Osteochondrosis is a common disease of the spine. As it progresses, degeneration and dystrophy of the discs between the vertebrae occur, and then the tissues of the vertebrae are affected.
Osteochondrosis is characterized by pain syndromes in the cervical, spinal and lumbar regions. Painless forms of pain appear in the upper and lower extremities, chest and shoulders. Then muscle atrophy begins, they lose their sensitivity, dysfunction of the organs adjacent to the painful areas occurs: often the adjacent organs are compressed and displaced. If treatment is not started on time, the disease progresses and can lead to disability.
Causes of osteochondrosis
The most common reasons for the development of osteochondrosis are severe hypothermia of the body, excessive physical force, sharp turns that cause the vertebrae to slip.
The main cause of the disease is unequal tension in the spine. As a result, deformation of the cartilage structure occurs in areas of the spine that are subjected to strong physical pressure. Factors in the development of osteochondrosis are:
- wrong body position (bending);
- weak back muscles;
- raxiokampis;
- carrying and lifting heavy objects;
- to be in a restless state for a long time;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- genetic predisposition;
- metabolic disorders, lack of vitamins and minerals;
- exposure to infectious diseases;
- adverse effects of chemicals;
- stressful situations, nervous disorders;
- hypothermia of the body;
- hormonal changes;
- spinal cord injury;
- high-intensity sports;
- sudden changes in body position.
One condition for the appearance of osteochondrosis may be adverse climatic factors that adversely affect people prone to meteorological dependence.
Signs and symptoms of osteochondrosis in remission
During remission of osteochondrosis, pain of a mild nature occurs only in uncomfortable positions of the body. The pain is aggravated by bending, jumping, sharp turns of the torso or head, sudden getting out of bed. It is usually worth changing position and the pain stops.
There are no signs of disease associated with root irritation during remission.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis during exacerbation
During the exacerbation of the disease, the symptoms vary depending on the location of inflammation. With exacerbation of the cervical region, the sensitivity of the skin on the neck and crown is significantly reduced, the disease is accompanied by sharp pain in the cervical region. In addition, the pain syndrome is felt at the fingertips, descending from the shoulder joint. When squeezing the vertebral artery, the following symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur:
- nausea;
- dizziness;
- mosquitoes and darkening of the eyes;
- severe pain in the head;
- tinnitus, hearing loss.
Symptoms of inflammation in the lumbar region are caused by compression of the spinal cord. Depending on the area of compression, the signs of exacerbation vary:
- pain in the legs and groin;
- decreased sensitivity in the legs and groin;
- low back shots;
- stool and urinary incontinence may occur;
- menstrual disorders in women;
- decreased potency in men;
- muscle atrophy.
Symptoms of exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are often confused with diseases of the heart, gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs. These symptoms are also called fraud. During exacerbation of thoracic osteochondrosis, patients often believe that they have aggravated gastritis, gastric ulcer or angina pectoris.
The main symptoms of inflammation are severe pain in the back, sides and chest. Pain syndromes last a long time and appear and intensify sharply during movement.
In addition, you may have difficulty coughing and breathing. Often there is pain in the heart, pain in the arm.
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis
At the beginning of the disease you can do without medication. It is enough to use applicators, exercise therapy, to reduce the load on the spine. If symptoms worsen, medication should be used.
Drug treatment of inflammation aims to eliminate the inflammatory process, pain and increase metabolic processes. Because osteochondrosis is a systemic disease that affects many organs, its treatment must be comprehensive. The following drugs are recommended for the treatment of osteochondrosis in exacerbations:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Eliminates pain & inflammationIt is used in the form of ointments, creams, tablets, injections.
- Vasodilators. Medications are vasodilators. Muscle tension and pain cause vasoconstriction.
- Muscle relaxants. Medications help to relax muscles. They relax and soothe muscles, normalize blood circulation and relieve pain.
- Chondroprotectors. Medications should be taken for a long time. The positive result is felt in about six months.
- Sedatives. Prolonged pain can lead to depression. Valerian, anawort, antidepressants are used as sedatives.
- Vitamin and mineral complexes. It is very important to take B vitamins, which restore the sensitivity of the nerve endings.
- Multivitamin complexes are prescribed for general strengthening of the body.