Osteoarthritis

If your lower back, back or neck hurts, difficulty standing up straight, spine is brittle – many people automatically diagnose: “of course – osteoarthritis!”The cause of this "disease" seems extremely clear: we are living in the 21st century, we exercise less, eat irregularly...

However, in reality everything is a little more complicated.

What is it - spondylosis?How appropriate is such a diagnosis?And what happens in the spine?

In scientific terms, osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease (that is, leading to premature “aging”, “wear and tear”) of the spine (by the way, it can also affect other joints).The pathological process starts from the intervertebral disc and gradually spreads to the vertebrae.

Spondylosis - is there such a diagnosis?

In English-speaking medicine, this term denotes a completely different group of diseases that have nothing to do with our “native” osteoarthritis.In the International Classification of Diseases, a book that all neurologists should consult when making a diagnosis, there are terms such as “adult spondylosis,” “adolescent spondylosis,” and “spondylosis, unspecified.”

However, sometimes this diagnosis is not completely justified when the doctor really cannot fully understand what is going on with the patient.This term can include diseases such as:

• Myofascial pain syndrome– a condition where contractions repeatedly occur in the same muscle.
• Muscle injury.After an injury, pain begins to bother you and after a while it goes away on its own.
• Otolith disease– a condition in which calcium salt crystals accumulate in the inner ear.They lead to dizziness - sometimes they are mistaken as a manifestation of diseases of the spine.
• Headache.They are also often associated with degenerative changes in the cervical spine.In fact, they often have other reasons.

Treatment of spondylosis

The standard set of treatment measures for exacerbation of the disease looks like this:

• Anti-inflammatory and pain relievers..
• If the pain is very severe and does not go away- Use Novocaine blockade.The doctor, armed with a needle and syringe, injects anesthetics into special places, where it blocks the transmission of nerve impulses that cause pain.
• Physical therapy helps:Electrophoresis of medicinal herbs with anesthesia, ultrasound, ultraviolet light, electrodynamic current.
• If pain forces you to constantly tense your nerves,Prescribe medication to help you calm down.
• Go to the painful areaDry heat is applied.
• To unload the spine,Different types of traction are used.The patient may be placed on a special bed with a raised headboard and secured with armpit rings.Underwater traction in swimming pools is also used.
• Your doctor may recommend ityou should see a chiropractor, acupuncture sessions.
• During an exacerbationwear special orthopedic devices that relieve muscle pain and support the spine - corsets, Shants collars.

Once the exacerbation is over, you need to take measures to prevent a new one.Therapeutic exercises and massage help strengthen the muscles that support the spine.Physical therapy courses are prescribed.Swimming is good for you.All methods of treating osteoarthritis have contraindications and must be used wisely, so self-medication is not the best choice.See your doctor.

Sometimes the symptoms of the disease, despite treatment, continue to increase and the patient's condition worsens.In this case, the neurologist may raise questions about surgical treatment.

Why should you see a doctor early?First, “true” osteochondrosis is not a harmless disease.Over time, it can leave a person disabled if not treated.Secondly, the symptoms may be caused by a similar myofascial pain syndrome - a neurologist will be able to quickly detect the cause of pain and eliminate it. 

Back pain is a symptom that, according to statistics, more than 90% of people experience at least once in their lives.Usually it is thought to be due to osteoarthritis.Not everyone with spinal pain sees a doctor.Many people self-medicate with medications that can be purchased without a prescription at a pharmacy or with folk remedies.Sometimes such "treatment" brings temporary relief - but in the meantime, the disease can continue to progress and perhaps next time the back or lower back will "twist" much stronger.

An experienced neurologist will be able to accurately assess the symptoms of osteoarthritis, understand their causes and prescribe the correct treatment for osteoarthritis.

Pain, the main manifestation of osteoarthritis, can be more or less successfully overcome in the long term with the help of painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs and some folk remedies.But this doesn't solve the main problem;Pathological changes in the spine continue to increase.

Over time, this leads to compression of the spinal cord and the arteries that supply it with blood, and the development of serious neurological complications: severe weakness, even complete loss of mobility and sensitivity, loss of control of the bladder and rectum.

What symptoms often appear in spinal cartilage degeneration?

A typical symptom of the disease is pain.As a rule, they have constant pain and discomfort, accompanied by numbness and pain in the arms and legs.Usually, the pain increases with sudden movements, lifting heavy objects, heavy work, sneezing, coughing, and staying in an uncomfortable, monotonous position for a long time.

The muscles surrounding the spine respond to pain.Tension arose within them.Because of this, patients can stay in an analgesic position - a position where pain does not bother them as much.Gradually this leads to scoliosis.

Over time, if the disease is not treated, the pain will intensify and become excruciating.Other signs of osteoarthritis occur:

• Sensitivity is reduced, numbness, tingling, "crawling" sensations appear in the hands and feet.
• The muscles of the limbs weaken and decrease in size over time - their atrophy develops.
• With cervical spondylosis, patients complain of headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, "spots" and flashes of light before the eyes.
• With osteonecrosis of the chest, pain in the heart is unpleasant.The person may feel “as if a stake were being driven into the chest.”
• If compression of the nerve roots of the spine occurs (for example, during the formation of a herniated disc, bone grows on the vertebrae), severe pain will occur.

Correct treatment of symptoms of spondylosis

The key to effective treatment is accurate and timely diagnosis.During a neurological examination at the clinic, a specialist will evaluate your symptoms and the level of impairment in certain neurological functions.

Here you can undergo an examination using new, modern equipment - this will help you understand in detail what is happening with your spine, nerve roots, surrounding tissues and muscles.

Treatment should not only be directed at the symptoms of osteonecrosis.You need to try to eliminate the cause, and if this is not possible, understand how you can most effectively control the disease and stop it from progressing.The neurologist will devise a precise treatment program and adjust it taking into account changes in your condition.

To defeat the enemy, you need to recognize him with the naked eye.This is the case with any disease: the doctor's careful examination, study of modern instruments and laboratory tests help to make an accurate diagnosis, understand what is happening in the patient's body and prescribe effective treatment for osteoarthritis.

The main manifestation of osteoarthritis is back pain, a symptom that can occur with many other diseases.To determine the exact cause and deal with it, you need the help of a specialist. 

Neurological examination in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis: what is the appointment like at the neurology clinic?

During your appointment, your doctor will ask you some questions:

• What complaints bother you?
• Where does pain usually occur?
• How long does the pain last?How strong is she?
• What is the nature of the pain: were they stabbed, shot, hurt, pulled?
• When do your symptoms usually occur?What excites them?
• When and after what do you feel better?

The doctor will then conduct a neurological examination, checking skin sensitivity, muscle strength and tone, reflexes, sense of balance and coordination of movements.The neurologist may press on specific points near your spine to determine pain.Later, to clarify the diagnosis, you will be assigned an examination program.

Our neurologists work according to the same standards: they will examine you carefully, not missing anything, and will prescribe all necessary tests.

What diagnostic methods are used for osteonecrosis?

Most often, the following diagnostic methods are prescribed for osteonecrosis:

• X-ray.It is performed in at least two views: frontal and frontal.If necessary, photos will be taken in other locations.
• X-ray contrast study.To better examine pathological changes in the spine, you may have a contrast solution injected into the spinal canal (myelography), intervertebral discs (intervertebral discs), and blood vessels (angiogram).These studies are performed only for special indications.
• Computed tomography.It helps examine the bone structure in more detail than an X-ray, to detect loss of disc height and bone growth on the vertebrae.
• Magnetic resonance imaging.Helps detect changes in soft tissue with high accuracy.

Your doctor may also prescribe other diagnostic methods for osteonecrosis.The specialist will ensure that you make an appointment with the right doctor and undergo all the necessary tests so that you do not end up paying too much for unnecessary procedures.

Prevent osteoarthritis

To keep your back healthy, follow these recommendations:

• Your nutrition must be complete.
• You need regular physical activity.If you suffer from chronic diseases, consult your doctor and ask him to recommend a suitable fitness complex.
• Maintain a normal weight - this will help prevent not only osteoarthritis, but also many other “ulcers”.
• If you have a sedentary job, take more frequent breaks to walk and stretch.
• Lift weights properly.Don't bend at the waist.Keep your back straight - your legs will do the work.

Osteoarthritis belongs to a group of diseases scientifically called "degenerative diseases".In other words, these are diseases in which the vertebrae, discs and joints prematurely "wear out", "with age" (this is not a completely accurate explanation, but in general it helps to roughly visualize what is happening with the spine).But what causes this premature wear and tear?

Why does bone degeneration occur?

Spondylosis is a disease without a specific cause.Various factors lead to its appearance:

• Injury.Osteonecrosis may become a large echo of a previous fracture or ligament injury.
• Microtrauma.They can be caused by frequent similar movements in the spine, staying in a monotonous uncomfortable position for long periods of time.
• Congenital malformations of the spine.They are different: non-fusion of the vertebral arches, change in the number of vertebrae in the lumbar and sacral regions, incorrect location of the articular processes in the lumbar region.A person may not suspect all his life that he has one of these conditions, and then, when his back is "sick", the abnormality will be revealed during the examination.
• Autoimmune conditionin which immune cells appear in the discs, attacking the body's tissues.
• Circulatory disorders.The tissues of the spine stop receiving the necessary amount of oxygen-rich blood.

Who most often suffers from osteoarthritis?

Some conditions contribute to spine problems:

• Sedentary lifestyle, little physical activity.Office workers are at higher risk.
• Overweight.Every extra kilogram puts stress on the spine.
• Excessive physical activity.Overload during training in athletes.
• Poor nutrition.In order for the vertebrae, ligaments and muscles to be healthy and withstand loads, they must receive the necessary substances - “building materials”.
• Before that, there were injuries to the neck, back, and lower back.
• Untreated postural disorders, scoliosis.
• Continuously staying, working in uncomfortable forced positions, often having to stand or sit hunched over for long periods of time.
• If you have a relative with osteoarthritis, your risk also increases.

What happens to the spine during osteoarthritis?

The development of osteonecrosis is mainly based on the “wear and tear” of the intervertebral disc.Its structure changes at the molecular level.At first, the intervertebral disc swells, then "dries up", its height decreases, it begins to protrude beyond the vertebral body and cracks and tears appear in the outer part.Through them, vessels grow inside, the intervertebral disc becomes denser, and calcification begins in it.Vertebrae become loose.

Next, the degenerative process spreads to the vertebrae themselves and the intervertebral joints.The muscles surrounding the affected part of the spine are constantly tense and spasms appear in them.

To compensate for the increased load on the vertebrae, bone cells (osteoporosis) appear on them, increasing their surface.

Depending on the place where pathological changes occur, cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteoarthritis are distinguished.Two or all three parts may be affected at the same time.