Osteochondrosis is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, which is manifested by thinning of the bones and cartilage of the joints. Most often, patients are diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the spine, in which there is destruction of the intervertebral discs in the cervical, lumbar or thoracic regions. Intervertebral cartilage is necessary to cushion movement and reduce stress on bone tissue, so destruction of the intervertebral discs leads to gradual damage to the vertebrae and deformation of the spine. Osteochondrosis can be a complication of an injury, a long-term violation of posture or another pathological condition. Treatment of the disease includes manual therapy, physical therapy, and surgical intervention for significant spinal deformities.
Osteochondrosis is one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system in old age. In adolescents and young adults, the pathology is diagnosed less often. The characteristic symptoms of the disease include physicians severe pain in the area of the affected joint and limited mobility. Without treatment, osteochondrosis can be complicated by compression of the spinal cord and dysfunction of internal organs.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
The manifestations of the disease depend on the area of \u200b\u200bthe destruction of the articular discs. The main symptom is a stabbing or stabbing pain that worsens during movement. Because of this, patients often adopt a forced posture. With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is difficult for the patient to look around, a severe headache appears. If the disease is complicated by compression of the peripheral nerves and spinal cord, symptoms of movement disorders and dysfunction of internal organs appear.
Other symptoms and signs:
- Moderate dull pain during the day, aggravated by movements;
- The spread of pain in the head, shoulder, pelvis and lower extremities;
- Constant tension in the muscles associated with the affected intervertebral joint;
- reduced performance;
- sleep disturbance;
- Posture change and clumsy gait.
If you experience these symptoms, we recommend that you make an appointment with your doctor. Timely advice prevents negative consequences for your health.
The disease can progress over several years. The early stages of cartilage damage show no symptoms, but constant pain gradually appears.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Normally, the intervertebral cartilage is supplied with blood continuously and receives sufficient nutrients from the blood to regenerate cells and maintain its own structure. As tissue ages, degenerative changes can occur, which are characterized by insufficient cell renewal. Violation of blood flow occurs when the arteries are squeezed against the background of a permanent curvature of the spine or an injury. Osteochondrosis can also be the result of excessive physical exertion.
Causes of the disease:
- Gradual destruction of intervertebral cartilage from impaired posture, heavy lifting, and movement patterns. The reason for the violation of the structure of the intervertebral disc can even be long wearing of flat-soled shoes;
- Craniovertebral anomalies - a violation of the relative position of the structures of the cervical spine and skull. In this case, there is often a squeezing of blood vessels and impaired blood supply to tissues.
- Metabolic disorders accompanied by insufficient formation of hydrophilic cartilage components;
- Inflammatory or autoimmune damage to cartilage, in which the body's defense system attacks healthy tissue;
- A herniated disc is a condition characterized by displacement of the cartilage and protrusion of the disc into the spinal canal.
Clarifying the cause of osteochondrosis is important for choosing the right treatment.
Diagnosis osteochondrosis
When symptoms of osteochondrosis appear, it is necessary to make an appointment with a neurologist. The clinician interviews the patient about symptoms and examines the medical history to identify risk factors for the disease. Then a general examination is performed to detect external signs of osteochondrosis and exclude symptoms of spinal cord dysfunction. To confirm the diagnosis, the neurologist prescribes special examinations.
Methods for diagnosing osteochondrosis:
- X-ray of the spine. The neurologist appoints this study in order to obtain an image of the affected section of the spine in two projections. Before the procedure, the patient is asked to undress to the waist and stand in front of the machine. The resulting images allow the doctor to detect a hernia or other pathology, as well as determine the degree of damage to the vertebrae and intervertebral disc.
- Magnetic resonance imaging is a more informative study that allows a neurologist to examine layered images of the spine in different projections. During the examination, the patient is asked to remove all metal jewelry and lie down on the tomography table. The diagnosis takes between 15 minutes and an hour. This is a painless and reliable method of diagnosing osteochondrosis. The results of an MRI allow the immediate exclusion of other diseases with similar symptoms, such as tuberculosis of the bones or a malignant tumor. If MRI is contraindicated, myelography is indicated.
- Examination of the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord (myelography). The neurologist prescribes this procedure in order to exclude syringomyelia, oncology and other pathological conditions of the meninges. The method of acquiring images is no different from conventional radiography, however, before the examination, the doctor injects a contrast medium into the subarachnoid space. Before the puncture, the doctor treats the skin with an antiseptic and numbs the tissue. The needle is inserted into the intervertebral space of the lumbar spine.
Safe and reliable diagnostic tests are carried out in a specialized clinic, which will allow you to quickly start the treatment of osteochondrosis.
Therapeutic treatment of osteochondrosis
Treatment is carried out after consultation with a neurologist and an orthopedist. If the affected section of the cervical spine is unstable, a shants collar is applied. A ready-made orthopedic collar is put on the neck and reinforced with bandages. Wearing a collar is necessary to relieve the affected spine and prevent complications. With severe osteochondrosis of the lumbar or thoracic spine, the patient needs rest. The clinic doctor also prescribes symptomatic therapy and physiotherapy to alleviate the patient's condition.
Treatment methods for osteochondrosis:
- Prescribing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain. The neurologist will prescribe nimesulide, celecoxib, or another drug. It is necessary to strictly control the dosage of analgesics and monitor the condition of the liver with prolonged use of painkillers.
- Traction therapy is a method of stretching the spine to increase the intervertebral space to eliminate squeezing of blood vessels and nerves. Before the procedure, a massage is performed to relax the muscles. Traction is carried out on a special table or in a bath. The device is fixed in the desired position on the patient's body and gently stretches the spine. This is a very effective and safe procedure for treating osteochondrosis.
- The use of anticonvulsants in complications of osteochondrosis. A neurologist will prescribe a patient a short course of carbamazepine or another drug.
- The use of muscle relaxants. These medicines relax the muscles associated with the affected area of the spine and reduce pain;
- Use of corticosteroids for nerve compression. These drugs relieve the inflammatory process in tissues, which includes therapeutic massage, special exercises and warming up.
The neurologist selects an individual treatment regimen for osteochondrosis, focusing on the patient's condition. Strict medical control of the course of treatment will give you the best prognosis.
Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis
If the diagnostic results show a herniated disc or severe compression of the spinal canal, the patient will see a neurosurgeon. The doctor assesses the severity of the detected pathology and, if necessary, performs surgical intervention.
Surgical treatment options:
- Partial or complete removal of the intervertebral disc.The operation is performed under anesthesia. After anesthesia, the neurosurgeon treats the surgical field with an antiseptic and cuts the skin at a predetermined point. After pressing the muscle layer with a special tool, the doctor removes the affected disc. If necessary, the vertebral arch is also removed. Plastic surgery of the spinal segment is performed with transplantation of artificial materials. This effective operation is suitable for treating intervertebral hernias and relieving the symptoms of osteochondrosis;
- Operations to narrow the spinal canal.This procedure removes compression of the nerves and spinal cord. After anesthesia, the doctor treats the surgical site with an antiseptic and makes a wide incision in the skin. The neurosurgeon pushes back the muscle layer, reaches the intervertebral joint and performs a manipulation. The procedure involves removing the vertebral arch or the entire joint. The use of X-rays and microsurgical control allows the operation to be performed with minimal risks.
The most complex surgical interventions are performed in the surgical department of modern clinics.