There are probably few people who, after 30-35 years, do not periodically complain of a feeling of discomfort and pain in different areas of the back, temporary numbness of the legs or arms.Such manifestations may indicate the possibility of developing osteochondrosis.This disease is quite common and occurs when, under the influence of a variety of reasons, the cartilage tissue of the spine begins to change, losing its mobility and flexibility.This disease can develop in any part of the spinal column, but usually affects the discs between the vertebrae.If you move little or sit at work for a long time, then the likelihood of you developing osteochondrosis is very high.
People pay attention to the discomfort and other changes associated with this disease, usually closer to the second half of life.
The chance of acquiring the disease increases significantly if:
- you already know what age-related changes are;
- you have had (no matter when) back injuries;
- you have had to undergo excessive physical exertion;
- you are constantly in stressful situations;
- your work involves strong vibrations.
And over the past few decades, spinal osteochondrosis has also become noticeably “younger.”
Early onset of the disease is possible if:
- the person has poor physical fitness or poor posture;
- a person eats untimely or incorrectly;
- suffers from flat feet or curvature of the spine;
- the person has bad habits - overeating or smoking.
In addition, during pregnancy the load on the spine also increases, so it often becomes the cause of osteochondrosis in girls and women.
Danger of osteochondrosis
How to deal with osteochondrosis?In the early stages of osteochondrosis (first or second), its symptoms may be poorly expressed or not bother the person at all.This is dangerous because advanced osteochondrosis, in addition to discomfort and pain, can “give” you complications in the form of such serious diseases as kyphosis, radiculitis or intervertebral hernia.
What to do with osteochondrosis?- Treat, because if osteochondrosis is detected in the early stages, then you can completely get rid of it.
Modern methods used to treat osteochondrosis
In the full treatment of spinal osteochondrosis, two methods are used: complex therapy (conservative) and surgical intervention.
Complex therapy (conservative)
Therapy for osteochondrosis consists of a whole range of medicinal and additional methods.This therapy is prescribed if you are in the early stages of this disease.
Treatment of grade 1 osteochondrosis is carried out through:
- use of drug therapy;
- local and general massage;
- a set of physical therapy exercises;
- the use of reflexology and the whole variety of physiotherapy methods.
Treatment of grade 2 osteochondrosis additionally requires the use of the spinal traction method.Spinal traction is performed using a load individually selected for each patient.For this, special equipment is used.The spinal traction procedure not only relieves acute pain, but also restores the correct position of your spine and increases the intervertebral space.
Medication methods
- the use of various anti-inflammatory and painkillers;
- the use of modern drugs that restore cartilage tissue.
Methods of using drugs during drug treatment:
- all kinds of external rubbing and compresses.
- oral administration of tablets and capsules.
- procedures such as IVs and injections.
With drug treatment of osteochondrosis, pain is relieved, acute inflammation is relieved, muscle tissue is gradually relaxed, some affected cartilage is restored, blood supply and metabolic processes are enhanced.Such treatment of the disease is necessarily prescribed in cases of exacerbation of the disease.
Additional Methods
- specially developed therapeutic diet;
- massage and self-massage;
- physiotherapy methods;
- manual therapy;
- light underwater hydromassage;
- pulling (traction therapy);
- acupuncture;
- traditional medicine;
- meditative relaxation;
- medicinal baths;
- a set of physical therapy exercises;
- working with a psychotherapist.
Surgical treatment (operative)
Surgical treatment is used in the later stages of the disease (third and fourth), when other tried treatments no longer help.Treatment of later stages is more complex, since the main disease itself is already accompanied by other diseases of the spine - radiculitis, hernias.The indication for surgical intervention is the appearance of an intervertebral hernia.Sometimes it is even necessary to completely remove the affected disk.
Treatment of grade 4 osteochondrosis requires an extremely complex operation with a high risk of damage to the nerves of the spinal cord.Therefore, surgical treatment is performed extremely rarely if attempts to cure a patient with osteochondrosis by other means have not helped.
How long does it take to treat osteochondrosis?
How to quickly cure osteochondrosis?This depends on the presence of pronounced age-related changes, variability in the manifestation of symptoms, and the variety of treatment methods used.The patient himself can also actively contribute to recovery by carefully adhering to the requirements of his treating therapist.
Treatment of grade 1 osteochondrosis usually lasts from one to four months.In grade 4, after surgery, the recovery period may take a year to a year and a half.Treatment also depends on the patient’s personality.He is required to be positive, persistent, strong-willed and highly motivated.
Treatment of different types of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is distinguished by the location of the spinal lesion (its location).Localization of osteochondrosis can be:
- cervical;
- chest;
- lumbar;
- widespread.
Main complaints:
- with cervical localization - a person periodically experiences pain in the shoulders and arms, as well as headaches.Due to compression of the arteries, at times there is noise in the ears, colored spots and “floaters” before the eyes, and slight dizziness.
- with thoracic localization - a person complains of pain of the type: “a stake was inserted into the chest”, “shots” in the heart, stomach or lungs.
- with lumbosacral localization - a person complains of severe lumbar pain, which can spread to the sacrum, groin, and even legs.Some patients experience numbness in the leg muscles.
- with widespread localization, complaints arise about a wide variety of symptoms.With this form of the disease, a person complains of several types of symptoms at the same time.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis?
Treatment methods for neck osteochondrosis today are:
- painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics;
- stimulants for tissue restoration, anti-inflammatory gels, ointments for external use;
- manual therapy;
- exercise therapy;
- hirudotherapy;
- reflexology;
- traditional medicine;
- surgical intervention if the case is particularly severe.
How to treat thoracic osteochondrosis?
Measures for the treatment of breast type:
- painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications;
- acupuncture;
- manual influence;
- vacuum therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- cupping massage;
- traditional medicine;
- moxotherapy (warming with wormwood cigars).
Exercise therapy for the chest type of disease is used not only as an addition to general therapy, but also as a way to form a muscle corset; among other things, exercise therapy prevents possible relapses.
How to treat lumbosacral osteochondrosis?
Therapy at different stages is carried out conservatively and surgically.
Conservative treatment of lumbosacral osteochondrosis in the early stages includes:
- drug therapy, in some cases hormones;
- manual influence;
- general health supplements;
- reflexology (acupuncture);
- lower back massage;
- traditional medicine;
- hirudotherapy (leeches);
- Exercise therapy.
Stage 4 lumbosacral osteochondrosis usually requires surgical intervention.
How to treat common osteochondrosis?
Treatment of common osteochondrosis is carried out:
- prescribing appropriate drug treatment;
- using all types of manual therapy;
- physical therapy exercises;
- using acupuncture methods;
- various methods of physiotherapy;
- development of a special diet.
Any type of spinal osteochondrosis requires surgical intervention in only ten percent of cases.The operation may be prescribed for patients with complications, as well as if the patient turned to specialists for treatment late.If the diagnosis is made in a timely manner and you have already started therapy, then it will be nice if traditional methods of treating this disease are added to traditional methods.Traditional methods have proven themselves in the treatment of any type of osteochondrosis.
Treatment with traditional methods
Folk remedies for this disease are used only along with drug treatment.They are aimed at relieving inflammation, pain and discomfort.Decide for yourself how to treat spinal osteochondrosis - using various traditional medicine, or only by medical methods.
Popular folk remedies:
- taking tonic pine baths;
- applying copper plates and coins to the spine.
- compresses with the addition of aloe juice;
- massage with honey, honey wraps;
- fresh decoctions of herbs: oregano, hop cones and chamomile;St. John's wort, dandelion and burdock roots;
- applying horseradish leaves to a sore spot;
- applying rye or potato cakes to the sore spot;
- sunflower herbal tea;
- red elderberry tincture;
- burdock compresses.
When starting treatment for osteochondrosis, you may find that your pain will only intensify.This is a completely expected reaction of your body to unusual influences.Soon such pain will completely stop.The best way to treat osteochondrosis is the combination of conservative therapy with postoperative rehabilitation in specialized centers.
How can a person get rid of osteochondrosis?
Here are the three most common questions that concern patients with osteochondrosis:
- How to get rid of osteochondrosis?
- How to quickly cure osteochondrosis?
- Where is the best place to treat osteochondrosis?
Doctors answer these questions differently, because the speed of recovery depends not only on the form of the disease, but also on the timeliness of the patient seeking treatment.
Experts can guarantee a complete cure only for the first and second stages of the disease.Therefore, you should immediately contact a therapist, even if you have discovered only some of the symptoms.Although all modern methods of treating osteochondrosis are quite effective, doctors consider the most effective therapy to be a combination of a set of traditional methods with constant training on stationary equipment for rehabilitation.This treatment helps to completely recreate the muscle corset and forget about the disease for a long time.
Why shouldn’t a patient with osteochondrosis be treated at home?
- It is not recommended for a patient with osteochondrosis to be treated at home, since the lack of a special orthopedic bed, physiotherapy equipment and special exercise equipment can greatly reduce the effectiveness of treatment;
- Not every patient can constantly follow a daily routine, take prescribed medications on time, eat according to a diet, or undergo all medical procedures.In addition, many patients need periodic reminders to continue treatment.
- At home, it is difficult to adhere to the correct diet recommended by a nutritionist.
Hence the conclusion: you can try to treat osteochondrosis at home, widely using traditional methods of treatment, but the best solution would still be to go to a specialized clinic or hospital for this profile, constantly being under the supervision of a highly qualified therapist.