Today in the article we will talk about the disease of the century - about osteochondrosis (in ordinary people it is called chondrosis). This disease used to be 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 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 the disease of civilization and how to live with it later in the article.
What is osteochondrosis?
It is a bone-cartilage disease, expressed in degenerative-dystrophic disorders of the cartilaginous structures of the spine, expressed in severe pain.
These degenerative disorders, in other words, changes in the spine occur under the influence of normal life factors, that is, simply from the fact that we do something, stand, walk, move, carry heavy things, etc. Our spine constantly performs the mostthe hard work, performs three main functions: supporting, protective (protects the spinal cord) and cushioning function during walking and other other movements of the body 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, 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 about, for example, cervical chondrosis, the pain radiates to the hands, numbness of the fingers is felt.
If you experience pain in the neck, chest 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 studying this disease believe that the main cause is the uneven, incorrect distribution of the load on the spine. Therefore, in the places 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 damage to the spine;
- metabolic failure, overweight;
- flat feet;
- rachiocampsis;
- brain concussions;
- 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;
- intensified, serious training in the gym;
- overweight;
- unhealthy diet;
- not very active lifestyle;
- smoking;
- hypothermia;
- nervous breakdowns;
- incorrect posture;
- uncomfortable shoes and high heels;
- dragging weights;
- weakness of the back muscles;
- dependence on the weather, living in unsuitable climatic conditions.
If you belong to one of these risk groups, do not forget to take up the prevention of osteochondrosis (about this a little below) 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, because the cervical vertebrae are very mobile and even a small load can lead to their displacement. What is the danger? The fact is that the vertebral artery passes here - it is a vessel that affects the pressure and condition of the brain. This artery provides blood supply to the 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 blood circulation is disturbed, and the brain no longer receives enough blood. The consequences of this are headaches, flashing black dots ("flies") in the eyes, dizziness, a spike in pressure, memory impairment and a decrease in mental abilities in general.
Pain in the back of the neck, which radiates to the shoulder, under the shoulder blade, the arm, the fingers are numb.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
This is a fairly rare disease because the thoracic spine is the least mobile and is well protected by ribs and muscles. The reason for the development of osteochondrosis of the chest is often scoliosis (curvature of the spine). It is very difficult to recognize this particular disease because its symptoms are very similar to other diseases, often thoracic osteochondrosis causes pain in the heart area that 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 of the arms, piercing, painful pain in the region of the chest ribs, aggravated by deep inhalation.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region
It is considered the most common type of disease - lumbar osteochondrosis, since 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 spine, a person feels constant sharp or aching pain in the lower back, usually radiating to the back of the thigh and buttock, to the lower leg.
Pain attacks are accompanied by tingling in the toes, tingling, creeping crawling along the back of the legs. The normal functioning of the genitourinary system and intestines is disturbed.
Widespread osteochondrosis of the spine
It is characterized by the defeat of two or three sections 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. In modern medicine, there are 4 stages of spine disease:
- 1 stage
At the first stage, it is quite difficult to diagnose this disease and, in general, to suspect it in oneself. Patients experience 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 stage
The second stage is characterized by the appearance of pain attacks, as the process of cartilage destruction begins. In the absence of treatment, the size of the intervertebral discs rapidly decreases in the patient, they slightly protrude, 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 serious changes in the spine. The development of lordosis, scoliosis, distortion of the upper part of the ridge (kyphosis), a hump begins, herniation of the intervertebral disc appears. Correct therapy, of course, will no longer be able to completely restore the spine, but it will decently improve its condition and reduce defects, such as a hump 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 excruciating pain. Cartilage thickens, vertebrae shift, bone tissue grows. It is often at this stage that patients become disabled.
Medical treatment
After a specialist (orthopedic, neuropathologist, vertebrologist) makes a complete diagnosis and diagnoses osteochondrosis, he prescribes a complex therapy that includes various treatment methods. With the right combination of them, you can achieve very good results in treatment:
- Preparations
First of all, the treatment is aimed at relieving pain attacks, for this analgesics and local pain relievers are prescribed. After that, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antioxidant therapy is carried out. After you need to restore normal blood circulation.
- exercise therapy
When the drug treatment is over and the inflammation is removed, you can and should go to exercise therapy classes, in principle you can do the exercises yourself at home, but it is better to train with a specialist first and then apply the knowledge gainedat home.
- Manual therapy
Manual therapy is also very useful, it helps to increase the distance between the vertebrae, release compressed nerves and blood vessels, facilitates and accelerates tissue healing. Dislocated vertebrae are removed. The main thing you should pay attention to when choosing a chiropractor is whether he has a doctor's degree, a neurologist and a chiropractor certificate. If at least something is missing, then you should not be treated by this specialist.
- Acupuncture
Reflexotherapy (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 will decrease in the place of the pinched nerve and the muscle spasm caused by an attack of pain will be relieved. It relieves inflammation, removes the numbness of the fingers, characteristic of this disease, restores the passage of nerve signals.
- Stone therapy
Stone therapy or stone therapy warms up the muscles very well, improves blood circulation and nutrition of the intervertebral discs.
- Magnetotherapy
With magnetotherapy, the patient will also be able to feel much better. It helps to reduce blood viscosity, improve nutrition of damaged tissues, reduce swelling, restore mobility and much more.
- Swimming pool
Quite often, patients are recommended special exercises in the pool, as well as swimming - this procedure allows you to completely relax the spine due to the fact that you are in a physiological solution, thanks to which the patient "swims" and all the load is removed from the spine.
Basically, as a prevention of osteochondrosis, you can go sailing in any spa salon, this service is offered almost everywhere.
- Operation
In extremely severe cases, an operation is prescribed, in which the hernia and the affected discs are removed and the spinal structure is stabilized. The operation is a big risk for the patient, so it is performed in emergency cases.
At an early stage of osteochondrosis, you can quickly get rid of it and you will only need to do some exercises to prevent its re-development. The complex of therapies will be selected by the attending physician, taking into account all the characteristics of your body.
Treatment at home
As we mentioned a little above, it is important that the first exercises of exercise therapy are performed under the supervision of a specialist, so as not to overload the spine. But after a few sessions you can do the exercises at home.
After home gymnastics, people with a diagnosis of spinal disease are recommended to do self-massage, you can ask someone close to help you.
You should start with soft strokes all over the spine. The muscles of the neck, chest and back are then kneaded with circular movements or by pinching, it is not necessary to press hard with the tips of the fingers. You can also rub the spaces between the ribs, also without pressing hard.
It is very important, if you have the disease that we are talking about in the article, to eat right. What diet to follow and what foods are best to exclude from the diet in the next section.
Diet for osteochondrosis
Proper nutrition for chondrosis includes the use of products that contain substances that promote the formation of cartilage in the spine - mucopolysaccharides. Most of them are in various jelly, jelly, jellied fish. For dessert, jelly is ideal, in which the main ingredient is gelatin, which, in turn, is saturated with mucopolysaccharide.
In addition, you need to drink a lot 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 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, marine fish, butter. It is also recommended to be in the sun often.
- Calcium is stored in bone tissue only with a sufficient amount of magnesium in the body, found in cucumbers, nuts and avocados.
- In addition, it is important to eat foods containing phosphorus: fish, soybeans, peas, white cabbage.
- Vitamins of group B are also very important for our disease, to get it you need to eat: beef, pork, mushrooms, seafood, cereals. Vitamin A, which is contained in carrots, melons, pumpkin and liver, is also useful.
In general, as you can see, the diet is not terrible, you will not have to starve, you just need to exclude something from your menu, but there is something to replace these products with.
What is not recommended to 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, sweets will only worsen the situation.
- We exclude coffee and all types of carbonated drinks from the menu, as they very well remove 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 shown in the diet for chondrosis 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!