Spine osteophytes - of bone proliferation along the processes or on the vertebrae itself .
In general, these are bone growths that look like thorns, hooks, etc., they have different origins and different manifestations.
Disease, in which there are growths, called "spondylosis."
Article Contents
- Causes of
- In some areas there are growths
- Symptoms and signs of deviation
- Neck
- department Lumbar
- The diagnosis
- treatment of diseases in which there are osteophytes
- Drug
- Gymnastics
- Additional techniques
- Traditional medicine
- Surgery
- Preventive measures
Causes of
Appearance Daily spine loads cause destruction of vertebraeclaims and wear of joints .
When combined age, damage, poor posture increases the impact on the structure of the spine. As the disc wears, the load on the ligaments and joints increases, causing compaction of ligaments, accumulation of lime in them, friction, which provokes an increased growth of the growths.
Degenerative changes begin already in youth, but it is a slow process as standard and does not affect nervous structures until the age of 60 years.
Factors that accelerate the growth of osteophytes:
- congenital features;
- power supply;
- lifestyle;
- poor posture;
- injury.
One of the symptoms of spinal osteophytes may be radicular lumbar syndrome. Learn the details in our article.
The more often the protrusion of the cervical spine is caused and how you can protect the body from this phenomenon.
Arthrosis of the facet joints also causes the growths. It can cause low back pain and stiffness in the morning, the pain subsides as it moves, and returns again in the evening.
Common causes of osteophytes of the cervical and thoracic spine are hereditary predisposition.
Patients report manifestations of osteoarthritis in the range of 40 to 50 years. Men tend to appear signs in earlier years, but women manifestations are more pronounced.
The growth may occur due to ossification of the periosteum, ligaments or other tissues near the bone.
In which areas the outgrowths of
appear On the photo the osteophytes of the spine
Often the development of the lesion is imperceptible. For example, often appearance of growths in the thoracic department of occurs exactly this way, up to the total loss of mobility by this department.
But in this situation it should be remembered that the mobility of this site is not large, which is why a person may not notice this problem.
But the appearance of sprouting in more mobile areas is noticeable.
Naturally, at the initial stages, when the education is not great, there are no manifestations. But in the future, growing osteophytes in certain situations begin to infringe the nerves, which causes pains similar to pain in vertebral hernia.
The of the cervical department of the causes the appearance of pain and neurologic abnormalities.
Among other things, the appearance of problems in this part gives stiffness of movements, problems with turning the head. A person may feel some "obstacle", after which his head does not turn, pain when trying to turn his head.
Symptoms and signs of deviation
If a person has osteophytes of the spine, the symptoms will not take long to wait.
Cervical section
The cervical region is the most vulnerable, so if there are problems in it, the vertebrae are displaced and the nerves and blood vessels are squeezed. Such changes can cause damage to the blood supply to the brain. Therefore, it is extremely important to notice signs of spondylosis in a timely manner.
These include:
- dizziness;
- pain in the nape, irradiating in the hands;
- ringing in the ears;
- limitation and pain when turning the head;
- vision impairment.
In this case, for sure, there was a strong infringement of vessels in the orifices between the vertebrae, which increased the intracranial pressure.
In medicine, there are cases when the lesion occurs almost without symptoms. On the presence of formations in the thoracic department, the patient may not suspect, becausethe mobility of this site is not high.
This can take a long time, until the vertebra is completely immobilized. In general, the appearance of outgrowths in the thoracic part occurs in the front parts of the spinal column.
Lumbar department
The main manifestations of lesions in the lower back are:
- dull pain in this part when walking or standing for a long time;
- thigh pain;
- numbness in the limbs;
- weakness of the hands and feet;
- a feeling of tingling in them.
Sometimes a sign of the formation becomes a disruption of the bladder and intestine.
But since such a sign may indicate other lesions, a thorough examination is necessary to clarify the diagnosis.
Diagnosis of
To determine osteophytes, perform a clinical examination. The doctor examines the patient, examines the spine, assesses the work of the nerves and determines the signs of squeezing the nerve endings.
After examining a person, after listening to his complaints and analyzing the medical history, the specialist develops a plan for the survey.
The includes
- Electroneuromyography - for determining the conductivity of pulses by nerve fibers, the degree of their violation.
- X-ray helps to visually verify the presence of formations on the vertebrae. He is appointed on suspicion of growths. In addition, the X-ray shows other problems with the bones and joints of the spine.
- Tomography is required to obtain clear ideas about the type and nature of changes in the spine, in nearby soft tissues, to detect nerve compression.
The results of the survey give information about the patient's condition and allow prescribing treatment.
Treatment of diseases in which osteophytes appear
If osteophytes of the spine are diagnosed, then the following treatment methods are implied.
Medication
In such cases, appoint:
- At the initial stage and with a mild form, treatment is sufficient by taking medications to relieve edema and inflammation( Ibuprofen; Voltaren).
- To eliminate muscular tension, use B vitamins;nicotinic acid.
- To neutralize the pain and inflammation prescribed different solutions, ointments, which spread a sore spot( Capsicum; Finalgon).
What are the other ways to get rid of the backbone?
Gym
A separate kind of treatment is therapeutic gymnastics. Thanks to her, muscular activity is stimulated, which improves the blood supply to the spine, which positively affects his flexibility and muscles.
Exercises depend on the stage of the lesion.
Additional techniques
Certain types of formations can be treated by reflexotherapy and massage. 
If there is swelling, then the doctor can prescribe hirudotherapy.
But it should be borne in mind that when an aggravation of a violation a person must comply with bed rest, avoid loads and, accordingly, do not engage in therapeutic gymnastics, stop the massage.
Traditional medicine
From folk methods of treatment that help to neutralize the pain, you can apply such recipes:
- Hawthorn flowers( 3 tablespoons) brew 0.5 liters of boiling water. Insist half an hour and drink 20 minutes before eating 50 ml each.
- Pour 0,25 l of boiling water 1 tbsp.elder. Minutes 15 to keep on a water bath and drink four times a day for 10 ml.
Surgical intervention
If growths are detected in advanced form, then surgical intervention is used. This is due to the fact that when the lesion is started, there are formations on adjacent vertebrae.
In the operation, performs the release of nerve structures, removing the extensions themselves.
Get rid of the pain immediately after the operation, but sometimes the neurological manifestations are troubling for a long time.
Therefore, when treating for this it is worth paying close attention. Also, when choosing how to eliminate proliferation, you need to consider the reasons for their appearance.
If a degenerative process develops, then efforts should be focused on its treatment and on the removal of growths at the same time.
If an operation is required, all unnecessary formations are deleted during its implementation.
If the operation is not provided, then with osteophytes try to cope conservatively. Practice proves that even the operation does not provide a complete cure for defeat.
Preventive measures
To anticipate a violation it is necessary to follow the rules:
- a flexible way of life;
- high-grade food;
- correct posture;
- not sleep on a high pillow;
- with sedentary work doing exercises for the back and neck.
Do not engage in self-medication, which basically leads to the operating table.
As soon as there are signs of growths, do not delay - urgently contact the doctor. So there is still the possibility of curing a disease without surgery.
