Osteochondrosis is a disease that affects the spine through changes in one or the other part of the intervertebral disc. Its danger is that the development of the disease occurs unknowingly. Currently, this disease has become much younger.
What is osteochondrosis of the spine
Doctors define this disease as chronic degenerative malnutrition changes in the spine and its structure. Approximately 80% of the world’s population suffers from this disease, and the first signs of this disease are already in the 20-25 years old. Subsequently, it will bring more serious health problems.
In most cases, lumbar osteochondrosis occurs, and cervical and thoracic spine chondropathy is rarely observed. A person has 33-34 vertebrae connected by intervertebral discs. They perform many important functions to ensure the mobility of the spine.
Spinal osteochondrosis is characterized by the shrinkage and size of these intervertebral discs and changes in the space between them, resulting in a decrease in their strength and elasticity. The high load on the spine causes the intervertebral disc to shift, and the result is pain during exercise, which later develops into an intervertebral hernia.
The displacement of the vertebrae will cause the nerve endings to be squeezed and the blood vessels to be squeezed. The spine is bent and individual parts are damaged, and its deformation is an irreversible process. Ossification of ligaments further reduces the mobility of the spine.
What types
According to the damaged area, the following types of osteochondrosis can be distinguished:
- Cervical spondylosis is most common in young people who live a sedentary lifestyle and work in front of the computer for a long time;
- The thoracic spine is a rare disease that can be caused by changes in the thoracic spine caused by various factors (such as trauma);
- The lumbosacral area, the most common disease, is more common in people over 30 years old;
- A common rickets, when several parts of the spine are affected at the same time.
This disease has gone through several stages:
- The first stage is often overlooked. The vertebrae are unstable. Due to displacement, there is slight discomfort when moving. This is a dangerous stage and the possibility of injury is the greatest.
- In the second stage, the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc is destroyed, causing the distance between them to decrease.
- The third stage is accompanied by the rupture of the annulus fibrosus, and the nucleus of the intervertebral disc has left its position. A herniated intervertebral disc may occur at this stage, causing the spine to deform.
- The last stage is characterized by severe pain syndrome. Bone hyperplasia and ossification of ligaments hinder the freedom of movement of the spine.
Osteochondrosis is caused by muscle clamps, which can cause muscle cramps. This leads to restricted movement of the joints and spine. The result is malnutrition of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, narrowing of the foramen between the vertebrae, and compression of the nerve roots.
symptom
The symptoms of this disease depend on the affected area. It is worth noting that, personally, people attribute most of the symptoms of this disease to other problems. For example, tension and stress are thought to cause headaches, while hearing loss is thought to be caused by the use of headphones.
The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are as follows:
- When you try to move your head, the headache will get worse;
- Pain in the neck, entering the shoulder blades, arms and chest area;
- Sensitivity is often disturbed, fingers become numb and feel weak;
- Restriction of tongue movement, which affects speech, may cause snoring;
- The voice changes, becomes weak and hoarse;
- Dizziness, loss of consciousness is possible;
- Impaired motor coordination, loss of direction when walking;
- The condition of the teeth is deteriorating;
- Hearing loss, tinnitus.
Rarely, but there is chest osteochondrosis. It is usually caused by spinal injury. Scoliosis may be the cause. Symptoms of this disease:
- Severe chest pain, which worsens during deep breathing and movement;
- There may be pain in the stomach, liver and heart;
- Sometimes there is a numbness in the chest.
The most common variant of the disease is lumbosacral osteochondrosis. Manifested as severe pain in the waist. Symptoms may vary, but in the first stage of development, they are not very obvious. But with the passage of time or "success", the disease will worsen. Appear:
- Pain or severe pain in the area above the tailbone, which increases with exercise;
- The pain radiates to the hips and the sensitivity of the legs is disturbed;
- Physical movement is restricted, unable to bend over or turn around;
- In the final stage, people often cannot sit still, get up hard, and have muscle weakness.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Many people are interested in how to treat osteochondrosis and whether the disease can be completely cured. The doctor clearly answered this question no, but it is possible and necessary to start treatment on time and prevent the development of the disease. There are many ways to treat osteochondrosis, both with the help of classic medicine and folk medicine.
It is worth noting that this disease has been treated quite effectively, especially in the early stages of the disease. On the basis of outpatient clinics, a special comprehensive plan is used to quickly eliminate disease symptoms and correct the cause of pain.
Complex therapy includes the following techniques:
acupuncture.
Acupuncture is performed every one to two days. The course of treatment is prescribed by a doctor, ranging from 7 days to a month, usually 12-15 times is enough. The acupuncturist performs visual and manual inspections on the patient. A procedure takes about half an hour. The needle is set to 15-20 minutes.
During the operation, a disposable sterile acupuncture needle is used to pierce the needle under the patient's skin, and feel a slight injection, similar to a mosquito bite. When the needle reaches the biologically active point, a person will feel numbness, pain or bloating in this place. This kind of pain is extremely rare.
Vacuum therapy.
For this process, a special vacuum tank is used. The effectiveness of this method is very high and there is almost no pain. This treatment method allows you to quickly and safely eliminate the symptoms of the disease. It is based on mobilizing the human body's own resources for rehabilitation medicine.
Under the influence of the jar, a pressure drop occurs, and the skin and part of the muscles are sucked into the jar. Large-area deep processing improves blood microcirculation, eliminates stagnation, removes harmful substances, and makes tissue renewal faster.
The scope of influence of vacuum therapy is very wide, and the doctor himself chooses and prescribes the operation area. The spots that appeared in the process after the fourth process started to dissolve, so you should not be afraid of them.
Manipulative therapy.
These are gentle treatments and are very effective in non-drug options. Chiropractors can eliminate many problems related to muscles and spine and are used to treat neurological diseases.
This kind of impact is similar to traditional massage in appearance, but the positioning is more limited and the impact strength is moderate. A qualified physical doctor can cure diseases that cannot be treated by drugs.
In order to treat the spine, this method aims to increase muscle elasticity and improve the movement of individual vertebrae. These procedures are not executed every day, but are executed regularly, up to 7 days. Manipulative therapy combines physical therapy and folk remedies, as well as physical therapy exercises, to achieve better results.
medication.
This method uses active points on the human body and injects the smallest amount of medicine at these points to adapt to specific diseases. It can be vitamin complexes, homeopathy, biostimulants, corticosteroids. There is almost no discomfort when the microneedle is used for introduction.
For the treatment of the spine, an adapted version is used, which allows you to cure osteochondrosis, disc herniation and other problems. It is used for rehabilitation after spinal surgery. Medicinal spikes promote metabolism and improve connective tissue nutrition and blood circulation in the affected area. Even a small comprehensive treatment will show positive and sustainable results.
magnetic needle.
The method involves the use of a magnetic field to affect biologically active sites. To this end, a magnet is used, on which certain properties of polarity, size, and power are set. The device consists of rubber magnets, which generate a constant magnetic field. In order to treat various diseases, metal plates and magnetic balls of various shapes, areas, and thicknesses are used.
Laser Treatment.
This is a laser effect performed on special acupuncture points through the entire skin area. In most cases, low-power red lasers are used, and they show the greatest activity. Through treatment, inflammation, pain, and spasm are alleviated, blood vessels are dilated, metabolic processes are improved, and cell regeneration is enhanced.
Electrical stimulation.
Apply current to affect certain points. It is effective for electrical stimulation of motor muscles and nerve endings. Use single single pulse, exponential current, rhythmic DC, sinusoidal modulation current. It only takes 1-3 procedures to eliminate severe pain. The complete course requires 10-15 lessons.
Outpatient treatment usually includes pharmaceutical ingredients designed to relieve pain. To this end, analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics, antioxidants, and drugs that can correct physical and mental disorders and reduce cartilage degradation are used.
Traditional method
In the piggy bank of traditional medicine, there are many ways to relieve osteochondrosis.
For external use, use the following options:
- Apply a small amount of ointment to the affected area and gradually rub it into the skin. The treatment area should be carefully wrapped to keep warm. It is sufficient to perform 3-4 operations per day.
- Pressing with ointment will help relieve inflammation and pain. Wrap the oiled area with plastic wrap. You can put fresh mint leaves or lemon balm leaves, burdock leaves or cabbage leaves. Wrap and secure the compress in a woolen scarf. Freshly mashed birch leaves work well, apply them to the problem area and wrap for half an hour.
- For friction, you can use vegetable oils infused with herbs-oregano, St. John's wort. Half a liter of vegetable oil requires about 500 grams of raw material. Fresh oregano cakes are immersed for 24 hours, and dried St. John’s wort is immersed in oil for 21 days.
- You can prepare 1/3 cup of black radish juice, 200 grams of fresh honey, 100 milliliters of vodka and a handful of fresh lilac flowers. Stick to a warm place for 24 hours, then you can use the composition for rubbing.
Don't forget proper nutrition and an active lifestyle. It is necessary to monitor your posture at all times, sit in a chair and in front of the computer, preferably sleeping on a medium-hard surface.
The spine must be constantly supported, for which you can use special exercises and avoid prolonged monotonous postures.
Home osteochondrosis exercise
At home, you can perform effective and simple gymnastics, which should be included in the comprehensive measures to treat spinal diseases. The following exercises are recommended for osteochondrosis.
- Tilt your head forward and grab the forehead area with crossed fingers. Move your head down and hold it with both hands. The reverse movement is to try to lift the head obliquely and knit the back of the head with both hands to resist its movement. Each action takes 10 seconds.
- The effect on biologically active spots with the help of palms and fingers: First, massage the forehead area, press the skin and displace it with gentle movements. The exposure time is 20-40 seconds. Then go to the time zone and make an impact in the same way. The process ends with massaging the pinna, and the ears are stretched in all directions.
- To improve brain nutrition, you should sit on a flat surface with your back straight. Pull your head back slowly, you can easily help yourself with your hands, pressing your chin with your palms. The practice time is 10-30 seconds. Then you can turn your head slightly to one side or the other and stay in this position for 10-15 seconds.
- This is an excellent exercise to prevent cervical osteochondrosis. It helps to improve the function of the nerve plexus located in the neck. IP-Sit on a flat surface with your back straight. Slowly move your head to your chest and try to reach it with your chin. You can help yourself a little by putting your hands behind your head, pushing forward and upward. Maintain this position for about one minute, rest for 10-15 minutes, and then repeat the exercise.
- Warming up will affect the upper spine, while pulling the shoulders as high as possible to the ears. Then put them down freely and easily. Repeat for 15 seconds. Then repeat the exercise, but for each shoulder joint separately.
At the end of the gymnastics, rub the back of your neck with your palms.
In order to get rid of the physical pain caused by cervical osteochondrosis, you can take a poplar stick or rolling pin and slowly tap one shoulder, scapula, and spine, and then tap the other side. You can give her a little massage to relieve tension and pain.
In order to quickly get rid of the pain of the lumbar spine, you need to lie on a hard surface, preferably on the floor, with your legs bent to your knees. Rotate your feet in one direction and the other, and try to touch the ground with your knees.
Deterioration-how to relieve pain
Usually, as the disease worsens, one does not know where to go. Continuous medication is impossible, but there are some ways to get rid of acute pain without resorting to medication.
First, the problem area should be heated. You can wear a woolen scarf in this place. Cold exposure is also possible, but only for the first day after the problem occurs and under the supervision of a doctor.
Lie on a hard surface and try to fix the pain points. If pain occurs, it is recommended to place a soft roller under the waist to relieve tension in the area. It is best to bend your legs. The chest part can be wrapped with a tight bandage, and a splint made of cardboard and cotton thread can be wrapped around the neck, just like an injury.
If there is no relief, you should call your doctor. To relieve severe pain, use anesthetics.
Prevention-how to prevent the appearance of osteochondrosis
Before proceeding with prevention, you should find out the most common cause of osteochondrosis. Malnutrition, an inactive lifestyle, overweight, bad habits (smoking, alcohol dependence), high-intensity exercise, and postural disturbances increase the risk of this disease.
Obviously, in order to prevent the development of diseases, nutrition and physical exercise should be established first. Basic morning exercises, stretching, light self-massage of the lower back and neck, and swinging arms and legs are enough. In the workplace, you should spend 2-3 minutes warming up. All types of swimming in the pool are good.
Fighting excess weight will help eliminate the risk, and you should not let your body hypothermia, traumatic situations. It pays to deal with stressful situations to prevent and change bad habits. Attention should be paid to proper nutrition. The body should take in enough protein, but it is necessary to limit salty, flour, and high-fat foods.
In some cases, due to lack of vitamins, doctors may prescribe additional vitamin and mineral complexes. All of these combined will help protect the spine from problems.