Today in the article we will talk about the disease of the century - osteochondrosis (in ordinary people called chondrosis). Previously, this disease was attributed to people over the age of 50, but it is now "younger" and affects everyone, starting with children as young as 15.
As terrible as it may sound, more and more people are being 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 later in the article.
What is osteochondrosis?
This is a bone and cartilage disease, 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 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 hardest work, performs three main functions: support, protection (protects the spinal cord) and the function of depreciation during walking and other body movements due to the intervertebral discs.
Gradually, during life, the cartilage wears out, loses moisture, causing microlacerations. There is a change in the height of the intervertebral discs and the vertebrae begin to irritate the spinal nerve, causing pain attacks.
When the intervertebral disc loses its elasticity, an excessive load on it leads to its so-called protrusion and a hernia appears. It begins to affect the spinal nerve even more, in such cases, if we talk, for example, about cervical chondrosis, the pain radiates to the hands, numbness of the fingers is felt.
If you experience pain in your neck, thoracic spine or lower back, we recommend that you see a neurologist or vertebrologist, who specifically deals with diseases associated with the spine. The sooner you seek help, the sooner you will get rid of 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 reason is the uneven and incorrect distribution of the load on the spine. Because of this, 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:
- inheritance;
- age-related changes;
- congenital injuries or lesions of the spine;
- metabolic failure, overweight;
- flat feet;
- rachiocampsis;
- concussions of the brain;
- various infectious diseases;
- overload 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:
- every day driving a car or working at the computer;
- strengthened and serious training in the gym;
- excess body weight;
- unhealthy diet;
- inactive lifestyle;
- to smoke;
- hypothermia;
- nervous shocks;
- incorrect posture;
- uncomfortable shoes and high heels;
- drag weights;
- weakness of the back muscles;
- dependence on atmospheric conditions, living in unsuitable climatic conditions.
If you belong to one of these risk groups, be sure to undertake osteochondrosis prevention (about it a little further down) to prevent the development of osteochondrosis.
Types and symptoms
In total, there are four types of osteochondrosis. We will talk about it 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 move. What's the danger? The fact is that this is where the vertebral artery passes - this is a vessel that affects the pressure and state of the brain. This artery supplies blood supply 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 pinched, as a result of which the blood flow is disturbed, respectively, the brain no longer receives enough blood. The consequence of this are headaches, flashing blackheads ("flies") in the eyes, dizziness, jumping pressure, memory impairment and a decrease in mental abilities in general.
Pain in the back of the neck, radiating to the shoulder, under the shoulder blade, arm, fingers become 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 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 thoracic osteochondrosis causes pain in the heart area, which mimics the symptoms of angina pectoris.
This disorder is manifested by pain in the spine between the shoulder blades, numbness and weakness of the muscles of the arms, stabbing and aching pain in the region of the thoracic ribs, aggravated by deep inhalation.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
It is considered the most common type of ailment - lumbar osteochondrosis, because the greatest load falls on this particular part of the ridge. The lower back suffers most from a sedentary lifestyle. Due to pinched nerves in this part of the spine, a person experiences persistent sharp or aching pain in the lower back, usually radiating to the back of the thigh and buttocks, lower leg.
Attacks of pain are accompanied by numbness in the toes, tingling, creeping creeping on the back of the legs. The normal functioning of the genitourinary system and intestines is disrupted.
Diffuse osteochondrosis of the spine
It is characterized by the defeat of two or all three sections of the ridge at the same time.
phases
In this section we will talk about the degrees of development of the disease and how they manifest themselves. 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 experience general back discomfort and often attribute it to overwork, hard work, stress, and don't even think about going to the doctor. The disease usually proceeds slowly and in a latent form, it is often discovered by chance, during a general examination of the patient (X-ray or MRI).
- 2 stages
The second stage is characterized by the occurrence 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 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 severe changes in the spine. The development of lordosis, scoliosis, curvature of the upper part of the ridge (kyphosis), a hump begins, a hernia of the intervertebral disc appears. Adequate therapy, of course, will no longer be able to fully restore the spine, however 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, there are already irreversible changes in the spine. It becomes difficult to move, because every movement causes terrible pain. The cartilage is compacted, the vertebrae move, the bone tissue grows. Often at this stage, patients are assigned a disability.
Medical treatment
After a specialist (orthopedist, neuropathologist, vertebrologist) has made a complete diagnosis and diagnosed osteochondrosis, he prescribes complex therapy, which includes various methods of treatment. With the right combination of them, you can achieve excellent results in the treatment:
- Preparations
First, the treatment is aimed at relieving pain attacks, for this, local analgesics and pain relievers are prescribed. Then anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antioxidant therapy is performed. After it is necessary to restore normal blood circulation.
- physical therapy
When the drug treatment is completed and the inflammation has been removed, you can and should go to physical therapy classes, in principle you can do the exercises at home on your own, but it is better to first train with a specialist, and then apply the knowledge acquired 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, facilitate and accelerate tissue healing. The displaced vertebrae are removed. The main thing you need to pay attention to when choosing a chiropractor is whether he has a medical degree, a neurologist certificate, and a chiropractor certificate. If at least something is missing, you should not be treated by 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 in the site of a pinched nerve and the muscle spasm caused by a pain attack will be relieved. Relieves inflammation, removes numbness in the fingers, characteristic of this disease, restores the passage of nerve signals.
- Stone therapy
Stone Therapy or Stone Therapy warms the muscles very well, improves blood flow and nutrition of the intervertebral discs.
- Magnetotherapy
With magnetotherapy, the patient can also feel much better. Helps reduce blood viscosity, improve nutrition of damaged tissue, reduce swelling, restore mobility and much more.
- Pool
Quite often, patients are advised special exercises in the pool, in addition to floating - this procedure allows you to completely relax the spine since it is in a saline solution, thanks to which the patient "floats" and all the load 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 spinal structure is stabilized. Surgery is a big risk to the patient, so it is done in an emergency.
At an early stage of osteochondrosis, you can get rid of it quickly and you will only have to do a few 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.
Home treatment
As mentioned above, it is important to perform the first physical 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 home gymnastics, people with a diagnosis of spine disease are advised to do self-massage, you can ask someone close to help you.
You need to start with soft strokes along the entire spine. Then the muscles of the neck, chest and lower back are kneaded with circular movements or pinching, it is not necessary to press hard with the fingertips. You can also rub the spaces between the ribs, even without pressing hard.
It is very important if you have a disorder, which we are talking about in the article, to eat right. Which diet to follow and which foods are best excluded 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 jellies, jellies, jellies. For dessert, gelatin is perfect, in which the main ingredient is gelatin and, 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, and this leads to the first manifestations of the disease.
Fruits and vegetables 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 you and what should you eat?
The body needs a lot of trace elements:
- One of these is calcium, found in milk, almonds, hard cheeses, ricotta, legumes.
- Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium: eggs, sea fish, butter. In addition, it is recommended that you often expose yourself to the sun.
- 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 containing phosphorus: fish, soybeans, peas, white cabbage.
- B vitamins are also very important for our disease, to get it you need 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 have to starve, you just have 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, a salt-free diet will be useful.
- The bans also include marinades, semi-finished products, spicy foods, pickles.
- Sweets, like salt, slow down blood circulation, and if we already have an interrupted blood supply to the brain, sweets will only aggravate the situation.
- We exclude coffee and all kinds of fizzy drinks from the menu, as they do a great job of eliminating 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 on 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 observed as a preventive measure, even if you do not have a diagnosis of osteochondrosis, all the vitamins and minerals present in the chondrosis diet will still be very useful for your body.
Listen to your body carefully and don't be afraid to ask doctors for help if needed.
We wish you good health!