Osteochondrosis refers to degenerative-dystrophic lesions of spinal tissue and joints with progression. The more neglected the disease, the more pronounced the symptoms that affect a 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, tailbone and joints often occurs. Previously, only people over the age of 25 were ill, but recently there has been a tendency to "rejuvenate" the disease. Symptoms of adolescent or young osteochondrosis have become common.
The reasons
The cause of osteochondrosis can vary and depends on which part of the body is damaged. After any injury, the normal structure of the spine, coccyx is disrupted, and the process of salt deposition and destruction of the disc structure begins. People who are overweight, have an inactive lifestyle and athletes are prone to this.
During pregnancy, the risk of disease increases due to weight gain and vitamin deficiency. Lymph nodes also enlarge during pregnancy. The heart, other organs suffer from this, and in combination with osteochondrosis, it is very dangerous. The load on the shoulders, knees, neck and tailbone increases.
With age, almost everyone develops spinal osteochondrosis. The profession is associated with prolonged stay in a sitting position, tedious movements pose a threat to the neck, lower back and coccyx. The following conditions affect the onset of the disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- pregnancy journey;
- endocrine, infectious diseases;
- poisoning or exposure to drugs, toxins and chemicals;
- eating disorders, lifestyle.
In addition to the spine, there are often cases of osteochondrosis of the joints. Dangerous pathology for the knee, elbow, shoulder joint, tailbone. When considering osteochondrosis of the knee joint, it is worth paying attention to reasons such as obesity or malnutrition, lifestyle associated with excessive leg load, as well as injuries or inflammatory processes in the body.
The leg muscles withstand large loads, unlike the joints, so the latter suffer more often.
Symptoms of damage to the elbow joint can be observed along with osteochondrosis during the cervical or thoracic region. Often the pathology is combined with arthritis or arthrosis. Injury and persistent fatigue of the elbow joint are predisposing factors.
Due to the constant movement 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 joints. The cause may be congenital, from compression of the nerve plexus of the shoulder area, or from external factors. Injuries 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 lumbar pathology. The disease is associated with severe pressure on the lower back and is dangerous with the threat of pinching the sciatic nerve and the formation of hernias.
There are symptoms such as aching pain, worsening at night or during exercise. It is difficult to find the right position during sleep and rest. There may be "lumbago" of the lower back or impaired sensitivity in the legs, especially the knee joint, coccyx. When it gets worse, 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 goes down to the lower part of the leg, the buttocks, up to the knee joint. To reduce 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 perform surgery. Antispasmodics are taken during this period with caution so as not to harm the fetus.
In diseases of the spine, doctors use specific symptom identification for diagnosis - Lasegue symptoms. For neuropathologists, Lasegue’s symptoms are important in determining the extent of the disease.
Lasegue symptoms are often performed when a neurological disorder is suspected. With the Lasegue method, the doctor gently lifts the leg in a straight-up position, not allowing the knee to bend. Lasegue marks were tested in three phases by flexing and extending the legs. Based on the appearance of pain in a particular posture. During pregnancy, the Lasegue method is not performed.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is often combined with lesions in the shoulder and elbow joints. There is pain in the neck, head, spreading to the shoulder blades and arms, pain in the heart appears. They are purchased with antispasmodics. There is noise in the ears, vision deteriorates.
The pain is aggravated by movement of the neck, head or shoulder blades. In the acute period, lymph nodes may be affected, muscle pain in the neck and elbow joints may occur. Then immediate treatment is needed to prevent complications in the heart, brain, blood vessels.
Patients are constantly tormented by the question: how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis and put your head properly on a pillow?
This is especially true for women during pregnancy. Only antispasmodics and treatments help.
Pathology of the thoracic region is less common. Symptoms of pain in the heart, shoulder area, shoulder girdle, neck were recorded. Inflamed lymph nodes, sometimes because of the pain it is impossible to lift your hands, take a deep breath. Often osteochondrosis is mistaken for pain in the liver. If you take antispasmodics, pain in the muscles, the heart disappears. If the disease is at an advanced stage, then antispasmodics do not always help and the following symptoms accompany:
- violation of foot sensitivity;
- 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. Symptoms during pregnancy are very unpleasant, when it is undesirable to take antispasmodics. Rescue in time to start treatment.
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes conducting a hardware study, questioning and examining the patient. It is important to pay attention to specific signs such as Lasegue symptoms. To exclude pathology in the heart and other internal organs, ultrasound, ECG are performed. X-rays, MRI, CT are done to examine the spine.
Treatment for osteochondrosis should be long and complex. Treatment is divided into symptomatic therapy and rehabilitation. Against pain, muscle relaxation, NSAIDs, analgesics, antispasmodics are prescribed. Muscle relaxation can not only relieve pain for a long time, but also increase mobility. Relaxant is a 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 elbows, knees, shoulder joints. Osteochondrosis of the knee joint often occurs in pregnant women and is accompanied by pain and limited mobility. The elbow joint is characterized by symptoms such as pain during movement, swelling, deformity. Wrongly chosen hand posture brings discomfort and pain. In the affected area, the lymph nodes become inflamed. In addition, lymph nodes can hurt not only in the affected area, but also capture adjacent lymph nodes.
To diagnose correctly, X-rays, CT, MRI are used, they are examined, palpation, and Lasegue symptoms are examined. To restore muscle and joint function, complex treatments are required. You need to do massage, ERT, take antispasmodics, NSAIDs, relaxants. In further cases, surgery is performed. But first, conservative treatment is always prescribed, especially during pregnancy.