There are probably few people who, after the age of 30-35, do not periodically complain of a feeling of discomfort and pain in different 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, under the influence of various reasons, the cartilaginous tissue of the spine begins to change, losing its mobility and flexibility.This disease can develop in any part of the spine, but it usually affects the discs between the vertebrae.If you move little or sit at work for a long time, the probability of developing osteochondrosis is very high.
People pay attention to the discomfort and other changes associated with this disease, usually closer to the second half of life.
The chance of acquiring the disease increases significantly if:
- you already know what age-related changes are;
- you had (no matter when) back injuries;
- you had to subject yourself to excessive physical exertion;
- you are constantly in stressful situations;
- your work involves strong vibrations.
And in recent decades, spinal osteochondrosis has also become noticeably “younger”.
Early onset of the disease is possible if:
- the person has poor physical fitness or poor posture;
- a person eats prematurely or incorrectly;
- suffer from flat feet or curvature of the spine;
- the person has bad habits - overeating or smoking.
In addition, during pregnancy, the load on the spine also increases, which is why it often becomes the cause of osteochondrosis in girls and women.
Danger of osteochondrosis
How to deal with osteochondrosis?In the initial stages of osteochondrosis (first or second), its symptoms may be poorly expressed or not bother the person at all.This is dangerous because advanced osteochondrosis, in addition to discomfort and pain, can “provide” complications in the form of serious diseases such as kyphosis, radiculitis or intervertebral hernia.
What to do with osteochondrosis?- Treat, because if osteochondrosis is detected in the early stages, you can completely get rid of it.
Modern methods used to treat osteochondrosis
In the complete treatment of spinal osteochondrosis, two methods are used: complex (conservative) therapy and surgical intervention.
Complex (conservative) therapy
Therapy for osteochondrosis consists of a wide range of medicinal and additional methods.This therapy is prescribed if you are in the early stages of the 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 variety of physiotherapy methods.
Treatment of grade 2 osteochondrosis additionally requires the use of the spinal traction method.Spinal traction is performed with a load selected individually for each patient.For this, special equipment is used.The spinal traction procedure not only relieves acute pain but also restores the correct position of the spine and increases intervertebral space.
Medication methods
- the use of various anti-inflammatories and analgesics;
- the use of modern medicines that restore cartilaginous tissue.
Methods of using drugs during drug treatment:
- all types of friction and external compresses.
- oral administration of tablets and capsules.
- procedures like IVs and injections.
With drug treatment of osteochondrosis, pain is relieved, acute inflammation is relieved, 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 cases of exacerbation of the disease.
Additional Methods
- specially developed therapeutic diet;
- massage and self-massage;
- physiotherapy methods;
- manual therapy;
- light underwater hydromassage;
- pulling (traction therapy);
- acupuncture;
- traditional medicine;
- meditative relaxation;
- medicinal baths;
- a set of physiotherapy exercises;
- working with a psychotherapist.
Surgical (operative) treatment
Surgical treatment is used in the most advanced stages of the disease (third and fourth), when other treatments already tried no longer help.Treatment of later stages is more complex, as the main disease itself is already accompanied by other diseases of the spine - radiculitis, hernias.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 in the spinal cord.Therefore, surgical treatment is carried out extremely rarely if attempts to cure a patient with osteochondrosis by other means do not help.
How long does it take to treat osteochondrosis?
How to quickly cure osteochondrosis?This depends on the presence of pronounced age-related changes, the variability in the manifestation of symptoms and the variety of treatment methods used.The patient himself can also actively contribute to recovery by carefully adhering to the demands of the treating therapist.
Treatment for grade 1 osteochondrosis usually lasts from one to four months.In grade 4, after surgery, the recovery period can take from a year to a year and a half.Treatment also depends on the patient's personality.He must be positive, persistent, strong-willed and highly motivated.
Treatment of different types of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is differentiated by the location of the spinal lesion (its location).The location of osteochondrosis can be:
- cervical;
- chest;
- lumbar;
- widespread.
Main complaints:
- with cervical localization - a person periodically feels 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” before the eyes, and slight dizziness.
- with thoracic location - the person complains of pain like: “a stake was inserted in the chest”, “shots” in the heart, stomach or lungs.
- with lumbosacral localization - the 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 generalized localization, complaints arise about a wide variety of symptoms.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 cervical osteochondrosis today are:
- analgesics, anti-inflammatories, 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 serious.
How to treat thoracic osteochondrosis?
Measures for treating breast type:
- analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications;
- acupuncture;
- manual influence;
- vacuum therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- cupping massage;
- traditional medicine;
- moxotherapy (warming up with wormwood cigars).
Exercise therapy for thoracic type of disease is used not only as a supplement to general therapy, but also as a way to form a muscular corset;among other things, exercise therapy prevents 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 therapy, in some cases hormonal;
- manual influence;
- general health supplements;
- reflexology (acupuncture);
- lumbar massage;
- traditional medicine;
- hirudotherapy (leeches);
- Exercise therapy.
Stage 4 lumbosacral osteochondrosis often requires surgical intervention.
How to treat common osteochondrosis?
Treatment of common osteochondrosis is carried out:
- prescribe appropriate drug treatment;
- use all types of manual therapy;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- using acupuncture methods;
- various physiotherapy methods;
- development of a special diet.
Any type 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 late turned to a specialist for treatment.If the diagnosis is made in a timely manner and you have already started therapy, it will be good if traditional methods of treating this disease are added to the traditional methods.Traditional methods have proven effective in treating any type of osteochondrosis.
Treatment with traditional methods
Folk remedies for this disease are used only in conjunction with drug treatment.They are intended to relieve inflammation, pain and discomfort.Decide for yourself how to treat spinal osteochondrosis - using various traditional medicines or just by medical methods.
Popular folk remedies:
- take tonic pine baths;
- application of copper plates and coins on the spine.
- compresses with the addition of aloe juice;
- honey massage, honey wraps;
- fresh decoctions of herbs: oregano, hop cones and chamomile;St. John's wort, dandelion and burdock roots;
- apply horseradish leaves to a sore spot;
- apply rye or potato cakes to the wound;
- sunflower herbal tea;
- red elderberry tincture;
- burdock compresses.
When you begin treatment for osteochondrosis, you may find that your pain will only increase.This is a completely expected reaction of your body to unusual influences.Soon this pain will stop completely.The best way to treat osteochondrosis is to combine conservative therapy with postoperative rehabilitation in specialized centers.
How can a person get rid of osteochondrosis?
Here are the three most common questions that worry patients with osteochondrosis:
- How to get rid of osteochondrosis?
- How to quickly cure osteochondrosis?
- What is the best place to treat osteochondrosis?
Doctors answer these questions differently, since the speed of recovery depends not only on the form of the disease, but also on the timeliness of the patient seeking treatment.
Specialists can guarantee complete cure only for the first and second stages of the disease.Therefore, you should immediately contact a therapist, 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 recreate the muscular corset and forget about the disease for a long time.
Why shouldn't a patient with osteochondrosis be treated at home?
- It is not recommended that a patient with osteochondrosis be treated at home, as the lack of a special orthopedic bed, physiotherapy equipment and special exercise equipment can greatly reduce the effectiveness of treatment;
- Not every patient can constantly follow a daily routine, take prescribed medications on time, eat according to a diet or undergo all medical procedures.Furthermore, many patients require periodic reminders to continue treatment.
- At home, it is difficult to follow the correct diet recommended by the nutritionist.
Hence the conclusion: you can try to treat osteochondrosis at home, widely using traditional treatment methods, but the best solution would still be to go to a clinic or hospital specializing in this profile, constantly being under the supervision of a highly qualified therapist.