Osteochondrosis is a widespread and rapid "rejuvenating" disease that affects many people around the world.
These are degenerative changes of a dystrophic nature in the bone tissue of the spine, joints, cartilage, ligaments.
For a while, a person may not be aware of the disease, but the signs of osteochondrosis make themselves felt quickly: the spine acquires pathological mobility, violates nerve endings, blood vessels, even adjacent tissues, causing severe pain.
If the disease is initiated, then the rapidly growing bone process further damages the nerve roots, as well as blood vessels.
The symptoms are largely due to the location of the disease.
The main symptoms of this disease
Typically, all symptoms are cataloged into four large groups and associated both with the affected area and with the individual characteristics of each patient’s spine. Keep in mind that the manifestations of this disease can increase significantly if a person is too cold, flu, suffers from severe stress, abuses alcohol, eats irregularly or improperly, and even does not normalize physical activity.
- Static symptoms depend on changes in the shape of each vertebra, which leads to a deterioration of posture: a person gets scoliosis, or even kyphosis with lordosis, can not normally straighten his back, and turn his head freely. The spinal column loses its flexibility.
- Neurological symptoms represent damage to nerve tissue, in which not only the strength of muscle contraction is disrupted, but also a violation of skin sensitivity. The roots of the spine are compressed, there is pain, numbness, tingling, a creepy feeling in the affected area. If the disease is initiated, it can cause limb paresis (partial loss of the ability to move or complete paralysis).
- Vascular symptoms develop for two reasons. First, due to compression of arteries with veins (especially for cervical osteochondrosis, when the arteries supplying the brain are compressed), which leads to a significant deterioration in blood supply to the brain, the appearance of nausea, dizziness, and lack of oxygen. in certain areas. Second, due to irritation of nerve fibers, changes in the state of the sympathetic nervous system develop. The result is spasm of many ducts, and even ischemia.
- Trophic symptoms occur when the neurological manifestations mentioned above are superimposed on vascular symptoms. As a result, tissue nutrition becomes worse, leading to the appearance of ulcers.
If osteochondrosis of the neck develops
The symptoms of osteochondrosis vary depending on the specific area of the body affected. Cervical osteochondrosis is a dangerous and dangerous enemy. First, headaches appear, in which analgesics simply do not work.
Painful sensations can affect the back of the head, the temples, intensify after a person is in a state of calm without movement, and not only the head itself, but also the sore skin. Then a painful sensation in the arms and shoulders joins the problem, the sensitivity of this area is disturbed.
If you do nothing, the case can end in hand paralysis.
In addition to pain, cervical osteochondrosis is accompanied by other symptoms:
- Nausea, unpleasant sounds, unexpected dizziness.
- Deterioration of vision, flies in front of the eyes (all this is a consequence of violations of proper nutrition and metabolism in the optical system).
- Fainting due to lack of oxygen in the brain, shaky, walking is unstable.
- Hiccups, shortness of breath (if the phrenic nerve is affected), lumps in the throat.
- The mobility of the neck is impaired, a painful sensation in it, constant muscle tension.
- Trophic changes in the skin on the hands.
- Persistent weakness, lack of strength and fatigue, frequent irritation, feeling hot or, conversely, chills.
Often, cervical spine lesions are mistaken for stroke, hypertension, problems with ENT organs, and even neurasthenia.
If the thoracic area is affected
What are the symptoms that accompany this disease, if it involves the thoracic area, is easy to imagine if you keep in mind which organs may be affected. The department is relatively rarely affected, it is difficult to recognize the disease, because the symptoms 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 mistaken for angina pectoris, intestinal or kidney colic, or liver problems. Then it all depends on the department affected:
- If the upper thoracic region is affected, the person has trouble swallowing, feels a lump in the throat, and coughs.
- Defeat of the middle chest area causes pain similar to the manifestations of gastritis, peptic ulcer, heart problems. Arrhythmias appear, blood pressure rises.
- If the lower thoracic segment suffers, intestinal function is impaired, the pain is similar to the manifestations of appendicitis.
- Painful sensations in the heart, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, an unpleasant cold feeling, burning or tingling in the chest and abdomen can be added to this.
The main problem is not that osteochondrosis can be mistaken for a heart attack, angina pectoris, stomach disease or pneumonia for a long time, but because of the pain a person tries to breathe more accurately, saving himself, consequently, a vicious circle. acquired: pathology of the respiratory system, chronic respiratory failure, heart damage.
If the lower back is affected
The lumbar region most often suffers, because it is he who receives the greatest load not only during movement, any movement, but also when lifting heavy objects. The problem with the lumbar region, first of all, makes itself felt with a painful sensation not only in the lower back, but also in the lower legs, leading to numbness of the skin on the legs. Then additional symptoms appear:
- If the motor fibers are affected, then paresis can develop, the case will end with paralysis of the legs.
- Nerve defeat gives not only pain in the lumbar spine, but also severe lumbago after any load.
- If pelvic function is impaired and blood supply to the pelvic organs is impaired, a person will suffer not only from pain, but also from difficulty urinating (in the case of men, also with erections), from fecal incontinence.
Often, physical activity, sudden movements, hypothermia become triggers for the appearance of pain. The root is compressed, the intervertebral disc is displaced. The person begins to experience pain, dullness or, conversely, sharp pain.
Often, the painful sensation not only affects the lower back, but also the buttocks, thighs, legs and even legs. In further cases, the volume of the bottom may be reduced.
Conclusion
Whatever area is affected by osteochondrosis, it is always a very serious disease that requires active participation and intervention from a doctor. Despite the variety of signs, its main manifestation is severe pain, difficulty in movement. The painful sensation "disguises" as a manifestation of another disease, so often people first turn to a cardiologist, therapist, gastroenterologist, suspecting that they are diagnosed with problems with the heart, gastrointestinal tract or other organs.
It is necessary to contact a neurologist in advance, and it is advisable to do this before pain appears, which is characteristic only for osteochondrosis, and even more so other symptoms (such as paresis and paralysis). The doctor, first of all, will ensure the elimination of pain (prescribe various painkillers), improve metabolic processes in all tissues (both cartilage and muscle, and in nerves), remove the hernia if it has already formed.
In addition to medications, patients are given massage parlors, mandatory physical education, and various physiotherapy measures.