Osteocondrosis, whose symptoms and treatment are described below, is a disease from which only representatives of the Homo Sapiens species suffer. Back pain is the result of the development of simplicity: due to the change in the position of the spine, the intervertebral discs are compressed and deleted over time, due to which unpleasant symptoms occur. About 60% of the population of the planet suffer from osteochondrosis. The treatment of osteochondrosis is a rather difficult question, but there are methods that allow you to forget the pain for a long time. What kind of illness is this, what does the deformation of intervertebral discs occur and how to treat osteochondrosis? You can discover everything about osteochdrosis by studying this article.
What is osteochondrosis?
Many have heard that there is a disease like osteochondosis. What is it? The main sign of pathology is the deformation and inflammation of the joint cartilage. Osteocondrosis, whose signs that many people over 40 can observe, can affect not only the spine, but also other joints. To understand how to treat osteocondrosis and how this disease develops, it is necessary to remember the structure of the spinal column.
The spine consists of 35 vertebrae, separated from the joint cartilage. The soft cartilage guarantees the flexibility of the spine, as well as its stable position in space. The base of the joint cartilage are the intervertebral discs, which in the process of vital activity are subjected to various types of loads. These loads can be static (long living room in one position) and dynamic (running, fast walk, jump). Over time, due to the loads, the gradually brusque intervertebral discs, due to which the distance between the vertebrae decreases. For this reason, a person begins to experiment with signs of osteochondrosis, for example pain, cannot make certain movements or remain in some poses for a long time, etc.
For what reasons is osteochondosis develop?
There is no single cause of osteochondrosis: the disease develops due to a combination of several factors, including the main ones can be distinct:
- Hereditary predisposition. Of course, not the disease itself is inherited from the osteocondrosis, but in the characteristics of the bone structure: very often the causes of osteochdrosis are in the insufficient production of some proteins that give strength to the cartilage;
- Intervertebral osteochondosis often causes metabolic disorders;
- the presence of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, for example curvature of the spine or flat feet;
- The presence of a story of injuries in the spine: professional athletes often suffer from vertebratic osteochondrosis;
- Lack of physical activity, sedentary lifestyle;
- the presence of excess weight;
- frequent stress;
- Pregnancy: in this case, the cause of the osteochondrosis is a load increased on the spine.
These are the main causes of osteochondrosis that cause the development of the disease.
It is generally accepted that the signs of osteochondrosis generally manifest themselves in adulthood. However, in recent years, the disease has been "younger": the diagnosis of osteochondrosis is often made by teenagers, while the disease may appear under 15 years.
Very often, the osteochondosis of the intervertebral discs affects high stature people, whose spine is subject to an increase in loads. The emerging tension leads to the fact that intervertebral discs are deformed, due to which the pain and limitation of mobility occur, intervertebral osteochondosis develops.
Signs of osteochondrosis
Only a doctor can make a diagnosis and take care of the intervertebral osteochondrosis: you should not cars -Member. But everyone should know what symptoms indicate the possibility of osteochondrosis.
The main signs of osteochondosis:
- A feeling of heaviness and pain in the back;
- the periodic presence of "goosebumps" in the area of the lower back, neck or back;
- A feeling of pain that shoots a particular spine;
- pain when he raises his hands;
- the frequent attacks of dizziness;
- nausea and noise in the ears;
- Numbness of the limbs.
In the presence of at least one of the aforementioned symptoms, you should ask for medical advice. After all, first the treatment of the osteochondosis of the rear part, easier it will be to get rid of the unpleasant manifestation of this disease. Is osteocondrosis treated in an advanced phase? The answer will be affirmative. It is true, how to defeat osteochondrosis, you will only learn after an exam in the clinic. An expert orthopedist will recommend how to manage osteochondrosis, prescribe the necessary drugs and procedures. You shouldn't be afraid: if you are diagnosed with osteochondrosis, the treatment will be quite long but effective. After all, osteochondrosis, due to modern therapy methods, can quickly get to anything and not disturb the patient for a long time.
In order to decide how to treat osteochondosis of the spine, the doctor must determine the degree of damage to the spine. This is impossible to do without a complete diagnostic examination: the patient does not have enough osteochondrosis symptoms to make a diagnosis. Generally, diagnostic procedures such as X -rays, MRI and CT are prescribed.
Variety of osteochondrosis
There are two more common classifications of the disease. The first of them is based on the location of the injury, the second - on the degree of development of the pathology.
Depending on the section concerned, they distinguish:
- cervical osteochondrosis. Its main symptoms are neck pain, dizziness and headache, chest pain, which gives in hand, a sensation of clouds in the eye. With cervical osteocondrosis in patients, hypertension attacks are often observed;
- Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. The thoracic region is influenced relatively rarely. Pain in this type of spinal disease is a rather rare event. Generally, patients complain of unpleasant sensations in the chest and pain in the heart, which often take signs and symptoms of Angina Pectoris. Sometimes it is helped to help diagnose an ECG, which with osteochondrosis does not show cardiac muscle disorders. Typically, the cause of osteochondosis of the thoracic region is an injury or curvature of the spine;
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region. Since the lumbosacral region resists heavy loads, the disease affects it quite often. The main syndromes of the osteocondrosis of the lumbar region are particularly strong shooting pains in spring and autumn. The pain can be given to heels, guinea pigs and knees. With violation of the sciatic nerve, patients cannot bend in one direction. If a timely treatment is not started, the osteochondosis of the lumbar column can be complicated by the appearance of an hernia. In men, the disease of the vertebral-osteochondous column of the lumbar region can be accompanied by a compromised power.
Depending on how osteochondosis is manifested, four phases of development of this pathology are distinguished. Of course, an effective treatment of osteocondrosis with conservative methods is possible only in the initial stages. Spinal osteochondrosis develops in four phases:
- The first stage. The intervertebral discs are flattened, due to which the space between the vertebrae decreases. Small cracks occur on the cartilage;
- The second stage. The distance between the vertebrae is reduced to such an extent that they begin to move compared to the other;
- The third phase. The intervertebral discs are gradually squeezed by the intervertebral space. In this phase, the symptoms of spinal osteocondrosis influence the quality of life, limiting mobility and causing considerable suffering;
- The fourth phase. Bone peaks grow in the vertebrae, due to which the mobility of the spinal column decreases. The peaks damage the nerves and the vases that are near the spine, which is why the symptoms of the osteochdrosis of the back become almost unbearable for man and forced to take great doses of painkillers. At this stage, treatment with osteochondrosis is often carried out with surgical methods.
What to do with osteochondrosis? Is it possible to get rid of unpleasant symptoms of the intervertebral osteochdrosis forever and what procedures can alleviate the patient's conditions? You will find the answers below.
Pharmacological treatment of osteochondrosis
Is it possible to cure osteochondrosis? Many doctors claim that this is impossible. But slow down the development of the disease, soften the symptoms and completely eliminate some signs of osteochondosis. If the disease is in the early stages, conservative treatment methods are generally used: special drugs, physiotherapy, spa treatment and a special diet are used.
Medicines are used for the exacerbations of osteochondrosis. The drugs help to get rid of the patient's concerns and slow down the development of the pathology. The main groups of drugs that are treated with intervertebral osteochondrosis include:
- Anti -inflammatory drugs. These drugs help to get rid of pain and limit mobility in the spinal column. After the unpleasant manifestations of the osteocondrosis begin to decrease, patients are written for tablets. Generally, the course of treatment is about a month. Together with injections and tablets on the areas concerned, anti -inflammatory and analgesic ointments are applied;
- Musorelassanti. With osteochondrosis, a cross muscle occur, which does not affect the patient's conditions in the best way. Musroxanti allow to remove muscle terminals and relieve unpleasant symptoms.
- Special protectors. The preparations relating to this group help to slow down the deformation process of the cartilage, thus slowing down the development of the disease.
How to defeat the osteochondosis of the spine? 2-4 stadium treatment is carried out by further drugs:
- vitamin complexes that accelerate the metabolism and improve tissue regeneration;
- drugs that normalize the blood flow;
- Glucocorticosteroids that reduce inflammatory processes and remove the swelling of the tissues;
- stimulants that improve metabolism.
To prescribe drugs and determine their dosage, only the attending physician should.
Physiotherapy
The drugs have a better effect if they are used together with physiotherapy measures. Very often, with osteochondrosis, it is recommended:
- electrophoresis. If you don't know how to treat osteochondosis of the spine, pay attention to the electrophoresis. The procedure helps to relax the tense muscles and save the patient from pain. Thanks to the electrophoresis, blood circulation in the tissues concerned improves and the metabolism accelerates;
- acupuncture. By acting on biologically active points using thin needles, the therapist defeats pain and inflammatory process;
- Magnetotherapy. This method allows you to reduce the pain and swelling of the fabric. Furthermore, with the help of magnetotherapy, it is possible to normalize metabolic processes in the tissues concerned of the body;
- massage. The massage course is an excellent tool for reducing pain, as well as restoring the mobility of the spine in the osteocondrosis. The massage with osteochondrosis can only be performed by an expert specialist: the non -professional intervention can lead to the fact that the spine will hurt even more, in the worst case that you can damage the back. It is advisable to look for a masseur among friends who defeated osteochondosis;
- Medical physical education. Patients suffering from osteochondrosis are recommended for physiotherapy exercises, which help to strengthen the muscle frame of the spine and accelerate the process of regenerating damaged tissues. Reviews indicate that physical education is one of the best methods for therapy therapy of the back of the back. Symptoms cease to appear after a couple of months of regular lessons. It is true, get rid of pain, you shouldn't stop doing exercises, otherwise the discomfort may appear again;
- Thermotherapy. This type of treatment of intervertebral osteocondrosis has a series of contraindications, therefore, before starting the thermotherapy course, it is necessary to consult the doctor. Thermotherapy has an analgesic effect and helps to quickly restore damaged tissues: it happens that after different sessions, the patient forgets for a long time and osteochondosis manifests itself much less often than before;
- Mud. Thanks to the therapeutic mud applied to the patient's back, you can reduce muscle spasm, eliminate inflammation and improve the blood circulation of the spine. Patient reviews indicate that osteochondosis will cease to worry for a long time after several treatment courses.
Generally, patients are prescribed the entire complex of physiotherapy measures. The duration of the course and the best treatment methods depend on the degree of damage to the spine. During the year, the course of the treatment of osteochondosis of the back is recommended three to four times: consequently, the pain and symptoms of the disease will gradually approach.
Is it possible to cure osteochondrosis without physiotherapy? Any doctor will give a negative response: it is advisable to use a series of methods to obtain the necessary result.