Symptoms and signs of osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a widespread and rapidly "rejuvenating" disease that affects masses of people around the world.

These are degenerative changes of dystrophic nature in the bone tissues of the spine, its joints, cartilage, ligaments.

For some time a person may not notice the disease, but the signs of osteochondrosis are felt quite quickly: the spine acquires pathological mobility, affects nerve endings, blood vessels, even neighboring tissues, causing severe pain.

If the disease begins, then the rapidly growing bone processes further damage the nerve roots as well as the blood vessels.

The symptoms are largely due to the location of the disease.

The main symptoms of the disease

Typically, all symptoms are categorized into four major groups and are associated with both the affected area and the individual characteristics of each patient's spine. It should be borne in mind that the manifestations of the disease can be significantly increased if a person has a cold, has a cold, is under severe stress, abuses alcohol, eats irregularly or improperly, and also does not normalize physical activity.

1. Static symptoms depend on the change in the shape of each vertebra, which leads to worsening posture: a person acquires scoliosis or even kyphosis with lordosis, can not properly straighten his back and turn his head freely. The spine loses its flexibility.
2. Neurological symptoms are damage to nerve tissue, which disrupts not only the strength of muscle contractions, but also a violation of skin sensitivity. The spinal roots are compressed, there is pain, tingling, numbness, aching sensation in the affected area. If the disease begins, it can cause paresis of the limbs (partial loss of ability to move or even complete paralysis).
3. Vascular symptoms develop for two reasons. First, due to compression of arteries by veins (especially in cervical osteochondrosis, when the arteries supplying the brain are compressed), which leads to a noticeable deterioration in blood supply to the brain, nausea, dizziness and lack of oxygen in certain areas. Second, due to irritation of the nerve fibers, a change in the state of the sympathetic nervous system develops. The result is spasms of many vessels, even ischemia.
4. Trophic symptoms occur when the aforementioned neurological manifestations overlap with vascular symptoms. As a result, tissue nutrition becomes much worse, leading to ulcers.

If osteochondrosis of the neck develops

The signs of osteochondrosis vary depending on which specific area of the body is affected. Cervical osteochondrosis is a dangerous and insidious enemy. First there is a headache in which the analgesics simply do not work.

Painful sensations can affect the back of the head, the temples, intensify after a person is at rest without movement, and not only the head itself, but also the skin hurts. Then the problem is joined by painful sensations in the arms and shoulders, the sensitivity of these areas is impaired.

If you do nothing, the case can end in paralysis of the hands.

In addition to pain, cervical osteochondrosis is accompanied by other symptoms:

• Nausea, unpleasant sounds, unexpected dizziness.
• Deterioration of vision, flies in front of the eyes (all this is a consequence of a violation of proper nutrition and metabolism in the optical system).
• Fainting due to lack of oxygen to the brain, shaky, unstable gait.
• Hiccups, shortness of breath (if the diaphragmatic nerve is affected), a lump in the throat.
• Impaired mobility of the neck, painful sensations in it, constant muscle tension.
• Trophic changes in the skin of the hands.
• Constant weakness, lack of strength and fatigue, frequent irritability, a feeling of warmth or, conversely, chills.

Quite often the lesion of the cervical spine is confused with strokes, hypertension, ENT problems and even neurasthenia.

If the chest area is affected

What symptoms accompany the disease, if it relates to the chest, it is easy to imagine if you remember which organs may be affected. This department is relatively rarely affected, it is difficult to recognize the disease, as the symptoms are easily confused with the manifestations of other problems.

First, there is pain between the shoulder blades or in the chest, in the upper abdomen. It can include internal pain and be confused with angina pectoris, intestinal or kidney colic, or liver problems. Then it all depends on the department involved:

• If the upper chest segment is affected, the person has trouble swallowing, feels a lump in the throat and coughs.
• Defeat of the middle chest area causes pain similar to the manifestation of gastritis, peptic ulcer, heart problems. Arrhythmia occurs, blood pressure rises.
• If the lower thoracic segment suffers, the work of the intestine is impaired, the pain is similar to the manifestations of appendicitis.
• To this can be added painful sensations in the heart, increased pulse, shortness of breath, unpleasant sensation of cold, burning or tingling in the chest and abdomen.

The main problem is not that osteochondrosis can be mistaken for heart attack, angina pectoris, abdominal disease or pneumonia for a long time, but that due to pain a person tries to breathe more accurately, saves himself, resulting in a vicious circle: pathology of the respiratory system, chronic respiratory failure, heart damage.

If the lower back is affected

The lumbar region suffers most often, because it receives the greatest loads not only during movements, all kinds of movements, but also when lifting heavy objects. The problem with the lumbar region, above all, is felt with painful sensations not only in the lower back but also in the lower extremities, leading to tingling in the skin of the feet. Then additional symptoms appear:

• If the motor fibers are affected, then paresis may develop, the case will end in paralysis of the legs.
• Nerve damage causes not only pain in the lumbar spine, but also severe lumbago after each load.
• If the functions of the pelvis are affected and the blood supply to the pelvic organs is disturbed, a person will suffer not only from pain, but also from difficulty urinating (in men also with erections), from fecal incontinence.

Most often, physical activity, sudden movements, hypothermia become a trigger for the onset of pain. The roots are compressed, the intervertebral discs are displaced. The person begins to suffer from painful, dull or, conversely, sharp pain.

Often the painful sensations affect not only the lower back, but also the buttocks, thighs, legs and even the feet. In advanced cases, the volume of the lower limbs may decrease.

Conclusion

Whatever areas are affected by osteochondrosis, it is always a very serious disease that requires the active participation and intervention of doctors. Despite the various signs, its main manifestation is severe pain, difficulty moving. Painful sensations are "masked" as manifestations of other diseases, so most often people first turn to cardiologists, therapists, gastroenterologists, who suspect that they have been diagnosed with problems with the heart, digestive tract or other organs.

First of all, it is necessary to contact a neurologist and it is advisable to do this before the onset of pain, which is characteristic only of osteochondrosis and even more other signs (such as paresis and paralysis). The doctor, in the first place, will ensure the elimination of pain (prescribe various painkillers), will improve metabolic processes in all tissues (both cartilage and muscle, and in the nerve), eliminate hernias, if they have already formed.

In addition to medication, the patient is prescribed massage, mandatory physical education and various physiotherapeutic measures.