A therapist with 50 years of experience once commented: "When I started working, there was not a single young patient with local osteochondrosis. And today almost every second a person in their 30s has this problem."
Sedentary lifestyle, metabolic disorders, spinal injuries, overweight, unbalanced diet, being in an uncomfortable position for a long time, stress, hypothermia, smoking are modern paths to chronic degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs and then the vertebrae themselves.This is osteonecrosis (from the ancient Greek word bone - bone, chondros - cartilage).
Spondylosis is a disease caused by salt deposition in the spine
Wrong.The intervertebral disc consists of a nucleus pulposus, a fibrous annulus, and hyaline cartilage that covers it above and below.When these elements are destroyed, the balance between the load on the spine and the ability to withstand it is broken.As a result, the vertebrae begin to compress neighboring muscle and nerve tissue and grow along the edges, forming the so-called.osteoporosis, creating a characteristic crunching sound when moving (patients misunderstand it as "salt deposition").
If your back and neck hurt, this is just osteoarthritis
Osteonecrosis is not the only cause of spinal pain.Patients often make this diagnosis themselves.However, in addition to this disease belonging to the group of degenerative spinal dystrophy, there are also degenerative joint diseases and osteoporosis and can only be distinguished after a comprehensive examination.
Degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in 30–50% of cases aged 30–40 years, in 75–100% of people over 40 years old.
These pathological processes account for 20.4% of the overall structure of disability due to diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Walking for a long time is not good for the spine
Opposite.Physical activity has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the spine: maintains muscle tone, maintains the mobility of the vertebrae, stimulates blood circulation and metabolism.Physical inactivity and prolonged, especially uncomfortable, positions are “guilty” causes for the progression of the disease.
It's another matter that if an overweight person walks a lot and carries heavy objects, the spine will be put under more stress.
Flat feet contribute to the development of osteochondrosis
That's right.The arch of the foot, like the physiological curves of the spine, is designed to absorb shock loads when walking, running and jumping.If the foot is not adequately protected when interacting with the support, then the spine is subjected to additional stress, significantly impairing the nutrition and function of the structures and accelerating the development of the disease.
Back pain is the only symptom of the disease
Not really.As a rule, patients complain of constant back pain, often accompanied by numbness and aching sensations in the limbs.Over time, if left untreated, the muscles in the limbs atrophy, the joints in the spine become less flexible and muscle spasms appear.
With cervical spondylosis (see diagram), your arms and head may hurt.The so-called vertebral artery syndrome (noises in the head, dizziness, flashing “spots” and blobs before the eyes, throbbing headaches).This acute condition occurs due to arterial spasm as a reaction to the effects of bone growth, as well as due to disc herniation and intervertebral osteoarthritis, which are a reflex reaction to stimulation of spinal receptors.
If a person has coronary or cardiovascular disease, vertebral artery syndrome will aggravate the course.
When osteochondrosis occurs in the chest area, there will be pain in the chest (feeling like there is a stake there) - in the area of the heart and other internal organs;with lumbosacral lesions - in the lower back (irradiation to the sacrum, lower limbs, sometimes to the pelvic organs).
If complications of osteoarthritis develop (disc herniation, bone growth, spondylolisthesis, spondylosis), then damage to the nerve roots is noted - the pain becomes aching, sensitivity worsens, weakness appears in the innervated muscles, and the severity of reflexes decreases.
Osteonecrosis can cause dysfunction of many organs and tissues
That's right.Hippocrates also taught that all human diseases are related to the spine, since this is a kind of foundation of the body.
With osteonecrosis, the risk of circulatory disorders in the cerebellum, trunk and occipital regions of the brain increases.The headache constantly appears - first in the back of the head, then spreads to the crown and temples, intensifies when moving the neck (more often in the morning).Elderly people can lose consciousness if they turn their head suddenly.It is preceded by dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision and hearing, nausea and vomiting.
Sometimes there is a feeling of pain in the heart area - prolonged, constant, depressing.With cervical spondylosis, especially in old age, soft tissues often change - they become denser.
Degenerative processes in the spine can cause obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract, disruption of the bronchopulmonary system, leading to inflammation and other diseases.
Vegetative-vascular dystonia, intercostal neuralgia - consequences of osteonecrosis
Not really.Osteonecrosis may be one of the reasons (not the only reason) for the development of these diseases.As the intervertebral discs wear away and bone spurs develop, the intervertebral foramen and vertebral canals become narrowed and deformed, leading to compromise of various structures.In particular, when the nerve root is compressed, signs of intercostal neuralgia will appear, and when the vertebral artery is compressed, symptoms similar to autonomic-vascular dystonia will appear.
Osteonecrosis cannot be cured
Indeed, the structure of the spine has undergone degenerative changes that cannot be fully restored.However, full comprehensive treatment can eliminate the symptoms of the disease, stop the development of pathology and avoid complications.
For disc problems, warming the painful areas is very helpful
Wrong.Temperature changes, especially extreme changes (e.g., a person just starting to go to the bathroom), can aggravate the condition.Moderate heat treatment procedures are used in complex treatment but must be prescribed by a doctor.
If you make circular movements with your head during cervical spondylosis, your health will deteriorate
That's right.These exercises are best done for prevention - they help maintain range of motion in the joints between the vertebrae.With severe osteochondrosis, careless circular movements can aggravate vertebral artery syndrome, radiculopathy, etc.
Cannot be treated without non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Not really.During remission or when the pain is not severe, conservative therapy (physiological, acupressure and manual) is performed;Physical therapy and traction techniques are used.Drug treatment is indicated during exacerbations and is aimed at relieving pain, reducing the inflammatory process and accelerating metabolism (intramuscular or intravenous injection).
Among the most effective drugs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), prescribed to reduce inflammation and relieve pain (meloxicam, diclofenac, ibuprofen);for severe pain, novocaine blockade is used;steroid drugs (epidural injection, intramuscular injection);NSAIDs in the form of ointments, gels and creams that relieve pain and irritation (diclofenac, fastum gel, nise, Capsicam, Finalgon);muscle relaxants - to reduce muscle spasms (mydocalm, sirdalud);Vitamin B - to improve metabolic processes in the spine (B1, B6, B12).
Osteoarthritis can lead to serious consequences
Yes.Due to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots, osteoarthritis can cause paralysis. If the vertebral artery is compressed, it will lead to loss of consciousness.
Spine "stretching" exercises help improve your condition
Extension or traction allows you to increase the space between the vertebrae, relieve pain and restore the anatomically correct shape of the spine.However, individual loads must be calculated accurately.“Too much” can lead to reflex contraction of the paraspinal muscles and worsen the condition.
Only an orthopedic surgeon has the authority to treat osteoarthritis.
Wrong.Most patients are observed by a neurologist, and in cases of significant pathology, by a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic-vertebral physician.
Your local doctor may also prescribe drug treatment to relieve exacerbations.