This disease is usually a systemic dystrophic disease of the articular cartilage that manifests itself in the area between the vertebrae.Depending on the local location of this problem, cervical, thoracic and lumbar forms of the disease are distinguished.
What is Osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a complex problem that cannot be cured quickly.The cause of the problem is considered to be a sedentary lifestyle, which contributes to the onset of negative processes in the articular cartilage.Remember that as the human body grows, a powerful vascular bed with diffuse nutrition is formed in the intervertebral discs.All negative conditions and processes worsen the nutrition of the vascular bed and form a number of factors that aggravate the development of pathology.
The physiological factors that contribute to the development of osteochondrosis include poor nutrition, increased load on the back and its injuries, constant unusual postures, flat feet and obesity.
Symptoms
The symptoms of osteochondrosis are as follows:
- Pain and numbness in legs/arms, severe back pain.
- Significant increase in pain with physical activity and even coughing.
- Antispasmodic condition of the spoke muscles, reduced locomotor activity.
- Other systemic manifestations are typical when there is damage to a specific area of the spine.
Main reasons
- Age-related degenerative changes.
- Genetic and hereditary predispositions.
- Heavy weight.
- Poor diet.
- Infectious and intoxicating lesions.
- Metabolic imbalance.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Traumatic syndromes in the spine.
- Overloading of the spinal system due to active training, heavy lifting, poor posture, pregnancy, wearing uncomfortable shoes.
- Severe stress, neuralgic overload, smoking.
- Poor environmental conditions for permanent residence.
- Skeletal instability, flat feet.
Main types
The main types of osteochondrosis include:
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Pathological changes in the intervertebral discs between the vertebrae of the cervical spine, more precisely in the upper third.Most often they are caused by poor posture, metabolic disorders, weak muscular skeleton and poor lifestyle in general.The patient feels pain in the shoulders and arms and regularly suffers from migraines.Almost always he presents with the so-called "vertebral artery syndrome", which is caused by his spasmodic reactions to compression - throbbing headaches, dizziness, flickering of optical defects before the eyes, numbness in the hands.
Breast osteochondrosis
Pathological condition localized in the second third of the spine.Practical illnesses are always accompanied by concomitant syndromes - blurred pain and discomfort in the thoracic region of the spine, aggravated by bending the trunk or deep breathing, as well as sudden attacks in the affected part of the spine, sharp deterioration in the quality of breathing due to pain, as well as its transfer to the chest, neck and lower back.Often this problem leads to pathologies in other organs – heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas.Read more about thoracic osteochondrosis.
Lumbosacral osteochondrosis
In this case, there is a pain syndrome in the specified area with “lumbago” in the accompanying sections, numbness in the legs, negative manifestations in the vascular system and calves.Symptoms are exacerbated by upright posture, bending over and strong coughing.This type of osteochondrosis causes muscle weakness, pain and disease of the pelvic organs, as well as severe inflammation of the sacrum and lower back.
Prevention
It is advisable to prevent osteochondrosis at an early stage, especially if there is a hereditary predisposition to this disease.
Main points:
- Therapeutic exercise.
- Bathe.
- Self-massage of a potentially problematic area.
- Compliance with recommendations for normalizing posture.
- Relieves tension in the specified area.
- Morning exercises.
- Normalization of weight and proper nutrition.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Treatment of osteochondrosis is complex, regardless of the stage.
Drug treatment
The main direction of drug therapy is to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of the problem and enhance the positive effects of other procedures.Local and systemic preparations not only eliminate pain, but also improve blood circulation, relieve inflammation, partially restore problematic cartilage tissue, and relax muscle complexes.
- pills.Painkillers in the form of analgesics and NSAIDs.Medications that restore cartilage tissue are also prescribed.
- Local external remedies.Most often these are ointments and creams.The most in demand for osteochondrosis are steroid hormones based on prednisolone or hydrocortisone, complex gels.
- Injections.Injections against osteochondrosis are usually used in the acute stage of the disease, when classic tablets and local medications do not have the desired effect on the body.The vast majority of injections are aimed at eliminating very severe pain syndromes.The classic application scheme is a special blockade with subcutaneous and then intramuscular introduction of an anesthetic in the area of the spinal nerves.Such injections can only be carried out in a hospital setting.
Exercises (physiotherapy)
Therapeutic gymnastics is an important step in the fight against osteochondrosis.The prescription of exercise therapy is carried out exclusively by the attending physician, taking into account the peculiarities of the disease and the current condition of the patient, usually at the stage of remission of the problem.
The main goal of such exercises is to strengthen the back muscles and rebuild damaged cartilage components of the joints.Various techniques are used in exercise therapy, but one of the most popular, according to the best therapist known in the past, is a scheme of two dozen exercises.The complex usually includes general strengthening exercises, targeted treatment measures for problem areas, as well as “beacon” exercises that allow you to assess the effectiveness of treatment.The exact list of measures, their order, quantity and other initial data will be communicated to the patient personally by the treating doctor!
Massage for osteochondrosis
Massage procedures for osteochondrosis significantly relieve the unpleasant symptoms of the disease and at the same time, in combination with other measures, help to overcome the problem.
Individual elements of massage and approaches to its implementation may differ depending on the localization of osteochondrosis, its course, the presence of chronic diseases in the patient, etc., i.e. is prescribed individually based on the current clinical picture.
Classic therapy, acupressure, binding, hardware and cupping massages are most commonly used.The above measures are aimed at improving lymphatic/blood circulation, normalizing nutrition of intervertebral discs, relieving pain syndromes, activating special fibers, relaxing muscle mass, restoring nutrition of soft tissues, etc.
The use of massage for osteochondrosis should be avoided if the patient has aneurysms, tumors, thrombosis, osteomyelitis, blood diseases, tuberculosis, venereal diseases, problems with the pelvic organs with girdle osteochondrosis, various massive skin phenomena in the form of warts and herpes lesions.
Traditional medicine
Traditional medicine has effectively treated osteochondrosis for centuries, mostly with compresses and oral tinctures.
The most popular recipes:
- Mix grated raw potatoes and honey in a 1:1 ratio.Apply as a compress to the problem area for two hours.
- Brew a tablespoon of crushed strawberry leaves in a glass of boiling water, let it brew for twenty minutes and then consume on an empty stomach.Take for three months.
- Dissolve 300 grams of watermelon pulp and 200 grams of soda in a warm bath and take it for half an hour.The course consists of 20 procedures.
- Pour boiling water over ten grams of thyme and take half a glass twice a day.