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Spondylosis - symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Degeneration of the spine

Spondylosis is a degenerative-dystrophic destruction caused by the gradual thinning of cartilage tissue in the intervertebral discs.Everyone is susceptible to this disease, because when standing upright, the human spine has to bear a huge load.If harmful factors are taken into account, at the age of 40-50, most people will suffer from lumbar spondylosis.The disease cannot be completely cured.Age-related degeneration cannot be stopped, but with proper treatment, it can be slowed.You should learn how to properly deal with the symptoms of osteonecrosis.





General characteristics of the disease

The disease develops in three parts of the spine - cervical, thoracic and lumbar.Cervical and lumbar osteoarthritis are more commonly diagnosed because these areas have increased mobility.The more active movements a person performs in the joints, the more susceptible the discs are to damage and degeneration.Thoracic osteonecrosis occurs less frequently but is more severe.

This pathology is insidious in that it contributes to the appearance of other degenerative diseases in the body, including disc herniation.In the early stages, the patient does not feel pain, but persistent metabolic changes in calcium-phosphorus metabolism appear, causing the bone structure of the spine to break down.Blood circulation in the affected area worsens, leading to premature degeneration.

The intervertebral disc contains a fibrous ring covered with small fissures.On the surface of the lesion appears a mucous nucleus - parts of it begin to gradually leak out.Against the background of the degenerative process, the annulus fibrosus begins to weaken and stretch, which leads to an increase in the area of microscopic lesions.When the annulus fibrosus ruptures, the nucleus pulposus will be exposed.This is how hernias appear between the vertebrae of the spinal cord.

If you slow down the degenerative process that causes osteoarthritis, herniations and protrusions will appear later.The sooner treatment is started, the easier it is to fight signs of deterioration.Symptoms of lumbar osteonecrosis depend on the location of the spine and the effects of concomitant diseases on the body.

Causes of spinal cartilage degeneration

In most situations, the disease is genetic.In other cases, the disease occurs based on common adverse conditions that can cause exacerbation, including:

  1. Previous back injury, including damage to bones, joints, and tendons.
  2. Problems with the musculoskeletal system, including poor posture and flat feet.
  3. History of metabolic disorders, including endocrine disorders.People with uncompensated hypothyroidism and diabetes are at risk for bone problems.These problems negatively affect calcium absorption.
  4. Have excess weight.With obesity and a high body mass index, a person will experience premature joint wear.Heavy weight puts pressure on the musculoskeletal system, negatively affecting spinal health.
  5. Poor nutrition.A daily diet lacking nutrients and trace elements will cause vitamin deficiency, which systematically causes the human body to suffer, which can negatively affect the condition of the spine.
  6. No physical activity.It has been proven that a sedentary lifestyle leads to brittle bones.Moderate physical activity is beneficial.
  7. Lift weights.Like insufficient muscle activity, overexertion causes microtrauma and damage, causing diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
  8. Previous viral or bacterial infection.For example: osteomyelitis, polymyositis.
  9. Have bad habits.Alcohol and nicotine abuse causes impaired blood circulation, negatively affecting the condition of the skeletal system.

Factors affecting the appearance of the disease:

  1. Congenital spinal deformities.
  2. Bad posture.
  3. Have flat feet.
  4. Staying for a long time in a sitting or standing position.
  5. Belongs to female gender.Women during pregnancy and menopause experience more bone loss.With a long-term deficiency of calcium and other minerals, degeneration occurs in the spine, contributing to the appearance of osteoarthritis.
  6. Hypogonadism.With a deficiency of steroid hormones in both sexes, calcium is practically not fixed in bone tissue.As a result, patients suffer from age-related cartilage degeneration.At a young age, such conditions occur very rarely.In this case we are talking about mutation.

Considering the above risk factors, you should try to maintain a light lifestyle.

Stages of disease development

The disease has 4 stages, including the following images:

  1. The first phase is the phase of degenerative metabolism.The patient is asymptomatic because the cartilage tissue has not yet begun to deteriorate.Disc deformity begins.Because there is no protrusion yet, the patient does not feel pain in the back.Usually, in the early stages of osteonecrosis, the disease is rarely detected but more often by chance.Not every specialist can notice the first signs of degeneration.In rare cases, patients may experience minimal discomfort due to overwork.The patient's back begins to hurt when standing or sitting for long periods of time.In addition, such pain is associated with excessive tension and weakness of the musculoskeletal system.
  2. In the second stage, the annulus fibrosus begins to be actively destroyed, causing the height of the intervertebral disc to decrease.At this stage, the thoughtful patient went to a specialist because he felt the symptoms more clearly.The head may begin to hurt frequently and an unexplained increase in pressure may occur.Often pain in the lower back, neck or shoulder blades.Patients cannot tolerate prolonged exercise and quickly tire.At this stage, osteoarthritis is detected by X-rays.
  3. In the third stage, the disease causes protrusion of the annulus fibrosus.During the diagnostic process, the patient was diagnosed with a small protrusion or hernia between the vertebrae, causing serious problems in daily life.The cartilage has weakened and the patient feels very unwell.The third phase is the transition phase in terms of treatment.At this stage, conservative treatment methods can still be applied to make the patient feel more comfortable and slow down the development of the hernia.
  4. Phase 4 – terminal.The vertebrae lose elasticity and mobility.Patients experience pain not only during the day when moving, but also at night.Sleep is disturbed and neurological symptoms appear because the discomfort is chronic.Chronic fatigue syndrome is getting worse.At this stage, a serious hernia is diagnosed, which interferes with the patient's normal life.In this case, surgical intervention is indicated to remove bone spurs.Conservative treatment in severe cases does not bring relief.

The earlier osteoarthritis is detected, the easier it is to fight it.At stages 1-2, it is still possible to reverse the development of pathology if you unconditionally comply with medical prescriptions.

Types of osteoarthritis of the spine

The spine consists of 3 parts, including the lower back, chest and neck.Depending on the individual condition, degenerative lesions occur more often in one of the departments.Less commonly, the pathology affects several segments of the ridge.The cervical and lumbar regions are most often affected, since mobility increases in these places.If the thoracic spine is affected, the disease will be more severe due to the anatomical characteristics of the spine in this area.

Osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine is the most common.The prevalence of pathology is associated with increased loads on the lower body.In addition, this part of the back is most susceptible to the formation of hernias and protrusions.If a patient with such a history develops complications, problems with movement, bowel movements and urination appear.Severe cases require serious correction and surgical intervention.

With cervical spondylosis, severe pain and shooting in the head occur.Most often, the disease occurs against the background of prolonged sedentary work and increased physical activity.Patients with this disease also need an integrated treatment approach.Damage to the cervical spine is also caused by increased mobility in the shoulders and head.

Osteochondrosis of the chest occurs less often, due to well-developed muscles and reduced mobility, this area is the least susceptible to such a pathological process.This type of osteonecrosis is difficult to diagnose because the pathological symptoms resemble those of heart, lung or stomach diseases.With thoracic osteoarthritis, pain spreading to the rib area and heart is more often observed, so the disease is confused with ischemic heart disease and signs of a heart attack.An important diagnostic criterion is that if, when complaining of chest pain, no heart problem is detected, you should see a neurologist or traumatologist.

The older the patient, the higher the risk that spinal osteoarthritis will affect multiple parts of the spine.

Symptoms of degenerative spine disease

Symptoms can be divided into general and specific.The second option is typical for osteochondrosis of any part, depending on the location.Common signs of degenerative back disease include:

  1. Pain, discomfort and discomfort.Considering the extent and localization of the pathological process, the patient will experience different degrees of pain.In the early stages, the feeling of discomfort is mild and frustrating.At night, the feeling of discomfort is temporarily reduced.As spondylosis progresses, pain becomes stronger and more frequent.In the worst cases, the pain doesn't stop and keeps you from sleeping at night.
  2. Weakness, constant fatigue.Spinal problems are often related to impaired nerve conduction and poor blood flow.If a patient actively develops osteonecrosis, chronic fatigue syndrome will occur over time.The patient becomes increasingly unable to perform work tasks and the patient does not get enough sleep.The more the pathology progresses, the worse the patient feels.
  3. Reduced mobility in a specific part of the spine.During the severe stage, not only does persistent pain occur, but the mobility of the affected back area is also significantly limited.This phenomenon is not only related to the inflammatory process but also to muscle spasticity.
  4. Muscle spasms in the affected part of the spine.Osteochondrosis is not just the result of the body's natural degenerative processes.Physical inactivity often causes illness.In case of motor inactivity, the muscles atrophy and cannot fully remove the load from the spine.As a result, persistent stress arises, leading to severe deterioration.Patients experience multiple spasms that must be relieved with medication.
  5. Nerve root syndrome.This phenomenon is typical for all types of osteoarthritis, without exception.When the pathology is complicated by the appearance of a hernia, the pressure of the protruding nucleus pulposus on the nerve segments will increase.As a result, side effects occur - limitation of movement, pain, lumbago, paresthesia, and in severe situations - loss of sensation in the fingers and lower limbs.
  6. Other plant manifestations.These include symptoms reminiscent of vegetative-vascular dystonia, neurological disorders, and cardiac, pulmonary, and gastric signs.

Special symptoms of cervical spondylosis include:

  1. Headache.It occurs suddenly, and the pain itself often turns into a migraine, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness and increased pressure.The condition is often associated with persistent poor circulation in the affected area and nerve root compression.
  2. Pain in the neck, trapezius muscle or upper back.This symptom is associated with increased muscle spasticity.The spine cannot withstand the load, so these muscles are overloaded.In addition, this condition also occurs more often among office workers.The nature of pain is persistent, restrictive, painful.
  3. Pressure increases.If an intervertebral hernia compresses the vascular bed, the patient will experience increased blood pressure that is not related to cardiovascular system problems.
  4. A feeling of choking occurs in the neck and throat.This phenomenon is also related to muscle spasticity, causing compression of blood vessels in the neck.
  5. Shot in fingers, collarbone and arm.This is a purely neurological symptom related to nerve root compression.
  6. Shortness of breath, heart and throat pain are less common.

Signs of breast osteochondrosis look like this:

  1. Feeling of chest tightness.
  2. The appearance of attacks of intercostal neuralgia.
  3. Heart pain is not related to heart disease.
  4. Complaints of difficulty breathing, pain deep in the chest.
  5. Coughing is not related to respiratory system problems.
  6. Stomach or esophageal discomfort.
  7. Pain in the interscapular area.Characterized by a chronic course.More often it occurs against the background of static muscle overload.
  8. Numbness in the arms, collarbones and fingers.Less often - in the lower back.

This is how the symptoms of lumbar osteoarthritis manifest:

  1. Pain in the lower back.
  2. A tugging feeling in the kidney area or lower abdomen.
  3. The presence of sciatic nerve compression.
  4. The appearance of a symptom of tight piriformis muscle.If this muscle spasms, it compresses the sciatic nerve, causing specific symptoms, including burning and shooting along the leg, starting in the buttocks area and ending in the thighs and lower legs.This neurological symptom often indicates problems with the spine.
  5. Problems with bowel movements and urination.When a hernia or protrusion compresses the lower part of the nerve endings, the force of contraction of the smooth muscles of the intestines and bladder will weaken significantly over time.As a result, intestinal atony and urinary retention develop.Such conditions are extremely dangerous and require qualified medical attention.
  6. Over time, the patient's gait changes and lameness appears in one leg.This condition is also associated with compression of nerve endings.

If the patient has some symptoms in a specific part of the spine, reminiscent of progressive osteonecrosis, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.There are no specific diagnostic criteria that allow you to detect the disease yourself.It is necessary to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis, after which the exact cause of the disease will be determined.

Diagnosis of back bone degeneration

Primary diagnosis involves taking a medical history.A neurologist or traumatologist will ask about complaints and examine the patient's back.If patients are not sure that they need to see these professionals specifically, they should see a therapist first.The general practitioner will examine the patient, record complaints on the card and issue a referral to a specialist.

The main problem in diagnosing spondylosis is that the pathology gives many misleading signs that indicate other diseases.Therefore, it is necessary to see a specialist several times to ensure that there are no diseases related to the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems.

What types of diagnoses are often prescribed:

  1. X-ray.This type of inspection is quick and does not require large financial costs.Images can be obtained free of charge if the patient has the procedure performed at the clinic where he is registered.X-ray images can preliminarily assess the condition of the ridge.If there is a severe defect or signs of reduced intervertebral space, the patient will be referred for other procedures to clarify the diagnosis.
  2. MRI or CT.These types of studies clearly see soft tissues, therefore they are the main diagnostic method of identifying various degenerative processes - displacement, herniation of the disc, protrusion.With the help of such diagnostics, not only osteonecrosis can be detected, but also hernias, protrusions and pinched nerves.
  3. Laboratory tests.Sometimes it is necessary to undergo a series of blood tests that will help find hidden diseases that negatively affect the course of the disease.Usually tests are performed in combination - OBC, OAM, sugar, calcium-phosphorus metabolism regulator, rheumatism test.

Based on the data obtained, the doctor makes the final diagnosis.After receiving the conclusion, you must follow the recommendations of the specialist to be able to endure the process of spinal disease less painfully.There are diseases that cannot be completely cured.These include osteoarthritis.

Treatment of osteoarthritis

There are many treatment options for this spinal disease.They are used depending on the stage of the complication.If the disease is in the early stages, the best remedy is medication and conservative treatment.Severe cases are rare, but surgical intervention may be necessary when medications do not help and the patient loses feeling in the limbs, becoming disabled.

What is used among health products:

  1. NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.These medications quickly relieve pain caused by inflammation or irritation.The treatment effect is achieved quickly, within one day.Therefore, such drugs are the first choice.Disadvantage of NSAIDs - you can inject them for more than two days.In oral form, some drugs are used for no more than three weeks.This limitation in use is explained by the high toxicity of the drug to the stomach.People with stomach ulcers and gastritis are prescribed additional medication to protect the stomach lining.
  2. Corticosteroids are hormonal pain relievers.In case of severe pain and degenerative processes, special drugs are injected into the joint to eliminate local inflammation.It is recommended to use prolonging ingredients.The active ingredients last up to 3-4 weeks.For some patients, just one injection is enough to forget the pain for a long time.
  3. Chondroprotectors are drugs used to strengthen and nourish cartilage tissue.In many patients with spondylosis, cartilage and bone tissue are weak and need to be strengthened.Chondroprotectors do not prevent the development of the disease and the formation of cartilage tissue, but help slow down the degenerative process.They are taken in a long course.
  4. Muscle relaxants.Medicines used to relax tight muscles.Treatment duration is from 2 to 4 weeks.
  5. Vitamin B. Neurotropic substances - B1, B6 and B12 help treat sciatica or pinched sciatic nerve.In large doses, these substances relieve pain and nourish damaged nerve fibers.

Conservative treatments include:

  1. Manual therapy.This method allows you to relax tense muscles through expert hand work.During periods of exacerbation, this type of treatment should not be used.
  2. Exercise therapy.With the help of physical therapy, you can strengthen your muscles.It has been proven that back pain is often associated with muscle weakness, since the spine cannot withstand the load, which is why a feeling of fatigue and discomfort occurs.In order for the patient to feel relief, it is necessary to perform exercises regularly 2-3 times a week.Physical education improves posture and eliminates pain.
  3. Massage.With the help of a massage therapist, it is possible to improve blood flow to damaged muscles, which has a positive impact on health.Increased blood flow nourishes and relaxes tissues, helping to prevent spasms.This procedure is contraindicated in the acute phase and should be performed only during rehabilitation.
  4. Physical therapy.Conservative treatment is aimed at improving blood flow to damaged tissues using hardware methods.Using electrical or magnetic radiation, muscle communication is improved, helping to combat spasms and chronic pain.Physiotherapy allows the use of local systemic drugs that penetrate well under the skin.

Disease prevention

Degenerative disease of the spine can be prevented if you adhere to a healthy lifestyle, which includes giving up bad habits, proper nutrition and combating lack of exercise.You also need to monitor your body weight.Obese patients experience greater stress not only on the back but also on the entire body.It is recommended to wear orthopedic shoes and monitor your posture.