osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is the gradual destruction of spinal structures due to degenerative changes. It is a chronic disease that occupies a prominent place among pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Experienced neurologists participate in its treatment.

About the disease

Almost one in three people who consult a neurologist with back pain are diagnosed with osteochondrosis. It affects approximately 90% of older people. The risk group includes the older generation, as well as people with occupational risks: loaders, drivers, office workers, salespeople, hairdressers.

The average age of the first manifestations of the disease is 30-35 years. When exposed to unfavorable factors, painful symptoms appear even earlier.

With osteochondrosis of the spine, the bone structure, intervertebral cartilage and discs of the cervical, thoracic or lumbar region are damaged. As a result, muscle tension increases and depreciation processes worsen. Intervertebral discs wear and shift, causing stiffness and pain. Without treatment, degenerative-dystrophic changes progress, nerve roots are damaged, and the functioning of internal organs is disturbed. In the later stages of osteochondrosis, a partial or complete loss of the ability to work occurs due to limited mobility.

At the first signs of the disease, you should immediately contact a specialized specialist - a neurologist. The doctor will prescribe a comprehensive examination and develop effective treatment tactics.

Types of osteochondrosis

Depending on the location, osteochondrosis is of three types: cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral. In almost 50% of cases, the disease affects the spinal structures of the lumbar region. This is due to the fact that the lumbar area experiences maximum static loads.

Cervical osteochondrosis is in second place in terms of prevalence. Damage to the cervical vertebrae can be caused by injuries, repetitive physical work, and sedentary work, in which it is necessary to keep the head in one position for a long time.

Sedentary work and the constant position of the neck even cause a hernia in the cervical area.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is less common. A sedentary lifestyle also contributes to its development. Its main symptom is chest pain, which can be easily confused with a heart attack.

The diagnosis of "common osteochondrosis" is made when all departments are involved in the pathological process.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis

The clinical picture depends on the affected part of the spine. The symptom common to all is pain. It can be sharp, like a "lumbago", or dull and painful. The pain intensifies with movement, physical activity, and prolonged stay in one position. In the later stages, as well as during exacerbations of the disease, it is constant and interferes with sleep and normal lifestyle.

In addition to pain, the patient feels tension and stiffness in the back muscles, heaviness and discomfort. When the nerve endings are pinched, the pain radiates to neighboring areas of the body (along the nerve), accompanied by numbness, tingling and a feeling of "tingling under the skin. "

The symptoms of osteochondrosis can be confused with other diseases, so you should not self-diagnose or self-medicate. In a professional clinic, patients will receive maximum attention and will be examined using new, high-precision equipment, which will allow an accurate diagnosis to be made.

cervical region

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has the richest clinical picture. The disease may begin with periodic pain in the neck, a feeling of stiffness or discomfort after being in a position in front of the computer, after sleeping. When the nerves and vessels of the spine are involved in the process, the pain spreads to the back of the head, collarbone, shoulders, and sometimes even the chest. The pain becomes more intense when tilting or turning the head, when breathing deeply, and also at night during sleep. The sensitivity of the shoulder blades, shoulders and arms is altered, tingling and chills appear.

In the later stages, when the intervertebral discs become significantly thinner, lose their fixation and become excessively mobile, the following symptoms may occur:

• stiffness when turning the neck;
• sharp, sharp pain in the spine;
• headache, which is accompanied by compression and pulsation in the head, noises and ringing in the ears, hearing and visual disorders;
• nausea;
• lack of coordination;
• attacks of dizziness.

Vegetovascular symptoms are a consequence of vertebral artery syndrome, which develops due to a spasm or compression of the artery involved in supplying blood to the brain.

Acute pain, loss of skin sensitivity in the neck, stiffness of the vertebrae when the annulus fibrosus ruptures, formation of intervertebral hernias and osteophytes occur.

thoracic region

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine "imitates" pain in the heart, as well as intercostal neuralgia. The pain is usually worse at night. It can be moderate and increase gradually or occur suddenly and abruptly.

With osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, doctors first rule out the cardiac nature of the pain. For this, a differential diagnosis is carried out.

Painful sensations are located in the area between the shoulder blades or ribs and intensify when raising the arms, bending, breathing deeply or exhaling. They radiate to the heart, kidneys and stomach area. In the thoracic region, patients notice a feeling of stiffness or pressure, numbness, tingling in the chest, tingling in the neck, arms and abdomen.

lumbosacral region

With lumbosacral osteochondrosis, the pain is localized in the lower back, radiates to the pelvic area, groin and goes down the leg. It is accompanied by muscle tension, tingling and numbness. Muscle cramps and disruption of the pelvic organs are possible.

Referred lumbosacral pain syndrome can be caused by pathologies of the genitourinary system and gastrointestinal tract. Clinic specialists must take this fact into account when making a diagnosis.

Reasons

Damage to intervertebral cartilage most often occurs due to excessive loads, including static loads, as well as injuries to the spine caused by a fall, blow, sudden movement or jump from a height.

Increased stress, as a result of which degenerative changes occur, includes lifting heavy objects, uneven distribution of load on the back muscles, and staying in one position for a long time, especially uncomfortable. The most sensitive to overload are the intervertebral cartilaginous discs, which perform the function of shock absorption and provide movement in the spine.

The development of osteochondrosis is facilitated by:

• overweight;
• age-related changes;
• inheritance;
• flat feet;
• inflammatory or autoimmune damage to cartilage;
• birth defects;
• vertebral instability;
• poor posture;
• poor nutrition;
• hypothermia;
• a sedentary lifestyle, which causes weakness of the muscle corset, deterioration of nutrition and blood supply to the intervertebral joints;
• metabolic disorders;
• deficiency of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D;
• hormonal, endocrine disorders.

Under the influence of provoking factors, metabolic processes, hydration and blood circulation in the intervertebral discs deteriorate. As a result, cracks appear in the annulus fibrosus. The height of the discs decreases, the mobility of the spine is affected, and reflex tensions and spasms develop. Lumps and hernias form. The disc protrudes, irritating the roots of the spine, causing pain and other discomfort.

Advantages of treatment in a modern clinic.  

A modern clinic where osteochondrosis is treated has a number of advantages:

1. Specialists with experience in the field of neurology who periodically improve their skills.
2. New diagnostic equipment that increases the accuracy of osteochondrosis diagnosis to 100%.
3. The use of minimally invasive technologies in the surgical treatment of osteochondrosis.
4. A 24-hour hospital where patients can stay after spinal surgery.
5. Individual rehabilitation programs that allow you to restore full motor activity.
6. High level of service and affordable prices for the treatment of osteochondrosis in Moscow.
7. Application of own methods of proven effectiveness. Focus on non-surgical treatment, taking into account the patient's age and the presence of concomitant diseases.
8. Qualified assistance for complications of osteochondrosis: bulges, pinched nerves, herniated discs, osteophytes, limited mobility of the vertebrae.

In a modern clinic, the patient has all advanced methods of treating osteochondrosis: medications, physiotherapeutic procedures, manual therapy, osteopathy, reflexology, therapeutic blocks, surgical interventions.

Diagnosis

There are many causes of back pain. To understand what caused the pain, a consultation with a neurologist is necessary. At the initial appointment, the doctor examines the patient's complaints and medical history to identify risk factors, performs a neurological examination, and evaluates range of motion. During examination and palpation of the spine, the doctor can detect curvatures, muscle spasms, trigger points and other pathological changes.

Additionally, the doctor prescribes instrumental diagnostic methods: x-ray, CT or MRI of the spine. In case of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, Dopplerography of the vessels of the head and neck, MRI of the head may be required, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - electrocardiography or ultrasound of the heart, lumbar spine - ultrasound of the kidneys and the pelvic organs. Additionally, blood and urine tests may be prescribed.

To exclude diseases of the spinal cord, including cancer, myelography is performed. This is a radiographic examination method that uses a contrast agent.

Based on the results obtained during the diagnosis, the neurologist draws up an individual treatment regimen.

Treatment

Treatment of osteochondrosis depends on the affected part of the spine and the stage of the disease. At the initial stage, pharmacotherapy, physiotherapy, lifestyle correction, weight and physical activity are sufficient. If the structure of the discs and joint mobility are significantly affected, there are disc protrusion and other complications, additional physiotherapeutic procedures may be prescribed, including therapeutic massage, spinal traction and manual therapy. In advanced cases, when osteochondrosis does not respond to conservative therapy, surgery is performed.

Conservative

Conservative treatment methods stop the development of osteochondrosis, help eliminate chronic back pain and other unpleasant symptoms, and improve spinal mobility. These include:

1. Drug therapy. Prescription medications that reduce pain and inflammation, relax back muscles, strengthen cartilage and bone tissue.
2. Physiotherapeutic procedures. They improve blood circulation and nutrition of intervertebral discs, promote tissue restoration, relax the muscles of the neck, lumbar area and thoracic region. For osteochondrosis, magnetic therapy, UHF, shock waves, vacuum therapy, laser therapy, acupuncture, massage and electrical stimulation are effective. The massage course includes 10 to 15 sessions, depending on the severity of changes in the spinal structures.
3. Manual therapy. The procedure is done without pain. It allows you to get rid of muscle tension, pain, restore mobility and anatomy of the vertebrae.
4. Therapeutic exercise. It is an important component of treatment. Sets of exercises selected by a physiotherapist strengthen the back corset, correct posture, improve blood circulation, eliminate pain and improve the mobility of the neck and other parts of the spine.
5. Therapeutic blockade. It is used when severe pain occurs that cannot be relieved with pain relievers. The high effectiveness of the procedure is justified by the paravertebral administration of drugs, in the tissue close to the intervertebral nerve roots.
6. Spinal traction. Effective for osteochondrosis with disc protrusion and intervertebral herniation and for radicular syndrome.

The best results are obtained with complex treatment: a combination of several methods that enhance the effect of each.

Surgical

The main goal of the operation is to eliminate compression of the nerve roots, spinal cord, arteries, etc. During surgery, a hernia, part or all of the intervertebral disc can be removed. The operation is performed with minimal risks, since minimally invasive technologies and modern visualization systems are used, which allow the surgical field to be seen in real time and in high resolution.

Laser puncture discectomy

It is a new microsurgical method used to treat osteochondrosis, mainly of the cervical spine. The affected intervertebral disc is evaporated with a laser. The light guide is introduced through a needle with a diameter of up to 1. 2 mm, which is inserted into the affected disc. Laser exposure lasts between 40 and 60 minutes. The pain syndrome disappears immediately after the procedure.

Laser puncture discectomy is used only in the initial stages of osteochondrosis, in the absence of signs of vertebral instability.

Prevention

Osteochondrosis of any part of the spine can be prevented if preventive recommendations are constantly followed. Moderate loads, maintaining correct posture and therapeutic back exercises are required. You can't lift weights or sit or stand in one position for a long time.

If you have back problems, you should periodically visit an orthopedist or neurologist.

Rehabilitation

The duration of restoration of spinal function depends on the type and volume of the intervention. Bed rest is indicated in the first days after surgery, then gentle physical activity and use of back braces are required. Physiotherapy exercises selected by a doctor allow you to gradually return to your normal lifestyle.