Osteochondrosis and regular back pain affect 60-80% of the population over the age of 30. Untreated osteochondrosis reduces the quality of life and can lead to disability or disability, so it is important to recognize it in the early stages of development and seek medical help.
In this article, we will talk about osteochondrosis, its symptoms and diagnostic methods, and how to distinguish osteochondrosis from other diseases that manifest with back pain and what to do if there are signs of osteochondrosis of the spine.
What is spinal osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease in which the nucleus of the intervertebral disc is gradually destroyed. Over time, damage to the intervertebral disc involves other structures in the spine in the pathological process and leads to disorders of the musculoskeletal system and nervous system. Osteochondrosis is also characterized by premature aging or pathology of the joint device, such as as a result of damage to the vertebrae, such as after injury.
The development of osteochondrosis is influenced by a number of factors, which is why researchers have systematized the causes that explain the origin of the disease:
- invitive - inflammatory processes and other damage to the spine lead to premature aging of cartilage, for example as a result of a sedentary lifestyle;
- degenerative - abnormalities of the intervertebral discs are due to metabolic failure, such as unbalanced diet and alcohol consumption;
- dysmetabolic - osteochondrosis results from malnutrition of the intervertebral cartilage as the number of blood vessels that provide nutrients to the blood decreases with age.
The development of osteochondrosis is a cascade in which one pathological process initiates another. Thus, for example, due to age-related changes and a decrease in the number of vessels in the disc, nutrition is disrupted, leading to failure of biochemical processes and damage to the intervertebral disc.
As degenerative and dystrophic changes develop in the spine, muscle tone and nerve roots exiting the spinal cord through the natural openings in the vertebrae are interrupted. This leads to the consequences of the nervous and locomotor system.
Symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease with periodic exacerbations caused by injuries, a sedentary lifestyle, heavy lifting, hypothermia, and psycho-emotional stress. In the nucleus of the intervertebral discs, the most common and characteristic symptom of dystrophic disorders is regularly painful back pain in different segments: the neck, chest, and lower back.
Osteopondrosis has two types of symptoms: reflex and compression. The symptoms of the reflex are due to irritation of the roots of the spinal cord. They manifest as cramps or vasodilation, muscle twitching, and weakening of muscle strength. Compression symptoms develop due to compression of the nerves (more often with a spinal hernia) and manifest as loss of sensation in the affected segment (neck, arms, or lower back).
Osteochondrosis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- tension and pain in the muscles of the neck and back;
- curvature of the spine to the side, backwards or forwards;
- violation of sensitivity and regulation of the nervous system: feeling of climbing on the skin, fluctuations of heat and cold on the skin of the back and limbs, numbness of the arms or legs;
- weakening of the muscular strength of the limbs;
- frequent urination - up to 10-12 times a day.
Where can you give osteochondrosis?
Pain in osteochondrosis is not just localized in the back. They extend to the upper and lower limbs. In foot:
- bottom;
- the back and sides of the thighs;
- lower leg and inner ankle;
- the back of the legs;
- toes;
- corner.
The pain can also spread to the arms:
- deltoid muscle;
- the outer edge of the hand, all the way to the fingers;
- the back of the hand;
- three middle fingers;
- ring finger and little finger (rare).
How is osteochondrosis diagnosed?
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is based on survey, physical examination, and instrumental examination methods. The specific test methods will be determined during the consultation.
The physician begins the diagnosis using a history: identifying the probable causes of back pain, determining the location and duration of pain, identifying the presence of concomitant pathologies such as allergies, congenital diseases, and drug intolerance. He then continues to check. The physical examination is performed while standing or sitting. The doctor can detect the curvature of the spine, assess muscle strength and reflexes, and look at the color of the skin. To detail the picture of the disease, it is necessary to consult with related specialists: neurologist, neurosurgeon, oncologist, rheumatologist and phthisiatrician.
A neurologist will diagnose osteochondrosis if:
- regular painful back pain;
- increased pain when lifting weights, sneezing, coughing;
- numbness and sore joints;
- decreased range of motion in the joints;
- muscle cramp;
- damage to nerve roots;
- changes in spinal radiograph.
Do you need a x-ray of your spine?
Spinal X-ray or spondylography is one of the mandatory examinations for osteochondrosis to help identify structural abnormalities in the spine. Spondylography makes it possible to find abnormalities such as thinning of the intervertebral disc. Typically, in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine, X-rays are taken in two (and sometimes three) projections for detail.
Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging allow the identification of pathologies associated with osteochondrosis: disc herniation and decreased lumen of the spinal canal, protrusion of the intervertebral disc into the spinal canal, and compression of the spinal cord.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
With cervical osteochondrosis of the spine, two main symptoms appear - cervicago and cervicalgia. Cervicago is an acute painful cervical lumbago that appears when the head is moved and due to the muscle tension in the cervical spine. Cervicalgia is a painful and severe pain in the neck. Cervicalgia is accompanied by paresthesia - a violation of sensitivity in the form of numbness and creeping sensation.
As the defeat of the nuclei of the intervertebral discs of the neck progresses, cervical radiculitis appears - painful feelings in the cervix. The pains are characterized by regularity, and they increase from time to time, especially when the head is moved.
This triad — cervicalgia, cervical sciatica, and cervicago — can be complicated by the syndrome of nocturnal dysesthesia of the hand, in which tenderness is perverse. For example, a hot object may feel your fingers cold, but if you shake it with your hands, sensitivity will be restored.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine
For osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, the painful lumbago (dorsalgia) of the chest is most common. Chest pain is more severe when moving the arm, sneezing, coughing, and lifting weights. The most common is the pain belt. In addition, paresthesias often occur in the chest. Damage to the nuclei of the intervertebral discs can sometimes be hidden by a disease of the internal organs, such as gastritis or angina pectoris, as the pain may be localized in the upper abdomen and heart.
How to tell - heart pain or osteochondrosis?
Pectalgic syndrome is pain in the front wall of the chest that can resemble heart pain. Pectalgia can be a sign of both osteochondrosis and heart problems.
However, angina pectoris and heart attack pain are different from pectaltic syndrome of osteochondrosis. The characteristics of angina pectoris and myocardial infarction pain are that they are compressive in nature and extend to the left shoulder blade, arm, and jaw.
In osteochondrosis, pectalgic syndrome does not go beyond the anterior wall of the chest, does not extend to the arm and shoulder blade, and is not accompanied by the fear of death. However, these are just subjective feelings. Therefore, to rule out cardiac pathology, you should see a doctor and perform electrocardiography that reveals arrhythmias or signs of a heart attack.
If the pain starts to spread to the left shoulder blade, arm, jaw, accompanied by a feeling of fear, does not stop taking nitroglycerin and lasts for more than 10-15 minutes, you should call an ambulance.
Why is lumbar spine osteochondrosis dangerous?
With osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, lumbago or lumbodynia most commonly occurs - regular lumbago and painful pain in the lumbar region. Due to constant pain, movements are limited: a person cannot bend down, perform exercises, or lift a heavy object.
Lumbago can surrender. However, they are prone to exacerbations, and each exacerbation indicates further displacement of the intervertebral disc in the spinal canal. As the destruction of the intervertebral disc progresses, lumbosacral radiculitis develops, accompanied by pain in the lower back that radiates to the buttocks and thighs.
What is the difference between osteochondrosis and osteoarthritis?
Osteochondrosis and osteoarthritis (spondylogenous osteoarthritis) belong to the class of musculoskeletal disorders. However, there is a key difference between them: in osteochondrosis, the nucleus of the intervertebral disc is involved, and in osteoarthritis, the intervertebral joints are affected. This makes a difference in symptoms and treatment.
In osteochondrosis, back pain is regular and painful, manifested by sedation and increased movement, and in spondyloarthrosis, the appearance of pain is accompanied by elongation and bending of the spine. In osteoarthritis of the spine, the pain syndrome is usually unilateral and convulsive in nature. Spondylogenic osteoarthritis is characterized by morning stiffness that lasts 30 to 60 minutes.
What is the difference between osteochondrosis and radiculitis?
Radiculitis is an inflammation of the roots of the spinal cord, accompanied by pain along the nerves involved. In fact, these are two different diseases, but sciatica is a common complication of osteochondrosis, so it is often a symptom of osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of sciatica
In osteochondrosis, radiculitis most commonly occurs in the cervical and lumbar spine. Sciatica occurs with pain along the injured nerve, sensory disturbances, and sometimes movement disorders. Sciatica is characterized by pain that extends beyond the back and spreads to the hips, buttocks, lower legs, and feet.
VSD or cervical osteochondrosis?
Vegetovascular dystonia is a syndrome in which the autonomic nervous system is disrupted. VSD is a functional disorder in which there are no structural changes in either the spinal column or the nuclei of the intervertebral discs.
Vegetovascular dystonia is of mental origin - it is a neurosis associated with intrapersonal conflicts or childhood trauma. Externally, VSD and osteochondrosis may be similar to each other: headache, dizziness, pain in the front wall of the chest.
To differentiate between diseases, you need to perform instrumental diagnostics - X-rays of the cervical spine and other parts, computed and magnetic resonance imaging. As a result of diagnosis with VSD, there will be no organic changes unlike osteochondrosis.
Treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia
Vegetovascular dystonia is treated with medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle adjustment. Patients are prescribed symptomatic treatment: sedatives, anti-anxiety drugs, hypnotics, restoratives, and vitamins. The task of psychotherapy with VSD is to teach the patient to regulate negative emotions and increase stress resistance. Lifestyle is also adjusted: you need to balance work and rest, exercise and follow a balanced diet.
Is osteochondrosis treated or not?
Osteochondrosis is curable. The goal of treatment is to eliminate back pain and stiffness, restore muscle tone, prevent or stop neurological complications, and improve a person's standard of living. If you follow your doctor's instructions, the disease can be cured.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home?
Home treatment of osteochondrosis is not recommended. There are several reasons for this:
- at home it is impossible to accurately diagnose osteochondrosis because back pain is of different origins: neurogenic, vascular, viscerogenic (due to diseases of the internal organs), and psychogenic. That is, a person is treating osteochondrosis, but in fact, back pain has occurred due to kidney disease, for example;
- it is impossible to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of treatment without control diagnostics;
- the patient is unable to make an appropriate choice of treatment for himself and there is no evidence of folk remedies, so they are likely to be ineffective and cause side effects.
It can be treated at home in one case - only after consultation with a doctor who diagnoses it correctly, prescribes appropriate treatment and regularly checks the effectiveness of the therapy with an X-ray, CT or MRI.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine
Treatment of osteochondrosis is conservative and surgical. Which method will be the main one depends on the stage of the disease and the neglect of the musculoskeletal system.
Conservative treatment includes medication, exercise, and lifestyle adjustments. Among the drugs, anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxants are prescribed mainly to relieve pain and normalize muscle tone. One of the main conditions for recovery in physiotherapy exercises is early activation, ie walking, running, exercising in the pool or cycling 1-3 days after the pain has stopped. It is important to change the lifestyle to active, as lack of exercise is one of the factors in the development of back pain and the destruction of intervertebral disc nuclei.
Surgical treatment is used when conservative therapy has been ineffective for 2 to 4 weeks and when there are marked structural changes in the spine. What surgery is needed is determined by the surgeon after consulting a neuropathologist and studying the research data. For example, in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, methods are used that relieve the spinal cord from the side of the vertebrae or hernia (discectomy and decompression).
If you experience back pain such as lumbago of the spine or neck, painful chest pain, weakness in the muscles of the arm or leg, discomfort in the skin, and numbness, consult a neurologist for advice.