Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the spine, to a change in the shape and wear of the intervertebral discs, the vertebral body and the surfaces of the joints. tissue In General, degenerative processes relate primarily to the bones and ligaments. This disease is considered to be one of the most common causes of back pain.
Most cases of diagnosis of osteochondrosis is attributable to the lumbar Department. Such statistics, of course, since this part of the spine bears the load of the entire upper body. In the case of osteochondrosis, a shift of the vertebral bodies, and as a result foramina fracture or crushing of blood vessels and nerves can develop. Osteochondrosis is a very painful disease that brings the patient a lot of discomfort and poorly treatable.
Types of osteochondrosis and stage of development
There are four types of degenerative disc disease. The disease is divided into groups according to the location of the localization:
- Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine;
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
- Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine;
- a common osteochondrosis defeat two or more sections of the spine.
Declaration of transfer of the localization of the osteochondrosis is very simple – the disease develops in those departments, which are subjected to the greatest pressure and a high mobility.
The disease develops in stages, by the local symptoms the General symptoms. The stage of development of osteochondrosis are as follows:
- Instability of the spine, caused by a violation of the arrangement of the intervertebral disc. In this Phase, the Patient feels discomfort with movements of the affected disease of the spine. In this stage of osteochondrosis of the spine very vulnerable to injury.
- The destruction of the Anulus fibrosus drive, foramina gap becomes smaller.
- The stage is by the rupture of the fibrous ring and vypâčivaniem one or more of the cores drives. Appears foramina hernia, and deformed line of the spine.
- Because of the bony growths of the movement of the patient, limited pain syndrome pronounced. Costeniuc ligaments of the spine.
At each of these stages, successful treatment of osteochondrosis is still possible, but the farther, the more difficult it is to get rid of him, and in the last Phase of the liberation of disease is completely impossible.
The reasons for the development of osteochondrosis
A complete list of the causes of the emergence of osteochondrosis is very large. There are both individual factors, or a combination thereof, includes the cause of the displacement of the intervertebral discs. But most often, osteochondrosis develops due to such reasons:
- Heredity – if one of the parents was the osteochondrosis, the Person falls into the risk group, since the structure of the intervertebral cartilage is often inherited;
- hard work, stress the exceed the applicable sanitary standards for employees;
- a long stay in a pose may also be a factor important. Often osteochondrosis is diagnosed in people of sedentary occupations;
- various diseases of the back, which is a curvature of the spine;
- the avitaminosis and gipowitaminos;
- Injuries of the back;
- Infectious diseases;
- Birth defects of the spine, to a rapid wear of the intervertebral discs;
- Natural aging of the organism;
- Obesity;
- Duration of stress;
- Under cooling.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
Depending on the localization of the disease, its symptoms can vary significantly. This is due to the fact that the bulging Discs and pinched blood vessels homeopath caused the table to the surrounding tissues and organs, a number of symptoms that are unique to this belt of the spine. Therefore, the symptoms of the various types of degenerative disc disease should consider separately.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar-sacral spine
Sciatica (or lumbar spine) in the lower back the most common type of this disease is pain. The lumbar is used as an insulator in the case of most movements and rotations, carried out in Person. The symptoms of the localization of the disease in this section look like this:
- Pain in the lower back, worse when you run the exercises, sharp curves or over a longer period of time in one Position. Pain, usually aching, sharp pain in an early stage are very rare and incidents Symptom of intervertebral disc;
- Pain in the legs, caused by the crushing of the roots of the spinal cord. This type of pain may be different – shooting, aching, only on one side of the upper thigh;
- limited mobility, the Patient has pain when turning, bending and sitting. If the Patient takes a comfortable posture, the pain goes away.
If you have noticed similar symptoms, you should immediately contact your doctor. The disease is easier to prevent than to fight with the consequences.
Diagnosis
For the diagnosis of osteochondrosis neurologist back prescribe such examinations of the spine, such as:
- Radiography;
- Computed tomography;
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
How to treat osteochondrosis
In most cases, the treatment of osteochondrosis with conservative methods. The doctor, who specializes in the treatment of degenerative disc disease and other diseases of the spine, called the spinal column. You are always several types of treatment, medication, exercise therapy and other methods. The most common methods of treatment of degenerative disc disease:
- Physiotherapy;
- different types of massages;
- Medications;
- Traction;
- Reflex zone massage;
- manual therapy;
- Movement therapy.
We consider each of these methods in more detail.
Physiotherapy
Almost always of the lumbar spine osteochondrosis is in the treatment. At the physiotherapy, Laser, ultrasound, and magnetic vibrations, which help to reduce the pain. Also, it helps to neutralize the inflammation. This method allows a reduction in the dose of medications for the suppression of pain. Side effects there is no.
Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic Massage will give the same positive results, as well as the physiotherapy. But it must not be applied when the disease is in the acute stage. The course Massage in Remission homeopathic positive effect on the nervous system, relieves pain and excessive muscle tension, promotes blood circulation and strengthens the walls of blood vessels. In addition, therapeutic Massage can enhance the body's resistance against diseases and normalize metabolism.
But for therapeutic Massage and there are some contraindications, which make their use impossible. These include skin diseases, open wounds, any inflammation in the body.
Drugs
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine is almost always. In General, drugs apply during the acute illness and its effect is to reduce the painful symptoms. Tablets, ointments, gels and capsules in divided to the following groups, depending on the spectrum of action and its species. There are Tools to restore cartilage tissue, ointments, to stimulate the circulation, gels with a warm-up effect and other ways, a function of the motor systems of the body.
Foot reflex zone massage
Foot reflex zone massage is usually used in combination with massage. It is based on the right factors in pressure points and reflex zones. As an independent method, such a therapy is not applied, but it is a good complement to other methods for the treatment of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and other types of this disease. Foot reflexology massage relieves pain, restores the natural load on different points of the spine, but has a very short-term effect.
Movement therapy
The physiotherapy is considered to be the main method of treatment of degenerative disc disease, regardless of the Zone of its location. This is a very effective method, which strengthens with the help of the limited stress on the joints and the muscles, the muscles of the back. Exercises with cervical osteochondrosis be used only under the supervision of the instructor or in accordance with its recommendations. Engage in exercise therapy can be at any age and with any Form of osteochondrosis, with the exception of cases in which the disease is in the acute stage, and significant injuries of the back, which can be reinforced form. Movement therapy helps to get rid of back pain, spine flexibility and improve the General health of the patient.
Physiotherapy in osteoporosis involves a series of exercises that not requires great physical effort and concentrated on the slow adjustment of the muscle tone of the patient. You can be as a Patient with a physician and with the application of additional sports equipment. Movement therapy, such types of methods include:
- Mechano – therapy such exercises by the patient on specific devices and simulators. The method is in the case of severe degree of lesion of the spine osteochondrosis, when the movements of the person's disability. This method also helps in the development of the individual muscle groups and contributes to the improvement of the body posture;
- Movement therapy, complex respiratory and physical exercises, the effect of which is aimed directly at the areas of the development of degenerative disc disease. The rate individually for each patient and contributes to the improvement of the mobility of the joints, muscle tension, the elasticity of the ligaments and tendons;
- Health path – Hiking, in which a series of simple exercises and physical activity. With this method, improvements in the work of the heart and circulatory System, increase your endurance and build respiratory function;
- Hydro-kinesitherapy – exercises, exercises to be run in the Pool. Generally occurs in Marine or warm water. Exercises to strengthen the muscles, joints and ligaments, but also the General well-being of the patient improve;
therapeutic swimming diseases – a good method for the prevention and treatment of various types of degenerative disc. A good body helps in the development of posture and take a natural position of the Plexus of the spine. Swimming can also help in correcting deformations of the spine.
The treatment of osteochondrosis with the help of gymnastics
Osteochondrosis any type of treatment with this method is low stress and exercises. This approach not only helps quickly with the pain and discomfort to get rid of, but speeds up the whole process of the treatment, the attitude and improves the flexibility of the spine. Any type of degenerative disc disease includes the treatment of various types of exercises. Depending on the localization of the disease complex can be directed to a certain group of muscles and vertebrae.
Exercises for lumbar osteochondrosis
The most effective method for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease is called swimming. Also, we recommend a complex of special exercises on simulators and physiotherapy. Most of the exercises serve to strengthen the back muscles. One of the most common exercises – "Bicycle". It is lying on the back. The Patient takes the legs movement, the Simulation of the Rotation of the pedals of the Bicycle. Another popular exercise, with the feet flexed-elbow turn to several times a spine in the chest and fix the pose for about 4 seconds. The exercises are repeated not more than five times to form a complex. In this case, the magnitude of the loads must be adjusted to the patient. If health permits, you can then increase gradually, and when the Patient is in the implementation of the gymnastics feels the pain, a little practice is necessary to terminate or temporarily suspend.
Exercises with cervical osteochondrosis
Treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease target requires two types of gymnastics:
- exercises for the cervical spine, in which the Amplitude of the movements is minimal. The Patient himself creates the resistance of the Hand the movements of the neck. The exercises are aimed at the overcoming of this resistance, the strengthened and the group of the neck muscles;
- the second part of the methodology includes dynamic exercises, and the circular rotations of the head, the mobility of the joints of the cervical spine. All of the exercises in connection with the strengthening of the neck, should be performed in a slow pace, without sudden movements and without significant loads.
As a Supplement to the exercises can be assigned as the path of health and therapeutic swimming. Both methods of treatment, for what and physiotherapy – to improve mobility of the cervical spine.
Exercises in osteochondrosis of the thoracic
The peculiarity of the treatment of the thoracic spine degenerative disc disease is that most of the exercises are done standing by him. The most common variant, allowed most patients with this diagnosis – Mahi hands, and inclinations of a trunk. Warm-up before performing the exercise is in a sitting position on the chair. On the inhalation the Patient is fond of his hands on the back of the neck and bends it back before you press to the top of the backrest of the chair. On the exhale, the Patient, the arms lowers along the body.
Another exercise in the medical complex of osteochondrosis progibanija on all fours is. Absolutely all the types of exercises you should slowly and without jerky movements. Patients with osteochondrosis of the thoracic are also useful in swimming, mechano-therapy, movement therapy, and Hydro.
Risk
Osteochondrosis without adequate treatment leads to such complications, such as:
- Dystonia;
- Sciatica;
- foramina hernia;
- Violation of the oxygen supply to the brain.