Osteochondrosis is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, manifested by the thinning of bones and joint cartilage. Most often, patients are diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the spine, in which there is a destruction of the intervertebral discs in the cervical, lumbar or thoracic region. The intervertebral cartilage is necessary to stabilize the movements and reduce the load on the bone tissue, so the destruction of the discs leads to gradual damage to the vertebrae and deformation of the spine. Osteochondrosis can be a complication of an injury, a long-term violation of posture or another pathological condition. Treatment of the disease includes manual therapy, physiotherapy and surgical intervention for significant spinal deformities.
Osteochondrosis is one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system in the elderly. In teenagers and young adults, the pathology is diagnosed less often. The characteristic symptoms of the disease, doctors include severe pain in the area of the affected joint and impaired mobility. Without treatment, osteochondrosis can be complicated by compression of the spinal cord and dysfunction of internal organs.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
Manifestations of the disease depend on the area of destruction of the articular discs. The main symptom is pain or sharp pain, aggravated by movement. Because of this, patients often take a forced position. With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, it is difficult for the patient to look around, severe headaches appear. If the disease is complicated by the compression of the peripheral nerves and the spinal cord, symptoms of movement disorders and disorders of internal organ functions appear.
Other symptoms and signs:
- Moderate dull pain during the day, aggravated during movements;
- Spread of pain in the head, shoulder, pelvis and lower extremities;
- Constant tension of the muscles connected to the affected intervertebral joint;
- Decreased performance;
- Sleep disorder;
- Change in posture and clumsy gait.
If you experience these symptoms, we recommend you make an appointment with your doctor. Timely consultation will prevent negative consequences for your health.
The disease can progress for several years. The early stages of cartilage damage do not show any symptoms, but gradually there is constant pain.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Normally, the intervertebral cartilage is constantly supplied with blood and receives a sufficient amount of nutrients from the blood to renew cells and maintain its structure. As tissues age, degenerative changes can occur, characterized by insufficient cell renewal. Violation of blood flow occurs when the arteries are squeezed against the background of a permanent curvature of the spine or injury. Also, osteochondrosis can be the result of excessive physical strain.
Causes of the disease:
- Gradual destruction of the intervertebral cartilage due to poor posture, weight lifting and movement patterns. The reason for the violation of the structure of the intervertebral discs can also be wearing shoes with a flat sole for a long time;
- Craniovertebral anomalies - a violation of the relative position of the structures of the cervical spine and skull. In this case, blood vessels are often squeezed and the blood supply to the tissues is impaired.
- Metabolic disorders, accompanied by insufficient formation of hydrophilic cartilage components;
- Inflammatory or autoimmune cartilage damage, in which the body's defense system attacks healthy tissue;
- Disc herniation is a disease characterized by displacement of cartilage and protrusion of the disc into the spinal canal.
Clarifying the cause of osteochondrosis is important for choosing the right treatment.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
When the symptoms of osteochondrosis appear, it is necessary to make an appointment with a neurologist. The clinic doctor asks the patient about the complaints and examines the history to identify the risk factors for the disease. Then a general examination is carried out to identify the external signs of osteochondrosis and exclude symptoms of spinal cord dysfunction. To confirm the diagnosis, the neurologist prescribes special examinations.
Methods for diagnosing osteochondrosis:
- X-ray of the spine. The neurologist assigns this study to get a picture of the affected segment of the spine in two projections. Before the procedure, the patient is asked to undress to the waist and stand in front of the machine. The resulting images allow the doctor to detect a hernia or other pathology, as well as determine the degree of damage to the vertebrae and intervertebral disc;
- Magnetic resonance imaging is a more informative study that allows a neurologist to study layered images of the spine in different projections. During the examination, the patient is asked to remove all metal jewelry and lie on the tomography table. The diagnosis takes from 15 minutes to an hour. This is a painless and reliable method for diagnosing osteochondrosis. The results of an MRI make it possible to immediately exclude other diseases with similar symptoms, such as bone tuberculosis or a malignant tumor. If MRI is contraindicated, myelography is indicated.
- Examination of the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord (myelography). The neurologist prescribes this procedure to exclude syringomyelin, oncology and other pathological conditions of the meninges. The method of taking a picture does not differ from conventional radiography, however, before the study, the doctor injects a contrast agent into the subarachnoid space. Before the puncture, the doctor treats the skin with an antiseptic and anesthetizes the tissues. The needle is inserted into the intervertebral space of the lumbar spine.
In a specialized clinic, safe and reliable diagnostic tests are performed, allowing you to quickly start treating osteochondrosis.
Therapeutic treatment of osteochondrosis
Treatment is carried out after consultation with a neurologist and an orthopedist. In case of instability of the affected cervical segment of the spine, a Shants collar is applied. A prefabricated orthopedic collar is applied to the neck and secured with bandages. Wearing a collar is necessary to ease the load on the affected spine and prevent the development of complications. In severe osteochondrosis of the lumbar or thoracic spine, the patient needs rest. The clinic doctor will also prescribe symptomatic therapy and physiotherapy to alleviate the patient's condition.
Methods of treatment of osteochondrosis:
- Description of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain relief. The neurologist prescribes nimesulide, celecoxib or another agent. It is necessary to strictly control the dose of analgesics and monitor the condition of the liver with prolonged use of sedatives.
- Traction therapy is a method of stretching the spine in order to increase the intervertebral gap to eliminate compression of blood vessels and nerves. Before the procedure, a massage is performed to relax the muscles. The withdrawal is carried out at a special table or in a bathroom. The device is fixed to the patient's body in the desired position and gently stretches the spine. This is a very effective and safe procedure for the treatment of osteochondrosis.
- The use of anticonvulsants for complications of osteochondrosis. A neurologist prescribes a short course of carbamazepine or another drug.
- Use of muscle relaxants. These drugs relax the muscles connected to the affected area of the spine and relieve pain;
- Use of corticosteroids for nerve compression. These drugs relieve the inflammatory process in the tissues, which includes therapeutic massage, special exercises and heating.
The neurologist chooses an individual treatment regimen for osteochondrosis, focusing on the patient's condition. Strict medical control of the course of treatment allows you to achieve the best prognosis.
Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis
If the diagnostic results reveal an intervertebral hernia or severe compression of the spinal canal, the patient is scheduled to consult a neurosurgeon. The doctor assesses the severity of the identified pathology and, if necessary, performs surgical intervention.
Surgical treatment options:
- Partial or complete removal of the intervertebral disc.The operation is performed under anesthesia. After applying anesthesia, the neurosurgeon treats the surgical field with an antiseptic and cuts the skin in a predetermined location. After pushing the muscle layer with a special tool, the doctor removes the affected intervertebral disc. If necessary, the removal of the vertebral arch is also performed. Plastic surgery of the spinal segment is performed by transplanting artificial materials. This effective operation is suitable for the treatment of intervertebral hernia and alleviating the symptoms of osteochondrosis;
- Operations for the narrowing of the spinal canal.This intervention eliminates compression of the nerves and spinal cord. After applying anesthesia, the doctor treats the surgical field with an antiseptic and makes a wide skin incision. Pushing back the muscle layer, the neurosurgeon reaches the intervertebral joint and performs the manipulation. The intervention involves removing the vertebral arch or the entire joint. The use of X-ray control and microsurgery allows the operation to be performed with minimal risks.
The most complex surgical interventions are performed in the surgical department of modern clinics.