Today in the article we will talk about the disease of the century - about osteochondrosis (in ordinary 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 as young as 15 years old.
As terrible as it sounds, 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 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 by the fact that we do something, stand, walk, move, carry heavy things, etc. Our spine constantly performs the most difficult work, performs three main functions: support, protection (protects the spinal cord) and cushioning function during walking and other body movements 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, the excessive load on it leads to its so-called protrusion and a hernia appears. It starts to affect the spinal nerve even more, in these cases if we talk about p. for cervical chondrosis, the pain radiates to the hands, numbness of the fingers is felt.
If you have neck, chest or lower back pain, 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 pain and reduce the risk of complications.
Causes of the development of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis can develop for various 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, 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:
- inheritance;
- age-related changes;
- injuries or congenital injuries of the spine;
- metabolic failure, obesity;
- flat feet;
- rachiocampsis;
- shock;
- various infectious diseases;
- spine overload 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;
- extended and serious training in the gym;
- excess body weight;
- unhealthy diet;
- a not very active lifestyle;
- smoking;
- hypothermia;
- nervous breakdown;
- wrong posture;
- uncomfortable shoes and high heels;
- dragging weights;
- weakness of back muscles;
- dependence on the weather, 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) 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, 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 it is here that the vertebral artery passes - this 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 pressed, due to which the blood flow is disrupted, that is, the brain no longer receives enough blood. The consequence of this is headache, glowing black dots ("flies") in the eyes, dizziness, jump pressure, memory impairment and a decline 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, as the thoracic spine is less mobile and well protected by ribs and muscles. The cause of the development of osteochondrosis of the chest 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 of the chest causes pain in the heart area, which imitates 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, stabbing, aching pain in the region of the chest ribs, aggravated by deep inspiration.
Lumbar osteochondrosis
It is considered the most common type of disease - lumbar osteochondrosis, because the greatest load falls on this particular part of the ridge. The lower back suffers more from a sedentary lifestyle. Due to the pinched nerves in this part of the spine, a person feels constant sharp or painful pain in the lower back, usually it radiates to the back of the thigh and buttocks, to the lower part of the leg.
Pain attacks are accompanied by numbness of the fingers, tingling, creeping crawling in the back of the legs. The normal functioning of the genitourinary system and intestines is interrupted.
Diffuse osteochondrosis of the spine
It is characterized by defeating two or three sections of the ridge at the same time.
stages
In this part, we will talk about the stages of development of the disease and how they appear. There are 4 stages of spinal disease in modern medicine:
- 1 stage
In the first stage, it is quite difficult to diagnose this disease and, in principle, to suspect it in itself. Patients feel general discomfort in the back and often attribute this 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, often discovered by chance, during a general examination of the patient (X-rays or MRI).
- 2 phases
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 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 serious 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. Proper therapy, of course, will no longer be able to completely restore the spine, however, it will improve its condition and reduce defects, such as humps or curvature.
- 4 stages
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 is compressed, vertebrae are displaced, 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:
- training
First of all, the treatment is aimed at relieving pain attacks, for this, local analgesics and sedatives are prescribed. Then anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antioxidant therapy is performed. After you need to restore normal blood circulation.
- exercise therapy
When the drug treatment is finished 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 first perform a specialist and then apply. knowledge taken at 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. Displaced 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'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 wonderful effect, almost from the first session you will feel its analgesic effect, the swelling will decrease in the place of a pressed 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
Stone therapy or stone therapy warms 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
Very often, patients are recommended special exercises in the pool, as well as floating - this procedure allows you to completely relax the spine due to standing 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 the float in any SPA salon, this service is offered almost everywhere.
- operation
In extremely severe cases, an operation is prescribed, during which the hernia and the affected discs are removed and the structure of the spine is stabilized. The operation is a big risk for the patient, so it is performed in emergency cases.
In an early stage of osteochondrosis, you can quickly get rid of it and you will only need to do some exercises to prevent its redevelopment. 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 above, it is important that the first exercise therapy exercises are performed 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 gymnastics at home, people with a diagnosis of spinal disease are advised to do self-massage, you can ask for help from someone close to you.
You should start with gentle strokes along the entire spine. Then the muscles of the neck, chest and lower back are kneaded in a circular motion or by squeezing, 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 a disease, which we are talking about in the article, to eat properly. 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 containing substances that stimulate the formation of cartilage in the spine - mucopolysaccharides. Most of them are in various jellies, jellies, jelly fish. For dessert, jelly is perfect, in which the main ingredient is gelatin, and it, in turn, is saturated with mucopolysaccharides.
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 spine. They contain unsaturated 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 a sufficient amount of magnesium in the body; it is found in cucumbers, walnuts 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 need to eat: beef, pork, mushrooms, seafood, cereals. Vitamin A is also beneficial 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 need to exclude something from your menu, but there is something to replace these products.
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 beneficial.
- Prohibitions also include marinades, semi-finished products, spicy foods, pickles.
- Sweet, like salt, slows blood circulation, and if we already have an interrupted 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 receives 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 indicated 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!