Osteochondrosis occurs as a result of a complex of dystrophic disorders in the cartilage of the joints during which the spinal discs are often affected. Cartilaginous structures, which are intervertebral discs, provide flexibility and mobility to the human spine. With osteochondrosis, dystrophy processes occur in the aforementioned discs, which begin to lose their flexibility and elasticity, and the disc itself becomes flat. The distance between them is reduced, while pinching the nerve endings and vessels that extend from the spinal cord, while causing pain. The area of \u200b\u200bcompression of the neurovascular node begins to swell, which leads to increased pain and greater infringement.

During osteochondrosis, muscles and most of the internal organs are also involved in this pathological process.. This is due to the fact that during the infringement of the neurovascular bundle, blood circulation and innervation of muscles and internal organs are disrupted. For example, cervical osteochondrosis causes headaches, dizziness, impaired vision and tinnitus..

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine causes difficulty in breathing and cardiac function, and osteochondrosis in the lumbar spine causes disturbances in the digestive and urinary systems, and also reduces potency. Depending on the location of osteochondrosis, it is divided into three types: cervical, thoracic and lumbar. This disease is quite "

Who is susceptible to osteochondrosis The most vulnerable category of people is those who have impaired metabolism in the body, as well as people with hormonal and vascular disorders. This is due to the fact that such diseases cause malnutrition of the discs.. If timely measures are not taken, then in this case, the edges of the intervertebral disc, which is compacted, will protrude beyond the spinal column, thereby injuring the neurovascular bundle. And because of this there is a risk of vertebral hernia..

The main cause of osteochondrosis is the uneven distribution of loads on the spine, which leads to the fact that the cartilage tissue changes in places with excessive pressure. The nature of the disease depends on the degree, level and nature of disc damage.

The disease can be triggered by:.

Spine injuries;

Weakened back muscles;

Slouching and curvature of the spine;

Lifting weights;

Long stay in an uncomfortable position;

Metabolic disorders;

Lack of trace elements and vitamins such as manganese, magnesium, zinc and vitamins D and F;

Hereditary predisposition;

Physical overload;

Sedentary lifestyle;

Bad ecology;

Hypothermia;

Flat feet;

Asymmetrical work of the muscles of the spine;

Nervous strain and stressful situations;

Overloads of the spine as a result of wearing uncomfortable shoes for walking, as well as long walking in high heels and stress on the spine during pregnancy.

It should be remembered that any organism is designed to lead an active lifestyle.. Movement is essential for the spine from an early age. But the fact of overload is fraught with dangerous consequences for health.. When carrying heavy loads, jumping and falling, the intervertebral discs are subjected to maximum stress. It is then that the intervertebral discs are injured, and the cartilage tissue cannot be restored.. A destroyed intervertebral disc stops damping, thereby making the spine less flexible. Lumbosacral sciatica in 95% of cases causes osteochondrosis.

The groups of people who are most at risk of developing osteochondrosis are:.

People who lead an immobile or sedentary lifestyle;

People whose work involves carrying or lifting weights. This category includes builders, movers, handymen, as well as representatives of some sports: gymnasts, weightlifters and strength gymnasts.;

Overweight people;

People who have scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

A person's mood, as well as the fact of his perception of the world around him, can also cause the development of osteochondrosis. Such people often adopt a defensive stance, which consists of hunched shoulders and a lowered head, and this posture forms an incorrect posture that deforms the skeleton.. And in this case, there is a possibility of osteochondrosis..

The type of osteochondrosis that is diagnosed least often is thoracic osteochondrosis, during which the intervertebral discs of the thoracic region are also destroyed, but this happens extremely rarely, since the thoracic spine is less mobile than the rest, due to the fact that it is rigidly fixed with the help of ribs. But, despite this, it can occur in people suffering from scoliosis, as well as in those who do not monitor their correct posture, namely: often stooped and hunched over. At the same time, the thoracic vertebrae bend, which provokes the onset of the disease. It can also develop from an unsuccessful turn with the whole body, or just a quick movement..

The cervical spine is " With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, they are compressed, thereby disrupting the blood circulation in the brain and provoking headaches and dizziness.

And osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine arises from a sedentary lifestyle and varying degrees of severity of back injuries. It is accompanied by severe pain, and its consequences can be very dangerous to health.. Often, the symptoms of osteochondrosis are attributed to non-existent "

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis In 80 cases out of 100, back pain is caused by osteochondrosis. If, in addition to the disease, there is also herniated intervertebral discs, then the pain is given to the limbs, head and internal organs.

During the most common lumbar osteochondrosis, pain occurs in the lower back and pelvis, during the cervical - in the head and shoulders, and with chest pain - the pain is given to the internal organs.

It is in such cases that a person thinks that his heart aches, but in reality it hurts a nerve that has been squeezed by the intervertebral discs. In addition to pain, a person feels muscle numbness and overstrain.

If the blood vessels that feed the brain are compressed, then in this case there is a headache, tinnitus, a person is dizzy, double vision, nausea and vomiting are felt.

With chest osteochondrosis, the symptoms are as follows:.

Severe vertebral pain in the area of \u200b\u200bthe shoulder blades;

Pain during deep inhalation / exhalation;

Continuous and pressing pain in the region of the heart;

Pain when raising an arm;

It is difficult for a person to tilt the body to either side;

Feeling of goosebumps and partial numbness.

Chest osteochondrosis is so dangerous that it is often expressed in a camouflaged form and it is very difficult to identify it, since the symptoms are very similar to other diseases. A person begins to be treated for angina pectoris, respiratory diseases, pneumonia, but not for osteochondrosis.

You can distinguish between pain in neuralgia and pain in the heart in a similar way: with neuralgia, the pain is punctate and stabbing, and you can point your finger at it. When a heart attack occurs, the pain spreads throughout the chest, and itself is dull and pressing.

During cervical osteochondrosis, the occipital part of the head, as well as the parietal-temporal region, constantly hurts. When the neck moves, it intensifies, and reaches its peak in the morning. This type of osteochondrosis causes the so-called vertebral artery syndrome, which is accompanied by noise in the head, dizziness, " All this combined with excruciating throbbing headache.. Hands and shoulders also hurt.

Symptoms for cervical osteochondrosis are:.

Dizziness, sometimes reaching unconsciousness;

Blood pressure surges;

Blurred vision;

Ringing in the ears and hearing loss;

Hoarse voice;

Tooth decay;

Snoring, which indicates that the neck muscles are constantly tense;

Decline in the sensitivity of the skin and muscles of the arms, face and neck;

Symptoms for lumbar osteochondrosis are:.

Back muscles are constantly tense;

Dull back pain that sometimes radiates to the leg, which occurs during exercise;

Inability to straighten the back due to increasing pain;

Goosebumps, as well as chilliness and tingling in the feet;

Spasm of arteries in the feet;

Change in male sexual function;

Failure of the menstrual cycle in women;

Varicose veins disease.

Diagnosis of osteochondrosis occurs in stages. To begin with, the doctor interviews the patient for possible factors that provoked osteochondrosis, as well as the presence of a patient's genetic predisposition and abnormalities in the development of the spine.. During the survey, the patient's posture is visually assessed, muscle strength is studied, and palpation and percussion (palpation and percussion, respectively) of the spine are performed.

According to the results of the examination, the doctor may prescribe the following examination methods:.

X-ray. This method makes it possible to find out the state of the vertebrae and indirectly identify the state of the intervertebral discs.

CT scan. This method will allow you to determine the rupture of disc contours, the degree of compression of the nerves and the degree of deformation of the meninges. This procedure is prescribed after an X-ray to obtain information about a specific disc..

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). She is appointed in special difficult cases.

Doppler ultrasound (USDG). This method studies the flow of blood to the brain.

Consequences of osteochondrosis: Osteochondrosis can lead to diseases such as protrusion of the intervertebral disc, disc herniation and sciatica.. Thoracic osteochondrosis untreated in time will invariably lead to intercostal neuralgia, and lumbar osteochondrosis is fraught with sciatica.

Alternative methods of treatment To prevent osteochondrosis, you need to move more, do exercises that will strengthen and make the spine more flexible. It is necessary to constantly monitor your posture, sleep on a hard mattress, as a soft mattress warms the discs and makes them more movable. In addition, you need to do exercises that will strengthen your back muscles.. Eat well, and avoid a monotonous spine.

To reduce pain, you can take a regular rolling pin for rolling out the dough and easily tap it on the shoulders, shoulder blades and spine.. It is important to do this exercise regularly, several times a day..

You also need to lie on the floor and try to " The next day, it will likely hurt to repeat this exercise, but this is how it should be. Do not forget to do this exercise regularly..

You can try to cure osteochondrosis using external methods of treatment. To do this, apply ointment to the damaged area of \u200b\u200bthe body, rub it in for 5 minutes, and then wrap it up well. The procedure should be repeated 3 times a day..

You can put a compress. To do this, lightly rub the ointment over the skin, then cover with plastic wrap and a cloth made of wool, and fix in this form.

Gymnastics for people with osteochondrosis Exercise 1 Tilt your head forward, pressing on the forehead with fingers intertwined. Then press your fingers on the back of the head, and then also press on both temples alternately. In this exercise, the head “fights” against the pressure of the arms, and the arms against the pressure of the head.. Each movement lasts 10 seconds.

Exercise 2 Place the ends of 4 fingers of both hands on the forehead, gently press on the skin with the whole palm and begin to rub the skin of the forehead for forty seconds. The same can be done with the temporal lobe and the earlobe.. This exercise increases blood circulation in areas rich in active points..

Exercise 3 This exercise will increase blood circulation in the jugular veins, thereby improving the nutrition of the brain.. Sit up straight, slowly take your head back. Taking your head back, it is better to help this process with your hand, pressing from the bottom of the chin. Stay in this position for about one minute. 10 seconds is enough for children.

Exercise 4 This exercise improves the function of the nerve plexus, which is located in the neck.. Sit up straight with your back straight. Tilt your head so that your chin can touch your chest.

Put the intertwined fingers on the back of the head and push up and forward to raise the back of the head. Sit in this position for a minute, then repeat again after fifteen minutes.

Exercise 5 Raise your shoulders in such a way, as if trying to reach your ears, after 15 seconds lower. Now you need to alternate the shoulders, first one, then another, and also for 15 seconds each. After finishing the exercises, rub the neck area with your palms..

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