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 trend to "rejuvenate" the disease. Symptoms of juvenile or juvenile 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, coccyx is disturbed, and the process of salt deposition and destruction of the disc structure begins. Overweight people, sedentary lifestyles, and athletes are all susceptible to this.
During pregnancy, the risk of disease increases due to weight gain and lack of vitamins. Lymph nodes are also enlarged 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 all people suffer 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 onset of the disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- the course of pregnancy;
- endocrine, infectious diseases;
- poisoning or exposure to drugs, toxic substances and chemicals;
- 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 loads on the legs, as well as injuries or inflammatory processes in the body.
The leg muscles bear large loads, unlike the joints, which is why the latter suffer more often.
Symptoms of damage to the elbow joint can be observed in conjunction 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 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 can be congenital, due to compression of the nerve plexuses in the shoulder region, or due to external factors. Injuries to the neck, shoulder blades, or hands cause osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the spine
Osteochondrosis of the spine occurs in different departments. The most common is the pathology of the lower back. The disease is associated with severe stress on the lower back and is dangerous because of the threat of pinching the sciatic nerve and the formation of hernias.
There are symptoms such as stabbing pain, which is aggravated at night or during exercise. It is difficult to find the correct position in sleep and 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 swell.
The coccyx area is often affected, making it difficult to sit properly. If the sciatic nerve in the coccyx area is inflamed, the pain descends to the lower extremities, buttocks and knee joint. To relieve pain, it is better for a person to take a comfortable position and take antispasmodics, relaxants or painkillers.
During pregnancy, osteochondrosis of the lower back sometimes makes normal delivery difficult. Then you have to do the operation. Antispasmodics are taken during this period with care so as not to harm the fetus.
In diseases of the spine, doctors use the identification of specific symptoms for diagnosis - the Lasegue symptom. For a neuropathologist, the Lasegue symptom is important in determining the extent of the disease.
The Lasegue symptom is always performed when a neurological disorder is suspected. With the Lasegue method, the doctor slowly raises the leg in an upright state, without allowing the knee to bend. Lasegue's sign is tested in three phases by flexing and extending the leg. Based on the appearance of pain in certain postures. The Lasegue method is not performed during pregnancy.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is often combined with injuries of the shoulder and elbow joints. There are pains in the neck, head, spread to the shoulder blades and arms, pains appear in the heart. 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, the lymph nodes may be affected, there may be muscle pain in the neck and elbow joint. Then urgent treatment is needed to prevent complications in the heart, brain and blood vessels.
The patient is constantly tormented by the question: how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis and correctly place the 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, and neck are recorded. The lymph nodes are swollen, sometimes due to pain it is impossible to raise your hands, take a deep breath. Often osteochondrosis is confused with pain in the heart. If you take antispasmodics, pain in the muscles, the heart goes away. If the disease is at an advanced stage, 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 various parts of the spine. Symptoms during pregnancy are especially unpleasant, when it is undesirable to take antispasmodics. Rescues on 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 the Lasegue symptom. To exclude pathology in the heart and other internal organs, ultrasound, ECG are performed. X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans are done to examine the spine.
Treatment of 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. The treatment allows manual therapy, banks, ointments and folk methods.
osteochondrosis of the joints
Often there are diseases of the elbow, knee and 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 swell. Also, the lymph nodes can ache not only in the affected area, but also capture the adjacent lymph nodes.
To correctly diagnose, X-rays, CT, MRI are used, they are examined, palpated, and Lasegue's symptom is checked. 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.