Osteochondrosis refers to degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the tissue of the spine and joints with progression. The more neglected the disease, the more pronounced the symptoms that affect the person's lifestyle and ability to work. When the structure of the spine is damaged, a person has such problems, for example, how to live with pain, how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis.
In practice, pathology of various parts of the spine, coccyx and joints often occurs. Previously, only people over 25 years of age were sick, but recently there has been a tendency to "rejuvenate" the disease. Symptoms of juvenile or youthful osteochondrosis have become common.
The reasons
The causes of osteochondrosis can be different and depend on which part of the body is damaged. After any injury, the normal structure of the spine and tailbone is disturbed, and the process of salt deposition and destruction of the disc structure begins. Overweight people, sedentary lifestyles and athletes are susceptible to this.
During pregnancy, the risk of illness increases due to weight gain and lack of vitamins. Lymph nodes also enlarge during pregnancy. The heart, other organs suffer from this, and in combination with osteochondrosis, it is very dangerous. The load for the shoulder, knee, neck and coccyx increases.
With age, almost every person suffers from osteochondrosis of the spine. Professions associated with a long stay in a sitting position, monotonous movements pose a threat to the neck, lower back and tailbone. The following conditions affect the occurrence of the disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- the course of pregnancy;
- endocrine, infectious diseases;
- poisoning or exposure to drugs, toxic and chemical substances;
- eating disorder, lifestyle.
In addition to the spine, there are often cases of osteochondrosis of the joints. Pathology is dangerous for the knee, elbow, shoulder joint, coccyx. When considering osteochondrosis of the knee joint, it is worth paying attention to such causes as obesity or malnutrition, a lifestyle associated with excessive leg loads, as well as injuries or inflammatory processes in the body.
The muscles of the legs withstand huge loads, unlike the joints, so the latter suffer more often.
Symptoms of damage to the elbow joint can be observed along with the current osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic region. Often the pathology is combined with arthritis or arthrosis. Injuries and constant overexertion of the elbow joint are predisposing factors.
Due to the constant movements of the neck and head, as well as the hands, over time, the joints begin to wear out, salt deposits appear. This leads to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and shoulder joint. The causes may be congenital, from compression of the nerve plexuses of the shoulder region, or from external factors. Injury to the neck, shoulder blades or hands cause osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the spinal column
Osteochondrosis of the spine occurs in different departments. The most common is the pathology of the lumbar. The disease is associated with severe stress on the lower back and is dangerous by the threat of pinching the sciatic nerve and the formation of hernias.
There are symptoms such as aching pain, aggravated at night or during exercise. It is difficult to find the right position in sleep and at rest. There may be "lumbago" of the lower back or impaired sensitivity of the legs, especially the knee joint, coccyx. When exacerbated, the lymph nodes become inflamed.
The coccyx area is often affected, making it difficult to sit properly. If the sciatic nerve in the coccyx area is inflamed, then the pain descends to the lower extremities, buttocks, up to the knee joint. To ease the pain, it is better for a person to take a comfortable position and drink antispasmodics, relaxants or analgesics.
During pregnancy, osteochondrosis of the lower back sometimes makes it difficult to give birth normally. Then you need to do the operation. Antispasmodics are taken during this period carefully so as not to harm the fetus.
In diseases of the spine, doctors use the identification of specific symptoms for diagnosis - the symptom of Lasegue. For a neuropathologist, Lasegue's symptom is important for determining the extent of the disease.
Lasegue's symptom is always performed when a neurological disorder is suspected. With the Lasegue method, the doctor slowly raises the leg in a straightened state up, not allowing the knee to bend. The Lasegue sign is tested in three phases by flexing and extending the leg. Based on the appearance of pain in certain postures. During pregnancy, the Lasegue method is not performed.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is often combined with damage to the shoulder and elbow joints. There are pains in the neck, head, spread to the shoulder blades and arms, pains in the heart appear. They are bought with antispasmodics. There is noise in the ears, vision deteriorates.
The pain is aggravated by movement of the neck, head or shoulder blade. In the acute period, lymph nodes may be affected, muscle pain in the neck and elbow joint may occur. Then urgent treatment is needed to prevent complications in the heart, brain, blood vessels.
The patient is constantly tormented by the question: how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis and correctly position your head on the pillow?
This is especially true for women during pregnancy. Only antispasmodics and treatment help.
Pathology of the thoracic region is less common. Symptoms of pain in the heart, shoulder area, shoulder girdle, neck are recorded. The lymph nodes are inflamed, sometimes because of the pain it is impossible to raise your hands, take a deep breath. Often osteochondrosis is mistaken for pain in the heart. If you take antispasmodics, pain in the muscles, the heart goes away. If the disease is in an advanced stage, then antispasmodics do not always help and the following symptoms join:
- violation of the sensitivity of the legs;
- increased pain at night, with movement, breathing;
- burning sensation, itching in the heart, scapular area, along the ribs.
Often in practice, osteochondrosis affects several parts of the spine. Especially unpleasant are the symptoms during pregnancy, when it is undesirable to take antispasmodics. Rescues in time started treatment.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes conducting hardware studies, questioning and examining the patient. It is important to pay attention to such specific signs as Lasegue's symptom. To exclude pathology in the heart and other internal organs, ultrasound, ECG is performed. X-rays, MRI, CT are performed to examine the spine.
Treatment for osteochondrosis should be long and complex. Treatment is divided into symptomatic therapy and rehabilitation. Against pain, muscle relaxants, NSAIDs, analgesics, antispasmodics are prescribed. Muscle relaxants can not only relieve pain for a long time, but also improve mobility. Relaxants are of peripheral and central action. Which drug to choose, the doctor decides.
Treatment includes a combination of physiotherapy, massage, reflexology. Treatment allows manual therapy, banks, ointments and folk methods.
Osteochondrosis of the joints
Often there are diseases of the elbow, knee, shoulder joint. Osteochondrosis of the knee joint often occurs in pregnant women and is accompanied by pain and limited mobility. The elbow joint is characterized by such symptoms as pain during movement, swelling, deformity. Incorrectly chosen posture of the hand brings discomfort and pain. In the affected area, the lymph nodes become inflamed. Moreover, the lymph nodes can hurt not only in the affected area, but also capture the adjacent lymph nodes.
To correctly diagnose, X-ray, CT, MRI are used, they conduct an examination, palpation, check the Lasegue symptom. To restore the function of muscles and joints, complex treatment is necessary. You need to do massage, ERT, take antispasmodics, NSAIDs, relaxants. In advanced cases, an operation is performed. But first, conservative treatment is always prescribed, especially during pregnancy.