Osteochondrosis refers to degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the spine and joints with progression. The more neglected the disease, the more pronounced the symptoms that affect the person's lifestyle and work ability. 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 of age were affected, but recently there is a tendency to "rejuvenate" the disease. Symptoms of juvenile or juvenile osteochondrosis have become common.
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 disturbed and the process of salt deposition and destruction of the disc structure begins. People with excess weight, a sedentary lifestyle and athletes are susceptible to this.
During pregnancy, the risk of disease increases due to weight gain and lack of vitamins. Lymph nodes also increase in size during pregnancy. The heart and other organs suffer from it, and in combination with osteochondrosis it is very dangerous. The load on the shoulders, knees, neck and tailbone increases.
Over the years, almost every person suffers from osteochondrosis of the spine. Professions associated with long periods of sitting, monotonous movements pose a threat to the neck, lower back and coccyx. The following conditions affect the appearance of the disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- course of pregnancy;
- endocrine, infectious diseases;
- poisoning or exposure to drugs, toxic and chemical substances;
- eating disorder, lifestyle.
In addition to the spine, osteochondrosis of the joints often occurs. The 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 load on the legs, as well as injuries or inflammatory processes in the body.
The muscles of the legs bear huge loads, unlike the joints, so the latter suffer more often.
With existing osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic region, symptoms of damage to the elbow joint can be observed. Often the pathology is combined with arthritis or arthrosis. Predisposing factors are injuries and constant overstrain of the elbow joint.
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 nerve plexuses in the shoulder area, or from external factors. An injury to the neck, shoulder blades or hands causes osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the spinal column
Osteochondrosis of the spine occurs in different departments. The most common pathology is the lumbar part. The disease is associated with severe stress on the lower back and is dangerous due to the threat of pinching the sciatic nerve and creating a hernia.
There are symptoms such as pain, increased at night or during exercise. It is difficult to find the right position in sleep and rest. There may be "lumbago" of the lower back or disturbed sensitivity of the legs, especially the knee joint, tailbone. 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 in the region of the tailbone is inflamed, then the pain descends to the lower extremities, the buttocks, to the knee joint. To relieve the pain, it is better for the person to take a comfortable position and drink antispasmodics, relaxants or analgesics.
During pregnancy, osteochondrosis of the lower back sometimes makes normal childbirth difficult. Then you have to do the surgery. Antispasmodics are taken carefully during this period so as not to damage the fetus.
In diseases of the spine, doctors use the identification of specific symptoms for diagnosis - the symptom of Lasegue. For a neuropathologist, Lasegue's symptom is important for determining the degree of the disease.
Lasegue's symptom is always performed when a neurological disorder is suspected. With the Lasegue method, the doctor slowly raises the leg in a straight position, not allowing the knee to bend. Lasegue's sign is tested in three stages by bending and extending the leg. Based on the occurrence of pain in certain positions. During pregnancy, the Lasegue method is not performed.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical region is often combined with lesions of the shoulder and elbow joints. There are pains in the neck and head, spreading to the shoulder blades and arms, pains in the heart. They are bought with antispasmodics. There is ringing in the ears, vision is deteriorating.
The pain is aggravated by movements of the neck, head or shoulder blade. In the acute period, the lymph nodes may be affected, pain may occur in the muscles in the neck and elbow joint. Then urgent treatment is needed to prevent complications on the heart, brain, and blood vessels.
The patient is constantly troubled by the question: how to sleep with cervical osteochondrosis and properly position the head on the pillow?
This is especially true for women during pregnancy. Only antispasmodics and treatment help.
Pathology of the thoracic region is less common. Symptoms of pain in the heart, shoulder area, shoulder girdle, and neck were recorded. The lymph nodes are inflamed, sometimes because of the pain it is impossible to raise your arms, take a deep breath. Osteochondrosis is often mistaken for heart pain. If you take antispasmodics, the pain in the muscles, the heart disappears. If the disease is in an advanced stage, then antispasmodics do not always help and the following symptoms are added:
- violation of leg sensitivity;
- increased pain at night, when moving, breathing;
- burning, itching in heart, scapular region, along ribs.
Often in practice, osteochondrosis affects several parts of the spine. Symptoms during pregnancy are especially unpleasant, when it is undesirable to take antispasmodics. She saved and started treatment in time.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis includes conducting hardware studies, examination and examination of the patient. It is important to pay attention to such specific signs as Lasegue's symptom. In order to rule out pathology in the heart and other internal organs, ultrasound and EKG are performed. X-rays, MRI, CT are done to examine the spine.
Treatment of osteochondrosis should be long and complex. Treatment is divided into symptomatic therapy 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 have peripheral and central action. Which medicine to choose, the doctor decides.
The treatment includes a combination of physiotherapy, massage, reflexology. Treatment allows manual therapy, banks, ointments and folk methods.
Osteochondrosis of 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 such symptoms as pain during movement, swelling, deformation. Improperly selected hand position brings discomfort and pain. Inflammation of the lymph nodes occurs in the affected area. Moreover, lymph nodes can hurt not only in the affected area, but also affect neighboring lymph nodes.
For the correct diagnosis, X-ray, CT, MRI are used, they are examined, palpated and the Lasegue symptom is checked. Complex treatment is required to restore muscle and joint function. You have to do massage, ERT, take antispasmodics, NSAIDs, relaxants. In advanced cases, surgery is performed. But first, conservative treatment is always prescribed, especially during pregnancy.