Osteochondrosis is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, which is manifested by thinning of the bones and joint cartilage. Most often, patients are diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the spine, in which the intervertebral discs are destroyed in the neck, lumbar or chest region. The intervertebral cartilage is necessary to dampen movements and reduce the load on the bone tissue, so the destruction of the 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, physiotherapy and surgical interventions in case of significant spinal deformity.
Osteochondrosis is one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system of the elderly. In adolescents and young adults, the pathology is diagnosed less often. According to doctors, the characteristic symptoms of the disease are severe pain in the area of the affected joint and impaired mobility. Without treatment, osteochondrosis can be complicated by compression of the spinal cord and dysfunction of internal organs.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
The manifestation of the disease depends on the area of destruction of the articular discs. The main symptom is aching or sharp pain that worsens with movement. Because of this, patients are often forced into situations. With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the patient has difficulty looking around, severe headaches occur. If the disease is complicated by the compression of the peripheral nerves and the spinal cord, symptoms of movement disorders and dysfunction of internal organs appear.
Other symptoms and signs:
- Moderate dull pain during the day, worse with movement;
- Spread of pain in the head, shoulders, pelvis and lower limbs;
- Constant tension of the muscles connected to the affected intervertebral joint;
- Reduced performance;
- Sleep disturbance;
- Change in posture and clumsy gait.
If you experience these symptoms, we recommend that you consult your doctor. Timely consultation prevents negative consequences for health.
The disease can develop over several years. In the early stages of cartilage damage, there are no symptoms, but gradually constant pain appears.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Normally, the intervertebral cartilage is continuously supplied with blood and receives enough nutrients from the blood to renew cells and maintain its own structure. Degenerative changes can occur with the aging of tissues, which are characterized by insufficiency of cell renewal. Violation of blood flow occurs when the arteries are compressed against the background of permanent curvature or injury of the spine. In addition, osteochondrosis can be the result of excessive physical exertion.
Causes of the disease:
- Gradual destruction of the intervertebral cartilage due to poor posture, heavy lifting and movement patterns. The reason for the violation of the structure of the intervertebral discs can even be wearing shoes with flat soles for a long time;
- Craniovertebral anomalies - violations of the relative position of the cervical spine and the structure of the skull. In such cases, blood vessels are often compressed and blood supply to the tissues is disrupted.
- 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;
- Disc herniation is a disease characterized by displacement of the disc and protrusion of the disc into the spinal canal.
Clarifying the cause of osteochondrosis is important for choosing the right treatment.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
When symptoms of osteochondrosis appear, a neurologist should be consulted. The doctor at the clinic asks the patient about the complaints and examines the medical history to identify risk factors for the disease. Then a general examination is carried out to identify external signs of osteochondrosis and exclude symptoms of spinal cord dysfunction. To confirm the diagnosis, the neurologist prescribes special tests.
Methods of diagnosing osteochondrosis:
- X-ray of the spine. The neurologist appoints this test in order to get a picture of the affected segment 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 recognize a hernia or other pathology, as well as determine the degree of damage to the vertebrae and between the vertebrae;
- Magnetic resonance imaging is a more informative test that allows the neurologist to study 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 from 15 minutes to an hour. This is a painless and reliable method of diagnosing osteochondrosis. The results of the 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 recommended.
- Examination of the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord (myelography). The neurologist prescribes this procedure to rule out syringomyelia, oncology and other pathological conditions of the meninges. The method of obtaining the image does not differ from conventional radiography, however, before the examination, the doctor injects a contrast material into the subarachnoid space. Before the injection, the doctor treats the skin with an antiseptic and anesthetizes the tissues. The needle is inserted into the intervertebral space of the lumbar spine.
In a special clinic, safe and reliable diagnostic tests are carried out, which allow you to quickly start the treatment of osteochondrosis.
Therapeutic treatment of osteochondrosis
The treatment is carried out after consultation with a neurologist and orthopedist. In case of instability of the affected cervical segment of the spine, a Shants collar is used. A prefabricated orthopedic collar is placed on the neck and secured with bandages. Wearing the collar is necessary to reduce the load on the affected spine and to prevent the development of complications. In severe osteochondrosis of the lumbar or thoracic spine, the patient needs rest. The doctor of the clinic also prescribes symptomatic therapy and physiotherapy to alleviate the patient's condition.
Treatment methods for osteochondrosis:
- Prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain. The neurologist prescribes nimesulide, celecoxib, or another drug. It is necessary to strictly control the dose of painkillers and to monitor the state of the liver with long-term use of painkillers.
- Traction therapy is a method of stretching the spine to increase the space between the vertebrae to relieve compression of blood vessels and nerves. Before the procedure, we perform a massage to relax the muscles. Traction is performed on a special table or in a bath. The device is attached to the patient's body in the desired position and the spine is gently stretched. This is a very effective and safe procedure for the treatment of osteochondrosis.
- Use of anticonvulsants for complications of osteochondrosis. The neurologist prescribes a short course of carbamazepine or other medication for the patient.
- Use of muscle relaxants. These drugs relax the muscles associated with the affected area of the spine and relieve pain;
- Use of corticosteroids for nerve compression. These drugs relieve the inflammatory process in the tissues, which includes therapeutic massage, special exercises and warm-up.
The neurologist chooses an individual treatment regimen for osteochondrosis, focusing on the patient's condition. Strict medical control of the treatment process allows you to achieve the best prognosis.
Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis
If the diagnostic results reveal intervertebral hernia or severe compression of the spinal canal, the patient should consult a neurosurgeon. The doctor assesses the severity of the identified 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 area with an antiseptic and cuts the skin in a predetermined place. After pressing the muscle layer with a special tool, the doctor removes the affected intervertebral disc. If necessary, we also remove the vertebral arch. Plastic surgery of the spinal segment is performed by transplanting artificial materials. This effective operation is suitable for the treatment of intervertebral hernia and the relief of symptoms of osteochondrosis;
- Operations to narrow the spinal canal.This intervention eliminates compression of the nerves and spinal cord. After applying anesthesia, the doctor treats the surgical area with an antiseptic and makes a wide skin incision. Pushing back the muscle layer, the neurosurgeon reaches the intervertebral joint and performs manipulation. The procedure involves removing the vertebral arch or the entire joint. The use of X-ray 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.