Osteochondrosis refers to progressive degenerative-dystrophic changes in the tissue of the spine and joints. 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, coccyx and joints often occurs. Previously, only people over the age of 25 were sick, but recently it is characteristic of the "rejuvenation" of the disease. The 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 spinal column and coccyx is disturbed, salt deposition and destruction of the disc structure begins. Overweight people, sedentary people and athletes are prone to this.
During pregnancy, the risk of diseases increases due to weight gain and vitamin deficiency. Lymph nodes also enlarge during pregnancy. The heart and other organs suffer from it, and it is very dangerous when combined with osteochondrosis. The load on the shoulders, knees, neck and tailbone increases.
With advancing age, almost all people suffer from osteochondrosis of the spine. Occupations involving prolonged sitting and monotonous movements pose a risk to the neck, lower back and tailbone. The following conditions affect the occurrence of the disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- the course of pregnancy;
- endocrine, infectious diseases;
- poisoning or contact with drugs, toxic and chemical substances;
- eating disorder, lifestyle.
In addition to the spine, articular osteochondrosis often occurs. Pathology is dangerous for knees, elbows, shoulder joints, coccyx. When considering osteochondrosis of the knee joint, it is worth paying attention to causes such as obesity or malnutrition, a lifestyle with excessive leg load, and injuries or inflammatory processes in the body.
Unlike the joints, the muscles of the legs bear a huge load, so the latter suffer more often.
Symptoms of damage to the elbow joint can be observed together with the current osteochondrosis of the neck or chest region. Pathology is often combined with arthritis or arthrosis. Injuries and constant overloading of the elbow joint are predisposing factors.
Due to the constant movement of the neck and head, as well as the hands, the joints begin to wear out over time, and salt deposits appear. This leads to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and shoulder joint. The causes may be congenital, compression of the nerve plexuses in the shoulder region, or external factors. Injury to the neck, shoulder blades, or hand leads to osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the spine
Osteochondrosis of the spine occurs in different departments. The most common is lumbar pathology. The disease is associated with severe strain on the lower back and is dangerous due to the risk of pinching the sciatic nerve and developing hernias.
There are symptoms such as aching pain that worsens at night or during exercise. It is difficult to find the right body position during sleep and at rest. "Lumbago" of the lower back or sensitivity of the legs, especially the knee joint and tailbone, may occur. 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 is inflamed in the area of the tailbone, the pain descends to the lower limbs, buttocks, and even to the knee joint. To relieve pain, it is better for a person to take a comfortable position and drink antispasmodics, relaxants or painkillers.
During pregnancy, osteochondrosis of the lower back sometimes makes normal childbirth difficult. Then you need to perform the operation. During this period, anticonvulsants should be taken with caution so as not to harm the fetus.
In the case of spinal diseases, doctors use the identification of specific symptoms for diagnosis - Lasegue's symptom. For the neuropathologist, Lasegue's sign is important for determining the extent of the disease.
The Lasegue test is always performed when a neurological disorder is suspected. With the Lasegue method, the doctor slowly raises the leg in a straightened state, not allowing the knee to bend. The Lasegue sign is tested in three phases by bending and extending the leg. Based on the appearance of pain in certain body positions. The Lasegue method is not performed during pregnancy.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is often combined with changes in the shoulder and elbow joints. There are pains in the neck, head, spreading to the shoulder blades and arms, pains in the heart appear. It is bought with antispasmodics. There is noise in the ears, vision is deteriorating.
The pain is aggravated by movement of the neck, head or shoulder blade. In the acute period, the lymph nodes may be affected, and muscle pain may occur in the neck and elbow joint. Then urgent treatment is needed to prevent complications of the heart, brain, blood vessels.
The patient is constantly tormented by the question: how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis and correctly place the head on the pillow?
This is especially true for women during pregnancy. Only anticonvulsants and treatment help.
Pathology of the chest region is less common. Symptoms of pain in the heart, shoulder, shoulder girdle, and neck are recorded. The lymph nodes are inflamed, sometimes it is impossible to raise your hands or take a deep breath because of the pain. Osteochondrosis is often mistaken for heart pain. If you take anticonvulsants, muscle pain, heart goes away. If the disease is in an advanced stage, then antispasmodics do not always help, and the following symptoms are associated:
- violation of the sensitivity of the legs;
- increased pain at night, with movement, breathing;
- burning sensation, itching in the heart, in the area of the scapula, along the ribs.
In practice, osteochondrosis often affects several parts of the spine. The symptoms during pregnancy are particularly unpleasant, when it is undesirable to take antispasmodics. Ambulances started treatment in time.
The diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes conducting hardware tests, questioning and examining the patient. It is important to pay attention to special signs such as Lasegue's sign. In order to rule out pathology of the heart and other internal organs, ultrasound and EKG are performed. An X-ray, MRI, and CT scan are performed to examine the spine.
Treatment of osteochondrosis should be long and complex. Treatment is divided into symptomatic therapy and rehabilitation. Muscle relaxants, NSAIDs, pain relievers, and antispasmodics are prescribed for pain. Muscle relaxants not only relieve pain for a long time, but also improve mobility. Relaxants have peripheral and central effects. The doctor decides which medicine to choose.
The treatment includes a combination of physiotherapy, massage and reflexology. Treatment allows manual therapy, banks, ointments and folk methods.
Osteochondrosis of the joints
Elbow, knee and shoulder joint diseases are common. 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, and deformity. An incorrectly chosen hand position causes discomfort and pain. The lymph nodes in the affected area become inflamed. Moreover, lymph nodes can not only hurt in the affected area, but can also capture neighboring lymph nodes.
In order to make a correct diagnosis, X-ray, CT, MRI are used, they examine, palpate and check the Lasegue symptom. Complex treatment is required to restore the function of muscles and joints. Massage, ERT, antispasmodics, NSAIDs, relaxants should be taken. In advanced cases, surgery is performed. But conservative treatment is always prescribed first, especially during pregnancy.