Translated from Greek, the word “chondrosis” can be translated as “cartilage”.However, as a rule, the word “osteochondrosis” does not mean any damage to the cartilage tissue (which would be logical), but only diseases of the cartilage spine.
In patients with osteochondrosis, the structure (and, therefore, the function) of the intervertebral discs - special cartilaginous structures, ensuring the mobility and flexibility of the human spine.
As the disease progresses, irreversible changes also arise and develop in the vertebrae themselves.
The causes of osteochondrosis
All the reasons why a person has such a disease as osteochondrosis, specialists divide into endogenous (or internal) and exogenous (or, accordingly, external).
Endogenous (internal) causes are considered disorders of the spine that arose in a person in the womb, as well as age -related changes in cartilage and hereditary predisposition to osteochondrosis.
The main exogenous (external) cause experts consider the improper distribution of the load that is reaching the spine.It is such a distribution that causes changes occurring with cartilage in those places where the greatest excess pressure is.
In addition, the causes of the development of osteochondrosis are trauma of the spine and a variety of infections, stooping and improper posture, weakness of the back muscles and lateral (S-shaped) curvature of the spine.In addition, the negative consequences for the spine may have weights of weights or prolonged stay in an uncomfortable or unnatural position.
Contrary to popular belief, not only people of mental labor and those who do not follow their posture can suffer (and suffer) from osteochondrosis.This disease torments even those who are well prepared physically.For example, movers, drivers and professional athletes.
In addition to the causes of the purely mechanical property, problems with metabolism (for the most part, calcium and phosphorus), as well as a deficiency of trace elements and vitamins (in particular magnesium, manganese, zinc and vitamin D) can lead to the appearance and development of osteochondrosis.Many doctors are sure that a predisposition to osteochondrosis, inherited, also plays a significant role in the occurrence of the disease.
What happens with osteochondrosis?
When a person tosses heavies, jumps or falls, often sits in an uncomfortable position, and so on, intervertebral discs receive microtrauma.If such injuries occur more or less often, over time, discs lose their elasticity and flatten, and at the same time the distance between the vertebrae decreases.As a result, there is a squeezing of the nerve roots extending from the spinal cord.This is what causes back pain.At the same time, in the very place where the nervous-vascular bundle is pushed, the edema forms-as a result, the load on the same bundle increases, and the pain intensifies.
When the destruction of the intervertebral disc has already begun, it ceases to play the role of the shock absorber, getting more and more injuries.Over time, a person’s spine loses its natural flexibility.
How does osteochondrosis manifest itself?
The main manifestation of osteochondrosis is back pain.From which intervertebral discs are damaged, the patient feels different pain.He can hurt not only his back, but also his neck, or maybe a hand or heart.Sometimes osteochondrosis gives away even into the chest.A person can easily decide that something was happening with his heart, but in fact it was one of the nerves.In addition to pain, a person often feels numb muscle and overstrain.Headache, nausea, vomiting, ears in the ears, dizziness and double in the eyes, as well as cases of fainting, can indicate that blood vessels are squeezed that carry blood to the brain.
Diagnosis for osteochondrosis
If one of the symptoms described above is manifested in you, this is an occasion to seek a consultation with a traumatologist or neurologist.One of these experts will examine the spinal column and study cerebral circulation.If the doctor considers it necessary, he can send you to an X-ray, or to prescribe a computer or magnetic resonance tomography (MRI) of the spine that bothers you.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Get ready to allocate a lot of time for treatment with osteochondrosis.In addition, you will need your willpower.There are a fairly large number of ways to combat osteochondrosis.These are medication methods, and traction, and massage, and therapeutic gymnastics, and needleoflexotherapy.In addition, manual therapists have their own methods - in some cases, it is they who show high efficiency.Wealthy medicine is also rich in ideas, offering to treat osteochondrosis with bee poison, can massage and many other miraculous methods.If osteochondrosis has a complication in the form of a hernia of the intervertebral discs, alas, you can not do without surgical intervention - you need an operation.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
This is what profile doctors usually recommend in order to prevent radiculitis and osteochondrosis:
- In time, adjust the arising curvature of the spine, as well as posture disorders.It is especially worth paying attention to this item to the parents of schoolchildren.
- Regularly play sports and physical education.Thanks to sports loads, the so -called muscle corset is formed.Muscles - they will make it much more effectively about your posture than a variety of standing by wood and seating with a straight back.In addition, your own muscles will protect the spine even when you forget about it.
- Try to eat right, adhere to a diet.Follow the presence in your diet of products with a high content of vitamins, calcium and magnesium (they are abundantly present in fish and other seafood, spinach, cabbage, nuts and seeds, beans and peas, fresh milk and bread made of coarse -grinding).
- Do not allow the appearance of excess weight.Extra pounds are an unnecessary load on your spine.
- Taking severity, distribute the loads on both hands as evenly as possible.If possible, use backpacks, not bags.If you need to raise something very difficult-rely on your feet, and not on the spine, look at how the Broatists do it.