can withstand up to 800 kg.
In addition, a model deformed by the disease is shown, the difference is significant. The intervertebral disc is flattened and the edges of the vertebral body grow and become distorted. This is exactly the view in the picture.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Unfortunately, neglected complications cannot always be cured conservatively; they often have to be treated immediately. In any case, however, they are treated and must be treated in a timely manner.
Osteochondrosis, which occurs by the age of 70, is considered the norm of a person by age, and its doctors do not cure it for years. There is another approach for young people, after the diagnosis of symptoms, the necessary treatment is prescribed.
The treatment should only be combined.
- Eliminate pain, if any.
- Prescribe physical therapy, reflexology and massage.
- movement therapy.
Physiotherapy exercises in principle form the basis of the treatment, as they help to restore the normal biomechanics of the spine. And this leads to the discharge of the intervertebral discs. Swimming is a wonderful relief. But the beginning of the class only after the pain symptoms have subsided.
Prevention of spinal osteochondrosis
Nowadays there are many sedentary professions for 8 hours or even more and no organism can withstand this.
The spine is not only a support for our skeleton, but also a case for the spinal cord. 
The most important organ for the central nervous system. And if the disease is neglected, it can become disabled. I don't want to be frightened, but the paralysis of the limbs is very serious, I know that firsthand.
Therefore, if you have problems with the spine, you should not delay the visit of a specialist, as this is more expensive for you yourself. More often, you need to think about a healthy lifestyle. Biking, swimming pool, gym, basic morning exercise, and hiking. An affordable set of exercises at work to give your body some physical support and stop being a wreck in the future.
In order to get a result, it is necessary to develop a habit. Regularity and discipline are the basis of prevention. After all, you don't need much, the body is grateful, you should love it, take care of it, and it will respond with good health. And what do you think?
I hope this article was informative for you. They found that almost everyone has osteochondrosis of the spine. Only the symptoms and the treatment are different. Studying your body more deeply can help prevent disease, and learning from within is something you need to ask your doctor about.
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Take care of yourself and your spine!