Osteochondrosis or chondrosis is a disease that reduces the elasticity of the cartilage tissue of the joints. The disease can manifest itself in any joint and has its own classification depending on the location. Progression of the disease leads to impaired motor function of the joint, often with complete immobility.
The data discuss the symptoms, causes and treatment of osteochondrosis.
How osteochondrosis manifests itself
The symptoms of osteochondrosis begin gradually, first with a mild pain syndrome, then chronic and acute. In general, patients consult a doctor with severe pain and complaints of inability to perform certain actions.
For the treatment of osteochondrosis to be as successful as possible, the disease must be diagnosed at an early stage.
The following symptoms may indicate the development of osteochondrosis:
- Pain while moving;
- shredding of joints;
- stiffness of movement;
- Muscle spasm;
- Headache, high blood pressure and dizziness (with cervical osteochondrosis);
- pain between chest and shoulder blades (thoracic osteochondrosis);
- Thigh and thigh pain (lumbosacral osteochondrosis and hip joint);
- Harmony of limbs;
- Bone pain;
- Increase air sensitivity;
- Decreased visual acuity.
Generally, the first manifestations of the disease go unnoticed. Therefore, the initial stage of osteochondrosis is rarely diagnosed and is usually completely coincidental.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis does not occur spontaneously. Degenerative processes in the joint lead to its development: disruption of normal blood circulation and mineral metabolism, the formation of bony formations - osteophytes. All this leads to impaired mobility of the joint, changes in its structure and the formation of uncomfortable sensations when moving and walking.
The main reasons for this are:
- Lack of regular physical activity;
- joint injuries and injuries;
- Deformation of the joint under extreme stress;
- Malnutrition and blood supply to the joint;
- Overweight problems;
- Unbalanced diet;
- Chronic stress;
- Hereditary predisposition;
- Endocrine pathologies;
- Age-related changes;
- Unfavorable working conditions (prolonged restlessness, hypothermia, heavy lifting).
Patients with straight legs, congenital or acquired developmental disorders of the foot have an increased chance of developing the disease. With such diseases, the load is incorrectly distributed during walking, which leads to changes in normal gait, resulting in deformity of the lumbar, knee and hip joints.
The development of osteochondrosis of the spine is directly related to diseases of the musculoskeletal system, such as scoliosis.
In addition, chronic diseases of the internal organs can also act as a trigger. Infections and inflammations can affect nearby tissues, leading to pathology in the joints.
Osteochondrosis classification
In medical terminology, the definition of "spinal chondrosarcoma" is often found. This is the initial stage of osteochondrosis, which affects one (or more) sections of the spine. The pathology develops in the intervertebral disc and does not affect nearby tissues. This is a special trick of posterior chondrosis, because the asymptomatic onset does not give a chance to start treatment in time and eliminate the disease.
In general, chondrosis, the symptoms of which have not yet appeared, is accidentally detected during a thorough examination of the body.
In addition, depending on the localization of the pathology, we can talk about coxarthrosis - osteochondrosis of the hip joint. Pathology can also affect the shoulder or ankle joint. Posterior osteochondrosis, in turn, is also classified according to the area of localization.
What types of posterior osteochondrosis:
- Cervical osteochondrosismanifests itself in 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 professions that involve sitting for long periods of time.
- Thoracic osteochondrosisis extremely rare. Due to the relative inactivity of this area, symptoms are often confused with angina pectoris or intercostal neuralgia. In addition, the manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis are similar to an attack of pancreatitis or gastritis.
- Lumbar or lumbosacral osteochondrosisis the most common type of disease. This is due to the increased stress in this department, even during normal activities. With increasing load, weight lifting, exercise, the pressure in the lumbar spine increases many times, and this can lead to the development of the disease. The manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis are extremely diverse. The main symptoms include not only pain in bending, turning and other movements, but also muscle atrophy, difficulty walking, decreased sexual function and diseases of the urinary system.
- Coccyx osteochondrosisis a rare disease that primarily affects women. This is directly related to the physiological characteristics of the small pelvic structure. It is diagnosed with pain syndrome while sitting, walking and exercising. It is possible to stay in a restless sitting position for a long time before injuries and falls before the start.
- Polysegmental osteochondrosisis diagnosed when degenerative lesions of nearby joints are detected. They can be located in one or more parts of the spine.
- Widespread osteochondrosismanifests itself with damage to two or more parts of the spine. It is a difficult disease to treat with little chance of complete recovery.
- Diffuse osteochondrosisis diagnosed when the pathology spreads to all segments of the spine.
A progressive disease is not only characterized by pain and discomfort during movement. Inflammation of the connective tissue of the joint develops, the intervertebral roots are compressed, and the growth of bone tissue - osteophytes - begins to form in the vertebrae.
Stages of development of osteochondrosis
In order to determine the tactics of treatment of osteochondrosis, it is necessary not only to make an accurate diagnosis, but also to determine the degree of involvement of joint elements in the pathological process. For this purpose it is customary to use a classification according to the degree of localization of the pathology.
What types of osteochondrosis:
- Early stagedoes not present as a pain syndrome and does not require special treatment. According to statistics, the first degree of osteochondrosis is present in more than 80% of the population over the age of 50. Osteochondrosis is diagnosed in almost every second person under the age of 30 due to the recent spread of occupations that require constant sitting, as well as reduced physical activity of children and adolescents.
- Second stageOsteochondrosis is diagnosed by X-ray examination. The figure shows the formation of numerous fractures of the intervertebral disc, but the fibrous ring remains intact. Manifestations of the disease are insignificant, usually caused by prolonged stay in a sitting or standing position, the pain disappears on its own after a short rest. The second stage of diagnosed osteochondrosis can be treated with great success with conservative methods.
- The third stage of osteochondrosisis characterized by multiple lesions of the intervertebral disc and possible rupture of the ring fibrosis. The pain is prolonged and persistent, and may even appear at rest. In the third stage, osteochondrosis is treated conservatively and surgically, the prognosis depends on the severity of the pathology and timely treatment for medical care.
- Stage FourOsteochondrosis is the most severe. It is determined by severe lesions of the joint structure. The pathological process involves the ligaments, blood vessels, nerve endings and connective tissue of the joint. Conservative methods are generally ineffective. Surgery is more commonly used, but surgery does not guarantee such recovery, and patients often lose joint mobility and become disabled.
To prevent osteochondrosis from reaching a critical stage, it is important to pay attention to the signals given to us by the body in a timely manner. There are cases when patients suffer from pain and discomfort for years, as well as adapt to limited motor function, but do not seek help from a doctor.
It should be noted that osteochondrosis is not a disease that can be treated at home using folk remedies or just painkillers.
A mandatory comprehensive approach is required, which is determined by the characteristics of the development of the pathology, the causes, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
Special research is needed to ensure the right tactics for the treatment of osteochondrosis. They will help to determine the location and causes of the disease. Only after eliminating all the negative factors that affect the development of the disease, you can begin basic treatment.
How to determine the degree and localization of the pathological process:
- X-ray examination.For reliable information, you need to take a picture in several projections. The localization and degree of joint damage, the presence of osteophytes and the condition of the bone canals are determined.
- Doppler ultrasound examination.Check blood supply, vascular integrity and blood flow velocity.
- Myelography.Special examination with spinal contrast agent. Allows to determine intervertebral hernias and their localization.
- Computed tomography.The condition of the intervertebral discs, possible deviations in structure and deformation, compression of nerve roots and changes in the structure of individual vertebrae are examined.
- Magnetic resonance imaging.Provides a more detailed study of the structure of the joints in general. As a rule, it is appointed when the information content of other exams is low. An undoubted advantage is a more detailed study of the condition of the soft tissues.
The patient's medical history is also unsuccessful. Surgery, surgeries and chronic diseases that can be injured long before going to the doctor can also lead to the development of pathological processes in the joint tissues.
In addition, the patient is individually examined and interviewed. Based on the information received, the diagnosis and degree of joint damage is determined.
How osteochondrosis is treated
After the diagnosis and identification of the causes of osteochondrosis, the specialist develops an individual treatment plan. It must take into account the physical characteristics of the patient, the developmental characteristics and localization of the pathology.
An integrated approach is used for treatment.
Medications alone cannot be abandoned, as they also need to develop joint mobility, eliminate a possible inflammatory process in the surrounding tissues, and at the same time neutralize the negative factor that causes 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 take into account the dynamics of therapy.
Drug treatment 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 by themselves, along with medications and self-made ointments and compresses, folk remedies.
Unfortunately, this only brings temporary relief and does not help to completely eliminate the disease. The following groups of drugs are used for the effective treatment of osteochondrosis.
Drug treatment includes:
- Systemic and local analgesics.These include ointments and compresses, as well as pills and injections for severe pain syndrome. 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 causes the disease.
- Muscle relaxantsare aimed at reducing muscle tone. Drugs in this group are taken for 30-45 days and the dosage is determined individually. Generally, they are taken in gradually increasing minimum doses (with severe hypertension, injections are prescribed). Dosage is then gradually reduced to avoid withdrawal syndrome.
- Chondroprotectorshelp restore cartilage tissue by compensating for damaged areas. The effect of this group of drugs is not immediately visible, so a course of several months is prescribed. Various medications are available. It is used in the form of injections during exacerbations, and then treatment is continued with tablets or capsules.
- Angioprotectorsare used in certain pathologies of the blood supply. They help strengthen the walls of blood vessels, promote relaxation and restore metabolism. The admission period is also several months.
- Glucocorticosteroidsare prescribed to increase the activity of NSAIDs and muscle relaxants. Has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and decongestant effect, helps against pain and spasms. The course of treatment is determined individually. In the first days of exacerbation of the disease is used in the form of an injection, then in the form of a tablet. The dosage is gradually reduced until the drug is completely stopped.
- Biogenic stimulants.Accelerates metabolism and promotes the regeneration of joint tissues. It is not possible to treat chondrosis on its own with such drugs at home, but they have proven effective in complex therapy.
- Complex vitamin preparations.Encourage the body's overall strength and speed up metabolic reactions.
Is osteochondrosis treated only with drugs? Of course not. Other medical procedures are necessary to completely get rid of the disease. Special attention should be paid to a special training set. It is developed for each part of the spine or joints of the limbs.
Important point:Classes are conducted under the supervision of a specialist and only after the elimination of inflammation in the affected area.
Healing gymnastics
A special trainer with appropriate qualifications will explain what to do in case of osteochondrosis and what actions are better to avoid. Initially, the exercises are carried out under his supervision, then the patient can continue training alone.
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home consists of regular exercises to restore joint mobility.
Massage and physiotherapy
Alternative medicine is also used to treat osteochondrosis of the spine. These include mud dressings, acupuncture, magnetotherapy, and manual therapy.
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Medicinal electrophoresis, laser therapy, and thermotherapy are often used among medical procedures. An important point is the sanitary treatment in specialized sanatoriums.
What is osteochondrosis? More and more patients are learning about this disease at a young age. A sedentary lifestyle, decreased muscle tone and unequal loads on the joints - these negative factors lead to the development of degenerative processes in the structure of heavy cartilage tissue.
Decreased elasticity and loss of integrity are manifested by constant or periodic pain, stiffness, and even malfunction of internal systems.