The spine is the support of a person.Takes the load when walking.Abrasion happens faster than other parts of the body.A sedentary, sedentary lifestyle worsens the situation.The reasons are unknown;there is a group of risk factors.
Before treating osteochondrosis, you should consult a doctor who will conduct 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, the types of the disease are distinguished:
- Pain in the hands, shoulders, headache with tinnitus, vertigo, 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 chest area.It is diagnosed in 13% of cases.
- Pain in the lower back, legs, groin, impaired sensitivity of the lower limbs, 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 a determining factor;there is a feeling of numbness in the limbs, pain and numbness.An unpleasant manifestation is muscle spasm, stiffness of movements, pain that occurs with sudden movements, sneezing, coughing.
Based on the symptoms, the doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis and prescribes special procedures for hardware examination - X-rays, tomography, MRI.These are ways to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the presence of concomitant diseases - protrusion, intervertebral hernia.
Symptoms often indicate late stages of the disease, when surgical intervention is necessary.Treatment is aimed at eliminating pain and stopping the progression of the disease.
Conservative treatment
The patient's treatment is prescribed by the attending physician or by medical advice in difficult cases.Conservative treatment is widespread - treatment methods from various fields of medicine.Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine includes health measures:
- Therapeutic physical education - restores the mobility of the spine, prevention of diseases.
- Manual therapy is a way to relieve muscle spasms, improve blood circulation and metabolic processes.
- Reflexology is a way to relieve muscle spasms and stimulate the production of substances that inhibit inflammatory processes.
- Underwater hydromassage.Water sports relieve the strain on the spine and improve your health.
- Traction therapy is a set of techniques that stretch the spine, reducing pressure on the discs and nerve endings.
- Ultrasound, laser therapy, electric, magnetic, vibration 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 trace elements.
- Psychotherapy.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, one faces the problem of organizing time.Not enough time to follow instructions;it is impossible to create a diet yourself and follow it.Inpatient treatment is also imperfect - there is a shortage of orthopedic products in the hospital, equipment and doctors.
Treatment in special centers and sanatoriums is provided in full.The duration of treatment cannot be determined.It will take a week to a month for the severe symptoms to go away.Rehabilitation and recovery of the disc will take more than 3 months.
Many doctors prescribe drug and device treatments as part of a range 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 recovery of nerve and cartilage tissue.
Treating only with drugs, they forget about the internal capabilities of the body and treat the patient without it.It is a mistake, a lack of medicine.Conservative methods can improve the patient's condition.
How else to treat osteochondrosis?
If conservative treatment is not enough, surgery is prescribed.Sometimes only surgery can alleviate the condition.Doctors remove herniated discs and insert new discs to replace worn ones.The rehabilitation period is conducted as usual treatment.
The cost of treating osteochondrosis is compared to cardiovascular disease and the flu.To make it cheaper, alternative treatment options are being considered.It is worth buying a device for the treatment of spinal osteochondrosis, which relieves pain.Procedures can be performed at home independently, with the help of relatives.
An alternative option is traditional medicine.There are many recipes for ointments and herbal decoctions taken orally in the form of compresses.There are many recipes for different stages and types of disease.
Self-medication will worsen the patient's condition, so you should consult a doctor before taking the medicine.An option for self-medication is to believe in a cure 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 life and nutrition.Preventive measures:
- Morning massages of the back and limbs - rubbing, kneading, performed independently.
- Gymnastics, exercises.It is worth including swinging movements, twists, turns, jumping in place and pull-ups.
- Workplace training.If your job involves staying in a certain position for a long time, you should take a five-minute break every hour or two to do some exercises.
- Swimming is a sport that helps to solve problems with the spine.
If the disease has already developed, the prevention and treatment of spinal osteochondrosis should be combined and complement each other.
An important point is maintaining proper nutrition.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, abuse sweets and flour.You should eat 5-7 times a day.Eat no 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 keys to a healthy spine and body.The treatment is complicated, but it will help to eliminate the unpleasant pain.If osteochondrosis is diagnosed, you will have to change your lifestyle forever.
The article is written for general educational development.To establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment, be sure to consult a doctor.