Osteochondrosis: symptoms, causes and methods of treatment

For a long time, osteochondrosis was a disease of the elderly. But an inactive lifestyle, overeating, bad habits have revived the disease. Even in children, postural disorders, weak back muscles are often observed. All of this leads to irreversible changes in the spine.

What is osteochondrosis

The disease can affect the cervical spine, thorax, lumbar spine. Pathology occurs due to violation of physiological processes in the disc and vertebral cells. Tissue structure changes, elasticity is lost. In the future, the interval between vertebrae is narrow, certain vertebral segments become unstable.

Osteochondrosis can cause serious complications:

• protrusion of disc segments;
• hernia;
• kyphosis;
• scoliosis;
• paresis;
• paralyzed.

Important!Osteochondrosis is quite difficult to diagnose. Frequent headaches, sudden pressure surges, a feeling of muscle heaviness, dizziness with sudden movements can be latent manifestations of the disease.

Symptoms of the disease

The disease has 4 groups of symptoms. Let's look at each one.

Statistics

This manifestation is associated with a violation of the physiological shape of the vertebrae. In this case, a violation of posture occurs, it is difficult for a person to rotate the body, he is unable to straighten the buttocks completely.

Neurology

The disease is characterized by damage to nerve tissue. This violates the sensitivity of the skin, reducing the intensity of muscle contraction.

In the early stages of the disease, pain manifests itself locally, only in the affected area. But when the pathology begins to develop, the pain syndrome affects distant areas. In this case, goose bumps, tingling sensations, numbness may appear.

Vascular

These symptoms can occur due to the following reasons:

• blood vessels are compressed. Often this happens with damage to the cervical spine. The result can be a lack of oxygen in certain areas of the brain, dizziness, often nausea;
• changes in the sympathetic nervous system. It is characterized by prolonged spasm and chronic ischemia of internal organs.

Important!There are also symptoms of trophic diseases - this is a symbiosis of vascular and neurological factors that lead to the appearance of skin defects and boils.

Causes of osteochondrosis

Physical inactivity, bad habits, overweight often provoke the development of osteochondrosis.

Other factors that affect the likelihood of illness are:

• genetic predisposition - people with weak ancestry should make a lot of effort to prevent the disease;
• improper metabolism, intoxication, poor environmental conditions;
• incorrect spine - children since childhood sit incorrectly, which leads to poor body posture. Recovery can begin at any age, preferably with swimming;
• constant stress on the spine caused by hard physical labor;
• frequent stress and prolonged nervous tension;
• sore and crooked legs.

Important!Women are more susceptible to this disease. The reason is the constant changes in the hormonal background caused by pregnancy or menstruation. Diet, some weight loss products, and uncomfortable shoes can provoke osteochondrosis.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

This disease is one of the most common pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.

People spend more time in a sitting position, concentrating on one point, the neck is in a state of immobility. All this led to the emergence of the disease. Often osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is the result of a long -standing injury. This disease is very common in professional athletes.

Such osteochondrosis begins with a prolonged headache, which cannot be eliminated with the help of conventional painkillers. The pain affects the occipital area and the temples. Discomfort can worsen after sleep or prolonged work.

What else indicates the development of cervical osteochondrosis:

• sensitivity in the shoulder girdle and arm is impaired, in further cases, the upper limb can be completely paralyzed;
• blood supply to various parts of the brain is disrupted, tinnitus appears, and the head is often dizzy. In the future, some parts of the brain may be deficient in nutrients;
• vision begins to fall, patients complain of the appearance of flies in front of their eyes;
• the elderly may suddenly faint;
• if the frenic nerve is always irritated, then there is an attack of hiccups, shortness of breath;
• the neck loses its movement.

Important!Cervical osteochondrosis is not completely cured. It is necessary to change the usual way of life, to take precautionary measures. You can also learn how to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

The lumbar spine is characterized by increased mobility and strong fixed loads. Everyone can get this disease; lifestyle and work are not so important.

1. Many people, based on the nature of their service, have to be in a bent position for long periods of time. This almost always causes osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.
2. Spinal cord injuries can develop into osteochondrosis. You can damage your spine if you don’t exercise properly.
3. In the case of a sharp cessation of the load on the intervertebral joint, the degenerative process begins. Which also leads to osteochondrosis.

Signs of an affected lumbar spine include:

• pain and lumbago in the legs and lower back, which increase after physical exercise;
• numbness of the skin is observed on the lower part of the foot, paresis and paralysis may occur;
• the skin in the painful area begins to peel;
• pelvic dysfunction, there are problems with erection and urination.

Lumbar osteochondrosis is the most dangerous, complications often arise. An unstable vertebra can fly out of the sacrum at any time. That will cause damage to internal organs.

Osteochondritis of the spine

More than 70% of back pain complaints are associated with osteochondrosis. Spinal tissue dystrophy exists in every second inhabitant of the planet, whose age has exceeded 30 years.

Injuries, strenuous physical exercise, working in a state of constant vibration can provoke the manifestation of the disease.

The disease has special symptoms:

• pain, chronic pain that causes increased fatigue, increased discomfort occurs when lifting weights, sudden movements, coughing and sneezing;
• the affected spine begins to grow numb;
• the range of motion decreases.

Important! Cartilage and bone have the ability to renew themselves. Moderate and regular exercise helps strengthen the back muscles, improving blood circulation.

Osteochondrosis of the chest

Often, pathological changes in the cervical and thoracic vertebral segments occur simultaneously.

Pain syndrome is practically non -existent in chest osteochondrosis. Therefore, many may not be aware of the presence of this disease. If pain occurs, then the sensation is manifested in the intercostal and scapular areas, sometimes affecting the upper abdomen.

The first symptoms of the disease are similar to a heart attack, gallbladder inflammation, gastritis, or stomach ulcers. With osteochondrosis, pain increases during turns, deep breathing, and coughing.

In the future, the disease is manifested by reflex tension of the muscles located in the sternum and upper back area. If the disease progresses to a more advanced stage, men may experience erectile dysfunction.

Which doctor is treating

Osteochondrosis has many clinical manifestations. Patients must visit various specialists to understand the cause of the disease. For a correct diagnosis, you should contact a neurologist and an orthopedic specialist. Private clinics provide the services of vertebrologists.

Attention!Find out more about your doctor’s appointments.

After the interview, the specialist will examine the spine and nearby soft tissues in a variety of positions, determining the level of movement of each part. Instrumental examination plays an important role in diagnosis.

Thereafter, computed tomography, X-rays, and studies using magnetic-nuclear resonance were prescribed.

Important!In addition to the spine, the work of blood vessels and peripheral nerves were analyzed.

Treatment at home

Treatment of this disease with folk methods is recognized to be effective even with traditional medicine. Disciplined the patient, the use of various techniques by him can significantly reduce the time required to restore spinal tissue.

You should start by reviewing your diet. Excess cholesterol causes impaired blood flow, blood vessels lose elasticity, this leads to the development of osteochondrosis. Therefore, fatty foods, eggs, rich broths, pork should be excluded, and the skin must be removed from the chicken.

Patients need to get rid of addiction, reduce the intake of caffeinated beverages.

The most effective home treatments are:

• complex daily performance of individual physiotherapy exercises;
• self -massage - including rubbing and caressing, helps shiatsu well;
• the use of specially designed devices and applicators;
• exposure to magnetic fields - this helps increase blood circulation to the muscles. Magnets are selected by experts, the application method is easy to master;
• Massage beds have recently appeared on the market.

Important!Self -activity is very dangerous in the treatment of osteochondrosis. Therefore, even choosing therapy at home, you should listen to the doctor's recommendations.

Drug treatment

To relieve pain, other symptoms of osteochondrosis, doctors prescribe analgesics. Painkillers are used to treat neuropathic syndrome. They contain lidocaine, which relieves painful sensations.

1. Non -steroidal drugs are designed to relieve inflammation, they act strongly and effectively. But side effects do not allow the intake of such drugs for a long time.
2. To relieve pain, you can use a warming ointment that is harmless but equally effective.
3. If the pain persists for more than 3 months, your doctor may prescribe antidepressant medication. They have a calming effect, reducing the manifestations of pain.

During treatment, it is important to restore the intervertebral disc and cartilage. For this, hondoprotectors aim. They must be taken for at least 4 months.

1. To improve blood circulation, special drugs are indicated, which must be taken together with drugs containing nicotinic and thioctic acids.
2. Diuretics help relieve swelling.
3. You must also take B vitamins and calcium during treatment.

Injections

With lumbar osteochondrosis, a special blockage is made to relieve the pain. Specialists use long needles to inject analgesics. This procedure allows you to temporarily relieve pain, but has no therapeutic effect.

1. Muscle relaxation is used to relieve cramps.
2. Chondroitin sulfate helps restore cartilage tissue.
3. To restore the nervous system in the affected area, vitamin B injections are given.
4. For the treatment of inflammation, modern non -steroidal drugs are used that do not harm the function of the stomach and intestines.

Doctors believe that oral medication is the most effective method of treating osteochondrosis. Injections are only performed in a hospital setting.

Important!To get rid of osteochondrosis requires a systematic approach. It is impossible to fulfill part of a specialist's prescription. Only adherence to the treatment regimen can guarantee a positive result.

Treatment with folk remedies

Herbalists offer a variety of natural remedies for the treatment of osteochondrosis.

Water procedure

Herbal baths help relieve pain and inflammation. A good healing effect is observed after using a nettle swab in the bathtub.

The following fees are good for bathing:

• Mix birch leaves (270 g) with mint and lemon balm (55 g each). Pour the mixture into 7 liters of boiling water. Once cool, pour into the water;
• in 5 liters of water, boil 1500 g of conifers or pine cones for half an hour.

Compressing

For the preparation of compresses, gruel from black radish, radish root, garlic are suitable. The mass should be rubbed into the affected area, wrap carefully. Save for as long as possible.

To relieve the pain, you can make a compress by mixing chopped raw potatoes and honey in equal parts. Keep in the sore spot for at least an hour.

Decoctions and infusions

Treatment with a decoction of ordinary laurel is quite effective. But it is necessary to follow the scheme strictly.

1. Bay leaves (4 g) must be filled with water (240 ml).
2. Boil for 4 minutes. Insist in a warm place for 3 hours.
3. The medicine produced must be taken slowly before bedtime.
4. Repeat the procedure for another 2 days. The broth must be prepared fresh.
5. A week's break. Then repeat the treatment.

Two sessions is enough to avoid discomfort throughout the year.

Celery

The infusion of celery will help remove salt deposits. This drink is rich in vitamins. To prepare it, you need 4 g of crushed roots and 950 ml of slightly cold boiling water. The mixture should be injected overnight.

After that it should be filtered. Take 7 ml three times a day. In season, you can prepare fresh juice from the roots of celery. You can use it three times a day, 12 ml.

Ointment and rub

Ginger ointment

This medication helps with lumbago.

1. Fry the ginger powder using melted butter.
2. Grind fresh garlic into gruel.
3. Mix the components in equal parts.
4. Ointment should be applied to the affected area.

Rub oregano

Place 25 g of chopped oregano in a container with 450 ml of oil. It is better to use olive or sunflower oil. Let the product cook for 8 hours. Squeeze the grass and discard.

The scrub is suitable for the treatment of all types of osteochondrosis.

Exercise for osteochondrosis

Physiotherapy is an important part of the treatment of osteochondrosis. The complex is compiled by experts. This takes into account the diagnosis, stress level and level of physical fitness of the patient.

All exercises were performed for 4 minutes.

A set of exercises for the treatment of pathology in the cervical spine

1. Lie on your back. One hand is placed on the abdomen, the other on the chest. Inhale as deeply as possible, hold your breath. At the count of 10, exhale and relax. You can do 5 approaches per day.
2. Lying on your stomach, straighten your legs. Slowly lift the head and upper thoracic area. Get down and relax for half a minute.
3. Lie on your back, bend your legs at the knee joints. Scroll to the right and then to the left, without changing the starting position.

Gymnastics for chest osteochondrosis

1. Lying on your stomach, focus on straight arms. Bend backwards, correct position, count to 10. Rest for 20 seconds.
2. Lie on your back, lift your head and legs at the same time. Last for 15 seconds. 20 second interval between exercises.

Training for lumbar spine lesions

1. Lie on your back, place your feet on your chest. In 2 minutes, rotate from back to sacrum. Then relax and lie down quietly.
2. Bend on all fours.
3. In a standing position, make a circular motion, mimicking the rotation of a loop.

Important!Physical education should not be done during the acute stage of the disease.

Massage for osteochondrosis

Classic massages are only performed by trained people in special rooms.

Love

At home you can enjoy a honey massage. To do this, warm honey should be rubbed into the affected area. Then press gently and lift the palms of the hands from the segment to be massaged. This procedure is best done after visiting the bathroom. At the end of the session, the back should be covered with compress paper and wrapped carefully.

Vacuum massage

Good results were noted after a cupping vacuum massage. For this, vegetables, mineral oil is rubbed on the back. And then a special medical bank makes a gliding movement along a certain trajectory. This procedure helps improve blood circulation, the inflamed area is enriched with oxygen and nutrients, and the regrowth process begins.

Disease prevention

With regular preventative measures, osteochondrosis can be prevented.

Important!Swimming and hardening are the best preventative measures.

1. It is also necessary to strengthen the muscular corset with special exercises.
2. Proper and balanced nutrition is also important.
3. Frequent stressful conditions, hypothermia can accelerate the progression of the disease.
4. Women and children cannot always carry a load with one hand.
5. It is also contraindicated for long stays at the computer or near the TV. Every 30 minutes you have to get up, pull up, warm up.

Pain is often caused by improper lifting. This should be done with a slight squat, and not bending over. If you have to stand for a long time, the supporting legs should be replaced periodically. At every opportunity, lean on the object to relieve tension.

Important!For the prevention of osteochondrosis, you should buy orthopedic items for sleeping.

A large number of people suffer from osteochondrosis. There are many methods to treat it. But it is better to do prophylaxis on time than to be treated for a long time.