The "pearl necklace" of the spine requires careful attention, if there is no adequate prevention of diseases of the spine, the symptoms of osteochondrosis appear. The treatment in this case is long, it is impossible to completely restore the integrity of the spine and cartilaginous discs.
In general, osteochondrosis is considered to be a change in the bone tissue, ligament apparatus, cartilage and intervertebral discs of the spine. This process is long, the changes do not appear "suddenly", but are felt by the first characteristic signs and symptoms. Most often, it is mainly pain that appears when nerve fibers, soft tissues or blood vessels are violated. Signs of osteochondrosis directly depend on the stage of the course of the disease and the area of the lesion, the treatment of each stage is different.
clinical picture
Walking in an upright position is a distinctive feature of a person like homo sapiens and, at the same time, it is the upright position that is the main reason for the development of osteochondrosis. Not a single representative of the four-legged walking fauna is familiar with the symptoms of osteochondrosis. When walking in a standing position, the intervertebral cartilages undergo a colossal load and over time undergo changes, deformation occurs, the spine ceases to fully perform its functions.
Four groups of characteristic changes:
Neurological syndrome
With symptoms of nerve damage, there may be a loss of skin sensation or a decrease in muscle strength. With osteochondrosis of the spine, the first sign of neurological disorders can be considered the appearance of pain, which is a consequence of compression or irritation of the spinal roots. The first signs are localized in a limited area of the back, where the pathological changes began. As the pain progresses, it gradually "spreads" to all parts of the body located in the innervation zone of the compressed nerve root. Mainly, the pain can be given in the arms or legs, this state of affairs usually forms an incorrect idea of the diagnosis, and the treatment is not carried out correctly.
In neurological syndrome, symptoms of impaired motor function develop less frequently than sensitive ones. If this happens, symptoms of partial or complete loss of mobility in the arm or leg may be observed, for example: with sacro-lumbar osteochondrosis of the spine, paresis of the left or right lower limb occurs.
Static syndrome
The first symptom appears already when the changes in the vertebrae begin. As a result, incorrect posture develops: lordosis, kyphosis or scoliosis. In difficult cases, there is a limitation of the mobility of the articular surfaces of the spine, the signs of this are expressed in the inability to fully straighten or turn the head.
Vascular syndrome
Spinal vascular problems develop for the following reasons:
- Low tone of sympathetic NS (signs of chronic ischemia of the internal organs).
- With local compression of blood vessels by impaired vertebrae or their processes. Signs of osteochondrosis in this case are expressed in a violation of the blood supply to the brain when large vessels are compressed. Symptoms of oxygen deprivation include dizziness, poor blood supply to the inner ear, or nausea. Symptomatic treatment, as a rule, does not give serious results.
Trophic syndrome
Such symptoms of osteochondrosis are characterized by the appearance of ulcers on the skin, which is a consequence of tissue malnutrition. Skin lesions appear in combination with neurological and vascular factors. The exact signs depend on which part of the back was affected.
Typical manifestations of the pathology
Each part of the spine has its own typical signs of osteochondrosis, according to which a vertebral neurologist diagnoses the disease in men and women. Based on these symptoms, you can understand which parts of the back are affected and which treatment is needed first.
There are several types of osteochondrosis: thoracic, cervical, lumbar, sacral and mixed, when the localization of the signs is not in one department, but has a diffuse character. The first signs of the development of osteochondrosis in women and men begin to make themselves felt with mild dull pains, discomfort, crunching, often with thoracic osteochondrosis, pain occurs in the region of the heart. Ideally, treatment should be started at this stage, so it will be possible to avoid all problems in the back in the future.
In addition, the signs of osteochondrosis become clear, painful sensations begin to be given to the arms or legs. Pain in the spine increases with any load and gradually it becomes problematic to perform movements associated with forward bending. The more osteochondrosis occurs, the more limited the mobility of the back, the thinned intervertebral discs lose their flexibility, the distance between the vertebrae decreases and their mobility is lost. The muscles begin to work in "emergency mode", being constantly in tension, supporting the vertebrae to prevent them from approaching and completely destroying the intervertebral discs.
Tense muscles cause even more discomfort to a person, increasing tension, pain, symptoms of osteochondrosis intensify.
Cervical pathology
The signs of cervical osteochondrosis often "hide" in the guise of other diseases. The first sign of neck pathology is a headache that cannot be relieved by conventional pain relievers. Start from the back of the head, going to the temples. Unpleasant sensations intensify after a long stay in one position; numbness of the arm, shoulder blade and shoulder often appears. With a strong pinching of the nerve fibers, paresis or paralysis of the hand can develop.
When blood vessels are violated, signs of cerebrovascular accident appear:
- Tinnitus, dizziness - speak of poor blood flow in the cochlea and semicircular tubules.
- Reduced vision, flies in front of the eyes - indicate a poor diet of the optic system.
- Severe oxygen deficiency in the brain - can manifest itself in sudden loss of consciousness, especially if cervical osteochondrosis is accompanied by atherosclerosis of the vessels.
Hiccups, a feeling of lack of air, shortness of breath and panic attacks "speak" of damage to the phrenic nerve. The phrenic nerve is part of the cervical plexus and is directly related to the regulation of the rate and depth of breathing.
Breast pathology
The signs of thoracic osteochondrosis are quite diverse, although this part of the spine is affected less often, in both women and men. Painful sensations have a clear localization: the upper abdomen, the area of the shoulder blades and between the ribs. But osteochondrosis often "hides" behind signs of intestinal or renal colic, angina pectoris or cholecystitis.
Symptoms that indicate a lesion of one or the other thoracic segment:
- Upper thoracic segment. Sensation of lump in the throat, violation of the act of swallowing, cough.
- Middle thoracic segment. Symptoms mimicking gastritis and ulcers (gastralgia) and symptoms of arrhythmia and hypertension (cardialgia).
- Lower thoracic segment. Symptoms of intestinal motility disorders and appendicitis-like signs appear.
Lumbar pathology
The signs of damage to this section are extensive, but very often the first signs are felt with pain in the lower back and legs, loss of sensation and numbness of the skin of the lower limbs.
Changes in the lumbosacral region, characteristic symptoms:
- Pain and low back pain are observed after physical exertion.
- When motor nerve fibers are pinched, paresis and paralysis of the legs develop.
- Pinching of the nerves and blood vessels in men and women leads to rupture of the pelvic organs.
It should always be remembered that osteochondrosis of the spine is a hidden and insidious disease. You can treat the respiratory, genitourinary, or gastrointestinal tract for years, but not get positive results from therapy. Therefore, in case of signs of disease, it makes sense to refer primarily to a neurologist and not to a cardiologist, therapist or gastroenterologist.