Osteochondrosis is a widespread, rapidly "rejuvenating" disease that affects large numbers of people around the world.
These are degenerative changes of a dystrophic nature in the bone tissues of the spine, its joints, cartilage and ligaments.
For a while, a person may not notice the disease, but the signs of osteochondrosis make themselves felt quite quickly: the spine acquires pathological mobility, affects nerve endings, blood vessels and even adjacent tissues, causing a Intense pain.
If the disease begins, rapidly growing bone processes further damage nerve roots and blood vessels.
Symptoms are largely due to the location of the disease.
The main symptoms of the disease
Usually, all symptoms are classified into four large groups and are associated both with the affected area and with the individual characteristics of the spine of each patient. It should be borne in mind that the manifestations of the disease can markedly increase if a person becomes too cold, has a cold, is under severe stress, abuses alcohol, eats irregularly or improperly, and also does not normalize physical activity.
- Static symptoms depend on a change in the shape of each vertebra, which leads to a deterioration in posture: a person acquires scoliosis, or even kyphosis with lordosis, normally he cannot straighten his back and turn his head freely. The spine loses its flexibility.
- Neurological symptoms represent damage to the nervous tissue, in which not only the force of muscle contractions is disturbed, but also a violation of the sensitivity of the skin. The roots of the spine are compressed, there is pain, numbness, tingling, chilliness in the affected area. If the disease begins, it can produce paresis of the extremities (partial loss of movement ability or even complete paralysis).
- Vascular symptoms develop for two reasons. First of all, due to compression of the arteries with veins (especially for cervical osteochondrosis, when the arteries supplying the brain are compressed), which leads to a noticeable deterioration of the blood supply to the brain, the appearance of nausea, dizziness and lack of oxygen. in certain areas. Second, due to irritation of the nerve fibers, a change in the state of the sympathetic nervous system develops. The result is spasms of many vessels, even ischemia.
- Trophic symptoms occur when the aforementioned neurological manifestations overlap with vascular symptoms. As a result, the nutrition of the tissues becomes much worse, which leads to the appearance of ulcers.
If osteochondrosis of the neck develops.
The signs of osteochondrosis vary depending on the specific area of the body affected. Cervical osteochondrosis is a dangerous and insidious enemy. First, a headache appears, in which painkillers simply do not work.
Painful sensations can affect the back of the head, temples, intensify after a person is in a calm state without movement, and not only the head itself, but also the skin hurts. Then the painful sensations in the arms and shoulders join the problem, the sensitivity of these areas is disturbed.
If you do nothing, the case may end with paralysis of the hands.
In addition to pain, cervical osteochondrosis is accompanied by other symptoms:
- Nausea, unpleasant noises, unexpected dizziness.
- Impaired vision, flies in front of the eyes (all this is a consequence of a violation of proper nutrition and metabolism in the optical system).
- Fainting due to lack of oxygen in the brain, unsteady and unsteady gait.
- Hiccups, shortness of breath (if the phrenic nerve is affected), lump in the throat.
- Altered neck mobility, painful sensations in it, constant muscle tension.
- Trophic changes in the skin of the hands.
- Constant weakness, lack of strength and fatigue, frequent irritability, feeling hot or, conversely, chills.
Very often, a cervical spine injury is mistaken for strokes, hypertension, a problem with the ENT organs, and even neurasthenia.
If the thoracic region is affected
The symptoms that accompany the disease, if it is in the thoracic region, it is easy to imagine if you remember which organs may be affected. This department is affected relatively rarely, it is difficult to recognize the disease, since the signs are easily confused with the manifestations of other problems.
First, there is pain between the shoulder blades or in the chest, in the upper abdomen. It can involve internal pain and may be mistaken for angina pectoris, intestinal or kidney cramps, or liver problems. So it all depends on the affected department:
- If the upper thoracic segment is affected, the person experiences swallowing problems, feels a lump in the throat, and coughs.
- The defeat of the middle region of the chest causes pain similar to the manifestation of gastritis, peptic ulcer, heart problems. Arrhythmia appears, blood pressure rises.
- If the lower thoracic segment suffers, the intestinal function is disturbed, the pain is similar to the manifestations of appendicitis.
- To this can be added painful sensations in the heart, increased heartbeat, shortness of breath, an unpleasant feeling of cold, burning or tingling in the chest and abdomen.
The main problem is not that osteochondrosis can be confused with a heart attack, angina pectoris, abdominal diseases or pneumonia for a long time, but because of pain, a person tries to breathe more accurately, a circle is avoided as a result vicious. you get: pathology of the respiratory system, chronic respiratory failure, heart damage.
If the lower back is affected
The lumbar region suffers most often, because it is he who receives the greatest loads not only during movements, any movement, but also when lifting heavy objects. The problem with the lumbar region, first of all, makes itself felt with painful sensations not only in the lower back, but also in the lower extremities, which causes numbness of the skin of the legs. Then additional symptoms appear:
- If the motor fibers are affected, then paresis may develop, the case will end in paralysis of the legs.
- The defeat of the nerves not only produces pain in the lumbar spine, but also severe lumbago after any load.
- If the pelvic functions are affected and the blood supply to the pelvic organs is affected, a person will suffer not only from pain, but also from difficulties in urinating (in the case of men, also with an erection), from incontinence fecal
Most often, physical activity, sudden movements, hypothermia become the trigger for the appearance of pain. The roots are compressed, the intervertebral discs are displaced. The person begins to suffer from a dull, dull, or, conversely, sharp pain.
Painful sensations often affect not only the lower back, but also the buttocks, thighs, legs, and even the feet. In advanced cases, the volume of the lower extremities may decrease.
conclusion
Regardless of the areas affected by osteochondrosis, it is always a very serious disease that requires the active participation and intervention of doctors. Despite various signs, its main manifestation is severe pain, difficulty moving. Painful sensations are "disguised" as manifestations of other diseases, so most people first turn to cardiologists, therapists, gastroenterologists, suspecting that they are diagnosed with problems with the heart, digestive tract or other organs.
It is necessary to contact a neurologist first, and it is advisable to do so before the pains appear, which are characteristic only of osteochondrosis, and even more so of other signs (such as paresis and paralysis). The doctor, first of all, will ensure the elimination of pain (he will prescribe various painkillers), improve metabolic processes in all tissues (both cartilaginous and muscular, and in the nervous), eliminate hernias if they have already formed.
In addition to drugs, the patient is prescribed massages, compulsory physical education and various physiotherapy measures.