Types of osteonecrosis: description, symptoms and treatment features

Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease of various parts of the spine, in which degenerative and dystrophic changes occur in the intervertebral discs. Men between the ages of 25 and 60 are more likely to have this condition. The disease is specific to both the young and the elderly. Women get sick less often and their symptoms are not so obvious. In the early stages of the disease, it is possible to achieve stable remission and get rid of pain and discomfort for many years.

What are the types of osteonecrosis according to localization

The classification of osteonecrosis of the spine has many forms and criteria. They differ in the location of the affected part and the severity. All types of osteonecrosis are pathologies filled with destructive changes in cartilage and connective tissue.

The most common and easiest to understand for a simple layman, far from medical science, the classification is according to the location of the lesion:

• Cervical osteosarcoma - it is characterized by occipital, cervical and intervertebral pain syndromes. In recent decades, the disease has been increasingly diagnosed in young people.
• Osteoma of the thoracic spine is rare, because it has more discs than the cervical and lumbar spine combined, which are smaller and thinner. Part of the load is assumed by the ribs. Therefore, in the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine, degenerative and dystrophic changes rarely occur.
• Lumbar osteonecrosis usually occurs in people over the age of forty due to sedentary and sedentary lifestyle. It is characterized by severe back pain, compression of the nerves and arteries of the abdominal organs, and multiple concurrent diagnoses of internal organs.

Stages of the disease

Depending on the flow rate, the degree of degenerative changes, the manifestation of symptoms, four stages of the disease can be distinguished:

1. The initial stage is characterized by instability of symptoms. The patient is still in severe pain. Occasionally, "shooting" pain in the affected area of the back is possible.
2. The second stage is characterized by a significant deterioration in the interaction of the vertebrae due to the progression of the degenerative process in the intervertebral discs. The development of the disease at this stage is due to improper physical activity, a sedentary and sedentary lifestyle.
3. In the third stage, a herniated disc may begin to develop (some patients will outgrow this fate). In some cases, there is severe back pain. Simultaneous diagnoses develop that, in one way or another, affect all body systems. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the hernia and the location of the fibrosis.
4. The fourth stage is the most difficult. The patient cannot lead a contented lifestyle and enjoys freedom of movement. Almost all positions occupied by the body bring acute pain at the site of localization of osteonecrosis. At this stage we can talk about the appointment of disabled people to the patient.

Cause it happened

Osteosarcoma brings great suffering, reduces quality of life, can lead to complete or partial immobilization of the patient and disability. What are the reasons for the occurrence of this disease? They are as follows:

• Sedentary lifestyle, sitting still or lying down. Muscles atrophy, vertebrae gradually wear away the cartilage and discs between each other. This process can take many years, but will inevitably lead to bone necrosis.
• Modern young men and women go to the gym and perform exercises with dumbbells and dumbbells, improperly performed leads to chronic diseases of the spine. For example, the wrong technique of performing the "squat with weights" exercise has led surgeons and orthopedists to tens of thousands of young patients with osteosarcoma and scoliosis in the acute stage.
• People who have to sit at a desk in one position for long hours by occupation are also at risk. According to WHO statistics, office workers account for the largest proportion of patients with osteonecrosis.

The main symptoms of cervical osteonecrosis

The cervical vertebrae gradually lose fluid and break easily. The result of this process is that the veins and arteries are compressed. The brain's nutrition is disrupted and then the cells die. Cervical fibroids have a maximum negative effect on the part of the brain responsible for the functioning of the heart muscle. Often the optic or hearing nerve is compressed, leading to vision loss and hearing loss.

Types of cervical osteonecrosis:

• milia, also called "cervical ectropion" - characterized mainly by severe pain in the occipital, neck, head;
• reflex stimulation - discomfort in the chest, back, numbness of the fingers;
• heart disease, which is characterized by symptoms of cardiovascular disease.

Only an orthopedic surgeon or surgeon can make an accurate diagnosis. Regardless of the type of cervical osteonecrosis, the treatment will be roughly the same.

The main symptoms of osteonecrosis of the thoracic spine

The rarest type of disease. Symptoms of thoracic spine spurs are a manifestation of many other diseases. An inexperienced doctor can usually diagnose arrhythmia, angina, cardiomyopathy (pending ECG results), pancreatitis, or even gastritis. Only an experienced orthopedic or spine surgeon can provide accurate information on the type of thoracic osteosarcoma.

With a pronounced pathological process, there is a disruption in the work of parts of the spinal cord. The main signs of osteonecrosis of the thoracic spine:

• Dorsago - sharp, unbearable pain in the chest, feeling short of breath, the patient seems to be suffocating or irregular heartbeat.
• Back pain - the patient feels less discomfort than back pain. The pain is less pronounced and spreads down to the hands and fingers (thus, doctors often confuse the symptoms with diseases of the cardiovascular system).

Symptoms and consequences of osteonecrosis of the lumbar spine

The most common type of osteonecrosis is the lumbar spine. This is due to the fact that the lower back is the place that experiences the most stress during daily living.

In the early stages, the main symptom is slight tension in the lower back. People rarely take such minor illnesses seriously. As the discs wear out, negative symptoms also increase. In particular, the patient cannot lie or sit for a long time in a position due to pain.

At the third or fourth stage of osteonecrosis of the lumbar spine, there are:

• low back pain - sharp and sudden pain, the result of which the patient may be partially immobilized;
• sciatica - pinched sciatic nerve on one side;
• sciatica - compression of the nerve endings in the lumbar spine;
• weakness of the lower extremities, muscle atrophy, venous congestion, impaired sexual function and work of the abdominal and pelvic organs are also often observed;
• radiculoischemia - impaired blood circulation due to compression of blood vessels.

Generalized osteonecrosis

This type of disease not only affects the spine, but also the joints. Most often shoulders and hips. Symptoms of generalized osteonecrosis are neurological in nature, in rare cases with damage to internal organs due to impaired circulation.

In the hip joint, the disease manifests as changes in cartilage tissue, dryness of the joint fluid. Over time, the joint is partially and then completely lost.

Multi-stage osteonecrosis

Symptoms of the disease are not in one but in several parts of the body. For example, there is often a combination of loss of the third and twelfth vertebrae - in this case osteonecrosis would be considered multisegment.

Therapy in this case would be identical to that for standard signs of cervical or thoracic osteonecrosis. Magnetic therapy and other physical therapy procedures have been shown to be excellent for aggravating the pain and discomfort caused by multiple sclerosis. Now you know what types of spinal cord necrosis exist.

Drugs to treat bone necrosis

Pharmacological means to alleviate the symptoms of osteonecrosis can be divided into the following groups:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs - to relieve symptoms of pain and swelling from the affected area. There are two types - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticosteroids.
• Analgesic.
• Muscle relaxants to reduce muscle spasms.
• Hondoprotectors - drugs to improve the nutrition of cartilage tissue.
• Vitamin-mineral complex - to restore normal blood circulation and activate metabolism.
• The drug improves and restores the conduction of impulses in nerve cells.

In some cases, you must use diuretics to reduce swelling of the muscles and connective tissue between the vertebrae. It is strictly forbidden to arbitrarily prescribe drugs for yourself - you will not only not be cured, but you will also aggravate the course of the disease.

Gymnastics and physical education for osteonecrosis

Any chiropractor will confirm the importance of physical exercise in easing the chronic course of osteonecrosis.

What type of sport is safe for osteonecrosis? You're better off enjoying swimming, stretching, Pilates exercises, body flexing - directions without sudden movements. Traumatic martial arts and weightlifting sports with osteonecrosis are prohibited. Patients should not work with a weight exceeding 5 kg.

Don't underestimate the benefits of daily morning exercise. It should not be done on a case by case basis, but continuously. Only in this case will there be benefits for the spine. Simple high-fives, "mill", "bicycle" - exercises familiar to everyone since childhood, will help stretch the back and relieve pain. All movements must be performed as smoothly and accurately as possible to avoid injury.

Office workers have to step away from the computer once an hour and start up in 5 minutes. This would be an excellent prevention and treatment for existing osteonecrosis.

Massage and hand therapy

Of all the types of osteonecrosis treatment, this is the most interesting. Much depends on the choice of a specialist - both results and sensations. Types of osteonecrosis massage - classical, acupressure, canned, hardware, honey.

With manual therapy, the situation is more complicated. First, the procedure is painful: often the patients of those who are physically active are unable to control the cry of pain when manipulating the spine. Second, if the orthopedic surgeon is inexperienced, this procedure can be dangerous. Choose specialists with good patient reviews, practical qualifications, and extensive treatment experience.