As we age, we are more likely to experience neck pain and fatigue. These symptoms may hide a diagnosis of osteochondrosis. Why is it growing? What are the treatment methods? Is it possible to cope with illness at home? We asked these questions to doctors.
Osteochondrosis is a chronic degenerative disease of the spine. It is caused by natural aging processes, such as the appearance of gray hair.
In medicine, osteochondrosis refers to various diseases. In the English literature, the concept of osteochondrosis is rare and refers to bone damage in children and adolescents during growth due to impaired blood supply. In the domestic literature, osteochondrosis refers to degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the intervertebral disc and other parts of the spine. It is typical of older people and occurs in almost everyone.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Neurologists identify several main reasons for the development of the disease:
- low physical activity,
- predisposition to disease,
- increase in static and dynamic loads,
- altered metabolism,
- bad eating habits
- hormonal disorders,
- bad position,
- stress.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
The most common symptoms of osteochondrosis include reflex, myoadaptive and compression pain syndromes. Let's consider each of them in more detail:
Reflex syndrome
This occurs due to excessive stress on the nerve endings of the intervertebral disc. The nerve impulse penetrates the deep and superficial muscles of the back, causing pain and a feeling of tension.
Reflex syndrome is characterized by pain in the neck, which intensifies with each movement of the head. It may not have a clear location and may be felt in the arms or legs.
Myoadaptive syndrome
This occurs due to muscle overstrain and manifests itself in the form of muscle spasms. It develops with regular and intense physical activity, as well as in cases where healthy muscles take over from the affected ones.
Pain in myoadaptive syndrome is localized at trigger points - compactions in the spasm zone. Symptoms include nausea, headaches and insomnia.
Compression syndrome
Due to osteochondrosis, the cartilage and bones of the spine are displaced, which leads to pressure on the nerve endings. Compression syndrome is characterized by the impact of a pathological structure on the spinal roots, spinal cord or any vessel.
Compression syndrome includes 3 vertebral artery syndromes:
- Radiculopathy - radicular syndrome;
- Myelopathy – spinal syndrome;
- Neurovascular syndrome.
HASradicular syndromethe pain is pronounced and is accompanied by obvious sensory disturbances in the area of the affected spinal nerve root. Neck pain often gets worse at night. Movement disorders may occur, such as muscle weakness and absence of one or more reflexes.
HASspine syndromethe spinal canal compresses the spinal cord – this happens when the vertebrae are dislocated or fractured. Symptoms include pain of varying intensity. Sensitivity in the arms and legs decreases and stiffness appears.
Vertebral artery syndromedevelops when its lumen narrows, particularly if it is compressed by bony structures. This syndrome is characterized by neck pain, headaches, loss of coordination and balance, dizziness, hearing and vision impairment.
There is another syndrome of osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which are often associated with heart disease - this iscardiac syndrome.
It occurs due to damage to the cervical spine and upper thoracic spine, is characterized by pain in the heart region, imitates or aggravates existing changes in the heart muscle and blood vessels. Unlike "cardiac" pain, it has no clear link with meals, nor with physical or emotional stress. Pain occurs or intensifies during movements, with forced inhalation, coughing, sneezing. Cardiac syndrome can affect blood pressure and heart rate.
The presence of symptoms of cardiac syndrome requires careful diagnosis of the cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract.
How does osteochondrosis develop?
There are 4 stages of the disease:
- Step 1- instability of the vertebrae appears, their displacement and disruption of cervical lordosis - the curvature of the spine, turned forward in a convex manner.
Symptoms in stage 1 are mild. A person may notice that their neck starts to hurt more often and they get tired more quickly.
- Steps 2 and 3— the intervertebral space decreases and the vertebrae become compressed. At these stages, intervertebral protrusions and hernias appear, as well as anterior bony growths - osteophytes.
The second and third stages differ in the severity of these changes. The third stage is characterized by rupture of the annulus fibrosus and the development of an intervertebral disc herniation.
- Step 4- the appearance of posterior osteophytes threatening the integrity of the spinal cord. The patient's coordination is impaired and frequent dizziness occurs. At this stage, irreversible consequences appear, leading to disability.
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is based on radiological diagnostics, MRI or CT studies. All of the above syndromes, as well as many others, are complications of osteochondrosis.
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home
With the development of a reflex syndrome, accompanied by local pain and limited mobility,cervical osteochondrosis can be treated at home. The patient needs rest, absence of physical and static load for 3-5 days, then the volume of load is increased individually. In the acute period, pain should be reduced by taking local anesthetic gels and patches, as well as taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in combination with B vitamins. Drugs that improve microcirculation in the movement segment ofaffected spine are recommended.
After the pain syndrome has subsided and motor functions are normalized, restorative treatment methods can be used: exercise therapy, massage, manual and physical therapy.
Non-drug treatment methods may be more effective due to directly impacting and working with certain affected muscles.
In case of numbness, tingling, movement disorders, dizziness, headache and other symptoms beyond the reflex syndrome, you should consult a doctor for diagnosis and determine the appropriate treatment tactics.
Surgery
The decision to undergo surgical treatment for cervical osteochondrosis depends on many factors. Neurologists identify several criteria that may justify surgical intervention:
- The spinal cord is compressed by a hernia, displaced vertebra, osteophyte or other pathological formations.
- Intense pain syndrome persists for a long time.
- Drug and physiotherapeutic treatment does not bring results for more than 3 months.
In the event of hernial protrusion, decompression is carried out by removal of the hernia; in case of displacement of the vertebra - fixation with a metal structure; if it comes to osteophytic complications - bone growths are removed.
Most spinal surgeries performed are traumatic and do not guarantee improvement. Often, deterioration of well-being and increased pain in adjacent spinal motion segments may occur. Spinal surgery is therefore a last resort when the disease is serious and there is no other therapeutic approach.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
Prevention of cervical osteochondrosis and neck pain requires the normalization of working and living conditions. It is important to avoid keeping your neck bent for long periods of time. You need to strengthen and stretch your neck muscles and increase its mobility through physical exercise.
Anotherproper nutrition is an effective way to prevent the progression of osteochondrosisrich in protein, healthy fats and foods rich in collagen. It is recommended to reduce the amount of "fast" carbohydrates consumed, as well as to compensate for the lack of microelements and vitamins.
Good sleep, absence of stress and active physical activity are important: cardio, regular exercise therapy, Pilates, yoga, stretching.
The development of osteochondrosis is associated with the natural aging of our body - almost all people are susceptible to the disease. Prevention of osteochondrosis, as well as observation by specialists, will help your spine stay healthy longer.