Imagine, in the 21st century, osteochondrosis is diagnosed in 50-80% of the world's population. The numbers are not small, and most importantly, the disease is "aging". If earlier the first symptoms appeared no earlier than 35 years, now the first signs are already diagnosed in adolescents. Most often, a predisposition to osteochondrosis is observed in people with an abnormal load on the spine. This can be the wrong posture, the habit of carrying a bag on your shoulder, sitting in one position for a long time, injury, excessive exercise and, of course, age-related changes.
"Most people have heard of osteochondrosis for sure, but not everyone knows what it is"
What is osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a pathology of the spine, expressed by degenerative damage to the intervertebral discs and adjacent bone tissue, which leads to the deletion of the vertebral bodies and joint surfaces.
Unfortunately, when the first back pain occurs, almost no one goes to the doctor, this leads to the fact that the disease is already detected in serious stages. The disease at an early stage is treated quite effectively, as the changes in the spine are not critical, but over time the process becomes irreversible.
The main sign that you may already be developing osteochondrosis is pain in your neck, back or spine. In a more advanced form, the pain "radiates" to the chest, arms, shoulders, legs and other parts of the body.
Depending on the location, osteochondrosis is divided into several types:
- Osteochondrosis of the cervix.
- Osteochondrosis of the chest.
- Bone osteochondrosis.
Symptoms and signs of osteochondrosis
Clinical manifestations result from damage to nerve tissue and blood vessels near the affected area.
- Lumbago.
- Feeling "lumbago" after physical exercise.
- Poor posture and, consequently, scoliosis.
- Violation of skin sensitivity in certain areas of the body.
- Numbness.
- Dizziness and nausea due to reduced blood supply.
- Headache.
Osteochondrosis can have many symptoms and signs, so it is not always easy to detect it at the first signs. Perform periodic check-ups and do not delay to see a doctor at the first suspicion of osteochondrosis.
Causes of osteochondrosis
There can be many reasons for the development of osteochondrosis. As a rule, the lack of proper respect for the spine leads to this disease, if not at a young age, then up to the age of 50 for sure.
Think about how you sit every day, how you sleep, if you have a comfortable pillow and if you always have weights with one hand, if you give the right load when doing sports, as all this can lead to irreversible effects on your spine. . .
The reasons for the development of osteochondrosis can be:
- Genetic predisposition.
- Nervous exhaustion of the body.
- Poor posture during active development.
- Wear uncomfortable shoes.
- Wearing heels at a young age.
- Physical overeating of the body.
- Overweight.
- Sedentary and sedentary lifestyle.
- Improper weight transfer.
- Frequent lifting of loads.
- Vibrations load on the body.
- Dehydration of the body.
- Hypothermia of the body.
"Note that being overweight and sitting will lead to back problems over time! "
In danger:
- Guides.
- Office staff.
- Moving.
- Pregnant woman.
- Obese.
- Professional athletes.
Take care of your health and follow a healthy lifestyle.
Stages of development of osteochondrosis
None of the diseases start abruptly and immediately. Osteochondrosis is no exception. There are 4 main stages in the development of osteochondrosis.
- Primary dystrophic changes in the intervertebral cartilage. Disc dehydration, micro-alloys, loss of elasticity - all this is already happening in your spine while you practically do not feel changes, but they are still there and you can notice them. If you start to notice back discomfort during prolonged sitting or slight pain after exercise, do not waste time, make an appointment with a doctor.
- Contraction of the intervertebral space and pinching of the nerve endings and the appearance of pain in certain areas of the back. The pain syndrome appears each time with sharp turns and inclinations. This stage is hard to miss and you should definitely not ignore it.
- Friction of the intervertebral cartilage. The symptoms of pain are severe and can lead to numbness of the limbs. It is impossible to relieve pain without medication. At this stage, serious treatment with medication and medication is required.
- The last and most serious stage. Osteochondrosis in it is already irreversible, as the intervertebral cartilage is completely destroyed. Surgery is usually required in such cases.
Advanced cases of osteochondrosis can lead to partial or complete paralysis. In order not to bring the condition to a critical state, it is necessary to start treatment in time in the early stages of osteochondrosis development.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
For the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine, an individual approach is required in each patient. There is no standard and uniform method of treatment. The age of the patient, his physical condition, the causes of osteochondrosis and many other factors are taken into account. But of course, each of the treatments has common features:
Drugs for osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis can not only be treated with medication, but also plays a key role in reducing the severity of the symptoms of the disease, improving blood supply processes and tissue regeneration. Complete eradication of the disease requires a comprehensive approach and keeping the body in good condition throughout your life. Medication for osteochondrosis consists of taking many groups of medicines.
- First of all, it is needed to relieve pain that interferes with a normal lifestyle. For these purposes, NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. (Ketoprofen, ibuprofen, ketorolac).
- Once the pain symptoms are removed, chondroprotectors and vitamins are prescribed to repair the cartilage tissue. Such drugs prevent further destruction of the intervertebral discs and reduce inflammation. Such drugs include glucosamine, which, unlike analogues, does not need to be injected. Just dissolve a sachet of powder in a glass of water and take it by mouth. This method of administration promotes better absorption of the drug and relieves the discomfort that occurs during injections.
- Drugs that stimulate the microcirculation of the blood.
- Topical analgesics.
Physiotherapy for osteochondrosis
Treatment of osteochondrosis with physiotherapy is a fairly effective measure and most importantly it is painless and has virtually no contraindications. Such procedures help relieve inflammation, eliminate convulsions and eliminate pinching of nerve endings. Physiotherapy includes procedures such as:
- Electrophoresis.
- Magnetotherapy.
- Phototherapy.
- Shock wave therapy.
- Mud treatment.
It is important to know that some physical therapy procedures may not be used during periods of deterioration. The treatment of osteochondrosis with physiotherapy is prescribed exclusively by a doctor and in combination with medication.
Physiotherapy and massage for osteochondrosis
Physiotherapy exercises for osteochondrosis help to form a muscular corset that will help support the disease of the spine. The set of exercises is selected individually for each patient. For stage 3, the exercises are performed only when lying down, smoothly and preferably under supervision.
Massage treatment of osteochondrosis is also a common practice. The main thing is that the massage is done by a professional who will not damage your spine. After the session, you should feel muscle relaxation, sphincter release and general relief. Manual massage improves blood circulation. In acute periods of the disease, it is better to refuse this method of treatment.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the patient feels severe pain in the head, neck, arms and shoulder girdle. There may be "fly" flicker, tinnitus and spots in front of the eyes. As a rule, in the early stages, the patient goes to examine the head and does not suspect that the subject is completely different. With cervical osteochondrosis are prescribed.
- Vulnerability against vertigo, which occurs most often in the morning (Pentoxyphylline).
- Chondroprotective agents that prevent further destruction of cartilage tissue, reduce inflammation, relieve pain and restore joint mobility (glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate).
- Antidepressants, which sometimes have to be resorted to in patients due to the fact that constant pain has a detrimental effect on the psyche and contributes to the development of insomnia, depression (Doxylamin).
- Vitamins that will improve the general condition of the body.
- Anti-sedatives for headaches that interfere with the full life of patients.
- NSAIDs are prescribed during the acute period to relieve pain.
Treatment of osteochondrosis in the chest
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, there is severe pain in the front of the chest and breathing can become frequent and heavy. There may be severe pain when rotating and bending in the shoulder area. Chest osteochondrosis is difficult to diagnose as the pain is not felt directly in the spine and the symptoms are similar to heart, lung or kidney disease. Fortunately, this type of osteochondrosis is very rare and the cause of its occurrence is in most cases scoliosis.
Treatment of bone osteochondrosis
Bone osteochondrosis is the most common type right now. This is because this particular part of the spine is under the most stress. First, a dull ache appears in the lumbar region and then the pain begins to radiate to the leg and can lead to numbness of the lower extremities. Bending and extension problems arise. In such cases, the main thing is to start early treatment of bone osteochondrosis and apply complex measures. Several rules must be followed:
- Limit physical activity.
- Take all prescription drugs.
- Undergo prescription physiotherapy.
- Do a series of special massages.
- Get rid of excess weight if necessary.
With inappropriate treatment and non-compliance with the recommendations, surgery may be required in the last lumbar region of the lumbar region.
Which doctor treats osteochondrosis?
If you feel pain in the spine and suspect that you have osteochondrosis, then you should first make an appointment with a therapist, who, based on your complaints, will send you for examination to a neurologist, spine specialist, orthopedist and surgeon.
How long is osteochondrosis treated?
Many patients wonder how long it will take to treat osteochondrosis? No one will give you an exact answer, but the main signs of the disease disappear, as a rule, within 1-3 months, further maintenance of the disease is required.
Is It Possible To Get Rid Of Osteochondrosis Forever?
It all depends on the stage at which it was discovered. If the patient returns in 1-2 stages, then with the right treatment and adherence to all the rules, you can get rid of osteochondrosis forever. Unfortunately, at a later stage, it will not be possible to get rid of the disease completely.
Orthopedic pillow
You may need an orthopedic pillow if you have been diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis. This pillow will improve the quality of your sleep and will not continue to deform your spine. You can contact a specialty store, where consultants will show you all the options for pillows and advise you on prices.