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Osteochondrosis: treatment, symptoms, signs, causes

osteochondrosis of the spinal column

Here is another pathology that is thought to be age-related, but often occurs without any association with age.

For example, this fact: more than half of patients with osteochondrosis worldwide noticed the first signs of its development at the age of 25. Yes, no one thought that old age could come so quickly. . . some people inSeeing the years as ripe, some people are used to referring to them almost as adolescence, and for some, 60 doesn't seem to be a reason to feel unwell. But of course everyone would agree that agingThe process of, to put it mildly, doesn't age yet.

what's the problem? In fact, it is multifaceted and may seem complicated to a layman. But in reality there is nothing complicated in it. In the section of the herniated spinal disc, we said that its content is water with proteins dissolved in it, right? So, all osteochondrosis, with its speed, severity, and healing estimations, is, in fact, built on these proteins. What do we mean? Now everything will become clear.

The proteins in the "filling" for the intervertebral discs are called glycosaminoglycans. Maybe we don't need to remember that name.

But we definitely need to remember that the main purpose of glycoseminated decans is to retain water. Also, with the possibility of its gradual release under pressure. In other words, the jelly-like texture of the "filler" for the discThe forming proteins are made so that the water is comfortably heated inside it, and under load it is slowly squeezed out.

Of course, water itself is too liquid to do something like this. This is why the body synthesizes special proteins - unique! Analogue of food gelling agents such as carrageenan, gums, starch.

In order for the contents of the intervertebral disc (and this, we remember, is the basis of its cushioning properties) to stay in order, we need it throughout our life:

  • Monitor what we eat, to avoid deficiencies of vital substances, especially proteins;
  • Avoid muscle spasms in the back;
  • maintain the active circulation of cerebrospinal fluid and blood in it to normalize metabolic processes in the tissues of the spine;
  • Avoid injury and infection of spinal tissue;
  • Maintain the rate of water-salt metabolism in the body.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis

So, at the very beginning, our back will begin to "tap-dance" to the rhythm of our every movement. However, this crunch can only be heard for quite a while. In the future, there will come a period of sensations - areas affected by osteochondrosisin constant stretching, aching pain and discomfort. They make themselves felt at rest, and with movement they gradually increase. In particular, patients note that the joints affected by the procedure tire faster than othersAccordingly, as the feeling of fatigue intensifies, the pain of pain also increases.

But this, of course, is far from the end of the process, although it is no longer the beginning. After all, the condition of the disc does not improve, and as the condition progresses, the condition of the cartilage deteriorates very rapidly. Over time, crunches automatically become painful.

Each such sound is now accompanied by bursts of dull pain in the place of its manifestation and in any of the surrounding tissues. It appears to spread as a broad painful wave from a point in the joint – exactly resonanceaccording to the rules of.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

If we have a problem with the cervical spine, we may feel:

  • Headache resistant to standard treatment - dull, aching, throbbing, continuous, evenly distributed throughout the head. This coincides with an increase in neck pain and is similar to a headache that appears with an increase in blood pressure. As a rule, with osteochondrosis, too much pressure leads to a headache;
  • Inexplicable attacks of dizziness throughout the day: accompanied by sudden changes in posture, shaking of the head, shaking. Often, dizziness coincides with the rhythm of breathing - a dangerous "lightness" in the head appears with each inhalation and exhalationDisappears during relapse. Such symptomatology means that at this time the intracranial pressure is reduced, and not excessive, as in the previous example. As a rule, these two symptoms alternate with cervical osteochondrosisare seen in all patients, occur periodically and last for several days. Sometimes one replaces the other, sometimes they are separated by periods of relative pressure;
  • Pain in the neck, especially at the base of the skull. In the early stages, it is expressed by vague discomfort during the day and a crunch when turning the head. But try to touch the spinal column or massage the muscles in this areaThis causes pain and stiffness in the muscle fibers. Subsequently, the pain is permanent, aggravated by turning the head to the side, leaning towards the chest, after sleeping on a high or very soft pillow;
  • Pain in the chest (such as under the ribs), below the scapula, with a return to the shoulder and upper chest muscles. They resemble an attack of angina pectoris or coronary artery disease as much as pain in a herniated disc, but are more permanent. For example, in diseases of the cardiovascular system, the pain rarely lasts more than a few hours and depends little on the respiratory rhythm. With osteochondrosis, it is constant, with each breath. grows with, lasts for a period of several days or more;
  • "Lumbago" along the entire line of the shoulder, often under the tips of the fingers. As a rule, depending on the degree of progression of osteochondrosis, the patient suffers from short-term "lumbago" for the shoulder joint at the same time, or numbness and prolonged acute "lumgo" occurs with the entire inner surface. arm. As for the infringement of the small neurons of the shoulder, it does not feel itself at rest, but increases rapidly with the first movements of the head after prolonged immobility. with "electrical discharge". And radiation to the hand is often accompanied by spasm of the muscles of the wrist and a violation of the sensitivity of the ring finger, as well as with the little finger;
  • Very often, although in less than half of cases of cervical osteochondrosis, the sensitivity and mobility of the tongue are reduced. Patients may be unable to distinguish certain tastes (cannot recognize bitter, sour, sweet, but of mixed tastes)Easy to name). Some people report a change in spoken language, especially when it is necessary to speak quickly and/or clearly.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis:

  • Pain, chest pain, "somewhere under the ribs. " Unlike coronary heart disease, it is difficult for the patient to more accurately determine its center. Such pain largely depends on the rhythm of breathing - it is inspiration and coughAnd for all the uncertainty of its location in the chest, each such attack is clearly echoed in the causal vertebra/vertebrae. In 99 out of 100 cases, it is the displaced vertebra that causes the most pain;
  • disturbances in the sensitivity and motility of the pulmonary diaphragm - the appearance of a feeling of incomplete inhalation, the inability to lower exhalation;
  • Pain and discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract - especially often the stomach, upper intestines, liver and pancreas. Pain can range from mild, inaudible discomfort to pronounced cramps. Therefore, osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is often referred to as sluggish gastritis, enteritis, colitis, Mistaken for chronic pancreatitis.

Lumbar osteochondrosis symptoms

Lumbar osteochondrosis, also called lumbago (so we know it's the same), is the most common form of the disease.

With that we will have:

  • Pain in the lower back, aggravated by bending over, from sitting or standing for a long time - in general, almost any movement of the body. As a rule, it occurs in the presence of the habit of sleeping on the back, with straight legsAccompanying disturbs the sick at night. It is reduced only by the habit of staying for a long time or sleeping in the fetal position. ie by putting the knees to the chest. Patients with lumbar osteochondrosis quickly and willingly move from a soft bedswitch to a hard bed, as it is easier to maintain the fetal position on a hard floor throughout the night;
  • Lumbar stiffness syndrome. This refers to: the inability to bend down quickly after standing or sitting for a long time, associated not so much with pain as with a general decrease in muscle extension and stiffness of the bones in the affected area; rapid forward movement in the lumbar region when sitting or standing, this position of the vertebrae is associated with an acute infringement of nerve endings;
  • Penetration of the sciatic nerve (the main nerve trunk for the legs, entering the spinal cord in the coccyx region). With osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region, it is related to a number of sciatica scenarios, although not the only one. Many other forms exist. Regardless, sciatica is often a painful complication of osteochondrosis.

treatment of osteochondrosis

We will have to be treated for a long time, so first we will improve the quality of life of our own back.

  1. Let's remove the feather bed and feather pillow from the bed. Let's leave out a main mattress, get an orthopedic pillow - dense, low, with a certain depression in the middle. Typically, these pillows are made of padding polyester. So, you need to make sure that it is not too soft - now it is harmful to us. And the chances that it "blows up", turning into a flat pancake in a week, is very high. Roller along the edgesThe thickness of the skull should be equal to the length of our neck from the base of the skull to the 7th vertebra, which extends when the head is tilted. If it is less than 1. 5-2 cm, the better.
  2. We will buy another not too thick pillow or use our old feather in a new one. From now on, when we sleep in the fetal position, we should always use this pillow under the thighs or buttocks, as well as under the upper kneeLet's experiment with the optimal height, width and position of the pillow - the right thing, placed in the right place, will make the pain disappear instantly, with the most noticeable focus in this particular position.
  3. In case of osteochondrosis it is strictly forbidden to lift and carry any object that weighs more than 10 kg. Therefore any training should be accompanied by our own or with minimal weight. With any type of osteochondrosis, it is better for usThat we should not do it on our own, but go to the gym. It is in the gym, because cardio (treadmill, bike, skiing) and fitness are not the same. From the same, need to work with correct body position. The best for such purposes is a simulator - a steel frame, in which we and the weight being lifted, can move only in dimensions limited by the structureIs.
  4. After any exertion (including regular upright walking), we should do a light massage of the back, stretching it gently. Heat can be applied especially to the places of acute back pain - provided that the focus of the pain is the postureDo not move along with the changes, of course. And since migration of pain in osteochondrosis is a frequent phenomenon, sometimes a simple "five-minute" on a mat such as a Lipco applicator is five times longer than any heating padThe fold becomes more effective. After all, we can't really buy a warming mattress instead! In addition, in hot weather, heating such a large area runs the risk of ending up with heatstroke . . .

If we understand all this, take it into account and make sure that we do not forget, we will organize the activation of metabolic processes for our spine. As already mentioned, you should not exercise at home with osteochondrosisShould do. More precisely, one should not get carried away by it - it is better to work with a professional orthopedist or a trainer where there are devices that can compensate for the strength deficiencies that arise in our spine. But since, alas, not everyone has such an opportunity, we still dare to recommend some warm-up exercises with a low probability of complications.

There is only one rule here that should not be broken. namely: if we decided to take everything into our own hands before starting training, we definitely need to order or buy a special medical bandage or corset. A bandage for reliable fixation of the exact part of the back where a pathological process occurs. You should work in this only by supporting the problem part of the spine, which is currently lacking.

therefore:

  1. We will sit close to the table, the lid of which rests on our stomach, on a chair with a narrow and high back. We should support the back and back of the head firmly. Let us lean with our whole back to the back of the chair, Extend your arms, sliding them along the lid to the maximum. It is also necessary to bend the shoulder blades forward slightly, but for this it is forbidden to tear off the back of the head or the back from the support. The line on which our palms meet thisAn object weighing more than 10 kg should be placed on that line. Its shape and surface should be comfortable, from then on we have to move this object with our palms a little above from the bottom and without lifting it from the surface towards ourselves. You have to pull it. You do not have to move it with your hands as much as with the effort of the scapular muscles, which are now trying to return the protruding forearms to their normal position. As you can see, we are able to adapt to our needs. Talking about the "domestic" and slightly adjusted rowing machine. More precisely, its modification, a load of the load on itself. Provides a simple stretch. In any case, this exercise develops the muscles of the middle of the back well - between the shoulder blades as well as the lats. When we pull the load towards us, it is pushed backshould be transferred and the traction should be repeated 15 more times.
  2. Let's stand close to the already familiar table and rest our pelvic bones on the edge of the lid. Let us put our hands behind our heads, dropping our heads so that our foreheads rest on the table. At the same time, round the backShouldn't be done - we'll round it up later. For now, our task is to do 15 bends on the table, with a straight back and hands behind the head. Correct body position means that in the future if we fall on the tableWe will be our whole face, not the forehead. Therefore, on top of the lid itself, we should avoid relying on it.
  3. We use one of the exercises detailed in the section on the prevention of diseases of the back. namely: we are lying on the floor, arms extended above our heads, straight legs bent together. One from the floor (anyalso) raise the arm and at the same time, simultaneously extend the opposite leg. Of course, you should not try to throw your leg over your head, but pull it back with a kicking motion. Then lower the limbs, Count to three in mind and repeat with another pair of "arms-opposite legs. " In total, you'll need to do 20 reps for both pairs.
  4. We sit on the floor, with our backs to the wall, our legs extended in front of us. Do not rest our backs on the wall too tightly and rest our palms securely on the floor. is to lift off the floor. It is better to keep the legs straight while maintaining a sitting position. If this does not work with straight lines, you can try squeezing them to your chest. In this case, you shouldKeep in mind that changing the position of the legs will shift the center of gravity and require you to lean your head against the wall. Repeat 5-7 times.
  5. We will get a special belt for lifting - wide, made of thick skin that perfectly fixes the lower back. In mild forms of osteochondrosis, it is quite possible to leave only the bandage that fixes the diseased area. In the bathroomTake a 15-liter basin or bucket that we use in the field. We fill it with water so that it does not splash on the sides, we take it to any empty space. Water pots should be placed on the floor, Legs should be slightly apart and bent inwards. Knees for stability, move the body slightly forward. We should get a very fuzzy posture - lean forward slightly, with noticeable rear buttocksAlong, but a uniform line of the spine in the upper torso. This is completely normal and correct from the point of view of the anatomy of the human body. When the desired position is reached, we should still sit until we round the backUnable to grasp the handle of the pelvis without doing it. After that, the pelvis should be raised, with a synchronized movement to the knees and lower backstraighten.

As mentioned above, it is easier for most people to intuitively understand self-massage, relying on the sensations in the process. And we recommend that you regularly (daily) have a massage with one another. Conduct independent sessions, find out the anatomical features of your back - with all its deformities and proportions. Likewise, there are no two identical spins in the world. So no masseuse or doctor will study this organ better than us. Meanwhile, the individual description of the structure of our back can be extremely important here. Especially if only one part of the spine is affected or its damage includes "growing conditions" in the sense of curvature, hernias, deformities.

Nevertheless, here are some recommendations related to the specifics of massage of different departments. In fact, in fact they are known only to specialists and are often omitted in the popular presentation of massage techniques. Therefore:

With cervical osteochondrosis, the procedure affects both types of muscles equally often and strongly. Therefore, a regular, although intensive massage does not always give patients the relief they expected. After all, the shoulder girdle is located throughout the body. are the largest, and the skeletal muscles are nowhere so deeply "hidden".

And for complete satisfaction with the result, we will take into account a number of provisions in which it will be easier to achieve them:

  • When massaging the painful deltoid muscles, it is easier to "reach" their outer edge by pressing a finger from above into the depression between the clavicle and the "bump" of the shoulder joint. You should not press your finger too hard -There. In addition to the muscles, the tendon ligaments are also located. However, when we intertwine the stiff head of the muscle, we will begin to more accurately distinguish between its soft fibers and the springy ligamentous apparatus. SpecificallyIt is necessary to work with a soft head, kneading it with twisting movements. Then you can go up and continue to work from above, 2-3 cm along the line of the shoulder;
  • The inner edge of the deltoid (the most problematic shoulder muscle in everyday life) is attached to the 7th vertebra. It acts stronger than the others when we, as they say, tilt our head to our chestBut under the head of the deltoid muscle are several skeletal muscles, and it completely covers them from manipulation from above. Meanwhile, the lion's share of osteochondrosis "discharge" passes through their fibers. So we have toYou need to lie on your back on a soft surface.

The central part of the back will give us less problems with the number of muscle fibers. However, their design is much more complicated - in the sense that here most of the muscle heads are not attached to the sides of the bones, but, as it were, under themThis is especially true for the shoulder blade, in which all the muscles in the middle are attached to one side, but none of these attachments are located directly on the side or top of the bone:

  • If we are tormented by burning or shooting pains "somewhere under the scapula", it does not matter whether they are observed at the top, bottom or even in the middle of the scapula. We need to lie down so that the massaging arm hangs freely from the bed and lies on the floor. The working hand is always opposite, and it must be tightly wound from above, behind the head. Uncomfortable, But effective. It is better to massage the middle part under the shoulder blades with a hard massager - we will hardly reach with our fingers, and therefore we will not be able to press. To increase the area we reach, a pillow can be placed under the elbow of the working arm;
  • How to Extend the Upper Corners of the Latissimus Dorsi By placing your hand on top, an acrobatic genius won't even do. The lats are the muscles that bodybuilders and physically well-developed individuals normally exercise in the classic V of the back from the torso to the shoulders. -Able to demonstrate the extension of the shape. It is this that the rowing machine is well developed - pulling heavy objects to the chest. They are located strictly in the upper back and on the sides. of the arms and backThe value of developed lats for lower back strength cannot be overestimated, so they need not only to be developed, but also to monitor their condition. Also, most people do not follow them at all, and in ordinary life they are used very rarely. For lattes massage, it is better to use the position lying on your side. In this case the legs should be pulled closer to the stomach for stability, the working arm should be placed on the bedshould be pulled forward with the forearm and brought under the forearm being massaged. For convenience, the masseurThe hand to be shuffled does not need to be lowered to the side - it is more appropriate to lower it even to the bed at chest level. Then the lower edge of the scapula will be pulled behind it, and the lats immediately attach to it.

The lumbar region has its own anatomical features. Firstly, a single row of small skeletal muscles runs along the spine here, running when flexing the vertebrae. Secondly, several muscles coming from above in this space are attached to the sacrumThat is, connecting the lower back to the upper - in fact, allows you to maintain and maintain the rate of curvature of the S-shaped back throughout life. By the way, for this reason, in the middle of the backWeakness (scoliosis) is often accompanied by curvature of the lower back - lordosis and kyphosis. The main muscle of the lumbar spine is the lats. Without his health, we would not be able to see a normal S-shaped bend in the form of our ears. And the sacrum and tailbone will constantly hurt us even without osteochondrosis.

Let's start:

  • It should be remembered that the latissimus dorsi muscle is strongly oblique: its upper edge is attached to the lower part of the scapula, and the lower one - as far as the sacral bones, that is, to the coccyx. Therefore, if directly from the armpit we put our fingers. Or go downhill with a massage, we'll be intertwining a muscle that's equally related to both the back and the abdomen—the oblique abdominal muscle. It's not the lats, which connect the lower back to the shoulders- The oblique muscle is responsible for tilting the body strictly to the side. Most successfully to get out of this tilt. He suffers greatly from scoliosis and pelvic lesions. For us the main part of this is the lower part, near the femurThere are two heads with which it is attached to the tibial joint. One is located closer to the buttock (merges with its uppermost lobe), and the other goes a little further in the groin area. So if we call it the pelvicTake as a habit to massage the entire area around the bulge of bones, then it certainly will not be superfluous;
  • If for some reason (often due to pain) we decide to warm up the buttocks, it is better to lie on our side and bring our knees to the chest. This position makes all the gluteal muscles available for massage. For the first time, the buttocks may seem very painful to us and as if made entirely of tendon tissue - they would be so dense to the touch. In fact, they should not be so - it is a spasm. This is the upper lobe and the middle partis particularly noticeable inThis is what we have to achieve without seeing.