Osteochondrosis refers to progressive degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the spine and joint tissue. The more neglected the disease, the more intense the symptoms that affect the 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, coccyx and joints often occurs. Previously, only people over 25 years old were sick, but recently there has been a trend of "revival" of the disease. Symptoms of juvenile or juvenile osteochondrosis have become common.
The reasons
The causes of osteochondrosis can be different and depend on which part of the body is damaged. After any injury, the normal structure of the spine, coccyx is disrupted and the process of calcification and destruction of the disc structure begins. Overweight people, sedentary lifestyle and athletes are susceptible to it.
During pregnancy, the risk of disease increases due to weight gain and lack of vitamins. Lymph nodes also enlarge during pregnancy. The heart, other organs suffer from it, and in combination with osteochondrosis, it is very dangerous. The load on the shoulder, knee, neck and coccyx increases.
With age, almost every person suffers from osteochondrosis of the spine. Occupations associated with long periods of sitting, monotonous movements pose a threat to the neck, lower back and tailbone. The following conditions affect the appearance of the disease:
- genetic predisposition?
- the course of pregnancy;
- endocrine, infectious diseases.
- poisoning or exposure to drugs, toxic and chemical substances.
- eating disorder, lifestyle.
In addition to the spine, there are often cases of osteochondrosis of the joints. Pathology is dangerous for the knee, elbow, shoulder joint, coccyx. When considering osteochondrosis of the knee joint, it is worth paying attention to causes such as obesity or malnutrition, a lifestyle associated with excessive loads on the legs, as well as injuries or inflammatory processes in the body.
The muscles of the legs withstand huge loads, unlike the joints, so the latter suffer more often.
Symptoms of damage to the elbow joint can be seen along with current osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic region. Often the pathology is combined with arthritis or arthritis. Injuries and constant overuse of the elbow joint are predisposing factors.
Due to the constant movements 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 joint. The causes can be congenital, from compression of the nerve plexuses of the shoulder area, or from external factors. Injury to the neck, shoulder blades, or hands causes osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the spine
Osteochondrosis of the spine occurs in different parts. The most common is the pathology of the lumbar spine. The disease is associated with intense stress on the lower back and is dangerous from the threat of pinching the sciatic nerve and forming a hernia.
There are symptoms such as aching pain, which worsens at night or during exercise. It is difficult to find the right position to sleep and rest. There may be "lumbago" of the back or reduced sensitivity of the legs, especially the knee joint, coccyx. When it worsens, the lymph nodes become inflamed.
The coccyx region is often affected, making it difficult to sit properly. If the sciatic nerve in the region of the coccyx is inflamed, then the pain goes down to the lower limbs, buttocks, to the knee joint. To relieve pain, it is best for a person to take a comfortable position and drink anticonvulsants, relaxants or pain relievers.
During pregnancy, osteochondrosis of the back sometimes makes normal childbirth difficult. Then you have to do the operation. Anticonvulsants are taken during this period carefully so as not to harm the fetus.
In diseases of the spine, doctors use the recognition of specific symptoms for diagnosis - Lasegue's symptom. For a neuropathologist, Lasegue's symptom is important in determining the extent of the disease.
Lasegue's sign is always performed when a neurological disorder is suspected. With the Lasegue method, the doctor slowly raises the leg in a straightened position upwards, not letting the knee bend. The Lasegue sign is tested in three phases with leg flexion and extension. Based on the occurrence of pain in certain positions. The Lasegue method is not performed during pregnancy.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is often combined with damage to the shoulder and elbow joints. There are pains in the neck, head, they spread to the shoulder blades and hands, pains in the heart appear. They are bought with anticonvulsants. There is noise in the ears, vision is deteriorating.
The pain worsens with movement of the neck, head or shoulder blade. In the acute period, lymph nodes may be affected, muscle pain may occur in the neck and elbow joint. Then urgent treatment is required to prevent complications in the heart, brain, blood vessels.
The patient is constantly tormented by the question: how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis and correctly place your head on the pillow?
This is especially true for women during pregnancy. Only anticonvulsants and therapy help.
The pathology of the thoracic region is less common. Symptoms of pain in the heart, in the shoulder area, in the shoulder girdle, in the neck are recorded. The lymph nodes are inflamed, sometimes because of the pain it is impossible to raise your arms, take a deep breath. Often osteochondrosis is mistaken for heart pain. If you take anticonvulsants, pain in the muscles, the heart goes away. If the disease is in an advanced stage, then anticonvulsants do not always help, and the following symptoms join:
- violation of the sensitivity of the feet.
- increased pain at night, with movement, breathing.
- burning sensation, itching in heart, region of scapula, along sides.
Often in practice, osteochondrosis affects several parts of the spine. Symptoms during pregnancy are particularly unpleasant, when it is undesirable to take anticonvulsants. Rescuers promptly began treatment.
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis involves conducting material studies, questioning and examining the patient. It is important to pay attention to such specific points as Lasegue's symptom. To rule out pathology in the heart and other internal organs, an ultrasound, EKG is performed. X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography are used to examine the spine.
Treatment for osteochondrosis must be long and complex. Treatment is divided into symptomatic treatment and rehabilitation. Muscle relaxants, NSAIDs, analgesics, antispasmodics are prescribed for pain. Muscle relaxants can not only relieve pain for a long time, but also improve mobility. Relaxants are peripheral and central. Which drug to choose, the doctor decides.
The treatment includes a combination of physical therapy, massage, reflexology. Treatment allows manual therapy, banks, ointments and folk methods.
Osteochondrosis of the joints
Often there are diseases of the elbow, knee, shoulder joint. 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. Incorrectly chosen hand posture brings discomfort and pain. In the affected area, the lymph nodes become inflamed. In addition, the lymph nodes can be damaged not only in the affected area, but also arrest the adjacent lymph nodes.
For the correct diagnosis, X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging are used, they are examined, palpated and the Lasegue symptom is checked. To restore the function of muscles and joints, complex treatment is required. You need massage, ERT, take anticonvulsants, NSAIDs, relaxants. In advanced cases, an operation is performed. But first, conservative treatment is always prescribed, especially during pregnancy.