Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disease that affects the spine by developing changes in the intervertebral discs of one or another department.Its danger lies in the fact that the development of the disease goes unnoticed.Currently, this disease has become much younger.

What is spinal osteochondrosis

Doctors define this disease as a chronic degenerative-dystrophic change of the spine and its structure.It affects about 80 percent of the world's population, and the first signs of this disease are observed at the age of 20-25.It can cause more serious health problems in the future.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine occurs most often;cervical and thoracic chondrosis is less common.A person has 33-34 vertebrae, which are interconnected by intervertebral discs.They perform a number of important functions, thereby ensuring the mobility of the spine.

Osteochondrosis of the spine is characterized by drying and changing the size of these discs and the space between them, which leads to a decrease in their strength and elasticity.The large load on the spine leads to displacement of the discs, which leads to pain when moving, and later an intervertebral hernia develops.

Vertebral displacement is caused by pinching of nerve endings and compression of blood vessels.Distortion of the spine, damage to individual parts, their deformation is an irreversible process.Ossification of the ligaments further reduces spinal mobility.

What types are there?

Depending on the damaged areas, the following types of osteochondrosis are distinguished:

• Cervical vertebrae, most often observed in young people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and work for a long time at the computer;
• Chest pain, a rare type of disease, can be caused by changes in the chest due to various factors (for example, trauma);
• The lumbosacral region, the disease is the most common, often affects people over 30 years old;
• General chondrosis, when several parts of the spine are affected at once.

The disease goes through several stages:

1. The first stage often goes unnoticed.Instability of the vertebrae appears, caused by their displacement, slight discomfort occurs when moving.This is a dangerous stage where injuries are most likely to occur.
2. In the second stage, the fibrous ring of the spinal disc is destroyed, which leads to a reduction in the distance between them.
3. The third stage is accompanied by a rupture of the fibrous rings, the core of the disc comes out of its place.At this stage, intervertebral hernias appear, which lead to deformation of the spine.
4. The last stage is characterized by severe pain syndromes.Bony growths and ossification of the ligaments interfere with the freedom of movement of the spine.

Osteochondrosis is caused by muscle tension, which leads to muscle spasms.This leads to limited mobility of the joints and spine.The result is degeneration of the vertebrae and discs, narrowing of the openings between the vertebrae, compression of the nerve roots.

Symptoms

The symptoms of this disease depend on the affected area.It is worth noting that people attribute most of the symptoms of this disease individually to other problems.For example, it is believed that headaches are caused by tension and stress, and hearing loss is caused by the use of headphones.

1. Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are manifested as follows:

   • Headache that gets worse when you try to move your head;
   • Pain in the neck, spreading to the shoulder blade, arms and chest;
   • The sensitivity is often impaired, the fingers are numb and weakness is felt;
   • The movement of the tongue is limited, which affects speech, snoring may appear;
   • Voice changes, becomes weak and hoarse;
   • Possible dizziness, loss of consciousness;
   • Loss of coordination of movements, loss of orientation when walking;
   • The condition of the teeth deteriorates;
   • Hearing decreases, tinnitus appears.

2. Rarely, but occurs osteochondrosis of the chest.It is usually caused by spinal injuries.The cause may be scoliosis.Symptoms of this disease:

   • Sharp pain in the chest area, it becomes stronger when you try to take a deep breath and move;
   • Pain in the stomach, liver and heart may occur;
   • Sometimes there is a tingling sensation in the chest.

3. The most common variant of the disease is lumbosacral osteochondrosis.It manifests itself as severe pain in the lumbar region.The symptoms can be different, but in the first period of development they are not very pronounced.But over time or in a "successful" situation, the disease worsens.Appears:

   • Aching or sharp pain that worsens with movement in the area just above the coccyx;
   • The pain radiates to the hip area, the sensitivity of the legs is impaired;
   • Restriction of body movements, it is impossible to bend or turn;
   • By the last stage, it is often impossible to sit down, it is difficult to stand up, and muscle weakness appears.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

Many people are interested in the question of how to treat osteochondrosis and whether this disease can be completely cured.Doctors answer this question unequivocally, but it is possible and necessary to start treatment in time and stop the development of the disease.There are many ways to treat osteochondrosis, both with the help of classical and traditional medicine.

It is worth noting that this disease can be treated quite effectively, especially in the initial stage of the disease.In outpatient settings, a special comprehensive program is used, which is aimed at quickly eliminating the symptoms of the disease and correcting the causes of suffering.

Complex therapy includes the following techniques:

1. Acupuncture.

   Acupuncture is performed once every one to two days.The course of treatment is prescribed by the doctor;can vary from seven days to a month;as a rule, 12-15 procedures are enough.The acupuncturist performs a visual and manual examination of the patient.One procedure lasts about half an hour.The needles are inserted for 15-20 minutes.

   Disposable sterile acupuncture needles are used to perform the operation;are inserted under the patient's skin and a slight sting is felt, similar to a mosquito bite.When the needle reaches a biologically active point, a person feels numbness, pain, or a feeling of fullness in that place;pain occurs extremely rarely.

2. Vacuum therapy.

   Special vacuum jars are used to perform the procedure.The effectiveness of this method is very high, there is practically no pain.This method of treatment allows you to quickly and safely eliminate the symptoms of the disease.It is based on the mobilization of the body's own resources and is used in rehabilitation medicine.

   Under the influence of the jars, pressure differences are created, the skin and part of the muscles are pulled into the jar.Thanks to the deep treatment of a large area, blood microcirculation is improved, stagnation is eliminated, harmful substances are removed and tissues are renewed faster.

   The areas of impact of vacuum therapy are extensive;the doctor himself chooses and determines areas for the procedure.The spots that appear during the procedure begin to dissolve after the fourth procedure, so you should not be afraid of them.

3. Manual therapy.

   These are gentle treatment methods that are very effective among non-drug options.A chiropractor can eliminate many problems related to the muscles and spine and is used in the treatment of neurological diseases.

   The effect is outwardly reminiscent of an ordinary massage, but with a more limited localization and a moderate force of impact.A qualified chiropractor is able to treat conditions that cannot be treated with drugs.

   For the treatment of the spine, this method is aimed at increasing the elasticity of the muscles and improving the movement of the individual vertebrae.The procedures are not performed daily, but at certain time intervals of up to seven days.More effective is manual treatment in combination with physiotherapy and folk remedies, as well as physiotherapy.

   

4. Pharmacopuncture.

   This method involves active points of the human body, where minimal amounts of drugs indicated for a specific disease are injected.These can be vitamin complexes, homeopathic medicines, biostimulants, corticosteroids.The injection is performed with the help of a microneedle, practically without unpleasant sensations.

   For the treatment of the spine, an adapted version is used, which allows you to treat osteochondrosis, spinal hernia and other problems.It is used for rehabilitation after spine surgery.Pharmacopuncture enhances metabolism, improves connective tissue trophicity and blood circulation in the affected area.Even a small therapeutic complex shows positive, lasting results.

5. Magnetic acupuncture.

   This method involves exposure of biologically active points to a magnetic field.For this purpose, tape recorders are used, which are assigned certain properties of polarity, size and power.This device consists of rubberized magnets;they generate a permanent magnetic field.Metal plates and magnetic balls of different shapes, areas and thicknesses are used to treat various diseases.

6. Laser therapy.

   This is a laser effect on special acupuncture points through intact areas of the skin.In most cases, low-power lasers with red light are used;they show the most activity.As a result of the treatment, inflammation and pain, spasms are alleviated, blood vessels expand, metabolic processes improve, cell regeneration increases.

7. Electrical stimulation.

   Electric current is used to affect certain points.It is effective for electrostimulation of motor muscles and nerve endings.Single pulses, exponential currents, rhythmic direct current and sinusoidal modulated currents are used.Severe pain can be removed in just 1-3 procedures.The full course requires 10-15 sessions.

Often, outpatient therapy includes a medication component that is designed to relieve pain.For this purpose, analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents, antispasmodics, antioxidants, as well as drugs that correct psychosomatic disorders and reduce cartilage tissue degeneration are used.

Traditional methods

In traditional medicine, there are many remedies that alleviate the condition of osteochondrosis.

For external use, the following options are used:

1. Apply a small amount of ointment to the affected area, gradually rubbing it into the skin.The treated area should be carefully wrapped to retain heat.It is enough to carry out the procedure 3-4 times a day.
2. Ointment compresses help relieve inflammation and pain.Cover the smeared area with plastic wrap, you can put fresh mint or lemon balm leaves underneath;burdock leaves or white cabbage work effectively.Wrap with a woolen scarf and fasten the compress.Crushed fresh birch leaves give a good effect;they are applied to the problem area and wrapped for half an hour.
3. For rubbing, you can use vegetable oil infused with herbs - oregano, St. John's wort.About 500 grams of raw materials are taken for half a liter of vegetable oil.Fresh oregano cake is infused for 24 hours and dried St. John's wort is infused with oil for 21 days.
4. You can prepare a mixture of 1/3 cup of black beet juice, 200 g of fresh honey, 100 ml of vodka and a handful of fresh lilac blossoms.Leave for a day in a warm place, after which the composition can be used for rubbing.

Do not forget about proper nutrition and an active lifestyle.It is necessary to constantly monitor your posture when sitting in a chair or at the computer;it is recommended to sleep on a surface with medium hardness.

The spine must be constantly maintained;for this you can use special exercises and avoid prolonged monotonous positions.

Exercises for osteochondrosis at home

At home, you can perform effective and simple gymnastics, which should be part of a complex of measures for the treatment of spinal diseases.It is recommended to perform the following exercises for osteochondrosis.

1. Tilt your head forward, grasp the forehead area with interlaced fingers.Make movements upside down, holding with hands.The reverse movement is to try to lift your head while leaning over, and with your hands clasped at the back of your head, resist his movement.Each move takes 10 seconds.
2. Impact on biologically active points using the palm and fingers: first massage the forehead area, press on the skin and move it with light movements.Exposure time is 20-40 seconds.Then move to the temporal areas, the effect is carried out in a similar way.The procedure ends with an ear massage, stretching the ear in all directions.
3. To improve brain nutrition, you should sit on a flat surface and keep your back straight.The head is slowly pulled back;you can easily help yourself with your hands by pressing the chin with your palm.Exercise time – 10-30 seconds.Then you can slightly turn your head to one side or the other, staying in this position for 10-15 seconds.
4. This is an excellent exercise for the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis.It helps to improve the functioning of the nerve plexus located in the neck.IP - sitting on a flat surface with a straight back.Slowly move your head towards your chest, trying to touch it with your chin.You can help yourself slightly with your hands on the back of your head, pushing forward and up.Sit in this position for about a minute, rest for 10-15 minutes and repeat the exercise.
5. The warm-up engages the upper spine while simultaneously pulling the shoulders toward the ears as high as possible.Then lower them freely and easily.Repeat for 15 seconds.Then repeat the exercise, but for each shoulder joint separately.

At the end of gymnastics, rub the back of your head with your palms.

To get rid of the physical suffering caused by cervical osteochondrosis, you can take an aspen stick or a rolling pin and slowly tap it on the shoulder, shoulder blade and spine on one side, and then on the other.You can give it a light massage to relieve tension and pain.

To quickly get rid of pain in the lumbar region, you need to lie on a hard surface, ideally on the floor, with your legs bent at the knees.Make turns with your legs in one direction and the other, trying to touch the floor with your knees.

In case of exacerbation - how to relieve the pain

Often during an exacerbation of the disease, a person does not know where to go.Constantly taking drugs is impossible, but there are ways to get rid of acute pain without resorting to drugs.

First of all, heat should be applied to the problem area.You can wrap this area with a woolen scarf.Exposure to cold is also possible, but only on the first day after the appearance of the problem and under medical supervision.

Lie down on a hard surface and try to fix the sore spot.If you have pain, it is recommended to place a soft pillow under your lower back to relieve tension in this area.It is better to bend your legs.The chest can be wrapped in a tight bandage, and a cardboard and cotton splint placed on the neck, as if there is an injury.

If there is no relief, you should call a doctor.To relieve severe pain, take a pain reliever.

Prevention - how to prevent the occurrence of osteochondrosis

Before dealing with prevention, you need to clarify what are the causes that most often cause osteochondrosis.The risk of this disease increases with improper nutrition, inactive lifestyle, overweight, bad habits (smoking, alcoholism), heavy physical activity and bad posture.

Obviously, to prevent the development of the disease, you must first improve your diet and introduce physical activity.It is enough to do elementary morning exercises, stretching, light self-massage of the lower back and neck, swinging arms and legs.At the workplace, you should find 2-3 minutes to warm up.All types of swimming in the pool work well.

Fighting excess weight will help eliminate the risk;you should not allow hypothermia or traumatic situations.It is worth engaging in the prevention of stressful situations and giving up bad habits.Attention should be paid to proper nutrition;the body must receive a sufficient amount of protein, but salt, flour and fatty foods must be limited.

In some cases, if there is a lack of vitamins, the doctor may prescribe additional vitamin and mineral complexes.All this together will help protect the spine from problems.