Many patients do not know how to understand that they have osteochondrosis, but at the same time they are happy to make such a diagnosis themselves. The causes of back, lower back or neck pain can be varied. This can be a curvature of the spine, disorders of the internal organs, tumors, infections, instabilities in the position of the vertebral bodies, etc. Therefore, you should not self-diagnose. In case of pain, consult a doctor.
There is no reliable algorithm how to detect osteochondrosis without special examinations. However, there are certain clinical signs that allow the suspicion of this disease. We will talk about this in the material that will be brought to your attention. In the meantime, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the mechanism of formation of osteochondrosis.
Degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs - this is scientifically called osteochondrosis. When it develops, it leads to dorsopathy, which is complicated by dorsalgia, sciatica, sciatica, sciatica, lumbago and other syndromes associated with damage to various tissues.
Osteochondrosis is a consequence of maintaining a person's wrong lifestyle. The contributing factors are:
- Obesity - every kilogram creates additional depreciation and mechanical stress on the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral disc;
- a sedentary lifestyle with no regular exercise on the muscular frame of the back;
- eat large amounts of carbohydrates, refined foods;
- wearing tight, uncomfortable clothes and shoes;
- incorrect posture, the habit of bending, hunching, tilting the body in one direction or another;
- deformity of the foot in the form of flatfoot or clubfoot;
- curvature of the spine;
- sedentary work or heavy physical labor;
- smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages;
- insufficient consumption of clean drinking water during the day.
All these factors slow down blood microcirculation in the capillary network in the thickness of muscle tissue. It turns out that it cannot carry out a full-fledged diffuse exchange with the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs. They don't have their own circulatory system. In this way, the mechanism of destruction of the surface of the fibrous ring (this is the outer shell of the intervertebral disc) is started. It forms a deposit of calcium salts. They prevent the absorption of liquid from the outside. Therefore, the fibrous ring begins to draw fluid from the nucleus pulposus within. This gelatinous body is responsible for maintaining the disc's normal height and shape. Therefore, with the loss of fluid, the nucleus pulposus loses its ability to maintain disc height. The second stage of osteochondrosis develops - protrusion.
In the third stage, the fibrous ring tears and part of the nucleus pulposus comes out. It's a herniated disc. It presses on the surrounding soft tissues, provokes an inflammatory reaction, etc.
The fourth stage of osteochondrosis is the sequestration of the intervertebral hernia. A portion of the nucleus pulposus detaches or exits entirely through the resulting rupture of the fibrous ring. If the hernia enters the cavity of the spinal canal, its sequestration requires emergency surgical operation. Otherwise, a person can remain disabled with paralysis of the body for the rest of his life.
As you can see, this is a very serious disease that needs timely diagnosis. The earlier complex treatment is started, the higher the chances of fully restoring the integrity of the intervertebral disc and its functions.
When the first signs of osteochondrosis appear, you can make an appointment with a vertebrologist or neurologist. The doctors conduct an examination and a manual examination. They will make an accurate diagnosis and recommend the necessary additional tests. After an accurate diagnosis, you will be offered treatment.
How to recognize cervical osteochondrosis
How to understand that you have cervical osteochondrosis, and not myositis, and what to do next? Before you identify cervical osteochondrosis, you need to take an anamnesis:
- when pain occurs;
- what actions provoke their appearance;
- how long ago was the first seizure;
- Are there additional clinical signs?
- how the sleeping and working place is organized;
- what bad habits are there;
- place of work and occupation.
After all this information, how to understand this cervical osteochondrosis? First of all, it is important to know that a degenerative degenerative disease of the intervertebral discs manifests itself only in the initial stages in the form of pain, rigidity of movement, overstrain of the muscles of the neck and collar zone. Then there are tension headaches, dizziness, hearing and vision disorders, increased tiredness, reduced mental performance, etc. , in addition to these signs.
A distinctive feature of cervical osteochondrosis is that the aggravation of symptoms begins at the end of the working day. And the professional activity of the patient in most cases is associated with a prolonged static tension of the muscles of the neck and collar zone. On examination, there is pain when palpating the spinous processes of the vertebrae, excessive muscle tension, and increased pain when trying to turn the head.
Before detecting osteochondrosis of the cervical region, the doctor recommends that the patient take an X-ray. It shows the reduced spaces between the vertebral bodies. This indicates that a protrusion is developing. With the help of an X-ray, an experienced vertebrologist can exclude instability in the position of the vertebral bodies, their subluxations, retrolisthesis, antelisthesis, destruction of the intervertebral joints and a number of other serious pathologies. If this examination is not sufficient, it is recommended to perform an MRI or CT scan. If you suspect the development of the syndrome of the posterior vertebral artery, it is recommended to conduct an ultrasound examination of the vessels of the neck and head.
How to recognize osteochondrosis of the chest region
Before detecting thoracic osteochondrosis, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of developing pathologies of internal organs such as the heart, cardiovascular system, lungs, pleura, bronchi, etc. Consider how to identify osteochondrosis of the chest region:
- the main diagnostic technique is palpation, if the pain is determined exclusively by the spinous processes of the vertebrae and in the area of the paravertebral muscles, degenerative destruction of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs is not excluded;
- mobility is limited and all twists and turns of the body increase pain;
- the attack of pain was provoked by physical exertion, hypothermia or psychological stressors;
- Taking a deep breath does not increase the pain.
It is very important to know how to understand the heart, or osteochondrosis, since acute chest pain is quite often a precursor to myocardial infarction. And in this condition, the patient should receive immediate cardiological care.
Therefore, if fear, panic and fear of death are felt during an attack of pain, then the probability of a heart attack is 90% and you need to urgently call an ambulance. If there is a tonometer, then you need to measure blood pressure and count the pulse. If the pulse slows down to bradycardia (less than 50 beats per minute), and blood pressure increases by 20–40 mm Hg above the age norm, an attack of unstable angina with a possible transition to myocardial infarction should also be suspected .
You should not look for information on how to understand a heartache or osteochondrosis, it is much more productive to seek medical help. Even the most common EKG taken in the hospital emergency room shows what triggers the pain syndrome: the heart or the spine. Separately, you can only rely on sensations during palpation. With damage to the heart muscle, palpation of the spinous processes of the vertebrae, as a rule, does not cause any unpleasant sensations. But at the same time there are such clinical symptoms of osteochondrosis as shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of air, pallor of the skin, a feeling of cold sticky sweat on the skin, cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle and severe muscle weakness.
How to recognize osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine?
Quite acute is the question of how to understand that osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine causes severe pain. In addition, with the defeat of some paired radicular nerves, as well as nerve plexuses, clinical symptoms similar to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary system appear. These are constipation, diarrhea, frequent urination, etc.
How to understand that your osteochondrosis in the back causes pain and all other clinical signs:
- no increase in body temperature;
- no nausea and vomiting;
- the tongue is not covered with white or yellow coating;
- when urinating, the color of urine does not deviate from normal;
- when emptying the intestines there is no tenesmus and other painful sensations;
- there is no admixture of blood or mucus in the feces.
To exclude renal pathology, a test for Pasternatsky's symptom is performed. The patient stands upright with his back to the doctor. The doctor lightly taps the edge of the lower costal arch with the edge of the palm. If pain occurs, there is a high probability that back pain is associated with damage to the kidneys and ureters.
How to recognize osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine by indirect signs:
- with every movement, the pain increases sharply;
- aggravation of the condition begins after heavy physical exertion, heavy lifting, hypothermia or overheating of the body;
- Stiffness of movements is felt, often associated with muscle weakness;
- muscles in the lumbar region are severely strained, painful when palpated;
- Pain can spread along large nerves, for example, in the groin, on the anterior abdominal wall, along the lower extremities;
- at rest, the pain syndrome quickly subsides.
When characteristic symptoms of osteochondrosis appear, it is important to contact a neurologist or vertebrologist as soon as possible. Only an experienced doctor can rule out the possibility of vertebral displacement, herniated disc, spinal canal stenosis and other dangerous pathologies that require immediate medical attention.
What to do with pain from osteochondrosis?
We figured out how to understand that pain arises from osteochondrosis. This is important information now. You need to know how to behave correctly and what to do to get rid of such a disease.
A degenerative disease of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs does not heal on its own. This is due to a number of factors. First, calcification of the surface of the fibrous ring occurs, as a result of which it loses the ability to absorb the fluid secreted by working muscles. Second, as the disc height decreases, there is a secondary contraction of the ligaments and tendons. The height of the intervertebral spaces required for the erection of the intervertebral discs can no longer be restored by oneself.