Today in the article we will talk about the disease of the century - about osteochondrosis (in the common people called chondrosis). Previously, this disease was attributed to people over 50 years old, but now it is "younger" and affects everyone, starting with children of 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?
This is a bone and cartilage disease, manifested by degenerative-dystrophic disorders of the cartilaginous structures of the spinal column, 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 performsthe hardest work, it performs three main functions: supporting, protective (protects the spinal cord) and the function of depreciation when walking and other other body movements due to intervertebral discs.
Gradually, during life, 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, excessive load on it leads to its so-called protrusion and a hernia appears. It begins to affect the spinal nerve even more, in these 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 the neck, thoracic spine or lower back, we recommend that you contact a neurologist or vertebrologist, who deals specifically with diseases associated with the spine. The sooner you seek help, the sooner you 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, incorrect distribution of the load on the spinal column. Because of this, in 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 injuries of the spine;
- metabolic failure, overweight;
- flat feet;
- rachiocampsis;
- concussions;
- 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:
- daily driving a car or working at a computer;
- enhanced, serious training in the gym;
- excess body weight;
- unhealthy diet;
- not very active lifestyle;
- smoking;
- hypothermia;
- nervous shocks;
- 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, be sure to take up the prevention of osteochondrosis (about it a little lower) in order 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, since the cervical vertebrae are very mobile and even a small load can cause them to shift. What is the danger? The fact is that it is here that the vertebral artery passes - this is a vessel that affects the pressure and state of the brain. This artery provides blood supply to the areas of the brain responsible for blood pressure, for the rhythm of heart contractions and for vestibular stability. When the vertebrae are displaced, the artery is pinched, 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, jumping 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, arm, fingers become numb.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
This is a rather rare disease, since 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 spinal column). It is quite difficult to recognize this particular disease, because its symptoms are very similar to other diseases, often chest osteochondrosis causes pain in the heart area, which mimics the symptoms of angina pectoris.
This ailment manifests itself with pain in the spine between the shoulder blades, numbness and weakness of the muscles in the arms, stabbing, aching pain in the region of the thoracic ribs, aggravated by deep inspiration.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar
It is considered the most common type of ailment - osteochondrosis of the lumbar, 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 spinal column, a person feels persistent sharp or aching pain in the lower back, usually it radiates to the back of the thigh and buttocks, to the lower leg.
Pain attacks are accompanied by numbness of the toes, tingling, creeping crawling on the back of the legs. The normal functioning of the genitourinary system and intestines is disrupted.
Widespread osteochondrosis of the spine
It is characterized by the defeat of two or all 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 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 feel general discomfort in the back and often attribute this to overwork, hard work, stress, and do not even think about going to the doctor. The disease usually proceeds sluggishly and in a latent form, it is often discovered by chance, during a general examination of the patient (X-ray or MRI).
- 2 stage
The second stage is characterized by the occurrence of pain attacks, since 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 stage
In the third stage, patients experience serious changes in the spinal column. The development of lordosis, scoliosis, curvature of the upper part of the ridge (kyphosis), a hump begins, a hernia of the intervertebral disc appears. Proper therapy, of course, will no longer be able to completely restore the spine, however, 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 spinal column. It becomes difficult to move around, because every movement causes terrible pain. The cartilage is compacted, the vertebrae are displaced, the bone tissue grows. Often at this stage, patients are given a disability.
Medical treatment
After a specialist (orthopedist, neuropathologist, vertebrologist) makes a complete diagnosis and diagnoses osteochondrosis, he prescribes complex therapy, which 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 painkillers are prescribed. Then anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antioxidant therapy is carried out. After you need to restore normal blood circulation.
- exercise therapy
When the drug treatment is completed and the inflammation is removed, you can and should go to exercise therapy classes, in principle, you can do the exercises at home on your own, but it’s better to work out with a specialist first, and then apply the knowledge gained 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. Displaced vertebrae are removed. The main thing you need to pay attention to when choosing a chiropractor is whether he has a doctor's diploma, a neurologist's certificate, and a chiropractor's certificate. If at least something is missing, then 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, swelling will subside at the site of a pinched nerve, and muscle spasm caused by a pain attack will be relieved. Relieves inflammation, removes 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 flow 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 floating - this procedure allows you to completely relax the spine due to being 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 to floating in any SPA-salon, this service is offered almost everywhere.
- Operation
In extreme 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 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 have 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 just above, it is important to carry out the first exercises of exercise therapy under the supervision of a specialist so as not to overload the spinal column. But after a few sessions, you can do the exercises at home.
After home gymnastics, people with a diagnosis of spinal column 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 spinal column. Then the muscles in the neck, chest and lower back are kneaded in circular motions or by pinching, it is not necessary to press hard with the fingertips. You can also rub the spaces between the ribs, also without pressing hard.
It is very important if you have an ailment, which we are talking about in the article, to eat right. What diet to follow and what 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 spinal column - mucopolysaccharides. Most of them are in various jelly, jelly, jellied fish. For dessert, jelly is perfect, in which the main ingredient is gelatin, and it, in turn, 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 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, sea fish, butter. In addition, it is recommended to be in the sun often.
- 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 illness, 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 won’t 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, then a salt-free diet will be useful.
- The prohibitions also include marinades, semi-finished products, spicy foods, pickles.
- Sweet, like salt, slows down blood circulation, and if we already have a disrupted blood supply to the brain, then sweets will only aggravate the situation.
- We exclude coffee and all kinds of soda from the menu, as they do a very good job of flushing 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 shown 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!