Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disease that affects the spine due to changes in the intervertebral discs of one or another class.Its danger lies in the fact that the development of the disease occurs unnoticed.Currently, this disease has become much younger.

What is osteochondrosis of the spine

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 can be observed at the age of 20-25.It may cause more serious health problems in the future.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine occurs most often;cervical and thoracic chondrosis is observed less often.Humans have 33-34 vertebrae connected to each other by intervertebral discs.They perform many important functions, thereby ensuring the mobility of the spine.

Osteochondrosis of the spine is characterized by the fact that these discs dry out and change in size and the space between them, which leads to a decrease in their strength and flexibility.The heavy load on the spine leads to displacement of the discs, which causes pain during movement, and later an intervertebral hernia develops.

Displacement of the vertebrae is caused by pinching of nerve endings and compression of blood vessels.The curvature of the spine, the damage of individual parts, their deformation is an irreversible process.The ossification of the ligaments further reduces the mobility of the spine.

What types are there?

Depending on the damaged areas, the following types of osteochondrosis differ:

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

The disease goes through several stages:

1. The first stage often occurs unnoticed.Instability of the vertebrae appears, caused by their displacement, and slight discomfort occurs during movement.This is a dangerous stage where injuries are most likely to occur.
2. In the second stage, the fibrous ring of the vertebral disc is destroyed, which leads to a decrease in the distance between them.
3. The third stage is accompanied by the rupture of the fibrous rings, the nucleus 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.Bone growth and ossification of ligaments interfere with the freedom of movement of the spine.

The cause of osteochondrosis is muscle tension, which leads to muscle spasms.This leads to limited movement 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 the disease depend on the affected area.It is worth noting that people attribute most of the symptoms of this disease to other problems individually.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 as follows:

   • Headache that gets worse when you try to move your head;
   • Pain in the neck that spreads to the scapula, arms and chest;
   • Sensitivity is often impaired, fingers become numb, weakness is felt;
   • Movement of the tongue is limited, which affects speech, snoring may occur;
   • The voice changes, becomes weak and hoarse;
   • Possible dizziness, loss of consciousness;
   • Loss of coordination of movements, loss of orientation while walking;
   • The condition of the teeth deteriorates;
   • Hearing decreases, tinnitus appears.

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

   • Sharp pain in the chest area, becoming stronger when trying to take a deep breath and move;
   • Pain may occur in the stomach, liver and heart;
   • Sometimes there is a feeling of numbness in the chest.

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

   • Aching or sharp pain that increases with movement in the area above the coccyx;
   • The pain radiates to the hip area, the sensitivity of the legs is impaired;
   • Restriction of body movements, cannot bend or turn;
   • In the last stage, it is often impossible to sit, it is difficult to stand up, 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 clearly do not answer this question, 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, using both classical and traditional medicine.

It is worth noting that this disease can be treated quite effectively, especially in the initial stages of the disease.In an outpatient setting, a special comprehensive program is used, the aim of which is to quickly eliminate the symptoms of the disease and correct the causes of suffering.

Complex therapy includes the following techniques:

1. Acupuncture.

   Acupuncture is performed once or twice a day.The treatment is prescribed by the doctor;it can last from seven days to a month;usually 12-15 procedures are sufficient.The acupuncturist performs a visual and manual examination of the patient.A procedure takes about half an hour.The needles are placed for 15-20 minutes.

   Disposable sterile acupuncture needles are used to perform the operation;they are inserted under the patient's skin and they feel a slight sting 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 glasses are used to perform the procedure.The efficiency of this method is very high, there is practically no pain.This treatment method makes it possible 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.

   As a result of the bottles, pressure differences are created, and part of the skin and muscle is pulled into the vessel.Thanks to the deep treatment of a large area, blood microcirculation improves, stagnation is eliminated, harmful substances are removed, and tissues are renewed faster.

   The areas of effect of vacuum therapy are extensive;the doctor himself selects and designates the areas of the procedure.The spots that appear during the procedure begin to dissolve after the fourth procedure, so there is no need to be afraid of them.

3. Manual therapy.

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

   The effect is outwardly reminiscent of a regular massage, but with a more limited localization and moderate strength.A qualified chiropractor can also cure diseases that cannot be treated with medicine.

   In order to treat the spine, this method is aimed at increasing muscle flexibility and improving the movement of individual vertebrae.The procedures are not performed daily, but at certain intervals of up to seven days.Manual treatment is more effective in combination with physiotherapy and folk remedies, as well as physical therapy.

   

4. Pharmacopuncture.

   This method involves the active points of the human body, into which a minimal amount of drugs prescribed for the given disease is injected.These can be vitamin complexes, homeopathic remedies, biostimulants, corticosteroids.The injection is performed with a microneedle, with virtually no discomfort.

   An adapted version is used for the treatment of the spine, which makes it possible to cure osteochondrosis, vertebral hernia and other problems.It is used for rehabilitation after spine surgery.Pharmacopuncture increases metabolism, improves connective tissue trophism and blood circulation in the affected area.Even a small treatment complex shows positive, lasting results.

5. Magnetopuncture.

   This method involves the exposure of biologically active points to a magnetic field.For this purpose, tape recorders are used, on which certain properties of polarity, size and power are adjusted.This device consists of rubberized magnets;they create 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 specific acupuncture points through intact areas of the skin.In most cases, low-power lasers with red light are used;they show the greatest activity.As a result of the treatment, inflammations, pains, and spasms are alleviated, blood vessels expand, metabolic processes improve, and cell regeneration increases.

7. Electrical stimulation.

   Electric current is used to influence certain points.It is effective for electrical stimulation of motor muscles and nerve endings.Individual pulses, exponential currents, rhythmic direct current and sinusoidally modulated currents are used.Severe pain can be eliminated with 1-3 procedures.The entire course requires 10-15 sessions.

Outpatient therapy often includes a drug component designed to relieve pain.Pain relievers, anti-inflammatory agents, antispasmodics, antioxidants, as well as drugs that correct psychosomatic disorders and reduce the degeneration of cartilage tissue are used for this purpose.

Traditional methods

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

For external use, the following options must be used:

1. Apply a small amount of ointment to the affected area, gradually rubbing it into the skin.The treated area should be wrapped carefully to retain the 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 film, you can put fresh mint or lemongrass leaves under it;burdock or white cabbage leaves work effectively.Wrap it with a woolen scarf and fasten the poultice.Crushed fresh birch leaves have a good effect;it is 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.We take about 500 grams of raw material for half a liter of vegetable oil.The fresh oregano cake is infused for 24 hours, and the dried St. John's wort is poured with oil for 21 days.
4. You can make a mixture of 1/3 cup of black radish juice, 200 g of fresh honey, 100 ml of vodka and a handful of fresh lilac flowers.Leave it in a warm place for a day, then the composition can be used for rubbing.

Don't forget about proper nutrition and an active lifestyle.It is necessary to constantly monitor the posture when sitting in a chair or in front of the computer;it is advisable to sleep on a surface of medium hardness.

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

Exercises for osteochondrosis at home

You can perform effective and simple gymnastics at home, which is part of the package of measures for the treatment of spinal diseases.The following exercises are recommended for osteochondrosis.

1. Tilt your head forward, clasp your forehead with your fingers.Perform movements with your head down, holding your hands.The reverse movement is to tilt and try to lift your head and counter the movement with your hands clasped behind your head.Each move takes 10 seconds.
2. Effect on biologically active points with your palms and fingers: first massage the forehead area, press the skin and move it with gentle movements.The 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, sit on a flat surface and keep your back straight.The head is slowly pulled back;he can easily help himself with his hand, pressing his chin with his palm.Practice time - 10-30 seconds.Then you can slightly turn your head to one side or the other and stay in this position for 10-15 seconds.
4. This is an excellent exercise for the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis.It helps improve the functioning of the nerve plexus in the neck.IP - sitting on a flat surface with a straight back.Slowly move your head towards your chest, try to touch it with your chin.You can help yourself a bit by placing 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 pulling the shoulders as high as possible towards the ears.Then release them freely and easily.Repeat for 15 seconds.Then repeat the exercise, but for each shoulder joint separately.

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

To get rid of the physical suffering caused by cervical osteochondrosis, take a poplar stick or rolling pin and slowly tap your shoulder, shoulder blade and spine on one side and then on the other side.A little massage can 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.Turn your legs to one side and the other and try to touch the floor with your knees.

In case of exacerbation - how to relieve pain

Often, during the aggravation of the disease, one does not know where to go.Taking drugs continuously is not possible, but there are ways to get rid of acute pain without resorting to drugs.

First, apply heat 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 onset of the problem and under medical supervision.

Lie down on a hard surface and try to fix the sore spot.In case of pain, it is advisable to place a soft pillow under the lower back to relieve tension in this area.Better to bend your legs.The chest can be wrapped in a tight bandage, and a splint made of cardboard and cotton wool can be placed on the neck, as if it were an injury.

If there is no relief, a doctor should be called.Take pain relievers to relieve severe pain.

Prevention - how to prevent the occurrence of osteochondrosis

Before starting prevention, you need to clarify what most often causes osteochondrosis.The risk of the disease increases with improper nutrition, an inactive lifestyle, being overweight, bad habits (smoking, alcohol addiction), heavy physical activity and bad posture.

It is clear that in order to prevent the development of the disease, you must first improve your diet and introduce physical activity.It is enough to perform the basic morning exercises, stretching, light self-massage on the lower back and neck, swinging the arms and legs.Find 2-3 minutes at your workplace to warm up.All types of swimming work well in the pool.

Fighting excess weight helps to eliminate the risk;you should not allow hypothermia or traumatic situations.It is worth working on preventing stressful situations and giving up bad habits.Attention should be paid to proper nutrition;the body should receive a sufficient amount of protein, but the consumption of salty, floury and fatty foods should be limited.

In some cases, if the vitamin is lacking, the doctor may prescribe additional vitamin and mineral complexes.All this together helps to protect the spine from problems.