Unfortunately, osteochondrosis is already a common occurrence for people over 30 years old. Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs and bones of the spine most often occur due to a passive lifestyle, malnutrition, excess weight, heavy physical work, etc. The disease manifests itself with severe symptoms in stages 2-4, when the cartilage tissue structure is completely restored it will no longer function. Complications of osteochondrosis (protrusions, disc herniations, osteophytes, etc. ) can lead to decreased quality of life, disability.
Timely treatment of osteochondrosis increases a person's chances of a full life. It is recommended to start therapy in the early stages of its development. To stop the development of pathology and to improve the general state of health, it is necessary to carry out a series of measures: medication, exercise therapy, physiotherapy, manual exposure. Surgical treatment is performed only in advanced cases, when complications are already present.
Characteristics of the disease
Osteochondrosis of the spine begins with the destruction of the intervertebral discs. Under the influence of negative factors, the discs compress the cartilage lining, violating the integrity of its outer shell. The height of the disc decreases, gradually collapses, then the pathology spreads to the vertebral tissues.
There are many factors that affect the development of osteochondrosis of the spine:
- Prolonged landing in the wrong position.
- Passive lifestyle.
- Overweight.
- Hard physical work.
- Back injury.
- Frequent nervous disorders.
- Wrong diet.
- Hypothermia.
- hereditary predisposition.
- Wearing shoes with heels, pregnancy in women, etc.
Reference. In stages 1 - 2, osteochondrosis can still be cured.
Doctors distinguish 4 stages of osteochondrosis:
- Class 1 - cracks appear in the fibrous ring, the height of the disc decreases. There is discomfort in the affected area, the back gets tired faster.
- Grade 2 - disc height continues to decrease, muscles, ligaments decrease, vertebral mobility increases. There is pain, especially after exercise.
- Grade 3 - the discs are slightly displaced, extensions appear, the likelihood of subluxations or osteoarthritis of the spinal joints increases. A pronounced pain syndrome appears, mobility is limited, sensitivity is impaired in the affected area.
- Grade 4 - osteophytes appear in the vertebrae, so the body stabilizes the spine. Bone growths compress nerves, damage vertebrae, and increase the risk of fibrous ankylosis (fusion of spinal joints).
Important. Osteochondrosis can affect the segments of the cervix, chest and middle of the spine.
Disease of the cervical region is manifested by pain in the neck, upper limbs, cephalgia (headache). In addition, dizziness, hearing and vision disorders, etc. may occur.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is easily confused with heart disease, as the pain syndrome is localized to the chest area.
Symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis - aching pain, limited mobility, pain, impaired sensitivity of the lower body.
The clinical picture of osteochondrosis is diverse, so you do not have to make a diagnosis yourself. See a doctor if you have any suspicious symptoms.
Osteochondrosis treatment scheme
In most cases, when osteochondrosis is detected, conservative methods are used. It is important to carry out a comprehensive treatment to get rid of the pain, to normalize the functioning of the spine and to prevent complications.
The treatment regimen for osteochondrosis is as follows:
- Limit physical activity.
- Taking medication.
- Physiotherapy procedures.
- Physiotherapy.
- Massage.
- Manual therapy.
- Spine alignment.
It is possible to cure osteochondrosis only by combining the above methods. The treatment plan for each patient is drafted separately by the doctor, taking into account the degree of the disease, age and characteristics of the organism.
Effective treatment will help relieve the symptoms of osteochondrosis in 1 to 3 months. Then maintenance therapy is performed for 12 months. This will help consolidate the results, preventing relapse.
It is possible to treat spinal chondrosis (stage 1 osteochondrosis) without medication. The patient can perform physiotherapy exercises, reduce the load on the damaged area of the back, use applicators (role Lyapko, Kuznetsov illustrator), improve nutrition, give up bad habits.
medications
Treated with medications recommended for worsening osteochondrosis. Medications will help relieve pain, inflammation, improve blood circulation to the affected area, and normalize motor activity.
The following drugs are used for osteochondrosis:
- NSAIDs relieve pain and inflammation.
- Drugs with vasodilating effect. They are used because of muscle tension, blood vessels narrow to expand their lumen and improve blood circulation.
- Muscle relaxants relax spasmodic muscles, normalize blood flow, relieve pain, improve mobility, and speed up tissue repair.
- Chondroprotectors stop the destruction of cartilage lining.
- Herbal or synthetic-based psycholeptics soothe or reduce emotional stress without causing hypnotic effects.
- Preparations based on B vitamins accelerate the recovery of damaged nerve fibers.
All of these medications help fight chronic osteochondrosis, only they can be taken for medical reasons.
Non-narcotic opioid analgesics are used to relieve severe pain in the acute period of the disease. Glucocorticoids are used for the same purpose. However, these medications negatively affect the body, so they can be taken as a last resort.
In addition to tablets and injections, during the exacerbation of osteochondrosis, creams and gels are used with an irritating and local warming effect.
Physiotherapy
Complex therapy of osteochondrosis is always supplemented with therapeutic exercises. However, the exercises for different parts of the spine are different.
In order not to overload the neck, other muscle groups should be involved during the hours. Exercise begins with a warm-up and ends with relaxation exercises.
Cervical osteochondrosis complex:
- Lie on your back, raise your head, adjust for 5-7 seconds.
- Do not change the starting position (IP), place your hands on your shoulders, rotate your elbows in different directions.
- IP is the same, alternately raise your hands above your head, lifting one, and then the second shoulder blade off the floor.
- Press the back of the head to the floor, adjust for 4 seconds.
- Tie the shoulder blades, stand for 5 seconds.
- Roll to your side, rest your head on your hands, lift your free limb with your head, adjust for 4 seconds. Repeat for the other side.
- Lie on your stomach, place your hands on the back of your head, raise your head, adjust for 4 seconds.
If you have severe pain and dizziness, stop exercising and visit a doctor.
Reference. Thoracic osteochondrosis is less common than that of the cervix or lumbar region, as this is the least mobile department. In addition, it is strengthened by muscles and ribs.
Exercises for thoracic spine lesions:
- Lie on your back, bend your knees, press your hands to your chest, lift your lower back slightly off the floor, tighten your abdominal muscles, hold for 5 seconds.
- PS same thing, raise your arms, straighten your legs, grasp the opposite arm and leg, adjust. Repeat for the other limbs.
- Roll on stomach, spread arms to sides. Raise your hands and head off the floor, adjust for 3 seconds.
- Stand on all fours, raise your head, bend your back while breathing, lower your head while exhaling, round your back.
Move smoothly, avoid sudden movements.
To treat lumbar osteochondrosis, the following exercises are used:
- Lie on your back, alternately pulling your knees to your chest.
- PI alike, remove the right arm and leg, and then the left limbs.
- Put your hands behind your head, lift off the floor, at the same time pull the socks towards you.
- Bend the legs at the knees, extend the right knee to the left leg and then vice versa.
- Perform the "Bicycle" exercise back and forth.
- Roll to your side, move your leg up.
- PI same, pull the knees to the chest.
- Stand on all fours, moving your hands sideways.
These exercises help to stretch and relax tense muscles, increase blood circulation and lymphatic flow.
There are many other exercises. To make a complex that suits you, consult a doctor.
Physiotherapy procedures
Physiotherapy helps relieve pain, reduces inflammation, improves blood circulation and trophism.
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, the following physiotherapeutic procedures are used:
- Drug electrophoresis helps relieve pain in the presence of neurological disorders.
- Electrotherapy improves blood circulation, tissue nutrition.
- Laser therapy relieves inflammation, anesthetizes, accelerates tissue healing, activates biological processes in nerve tissue.
- Shock wave therapy improves local blood circulation, metabolic processes, reduces swelling, pain.
- Detensor therapy - pulling the spine under the weight of its body weight. Helps to get rid of excruciating pain syndrome.
- Balneotherapy is a complex of procedures that use fresh, mineral or sea water. After a course of treatment, the pain is relieved, blood microcirculation is improved.
In addition, diadynamic therapy, pulse therapy, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, and vibration therapy can be used for osteochondrosis.
Reference. Osteochondrosis is treated with beeswax, this technique is called apitherapy. During the procedure, bee venom is injected into biologically active points to enhance the effect of the complex treatment. Insect venom relieves pain, improves mobility, microcirculation, conduction through nerve pathways, increases the elasticity of intervertebral discs.
Manual therapy
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, the patient is shown not only massage but also manual exposure (gentle and firm).
With the help of massage, the specialist normalizes muscle tone, improves blood circulation and restores the activity of nerve cells. The session begins with kneading and rubbing, these techniques help prepare the body for further exposure.
After a warm-up massage, the doctor proceeds with mobilization and automotive. During the procedure, it acts gently on the joints of the spine, gradually increasing the amplitude. Automation consists of performing movements by the patient himself under the supervision of a physician. These procedures help increase the interstitial gap, reduce venous blood stasis, and improve trophism.
To restore the correct position of the displaced vertebrae, the doctor proceeds with the manipulation technique. He performs sharp and rapid movements in the affected areas, placing the vertebrae in their usual place. Helps relieve pain, muscle spasm, improve mobility.
Careful. Manual therapy for osteochondrosis can cause serious complications (fracture, vertebral displacement, damage to nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, or muscles). To prevent this from happening, you need to find an experienced specialist.
Hardware treatment and orthopedic equipment
Equipment for the treatment of osteochondrosis can be used at home, but only after the approval of the doctor.
In addition, for back health, the patient can use orthopedic tools. A special cushion or roller helps to unload the neck and lower back, used during rest or in transport. A medical collar is used to support the physiological curves of the neck. Posture correctors, corsets improve posture, discharge the thoracic, lumbosacral segment of the spine.
Reference. You can wear corsets and correctives no more than 2-3 hours a day. This way will help to avoid muscle weakness.
A special strap is used for the lower back. Can be worn at work while playing sports.
Folk remedies
Complex therapy can be supplemented with effective folk remedies. However, cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis are associated with different symptoms, so different recipes are used to treat them.
Folk remedies for neck treatment:
- Keep burdock leaves on steam for 5-10 minutes, stick to the neck, fix with a bandage. You can also soak gauze in a burdock decoction and use it as a compress.
- Make a decoction of birch leaves, apply a compress on the affected area.
- Peel a horseradish, squeeze the juice, mix with vodka (1: 1), rub the neck.
- Pour 250 g of needles in 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. Drink twice a day after a meal.
Also, with osteochondrosis of the cervix, you can take baths with coniferous decoctions.
If the chest area is affected, use the following recipes:
- Mix dandelion root, mint, birch buds, coriander in equal proportions. Pour 100 ml of boiling water 3 tablespoons. l. collect, cook for 5 minutes over medium heat. Add 75 g butter and sunflower oil to the warm mixture, cook for another 20 minutes. Rub warm ointment on your back.
- Grind black radish or horseradish, squeeze the juice, rub the affected area.
- Boil wormwood or flax seeds with steam, place in a cloth bag, apply to the back of the chest.
At home, you can cook your back with a bar massager.
If the lumbosacral region is affected, use the following remedies:
- Drink decoction of berry leaves, thyme, hop cones, red leaves.
- Apply a compress with horseradish juice or raw potatoes.
- Rub the lower back with an ointment of 200 g of melted lard mixed with beeswax and marshmallow root.
Also, with lumbar osteochondrosis, you can wear a wool belt, which has a warming effect.
Before using any folk remedy, consult your doctor.
Surgical intervention
Surgery is prescribed in the presence of complications, which are accompanied by numbness of the limbs, severe prolonged pain, involuntary urination or defecation. Also, surgical treatment is needed for cauda equina syndrome (compression of the nerve endings of the lower spinal cord).
Surgical techniques will help eliminate the cause of the pain and stabilize the spine:
- Facetectomy is the removal of the joints of the joints that suppress the nerve bundles.
- Foraminotomy - an increase in the lumen of the root canal by removing the osteophyte. After the procedure, the nerve is freed from damage.
- Laminectomy is the removal of the back of a deformed vertebra that is pressing on the spinal cord.
- A laminotomy is used to widen the opening through which nerve roots pass.
- Discectomy - removal of the affected disc or part of it with an intervertebral hernia. This is a minimally invasive endoscopic operation, after which the patient recovers faster.
- Correctomy is the removal of all the vertebrae and discs that are attached to it. The free space is then filled with a bone graft.
To avoid destabilization of the spine, spinal fusion (vertebral fusion) is performed. Also, special screws, rods, plates are used for fixing the beads.
Careful. After the operation there is a risk of complications: spinal cord injury, nerve bundles, infection of the affected area, urinary disorders, etc. Therefore surgical intervention is performed only in extreme cases.
Rehabilitation after surgery can take several months. During this period, the patient should give up physical activity, bad habits, follow the recommendations of doctors.
evaluations
According to patients, it is very difficult to completely cure osteochondrosis. Those who performed complex therapies at an early stage of the pathology were relieved of pain and improved their physical shape. Patients who sought help in the advanced stages of the disease still suffer from recurrences of osteochondrosis.
First review, female, 42 years old
"I was diagnosed with second-degree osteochondrosis of the neck. At first she was treated with analgesics and muscle relaxants (injections, tablets), and then she took a chondroprotector and did gymnastics. In addition, she visited a manual specialist. a few months, the pain disappeared. I plan to take the course again to consolidate the result. I do gymnastics every day.
Second review, female, 38 years old
"I started having pain in my lower back about 2 years ago. When I could not stand it I went to the doctor. I was diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the neck, the rheumatologist prescribed me medication, physiotherapy, massage. Approximately 2 weeks after startingof treatment, the symptoms disappeared almost completely. Now do I do gymnastics, go to the pool for prevention.
Third review, female, 41 years old
"I was diagnosed with osteochondrosis of the neck, as well as a C5-C6 hernia. I took medication, went for a massage, to an osteopath and I have been doing gymnastics regularly for 2 years. However, nothing helped, the pain disappeared only for a while, "My hands started to numb. The doctor gave her a discectomy, after the operation the condition improved, but not for long. I think you will have to be treated for the rest of your life. "
Most important
As you can see, osteochondrosis requires long-term treatment and self-discipline. Therapy should be comprehensive: medication (in the acute period), exercise therapy, physiotherapy, massage, manual exposure. The patient must change his lifestyle, perform regular gymnastics, give up bad habits, eat properly, use orthopedic devices. You can supplement the therapy with medical devices and folk remedies, but only after the approval of the doctor. In the presence of complications, an operation is performed, followed by a lengthy rehabilitation. The patient should strictly follow the recommendations of doctors in order to speed up recovery.