Osteonecrosis is a disease that develops due to degeneration of spinal cartilage tissue.In fact, the term can apply to any joint, but most often osteoarthritis affects the intervertebral discs, so in the majority of cases, people speak of osteoarthritis of the spine.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
The main symptoms of osteonecrosis are pain and numbness, which can be widespread or cover a specific area of the back.The pain increases with physical activity, sudden movements, and sometimes even with coughing and sneezing.The body reflexively tries to protect itself from pain, as a result of which muscle tension increases at the injured site.This is how limitation of movement occurs - another characteristic sign of osteoarthritis.
If left untreated, the symptoms of the disease will become more severe: the pain becomes more and more intense, spreading to the limbs, limiting mobility (in the neck and chest area, the pain will be in the arms; if in the lumbar area, it will be in the legs).In severe cases, the limbs may even become partially atrophied - losing strength and mobility.Disc herniation is one of the most common and serious complications of osteoarthritis, in which the disc is displaced and nerve roots are compressed, causing severe pain in the back.
When each part of the spine is affected, there will be specific symptoms:
- Neck area: headache, dizziness, pain and numbness in the shoulders and arms.In some cases, vertebral artery syndrome is formed: the artery supplying blood to the brain and spinal cord is compressed, causing severe headaches in the temples or back of the head.Unpleasant symptoms also appear: tinnitus, loss of balance, darkening of the eyes and significant spasms - sudden attacks of vertigo accompanied by nausea and vomiting.All of these symptoms often occur when the patient turns his or her head suddenly.
- Chest: feeling of being "stuck in the chest", pain that patients often think is related to the heart or internal organs.
- Lumbar sacral region: pain and numbness in the lower back and legs, possible discomfort in the pelvic area.
Causes of osteoarthritis
The main cause of osteoarthritis is the degeneration of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs, causing them to lose firmness and elasticity.Spinal discs decrease in volume, become dense and stop completely absorbing shock.Even during normal walking, the hard vertebrae, consisting of bone tissue, do not stretch too elastically on the cartilage layers between them, but almost touch each other, squeezing nerve fibers.Therefore, the mobility of the spine is limited, continuous pain appears, spreading to the back and limbs due to nerve root compression.
The causes of dystrophic changes can be different.The main influencing factor is dietary habits.From birth, cartilage tissue receives the necessary substances in two ways: from blood vessels and from intervertebral fluid.By age 23-25, blood vessels have overdeveloped, leaving only one nutritional route.Nourishment of cartilage tissue through intervertebral fluid is possible during spinal movement, when fluid circulation takes place: during compression and expansion of the intervertebral disc, the fluid breaks down into nutrients.Therefore, after age 30, the risk of cartilage degeneration of the intervertebral disc increases sharply, especially when there is insufficient physical activity.
Disc destruction is aggravated by intense exercise (especially without warm-up), trauma and any bone pathology (including flat feet and poor posture), as it changes the load distribution on the spine.Excess weight has the same effect.There are also genetic factors that lead to osteochondrosis - loose cartilage tissue that easily degenerates.
Stages of spondylosis
Osteonecrosis is a progressive disease but the transition to each subsequent stage occurs gradually.One of the stages of development of osteonecrosis is called disc herniation.The discs consist of a hard shell called the annulus fibrosus and a semi-fluid core.Disc herniation occurs when the annulus fibrosus of the disc becomes thinner and ruptures, the nucleus protrudes through the gap and the nerve roots are compressed, resulting in increased pain and an even greater decrease in the shock-absorbing properties of the disc.The speed of development of symptoms depends on lifestyle, treatment and individual characteristics of the body.
Stage 1
Characteristic complaints appear, continuously or periodically.They are often aroused by physical activity or forced body positions.X-rays show minimal or normal intervertebral space narrowing.
Stage 2
Symptoms increase when the disc loses stability (cartilaginous tissue bulges into the surrounding fibrous rings), compressing nerve roots.X-rays show a significant decrease in the distance between the vertebrae or displacement of the vertebrae;Bone tissue growth may appear.
Stage 3
Appearance of herniated discs, also known as bulging or prolapsed discs;The disc is increasingly spreading to surrounding tissues, leading to damage to blood vessels and nerves, so the pain becomes more and more intense, limiting movement in the limbs and causing numbness.
Stage 4
Stage of disc fibrosis.The disc hardens, is replaced by scar tissue, bones protrude along the edges, and the space between the vertebrae is noticeably reduced.The mobility of the spine is significantly reduced - it becomes literally stiff.
Diagnosis of disease
The doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis based on characteristic complaints and examination data.Pain in certain spots, muscle tone, sensitivity, range of motion, and posture are evaluated.Specific research methods help clarify the stage of osteoarthritis and confirm the diagnosis.Usually, in the early stages, X-rays of the spine of interest are indicated.The images clearly demonstrate whether there is a reduction in the distance between the vertebrae, i.e. whether there is thinning of the cartilage, and how far this process has progressed.If, based on the results of an X-ray, the doctor suspects the presence of a hernia between the vertebrae, he will prescribe a more informative research method - magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Layer-by-layer scanning and good visualization of soft tissues help confirm or refute the diagnosis of disc herniation with absolute accuracy.
How to treat osteoarthritis of the spine?
Treatment of osteoarthritis is always complicated and long-term.Its task is not only to relieve pain and relieve muscle tension, but also to prevent further development of the disease, that is, to affect its cause.The doctor decides what treatment to give on a case-by-case basis.Medications are often supplemented by physical therapy, massage, manual therapy, physical therapy, and acupressure.If conservative treatment does not bring the desired effect, surgical treatment will be indicated.
Medicine
The main goal in the process of exacerbating osteoarthritis is to reduce inflammation, pain and accompanying muscle spasms.To do this, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed in combination with muscle relaxants, which reduce the tone of skeletal muscles, relieve muscle spasms and nerve root compression.Vitamin B preparations help improve nerve root condition.Usually, the treatment course lasts 7-10 days.Internal administration of the drug is supplemented by topical treatments: ointments or gels containing NSAIDs or simply warming agents are applied to the affected area to increase blood supply, metabolism and quickly stop inflammation.External treatment measures quickly relieve pain, since the active substance penetrates the source of inflammation, bypassing the digestive system and blood flow in general, but they are not enough for full treatment.
A drug containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate - components of cartilage.
The ingredients of the drug not only supplement the deficiency of these substances in the body, but also start the recovery process and stimulate the production of other cartilage components.The drug can be used in addition to severe cases of the disease and even to prevent further progression of osteonecrosis and osteoarthritis.To achieve a lasting effect, it is prescribed in long-term courses of up to 6 months.
It has been proven that the drug promotes:
- renewal of joint cartilage tissue;
- improves joint mobility;
- pain relief.
The drug has a complex effect: it helps restore joint cartilage tissue, while reducing the need for painkillers, thus increasing treatment safety.
Unlike some other drugs in the group, the drug is recommended to be taken with gradually increasing daily doses of chondroprotectors - chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, the effectiveness of which has been proven.
A complex preparation for external use, which includes meloxicam (NSAID) and chondroitin sulfate.
It simultaneously reduces inflammation, pain and begins the process of restoring cartilage tissue;it is the #1 drug for treating osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis.This is a modern chondroprotector, produced in the USA.
The special composition of the drug improves the penetration of painkillers into the joints, helping to reduce pain and inflammation in the joints.
The drug has been proven to:
- Has pain relieving effect;
- Has anti-inflammatory effects;
- Helps reduce stiffness;
- Helps increase joint range of motion.
The drug is used for osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis and other joint diseases accompanied by pain.Due to the presence of meloxicam, chondroitin and dimethyl sulfoxide, it has a triple effect (analgesic, anti-inflammatory, reduces stiffness) on the symptoms of osteoarthritis, and this allows a comprehensive impact on the disease.
A medication that contains ibuprofen (NSAID), as well as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
The drug contains pain-relieving ingredients ibuprofen and chondroitin along with glucosamine - a substance that affects cartilage structure.The drug not only helps moderate joint pain but also inhibits inflammation;It is recommended to increase the daily dose of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, their effectiveness has been proven.The drug helps restore cartilage tissue in joints and improve their mobility.
Naproxen sodium
Naproxen sodium contains:
- Pain relieving and anti-inflammatory effects.
Applies to:
- Osteoarthritis and spine;
- Rheumatism;
- Sprains and bruises.
In other cases of mild or moderate pain, including pain in the lower back and muscles, nerve pain, and other conditions.
The drug can help relieve joint pain and reduce inflammation for up to 12 hours thanks to the effect of the active ingredient naproxen at a dose of 275 mg.Naproxen is the global standard for treating joint pain, requested by over millions of patients in different countries.
Non-drug treatments
Non-pharmacological treatment increases the effectiveness of the drug and allows you to quickly relieve exacerbations.
- Massage reduces muscle spasms, improves microcirculation and metabolism, reduces swelling, and has good effects on the patient's health.During an exacerbation, massage is contraindicated because it only aggravates the pain and provides no benefit.It is prescribed after completing a course of drug treatment, when inflammation subsides or during remission to prevent new exacerbations.
- Manual therapy is the restoration of the correct configuration of the spine and its mobility with the help of the hands.This is a serious intervention that should be performed by a specialist after imaging studies.
- Physiotherapy (physical therapy) is physical activity dosed taking into account the characteristics of the disease.Intervertebral fluid is necessary for movement, providing nutrients to intervertebral discs, and removing caries products.Exercises strengthen muscles, normalize tone and restore motor activity of damaged limbs.Exercise therapy should be regular, take place at a calm pace, without sudden movements so as not to aggravate the situation.
- Acupressure is the impact on the body's organs and systems through stimulation of certain points.To do this, a needle is most often used, but there can be other options: electric current, magnetic field.
- Physiotherapy is used mainly during exacerbations to reduce inflammation, improve microcirculation, relieve pain, swelling and muscle spasms.The most commonly used methods are electrophoresis and ultrasound with drugs (eg hydrocortisone) and magnetic therapy.
Other methods
In case of disc herniation or nerve root compression with a significant decrease in the distance between the vertebrae, surgical treatment is recommended.Its essence is to remove a damaged disk.Minimally invasive techniques have been developed that allow the problem to be solved relatively painlessly for the patient: endoscopic techniques and lasers “vaporize” the disc core.In severe cases, the disc is replaced with a silicone implant.
prevent
Preventing osteochondrosis is a current issue for everyone, especially after age 25.To preserve the disc for as long as possible, you need to move a lot but avoid injuries and strenuous activities, eat properly, and when working sedentarily, rest and exercise.An important point in preventing osteoarthritis is taking cartilage-protecting drugs.If discomfort occurs in any part of the back, it is better to immediately consult a doctor so as not to miss it and not get sick.
Conclude
Osteonecrosis is a disease that is not life-threatening, but significantly reduces its quality.Therefore, prevention and timely comprehensive treatment are important to achieve stable remission and halt disease progression.