Treatment of osteochondrosis (radiculitis, intervertebral hernia) today is not particularly difficult, it is only important to correctly establish the cause of the pathology and the presence of concomitant diseases. However, every specialist who professionally deals with the treatment of back or spine diseases as a whole, with the course of practice, has crystallized their own quick help techniques that are optimal for most patients.
For the treatment of osteochondrosis, it is important to correctly establish the cause of the pathology and the presence of concomitant diseases.
It is improper to use only one method of treating osteochondrosis, as a rule, polyclinic therapists "sin" with this, prescribing painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs to patients that eliminate unpleasant symptoms and drive the problem with the spine deep, without affecting the cause. As a result, a person, without feeling pain, continues to load the damaged vertebrae, the pathology worsens, and after a while, with the subsequent strong attack, a bunch of problems "emerge" that cannot be eliminated.
The root of the problem and some criticisms
Before starting treatment, it will be useful to remember what osteochondrosis is. Generally these are degenerative changes affecting the tissues of the spinal column! However, all problems affecting the back should not be called "osteochondrosis", just as two concepts should not be confused: osteochondrosis and sciatica. In the first case, this is a disease, in the second - a process that occurs in the patient's body with osteochondrosis. Furthermore, back pain is only a symptom, not a disease.
Methods of treating osteochondrosis have remained standard for decades, but with the availability of modern methods of examining the patient in the "old" techniques, more and more "cracks and chips" are revealed. Most of the methods are aimed at eliminating clinical signs, and not at influencing the causes of the pathology.
The use of drugs
Unfortunately, this is a method of ensuring that the patient "gets back to health quickly". In addition, the sick themselves turn to a specialist and begin to treat the disease even when the pathological process is blossoming strongly and main, and the pain is tearing everything around, preventing him from moving normally. Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs remove all negative symptoms, making healing illusory and the cause of the disease remains intact. In clinics, this process is put on a conveyor belt and, as a result of such treatment:
- The cause, which has become the starting point of osteochondrosis, has not been eliminated.
- The traumatic factor on the vertebrae is intensifying, as the person, without experiencing pain, begins to fully load the back.
- NSAIDs disrupt the functioning of the pancreas and stomach.
Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs do not cure the disease, they only relieve the pain.
Manual therapy
This method is most often advocated by old school doctors, believing that if you fix the damaged vertebrae, the problem will disappear. The saying "all diseases of the spine" is not entirely true, because the spine adapts to circumstances, it is not in vain that it is so flexible. However, proper nutrition of the intervertebral discs and vertebrae is only possible when they are standing. However, the set vertebrae, if a person continues to sit crooked or there is severe inflammation of the intervertebral discs, over time it will "slip" again, returning all the signs. Also, don't confuse manual therapy and osteopathy.
Massages, classics of the genre
This method consists in influencing the muscles and connective tissue of the patient, is able to relieve the symptoms of the disease and bring relief to the patient for several months. The effectiveness of such treatment for osteochondrosis directly depends on the qualifications of the person performing the massage. But in 95% of cases, it is not possible to manually remove the cause of osteochondrosis, as well as cure the disease if the specialist works only with the area of pain and inflammation.
Osteopathy
This method of treating osteochondrosis is subtle and delicate, but a good osteopath should have sensitive hands, an inquisitive mind, and a calm mind. He, taking the patient by the hand, can feel all the processes taking place in the body. Not all doctors are capable of possessing a sense of supersensitivity, so good osteopaths are worth their weight in gold. Ideally, osteopaths should treat all the problems the patient has, but in reality they only eliminate the pain. Part of the fault lies with the patients themselves, who only claim to relieve pain, as a session with an osteopath costs about three times more than that of a massage therapist. By saving money, they remove the symptoms, but deprive themselves of the opportunity to heal as completely as possible. Due to its softness, osteopathy is also suitable for children.
Osteopathy is a gentle and gentle method that is also suitable for children.
chinese medicine
The pitfalls here lie in the absence of pre-medical diagnostics of the patient, all manipulations, as a rule, are based on the assumptions of the doctor, which are not always accurate. Before performing a high quality acupuncture process, it is necessary to perform:
- Electropuncture diagnostics.
- Pulse diagnostics.
- Diagnosis according to the Akabane method.
A patient presenting with back pain gets a lot of needles on it, the pain will be relieved, the symptoms will go away, but they will come back again in a few hours. Repeated acupuncture, relief - and the circle comes full circle. A good specialist does not put needles, relying only on the patient's external examination and his history. He works with only 1-4 needles at deep levels, trying to eliminate the root cause of osteochondrosis and not just the symptoms.
Visceral therapy
Treatment of osteochondrosis here consists in working with the internal organs. This is due to the fact that often the cause of the pathological condition of the spine is an incorrect arrangement of the organs or a violation in their work. With this treatment, back pain disappears for a long time.
Gymnastics, yoga, qigong
Oriental techniques for the treatment of osteochondrosis are gaining popularity. Classical yoga is a well-coordinated and deeply thought-out method of working with the body which affects the mind. This method is suitable for the home, where, in a quiet environment, a person can feel all the needs of the body. However, many experts advise to dwell on the old directions of treatment of osteochondrosis. And, of course, it is important to find a specialist, you should not contact those who have learned a couple of complicated movements and "have opened their own office".
Today these techniques are the most advanced, in many ways they help people get rid of the problems associated with osteochondrosis. But it is important to remember the psychological aspect: the disease will not go away if a person stubbornly ignores the reason why osteochondrosis developed, does not want to change his lifestyle and thinking about her. You shouldn't blame the health problems only on the doctor, without helping him with the treatment.
Gymnastics, yoga, qigong - aimed at working with the body and helping to eliminate spinal problems.
The main stages of therapy
How to treat osteochondrosis? There are many options for therapy: reflexology, magnetostimulation, water procedures, physiotherapy methods. The specialist must decide which option is right for the patient, based on the results of the history and examination. Treatment at home is possible, for example, physiotherapy exercises, it is able to perfectly restore the mobility of the spine, eliminate symptoms and prevent the rapid development of the disease.
Important! If the treatment takes place at home, special attention should be paid to any medications, they are prescribed exclusively by the doctor. This is explained by the fact that with the drug treatment of osteochondrosis there is a load on other organs, and such treatment can be fraught with unpleasant complications or exacerbations of chronic diseases.
We take drugs
The basis of drug treatment is the intake of vasodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs. Such therapy perfectly relieves symptoms and is designed to solve the following problems:
- Stop inflammatory processes.
- Relieves pain and muscle spasm.
- Stimulate the regeneration of cartilage tissue.
It is safer to use topical products (creams, ointments, or gels) during home treatment. Such treatment occurs without side effects, it is only necessary to coordinate it with the doctor and strictly follow the instructions.
Folk remedies
Often, "grandmother's recipes" are more effective in treating osteochondrosis than all modern and new methods. Traditional home treatment includes: warming a sore spot with river sand or salt, using ointments made from chicken eggs, vinegar, or using herbal compresses.
- Bottle massage. Fill "one and a half" with warm water and roll all the back muscles for 15 minutes, mostly stopping in the problem area.
- Tennis ball massage. At home, you can use a tennis ball to massage your back, for this you just have to lie down and "ride". Repeat every day.
Drug treatment in complex therapy relieves pain, relieves spasms.
Physiotherapy
The most popular today is the author's therapeutic technique, which can be used at home. This treatment is based on not allowing spinal cord cell death and muscle tissue atrophy. Therapeutic gymnastics consists of a series of exercises that work all the joints and muscles of the human body, restoring lost motor functions and relieving unpleasant symptoms.
Non-drug treatment options
Sanatorium treatment, perhaps, can be called the most comprehensive in the process of treating a disease, it is based on the effect on the cause of the disease. During your stay in the sanatorium, you can receive the following procedures:
- Acupuncture.
- Healing showers.
- Ultrasound and electrotherapy.
- Diet therapy and massage.
- Balneotherapy and mud therapy.
- Apitherapy and salt caves.
Of course, this treatment option is not available at home. For each patient suffering from osteochondrosis, the doctors of the sanatorium will develop an individual treatment plan that will allow not only to restore motor functions, but also to forget about exacerbations for a long time.
Timely impact
Treatment with electrophoresis is indicated at any stage of osteochondrosis, except acute. Exposure to a point current has its advantages: the effect of a drug administered by electrophoresis extends strictly to the area of inflammation. This allows you to quickly improve the patient's condition, relieve swelling and pain.
Physiotherapy
It goes well with other treatment options for osteochondrosis, when done correctly by an experienced specialist, shows high efficiency and has a minimum of side effects:
- Massage. Improve blood and lymphatic circulation, relieve pain and swelling, strengthen muscles. Indicated in courses of 10-15 procedures, 2-3 times a year.
- Manual therapy.
- Spinal traction.
- reflexology.
How to treat osteochondrosis to avoid complications? First, you need to find out why the pathology developed, how damaged the vertebrae are. You will have to undergo a full examination and only then begin treatment. In addition, the correct daily routine, a healthy lifestyle are important, it is necessary to give up heavy physical exertion, try not to catch a cold and maintain the correct posture. If possible, any stress at home and at work should be eliminated, as with negative emotions uncontrolled muscle spasm occurs, which further exacerbates the problem.
Osteochondrosis is a long-term current disease, which is based on many reasons, therefore, during treatment, one cannot stop at any method. Much depends on the patient himself, you should not wait for a "magic pill" to end the problem immediately, to part with osteochondrosis you will have to collect all your will in one fist, be persistent in the desire to become healthy forever. This is the only way to restore the flexibility and mobility of the spine for many years.