Osteochondrosis is a widespread and rapidly "rejuvenating" disease that affects large numbers of people around the world.
These are degenerative changes of a dystrophic nature in the bony tissues of the spine, its joints, cartilage, ligaments.
For a while, the person may not notice the disease, but the signs of osteochondrosis are felt very quickly: the spine acquires pathological mobility, infringes on nerve endings, blood vessels and even adjacent tissues, causing severe pain.
If the disease starts, the rapidly growing bone processes further damage nerve roots as well as blood vessels.
Symptoms are largely due to the location of the disease.
The main symptoms of the disease
Typically, all symptoms are categorized into four major groups and associated both with the affected area and with the individual characteristics of each patient's spine. It should be borne in mind that the manifestations of the disease can increase significantly if the person is excessively cold, has a cold, is under severe stress, abuses alcohol, eats irregularly or inappropriately, and also does not normalize physical activity.
- Symptoms of static depend on a change in the shape of each vertebra, which leads to a deterioration of posture: a person acquires scoliosis, or even kyphosis with lordosis, usually cannot straighten their back and turn their head freely. The spine loses its flexibility.
- Neurological symptoms represent damage to nervous tissue, in which not only the strength of muscle contractions is disturbed, but also a violation of skin sensitivity. The roots of the spine are compressed, there is pain, numbness, tingling and a chill in the affected area. If the disease starts, it can cause limb paresis (partial loss of ability to move or even complete paralysis).
- Vascular symptoms develop for two reasons. Firstly, due to the compression of arteries with veins (especially for cervical osteochondrosis, when the arteries supplying the brain are compressed), which leads to a noticeable deterioration in 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 occurs. The result is spasms of many vessels, even ischemia.
- Trophic symptoms occur when the aforementioned neurological manifestations overlap with vascular symptoms. As a result, tissue nutrition is greatly worsened, which leads to the appearance of ulcers.
If osteochondrosis of the neck develops
Signs of osteochondrosis vary depending on the specific area of the body affected. Cervical osteochondrosis is a dangerous and insidious enemy. First, there's a headache, in which pain relievers just don't work.
Painful sensations can affect the back of the head, the temples, intensify after a person is in a calm state without movement, and not only the head itself, but also the skin hurts. So painful sensations in the arms and shoulders add to the problem, the sensitivity of these areas is disturbed.
If you do nothing, the case could end up with paralysis of the hands.
In addition to pain, cervical osteochondrosis is accompanied by other symptoms:
- Nausea, unpleasant noises, unexpected dizziness.
- Deterioration of vision, flies in front of the eyes (all this is a consequence of a violation of proper nutrition and metabolism of the optic system).
- Fainting due to lack of oxygen in the brain, shaky and unsteady gait.
- Hiccups, shortness of breath (if the phrenic nerve is affected), lump in throat.
- Impaired neck mobility, painful sensations, 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.
Often an injury to the cervical spine is confused with stroke, hypertension, a problem in Organs otolaryngological organs and even neurasthenia.
If the thoracic region is affected
What are the symptoms that accompany the disease, if it is in the thoracic region, it is easy to imagine if you remember which organs can be affected. This department is relatively unaffected, it is difficult to recognize the disease, as 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 be confused with angina pectoris, intestinal or kidney colic, or liver problems. So, it all depends on the affected department:
- If the upper thoracic segment is affected, the person will have trouble swallowing, experience a lump in the throat, and cough.
- The defeat of the mid-chest region causes pain similar to the manifestation of gastritis, peptic ulcers, heart problems. Arrhythmia appears, blood pressure increases.
- If the lower thoracic segment suffers, bowel function is interrupted, the pain is similar to manifestations of appendicitis.
- Painful sensations in the heart, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, an unpleasant feeling of cold, burning or tingling in the chest and abdomen can be added to this.
The main problem is not that osteochondrosis can be confused for a long time with a heart attack, angina pectoris, abdominal diseases or pneumonia, but that because of the pain the person tries to breathe more accurately, therefore, a vicious circle is avoided is obtained: respiratory system pathology, chronic respiratory failure, heart damage.
If the lower back is affected
The lower back suffers the most, as it is the one who receives the greatest loads not only during movements, any movements, but also when lifting heavy objects. The problem of the lower back, in the first place, is felt with painful sensations not only in the lower back, but also in the lower extremities, leading to numbness of the skin of the legs. Then additional symptoms appear:
- If the motor fibers are affected then paresis can occur, the case will end in paralysis of the legs.
- The defeat of the nerves causes not only pain in the lumbar spine, but also severe low back pain after any load.
- If the pelvic functions are affected and the blood supply to the pelvic organs is impaired, the person will suffer not only pain, but also difficulties in urinating (in the case of men, also with an erection), due to fecal incontinence.
Most of the time, physical activity, sudden movements, hypothermia become the trigger for the onset of pain. The roots are compressed, the intervertebral discs are displaced. The person begins to suffer from sharp, dull or, conversely, sharp pains.
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
Whatever the areas affected by osteochondrosis, it is always a very serious disease that requires the active participation and intervention of physicians. Despite several signs, its main manifestation is intense pain, difficulty in walking. The painful sensations are "disguised" as manifestations of other illnesses, so most of the time people go to cardiologists, therapists, gastroenterologists, suspecting that they have been diagnosed with problems with the heart, digestive tract or other organs.
It is necessary to contact the neurologist first, and it is advisable to do so before the onset of pain, characteristic only of osteochondrosis, and even more so of other signs (such as paresis and paralysis). The doctor will, first of all, guarantee the elimination of pain (prescribe various analgesics), improve metabolic processes in all tissues (both cartilage and muscle, and in the nervous), eliminate hernias if they already form.
In addition to medications, massages, mandatory physical education and various physiotherapeutic measures are prescribed to the patient.