Causes, symptoms and treatment of acute cervical and lumbar chondrosis

Chondrosis is a very common degenerative disease of the intervertebral discs. Most often the patient himself was not concerned chondrosis, and its consequences.

The Term "chondrosis" is simplified from original title pathology – degenerative disc disease.

sharp chondrosis

What is acute chondrosis

As stated in the title, this pathology occurs with a predominantly spicy character. But there is a probability of transition of acute forms to chronic. Return return in a chronic form is called acute relapse of symptoms.

Is Erroneous opinion that during the course of chronic forms of the disease disappear. Everything is completely the opposite – a pathological process is ongoing and requires treatment.

To have a deeper knowledge of this pathology, it is necessary to know its classification according to the localization.

Chondrosis of the cervical spine.

In this case, the pathological process affects one or more of the cervical intervertebral discs. In symptomatology of the patient is prevalent pain in the neck. Abdominal pain is often sharp in nature and increases during active head rotation. Irradiation of the pain occurs in nearby areas: under the shoulder blade, in arm, in the head, mimicking a migraine.

Pathology of the thoracic spine.

This form is less common. Pain with chondrosis of the thoracic intervertebral discs of the specific nature and called intercostal chondrosis. This name is due to the fact that the pathological process in the thoracic spine pinch the spinal nerves. Anatomically, these nerves pass forward to the sternum through the intercostal spaces.

This is why patients often complain not of pain in the back, and pain along the nerve roots.

Pain in the lumbar spine.

Patients with this pathology complain that one of two very strong pain – sciatica and lumbago. Pathology this Department often mimics the pain of renal colic and has a large radiating along the nerve endings.

Etiology and pathogenesis of the disease

The causes of the pathology, there are many, select the most frequent among them:

  • congenital abnormalities of the skeleton
  • injury and surgical intervention;
  • inflammation in the spine (for example, bone tuberculosis, osteomyelitis);
  • severe intoxication;
  • mineral and hormonal imbalances;
  • single or multiple organ failure;
  • hernia
  • old age
  • severe conditions
  • gemodinamicheski lifestyle;
  • excess weight
  • prone to strong spasms of the muscles of the back.

Initially harmful factor affects the healthy intervertebral disc. In this disk gradually begins the process of degenerative changes. Over time, intervertebral disc changes its physico-chemical and physiological characteristics, it becomes more susceptible to stress and vibrations.

Despite the fact that the beginning of the disease is a degenerative change of the intervertebral discs, the disease manifests itself for very different reasons. During the displacement of the affected disc trapped spinal nerve, which normally passes through a small intervertebral foramen. Due to the pinched nerves it affects the mechanical strength of crushing.

Pinched nerve gradually changes the adequacy of its function, because when the obturation begins the inflammatory process. Its course begins to show pain.

The Pain in the nerve endings is called neuralgia. This symptom leads to deterioration of General condition, sleep disturbances, loss of working capacity.

Symptoms and diagnosis of the disease

The Main symptom of the patient when the doctor is pain. Depending on the location of the lesion, the pain will vary.

When collecting history is very important to find the cause of the disease. This will help not only to clarify the diagnosis, but also to improve the quality of the subsequent treatment.

Pain is greatly increased by coughing and physical activity that clearly differentiates chondrosis from pleurisy.

The Dystrophic and degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs can lead to deterioration of their cushioning functions. In turn, this can cause subsequent compression fractures of the vertebrae.

examination of the patient will allow you to identify the localization process. Because during inflammation the nerve innervation of the disadvantaged will be visible changes in the skin is hyperemic or anemic colors.

Palpation along the nerve will cause the patient an attack of acute stabbing pain.

Using additional diagnostic methods, may clarify the diagnosis. Through x-rays of the spine doctor will visually assess the extent of the lesion.

blood tests are diagnostically valuable method. Indeed, in some cases, the cause of the chondrosis is a violation of hormonal and mineral imbalance. With the help of special methods can determine the amount of ions of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus in the blood, andthe level of parathyroid hormone.

Treatment and methods of rehabilitation of patients

Many are wondering how to treat acute chondrosis? In this case it is important to understand that self-treatment of this severe pathology is fraught with serious consequences and it is better to consult a specialist.

Another important point is the treatment of chondrosis requires long-term continuous therapy. Cancel drugs at the time of remission is a very serious mistake.

Primarily in the treatment you need to eliminate the most disturbing symptom is pain. To do this, use a wide range of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They purposefully act on the pinched nerve and relieve inflammation, resulting in pain and disappears. But it is important to correctly dosed NSAIDs, because they have a number of side effects.

The Next stage of treatment is the surgical intervention for hernia, displacement of vertebra, etc. In the postoperative period the patient must comply with bed rest.

Physiotherapy helps the body to cope with stress after the surgery and fully recover. For this purpose use a number of exercises for the back muscles and the abdominal cavity.