Spinal osteochondrosis - symptoms and treatment, causes, everything has already been said and re-explained. This is not a disease, but the aging of the body, although stronger than concrete, wears out and cracks. Unfortunately, this process of destruction, as in old age, can not be prevented, only slowed down. Most importantly, there are no pills, potions, powders, rejuvenating apples for osteochondrosis. It is easier to understand, it is a right to live, to walk, to act foolishly, to sit and sleep. As in his youth, he is not able to perform his functions to the fullest. By the way, about young people, why do they have chondrosis? Here is a brief overview of the disease of the 21st century. Let's define the important functions of the spine. Let's learn the causes of major complications in young people and over the years. We will discuss the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Let's clarify the basics of prevention and how to get rid of rapid aging.
Important functions of the spine
We must not forget that our spine has 3 main functions.
- Pivot - keeps the body upright.
- Protective - protects the spinal cord.
- Pillow - ligaments, cartilage softens the most diverse movements of our body.
Thanks to the unique intervertebral discs located in the structure of the spine, the spine absorbs any load in all areas.
The concept of the word "osteochondrosis"
The term "osteochondrosis" is used only in Russia, the name was abandoned in the West, and instead used the term "intervertebral disc or cartilage degenerative disease, which can be called that. "This definition reflects the essence of what happens on disks.
Result: if osteochondrosis - degeneration (dystrophy) of the intervertebral cartilage caused by primary movements. The result of this definition is that dystrophy is a disorder of tissue nutrition, and degeneration is a malignant change in tissue.
Although we understand the meaning of these words, it is clear what is happening in the spine and where "osteochondrosis", such a popular disease, comes from. By the way, what is this disease? Simple - premature aging.
Degeneration is in four stages and in the development stage, it develops in all three departments. Osteochondrosis occurs:
- cervical;
- chest;
- bel.
Tissue nutrition
Tissues are nourished by a giant circulatory system. Muscles, as well as arteries, veins, veins and capillaries, all take an active part in the process of nutrition. Along with the blood, essential nutrients are transported to the spine, cartilage and muscles, where they contract and help the blood to move at the required speed.
Discs without blood vessels absorb water and nutrients as soon as the spine relaxes. And when you click on them, the same segments, on the contrary, give the excess. Thus, due to compression and expansion during lumbar amortization, the discs are saturated and cleaned by osmosis. The more often osmosis occurs, the more satisfied and well-nourished.
It is the muscles that surround the spine that perform the process of movement. It is not difficult to imagine that the muscles around the spine are not very active, blood circulation is slow, and complete metabolism is disturbed. Cartilage suffers from malnutrition and cannot be elastic and strong, thus developing spinal dystrophy.
In the early stages of dystrophy, regular athletic exercise can still be corrected quickly. The young generation has full hope for recovery.
What happens next? When left inactive for long periods of time, the muscles weaken, the ligaments stretch, and various curvatures occur that prevent the atrophy from maintaining the anatomical shape of the lower back:
- lordosis;
- kyphosis;
- scoliosis.
For a long time, the circulatory system begins to collapse disks that do not receive enough fluid for proper nutrition and a full-fledged being. That is, degeneration occurs, a slow modification (destruction). Diagnosed - "Osteochondrosis" long-term treatment with drugs that are not very effective without all the symptoms and sports therapy.
The truth is that the nucleus of cartilage, which is 80% water, is the water that gives it elasticity, it loses its elasticity in nature with age, and a sedentary lifestyle accelerates this process. Therefore, the strength of the disc slows down, less water flows, the height becomes thinner. But water and nutrients are needed not only for the disk, but for all the surrounding components:
- tendons;
- muscles;
- fascia;
- links.
However, due to the slow blood circulation in old age, some of the capillaries still dry out, because they have not been needed for years, and the process of osteochondrosis takes root. At this age, it takes effort to stay in shape.
Osteochondrosis is a complex of dystrophic diseases of cartilage and segments. Often the intervertebral lining is affected, but it also develops in the joints, only to have 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.
- Among the internal ones are genetic, tissue malnutrition disorders at a young age, muscle spasms and nervous stress that stays in this state for a long time, and perhaps forever trigger points.
- External (trauma, low and excessive physical activity).
Apart from old age, the obvious causes of internal and external factors cannot be disputed. From the moment they become independent, people tend to age the musculoskeletal system due to laziness. The benefits of morning exercise, a healthy lifestyle, at least in part, we deliberately give no excuses, excuses not to do anything. I do not hide, I was like that.
Complications
Dystrophic changes in the intervertebral disc are not a big problem in themselves. Many live longer and do not seek medical attention because they are less concerned about the complications of osteochondrosis. However, severe pain often occurs for various reasons. After going to a doctor, a person gets a number of identified complications after the examination, such as protrusion, hernia, spondylosis (osteophyte) and vertebral instability.
These complications are believed to cause painful symptoms when any part of the spine is compressed at the disc level at the nerve endings. In addition to pain, there may be weakness, decreased sensitivity, small pelvic dysfunction, increased blood pressure, and in severe cases, paralysis.
- Protrusion is a slight protrusion of the ring fibrosis outside the vertebral body due to the increase of the nuclear pulposus, sometimes cracks appear in the layers of the ring fibrosus.
- A herniated disc is a discharge of ring fibrosis. The cartilage loses its elasticity and breaks into pieces, and the excessive load of this condition causes it to come out, thus forming a hernia. At the level of the spine, it can irritate the nerve root coming out of the spinal canal, and then there is pain with localization in one or another part of the body.
- Osteophytes - changes in the vertebral bodies, the height of the disc decreases to such an extent that extraneous bone growths (called osteophytes) begin to destroy our health. The size of the opening where the spinal nerve exits, ie the root, decreases.
There is a different opinion that forces you to consult a specialist about the appearance of discomfort and pain. Pathologies of soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia). Everything that moves our skeleton, and these are the ones that signal the onset problems, send a painful impulse. Diagnoses are made - sciatica, myositis, myalgia, and more, all of which are probably prescribed in the form of symptoms and treatment of pain in the background of lumbar osteochondrosis. And then everything repeats itself, a chaotic circle.
After the age of 50-55, women begin to lose their reproductive functions. Passes the climacteric phase. It seems like a natural transition, what can you do here. But if you do not take hormone replacement therapy or at least dietary supplements. Then osteoporosis develops rapidly, which is often confused with osteochondrosis.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the spine
Self-diagnosis
- You can decide for yourself if it's there. To do this, it is enough to assess how much the waist is compressed. How quickly you get tired of a little physical work and stress. If there is heaviness, restlessness, and sometimes pain, there are already changes inside the spine. A healthy person is simply healthy because he does not feel such symptoms in the back. Although there are few healthy ones now.
- It is necessary to determine the elasticity of the spine. Elasticity depends entirely on stretching. The better, the healthier the spine.
Diagnostics at the Polyclinic
X-ray examination is performed at the doctor's office to make a correct diagnosis. And then the appropriate treatment is prescribed.
Comparison plans for the healthy and sick segment. The smooth vertebral disc and segment body show that it is an ideal structure created by nature. The nerve endings move freely, are not compressed, the disc is high and has a large safety margin, with such an intervertebral disc a person can withstand up to 800 kg.
And next to it is a model deformed by the disease, the difference is very significant. The disc is straightened, the edges of the vertebral body grow and acquire a distorted appearance. This is exactly the picture.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Unfortunately, neglected complications cannot always be treated conservatively; in most cases they should be treated immediately. But in any case, they are treated and should be treated in a timely manner.
Osteochondrosis, which occurs at the age of 70, is the norm for a person's age and is not treated by doctors for years. There is a different approach to young people, after determining the symptoms, the necessary treatment is prescribed.
Treatment should only be combined.
- Eliminate pain if you have it.
- Assign physiotherapy, reflexology, massage.
- exercise therapy.
Physiotherapy exercises are, in principle, the basis of treatment, as they help to restore the normal biomechanics of the spine. And this leads to loosening of the intervertebral discs. Swimming is a wonderful comfort. But the beginning of lessons, only after the reduction of pain symptoms.
Prevention of osteochondrosis of the spine
Today, there are many sedentary occupations for 8 hours or more, and no organism can stand it.
The spine is not only a support for our skeleton, but also for the spinal cord.
It is the most important organ for the central nervous system. And if the disease is neglected, you can become disabled. I do not want to scare, but the paralysis of the limbs is very serious, I know that.
Therefore, if you have a problem with your spine, you should not delay a visit to a specialist, it is more expensive for yourself. More often you need to think about a healthy lifestyle. Cycling, swimming pool, gym, basic morning exercises and walking. Here are some suggestions on how to look or get an appointment for acne treatment in your workplace.
To get results, you need to develop a habit, which is the basis of discipline and prevention of discipline. After all, you do not need much, the body is grateful, you need to love, pay attention and it will respond with health. And what do you think?
I hope the article was informative for you, you understand that almost everyone has osteochondrosis of the spine, only the symptoms and treatment are different. You can study your body more deeply, prevent diseases, and you will have something to ask your doctor to learn from the inside.
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Look at yourself and your back!