What are the consequences of reducing the height of intervertebral discs? Flattened lordosis and features of its treatment Methods for determining a decrease in the height of the m n discs

Due to metabolic disorders and as a result of degenerative-dystrophic processes, dehydration of the intervertebral discs occurs. This condition is characterized in medicine as loss of water in the center of the intervertebral disc; it is recognized as the basis for the development of many spinal diseases.

Dehydration of the intervertebral disc is one of the provoking factors in the development of many vertebral diseases - osteoarthritis, protrusions, hernias and others. Loss of water leads to the loss of the main shock-absorbing function; the disc becomes immobile, simultaneously reducing the amount of motor activity of the spine.

What happens when intervertebral discs dehydrate? If there is a lack of fluid in the intervertebral disc, depreciation is reduced, this leads to the fact that the disc loses its ability to function normally - the spine becomes immobile. The next stage of pathology development is liming.

There are several stages of dehydration, here they are:

• Stage zero - no pathological changes.
• The first stage - small tears appear in the internal plates in the fibrous ring.
• The second stage - significant destruction of the intervertebral disc occurs, but the integrity of the outer rings is still preserved.
• The third stage - the integrity of the outer shell of the intervertebral disc is compromised.

A rational and balanced diet will help prevent the progression of pathology and improve human health.

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Have you ever experienced constant back and joint pain? Judging by the fact that you are reading this article, you are already personally familiar with osteochondrosis, arthrosis and arthritis. Surely you have tried a bunch of medications, creams, ointments, injections, doctors and, apparently, none of the above has helped you... And there is an explanation for this: it is simply not profitable for pharmacists to sell a working product, since they will lose customers! Nevertheless, Chinese medicine has known the recipe for getting rid of these diseases for thousands of years, and it is simple and clear. Read more"

Basics of proper nutrition for dehydration of vertebral discs:

• Drink enough liquid. Nutritionists advise drinking at least 2 liters of plain water daily. When intervertebral discs are dehydrated, it is recommended to increase the consumption of the specified volume of fluid to 2.5-3 liters per day. A sufficient amount of water in the body contributes to the accumulation and retention of fluid in the vertebrae. It is important to drink clean, plain water and not carbonated drinks.
• Eat 5-6 times a day in small portions. A balanced diet helps rid the body of extra pounds, which helps to significantly reduce the load on the spine.
• The menu should include protein products. It is important to create a diet so that the bulk of the foods consumed are dairy products, legumes, and low-fat fish. It is recommended to include slow carbohydrates (cereals) in the menu, but high-calorie, sweet and fatty foods should be completely abandoned.
• To strengthen the bone system, it is important to eat foods enriched with vitamins A, C, E, B, D, as well as minerals - calcium, magnesium, phosphorus.
• The patient’s diet must contain products that are natural chondroprotectors - jellied meat, fish aspic, jelly.
• It is important to completely eliminate the consumption of any alcohol, as well as strong coffee. Salty, smoked, spicy foods, baked goods, and sweets should be sharply limited.

A lot has been written and said about the principles of a healthy, balanced diet, but it is not easy to correctly create an individual menu. It is necessary to take into account the characteristics of your body and the presence of other chronic pathologies. Therefore, it is better to competently develop a suitable diet with a nutritionist.

Physiotherapy

Performing regular light physical exercise is very useful for various pathologies of the spine. Gymnastics helps strengthen the bone system and connective tissues, improve blood circulation in the spine. Almost any type of therapeutic exercise can be used for dehydrated intervertebral discs; yoga or swimming are good options. Even an ordinary walk at a slow pace in a park or forest will be useful for a person.

In combination with therapeutic exercises, it is useful to use massage procedures; they help relieve tension from the back muscles and improve blood circulation. Back massage should only be performed by a professional.

Surgery

When conservative therapy does not produce adequate results or the disease is in an advanced stage, surgical intervention is used. Most often, during the operation, the intervertebral disc destroyed during dehydration is completely removed.

The combination of a reasonable therapeutic diet, drinking regimen and moderate physical activity with drug therapy is the best option for treating intervertebral disc dehydration.

How to forget about back and joint pain?

We all know what pain and discomfort are. Arthrosis, arthritis, osteochondrosis and back pain seriously spoil life, limiting normal activities - it is impossible to raise an arm, step on a leg, or get out of bed.

During an examination of the spine, a diagnosis was made: the height of the intervertebral discs is reduced, what does this mean and how dangerous is it? What to do next, continue to live a normal life or is it better to do something? It is better to know the answers to these questions from childhood, since more than 80% of people in the world, albeit to varying degrees, are related to problems with the spine. In order to understand how and why the height of the intervertebral discs decreases, you need to delve a little deeper into the anatomy.

The spine is the main support of the human body, consisting of segments (parts), namely the vertebrae. Performs supporting, shock-absorbing (thanks to intervertebral discs) and protective functions (protects the spinal cord from damage).

The spinal cord, located in the spinal canal of the spine, is a fairly elastic structure that can adapt to changes in body position. Depending on the part of the spine, spinal nerves branch off from it and innervate certain parts of the body.

• The head, shoulders and arms are innervated by nerves that branch from the cervical spine.
• The middle part of the body is correspondingly innervated by nerves branching from the thoracic part of the spine.
• Lower body and legs - innervated by nerves branching from the lumbosacral segment of the spine.

Consequently, if problems arise with the innervation (impaired sensitivity, severe pain reaction, etc.) of any parts of the body, the development of pathology in the corresponding part of the spine can be suspected.

From the moment a person began to walk upright, the load on the spinal column increased significantly. Accordingly, the role of intervertebral discs has increased.

Intervertebral discs

Fibrous, cartilage-like structures, consisting of a nucleus surrounded by a fibrous (tendon-like tissue) ring and shaped like a round plate, located between the vertebrae are called intervertebral discs. Their main purpose is depreciation (load softening).

How does a decrease in the height of intervertebral discs develop?

There is one important point in the structure of intervertebral discs that is related to the development of pathology - they do not contain blood vessels, so nutrients enter them from tissues located nearby. In particular, the latter include the spinal muscles. Therefore, when dystrophy (malnutrition) of the spinal muscles occurs, a malnutrition of the intervertebral discs occurs.

The jelly-like, but at the same time quite elastic (thanks to the fibrous ring that limits it) core of the disc provides a reliable and at the same time elastic connection of the vertebrae with each other. As a result of a disruption in the supply of nutrients, the disc begins to dehydrate, lose its height and elasticity, the fibrous ring also loses its flexibility and becomes more fragile. The connection of the vertebrae deteriorates, and instability in the affected motor part of the spine increases.

With further development of the process, degeneration (degeneration) and hardening of the cartilage tissue of the disc occurs, it becomes similar to bone. The disc decreases in size even more, loses height, ceases to perform a shock-absorbing function and begins to put pressure on the nerve endings, causing pain.

Degenerative-dystrophic (degeneration and malnutrition) processes in which a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs and rapid growth of osteophytes (bone formations) occur are called osteochondrosis (spondylosis). The terms have Greek roots, meaning joint (spine), the ending -oz characterizes dystrophic (malnutrition) changes.

Complicated course of osteochondrosis

According to a similar scenario, pathology occurs not only in diseases that cause disturbances in the trophism of the discs. Most often, with spinal injuries or traumatic loads, compression of the disc occurs, followed by protrusion of the nucleus; if this occurs without violating the integrity of the fibrous ring, it is called protrusion; if prolapse (protrusion) is accompanied by rupture of the ring and the nucleus moving beyond its limits, this is intervertebral disc herniation.

At the same time, as a result of compression, the height of the discs also decreases, and with a further increase in pressure, the size of the hernia will increase.

What are the risks of reducing the height of intervertebral discs?

There are four stages of pathology development. Each of them has its own characteristic features:

I. The initial, still hidden form of the flow. Minor discomfort, usually appearing in the morning and disappearing during the day. Most people do not seek help, although they feel limited mobility. The affected disc has the same height as the healthy (adjacent) one.

II. Painful sensations appear, deformation of the fibrous ring occurs, the stability of the affected part of the spine is disrupted, pathological mobility develops, and nerve endings are pinched (causing pain). Blood and lymph flows are disrupted. The height of the intervertebral disc is reduced, a quarter less than the neighboring one.

III. Further deformation and rupture of the disc ring, the formation of a hernia. Deforming pathology of the affected vertebral sections (scoliosis - deflection of the spine to the side, kyphosis - hump or backward deflection). The affected disc is half the size of a healthy one.

IV. Final. Shift and compaction of the affected vertebrae, accompanied by pain and. Sharp pain when moving, minimal mobility. Possible disability. An even more significant reduction in disc height.

The result of complications of a herniated disc can be: dysfunction of the pelvic organs and loss of sensitivity, paralysis of the leg muscles, movement in a wheelchair.

What to do, how to prevent

Eat right, engage in health-improving physical exercises, drink a sufficient amount of fluid (at least 2 liters per day, maintains normal metabolism), do not overload the spine (heavy lifting), avoid injuries, stress and hypothermia, during sedentary work - take gymnastic breaks, periodically undergo preventive examination of the spine, and if problems are detected, immediately seek help.

A pathological process such as a decrease in the height of intervertebral discs is a fairly common phenomenon. This disease affects the intervertebral discs and the surfaces of other joint parts. Insufficient treatment of the disease can lead to the development of vertebral instability, the formation of hernias or ankylosis.

Causes of decreased intervertebral disc height

Intervertebral discs are a formation of cartilage tissue consisting of an annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus. It performs a shock-absorbing function, affects the flexibility of the spine, and maintains normal motor activity of the spinal column. Its supply with nutrients occurs by diffusion with the help of periarticular soft tissues, since the cartilaginous formation itself does not have blood vessels. With insufficient nutrition, the body of the disc becomes dehydrated, decreases in height, and the fibrous ring can spread. In advanced forms of the disease, growths form - osteophytes. This condition greatly reduces the motor activity of the affected area. A decrease in disc height occurs due to the following reasons:

People in sedentary occupations are at risk for spinal diseases.

• constantly being in a sitting position;
• poor blood circulation;
• metabolic disease;
• physiological changes;
• diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• injuries.

Changes in the height of the intervertebral discs can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, obesity, constant stress or pregnancy.

Manifestations

The reduction in the height of the intervertebral discs occurs in 4 stages, which are described in the table:

Stage	Description of the pathology	Symptoms
1	The membrane of the annulus fibrosus undergoes minor changes, but the height of the opening of the fissures does not change	Stiffness in movement after waking up, discomfort during physical activity
2	The disc becomes smaller, the fibrous membrane is deformed, the periarticular muscles and ligaments become intractable	Pain occurs when freezing in certain positions or during physical activity
3	There is uneven spreading of the disc ring, hernias, swelling, and inflammation of the affected areas of the spine may appear.	Pinching of blood vessels and nerves causing severe pain, numbness, and pathologies of internal organs
4	Osteophytes appear, the height of the discs decreases significantly, joint fusion is possible	Immobility of the affected area or paralysis

How is it diagnosed?

The study will accurately determine the degree of damage to spinal tissue.

To make a correct diagnosis, you need to consult a specialist, for example, a neurologist. To begin with, the doctor must collect a reliable medical history and conduct tactile and visual examinations. Then additional diagnostic tests are prescribed to confirm the diagnosis. These include:

• X-ray. It will help to detect small changes occurring in different vertebral structures, for example, cervical discs.
• MRI. It will make it possible to notice pathological abnormalities in the spinal cord or identify the formation of hernias, for example, in the lumbar region.
• EMG. Diagnoses pinched nerve endings and injuries.
• Discography. Shows all manifestations of changes in the intervertebral discs.

Treatment methods

For effective therapy, several complexes of effects are used. The attending physician prescribes physiotherapeutic procedures, massages, spine stretching, exercise therapy, development of the muscular system, and drug treatment. In rare cases, conservative methods of influence do not help, then surgical intervention is performed. It is impossible to completely get rid of changes in the height of the intervertebral discs. Therapy will only help improve the patient’s condition and slow down the progression of the disease. For drug treatment, drugs are prescribed that are presented in the table.

Intervertebral discs are cartilaginous formations that connect the bony elements of the spine. They provide flexibility and mobility of the spinal column, body rotation, and absorb loads and shocks when running, jumping and other movements. Constant mechanical stress, aging of the body, the harmful influence of external factors and disease gradually lead to the fact that cartilage loses its natural qualities, wears out and sag.

Etiology of the disease

Anatomically, intervertebral discs consist of a dense membrane (annulus fibrosus) and a softer pulpous center (nucleus pulposus), enclosed between hyaline plates that are adjacent to the vertebral bodies.

The discs do not contain blood vessels, so nutrition and water supply to the cartilage fibers occurs diffusely from the surrounding soft tissues. Thus, normal functioning of intervertebral discs is possible only with the normal state of muscle tissue (proper adequate physical activity and active blood circulation).

The development of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the body (osteochondrosis) and a sedentary lifestyle causes deterioration in the nutrition of the back muscles and intervertebral discs. As a result, stiffness of some segments occurs, pain during movement, swelling, spasms, which further complicates blood circulation in the pathological area.

Gradually, the cartilage tissues lose water, their elasticity decreases, the fibrous membrane begins to crack, and the disc itself flattens, becomes lower and sometimes goes beyond anatomically acceptable limits.

The next stage of the disease or stage of osteochondrosis is the development of spondylosis deformans. Subsidence and squeezing out of fibrous fibers of cartilage under the weight of the body and during physical activity leads to the fact that the intervertebral discs pull along the hyaline plates connected to them and the surface of the bone tissue. Thus, bone growths appear on the vertebral bodies - osteophytes.

To some extent, the formation of osteophytes is a protective reaction of the body to the destruction of cartilage and its excess beyond its natural limits. As a result, the discs are limited in the lateral planes and can no longer go beyond the edges of the bone growths (spread even further). Although this condition significantly worsens the mobility of the affected segment, it no longer causes any particular pain.

The further development of the disease is characterized by the degeneration of cartilage tissue into denser tissue, similar in quality to bone, causing the discs to suffer even more.

Stages of pathology and their symptoms

The development of the disease is conventionally divided into several stages:

• The initial stage or stage of subtle changes, in which there is slight damage to the membranes of the fibrous ring, but the height of the intervertebral disc itself remains unchanged. The only worrying symptom is some stiffness of movement in the morning and discomfort after unusual and excessive physical activity.
• Stage of progression of degenerative disorders, pronounced disc subsidence and damage to the fibrous membrane. At this stage, there is stiffness of the back muscles and ligaments, which are no longer able to support the spine. Curvature of posture (scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis), vertebral instability and other pathologies may be observed. The patient feels pain after physical exertion and/or prolonged exposure to static and uncomfortable positions.
• The stage of active deformation of the disk ring, its cracking, going beyond acceptable limits. The formation of intervertebral protrusions or hernias, which are characterized by local swelling, inflammation, and spasm of muscle tissue, is possible. Disruption of microcirculation of blood and lymph causes severe pain, as well as pinching of blood vessels and nerve roots. May be accompanied by loss of sensitivity, paresis or paralysis of the limbs, and dysfunction of internal organs.
• The stage of progression of spondylosis, in which the intervertebral discs significantly lose their height, extend beyond the vertebral bodies, and osteophytes are formed. At this stage of the development of the disease, ankylotic fusions of the joints may occur, which is fraught with a complete loss of mobility of the segment, and, consequently, disability of the patient.

Treatment of the disease

Sagging intervertebral discs, osteochondrosis and spondylosis are conditions that, once they occur, are difficult to treat or restore. Reducing the height of the disc and the growth of osteophytes can only be stopped or slowed down, but it is quite possible to improve the condition of the cartilage tissues of the joints.

Conservative treatment methods involve an integrated approach, which consists of:

• relieving pain with medications, physiotherapeutic and manual procedures;
• active and passive development of the joint, improving blood circulation and lymph flow in it;
• treatment of soft tissues of the whole body and pathological area to restore trophism and metabolic processes;
• improving the condition of the cartilage of the spinal column and the whole body with medications, physiotherapy, exercise therapy;
• strengthening the bone, muscle and ligament structures of the body;
• if necessary, reducing pressure on each other and the soft tissue of bone growths using surgical intervention.

Drug therapy is represented by:

• local and general anesthetics to relieve pain;
• muscle relaxants to eliminate muscle spasms;
• if necessary, NSAIDs to relieve inflammation;
• chondroprotectors to improve the condition and nourishment of cartilage tissue;
• vasodilating and intercellular metabolism-activating drugs to improve blood circulation and metabolic processes.

Physiotherapeutic procedures should be combined with therapeutic exercises, various types of massages, swimming, yoga and other physical activities. Recently, cryotherapy, as well as spinal traction (hardware, natural, water, kinesiological, etc.), have gained wide popularity in the treatment of diseases of the spine.

If necessary, the patient may be advised to rest completely and/or wear a corset for a certain period. An important role in treatment is played by the psychological attitude of the patient himself, giving up bad habits, rethinking his entire lifestyle and an appropriate diet.

Spinal problems worry many modern people who lead a passive lifestyle. A decrease in the height of intervertebral discs is observed in 80% of people on the globe who have reached the age of 50–60 years. Pathological changes occur gradually and cause vertebral instability, hernias and curvature of posture.

Intervertebral discs are connective cartilage tissue that fixes the vertebrae of the spine in one position. The mobility and flexibility of the spine and the ability to lead a normal active life depend on their normal condition. Due to the special structure of the fabric, they act as shock absorbers when running, jumping, bending and other movements. Constant exposure to a number of negative factors leads to wear and sagging of discs.

How does the lesion develop?

Intervertebral discs consist of a soft core and a dense shell - the fibrous ring, enclosed in hyaline plates. There are no blood vessels in this cartilage, which means that nutrition comes to them from neighboring soft tissues. Normal muscle development, adequate stress on the body and the absence of problems with the circulatory system help keep the discs between the vertebrae healthy.

The appearance of degenerative changes in the body (development of osteochondrosis), a passive lifestyle, sedentary work, lack of sports - all this leads to stiffness of movement, pain in the back when turning, as well as swelling and spasms.

They, in turn, seriously aggravate blood circulation, which worsens the condition of the pathological area. Over time, the discs lose water and cease to be flexible, microcracks appear. As a result, over time, the height of the intervertebral disc decreases.

Reduced height of intervertebral discs is the first stage of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine

Causes

The main reason for the appearance of pathology in people of any age is a slowdown in metabolism in the body, impaired blood flow and nutrient deficiency in cartilage tissue. But, in addition to this, the following factors can affect malnutrition in the intervertebral discs and reduce their height:

• unbalanced diet;
• obesity;
• changes in tissues with age;
• trauma or stress;
• infectious processes;
• pregnancy;
• stress and metabolic disorders in tissues.

Determining the cause allows you to choose the most effective therapy for the intervertebral disc and achieve improvements in treatment in a short time. The first step to restoring normalcy is to eliminate the underlying factors that led to the problem.

Symptoms of the disease

Signs of pathological changes depend largely on the stage and location. Conventionally, the disease occurs in several stages:

• Initial. The damage to the disk is minor, so the problem goes unnoticed by many. Patients in this phase complain only of stiffness of movement in the first hours after waking up, as well as discomfort in the back during physical activity.
• Second . Degenerative changes in the disc continue to progress. Characteristic subsidence and defects of the fibrous membrane are observed. At this stage, the appearance of curvatures of the thoracic spine, instability of individual vertebrae, as well as severe pain during prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position are noticeable.
• Active. At this stage, cracks appear in the disc, or it begins to extend beyond the anatomical limits. Characteristic signs of this stage are swelling, inflammation, muscle spasms, and decreased sensitivity in certain areas or limbs.
• Progressive. At this stage, there is a noticeable decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs, their extension beyond the vertebra and the formation of osteophytes. Signs of pathology are loss of segment mobility, limb paralysis and dysfunction of internal organs, often leading to complete disability.

Pain in the affected parts of the spine is the first and constant symptom

It is worth contacting a specialist when the first symptoms appear. The sooner treatment is started, the higher the likelihood of a favorable outcome.

Diagnostic tests

Today, specialists use a variety of modern technology to carry out diagnostic procedures in order to identify intervertebral disc pathology at an early stage.

When the first signs appear, contact a neurologist, who, after a visual examination, interviewing the patient and studying the medical history, prescribes the following studies:

• X-ray. It allows you to detect disorders in the cervical spine even at a stage when no symptoms are observed.
• MRI. Prescribed where X-ray examination is not effective (for diagnosing intervertebral hernias at the initial stage). With the help of such a device, you can notice all the degenerative changes in the spinal trunk.
• Electroneurography. Allows you to detect characteristic processes in nerve pathways or their damage.
• Discography. Allows you to study damage in the disk structure.

The neurologist selects treatment based on information after the examination and the clinical picture.

Features of treatment

Reducing the height of intervertebral discs is treated conservatively, with medication or surgery, depending on the patient’s condition, the location of the problem, and the stage of the disease. In some cases, the progression of the disease and the proliferation of osteophytes are only slowed down or slightly stopped, which improves the condition of the cartilage in general. All actions are aimed at eliminating pain, improving blood circulation and metabolic reactions, as well as restoring disc mobility.

Treatment is necessarily comprehensive and includes several of the following measures:

• physiotherapy and manual procedures;
• working out the joint to improve the movement of lymph and blood;
• physiotherapy;
• swimming or yoga;
• massotherapy;
• cryotherapy;
• spinal traction (natural, hardware or water);
• procedures to strengthen the muscle, bone and ligament structures of the body.

All this is accompanied by taking painkillers to eliminate discomfort in the cervical discs or other area, as well as medications to relieve inflammation and nourish cartilage tissue. For some time, the patient is recommended to wear a support corset, completely give up bad habits and follow a diet.

Regular exercise therapy will help avoid complications of osteochondrosis

Preventive actions

A herniated disc l5 s1 takes a long time and is difficult to treat, so every person at risk should take care of high-quality prevention. It will prevent a decrease in the height of discs of other locations, which will protect against possible other complications. The main methods of prevention are:

• regular proper nutrition;
• control of body weight, eliminating the appearance of extra pounds;
• constant maintenance of water balance;
• exclusion of stressful situations;
• performing special gymnastics;
• quitting smoking and alcohol;
• regular exercise.

Such simple actions will strengthen the muscle frame and establish metabolic processes between the discs of the lumbar region and neighboring tissues. This will ensure their normal height is maintained and the spine is healthy.