Today in the article we will talk about the disease of the century - about osteochondrosis (commonly called chondrosis). In the past, this disease was attributed to people over 50 years old, but now they are "younger" and it affects everyone, starting from 15-year-old children.
As terrible as it may seem, more and more people are being diagnosed with osteochondrosis. According to statistics, almost 80% of the inhabitants of the planet Earth suffer from this disease of the spine.
Read more about culture sickness and how to live with it later in the article.
What is osteochondrosis?
It is a disease of bones and cartilage, manifested by degenerative-dystrophic disorders of the cartilage structures of the spine, resulting in severe pain.
These degenerative disorders, in other words, changes in the spine occur under the influence of factors of normal life, that is, simply from the fact that we do something, stand, walk, move, carry heavy things, etc. Our spine constantly performs the hardest work, it performs three main functions: support, protective (protects the spinal cord) and the function of damping during walking and other body movements due to the intervertebral discs.
Gradually, during life, the cartilage wears down, 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, its excessive load leads to its so-called protrusion and herniation occurs. It begins to affect the spinal nerve even more, in these cases, if we are talking, for example, about cervical cartilage, the pain radiates to the hands, numbness of the fingers is felt.
If you feel pain in the neck, thoracic spine or lower back, we recommend that you contact a neurologist or spondologist, 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 a number of reasons. Experts who study this disease believe that the main reason is the uneven, incorrect distribution of the load on the spine. Because of this, at points of overload, a change in the structure of the intervertebral discs is observed.
However, there are other reasons that contribute to the development of the disease:
- heredity;
- age-related changes;
- injuries or congenital spinal injuries.
- metabolic failure, overweight;
- flatfeet;
- Rachiocampsis;
- concussion;
- various infectious diseases;
- overloading of the spine 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.
- enhanced, serious training in the gym.
- excess body weight;
- unhealthy diet?
- not very active lifestyle.
- smoking;
- hypothermia;
- nervous shocks;
- wrong attitude.
- uncomfortable shoes and high heels.
- dragging weights;
- back muscle weakness;
- dependence on weather conditions, living in unsuitable climatic conditions.
If you belong to one of these risk groups, be sure to take the prevention of osteochondrosis (about a little lower) to prevent the development of osteochondrosis.
Types and symptoms
In total, there are four types of osteochondrosis. We will talk about them in this section.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region
It is considered the most dangerous type of disease, as the cervical vertebrae are very mobile and even a small load can cause them to shift. What is the risk? The fact is that the vertebral artery passes here - this is a vessel that affects the pressure and condition of the brain. This artery supplies blood to the areas of the brain responsible for blood pressure, heart rate, and atrial stability. When the vertebrae are displaced, the artery is pressed, due to which the blood flow is disturbed, respectively, the brain no longer receives enough blood. The consequence of this is headaches, flashing black dots ("flies") in the eyes, dizziness, jump pressure, memory impairment and a general decrease in mental abilities.
Pain in the back of the neck, radiating to the shoulder, under the shoulder blade, arm, fingers numb.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
This is a rather rare disease, as the thoracic spine is the least mobile and is well protected by the 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 particular disease, because its symptoms are very similar to other diseases, often osteochondrosis in the chest causes pain in the heart area, which mimics the symptoms of angina pectoris.
This condition is manifested by pain in the spine between the shoulder blades, numbness and weakness of the muscles in the hands, stabbing, pain in the region of the chest ribs, which is aggravated by deep inspiration.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
It is considered the most common type of ailment - osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, because the greatest load falls on this particular part of the ridge. The lower back suffers more from a sedentary life. Due to the pinched nerves in this part of the spine, a person feels a persistent sharp or aching pain in the lower back, usually radiating to the back of the thigh and buttocks, to the lower leg.
Pain attacks are accompanied by numbness in the toes, tingling, creeping crawling on the back of the legs. The normal functioning of the genitourinary system and intestines is disturbed.
Extensive osteochondrosis of the spine
It is characterized by the loss of two or all three parts of the ridge at the same time.
stages
In this section, we will talk about the degrees of development of the disease and how they manifest. There are 4 stages of spinal disease in modern medicine:
- 1 stage
At the first stage, it is quite difficult to diagnose this disease and, in principle, to suspect it in 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 develops slowly and in a latent form, it is often discovered by chance, during the general examination of the patient (X-ray or MRI).
- 2 stage
The second stage is characterized by the appearance of pain attacks, after the cartilage destruction process begins. In the absence of treatment, the size of the intervertebral discs quickly 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 stage
In the third stage, patients experience severe changes in the spine. The development of lordosis, scoliosis, curvature of the upper part of the ridge (kyphosis), a bulge begins, a herniation of the intervertebral disc appears. Proper treatment, of course, will no longer be able to fully restore the spine, however, it will decently improve its condition and reduce defects, such as bulging or curvature.
- 4 stage
If the disease has reached the fourth stage, then there are already irreversible changes in the spine. It becomes difficult to move, because every movement causes terrible pain. Cartilage is compressed, vertebrae are displaced, bone tissue grows. Often at this stage, patients become disabled.
Medical care
After a specialist (orthopedic, neuropathologist, spondylologist) makes a complete diagnosis and diagnoses osteochondrosis, he prescribes complex treatment, which includes various treatment methods. With their correct combination, you can achieve very good results in treatment:
- Preparations
First of all, the treatment is aimed at alleviating pain attacks, which is why analgesics and local painkillers are prescribed. Anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, antioxidant treatment is then carried out. After you need to restore normal blood circulation.
- exercise therapy
When the medication is completed and the inflammation is removed, you can and should go to exercise classes, in principle, you can do the exercises at home yourself, but it is better to exercise first with a specialist, and then apply the knowledge gainedat home.
- Manual therapy
Manual therapy is also very helpful, it helps to increase the distance between the vertebrae, release the compressed nerves and blood vessels, facilitate and accelerate the healing of the tissues. Displaced vertebrae are removed. The main thing 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 receive treatment from this specialist.
- Acupuncture
Reflexology (acupuncture) is no less effective. It can be said that it produces a miraculous effect, almost from the first session you will feel its analgesic effect, the swelling will subside at the site of a pinched nerve and the muscle spasm caused by a pain attack will be relieved. It relieves inflammation, removes the numbness of the fingers, characteristic of this disease, restores the passage of nerve signals.
- Stone therapy
Lithotherapy or lithotherapy warms the muscles very well, improves blood flow and nutrition of the intervertebral discs.
- Magnetic therapy
With magnetotherapy, the patient will also be able to feel much better. It helps reduce blood viscosity, improve nutrition of damaged tissues, reduce swelling, restore mobility and much more.
- Pool
Very often, patients are recommended special exercises in the pool, as well as suspension - this procedure allows you to completely relax the spine due to the fact that it is in a saline solution, thanks to which the patient "floats" and all the load is removed from the SPINECOLUMN.
In principle, as a prevention of osteochondrosis, you can go to the floating in any SPA salon, this service is offered almost everywhere.
- Mode
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. Surgery is a big risk for the patient, so it is done in emergency cases.
At an early stage of osteochondrosis, you can get rid of it quickly and you will only need to do a few exercises to prevent it from developing again. The complex of treatments will be selected by the attending physician, taking into account all the characteristics of your body.
Treatment at home
As we mentioned just above, it is important to carry out the first exercise therapy exercises under the supervision of a specialist in order not to overload the spine. But after a few sessions, you can do the exercises at home.
After exercising at home, people with a diagnosis of spinal disease are advised to do self-massage, you can ask someone close to you to help you.
You need to start with gentle movements along the entire spine. Next, the muscles in the neck, chest and lower back are kneaded with circular movements or with pinches, it is not necessary to press hard with the tips of the fingers. You can also rub the gaps between the ribs, also without pressing hard.
It is very important if you have any condition, which we talk about in the article, to eat right. Which diet to follow and which foods are best excluded from the diet in the next section.
Nutrition for osteochondrosis
Proper nutrition for chondrosis includes the use of products containing substances that promote the formation of cartilage in the spine - mucopolysaccharides. Most are in various jellies, jellies, jellies. For dessert, jelly is perfect, in which the main ingredient is gelatin and, in turn, it is saturated with mucopolysaccharide.
In addition, you need to drink plenty of water, its lack leads to damage to the intervertebral discs, and this leads to the first manifestations of the disease.
Vegetables and fruits are one of the most important foods for cartilage, their use is essential for the healthy function 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, 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 sufficient magnesium in the body; 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 it you have to eat: beef, pork, mushrooms, seafood, cereals. Vitamin A is also useful and is found in carrots, melons, pumpkins and liver.
In general, as you can see, the diet is not terrible, you will not need to starve, you just need 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 helpful.
- Prohibitions also include marinades, semi-finished products, spicy foods, pickles.
- Sweets, like salt, slow down blood circulation, and if we already have impaired blood supply to the brain, then sweets will only make the situation worse.
- We exclude coffee and all types of soda from the menu, as they do a very good job of 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 region already takes all the main load, and if the body weight is large, imagine how difficult it is to cope!
The diet can also be followed as a preventive measure, even if you do not have a diagnosis of osteochondrosis, all the vitamins and minerals that appear in the chondrosis diet will in any case be very useful for your body.
Listen carefully to your body and do not be afraid to seek help from doctors if necessary.
We wish you good health!