There are probably few people who, after 30-35 years of age, do not occasionally complain of a feeling of discomfort and pain in different parts of the back, temporary numbness of the legs or arms.Such manifestations may indicate the possibility of developing osteochondrosis.This disease is quite common and occurs when, under the influence of various reasons, the cartilage tissue of the spine begins to change, loses its mobility and flexibility.This disease can develop in any part of the spine, but it usually affects the discs between the vertebrae.If you move little or sit for a long time at work, then the probability of developing osteochondrosis is very high.
People pay attention to discomfort and other changes associated with this disease, usually closer to the second half of life.
The chance of getting the disease increases significantly if:
- you already know what age-related changes are;
- you had (regardless of when) a back injury;
- you had to undergo excessive physical exertion;
- you are constantly in stressful situations;
- Your work involves strong vibrations.
And in the last few decades, osteochondrosis of the spine has also become noticeably "younger".
Early onset of the disease is possible if:
- the person has poor physical fitness or poor posture;
- the person eats untimely or irregularly;
- suffers from flat feet or curvature of the spine;
- the person has bad habits - overeating or smoking.
In addition, during pregnancy, the load on the spine increases, so it often becomes the cause of osteochondrosis in girls and women.
Danger of osteochondrosis
How to deal with osteochondrosis?In the early stages of osteochondrosis (first or second), its symptoms may be weak or not bother a person at all.This is dangerous because advanced osteochondrosis, in addition to discomfort and pain, can "give" complications in the form of such serious diseases as kyphosis, radiculitis or intervertebral hernia.
What to do with osteochondrosis?- Treat, because if osteochondrosis is detected in the early stages, you can get rid of it completely.
Modern methods of treatment of osteochondrosis
In the complete treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine, two methods are used: complex therapy (conservative) and surgical intervention.
Complex therapy (conservative)
Osteochondrosis therapy consists of a whole range of medical and additional methods.This therapy is prescribed if you are in the early stages of this disease.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the 1st degree is carried out through:
- use of drug therapy;
- local and general massage;
- a set of physical therapy exercises;
- the use of reflexology and a whole range of physiotherapy methods.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree additionally requires the use of the spinal traction method.Traction of the spine is performed with a load individually selected for each patient.Special equipment is used for this.The spinal traction procedure not only relieves acute pain, but also restores the correct position of your spine and increases the intervertebral space.
Treatment methods
- use of various anti-inflammatory and painkillers;
- the use of modern drugs that restore cartilage tissue.
Ways of using drugs during drug treatment:
- all types of external rubs and coatings.
- oral administration of tablets and capsules.
- procedures such as IVs and injections.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with drugs relieves pain, acute inflammation, gradually relaxes muscle tissue, restores part of the affected cartilage, improves blood supply and metabolic processes.Such treatment of the disease is necessarily prescribed in cases of worsening of the disease.
Additional methods
- specially developed therapeutic diet;
- massage and self-massage;
- physiotherapy methods;
- manual therapy;
- light underwater hydromassage;
- traction (traction therapy);
- acupuncture;
- traditional medicine;
- meditative relaxation;
- medicinal baths;
- a set of physical therapy exercises;
- work with a psychotherapist.
Surgical treatment (operative)
Surgical treatment is used in the later stages of the disease (third and fourth), when other treatment attempts no longer help.The treatment of later stages is more complicated, because the main disease itself is already accompanied by other diseases of the spine - radiculitis, hernias.The indication for surgical intervention is the occurrence of an intervertebral hernia.Sometimes it is even necessary to completely remove the affected disc.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the 4th degree requires an extremely complex operation with a high risk of damage to the nerves of the spinal cord.Therefore, surgical treatment is performed extremely rarely if attempts to cure a patient with osteochondrosis by other means have not helped.
How long does the treatment of osteochondrosis take?
How to quickly cure osteochondrosis?It depends on the presence of pronounced changes in age, variability in the manifestation of symptoms and the variety of applied treatment methods.The patient himself can actively contribute to recovery by carefully following the requirements of his treating therapist.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the 1st degree usually lasts from one to four months.In the 4th degree, after the operation, the recovery period can last a year to a year and a half.Treatment also depends on the patient's personality.He is required to be positive, persistent, strong-willed and highly motivated.
Treatment of different types of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is distinguished by the location of the spinal lesion (its location).Localization of osteochondrosis can be:
- cervical;
- chest;
- lumbar;
- widespread.
Main complaints:
- with cervical localization - a person occasionally experiences pain in the shoulders and arms, as well as headaches.Due to the compression of the arteries, ringing in the ears, colored spots and "floating" in front of the eyes, and slight dizziness occasionally occur.
- with thoracic localization - the person complains of pain like: "a stake is inserted into the chest", "shots" in the heart, stomach or lungs.
- with lumbosacral localization - a person complains of severe lumbar pain, which can spread to the sacrum, groin and even legs.Some patients feel numbness in the leg muscles.
- with widespread localization, complaints of a wide range of symptoms occur.In this form of the disease, a person complains of several types of symptoms at the same time.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis?
Methods of treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck today are:
- painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics;
- stimulants for tissue renewal, anti-inflammatory gels, ointments for external use;
- manual therapy;
- exercise therapy;
- hirudotherapy;
- reflexology;
- traditional medicine;
- surgical intervention if the case is particularly difficult.
How to treat thoracic osteochondrosis?
Measures to treat breast type:
- painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs;
- acupuncture;
- manual influence;
- vacuum therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- cupping massage;
- traditional medicine;
- moxa therapy (warming with wormwood cigars).
Exercise therapy for the chest type of disease is used not only as an addition to general therapy, but also as a way of forming a muscle corset;among other things, exercise therapy prevents possible relapses.
How to treat lumbosacral osteochondrosis?
Therapy in different stages is carried out conservatively and surgically.
Conservative treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis in the early stages includes:
- drug therapy, in some cases hormones;
- manual influence;
- General health supplements;
- reflexology (acupuncture);
- lower back massage;
- traditional medicine;
- hirudotherapy (leeches);
- Exercise therapy.
Stage 4 lumbosacral osteochondrosis usually requires surgical intervention.
How to treat common osteochondrosis?
Treatment of ordinary osteochondrosis is carried out:
- prescribing appropriate drug treatment;
- use of all types of manual therapy;
- Physical therapy exercises;
- use of acupuncture methods;
- various methods of physiotherapy;
- development of a special diet.
Any type of osteochondrosis of the spine requires surgical intervention in only ten percent of cases.Surgery can be prescribed for patients with complications, as well as if the patient turns to specialists for treatment late.If the diagnosis was made on time and you have already started therapy, then it would be nice to add traditional methods of treating this disease to traditional methods.Traditional methods have proven themselves in the treatment of any type of osteochondrosis.
Treatment with traditional methods
Folk remedies for this disease are used only with drug treatment.They are aimed at relieving inflammation, pain and discomfort.Decide for yourself how to treat osteochondrosis of the spine - with various traditional medicines or only medical methods.
Popular folk remedies:
- taking pine tonic baths;
- application of copper plates and coins to the spine.
- compresses with the addition of aloe juice;
- honey massage, honey wraps;
- fresh decoctions of herbs: oregano, hop cones and chamomile;St. John's wort, dandelion root and thistle;
- applying horseradish leaves to the painful area;
- applying rye or potato cakes to the painful area;
- sunflower herbal tea;
- red elderberry tincture;
- burdock compresses.
When you start treatment for osteochondrosis, you may notice that your pain will only intensify.This is a completely expected reaction of your body to unusual influences.Soon such pain will stop completely.The best way to treat osteochondrosis is a combination of conservative therapy with postoperative rehabilitation in specialized centers.
How can a person get rid of osteochondrosis?
Here are the three most common questions that concern patients with osteochondrosis:
- How to get rid of osteochondrosis?
- How to quickly cure osteochondrosis?
- Where is the best place to treat osteochondrosis?
Doctors answer these questions differently, because the speed of recovery depends not only on the form of the disease, but also on the timeliness of the patient seeking treatment.
Experts can guarantee a complete cure only for the first and second stages of the disease.Therefore, you should immediately contact a therapist, even if you have only discovered some of the symptoms.Although all modern methods of treating osteochondrosis are quite effective, doctors believe that the most effective therapy is a combination of a set of traditional methods with constant training on stationary rehabilitation equipment.This treatment helps to completely restore the muscle corset and forget about the disease for a long time.
Why should a patient with osteochondrosis not be treated at home?
- It is not recommended that a patient with osteochondrosis be treated at home, because the lack of a special orthopedic bed, physiotherapy equipment and special exercise equipment can greatly reduce the effectiveness of treatment;
- Not every patient can constantly follow a daily routine, take prescribed medications on time, eat according to a diet or undergo all medical procedures.In addition, many patients need periodic reminders to continue their treatment.
- At home, it is difficult to follow the correct diet recommended by a nutritionist.
Hence the conclusion: you can try to treat osteochondrosis at home, widely using traditional treatment methods, but the best solution would still be to go to a specialized clinic or hospital for this profile, constantly under the supervision of a highly qualified therapist.