Osteochondrosis is a degenerative disorder of the articular cartilage tissues, which can be located in any joint, as well as in the intervertebral discs.
The name of the disease comes from the Greek words meaning "bone" and "cartilage."Osteochondrosis develops due to a physiological (that is, normal, provided by nature) weakening of the nutrition of the intervertebral discs.This leads to the fact that cartilage tissue recovers poorly even after minor injuries.In addition, most people, especially those who lead a sedentary lifestyle, unevenly load the back muscles due to prolonged stay in one position at the workplace, talking on the phone for a long time with their ear to their shoulder, carrying bags on one shoulder and using too soft mattresses and pillows.
Causes of osteochondrosis
Almost all middle-aged and older people are at risk of developing spinal osteochondrosis, since the processes that provoke the degeneration of cartilage tissue are completely natural.Risk factors and causes of osteochondrosis in more pronounced forms are:
- flat feet;
- overweight;
- intense physical activity;
- physical inactivity;
- inheritance;
- spinal injuries.
Previously, it was believed that osteochondrosis of the spine manifests itself mainly after the age of 35, but recently patients between the ages of 18 and 20 complain of back pain caused by osteochondrosis.The probable reasons for the prevalence of osteochondrosis among young people are not only a sedentary lifestyle, but also frequent stress and poor posture.
Manifestations of osteochondrosis: pain and limited movement.
There are osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine and osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.But regardless of the type of disease, a person always complains of pain.Where on the back it manifests and whether it radiates to the extremities depends on the location, that is, where on the spine the degenerative processes occurred.Pain can be caused by various reasons, for example, pinched (compressed) nerve roots or herniated intervertebral discs.A herniated disc is a rupture of the annulus fibrosus and protrusion of the nucleus of the disc, that is, the cartilage tissue itself.Intervertebral disc herniations in many cases occur precisely against the background of osteochondrosis.
Men and overweight people suffer from herniated discs much more often than others.
Pain with osteochondrosis can vary not only in intensity, but also in location.With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, pain occurs not only in the neck, but also in the shoulder and radiates to the arm.
Sometimes patients experience headaches and dizziness.
Osteochondrosis in the thoracic spine sometimes "imitates" pain in the heart.It can intensify with several movements, be abrupt or tight.In osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, the pain can radiate to the leg.In the presence of intervertebral disc herniations, numbness of the limb sometimes occurs, as if it were “removed.”Low back pain significantly limits range of motion and can affect the functioning of internal organs.
Intervertebral disc herniations occur mainly in the cervical and lumbar spine, and much less frequently in the thoracic spine.
Complications of osteochondrosis and its treatment.
This spinal disease is associated with pain, so treatment of osteochondrosis is necessary to eliminate or significantly reduce it, thereby increasing the quality of life.The question of how to cure osteochondrosis causes a lot of controversy.The treatment process for osteochondrosis is very long;It is associated with the restoration of spinal structures and the strengthening of back muscles and, if indicated, with the surgical treatment of herniated discs.All this time it is necessary to combat the pain, since the cause of the disease (degenerative phenomena in the articular cartilage tissues) is irreversible and it is possible to mainly affect the surrounding tissues.Improving blood circulation and strengthening the muscle corset is achieved through physiotherapy, massage and swimming.However, the pain, even with diligent and regular exercises and procedures, does not go away immediately.
Complex treatment of osteochondrosis: additional options.
To reduce pain in osteochondrosis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for external and internal use (unfortunately, their long-term use in tablets has significant side effects) and B vitamins are used. B vitamins are called neurotropic because they help restore the functions of nerve fibers.The most important are vitamin B1 (benfotiamine) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine).tablets.Benfotiamine normalizes metabolic processes in damaged nerve roots, and pyridoxine improves the passage of nerve impulses, while both vitamins help reduce pain.B vitamins for osteochondrosis are one of the elements of an integrated therapeutic approach.