This disease usually refers to systemic dystrophic disorders of articular cartilage, manifesting itself in the area between the vertebrae.According to the local location of this problem, neck, thoracic and lumbar types of the disease are distinguished.
What is osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a complex problem that cannot be treated quickly.The cause of the problem is considered to be a sedentary lifestyle, which contributes to the initiation of negative processes in the cartilage of the joints.Remember that as the human body grows, a strong vascular bed with diffuse nutrition is formed in the intervertebral discs.Any negative conditions and processes worsen the nutrition of the vascular bed and create a number of factors that aggravate the development of pathology.
Physiological factors that cause osteochondrosis include poor nutrition, increased stress on the back and its injuries, constant unusual postures, flat feet, obesity.
Symptoms
Symptoms of osteochondrosis look like this:
- Pain and numbness in legs/arms, severe back pain.
- Significant increase in pain during physical activity and even coughing.
- Antispasmodic state of the speaking muscles, decrease in movement activity.
- Other systemic manifestations characteristic of damage to a specific area of the spine.
The main reasons
- Age-related degenerative changes.
- Genetic and hereditary tendencies.
- Heavy weight.
- Poor nutrition.
- Infectious and intoxicating lesions.
- Metabolic imbalance.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Traumatic syndromes in the spine.
- Overloading of the spinal system due to active exercise, heavy lifting, incorrect posture, pregnancy, wearing uncomfortable shoes.
- Severe stress, neuralgic overexertion, smoking.
- Bad environmental conditions for permanent residence.
- Skeletal instability, flat feet.
Main types
The main types of osteochondrosis include:
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Pathological changes in the discs between the vertebrae in the cervical spine, or rather, its upper third.It is often caused by incorrect posture, metabolic disorders, weak muscle skeleton and a generally poor lifestyle.The patient feels pain in his shoulders and arms and periodically suffers from migraines.Almost always, it is caused by the so-called "vertebral artery syndrome", its spasmodic reactions to compression - throbbing headache, dizziness, flickering of optical defects before the eyes, numbness in the hands.
Thoracic osteochondrosis
Pathological condition localized in the second third of the spine.Practical ones are always accompanied by accompanying syndromes - dull pain and discomfort in the chest region of the spine, aggravated by bending the trunk or deep breathing, as well as sudden attacks in the affected part of the spine, a sharp deterioration in the quality of breathing due to pain, as well as transmission to the neck and back.Often this problem causes pathologies in other organs - heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas.Read more about thoracic osteochondrosis.
Lumbosacral osteochondrosis
In this case, there is a pain syndrome in the area indicated by "lumbago" in the accompanying parts, numbness of the legs, negative manifestations in the vascular system and shins.Symptoms are aggravated by an upright position, bending over, and a violent cough.This type of osteochondrosis causes muscle weakness, pain and pathologies of pelvic organs, severe inflammation of the sacrum and lower back.
Prevention
It is advisable to prevent osteochondrosis from an early age, especially if a person has a hereditary predisposition to this disease.
Key points:
- Therapeutic exercise.
- Swimming.
- Self-massage of a potentially problematic area.
- Compliance with recommendations to normalize posture.
- Relieving tension in the indicated area.
- Morning exercises.
- Weight normalization and proper nutrition.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Treatment of osteochondrosis is complicated, regardless of the stage.
Drug treatment
The main direction of drug therapy is to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of the problem and increase the positive effect of other procedures.Local and systemic drugs not only relieve pain, but also improve blood circulation, relieve inflammation, partially restore problematic cartilage tissue, and relax muscle complexes.
- Pills.Pain relievers in the form of analgesics and NSAIDs.Drugs that restore cartilage tissue are also prescribed.
- Local external means.Often these are ointments and creams.Prednisolone or hydrocortisone, steroid hormonal drugs based on complex gels, are most in demand for osteochondrosis.
- Injections.Injections for osteochondrosis are usually used in the acute stage of the disease, when local forms of classic tablets and drugs do not have the desired effect on the body.The vast majority of injections are aimed at eliminating very severe pain syndromes.The classic scheme of use is a special blockade in the region of the spinal nerves with the application of anesthetic subcutaneously and then intramuscularly.Such injections can be performed only in hospital conditions.
Exercises (physical therapy)
Therapeutic gymnastics is an important stage in the fight against osteochondrosis.Exercise therapy is prescribed only by a doctor who takes into account the characteristics of the disease and the current condition of the patient, usually participating in the remission phase of the problem.
The main purpose of such exercises is to strengthen the back muscles and develop the damaged cartilaginous components of the joints.Exercise therapy uses various methods, but one of the most popular is considered two dozen exercise schemes according to the best therapists known in the past.The complex usually includes general strengthening exercises, targeted treatment measures for problem areas, as well as "beacon" exercises that allow you to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.The exact list of actions, their sequence, amount and other preliminary information is given to the patient by the personally attending doctor!
Massage for osteochondrosis
Massage procedures for osteochondrosis significantly alleviate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease, and at the same time, together with other measures, help to eliminate the problem.
Individual elements of massage and approaches to its implementation are determined individually based on the localization, progress of osteochondrosis, the presence of chronic diseases in the patient, etc., that is, based on the existing clinical picture.
The most commonly used are classical therapeutic, acupressure, connective, apparatus and cupping massages.The above measures improve lymph/blood circulation, normalize nutrition of spinal discs, relieve pain syndromes, activate specific fibers, relax muscle mass, restore nutrition to soft tissues, etc.
Massage for osteochondrosis should be refused if the patient has aneurysms, tumors, thrombosis, osteomyelitis, blood diseases, tuberculosis, venereal diseases, problems in the pelvic organs with girdle osteochondrosis, warts, herpetic lesions and various skin manifestations of a mass nature.
Traditional medicine
Traditional medicine has effectively treated osteochondrosis for centuries, usually with compresses and oral tinctures.
The most popular recipes:
- Mix fried raw potatoes and honey in a ratio of 1 to 1.Apply to the problem area as a compress for two hours.
- Brew a tablespoon of crushed strawberry leaves in a glass of boiling water, leave for twenty minutes and then consume on an empty stomach.Take three months.
- Dissolve 300 grams of watermelon pulp and 200 grams of soda in a hot bath and take for half an hour.The course consists of 20 procedures.
- Pour boiling water over ten grams of thyme and take half a glass twice a day.