Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disease that affects the spine through the development of changes in the intervertebral discs of one or another department.The danger lies in the fact that the disease develops unnoticed.Currently this disease has become much younger.

What is spinal osteochondrosis?

Doctors define this disease as a chronic degenerative-dystrophic change in the spine and its structure.It affects about 80 percent of the world's population and the first signs of this disease are observed as early as 20 to 25 years of age.It can lead to more serious health problems in the future.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine occurs most often;less commonly, cervical and thoracic chondrosis is observed.Humans have 33-34 vertebrae that are connected to each other by intervertebral discs.They fulfill a number of important functions and thus ensure mobility of the spine.

Osteochondrosis of the spine is characterized by drying and change in size of these intervertebral discs and the space between them, which leads to a decrease in their strength and elasticity.A high load on the spine causes the intervertebral discs to shift, causing pain when moving and later leading to an intervertebral hernia.

The displacement of the vertebrae is caused by the pinching of nerve endings and compression of blood vessels.Curvature of the spine, damage to individual parts, their deformation is an irreversible process.The ossification of the ligaments further restricts the mobility of the spine.

What types are there?

Depending on the damaged areas, the following forms of osteochondrosis differ:

• Cervical spine, most often observed in young people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and work at a computer for a long time;
• Thoracic spine disease, a rare condition, can be caused by changes in the thoracic spine due to various factors (e.g. trauma);
• The disease is most widespread in the lumbosacral region and often affects people over 30 years of age;
• Common chondrosis, when several parts of the spine are affected at once.

The disease goes through several stages:

1. The first stage often goes unnoticed.There is instability of the vertebrae caused by their displacement and slight discomfort occurs when moving.This is a dangerous phase where injuries are most likely to occur.
2. In the second stage, the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc is destroyed, which leads to a decrease in the distance between them.
3. The third stage is accompanied by a rupture of the fibrous rings, the core of the intervertebral disc detaches from its place.At this stage, intervertebral hernias occur, leading to deformation of the spine.
4. The final stage is characterized by severe pain syndromes.Bone growths and ossification of the ligaments impair the freedom of movement of the spine.

Osteochondrosis is caused by muscle tension that leads to muscle spasms.This leads to limited mobility of the joints and spine.The result is degeneration of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, narrowing of the openings between the vertebrae and compression of the nerve roots.

Symptoms

The symptoms of this disease depend on the damaged area.It is worth noting that most of the symptoms of this disease are individually attributed to other problems.For example, headaches are believed to be caused by tension and stress, and hearing loss is believed to be caused by the use of headphones.

1. The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis are expressed as follows:

   • headache that gets worse when you try to move your head;
   • Pain in the neck that spreads to the area of the shoulder blade, arms and chest;
   • Sensitivity is often impaired, the fingers become numb and there is a feeling of weakness;
   • The movement of the tongue is limited, which affects speech, snoring may occur;
   • The voice changes, becomes weak and hoarse;
   • Possible dizziness, loss of consciousness;
   • Loss of coordination of movements, loss of orientation when walking;
   • The condition of the teeth worsens;
   • Hearing decreases and ringing in the ears occurs.

2. Rare, but osteochondrosis of the breast does occur.It is usually caused by injuries to the spine.The cause may be scoliosis.Symptoms of this disease:

   • Stitching pain in the chest area, it gets worse when you try to take deep breaths and move;
   • Pain may occur in the stomach, liver, and heart areas;
   • Sometimes there is a feeling of numbness in the chest.

3. The most common variant of the disease is lumbosacral osteochondrosis.It is manifested by severe pain in the lumbar region.Symptoms can vary, but are not very pronounced in the first phase of development.But over time or in a “successful” situation, the disease worsens.Appears:

   • Aching or stabbing pain that increases with movement in the area just above the tailbone;
   • The pain radiates to the hip area, the sensitivity of the legs is impaired;
   • Restriction of body movements, it is impossible to bend or twist;
   • In the final stage, sitting is often impossible, standing up is difficult and muscle weakness occurs.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

Many people are interested in the question of how to treat osteochondrosis and whether this disease can be completely cured.Doctors answer this question clearly no, but it is possible and necessary to start treatment in a timely manner and stop the development of the disease.There are many ways to treat osteochondrosis, both in classical and traditional medicine.

It is worth noting that this disease can be treated quite effectively, especially in the initial stages of the disease.In the outpatient setting, a special comprehensive program is used, which is aimed at quickly eliminating the symptoms of the disease and eliminating the causes of suffering.

Complex therapy includes the following techniques:

1. Acupuncture.

   Acupuncture is performed every one to two days.The course of treatment is prescribed by the doctor;it can range from seven days to a month;As a rule, 12-15 procedures are sufficient.The acupuncturist performs a visual and manual examination of the patient.An operation takes about half an hour.The needles are placed for 15-20 minutes.

   Sterile disposable acupuncture needles are used to perform the operation;They are inserted under the patient's skin and a slight sting occurs, similar to a mosquito bite.When the needle reaches a biologically active point, a person feels numbness, pain, or a feeling of fullness at that point;Pain occurs extremely rarely.

2. Vacuum therapy.

   To carry out the procedure, special vacuum vessels are used.The effectiveness of this method is very high, there is practically no pain.This method of treatment allows you to quickly and safely eliminate the symptoms of the disease.It is based on the mobilization of the body's own resources and is used in rehabilitation medicine.

   Under the influence of the vessels, pressure differences arise and the skin and part of the muscle are pulled into the vessel.Thanks to the deep treatment of a large area, blood microcirculation improves, stagnation is eliminated, harmful substances are removed and tissues are renewed faster.

   The areas of effectiveness of vacuum therapy are extensive;The doctor chooses and identifies the areas for the procedure himself.The spots that appeared during the procedure begin to disappear after the fourth procedure, so you should not be afraid of this.

3. Manual therapy.

   These are gentle treatment methods that are highly effective among non-medicinal options.A chiropractor can correct many problems related to muscles and the spine and is used in the treatment of neurological diseases.

   The effect is externally reminiscent of a normal massage, but with a more limited localization and moderate intensity of influence.A qualified chiropractor is able to cure illnesses that cannot be treated with medication.

   When treating the spine, this method is aimed at increasing muscle elasticity and improving the movement of individual vertebrae.The procedures are not carried out daily, but at specific intervals of up to seven days.Manual treatment in combination with physiotherapy and folk remedies, as well as physiotherapy, is more effective.

   

4. Pharmacopuncture.

   This method involves injecting active points on the human body into which drugs indicated for a particular disease are injected in minimal quantities.These can be vitamin complexes, homeopathic remedies, biostimulants, corticosteroids.The injection is carried out using a microneedle, with practically no unpleasant sensations.

   An adapted variant is used to treat the spine, which makes it possible to cure osteochondrosis, vertebral hernias and other problems.It is used for rehabilitation after spinal surgery.Pharmacopuncture stimulates metabolism, improves connective tissue trophism and blood circulation in the affected area.Even a small treatment complex shows positive, lasting results.

5. Magnetopuncture.

   In this method, biologically active points are exposed to a magnetic field.For this purpose, tape recorders are used, in which certain properties such as polarity, size and power are set.This device is made of rubberized magnets;They create a constant magnetic field.To treat various diseases, metal plates of different shapes, areas and thicknesses, as well as magnetic balls, are used.

6. Laser therapy.

   This is a laser effect on specific acupuncture points through intact areas of skin.In most cases, low power, red light lasers are used;they show the greatest activity.The treatment reduces inflammation and pain, relieves spasms, expands blood vessels, improves metabolic processes and increases cell regeneration.

7. Electrical stimulation.

   Certain points are influenced with electric current.It is effective for electrical stimulation of motor muscles and nerve endings.Single pulses, exponential currents, rhythmic direct current and sinusoidally modulated currents are used.Severe pain can be eliminated in just 1-3 procedures.The entire course requires 10-15 sessions.

Outpatient therapy often includes a medication component that is intended to relieve pain.For this purpose, analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics, antioxidants, as well as drugs that correct psychosomatic disorders and reduce degeneration of cartilage tissue are used.

Traditional methods

In traditional medicine there are many remedies that alleviate the condition of osteochondrosis.

The following options are used for external use:

1. Apply a small amount of ointment to the affected area and gradually rub it into the skin.The treated area should be carefully wrapped to retain heat.It is enough to carry out the procedure 3-4 times a day.
2. Compresses with ointment help relieve inflammation and pain.Cover the greased area with cling film, underneath you can put fresh mint or lemon balm leaves;Burdock or white cabbage leaves work effectively.Wrap a woolen scarf and attach the compress.Crushed fresh birch leaves have a good effect;They are applied to the problem area and wrapped for half an hour.
3. For rubbing, you can use vegetable oil enriched with herbs - oregano, St. John's wort.About 500 grams of raw materials are required for half a liter of vegetable oil.Fresh oregano cake is infused for 24 hours, and dried St. John's wort is infused with oil for 21 days.
4. You can prepare a mixture of 1/3 cup of black radish juice, 200 g of fresh honey, 100 ml of vodka and a handful of fresh lilac flowers.Leave in a warm place for a day, after which the composition can be used for rubbing.

Don't forget about proper nutrition and an active lifestyle.It is necessary to constantly monitor your posture while sitting in a chair or at a computer;It is recommended to sleep on a medium-hard surface.

The spine needs constant support;For this you can use special exercises and avoid long monotonous positions.

Exercises for osteochondrosis at home

At home, you can perform effective and simple gymnastic exercises, which should be part of a package of measures for the treatment of spinal diseases.It is recommended to perform the following exercises for osteochondrosis.

1. Tilt your head forward and cup your forehead area with your fingers intertwined.Make movements with your head down and hold it with your hands.The reverse movement consists of trying to raise the head in a tilted position and counteracting the movement with hands clasped at the back of the head.Each movement lasts 10 seconds.
2. Act on biologically active points with the palm of your hand and fingers: First massage the forehead area, press on the skin and move with gentle movements.The exposure time is 20-40 seconds.Then move to the temple areas, the effect occurs in a similar way.The procedure ends with an ear massage, the ear is stretched in all directions.
3. To improve brain nutrition, sit on a flat surface and keep your back straight.The head is slowly drawn back;You can easily use your hands by pressing your chin with your palm.Practice time – 10-30 seconds.Then you can slightly turn your head to one side or the other and stay in this position for 10-15 seconds.
4. This is an excellent exercise for the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis.It helps to improve the function of the nerve plexus in the neck.IP – Sitting on a flat surface with a straight back.Slowly move your head towards your chest and try to touch it with your chin.You can easily help yourself by placing your hands on the back of your head and pushing forward and up.Sit in this position for about a minute, rest for 10-15 minutes and repeat.
5. The warm-up works the upper spine while pulling the shoulders as high as possible towards the ears.Then lower them 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.

To eliminate physical suffering caused by cervical osteochondrosis, you can take an aspen stick or rolling pin and slowly tap it on the shoulder, scapula and spine on one side and then on the other.You can massage it lightly to relieve tension and pain.

To quickly get rid of pain in the lumbar region, you need to lie on a hard surface, ideally on the floor, with your legs bent at the knees.Make rotations with your legs in one direction and the other, trying to touch the floor with your knees.

In case of exacerbation – how to relieve pain

During an exacerbation of the disease, a person often does not know where to go.Constantly taking medication is not possible, but there are ways to relieve acute pain without resorting to medication.

First, the problem area should be treated with heat.You can wrap this area with a wool scarf.Exposure to cold is also possible, but only on the first day after the problem occurs and under medical supervision.

Lie on a hard surface and try to repair the sore spot.If you are in pain, it is recommended to place a soft pillow under your lower back to relieve tension in this area.It is better to bend your legs.The chest can be wrapped with a tight bandage and a splint made of cardboard and cotton wool can be placed on the neck as if there was an injury.

If there is no relief, you should call a doctor.To relieve severe pain, take a pain reliever.

Prevention – How to prevent osteochondrosis from occurring

Before starting prevention, you should clarify what causes most often lead to osteochondrosis.The risk of this disease is increased by poor nutrition, an inactive lifestyle, excess weight, bad habits (smoking, alcohol addiction), vigorous physical activity and poor posture.

Of course, to prevent the development of the disease, you should first improve your diet and introduce physical activity.It is enough to do basic morning exercises, stretching exercises, light self-massage of the lower back and neck, and swinging of the arms and legs.At your workplace, you should take 2-3 minutes to warm up.All types of swimming in the pool work well.

Fighting excess weight helps eliminate the risk;You should not allow hypothermia or traumatic situations.It is worth preventing stressful situations and giving up bad habits.Proper nutrition should be paid attention to;The body should receive a sufficient amount of proteins, but salty, floury and fatty foods should be limited.

In some cases, if there is a vitamin deficiency, the doctor may prescribe additional vitamin and mineral complexes.All of this together helps protect the spine from problems.