Osteochondrosis or chondrosis is a disease that reduces the elasticity of the cartilage tissue of the joints. The disease can occur in any joint and depending on the location has its own classification. The progression of the disease leads to impaired motor function of the joint, often complete immobility occurs.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis, its causes and methods of treatment of this disease are discussed in the information provided.
How osteochondrosis manifests
The signs of osteochondrosis appear gradually, first with a mild pain syndrome, which later becomes chronic and intense. Usually patients go to the doctor with complaints of severe pain and inability to perform certain movements.
In order for the treatment of osteochondrosis to be as successful as possible, the disease must be diagnosed at an early stage.
The following signs may indicate the development of osteochondrosis:
- Pain when moving;
- Crunching of the joints;
- Stiffness of movements;
- Muscle spasm;
- Headache, spikes in blood pressure and dizziness (with cervical osteochondrosis);
- Chest and interscapular pain (thoracic osteochondrosis);
- Pain in the hip and buttocks (lumbosacral osteochondrosis and hip);
- Numbness of the limbs;
- Bone pain;
- Increase meteorological sensitivity;
- Decreased visual acuity.
Usually the first manifestations of the disease go unnoticed. Therefore, the initial stage of osteochondrosis is rarely diagnosed and usually completely accidental.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis does not occur spontaneously. Degenerative processes in the joint lead to its development, namely: disruption of normal blood circulation and mineral metabolism, the formation of ossified formations - osteophytes. All this leads to impaired mobility of the joint, changes in its structure and the appearance of discomfort when moving and walking.
The main reasons for this are:
- Lack of constant physical activity;
- Injuries and joint injuries;
- Deformation of the joints under excessive stress;
- Disorders of nutrition and blood supply to the joint;
- Overweight problems;
- Unbalanced diet;
- Chronic stress;
- Hereditary predisposition;
- Endocrine pathologies;
- Age-related changes;
- Adverse working conditions (prolonged stay in an awkward position, hypothermia, heavy lifting).
The chances of developing the disease increase in patients who have flat feet, congenital or acquired pathologies of foot development. In such diseases, the load during walking is not distributed properly, which leads to a change in normal gait and, as a result, deformation of the spine, knees and hips.
The occurrence of spinal osteochondrosis directly depends on the already diagnosed diseases of the musculoskeletal system, such as scoliosis.
In addition, chronic diseases of the internal organs can also act as a provoking factor. Infections and inflammation can affect nearby tissues, leading to the formation of pathology in the joints.
Classification of osteochondrosis
The definition of "spinal chondrosis" can often be found in medical terminology. This means the initial stage of osteochondrosis, affecting one of the departments (or several) of the spine. The pathology develops in the intervertebral disc and does not affect nearby tissues. This is the particular insidiousness of chondrosis of the back, as the asymptomatic onset does not give a chance to start treatment on time and overcome the malaise.
Usually, chondrosis, the symptoms of which have not yet appeared, is discovered quite by accident, during a thorough examination of the body.
In addition, depending on the location of the pathology, we can talk about coxarthrosis - osteochondrosis of the hip joint. The pathology can also affect the shoulder or the accumulated joint. Osteochondrosis of the back, in turn, is also classified according to the location.What types of osteochondrosis of the back are:
- Osteochondrosis of the cervixis manifested by pain and stiffness in the neck, back of the head and between the shoulder blades. It is often considered an occupational disease for accountants, computer programmers, and other occupations that involve prolonged sitting.
- Osteochondrosis of the chestis quite rare. Due to the relative immobility of this area, symptoms are often confused with angina or intercostal neuralgia. In addition, the manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis may resemble an attack of pancreatitis or gastritis.
- Lumbar or lumbosacral osteochondrosisis the most common type of disease. This is due to the increased stress on this department, even when performing normal movements. With increasing load, weight lifting, sports, the pressure on the vertebrae of the lumbar spine increases many times over, which can provoke the development of the disease. The manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis are extremely diverse. The main symptoms include not only pain when bending, turning and other movements, but also muscle atrophy, difficulty walking, decreased sexual function and diseases of the urinary system.
- Coccygeal osteochondrosisis a rare disease that mainly affects women. This is directly related to the physiological features of the structure of the pelvis. It is determined by the pain syndrome when you sit, walk and exercise. The onset is usually preceded by injuries and falls, as well as prolonged stay in an awkward sitting position.
- Polysegmental osteochondrosisis diagnosed when degenerative lesions of nearby joints are detected. They can be located in one or more parts of the spine.
- Widespread osteochondrosisis manifested by lesions of two or more parts of the spine. Treatment is difficult with a low chance of complete recovery.
- Diffuse osteochondrosisis diagnosed if the pathology spreads to all segments of the spine.
Progressive disease is characterized not only by pain and discomfort during movement. Inflammation of the connective tissue of the joint develops, the intervertebral roots are pinched and on the vertebrae begin to form growths of bone tissue - osteophytes.
Stages of development of osteochondrosis
In order to determine the tactics of how to cure osteochondrosis, it is necessary not only to accurately diagnose, but also to determine the degree of involvement of joint elements in the pathological process. For this it is common to use a classification according to degrees, as well as a place for the localization of the pathology.
What types of osteochondrosis are:
- The initial stagedoes not manifest as a pain syndrome and does not require specific treatment. According to statistics, the first degree of osteochondrosis is present in more than 80% of the population over the age of 50. Recently, due to the proliferation of occupations that require constant sitting, as well as reduced physical activity in children and adolescents, osteochondrosis is diagnosed in almost every second under 30 years of age.
- Second stageOsteochondrosis is diagnosed by X-ray examination. The image shows the formation of multiple fractures of the intervertebral disc, but the fibrous ring remains intact. The manifestations of the disease are insignificant, there is usually discomfort during a long stay in a sitting or standing position, after a short rest the pain disappears on its own. The diagnosed second stage of osteochondrosis can be treated with great success by conservative methods.
- The third stageof osteochondrosis is characterized by multiple injuries to the intervertebral disc, as well as possible rupture of the fibrous ring. The pain becomes prolonged and constant, they may even appear at rest. The treatment of osteochondrosis in the third stage is carried out by conservative and surgical methods, the prognosis depends on the severity of the pathology and timely treatment for medical care.
- The fourth stageosteochondrosis is the most severe. It is determined by severe lesions of the joint structure. Connections, vessels, nerve endings and connective tissue of the joint are involved in the pathological process. Conservative methods are usually ineffective. Surgery is used more often, but even surgery does not guarantee recovery, patients often lose joint mobility and remain disabled.
In order to prevent the transition of osteochondrosis in the critical stage, it is necessary to pay attention in time to the signals that our body gives. There are cases when patients suffer from pain and discomfort for years and also adapt to the limitation of motor function, but do not seek medical help.
It should be noted that osteochondrosis is not a disease that can be cured on its own at home using folk methods or only painkillers.
A mandatory comprehensive approach is required, which is determined by the characteristics of the development of the pathology, the reasons for its occurrence, as well as the individual indicators of the patient.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
To ensure the correct tactics for the treatment of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to undergo special studies. They will help identify the location and causes of this disease. Only after removing all the negative factors influencing the progression of the disease, you can begin basic treatment.
How to determine the extent and location of the pathological process:
- X-ray examination.For reliable information you need to take pictures in several projections. The location and degree of joint damage, the presence of osteophytes and the condition of the bone canals are determined.
- Doppler ultrasound.Check for disturbances in blood supply, vascular integrity and blood flow velocity.
- Myelography.Special examination of the spine with the help of a contrast agent. Allows you to identify intervertebral hernias and their location.
- Computed tomography.The condition of the intervertebral discs, possible deviations in the structure and deformation, pinching of the nerve roots and changes in the structure of the individual vertebrae are checked.
- Magnetic resonance imaging.Usually provides a more detailed study of the structure of the joints. It is assigned, as a rule, when the information content of other conducted examinations is low. Undoubtedly, a more detailed study of the condition of soft tissues is an advantage.
The patient's medical history is also unsuccessful. Possible injuries suffered even long before going to the doctor, surgeries and chronic diseases can also cause the development of pathological processes in the joint tissues.
In addition, the patient is personally examined and questioned. Based on the information obtained, the diagnosis and the degree of joint damage are determined.
How to treat osteochondrosis
After diagnosing and identifying the causes of osteochondrosis, the specialist prepares an individual treatment plan. It must take into account the physical characteristics of the patient, the peculiarities of the development of the pathology and its location.
An integrated approach is used for treatment.
Medications alone cannot be given up, as it is necessary to simultaneously develop joint mobility, eliminate a possible inflammatory process in the surrounding tissues and also to neutralize the negative factor that led to the development of the disease.
Therefore, it is better to entrust the treatment of chondrosis to a specialist who will choose an individual set of exercises and will also take into account the dynamics of therapy.
Drug therapy for osteochondrosis
Prescribing drugs depends on the type of lesion and the associated pathological processes in the tissues. As a rule, patients try to treat osteochondrosis on their own, with pharmaceutical and self-made ointments and compresses, as well as with folk remedies.
Unfortunately, this only brings temporary relief and does not help to completely eliminate the ailments. The following groups of drugs are used to effectively treat osteochondrosis.
Drug therapy includes:
- Systemic and local anesthetics.These include ointments and compresses, as well as pills and injections for severe pain. It is used to treat osteochondrosis during exacerbations.
- NSAIDs- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used not only to relieve pain and inflammation in the affected area, but also when the temperature is caused by the disease.
- The action of muscle relaxantsis aimed at relieving muscle tone. Drugs from this group are taken in courses of 30-45 days and the dosage is prescribed strictly individually. They usually start taking minimal doses (injections are prescribed for severe hypertension), which are gradually increased. In order not to cause withdrawal syndrome, the dose is subsequently gradually reduced.
- Chondroprotectorshelp repair cartilage tissue by compensating for damaged areas. The effect of this group of drugs does not appear immediately, which is why a course of several months is prescribed. There are different forms of drugs. During the exacerbation period it is used in the form of injections and then treatment is continued with tablets or capsules.
- Angioprotectorsare used in case of identified pathologies of the blood supply. They help strengthen the walls of blood vessels, promote their relaxation and restore metabolism. The duration of intake is also several months.
- Glucocorticosteroidsare prescribed to improve the function of NSAIDs and muscle relaxants. They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory and decongestant effect, help against pain and spasm. The course of treatment is determined individually. In the first days of exacerbation of the disease they are used in the form of injections, then in the form of tablets. The dosage is gradually reduced until the drug is completely discontinued.
- Biogenic stimulants.They speed up the metabolism and promote the recovery of joint tissues. Self-treatment of chondrosis at home with such drugs is impossible, but with complex therapy they have proven their effectiveness.
- Complex vitamin preparations.Promote the overall strengthening of the body and accelerate metabolic reactions.
Is osteochondrosis treated only with drugs? Of course not. To completely get rid of the disease, it is necessary to perform other medical procedures. Particular attention should be paid to a special set of exercises. It is designed for any part of the spine or joints of the limbs.
Important point:classes are held under the supervision of a specialist and only after the removal of inflammation in the affected area.
Therapeutic gymnastics
What to do in case of osteochondrosis and what movements are better to refuse, will tell a special trainer with appropriate qualifications. Initially, the exercises are performed under his control, after which the patient can continue to exercise alone.
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home includes regular exercises to restore joint mobility.
Massage and physiotherapy
Some alternative medicine methods are also used to treat osteochondrosis of the spine. These include mud wraps, acupuncture, magnetic therapy, manual therapy.
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Among medical procedures are also often used electrophoresis with drugs, laser therapy, thermotherapy. An important point is the sanitary treatment in specialized sanatoriums.
What is osteochondrosis? More and more patients learn about this disease at an early age. Sedentary lifestyle, decreased muscle tone and uneven load on the joints - these negative weight factors lead to the development of degenerative processes in the structure of cartilage tissue.
The reduction of its elasticity, as well as the violation of its integrity, is manifested by constant or periodic pain, stiffness and even improper functioning of the internal systems.