Spondylosis is a degenerative change in the spine, mainly the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, cartilage, and articular structures of the spine and its ligamentous system.Symptoms of abnormalities cause pain, which makes functioning difficult. Degenerative changes, unfortunately, cannot be undone, you can only slow down the development of the disease. What is worth knowing?
In this article, Niketrainers.com.co will tell you:
What is spondylosis? Degeneration of the spine, or spondylosis
Spondylosisis a syndrome of degeneration ofthe spinethat affects the intervertebral joints, ligaments, intervertebral discs, and vertebral bodies. Changes appear with age, and the vast majority of people suffer from them after the age of 65. After the first pathologies appear, they cannot be reversed, however, timely diagnosis helps to slow down the development of the disease. Earlysymptomsmay appear at a young age.Spondylosiscan be bothcervicalandthoracicand the lumbar region. However, most often it concerns the lumbar region. The disease consists in the formation of growths – an overgrowth of the bones in the vertebrae or an overgrowth of ligaments, accompanied by severe pain and reduced mobility. Each patient’s pathology has an individual form, it can develop faster or slower, and have different symptoms.Treatmentis primarily based on slowing the development of the disease.
Spondylosis – causes
The causes ofspondylosiscan be found in the natural processes of aging and tissue wear (dehydration). With age, the amount ofglucosamine,hyaluronic acidand chondroitin, which are responsible for healthy bones, decrease in the body. The cartilage in the joints, due to wear and tear, leads to friction between the bones, inflammation and, consequently, the superstructure of growths called spurs. However, other health and environmental factors also influence the onset of the disease.Spondylosiscan occur as a result of:
- static and dynamic overloads of the spine,
- previous injuries and micro-injuries of the spine,
- hormonal disorders of the body,
- work that requires an unnatural posture,
- physical inactivity,
- posture defects,
- obesity_
- post-inflammatory changes,
- accompanying diseases (scoliosis,rickets, osteomalacia, dysplasia).
Types of spondylosis
Spondylosis can be localized in any partof the spine, hence it is associated with various symptoms and their severity. The most common are disorders in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. Depending on the location of the degenerative changes, the following are distinguished:
- cervical spondylosis(spondyloarthrosis),
- thoracic spondylosis(spondylosis)
- lumbar spondylosis.
Cervical spondylosis – symptoms
Cervical spondylosisis manifested primarily by frequent headaches in the occipital area, which sometimes extend over the shoulder and arm to the elbow. It is accompanied bydizzinessand imbalance.In addition, with cervicaldegeneration , paresis of the upper limbs,nystagmus, and disturbances in the mobility of the neck may occur.
Lumbar spondylosis – symptoms
Lumbar spondylosisis the most common form of the condition. The lumbar spine is particularly prone to degenerative changes. Thesymptoms ofspondylosisalso include severe pain. They radiate from the loins to the buttocks, thighs and knees. The disease is also accompanied by stiffness, decreased motor activity and pain in the back of the legs.
Thoracic spondylosis – symptoms
Thoracic spondylosisis also characterized by radiating pain.The range of movements is significantly limited, intercostal neuralgiaappears . As with degeneration of other parts of the spine, the patient feels stiff in the back, and there may also be abnormalities in sensation (due to pressure on the spinal cord).
Spondylosis – diagnosis
In the initial stage of the disease,spondylosisis very difficult to detect. Despite the fact that the first signs of the disease may appear at a young age, the problems become apparent even several dozen years later. In the diagnosis ofspondylosis, X-ray,computed tomographyormagnetic resonance imaging are used. The doctor can determine the severity of the disease and the exact place of its occurrence. The diagnosis is accompanied by an interview with the patient, as well as a blood test, which is aimed at excluding other diseases with similar symptoms.
Spondylosis – treatment
Treatmentof this ailment is primarily based on slowing down its development. Unfortunately, the changes that have taken place in the spine are irreversible. Duringtreatment,great emphasis is also placed onprophylaxis– the role of physical activity, diet, adequate hydration of the body and maintaining a healthy body weight. Duringtreatment, exercises are recommended to strengthen the muscles of the back, abdomen, neck and buttocks. It is worth taking care of several minutes of rest during the day in a lying position, especially when our work requires a constant, unnatural (e.g. sitting) position.Treatmentalso includes pharmacotherapy – drugs that affect the reconstruction of articular cartilage, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants. By Rehabilitation,massage, systematic gymnastics adapted to the diseaseare also helpful . It is also worth lubricating your bodywith poplar liniment against overload, which warms up the muscles and works well in the case of degenerative changes in the joints.