Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a condition that affects the spine through the development of changes in the intervertebral discs of one section or another. Its danger lies in the fact that the development of the disease occurs imperceptibly. Currently, this disease has become much younger.

What is spinal osteochondrosis?

Doctors define this disease as a chronic degenerative-dystrophic change in the spine, its structure. About 80 percent of the world's population suffers from it, and the first signs of this disease are observed as early as 20-25 years of age. It can then cause more serious health problems.

Most often, lumbar spine osteochondrosis occurs, cervical and thoracic chondrosis is less common. A person has 33-34 vertebrae that are connected by intervertebral discs. They fulfill a number of important functions and thus ensure the mobility of the spine.

Osteochondrosis of the spine is characterized by shrinkage and a change in the size of these intervertebral discs and the distance between them, which leads to a decrease in their strength and elasticity. A high load on the spine leads to a displacement of the intervertebral discs, resulting in pain when moving, later on a herniated disc develops.

The displacement of the vertebrae causes nerve endings to become pinched and blood vessels to be compressed. Curvature of the spine, damage to individual parts, the deformation of which is an irreversible process. The mobility of the spine is further restricted by the ossification of the ligaments.

What types are there

Depending on the damaged areas, a distinction is made between the following types of osteochondrosis:

• Cervical spine, most often observed in young people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and work on computers for a long time;
• The thoracic spine, a rare form of disease, can be triggered by changes in the thoracic spine due to various factors (such as trauma);
• Lumbar sacral region, the most common disease, more often affects people over 30 years of age;
• Common chondrosis, when several parts of the spine are affected at the same time.

The disease goes through several stages:

1. The first phase often goes unnoticed. There is instability of the vertebrae caused by their displacement, slight discomfort occurs when moving. This is a dangerous phase and is where the likelihood of injury is greatest.
2. In the second stage, the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc is destroyed, which leads to a reduction in the distance between them.
3. The third stage is accompanied by a rupture of the fiber rings, the core of the intervertebral disc leaves 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 growths and ossification of the ligaments impair the freedom of movement of the spine.

Osteochondrosis is provoked by muscle clamps that lead to muscle spasms. This leads to limited mobility of the joints and the spine. The result is dystrophy of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, narrowing of the holes between the vertebrae, compression of the nerve roots.

Symptoms

The symptoms of this disease depend on the area affected. It is worth noting that people individually attribute most of the symptoms of this disease to other problems. For example, tension and stress are thought to cause headaches, while 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 that extends to the shoulder blade, arms, and chest areas;
   • Sensitivity is often disturbed, fingers become numb, weakness is felt;
   • Movement of the tongue is restricted, which affects speech, snoring may occur;
   • The voice changes, becomes weak and hoarse;
   • Dizziness, loss of consciousness are possible;
   • Impairment of movement coordination, loss of orientation when walking;
   • The condition of the teeth is deteriorating;
   • Hearing decreases, there is ringing in the ears.

2. Rarely, but there is osteochondrosis of the breast. It is usually caused by spinal injuries. Scoliosis can be the cause. Symptoms of this disease:

   • Sharp chest pains, they get worse when you try to breathe deeply and move around;
   • The appearance of pain in the stomach, liver and also heart is possible;
   • Sometimes there is a feeling of numbness in the chest.

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

   • Aching or stabbing pain in the area just above the tailbone that worsens with movement;
   • The pain radiates into the hip region, the sensitivity of the legs is disturbed;
   • Restriction of body movements, it is impossible to bend, turn;
   • In the last phase it is often impossible to sit, it is difficult to get up, muscle weakness occurs.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

Many are interested in the question of how to treat osteochondrosis and whether this disease can be completely cured. Doctors clearly answer this question with no, but it is possible and necessary to start treatment in a timely manner and stop the development of the disease. There are many ways to treat osteochondrosis, both with the help of classical medicine and folk medicine.

It is worth noting that this disease is treated very effectively, especially in the initial stages of the disease. A special comprehensive program is used on an outpatient basis, the aim of which is to quickly eliminate the symptoms of the disease and remedy the causes of the suffering.

Complex therapy includes the following techniques:

1. Acupuncture.

   Acupuncture is done every one to two days. The course of treatment is prescribed by a doctor, it can last 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 takes about half an hour. The needles are set for 15-20 minutes.

   The operation uses sterile, disposable acupuncture needles that are inserted under the patient's skin while a light injection, similar to a mosquito bite, is felt. When the needle reaches a biologically active point, a person experiences numbness, pain, or a feeling of gas at that point, pain is extremely rare.

2. Vacuum therapy.

   Special vacuum glasses are used for the procedure. The effectiveness of this method is very high, there are practically no painful sensations. This method of treatment allows you to quickly and safely get rid of 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 crucible, pressure losses occur, the skin and part of the muscle are drawn into the can. Thanks to the deep processing of a large area, the microcirculation of the blood is improved, stagnation is eliminated, pollutants are removed, tissue is renewed faster.

   The areas of influence of vacuum therapy are extensive, the doctor himself chooses and prescribes the zones for the procedure. The spots that appear after the fourth procedure when performing it begin to dissolve, so you should not be afraid of them.

3. Manual therapy.

   These are gentle treatments that are very effective among the non-drug options. A chiropractor enables you to get rid of many problems related to muscles and the spine and is used in the treatment of neurological disorders.

   Outwardly, the impact resembles a conventional massage, but with a more limited localization and moderate impact strength. A qualified manual doctor is able to cure diseases that cannot be treated with medication.

   To treat the spine, this method aims to increase the elasticity of the muscles and improve the movement of individual vertebrae. The interventions are not carried out daily, but at regular intervals for up to seven days. Manual treatment in combination with physical therapy and folk remedies, as well as physical therapy exercises, is more effective.

   

4. Pharmacopuncture.

   This method uses active points on the human body, into which drugs are injected in minimal amounts indicated for a specific disease. It can be vitamin complexes, homeopathic remedies, biostimulants, corticosteroids. It is introduced with a microneedle, with practically no discomfort.

   For the treatment of the spine, an adapted version is used, which allows you to cure osteochondrosis, vertebral fracture and other problems. It is used for rehabilitation after spinal surgery. Pharmacopuncture improves metabolism, improves connective tissue strophy and improves blood circulation in the affected area. Even a small treatment complex shows a positive, lasting result.

5. Magnetopuncture.

   In this method, biologically active points are exposed to a magnetic field. For this purpose, magnetophores are used on which certain properties of polarity, size, and power are set. This device consists of rubberized magnets, they generate a constant magnetic field. For the treatment of various diseases, metal plates of various shapes, areas and thicknesses, as well as magnetic balls, are used.

6. Laser therapy.

   This is a laser effect on special acupuncture points through intact areas of the skin. In most cases, low power red lasers, which show the greatest activity, are used. The treatment alleviates inflammation and pain, relieves cramps, dilates blood vessels, improves metabolic processes and promotes cell regeneration.

7. Electrical stimulation.

   An electric current is applied to affect certain points. It is effective for electrical stimulation of motor muscles and nerve endings. Single-shot single pulses, exponential currents, rhythmic direct current, sinusoidally modulated currents are used. It is possible to get rid of severe pain in just 1-3 procedures. The entire course requires 10-15 sessions.

Outpatient therapy often includes a drug component aimed at relieving pain. To do this, analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics, antioxidants, as well as drugs that can correct psychosomatic disorders and reduce cartilage degeneration are used.

Traditional methods

There are many remedies in the piggy bank of conventional medicine to alleviate the condition with osteochondrosis.

The following options are used for external use:

1. A small amount of ointment is applied to the affected area and gradually rubbed into the skin. The treated area should be carefully wrapped to keep it warm. It is enough to do the procedure 3-4 times a day.
2. Compresses with ointment are good for relieving inflammation and pain. The oiled area is covered with cling film, fresh mint or lemon balm leaves can be put down, a burdock or cabbage leaf is effective. Wrap with a woolen scarf and fix the compress. Knocked fresh birch leaves have a good effect, they are applied to the problem area and wrapped for half an hour.
3. For grating, you can use vegetable oil enriched with herbs - oregano, St. John's wort. About 500 grams of raw materials are used for half a liter of vegetable oil. Fresh oregano cake is infused for 24 hours and dried St. John's wort is filled with oil for 21 days.
4. You can make a mass of 1/3 cup of black radish juice, 200 g of fresh honey, 100 ml of vodka and a handful of fresh lilac flowers. Insist in a warm place for 24 hours, 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, while sitting in a chair and at the computer it is advisable to sleep on a surface of medium hardness.

The spine needs constant support, for this you can use special exercises and avoid a long monotonous position.

Exercises for osteochondrosis at home

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

1. Tilt your head forward, grasp the forehead area with intertwined fingers. Make movements with your head bowed and holding them with your hands. The reverse movement consists in trying to lift your head at an angle and resist its movement with your hands woven at the back of your head. Each movement lasts 10 seconds.
2. Act on biologically active points with the palm and fingers: First, the forehead area is massaged, pressed onto the skin and moved with gentle movements. The exposure time is 20-40 seconds. Then go to the temporal areas, the impact is done in the same way. The procedure ends with a massage of the auricles, the ear is stretched in all directions.
3. To improve the nutrition of the brain, you should sit on a flat surface with your back straight. The head is slowly withdrawn, you can easily service yourself with your hands by pressing your chin with your palm. The training time is 10-30 seconds. Then you can turn your head slightly to one side or the other and stay in that position for 10-15 seconds.
4. This is an excellent exercise for preventing cervical osteochondrosis. It helps improve the functioning of the nerve plexus in the neck. IP - Sitting on a flat surface with your back straight. Slowly move your head towards your chest and try to reach it with your chin. You can easily help yourself with your hands on the back of your head and push yourself forward and up. Sit in this position for about a minute, rest for 10-15 minutes, and then repeat the exercise.
5. The warm-up acts on the upper spine and at the same time pulls the shoulders to the ears as high as possible. Then lower them freely and easily. Repeat for 15 seconds. Then repeat the exercise, but separately for each shoulder joint.

At the end of the gymnastics, rub the nape of the neck with the palms of the hands.

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

To get rid of lumbar pain quickly, you need to lie on a hard surface, ideally on the floor, with your legs bent at the knees. Rotate your feet one way and the other and try to reach the floor with your knees.

With exacerbation - how to relieve pain

Often, when the disease worsens, a person does not know where to go. Continuous medication is not possible, but there are ways to get rid of acute pain without resorting to medication.

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

Lie on a hard surface and try to repair the sore spot. If you are in pain, it is advisable to place a soft roller under your lower back to relieve tension in this area. It is better to bend your legs. The chest area can be wrapped in a tight bandage and, like an injury, a splint made of cardboard and cotton wool can be placed around the neck.

If there is no improvement, a doctor should be called. And to relieve severe pain, take an anesthetic.

Prevention - how to prevent the occurrence of osteochondrosis

Before starting prevention, you should clarify what are the most common causes of osteochondrosis. The risk of this disease is increased by poor diet, an inactive lifestyle, obesity, bad habits (smoking, alcohol addiction), high physical activity and postural disorders.

Of course, in order to prevent the development of the disease, one should first establish a diet and introduce physical activity. It is enough to do elementary morning exercises, stretches, light self-massage of the lower back and neck, swinging arms and legs. At work, you should allow 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 of the body, traumatic situations. It is worthwhile to deal with the prevention of stressful situations and give up bad habits. Proper nutrition should be observed, the body should receive a sufficient amount of protein, but salty, floury and fatty foods should be limited.

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