There are probably few people who, after 30-35 years, do not periodically complain of a feeling of discomfort and pain in various areas of the back, temporary numbness in the legs or arms.Such manifestations may indicate the possibility of developing osteochondrosis.This disease is quite common and occurs when the cartilage tissue in the spine, under the influence of various reasons, begins to change and loses its mobility and flexibility.This disease can develop in any part of the spine, but usually affects the discs between the vertebrae.If you move a little or sit for a long time at your workplace, the probability that you will develop osteochondrosis is very high.
People are aware of 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 have had (regardless of when) back injuries;
- you have had to undergo excessive physical exertion;
- you are constantly in stressful situations;
- your work involves strong vibrations.
And over the past few decades, spinal osteochondrosis has also become noticeably "younger."
Early onset of the disease is possible if:
- the person has poor physical condition or poor posture;
- a person eats untimely or incorrectly;
- suffer from flat feet or curvature of the spine;
- the person has bad habits - overeating or smoking.
In addition, the load on the spine increases during pregnancy, so it often becomes the cause of osteochondrosis in girls and women.
Risk of osteochondrosis
How to deal with osteochondrosis?In the early stages of osteochondrosis (first or second), its symptoms may be poorly expressed or not bother the person at all.This is dangerous because, in addition to discomfort and pain, advanced osteochondrosis can "give" you 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, then you can get rid of it completely.
Modern methods used to treat osteochondrosis
In the full treatment of spinal osteochondrosis, two methods are used: complex therapy (conservative) and surgical intervention.
Complex therapy (conservative)
Therapy for osteochondrosis consists of a wide range of medical and additional methods.This therapy is prescribed if you are in the early stages of this disease.
Treatment of grade 1 osteochondrosis is carried out through:
- use of drug therapy;
- local and general massage;
- a set of physiotherapy exercises;
- the use of reflexology and the whole range of physiotherapy methods.
Treatment of grade 2 osteochondrosis also requires the use of the spinal traction method.Spinal traction is performed using 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.
Medication methods
- the use of various anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents;
- the use of modern drugs that restore cartilage tissue.
Methods of using substances during drug treatment:
- all kinds of external rubbing and compresses.
- oral administration of tablets and capsules.
- procedures such as IVs and injections.
With drug treatment of osteochondrosis, pain is relieved, acute inflammation is alleviated, muscle tissue is gradually relaxed, some affected cartilage is restored, blood supply and metabolic processes are improved.Such treatment of the disease is necessarily prescribed in case of worsening of the disease.
Additional methods
- specially developed therapeutic diet;
- massage and self-massage;
- physiotherapy methods;
- manual therapy;
- light underwater hydromassage;
- pull (pull therapy);
- acupuncture;
- traditional medicine;
- meditative relaxation;
- medical baths;
- a set of physiotherapy exercises;
- work with a psychotherapist.
Surgical treatment (operative)
Surgical treatment is used in the later stages of the disease (third and fourth), when other tried treatments no longer help.Treatment of later stages is more complex, since the main disease itself is already accompanied by other diseases of the spine - radiculitis, hernia.The indication for surgical intervention is the appearance of an intervertebral hernia.Sometimes it is even necessary to completely remove the affected disk.
Treatment of grade 4 osteochondrosis requires an extremely complex operation with a high risk of damage to the nerves of the spinal cord.Therefore, surgical treatment is carried out extremely rarely, if attempts to cure a patient with osteochondrosis in other ways have not helped.
How long does it take to treat osteochondrosis?
How to quickly cure osteochondrosis?This depends on the presence of pronounced age-related changes, variability in the manifestation of symptoms and the diversity of treatment methods used.The patient himself can also actively contribute to recovery by strictly complying with the requirements of his treating therapist.
Treatment of grade 1 osteochondrosis usually lasts from one to four months.In class 4, after surgery, the recovery period can take 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 various types of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is characterized by the location of the spinal lesion (its location).Localization of osteochondrosis can be:
- cervical;
- breast;
- lower back;
- widespread.
Main complaints:
- with cervical localization - a person experiences periodic pain in the shoulders and arms, as well as headaches.Due to compression of the arteries, there is sometimes noise in the ears, colored spots and "floaters" in front of the eyes and slight dizziness.
- with thoracic localization - a person complains of pain of the type: "a stake was inserted into the chest", "shots" in the heart, stomach or lungs.
- with lumbosacral localization - a person complains of severe lower back pain, which can spread to the sacrum, groin and even legs.Some patients experience numbness in the leg muscles.
- with widespread localization, complaints of a wide range of symptoms arise.With this form of the disease, a person complains of several types of symptoms at the same time.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis?
Treatment methods for neck osteochondrosis today are:
- pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics;
- stimulants for tissue restoration, anti-inflammatory gels, ointments for external use;
- manual therapy;
- exercise therapy;
- hirudotherapy;
- reflexology;
- traditional medicine;
- surgical intervention if the case is particularly severe.
How to treat thoracic osteochondrosis?
Measures to treat breast type:
- pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications;
- acupuncture;
- manual influence;
- vacuum therapy;
- physical therapy;
- cupping massage;
- traditional medicine;
- moxotherapy (warming with wormwood cigars).
Exercise therapy for chest type disease is used not only as a supplement to general therapy, but also as a way to form a muscle cross;exercise therapy prevents, among other things, possible relapses.
How to treat lumbosacral osteochondrosis?
Therapy at different stages is carried out conservatively and surgically.
Conservative treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis in the early stages includes:
- drug treatment, in some cases hormones;
- manual influence;
- general health subsidies;
- reflexology (acupuncture);
- lumbar massage;
- traditional medicine;
- hirudotherapy (leeches);
- Exercise therapy.
Stage 4 lumbosacral osteochondrosis usually requires surgical intervention.
How to treat ordinary osteochondrosis?
Treatment of common osteochondrosis is carried out:
- prescribing appropriate drug therapy;
- use of all forms of manual therapy;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- using acupuncture methods;
- different methods of physiotherapy;
- development of a special diet.
Any form of spinal osteochondrosis requires surgical intervention in only ten percent of cases.The operation can be prescribed for patients with complications, as well as if the patient turned to specialists too late.If the diagnosis is made in time and you have already started therapy, it will be nice if traditional methods of treating this disease are added to traditional methods.Traditional methods have proven themselves in the treatment of any form of osteochondrosis.
Treatment with traditional methods
Folk remedies for this disease are used only in conjunction with drug treatment.They are aimed at relieving inflammation, pain and discomfort.Decide for yourself how to treat spinal osteochondrosis - using various traditional medicines, or only by medical methods.
Popular folk remedies:
- taking tonic pine baths;
- application of copper plates and coins to the spine.
- compresses with the addition of aloe juice;
- massage with honey, honey wraps;
- fresh decoction of herbs: oregano, hop cones and chamomile;St. John's wort, dandelion and burdock root;
- application of horseradish leaves to a sore spot;
- applying rye or potato cakes to the sore spot;
- sunflower herbal tea;
- red elderberry tincture;
- burdock compresses.
When you start treatment for osteochondrosis, you may find that your pain will only intensify.This is a completely expected reaction of your body to unusual influences.Soon such pain will completely stop.The best way to treat osteochondrosis is the 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 only guarantee a complete cure for the first and second stages of the disease.Therefore, you should immediately contact a doctor, even if you have only discovered some of the symptoms.Although all modern methods of treating osteochondrosis are quite effective, doctors consider the most effective therapy to be a combination of a set of traditional methods with constant training on stationary equipment for rehabilitation.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 to treat a patient with osteochondrosis at home, since the lack of a special orthopedic bed, physiotherapy equipment and special training equipment can significantly reduce the effectiveness of treatment;
- Not all patients can consistently follow a daily routine, take prescribed medication on time, eat according to a diet or undergo all medical procedures.In addition, many patients need periodic reminders to continue treatment.
- At home, it is difficult to adhere to the correct diet recommended by a nutritionist.
Therefore, the conclusion: you can try to treat osteochondrosis at home to a large extent using traditional treatment methods, but the best solution would still be to go to a specialized clinic or hospital for this profile, constantly being under the supervision of a highly qualified therapist.