The spinal column is a support for a person.Bears the load when walking.Abrasion occurs faster than other parts of the body.A sedentary, sedentary lifestyle makes the situation worse.The causes are unknown;there is a group of risk factors.
Before treating osteochondrosis, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will perform an examination and make a diagnosis.If you follow the doctor's instructions, a positive result is guaranteed.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a lesion of the intervertebral discs, characterized by destruction.The disease affects one or more discs.Symptoms and treatment are interrelated.Based on the symptoms, there are different types of diseases:
- Pain in the hands, shoulders, headache with the appearance of tinnitus, dizziness, colored spots, goosebumps before the eyes with cervical osteochondrosis.It occurs in 25% of cases.
- Chest pain, numbness, pain in the heart, stomach and other organs are signs of damage to the thoracic region.It is diagnosed in 13% of cases.
- Pain in the lower back, legs, groin, impaired sensitivity of the lower extremities, pelvic organs - osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region.Common type - 50% of cases.
- Pain in several parts of the spine is a common osteochondrosis.
Pain is considered the determining factor;there is a feeling of numbness in the limbs, pain and burning sensation.An unpleasant manifestation is muscle spasm, stiffness of movements, pain that occurs during sudden movements, sneezing, coughing.
Based on the symptoms, the doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis and prescribes special procedures for hardware examination - X-rays, tomography, magnetic resonance.These are ways to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the presence of accompanying diseases - protrusions, intervertebral hernias.
Symptoms often indicate the late stages of the disease, when surgical intervention is required.Treatment is aimed at eliminating pain and stopping the progression of the disease.
Conservative treatment
Treatment is prescribed to the patient by the attending physician, or by the council of physicians in severe cases.Conservative treatment is widespread - treatment methods from different fields of medicine.Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine includes health measures:
- Therapeutic exercise - restores mobility of the spine, disease prevention.
- Manual therapy is a way to relieve muscle spasms, improve blood circulation and metabolic processes.
- Reflexology is a way of relieving muscle spasms and stimulating the production of substances that inhibit inflammatory processes.
- Underwater hydromassage.Water sports relieve stress on the spine and improve your health.
- Traction treatment is a set of techniques that stretch the spine, reducing pressure on the discs and nerve endings.
- Ultrasound, laser therapy, electrical, magnetic, vibrational stimulation are types of hardware treatment that relieve muscle spasms and improve microcirculation.
- Therapeutic diet.The diet is selected so that the body receives the necessary vitamins and microelements.
- Psychotherapy.It promotes a person's faith in recovery, activates the body's internal resources.
- Drug therapy.Taking medication.
It is better to treat osteochondrosis of the spine in a sanatorium.At home, a person faces the problem of organizing time.There is not enough time to follow instructions;it is impossible to independently create a diet and stick to it.Inpatient treatment is also imperfect – there is a lack of orthopedic products in the hospital, equipment, doctors.
Treatment in special centers and sanatoriums is fully provided.The duration of treatment cannot be determined.It will take a week to a month for severe symptoms to subside.The rehabilitation and restoration of the disc will take more than 3 months.
Many doctors prescribe drug and hardware treatment as part of a series of procedures.Medicines for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine help to cope with exacerbations of the disease.It is justified to take anti-inflammatory drugs with an analgesic effect, antispasmodics, antioxidants that stimulate microcirculation and promote the renewal of nerve and cartilage tissue.
When they treat only with drugs, they forget about the internal capabilities of the body and treat the patient without it.This is a mistake, a lack of remedy.Conservative methods can improve the patient's condition.
How to treat osteochondrosis differently?
If conservative treatment is not enough, surgery is prescribed.Sometimes only surgery can alleviate the condition.Doctors remove the herniated discs and insert new discs to replace the worn ones.The rehabilitation period is carried out as usual treatment.
The cost of treating osteochondrosis is comparable to cardiovascular disease and the flu.In order to make it cheaper, alternative treatment options are being considered.It is worth buying a device for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine, which relieves pain.Procedures can be performed at home independently, with the help of loved ones.
An alternative option is traditional medicine.There are many recipes for ointments and herbal decoctions that are taken orally in the form of poultices.There are many recipes for different stages and types of diseases.
Self-medication will worsen the patient's condition, so you should consult a doctor before taking the medicine.The option for self-medication is to believe in the medicine and follow the doctor's instructions.
Disease prevention
It is better not to look for a way to treat osteochondrosis of the spine, but to prevent its occurrence.It is worth developing useful habits in terms of daily routine and diet.Preventive measures:
- Morning back and limb massages - rubbing, kneading, are performed independently.
- Gymnastics, exercises.It is worth including swing movements, twists, bends, jumping in place and pull-ups.
- Exercises in the workplace.If your job involves staying in a certain position for a long time, take a five-minute break every hour or two to do a few exercises.
- Swimming is a sport that helps to solve problems with the spine.
If the disease has already developed, prevention and treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine should be combined and supplemented.
An important point is maintaining a proper diet.It should contain vegetarian dishes, steamed dishes, baked in the oven.The diet should contain a lot of protein, not mushrooms.Herbs and spices are welcome, salt and pickles are excluded.It is not recommended to drink strong tea, coffee, alcohol, or abuse sweets and flour.You should eat 5-7 times a day.Do not eat more than 2 kg of food and a liter of water per day.If there is a lack of vitamins, they are prescribed separately.
An active lifestyle and proper nutrition are the key to a healthy spine and body.The treatment is complex, but it will help to get rid of unpleasant pain.If osteochondrosis is diagnosed, you will have to change your lifestyle forever.
The article is written for general educational development.To make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment, be sure to consult a doctor.