Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is the gradual destruction of spinal structures due to degenerative changes. This is a chronic disease that occupies a prominent place among pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Experienced neurologists are involved in your treatment.

About the disease

Almost one in three people who see a neurologist with back pain is diagnosed with osteochondrosis. It affects around 90% of elderly people. The risk group includes the older generation, as well as people with occupational hazards - loaders, drivers, office workers, salespeople, hairdressers.

The average age of the first manifestations of the disease is 30 to 35 years. When exposed to unfavorable factors, painful symptoms appear even earlier.

In osteochondrosis of the spine, the bone structure, intervertebral cartilage and discs in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar region are damaged. As a result, muscle tension increases and depreciation processes worsen. The intervertebral discs wear and shift, causing stiffness and pain. Without treatment, degenerative-dystrophic changes progress, nerve roots are violated and the functioning of internal organs is disturbed. In the last stages of osteochondrosis, partial or complete loss of working capacity occurs due to limited mobility.

At the first signs of illness, you should immediately contact a specialized specialist - a neurologist. The doctor will prescribe a comprehensive examination and develop effective treatment tactics.

Types of osteochondrosis

Depending on the location, osteochondrosis is of three types: cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral. In almost 50% of cases, the disease affects the spinal structures in the lumbar region. This is due to the fact that the lower back experiences maximum static loads.

Cervical osteochondrosis is in second place in terms of prevalence. Damage to the cervical vertebrae can be caused by injuries, repetitive physical work, as well as sedentary work, in which it is necessary to keep the head in the same position for a long time.

Sedentary work and constant positioning of the neck even cause a hernia in the cervical region.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is less common. A sedentary lifestyle also contributes to its development. Its main symptom is chest pain, which can easily be confused with a heart attack.

The diagnosis of "common osteochondrosis" is made when all departments are involved in the pathological process.

Osteochondrosis symptoms

The clinical picture depends on the affected part of the spine. The common symptom for all is pain. It can be sharp, like a "lumbago", or dull and painful. The pain intensifies with movement, physical activity and prolonged stay in the same position. In the later stages, as well as during exacerbations of the disease, it is constant and interferes with sleep and a normal lifestyle.

In addition to pain, the patient feels tension and stiffness in the back muscles, heaviness and discomfort. When nerve endings are compressed, pain radiates to neighboring areas of the body (along the nerve), accompanied by numbness, tingling, and a "pins and needles under the skin" sensation.

The symptoms of osteochondrosis can be confused with other diseases, which is why self-diagnosis and self-medication should not be practiced. In a professional clinic, patients will receive maximum attention and will be examined using new high-precision equipment, which will allow for an accurate diagnosis.

Cervical region

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine has the richest clinical picture. The disease may begin with periodic pain in the neck, a feeling of stiffness or discomfort after being in a position in front of the computer, after sleeping. When the nerves and vessels of the spine are involved in the process, the pain spreads to the back of the head, collarbone, shoulder and sometimes even the chest. The pain becomes more intense when tilting or turning the head, taking deep breaths and also at night while sleeping. The sensitivity of the shoulder blades, shoulders and arms is impaired, tingling and chills appear.

In the later stages, when the intervertebral discs become significantly thinner, lose their fixation and become excessively mobile, the following symptoms may occur:

• stiffness when turning the neck;
• acute sharp pain in the spine;
• headache, accompanied by compression and pulsation in the head, noise and ringing in the ears, hearing and visual disturbances;
• nausea;
• lack of coordination;
• dizziness attacks.

Vegetovascular symptoms are a consequence of vertebral artery syndrome, which develops due to spasm or compression of the artery involved in supplying blood to the brain.

Acute pain, loss of sensitivity of the skin in the neck, stiffness of the vertebrae occurs when the fibrous ring ruptures, formation of intervertebral hernias and osteophytes.

Thoracic region

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine "mimics" heart pain, as does intercostal neuralgia. The pain is usually worse at night. It may be moderate and increase gradually or occur suddenly and sharply.

With osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, doctors first rule out the cardiac nature of the pain. For this purpose, differential diagnosis is carried out.

Painful sensations are localized in the area between the shoulder blades or ribs and intensify when raising the arms, bending, taking a deep breath or exhaling. They radiate to the heart, kidney and stomach area. In the thoracic region, patients notice a feeling of stiffness or pressure, numbness, "pins and needles" in the chest, tingling in the neck, arms and abdomen.

lumbosacral region

In lumbosacral osteochondrosis, the pain is localized in the lower back, radiates to the pelvic region, groin and down the leg. It is accompanied by muscle tension, tingling and numbness. Muscle cramps and rupture of the pelvic organs are possible.

Referred lumbosacral pain syndrome can be caused by pathologies of the genitourinary system and gastrointestinal tract. Clinical specialists must take this fact into account when making a diagnosis.

Reasons

Damage to intervertebral cartilage most often occurs due to excessive loads, including static loads, as well as spinal injuries caused by a fall, blow, sudden movement or jumping from a height.

Increased stress, as a result of which degenerative changes occur, includes lifting weights, uneven distribution of the load on the back muscles and prolonged stay in one, especially uncomfortable, position. The most sensitive to overload are the intervertebral cartilaginous discs, which perform the function of absorbing shocks and providing movement of the spine.

The development of osteochondrosis is promoted by:

• overweight;
• age-related changes;
• heredity;
• flat feet;
• inflammatory or autoimmune damage to cartilage;
• birth defects;
• vertebral instability;
• poor posture;
• poor nutrition;
• hypothermia;
• sedentary lifestyle, which provokes weakness of the muscular corset, deterioration of nutrition and blood supply to the intervertebral joints;
• metabolic disorders;
• deficiency of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D;
• hormonal and endocrine disorders.

Under the influence of provoking factors, metabolic processes, hydration and blood circulation in the intervertebral discs deteriorate. As a result, cracks appear in the fibrous ring. The height of the discs decreases, the mobility of the spine is impaired, and reflex tension and spasm develop. Protrusions and hernias form. The disc protrudes, irritating the spinal roots, causing pain and other discomfort.

Advantages of treatment in a modern clinic 

A modern clinic where osteochondrosis is treated has a number of advantages:

1. Experienced specialists in the field of neurology who regularly improve their skills.
2. New diagnostic equipment that increases the accuracy of osteochondrosis diagnosis by up to 100%.
3. The use of minimally invasive technologies in the surgical treatment of osteochondrosis.
4. A 24-hour hospital where patients can stay after spine surgery.
5. Individual rehabilitation programs that allow you to restore full motor activity.
6. High level of service and affordable prices for osteochondrosis treatment in Moscow.
7. Application of proprietary methods with proven effectiveness. Focus on non-surgical treatment, taking into account the patient's age and the presence of concomitant diseases.
8. Qualified assistance for complications of osteochondrosis - protrusions, pinched nerves, herniated discs, osteophytes, limited mobility of the vertebrae.

In a modern clinic, all advanced methods of treating osteochondrosis are available to the patient: medications, physiotherapeutic procedures, manual therapy, osteopathy, reflexology, therapeutic blocks, surgical interventions.

Diagnosis

There are many causes of back pain. To understand what caused the pain, a consultation with a neurologist is necessary. At the initial consultation, the doctor examines the patient's complaints and medical history to identify risk factors, performs a neurological examination, and assesses range of motion. During examination and palpation of the spine, the doctor can detect curvatures, muscle spasms, trigger points and other pathological changes.

Additionally, the doctor prescribes instrumental diagnostic methods: radiography, computed tomography or MRI of the spine. In case of exacerbation of cervical osteochondrosis, Dopplerography of the vessels of the head and neck, MRI of the head may be required, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - electrocardiography or ultrasound of the heart, lumbar spine - ultrasound of the kidneys and pelvic organs. Additionally, blood and urine tests may be prescribed.

To exclude spinal cord diseases, including cancer, myelography is performed. This is a radiographic examination method that uses a contrast agent.

Based on the results obtained during the diagnosis, the neurologist draws up an individual treatment regimen.

Treatment

Treatment of osteochondrosis depends on the affected part of the spine and the stage of the disease. At the initial stage, drug therapy, physiotherapy, lifestyle correction, weight and physical activity are sufficient. If the structure of the discs and the mobility of the joints are significantly impaired, disc protrusion and other complications occur, additional physiotherapeutic procedures may be prescribed, including therapeutic massage, spinal traction and manual therapy. In advanced cases, when osteochondrosis does not respond to conservative therapy, surgery is performed.

Conservative

Conservative treatment methods stop the development of osteochondrosis, help eliminate chronic back pain and other unpleasant symptoms, and improve spinal mobility. These include:

1. Drug therapy. Prescription medications that reduce pain and inflammation, relax back muscles, strengthen cartilage and bone tissue.
2. Physiotherapeutic procedures. They improve blood circulation and nutrition of intervertebral discs, promote tissue restoration, relax the muscles of the neck, lower back and thoracic region. For osteochondrosis, magnetic therapy, UHF, shock waves, vacuum therapy, laser therapy, acupuncture, massage and electrical stimulation are effective. The massage course includes 10-15 sessions, depending on the severity of changes in the vertebral structures.
3. Manual therapy. The procedure takes place painlessly. Allows you to get rid of muscle tension, pain, restore mobility and anatomy of the vertebrae.
4. Therapeutic exercise. It is an important component of treatment. Sets of exercises selected by a physiotherapist strengthen the back corset, correct posture, improve blood circulation, eliminate pain and improve mobility of the neck and other parts of the spine.
5. Therapeutic blockade. Used when severe pain occurs that cannot be relieved with analgesics. The high effectiveness of the procedure is justified by the paravertebral administration of drugs - into the tissue close to the intervertebral nerve roots.
6. Spinal traction. Effective for osteochondrosis with disc protrusion and intervertebral hernia and for radicular syndrome.

The best results are obtained with complex treatments - a combination of several methods that enhance each other's effects.

Surgical

The main purpose of the operation is to eliminate compression of the nerve roots, spinal cord, arteries, etc. During surgery, a hernia may be removed, part or all of the intervertebral disc. The operation is performed with minimal risks, as minimally invasive technologies and modern visualization systems are used, allowing the surgical field to be viewed in real time and in high resolution.

Laser puncture discectomy

It is a new microsurgical method used in the treatment of osteochondrosis, mainly of the cervical spine. The affected intervertebral disc is evaporated with a laser. The light guide is powered by a needle up to 1. 2 mm in diameter, which is inserted into the affected disc. Laser exposure lasts 40 to 60 minutes. The pain syndrome disappears immediately after the procedure.

Laser puncture discectomy is used only in the initial stages of osteochondrosis, in the absence of signs of vertebral instability.

Prevention

Osteochondrosis of any part of the spine can be prevented if preventive recommendations are constantly followed. Moderate loads, maintaining correct posture and therapeutic exercises for the back are required. You cannot lift weights, sit or stand for a long time in the same position.

If you have back problems, you should regularly visit an orthopedist or neurologist.

Rehabilitation

The duration of restoration of spinal function depends on the type and volume of the intervention. Bed rest is recommended in the first few days after surgery, requiring gentle physical activity and the use of orthopedic back braces. Physiotherapy exercises selected by a doctor allow you to gradually return to your normal lifestyle.