Today in the article we will talk about the disease of the century - about osteochondrosis (common people call it chondrosis). Previously, this disease was attributed to people over 50 years old, but now it is "younger" and affects everyone, starting with children as young as 15 years old.
As scary as it may seem, more and more people are diagnosed with osteochondrosis. According to statistics, almost 80% of the inhabitants of planet Earth suffer from this spinal disease.
Read more about the disease of civilization and how to live with it in the rest of the article.
What is osteochondrosis?
This is a bone and cartilage disease that is manifested by degenerative-dystrophic disorders of the cartilage structures of the spinal column, which results in severe pain.
These degenerative disorders, in other words, changes in the spine occur under the influence of normal life factors, i. e. simply from the fact that we do something, stand, walk, move, carry heavy things, etc. Our spine constantly performs the hardest work, performing three main functions: supporting, protective (protects the spinal cord) and cushioning function during walking and other body movements due to the intervertebral discs.
Gradually, during life, the cartilage wears out, loses moisture, which causes microtears. There is a change in the height of the intervertebral discs and the vertebrae begin to irritate the spinal nerve, which causes pain attacks.
When the intervertebral disc loses its elasticity, the excessive load on it leads to its so-called protrusion and a hernia occurs. It begins to affect the spinal nerve even more, in these cases, if we are talking, for example, about cervical chondrosis, the pain radiates to the hands, numbness of the fingers is felt.
If you experience pain in the neck, thoracic spine or lower back, we recommend that you contact a neurologist or vertebrologist, who deals specifically with diseases related to the spine. The sooner you seek help, the sooner you will get rid of the pain and reduce the risk of complications.
Reasons for the development of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis can develop for various reasons. Experts who study this disease believe that the main reason is the uneven, improper distribution of the load on the spinal column. Because of this, a change in the structure of the intervertebral discs is observed in places of overload.
However, there are other reasons that contribute to the development of the disease:
- heredity;
- age changes;
- injuries or congenital spinal injuries;
- metabolic disorder, overweight;
- flat feet;
- rachiocampsis;
- concussions;
- various infectious diseases;
- spine overload during sports;
- exposure to chemicals.
There are also so-called risk factors, the presence of which can cause the development of the disease:
- daily driving a car or working on a computer;
- increased, serious training in the gym;
- excess body weight;
- unhealthy diet;
- not very active lifestyle;
- smoking;
- hypothermia;
- nervous shocks;
- improper posture;
- uncomfortable shoes and high heels;
- traction weights;
- back muscle weakness;
- dependence on the weather, living in unsuitable climatic conditions.
If you belong to one of these risk groups, be sure to deal with the prevention of osteochondrosis (about it a little below) in order to prevent the development of osteochondrosis.
Types and symptoms
There are four types of osteochondrosis in total. We will talk about them in this part.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region
It is considered the most dangerous type of disease, because the cervical vertebrae are very mobile and even a small load can cause them to move. What is the danger? The fact is that the vertebral artery passes here - this is a vessel that affects the pressure and condition of the brain. This artery provides blood flow to areas of the brain responsible for blood pressure, the rhythm of heart contractions and vestibular stability. When the vertebrae are displaced, the artery is compressed, due to which the blood flow is disturbed, that is, the brain no longer receives enough blood. The result is headache, flickering black dots ("flies") in the eyes, dizziness, jumps in pressure, memory impairment and a general decrease in mental abilities.
Pain in the back of the head, radiating to the shoulder, under the shoulder blade, arms, fingers numb.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
This is a rather rare disease, because the thoracic spine is the least mobile and is well protected by ribs and muscles. The cause of the development of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is often scoliosis (curvature of the spine). It is quite difficult to recognize this disease, because its symptoms are very similar to other diseases, often osteochondrosis of the chest causes pain in the heart area, which mimics the symptoms of angina pectoris.
This disease is manifested by pain in the spine between the shoulder blades, numbness and weakness of the muscles in the arms, stabbing, aching pains in the region of the thoracic ribs, which are intensified by taking a deep breath.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar part
It is considered the most common type of disease - osteochondrosis of the lumbar part, because the greatest load falls on this part of the ridge. The lower back suffers the most from a sedentary lifestyle. Due to pinched nerves in this part of the spinal column, a person feels persistent sharp or painful pain in the lower back, most often radiating to the back of the thigh and buttocks, to the lower leg.
Attacks of pain are accompanied by numbness of the toes, tingling, creeping crawling on the back of the legs. The normal work of the genitourinary system and intestines is disturbed.
Widespread osteochondrosis of the spine
It is characterized by the defeat of two or all three parts of the ridge at the same time.
phases
In this part, we will talk about the stages of disease development and how they manifest. In modern medicine, there are 4 stages of spine disease:
- 1 phase
In the first stage, it is quite difficult to diagnose this disease and, in principle, to suspect oneself. Patients feel general discomfort in the back and often attribute it to overwork, hard work, stress, and do not even think of going to the doctor. The disease usually progresses slowly and in a latent form, it is often discovered accidentally, during a general examination of the patient (X-ray or MRI).
- 2 stages
The second phase is characterized by the appearance of pain attacks, because the process of cartilage destruction begins. In the absence of treatment, the size of the intervertebral discs rapidly decreases in the patient, they protrude slightly, this stage precedes the formation of a hernia. There is compression of the nerve roots, in fact, therefore, there is a pain syndrome.
- 3 stages
In the third stage, patients experience serious changes in the spinal column. The development of lordosis, scoliosis, curvature of the upper part of the ridge (kyphosis), humpback begins, herniation of the intervertebral disc appears. With proper therapy, of course, it will no longer be possible to completely restore the spine, but it will decently improve its condition and reduce defects, such as a hump or curvature.
- 4 stages
If the disease has reached the fourth stage, then there are already irreversible changes in the spinal column. It becomes difficult to move, because every movement causes excruciating pain. Cartilage is compacted, vertebrae are displaced, bone tissue grows. Patients are often given disability at this stage.
Treatment
After the specialist (orthopedist, neuropathologist, vertebrologist) makes a complete diagnosis and diagnoses osteochondrosis, he prescribes a complex therapy that includes various treatment methods. With their right combination, you can achieve very good results in treatment:
- Preparations
First of all, treatment is aimed at alleviating pain attacks, for which analgesics and local painkillers are prescribed. Then anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antioxidant therapy is carried out. After that, you need to restore normal blood circulation.
- exercise therapy
When the drug treatment is finished and the inflammation is removed, you can and should go to exercise classes, in principle you can do the exercises yourself at home, but it is better to first exercise with a specialist, and then apply the knowledge gained at home.
- Manual therapy
Manual therapy is also very useful, it helps to increase the distance between the vertebrae, release pinched nerves and blood vessels, facilitates and accelerates tissue healing. Displaced vertebrae are removed. The main thing you need to look for when choosing a chiropractor is whether he has a doctor's degree, a neurologist's certificate and a chiropractor's certificate. If at least something is missing, then you should not be treated by this specialist.
- Acupuncture
Reflexology (acupuncture) is no less effective. It can be said that it has a miraculous effect, almost from the first session you will feel its analgesic effect, the swelling in the place of the pinched nerve will subside, and the muscle spasm caused by the pain attack will be alleviated. It relieves inflammation, removes the numbness of the fingers, which is characteristic of this disease, and restores the passage of nerve signals.
- Table therapy
Stone therapy or table therapy is excellent for warming up the muscles, improving blood flow and nutrition of the intervertebral discs.
- Magnetotherapy
With magnetotherapy, the patient will also feel much better. It helps reduce blood viscosity, improve nutrition of damaged tissues, reduce swelling, restore mobility and much more.
- Swimming pool
Often, patients are recommended special exercises in the pool, as well as floating - this procedure allows you to completely relax the spine due to being in a physiological solution, thanks to which the patient "floats" and all the burden is removed from the spine.
In principle, as a prevention of osteochondrosis, you can go floating in any SPA-salon, this service is offered almost everywhere.
- Operation
In extremely severe cases, an operation is prescribed during which the hernia and affected discs are removed, and the structure of the spine is stabilized. The operation is a big risk for the patient, so it is done in emergency cases.
In the early stages of osteochondrosis, you can get rid of it quickly, and you will only have to do some exercises to prevent its re-development. Complex therapy will be chosen by the doctor, taking into account all the characteristics of your body.
Treatment at home
As we have already mentioned, it is important to perform the first exercises of exercise therapy under the supervision of a specialist in order not to overload the spinal column. But after a few sessions, you can do the exercises at home.
After home gymnastics, self-massage is recommended for people with a diagnosis of spine disease, you can ask someone close to you to help you.
You need to start with light strokes along the entire spinal column. Then, with circular movements or pinching, the muscles on the neck, chest and lower back are squeezed, it is not necessary to press hard with the fingertips. You can also rub the spaces between the ribs, also without strong pressure.
It is very important if you have a disease, which we are talking about in the article, to eat properly. Which diet to follow and which foods are best to exclude from the diet in the next section.
Diet for osteochondrosis
Proper nutrition for chondrosis includes the use of products containing substances that stimulate the formation of cartilage in the spine - mucopolysaccharides. Most of them are in various jellies, jellies, jellies. For dessert, jelly is perfect, in which the main ingredient is gelatin, which in turn is saturated with mucopolysaccharide.
In addition, it is necessary to drink a lot of water, its lack leads to damage to the intervertebral discs, which leads to the first manifestations of the disease.
Vegetables and fruits are one of the most important foods for chondrosis, their use is necessary for the healthy functioning of the ridge. They contain polyunsaturated fatty acids that the body needs.
What can and should you eat?
The body needs many trace elements:
- One of them is calcium, it is found in milk, almonds, hard cheeses, cottage cheese, legumes.
- Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium: eggs, sea fish, butter. In addition, it is recommended to be in the sun often.
- Calcium is stored in bone tissue only with a sufficient amount of magnesium in the body, it is found in cucumbers, nuts and avocados.
- In addition, it is important to eat foods that contain phosphorus: fish, soybeans, peas, white cabbage.
- B vitamins are also very important for our disease, to get them you need to eat: beef, pork, mushrooms, seafood, cereals. Vitamin A is also beneficial and is found in carrots, cantaloupe, pumpkins and liver.
In general, as you can see, the diet is not terrible, you will not have to starve, you just have to exclude something from your menu, but there is something to replace these products.
What is not recommended for use
- The first thing to say is to reduce the amount of salt consumed. Especially if you have cervical osteochondrosis, then a salt-free diet will be beneficial.
- Also prohibited are marinades, semi-finished products, spicy food, and pickles.
- Sweets, like salt, slow down blood circulation, and if we already have impaired blood flow to the brain, then sweets will only worsen the situation.
- We exclude coffee and all types of carbonated drinks from the menu, because they are excellent for removing calcium from the body, as well as potassium, magnesium and other important minerals.
And, of course, it is very important to monitor your weight, especially with lumbar chondrosis, because the lumbar part already takes all the main load, and if the body weight is large, imagine how difficult it is for him to cope!
The diet can also be seen as a preventive measure, even if you do not have a diagnosis of osteochondrosis, all the vitamins and minerals shown in the diet for chondrosis will be very useful for your body in any case.
Listen carefully to your body and don't be afraid to seek medical help if necessary.
We wish you good health!