Osteochondrosis is a disease of the bones. Different types of the disease exist, in which, for example, the bones decompose or an unnaturally large cartilage layer is formed. Often wear and tear is the cause of the disease, which manifests itself through sometimes severe pain.
What is osteochondrosis?
The term osteochondrosis refers to a so-called degenerative bone disease. There are different types of this disease. The most common is osteochondrosis intervertebralis (a wear and tear of the spine that leads to hardening of the bone tissue). Basically, osteochondrosis is manifested by joint or back pain that becomes more severe as it progresses. The disease can have various causes, which may include incorrect loading of the joints and insufficient movement. Advanced age and risk factors such as obesity favor the development of osteochondrosis. Once a corresponding change in the bone tissue has occurred, it can no longer be reversed. Accordingly, a therapy only includes the alleviation of symptoms, which can take place, for example, medicinally or also surgically.
Causes
In many cases, the causes of osteochondrosis lie in a natural sign of wear and tear that occurs with age. In younger years, loads (even overloads or incorrect loads) can be absorbed. Later, however, there is an increasing weakening of the bones, cartilage and also the musculature. As a result, small bone particles detach, and there is a change in the height of the intervertebral spaces (especially in osteochondrosis intervertebralis). This ultimately leads to pain on movement, which becomes more severe as it progresses. Often, it is also permanent incorrect loading that can increase the risk of osteochondrosis more significantly. Under certain circumstances, a rheumatic disease can also be the reason for osteochondrosis. In the less common form osteochondrosis dissecans, the body cannot convert its own cartilage cells into bone material as intended, resulting in severe cartilage in the joints.
Typical symptoms and signs
- Joint pain
- Back pain
- Bone pain
Diagnosis and course
Osteochondrosis is usually only noticed by the affected person when it has already come to a significant pain formation. If a doctor is visited as a result, an X-ray takes place in addition to a detailed conversation with the patient. In many cases, this can already provide clear information as to whether wear and tear of the vertebrae or joints is present and, in the case of osteochondrosis intervertebralis, whether the typical changes in the height of the intervertebral spaces have formed. If the disease is at an early stage or if no clear statements can be made about corresponding changes, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also be performed. If osteochondrosis remains untreated, in the further course it comes to increasingly severe pain and associated movement restrictions, which can significantly reduce the quality of life of the affected person.
Complications
The further complications and complaints of osteochondrosis depend very much on the cause and the severity of the disease. However, as a rule, those affected thereby suffer from various complaints of the bones and cartilage. Due to osteochondrosis, those affected suffer primarily from severe pain, which occurs primarily in the joints. This leads to considerable restrictions in the patient’s daily life and living, so that they are dependent on the help of other people. Pain in the back or in the bones themselves can also become noticeable and significantly reduce the quality of life of the affected person. If the disease already occurs in children, there may be significant delays in the child’s development, so that these patients are dependent on walking aids or on other people even in adulthood. As a rule, osteochondrosis cannot be treated. Those affected depend on various therapies that can alleviate and limit the symptoms. With the help of heat treatments or massages, the quality of life can be increased again. The life expectancy itself is usually not reduced.
When should you go to the doctor?
If bone thickening and other signs of osteochondrosis are noticed, a physician should be consulted immediately. The disease can be treated relatively well if diagnosed early, but in any case requires close monitoring by the doctor. Therefore, the doctor should be consulted at the first sign of disease. At the latest when movement restrictions or pain occur as a result of osteochondrosis, a visit to the doctor is indicated. People who have already suffered from bone diseases in the past or have a deformity are particularly at risk. People with congenital bone malformations should also see a doctor if they experience the symptoms mentioned above. Osteochondrosis is treated by an orthopedist. Further contacts can be specialists for internal medicine as well as physiotherapists, sports physicians and specialists for bone diseases. If the symptoms are severe, surgical treatment is necessary. The patient must be hospitalized for a few days for this and then have regular check-ups to rule out serious complaints and complications or to be able to recognize and treat them at an early stage.
Treatment and therapy
If osteochondrosis has been diagnosed, the attending physician will initiate appropriate therapy. Once damage has occurred to the bone tissue in the spine or joints, it cannot be completely reversed. This makes early recognition of the disease all the more important in the case of osteochondrosis. In most cases, the first step in medical treatment is to alleviate the symptoms, i.e. the pain, by administering appropriate medication. In addition to painkillers, muscle relaxants can also be used. Massages, heat or stimulation current applications also help to reduce the symptoms, as do certain physiotherapeutic exercises. Under certain circumstances, surgical intervention can be performed in the case of advanced osteochondrosis. In this way, hardened cartilage tissue can be removed or, if necessary, a disc or joint prosthesis can be inserted. Subsequently, incorrect and excessive loads should be avoided in any case.
Outlook and prognosis
What prognosis is possible in the presence of osteochondrosis is defined by the time of diagnosis. Early diagnoses have a better chance of resolving the sequelae. As a rule, treatment becomes much more complex with a later diagnosis. The prospects of recovery are significantly worse. The reason for this lies in the nature of the disease. Osteochondrosis triggers a curvature of the spine. Cartilaginous parts of the joint change. If osteochondrosis remains untreated for a long time, the prognosis is not positive. Only if the disease is detected at an early stage, and treated promptly, it has very good to good healing prospects. As valuable time passes, the treatment options change. The healing prospects worsen. The problem with osteochondrosis is that already established tissue irritations or ossifications do not regress. The longer the disease progresses, the less doctors can do for those affected. The second limiting factor is the location where osteochondrosis has manifested. Experience has shown that osteochondrosis in the lumbar region is more likely to heal than bone degeneration that has developed in the cervical spine. After diagnosis, the affected persons must avoid everything that aggravates the consequences of the disease. In an already advanced stage of osteochondrosis, the spine often has to be stiffened. Mobility is severely restricted postoperatively.
Prevention
Osteochondrosis can be prevented to a certain extent, for example, by ensuring a balanced diet rich in vitamin D. Sufficient exercise strengthens the muscles and also prevents wear and tear. However, overloading or incorrect loading of the back and/or joints should be avoided at all costs. Participation in a back school, for example, can help to permanently adopt the correct posture and thus prevent the development of painful complaints.
Aftercare
In most cases, the measures and the possibilities of direct aftercare for osteochondrosis prove to be relatively difficult, so that the affected person should ideally contact a doctor very early in the process.The sooner a doctor is consulted, the better the further course of the disease usually is. Self-cure cannot occur. The further course depends very much on the time of diagnosis and also on the severity of the disease. Most patients are dependent on measures of a physiotherapy and a Krankengymnastik, in order to relieve the complaints durably and correctly. Many of the exercises from such therapies can also be repeated at home. In this context, the support and care of one’s own family and relatives is also very important, as this can also prevent depression and further psychological upsets. Likewise, a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet and with light sporting activities has a positive effect on the further course of the disease. At the same time, faulty performance or overloading of the affected regions should be avoided at all costs. In this regard, osteochondrosis does not usually reduce the life expectancy of the affected person.
What you can do yourself
Osteochondrosis patients are often limited in their ability to move. The main goal of therapy is to relieve pain, for which analgesics and natural painkillers such as peppermint oil or cloves are used. Regular use of prescribed and self-selected preparations is essential to soothe the muscles and relieve chronic pain. In severe conditions, complete bed rest is recommended. Physical therapy may also be effective for osteochondrosis. Patients may also do heat or electrotherapy in combination or as an alternative. Moderate exercise and joint activation are targeted in an attempt to maintain range of motion in the affected areas of the body. In addition, exercise strengthens the surrounding muscle groups that have to compensate for the restrictions. For the training of the back, a visit to the back school is recommended. There, sufferers learn to cultivate better posture and analyze situations in which incorrect strain can occur. Training the back is an important part of therapy and can be done either with a physiotherapist or independently at home. The details of which self-help measures are appropriate should be discussed with the physician in charge.