The most common degenerative-dystrophic disease of the spine is osteochondrosis. Its peculiarity is that in the initial stages it does not manifest itself in any way, which is why many patients turn to the doctor when the processes of tissue destruction have already advanced. But even in this case, the diagnosis is not made immediately, but after a series of laboratory and instrumental tests. It is very important to correctly diagnose osteochondrosis, because the sooner treatment is started, the greater the opportunity to prevent complications. It is for this reason that it is necessary to identify the symptoms of osteochondrosis in time and consult a doctor.
Causes and development mechanism
Osteochondrosis begins with destructive processes in the intervertebral discs. They gradually dry out and decrease in volume. This means that the disks are no longer able to perform their functions correctly. They can collapse and then develop a hernia. But most often this condition leads to the development of osteochondrosis.
After all, the intervertebral disc protects the vertebrae from destruction, serves as a shock absorber during various movements and keeps the vertebrae in the correct position. As their volume decreases, the vertebrae become displaced. Instability of a segment of the spine leads to the formation of osteophytes - bony protuberances that hold the vertebrae apart. Otherwise, compression of the nerve roots and compression of blood vessels may occur. All these processes provoke the presence of various signs of osteochondrosis, which is why it is so difficult to diagnose it in time. But if you know why this pathology develops, people at risk can be more careful.
Osteochondrosis is usually caused by the following reasons:
- congenital disorders in the development of the spine or connective tissue defects;
- injuries or constant overload, heavy physical work;
- poor posture, flat feet, wearing uncomfortable shoes;
- staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time, sedentary lifestyle;
- obesity, poor nutrition, overweight;
- exposure to chemicals, for example, bad habits, use of certain medications;
- frequent stress;
- natural processes that occur during the aging of the body;
- constant vibration effect on the column.
Osteochondrosis develops after a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc, after which the vertebrae themselves begin to collapse
Therefore, it is necessary to carefully monitor your health to consult a doctor at the first symptoms. This is especially important for athletes, loaders, drivers, gymnasts, women, who often worry about their loved ones and experience stress because of this.
Symptoms
Signs of osteochondrosis depend on the stage of the disease, as well as which part of the spine is affected by degenerative processes. Often, at first, the patient doesn't even feel back pain, just slight stiffness in the morning. In the process of destruction of the intervertebral disc due to displacement of the vertebrae, the nerve roots are compressed and pain occurs. Depending on the location of the disease, they may appear not only in the posterior region. The pain often radiates to the shoulder blade, chest, arm or leg, and there may be headaches.
A feature of osteochondrosis in the early stages is also that the pain intensifies with physical activity and subsides after rest. Even after adopting a comfortable body position, the patient feels better. Painful sensations worsen after hypothermia, stress, prolonged stay in a static position, for example, when working at a computer or sleeping in an uncomfortable bed. Often with osteochondrosis, stiffness in movements, muscle weakness and constant fatigue are observed. The patient tries to assume a comfortable position in which he feels less pain.
The main sign of lumbar osteochondrosis is pain and stiffness in movement.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis
The most common location of degenerative dystrophic processes is the lumbar spine. It can withstand the heaviest loads not only during movement, but also when a person sits in the same position for a long time. Due to the sedentary lifestyle of modern people, the muscular corset here is weak, so any overload can lead to the destruction of discs or displacement of the vertebrae.
In addition to general pain and stiffness, there are special symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis in the lower back. If the following signs make themselves felt from time to time, it is necessary to make an appointment with a neurologist:
- lower limbs become numb;
- skin sensitivity is impaired, paresis may occur;
- pain is felt in the pelvic organs, their functioning is disturbed;
- the patient cannot turn or bend over, the pain is felt even when sitting.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis
It is especially important to know what symptoms a patient has with cervical osteochondrosis. After all, sometimes neck pain is not even felt, and other symptoms are similar to vascular disorders that a person is trying to treat with medication. If the destructive processes in the cervical spine are not stopped, this can lead to disruption of the blood supply to the brain and even complete paralysis of the body.
Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the following signs in time:
- headaches that cannot be relieved with conventional painkillers;
- dizziness occurs when turning the head;
- pain can be felt in the shoulders, back of the head, arms;
- vision worsens, spots or colored spots are visible before the eyes;
- there is hearing loss, tinnitus;
- tongue and fingers become numb;
- coordination of movements is impaired.
With cervical osteochondrosis, headaches and tinnitus are often observed
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis
Signs of osteochondrosis in the thoracic region are easily confused with diseases of internal organs. And although the main symptom is back pain, it has its own characteristics. Patients describe this feeling as if the chest is being tightened by a bow. The pain intensifies when inhaling and exhaling, which is why many attribute these sensations to cardiac pathologies.
With thoracic osteochondrosis, the pain intensifies with hypothermia, raising the arms, and also at night. You may feel numbness in your skin, goose bumps, and coldness in your extremities. Disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system often occur.
Diagnosis
To prevent complications from osteochondrosis, it is very important to consult a doctor as soon as the first signs appear. This is stiffness in movement and back pain after exercise. This pathology is treated by a vertebrologist or neurologist. An experienced doctor can make a preliminary diagnosis during an examination and talk to the patient.
But some symptoms of the disease are very nonspecific and resemble the manifestations of many other pathologies. Therefore, differential diagnosis is very important, which will help to exclude diseases in which vascular and neurological symptoms also develop. It can be angina pectoris, hypertension, peptic ulcer, pyelonephritis. The main difference between osteochondrosis and them is that it has a chronic course and develops slowly, with periodic exacerbations, and the pain usually subsides with rest.
But without special diagnostics, it is still difficult to make a correct diagnosis. Most often, instrumental examination methods are used for this: radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, myelography and others. Sometimes laboratory tests may also be necessary. They will help identify the presence of an inflammatory process and an increased concentration of calcium in the blood.
The most common diagnostic method in the initial stage of the disease is radiography.
Radiography
At the initial stage, X-ray diagnosis is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. This is the main method of examining osteochondrosis. It is the simplest and most accessible and has the fewest side effects. After determining the location of the pain, photographs are taken of that region of the spine. They are generally performed in two projections: direct and lateral.
If the diagnosis is made correctly, this will be indicated by the following radiological signs: the distance between the vertebrae is reduced, atrophy of the intervertebral discs is observed, osteophytes are visible, there may be destruction of the vertebral tissue or a change in the shape of the spine.
Myelography
This is a more complex method, may have side effects and is not suitable for everyone. After all, myelography is based on the injection of a special contrast fluid into the spinal canal. This can cause an allergic reaction or even damage to the spinal cord. After that, the spine is x-rayed.
This method allows you to examine the spinal canal and determine where it has been damaged by degenerative processes. In addition, myelography can determine the presence of intervertebral hernias at the initial stage.
Magnetic resonance imaging is a more informative examination method, therefore it is used when differential diagnosis is necessary.
Tomography
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is carried out less frequently, as these methods are not yet available everywhere. Therefore, they are used in difficult cases, as well as if it is necessary to differentiate osteochondrosis from other diseases. But with an MRI or CT scan, you can examine the spine and surrounding tissues in detail.
These diagnostic methods allow you to see the condition of blood vessels, the presence of hernias, compression of nerve roots and the shape of intervertebral discs. They are necessary for the differential diagnosis of osteochondrosis with osteomyelitis, spinal cord tumors, spondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis and syringomyelia.
Timely identification of the symptoms of osteochondrosis and its correct diagnosis will help to start treatment on time. This will prevent the development of complications, alleviate the patient's condition and reduce the number of exacerbations.