Osteochondrosis is a common disease of the spine. With its development, degeneration and dystrophy of the discs located between the vertebrae occur, then the vertebral tissue is affected.
Osteochondrosis is characterized by a pain syndrome in the cervical, spine and lumbar regions. In a neglected form, painful sensations appear in the upper and lower extremities, chest, and shoulders. Then muscle atrophy begins, their sensitivity disappears, dysfunction of organs adjacent to the painful area occurs: quite often adjacent organs are compressed and transplanted. If timely treatment is not started, the disease progresses and can lead to disability.
Causes of the development of osteochondrosis
The most common reasons for the development of osteochondrosis are severe body hypothermia, excessive physical effort, sharp bends that cause vertebral displacement.
The main cause of this disease is considered to be uneven tension in the spinal column. As a result, in the area of the spine, which experiences strong physical stress, deformation of the cartilage structure is formed. Factors in the development of osteochondrosis are also:
- incorrect body position (bent);
- weak back muscles;
- rachiocampsis;
- carrying and lifting heavy objects;
- being in an uncomfortable position for a long time;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- genetic predisposition;
- metabolic disorders, vitamin and mineral deficiencies;
- exposure to infectious diseases;
- negative effects of chemicals;
- stressful situations, nervous disorders;
- body hypothermia;
- hormonal changes;
- spinal cord injuries;
- high intensity sports;
- sudden changes in body posture.
Prerequisites for the appearance of osteochondrosis may be adverse climatic factors that negatively affect people prone to meteorological dependence.
Signs and symptoms of osteochondrosis during remission
During remission of osteochondrosis, pain of a mild nature occurs only in an uncomfortable body position. The pain is aggravated by bending, jumping, sharp turns of the body or head, suddenly getting out of bed. Usually it’s worth changing positions, and the pain stops.
During the remission period, there were no symptoms of the disease associated with root irritation.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis during exacerbation
During disease exacerbation, symptoms differ from each other depending on the site of inflammation. With the deterioration of the cervical area, the sensitivity of the skin on the neck and crown is significantly reduced, the disease is accompanied by acute pain in the cervical zone. In addition, pain syndrome is felt at the fingertips, descending through the shoulder joint. When squeezing the vertebral arteries, the following symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur:
- nausea;
- dizziness;
- flies and dark in the eyes;
- severe pain in the head;
- tinnitus, hearing loss.
Symptoms of inflammatory disease in the lumbar region arise from compression of the spinal cord roots. Depending on the area of squeezing, signs of deterioration are distinguished:
- pain in the legs and groin;
- reduces sensitivity in the legs and groin;
- shots in the lower back;
- stool and urinary incontinence may occur;
- in women, menstrual irregularities;
- in men, decreased potency;
- muscle atrophy.
Signs of worsening osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine are often confused with disease of the heart, gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs. This symptom is also called pretending. During an exacerbation of thoracic osteochondrosis, patients often believe that they have exacerbated gastritis, peptic ulcer, or angina pectoris.
The main signs of inflammation are severe pain in the back, sides, chest area. The pain syndrome persists for a long time, and appears abruptly and becomes stronger during movement.
In addition, coughing and difficulty breathing may occur. There is often a heartache, pain in the arms.
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis inflammation
At the onset of the disease, you can do without medication. It is enough to use an applicator, exercise therapy, reduce the load on the spine. If symptoms worsen, medication should be used.
Treatment of inflammation with drugs aims to eliminate inflammatory processes, pain and improve metabolic processes. Since osteochondrosis is a systemic disease that adversely affects many organs, its treatment should be comprehensive. For the treatment of osteochondrosis during exacerbations, the following medications are recommended:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Relieves pain and inflammation. Used in the form of ointments, creams, tablets, injections.
- Vasodilator. The drug is a vasodilator. Muscle stress and pain lead to vasoconstriction.
- Relax your muscles. Medications work to relax the muscles. They relax and relax muscles, normalize blood circulation, relieve pain.
- Chondroprotectors. Medications should be taken for a long time. Positive results were felt within six months.
- Sedative. With prolonged pain, a state of depression may occur. Valerian, motherwort, antidepressants are used as sedatives.
- Vitamin and mineral complex. It is very important to take vitamin B, which restores the sensitivity of nerve endings.
- For general strengthening of the body, a multivitamin complex is prescribed.