Osteochondrosis is a condition that can occur a number of violations of the articular cartilage degenerative nature. Osteochondrosis can manifest itself in different joints, most often, osteochondrosis hits the intervertebral discs. If we consider the place of location of the disease, osteochondrosis agreed to share the thoracic, cervical, lumbar.
Osteochondrosis is a disease which becomes the cause of the pain in the back, about 80% of the cases. In the event of complications of degenerative disc disease, herniated intervertebral disk pain sometimes occur in the head, limbs, and other organs. The most common is considered as a lumbar osteochondrosis, inflammatory pain in the legs. A lot of people complain about the protests of cervical osteoarthritis, which hurts the hands and the head. During chest, the form of the disease the pain occurs in the internal organs.
The Causes of disc degeneration
Original reason for the appearance of degenerative disc disease of the spine is seen as standing up to the man. There are many theories on the causes of degenerative disc disease. Such, for example, are a hereditary predisposition, nature of injury, violation of metabolic processes in the body. The definition of causes of the occurrence of this disease is complicated by the fact that the disease manifests itself in people of different ages, of different physical and physical level of development.
There is also a theory on the fact that the cause of the degenerative disease of the disc is a deposit of salts in the spine. However, experts say that it is to a certain extent, is an illusion. And this is the right analysis of the causes of the onset of the disease is the basis of an effective treatment of the disease.
Osteochondrosis in the character of the disease is non-inflammatory, degenerated degenerative. In the process of development of the affection is broken, the nutrition of the tissues, regenerates its structure. The people who are constantly in physical assets, are more robust and elastic demand information of the tissue of the bone. This is explained by the fact that the discs of the spine in the adult's own vessels have not, therefore, and of oxygen and nutrients in the discs originate from tissues which are in close proximity. A similar process may be fully-fledged only in the case of an active blood circulation, which is possible only in the process of constant, intensive work of the muscles.
Every the intervertebral disc protrudes up consist of two parts. The center of the disc is jelly-like nucleus, which makes the spring disc, and the surrounding fibrous and durable ring. If the power supply of the intervertebral disks become worse, the structure of the biopolymer of connections may collapse. Because of the reduction of the moisture content in the disk, it becomes fragile. And if the spine undergoes an overload, the gelatinous nucleus is divided into fragments. Result of its elasticity decreases significantly. The fibrotic ring is also lose their force. These phenomena are the starting point for the manifestation of the man of degenerative disc disease.
Because of the manifestation of degenerated degenerative changes of the spine that occurs calcification of the damaged discs, ligaments, capsules. This phenomenon – the last step in the process of development of the disease.
Unfortunately, the reverse process after such changes in the spine, it is almost impossible. Therefore, the main objective of the treatment of degenerative disc disease is the maintenance of the current state.
Mainly the manifestations of the degenerative disease drive economic more pronounced in individuals after the completion of thirty-five of age. In this case, the older is the person, the more manifestations of the disease observed. Recently, however, complaints of back pain, more young people access to doctors.
Reasons also the first appearance of the degenerative disc disease is first of all a very low physical activity, posture problems, as well as the distortion of the spine, flat feet and obesity. To date, the main causes of the onset of the degenerative disease of disk it is considered the following:
- the hereditary predisposition of the kind;
- the problem with the metabolic processes, intoxication, and infection;
- the presence of excess weight, poor diet (low consumption of liquid micronutrient deficiencies);
- the presence of injuries of the spine, its curvature, poor posture, flat feet;
- the existence of bad environmental conditions;
- inactive lifestyle;
- by an ordinary lifting of heavy loads, work in awkward positions for a long time, the activities of the man to repeat often jerk movement, rotation, and flexion of the trunk;
- too strong of the physical load, the overload of the spine due to diseases of the foot, the discomfort when wearing the shoe, as well as of the load during the pregnancy;
- a sudden interruption of constant training of the people who make the sport, the stress, the deliberate of all.
The symptoms of the degenerative disease disk
In people who suffer from osteochondrosis, in the first manifesto of tangible pain in the back. Sometimes these pains are accompanied by numbness, as well as the sensations of pain in the limbs. If the treatment of degenerative disc disease does not begin in time, a person loses weight quickly, there occurs an atrophy of the members. During exercises and physical load, and in the process of lifting too heavy objects, in the process of sneezing and coughing, the pain may become more intense. The patient has osteochondrosis of a reduction of the amount of motion, develop muscle spasms.
Osteochondrosis cervical is manifested in the structure of the cervical spine. The vertebrae of the cervical spine are significantly smaller dimensions than the other regions of the spine. As a result, osteochondrosis cervical spine is manifested by a constant load on the neck. The symptoms of cervical arthritis are expressed as follows: the pain manifest in the hands, the neck, the shoulders, there may be headaches. For this type of disease is characteristic of a syndrome of the vertebral artery. When the manifestation of this syndrome, one feels the presence of noise in the head, before the eyes glisten with the "flies", the vertigo. In front of the eyes can occur the spots multi-colored of and parallel to the person feels pain in the head, the sporadic. The symptoms of cervical osteoarthritis sometimes look like the signs of angina, but the patient in the study does not observe a change in the heart.
In patients with of low back pain and thoracic spine, the patient feels pain in the rib cage. The pain can make in the region of the heart, as well as in other internal organs.
Patients with osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region of the spine feel pain in the lower back, which can give your feet, the sacrum in the pelvic organs. They are amazed at the nerve roots, alteration of the sensitivity, can diminish the reflexes and is manifested by hypotension.
The diagnosis of the disease, degenerative disk
A preliminary diagnosis "degeneration" specialist installs already, during the primary inspection of the sick. Generally, the inspection is organizing a doctor-neurologist. Usually, the patient comes to the reception of complaints of pain, as well as of the strain, and restriction of mobility.
The study of the spine of the patient is performed in a standing position, lying or sitting, the doctor examines her and in motion and at rest. In the inspection process, the doctor draws attention to the posture of the man, the characteristics of the physical characteristics of the spine, the relief of the muscles, which are located near the spine.
Thanks to the feeling of the spinal column results of the visit with the patient, you can complete the information on the point whether the deformation of the spinal column, which localized the pain, but also to determine the degree of its intensity. In the process of probing defined, in the measurement of the stretched a muscle next to the spine, in fact, the muscle tone that accompanies most illnesses and injuries. To determine the amplitude of the movements of the various departments of the spine, we study the possibility of its bending.
When the diagnosis of degenerative disc disease, is often applied to the ct scan, x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging. These methods allow you to determine what is the level of the lesion of the vertebral column, to determine if the hidden pathology and confirm the diagnosis.
Thanks to a good approach to the diagnosis, your doctor can determine the tactics of therapy to choose for the result to be the most efficient.
The treatment of degenerative disc disease
The treatment of cervical osteoarthritis, and other forms of the disease and their complications is pass with the application of methods to a conservative, the purpose of which is to eliminate the pain, the recovery of functions of spinal roots, as well as for the prevention of degenerative phenomena in the structures of the spine.
If all methods of conservative treatment do not provide the desired effect, and to do this, the readings, then the patients are sometimes assigned to surgical methods of treatment of degenerative disc disease. Extent of surgical intervention is directly dependent on the measure struck by the spine and intense symptoms of the disease.
The severity of the disease also depends on the duration of the treatment. Generally, the active phase of treatment with the aid of methods of conservative and concerned mainly about 1 to 3 months. After the surgery, the patient recovers for about a year. After the start of conservative treatment in many patients, the osteochondrosis is increasing in the pain. This is reflected by the reaction of the muscles, and other formations on the treatment.
If the syndrome of the pain is too strong, it can stop pretty quickly with the help of methods of physiotherapy, drugs, and the implementation of the programme of exercises specially designed for patients with low back pain. It is important to note that the most important factor that influences the effectiveness of the treatment, is the accuracy of the behavior of the patient, his / her attitude, adequate to the need to adhere to the development of methods of treatment. To do this, it is important to perseverance, patience and the desire to defeat the disease. It is proven that the most efficient way is to proceed with a conservative treatment and recovery after surgery in a sanatorium conditions, as well as in medical centers that specialize in the treatment of this disease. If you have equipment, as well as qualified doctors full treatment will be more effective and efficient.
In thrapeutique in the treatment of cervical osteoarthritis, always physiotherapy, massage therapy, physiotherapy, manual therapy, reflexology, the use of drugs.
One of the methods that the most significant impact on the state of the locomotor apparatus of man is physical therapy. The patient executes regularly a number of years, in the time gradually goes on decompression of the nerve root, the correction of a corset of muscles, increases the flexibility of the structures, ligament and muscular apparatus. Special exercises during osteochondrosis cervical also allow to effectively ensure the prevention of the continuation of the development of the disease. The main condition is the regularity of the execution of all exercises.
When using physiotherapy is the treatment of degenerative disc disease using physical factors – a magnetic field, a current of low frequency, ultrasound and others, This technique allows to reduce the length of rehabilitation after the operation, as well as strengthening the impact of different drugs.
With the help of a massage can relieve muscle tension, improve blood circulation, make the tonic effects in general.
To abrupt removal of the pain using manual therapy. This technique also helps to correct the posture. The pain is also remove with the help of the stretching of the spine – procedures performed on a special equipment. When reflexology is the impact of reflexogenic zones of the human body and can significantly improve the exposure to other methods.
During an exacerbation of the disease, applies the treatment with drugs, with the help of which is removed from the inflammation, the pain has stopped, activate the metabolism. The drugs are administered intravenously or intramuscularly.
The most tangible results of the treatment are observed during the use of multiple methods in the complex. However, the treatment of cervical osteoarthritis and other forms of the disease to designate them must only be the treating physician.