The reduced height of the intervertebral disc: causes, symptoms, treatment
The reduction of height of intervertebral discs (intervertebral osteochondrosis), quite often. The disease affects more than 80% of the population. Often patients seek medical help when the situation has gone too far. To avoid complications, it is important to detect the problem, get treatment. Need to know how to manifest the reduction of the intervertebral discs, what it represents, what factors provoke him.
The content of the article
Anatomy of the vertebral joint
To understand what is intervertebral osteochondrosis, you need to understand the human anatomy, to find out how illness occurs, how it develops. The spine is an important part of the human body. It consists of vertebrae and intervertebral discs. In the centre of the spine runs the spinal canal. This canal is the spinal cord. From the spinal cord at odds with the network of spinal nerves responsible for the innervation of different parts of the body.
Intervertebral discs function as shock absorber (reduce the load on the spine) protect your spinal cord from damage. The disc consists of a Central core and a fibrous ring surrounding the nucleus. The kernel has studnational consistency. It is composed of polysaccharides, proteins, hyaluronic acid. The elasticity of the core gives a fibrous ring of dense tissue surrounding the kernel.
Intervertebral discs have no blood vessels. All nutrients come to them from nearby tissues.
Causes of intervertebral degenerative disc disease
Reducing the height of the disks develops as a result of circulatory disorders, slowing of metabolic processes, lack of essential nutrients (e.g., cervical). There are many causes of malnutrition.
Risk factors for reduced height drives:
- Age-related changes;
- Lack of exercise;
- Weight;
- Improper diet;
- Heredity;
- Injury;
- Stress;
- The metabolic disorders;
- Pregnancy;
- Infection;
- Bad habits;
- Individual characteristics;
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- Wearing shoes with high heels.
Often negative changes in the intervertebral discs occur under the influence of several factors. To treatment benefit, you need to consider all the causes. Coupled with curative measures to try to eliminate them.
As arises and develops
Under the influence of negative factors of disturbed nutrition of the intervertebral disc. The result is dehydration. Most of the process occurs in the lumbar and cervical spine, rarely in the breast.
Stage of development of intervertebral osteochondrosis:
- The pathological processes occurring in the intervertebral disc, without affecting nearby tissue. First, the nucleus of the disc loses its elasticity, then begins to break down. The fibrous ring becomes fragile, the disc begins to lose height;
- Part of the core begin to shift in all directions. This process triggers the protrusion of the fibrous ring. The intervertebral disc is reduced by a quarter. Is pinching the nerve endings, violation of lymph flow and blood circulation;
- The disc continues to deform or collapse. At this stage, its height is reduced two times compared to the norm. Amid degerativnye changes, the spine starts to deform. There is a curvature (scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis), spinal hernia. Intervertebral hernia is a rupture of the fibrous ring and out of the nucleus outside its borders;
- The height of disk continues to decline. Further deformation of the spine is accompanied by a shift of the vertebrae.
Due to degenerative changes in bony growths, appear comorbidities. Intervertebral osteochondrosis leads to the development of secondary sciatica, and even disability. Therefore, early detection of symptoms, timely diagnosis and treatment are of great importance.
Symptoms of pathology
Symptoms of the disease depends on the stage of its development. Start lowering the height of the disk often is asymptomatic. Some patients report stiffness in the movements. Further development of the disease is accompanied by pain syndrome.
Depending on localization of the inflammation of the following symptoms:
- Cervical headaches, stiffness, numbness in the cervical spine, dizziness, paresthesia of handspain in the chest, upper extremities. Often failure in this zone is accompanied by weakness, pressure drops, darkening of the eyes. Symptoms develop as a result of compression of the vertebral artery by intervertebral discs, which has changed its position.
- Thoracic. Low-grade pain in the area (the pain is dull, aching). Often have symptoms similar to gastritis, intercostal neuralgia, angina pectoris. Reducing the height of the disk is accompanied by numbness and pains in the limbs, formication in the area of the chest, discomfort in the heart, liver and stomach.
- Lumbar. This localization is manifested sharp pain in the lumbar region, buttocks, calves, thighs, stiffness of movements. Reducing the height of the disc leads to paresthesia (disturbance of sensation) and weakness in the legs.
- Degenerative processes in multiple departments is a common low back pain.
Having had such symptoms should immediately consult a doctor. Early treatment can significantly reduce the risk of developing secondary disorders. If you run the disease, the consequences can be dire, up to complete immobilization (disability).
Diagnosis of the disease
Often low back pain is manifested by symptoms similar to other diseases (sciatica, angina, etc.). Therefore, an accurate diagnosis is made only on the basis of the survey. Diagnosis reduce disc begins with examination by a neurologist.
After clarification of complaints and medical history, doctor, on the basis of the clinical picture will appoint additional instrumental diagnostic methods.
- Radiography is an effective method for diagnosis of low back pain. It allows you to identify pathological changes (e.g., in the cervical region) 1 even at the stage of the disease when symptoms are still there. However, the emergence of herniated discs at the initial stage of x-ray examination will not show.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect intervertebral hernia, to assess degenerative changes in the spinal cord.
- Electromyography (together) identify damage to neural pathways.
- The discography allows you to explore all of the damage in the structure of the disk.
The treatment of intervertebral degenerative disc disease
Fully cured reducing the height of the disks is impossible. It is only possible to stop the pathological processes. Treatments are aimed:
- The removal of pain;
- Improve blood circulation and metabolic reactions;
- Restoration of mobility of a vertebral disk.
This treatment can be conservative or operational. It all depends on the stage of the disease. Treatments needs to find a neurologist on the basis of the examination findings and the clinical picture. Depending on symptoms and stage of the disease, there are different types of drugs:
- To relieve swelling and reduce inflammation apply a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Nise, Ketanov, Movalis etc.);
- To enhance the metabolism prescribe vitamin complexes (Milhama, Unigame);
- To improve blood flow – Aminophylline, Trental;
- To relieve spasm use different types of muscle relaxants (Mydocalm, Tizanidine).
Drugs and their dosages should be prescribed only by a specialist. It is not necessary to self-medicate. This can lead to serious consequences.
The doctor may prescribe various pain medications. In severe cases, a drug blockade. During the period of treatment must be gentle for the back. Excludes any load on the spine. The doctor may prescribe a course of physiotherapy, therapeutic exercise, massage, swimming. All these procedures help to relieve muscle spasm, improve blood circulation and nutrition of intervertebral discs.
Surgery is only necessary in the case that long-term treatment does not work.
Preventive measures
Early diagnosis and proper treatment are important, but preventive measures also play a role. Methods of prevention to reduce the height of the intervertebral discs:
- Proper nutrition;
- The water balance of the body (40 ml per 1 kg of body weight);
- Getting rid of bad habits;
- Weight loss;
- Performing special exercises;
- Reducing the impact of stress on the body.
In addition, it is necessary to avoid hypothermia, injury of the spine, lifting heavy weights. Once a year you need to undergo routine medical examination, for early detection of spinal problems.