There are three forms of osteochondrosis - cervical, chest and lumbar.Intervertebral osteochondrosis is characteristic of older people, but recently the average age of patients with this diagnosis is noticeably “younger”.All symptoms inherent in osteochondrosis are often observed in people who prefer active physical exertion at the computer.As a result of prolonged being in an unnatural pose for the spine, posture disorders, degradation of the spinal muscles leading to various pathologies of the spine are formed.Therefore, to know what osteochondrosis is and how to treat it is useful to every person.
Osteochondrosis What is it?
The essence of the disease is reduced to a violation of the structure of tissues of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, which leads to a decrease in their elasticity and a change in form.The gap between the vertebrae is significantly reduced, and in this place there is a loss of stability of the spine.The pathological destruction of tissues is accompanied by a pinching of the nerve endings coming from the spinal cord, and leads to constant tension of the spinal muscles.The occurrence of back pain and other symptoms inherent in osteochondrosis are observed.
The weakening of the intervertebral discs causes the development of pathologies such as the vertebral hernia and protrusion, and the further course of the disease leads to degradation of the joints of the vertebral column and intervertebral ligaments.The formation of bone processes - osteophytes.
Osteochondrosis causes pain during movements, the difficulty of flexion and extension of the back, the appearance of subluxation of the vertebrae and pathological curvature of the affected areas of the spine.
Typically, signs of osteochondrosis appear only at the time of the physiological aging of the body, but in some cases the development of pathology is observed much earlier than the deadline.The ailment arising today in adolescents is the main consequence of their lifestyle.
Symptoms of the disease
Osteochondrosis of the back is a chronic disease, is characterized by alternating periods of exacerbation and remission.You should know how osteochondrosis manifests itself, its main symptoms and what signs of osteochondrosis are manifested first.The exacerbation period is largely facilitated by numerous physical activity.
The impact on the body of vibrations, the injury of spine departments and other negative factors become an impetus, as a result of which osteochondrosis and its signs begin to appear.
The clinical picture of the disease largely depends on the localization of the pathology, also distinguish between osteochondrosis syndromes:
- Cervical osteochondrosis is expressed by pain in the neck, hands, it is characterized by attacks of headache and numbness of the fingers.In severe cases, the vertebral artery is pinched, which causes an even greater deterioration in the patient's condition;
- Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis are expressed in acute or aching back pain, difficult to breathe, pain in the heart area;
- Lumbar osteochondrosis begins with pain in the lower back and lower extremities, which gradually intensify during movement.In patients, disorders of the genitourinary system are often observed, weakening of potency in men may appear, and ovarian dysfunction in women.The periods of remission are characterized by a decrease in pain, continuing until the moment of provoking new attacks (a sharp increase in load, etc.)
- In some cases, there is a variety of mixed osteochondrosis, which belongs to the most severe form of the disease, and symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine in this case are also mixed.
Osteochondrosis and VSD
Intervertebral osteochondrosis, in particular, a change in discs and distances between the vertebrae, leads to a pinching of blood vessels, nerve endings.Pinches cause a violation of the work of internal organs and brain.Against the background of this, various disturbances in the nervous and cardiovascular systems are observed.
The most common manifestation of impaired blood circulation due to osteochondrosis is vegetovascular dystonia with all its inherent symptoms.
How diagnosis is carried out
The primary diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the intervertebral discs is established, taking into account the symptoms of osteochondrosis of the back indicated by the patient when contacting the clinic.Inspection for spinal osteochondrosis consists of checking the patient's spine in various positions, provided rest and movement.
After completing the inspection procedures, the patient is subjected to hardware diagnostics, with which the initial diagnosis is confirmed, its clarification or refutation.The audit is carried out by the attending physician, then he considers the solutions of decisions what to do with osteochondrosis.
The study takes place using the following equipment:
- MRI apparatus;
- Computed tomography;
- Uzdg magician.
Often, the results of the examination reveal a number of concomitant diseases that can be attributed to complications - hernia, radiculitis, protrusion.The success of the determination of osteochondrosis largely depends on the correct diagnosis, because in the initial stages, intervertebral osteochondrosis has symptoms similar to other types of pathology.
It should be remembered that diagnosis and recommendations on how to get rid of osteochondrosis are in the field of competence of a neuropathologist, all procedures should be carried out only under his supervision.
Why does osteochondrosis occur
The average age is a peculiar point of non -return to good health, and for spinal osteochondrosis the time to appear at this age.Irreversible physiological processes in the human body begin to occur, meaning the gradual wilting of the body and approaching its aging, which is distinguished today as the main causes of osteochondrosis.
Intervertebral discs are modified, a vascular channel will appear in them, which changes the system of their power.Because of this, regeneration is significantly slowed down, and various loads and injuries of the spine usually cause destruction, the complete restoration of which is already not feasible-these are the causes of osteochondrosis.
Failure to comply with the diet regime and illegibility in food only exacerbate the situation.Less -receiving nutrients cartilage in the spine are gradually sophisticated, which negatively affects their strength.In the future, cartilaginous tissues are deformed, which determines the main signs of osteochondrosis.
The exact cause of osteochondrosis is not determined today.In medicine, there is a rule according to which intervertebral osteochondrosis is a set of several factors and begins to manifest itself in the following cases:
- Problems with metabolism can cause a spinal disease;
- The predisposition to pathology, fixed at the genetic level, is the cause of osteochondrosis;
- Infutable physical development.It includes posting problems, various degrees of flat feet and other violations of the skeleton;
- Toxic poisoning of the body and some infections caused by osteochondrosis;
- Acquired injuries of the musculoskeletal system, age-related or professional regression;
- Injuries and bruises of the spinal column;
- Excess weight, lack of normal nutrition and non -compliance with the diet, vitamin deficiency and dehydration of the body also lead to vertebral osteochondrosis;
- Bad habits and periodic stress.
Indirect causes of osteochondrosis are distinguished, but all of them can be combined into one group related to the wrong lifestyle.Osteochondrosis and the causes of its occurrence are topics for hundreds of scientific papers.Opinions, what is osteochondrosis and what to do with the disease, there is plenty of.
How to treat back osteochondrosis
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the back is divided into conservative and operational.Before curing osteochondrosis of the spine, you need to choose the required option.Treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine depends on many factors, among them: the general neglect of the condition, the severity of the disease, the degree of wear of the body and the reason from which osteochondrosis occurs.
Severe cases of osteochondrosis are almost impossible to subject the treatment procedure without surgery, while with lighter manifestations, medicine costs a conservative approach.
The choice of how to treat osteochondrosis of the spine remains with a specialist.Often, in order to avoid a mistake, a consultation of doctors is collected.It will not be possible to get rid of osteochondrosis by a conservative method forever, but, having worked well on oneself, it is possible to “hide” all the symptoms of the spinal disease.
Conservative therapy methods
A conservative method of treatment consists in an integrated approach.It is successfully used as rehabilitation after surgery.It is based on the simultaneous use of methods from various sectors of medicine.
In short, the entire complex of procedures can be reduced to two main methods: treatment with drugs and hardware therapy.
Such methods of treatment of osteochondrosis have one very significant minus - the characteristics of the body and the hidden resources in it, which can also be directed to recovery are not taken into account.The recovery takes place in passive mode, which negatively affects the duration, and the person who defeated the disease in this way acquires relative health with hard work.
In the course of conservative treatment and restoration after surgical intervention, the following most popular methods are included:
- Physiotherapy physical education;
- Isometric kinesiotherapy;
- Manual therapy courses;
- Reflexotherapy sessions;
- Underwater hydromassage procedures;
- Stimulation of the body with magnets, vibration and electricity;
- Laser treatment and ultrasound;
- Vacuum therapy sessions;
- Mandatory passage of the course of psychotherapy;
- The appointment of a healing diet;
- Using drugs:
- Methods of traditional treatment.
Well -chosen combinations of various techniques allows you to win without the use of drugs in the treatment of osteochondrosis.So you can treat osteochondrosis only in case of exacerbation of the disease.As an option, you can reduce the use of medicines to a minimum.
Psychological courses and the use of gymnastics will return to the sick faith and their own strengths, will help to quickly heal the back from the disease.Sessions of hydromassage and manual therapy contribute to a decrease in pain, release the internal reserves of the body and improve blood flow.
A considerable number of patients neglected the purpose of the diet, although it plays one of the main roles in treatment.A balanced diet, selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient’s body, supplies cartilage with the necessary useful substances and trace elements.
In conjunction with the rejection of bad habits, the diet is a fairly effective treatment for osteochondrosis without medication.
However, the treatment of osteochondrosis using drugs in some cases is simply indispensable, and is also prescribed comprehensively:
- The intake of local analgesics and general action drugs is prescribed;
- Medicines are prescribed from the anti -inflammatory group;
- Hondoprotective drugs are prescribed;
- Groups of antispasmodics;
- Antioxidants;
- Drugs that stimulate blood microcirculation;
- Groups of drugs aimed at correcting psychosomatic conditions.
Is osteochondrosis treated completely?
The passage of a recovery course or conservative treatment in clinical conditions does not always demonstrate high effectiveness.This is due to the difficulties of the procedure for comprehensive healing due to frequent not providing the patient with such opportunities.Is it possible to cure osteochondrosis at home?Independent treatment at home is also associated with many difficulties:
- Problems with the availability of special medical equipment and simulators, and sometimes a free place;
- The patient’s unpreparedness for independent treatment in psychological terms, which is expressed in difficulty in self -organization and problems with motivation and choosing a solution, how to defeat osteochondrosis;
- Difficulties in organizing a diet associated with the lack of theoretical and practical knowledge in this area.Violation of the diet makes the remaining methods of treatment ineffective, so the diet should be paid to special attention.
The course of restoration and treatment with conservative methods ideally should be held in special specialized institutions, the specialization of which is aimed at comprehensive treatment of osteochondrosis and undergoing rehabilitation.Only there they can answer whether osteochondrosis can be cured.
Methods of prevention
The most effective way to deal with osteochondrosis is to observe the proper nutrition regime and gymnastics.With osteochondrosis of the spine and treatment with the help of gymnastics, the following indicated the greatest effectiveness:
- Massage of the lumbar zone, the back and limbs, held in the morning;
- Jumping, exercises on the horizontal bar;
- Periodic pauses for physical education during work, 7–9 exercises are enough for the prevention of the disease;
- A visit to the pool, it is especially recommended by specialists to swimming on the back.
Most patients think about how to begin treatment with back osteochondrosis, when signs of osteochondrosis and intervertebral osteochondrosis have already begun to progress.In this case, the general recommendations must be given exercises from the complex of physiotherapy exercises aimed at stretching the spinal column.
When osteochondrosis appears, it is necessary to adhere to a strictly balanced diet, mainly based on protein foods, but mushrooms maximally exclude mushrooms from the daily region.You should limit yourself to consuming salty, fatty foods, including domestic pickles.Sugar, flour and confectionery are also contraindicated.
You will have to leave bad habits, refrain from excessive use of coffee and products based on it.The daily volume of the fluid drunk should not exceed 1 liter, and the number of meals must be maintained in the value of 5–7 per day.
Having got rid of the disease, do not excessively load the spine, but as carelessly as possible to it treats and prevent injuries.
The lack of vitamins and nutrients shown by analyzes requires their immediate replenishment in the body, for this it is necessary to take complexes of multivitamins.The disease of osteochondrosis, its symptoms and treatment are thoroughly studied for today, and the fight against it is quite possible.