Recently, more and more people have started to suffer from osteochondrosis. With this disease, there is a disruption in the normal functioning of the intervertebral discs.
Recently, more and more young people, over eighteen, have started to suffer from pain in the spine. First of all, the ligaments and bones of the spine begin to suffer. In case of osteochondrosis, treatment should be started immediately. It is preliminarily recommended to find out what chondrosis is.
Causes and stages of osteochondrosis
The main cause of osteochondrosis is not observed, while there are many provoking factors. Experts say this may be due to the fact that calcium deposition begins, which is not absorbed by bone tissue. This occurs when there is a violation of blood circulation, curvature of the spine.
There are the following causes of osteochondrosis:
- physical overvoltage;
- excess weight;
- strong loads in the spine;
- heredity;
- frequent hypothermia;
- stressful situations;
- irregular foot shape;
- unbalanced diet;
- an inactive lifestyle.
The disease is more common in women than in men. Often, osteochondrosis of the back occurs if a person sits incorrectly or sleeps on a very high pillow. It is difficult to determine the pathology, because the disease can occur in people of any age. The causes of osteochondrosis are different and it is not so easy to detect them.
There are degrees of osteochondrosis and it is worth noting that at first it will be difficult to find a pathology. The patient does not complain that he has vivid symptoms, he may feel a slight weakness, discomfort in the spine. Indeed, indeed, such signs of chondrosis can speak of various diseases.
This pathology may not make itself felt and proceed in secret. In fact, at the first degree, osteochondrosis is often found completely by chance during various examinations. With second-degree osteochondrosis, you may notice that the back is already starting to hurt, which means that changes in the cartilage tissue are occurring.
If the patient does not consult a doctor and is not provided with effective treatment, the intervertebral fissures will begin to narrow and the nerve or vessels will be pinched. Most often, the pain is removed at this level with some medications. The disease can bring discomfort and pain, the patient must therefore go to see a doctor.
With osteochondrosis in the third stage, the development of lordosis, scoliosis begins, and a hump is formed. Complex therapy can only slightly improve the spine and remove some defects. It is essential to know the causes of osteochondrosis. At the fourth degree, changes are already underway that cannot be corrected in any way. The patient can barely walk, because even if you turn slightly, unbearable pain occurs. He will have seals in the cartilage tissues and the vertebrae will be displaced.
At this degree of disease, patients are likely to experience a disability. A person should know how chondrosis differs from osteochondrosis. For this, it is necessary to consider the characteristics of the pathologies. Chondrosis is the initial stage of osteochondrosis. It develops in different parts of the spine. At the same time, with significant violations, osteochondrosis is already diagnosed.
Symptoms
Symptoms of chondrosis are extremely unpleasant and, first of all, there is discomfort in the back. Everything will depend on the degree of the patient's disease.
First of all, the patient is sent for diagnosis in order to identify the causes of osteochondrosis. The patient may constantly feel tired back, neck and chest pain. Symptoms will depend on how advanced the osteochondrosis of the spine is.
Symptoms appear as follows:
- severe pain syndrome;
- muscle spasms;
- limbs may become numb;
- severe headaches;
- can shoot in the spine;
- frequent fainting and dizziness;
- points in front of the eyes;
- hypertension;
- unbearable neck pain.
If even mild pain sensations occur, this could indicate not only the presence of osteochondrosis of the back, but also other diseases.
Already when a person is over forty, his intervertebral discs do not accumulate fluid. Therefore, they don't become as flexible as before. They tend to be more likely to flatten out, or the intervertebral discs may extend beyond the spine.
Painful sensations occur due to sneezing or coughing. If the symptoms of osteochondrosis do not go away even after a few weeks, it is necessary to visit a medical facility. Then the doctor will first of all refer to the diagnosis. Then he will be able to prescribe the correct and effective treatment for osteochondrosis.
Types of osteochondrosis
You need to know that there are different types of osteochondrosis. It all depends on where exactly the pathology occurs. There are three types of disease and you need to know which one can bother a person in a particular situation.
There are the following types:
Cervical.Such a disease can occur due to the fact that there was a strong load in the neck area. The thyroid gland is nearby, and with osteochondrosis it cannot perform its work normally. There is often pressure on the vessels that supply oxygen to the tissues. Because of this, there may be a lack of air and cell death begins.
You need to know that the brain is almost completely dependent on the vessels. If blood flow is disturbed, this can affect the respiratory and heart organs. With osteochondrosis, there are constant headaches, impaired hearing and vision, frequent loss of consciousness. Difficulty moving the head, numbness, and pain in the arms may occur. If such symptoms occur, it is necessary to urgently begin treatment of osteochondrosis.
Chest.It is difficult for specialists to conduct an examination of this disease. Very often, the doctor can barely tell if it is just painful attacks or heart attacks. With osteochondrosis of this type, there may be complications in the liver, kidneys, stomach, pancreas.
Most often, the pain manifests itself in the form of blows to the back and chest. There are acute and strong pain sensations with osteochondrosis, and a breakdown in the respiratory system occurs. There may also be constant discomfort in the spine and this leads to the fact that it is difficult to walk.
Lumbar.Most often, it is this department that suffers, with osteochondrosis, strong pain sensations appear in the back, and it can also go to the hips and buttocks. The pain subsides when the person lies down to rest. Discomfort can occur with sudden movements.
This pathology leads to poor blood circulation in the lower back, stiffness occurs. The muscles begin to weaken and the posture becomes bent, so it is difficult to move normally. The attending physician will tell you in detail how to deal with osteochondrosis.
If the symptoms appear often and the pain becomes stronger each time, it is necessary to contact a medical institution. The specialist will be able to identify types of osteochondrosis and prescribe a comprehensive examination and treatment.
Diagnostics
The doctor can make an accurate diagnosis of osteochondrosis after the patient has undergone a comprehensive examination. First of all, the patient must be examined by a neurologist. Diagnostics are performed when a person is lying or sitting. The specialist observes how he feels in motion, as well as in the prone position. A thorough posture examination may also be done, with the doctor probing the spine.
Determine the nature and intensity of pain, where exactly it bothers the patient. Also check for muscle tension in the ridge area. After all, if a muscle spasm occurs, this may indicate not only that there are signs of osteochondrosis, but also completely other diseases.
The following diagnostics are prescribed to detect the disease:
X-ray.With this procedure, you can see how tall the intervertebral discs are. Disorders of the vertebrae and the presence of bone growths. Diagnostics is performed in two ways, when the patient is supine and on one side. The image in two positions helps to find changes in the work of the spine.
Magnetic resonance.With the help of this study, you can see the vessels and nerve endings. An MRI scan detects osteochondrosis of the spine, as well as the exact location of a hernia or pinched nerve.
CT.This exam allows you to see a high-quality image of the spine. The procedure is completely painless and does not bring discomfort to the patient.
If the diagnosis is made correctly, it will help to start osteochondrosis treatment as soon as possible. At the first symptoms, it is best to consult a doctor right away. After all, if you ignore the disease, it can lead to serious consequences.
Treatment
To cure osteochondrosis, you definitely need to consult a doctor. He will find the cause of the disease and prescribe the correct treatment. In severe cases, it is necessary to perform surgery, since without it it is impossible to cure the disease in its advanced form.
Treatment of osteochondrosis includes the following: the use of drugs, manual treatment, remedial gymnastics, proper nutrition, massage.
It all depends on the stage at which spinal osteochondrosis is located. The therapy can last up to three months and it takes another year to consolidate the result of the treatment. Medical treatment or surgery is in progress. Most often, people who have discovered the symptoms of osteochondrosis do not know which doctor is best to go to.
A good option would be to visit a therapist first, since you cannot hesitate with such a disease. He knows exactly how to treat osteochondrosis of the spine and can also refer you to other doctors. The specialist will carry out an external examination and refer you to a neurologist. The doctor will prescribe the patient to undergo a comprehensive study, only then will an effective treatment of chondrosis be prescribed.
Pharmacological treatment
Medicines help relieve inflammation and restore the functioning of the musculoskeletal system. They also stop osteochondrosis of the spine and reduce pain. With osteochondrosis, not only drug treatment is used, it is also necessary to follow a diet and do special exercises.
Drugs that help prevent disease and relieve pain:
- anti-inflammatory drugs: ibuprofen;
- antispasmodics: tizanidine;
- tablets that help improve blood circulation pentoxifylline, vitamin B;
- preparations for the regeneration of cartilage tissue;
- ointments to eliminate symptoms: diclofenac;
Before using these medicines, you should consult your doctor. You never need to self-medicate, this can lead to serious consequences. Before the doctor prescribes treatment for osteochondrosis of the spine, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination.
Manual treatment and massage
How to get rid of osteochondrosis using manual treatment? With the help of him, you can only remove intense pain and improve posture. Visceral therapy is often used. It allows the joints to work well and helps normalize blood flow. Immunity will also be strengthened and this will prevent the exacerbation of chronic diseases.
Many people think what to do with osteochondrosis, doctors recommend including massage in the treatment. It helps relieve muscle spasms well and strengthens them quickly and the patient will feel much better. The massage procedure is performed for pain in the spine, as well as if there is atrophy of the back muscles. The massage is done to relieve pain.
A session for osteochondrosis has several types: classic, segmental-reflex, point.
How to treat osteochondrosis with massage procedures. Regular massage is performed on its own, it will help tone the muscles and eliminate pain.
First you need to stroke the spine with light movements. Then you need to start stretching the muscles of the neck, lower back, chest. You can pinch these spots and apply light pressure where it hurts the most. It is also best to make circular movements with your palms.
Preventive measures and diet
Can osteochondrosis be cured with proper nutrition? The diet helps to remove the load on the spine and it is important that there was an effective treatment for chondrosis. You need to choose a balanced diet and reduce your salt intake. There must be all the nutrients in the body to speed up recovery. Diet helps normalize metabolism, prevent salt deposition in the spine. If there is a decrease in excess weight, this will help speed up the treatment of osteochondrosis of the back.
Foods to eat: fermented dairy products and milk, fruits, lean meat, rye bread, nuts, vegetables and herbs, buckwheat porridge, eggs, fish.
You must try to completely eliminate foods that contain sugar. It is forbidden to consume alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. You need to eat about five times a day. It is best to steam or cook food. Refuse flour, spicy, fat and salinity. For the whole day, you need to drink at least 1. 5 liters of clean water. It is recommended not to consume strong tea and coffee. Now a person knows what osteochondrosis is and how to treat it.
If you adhere to proper prevention, you won't even need to know how to treat chondrosis. First of all, try not to lift weights and do small physical activities.
Stop spending a lot of time on your computer and TV. If a person works and leads a sedentary lifestyle, then you need to do exercises at least several times a day.
Osteochondrosis, the symptoms are obvious. The disease can lead to back pain and pain. If the first signs of osteochondrosis appear, it is necessary to consult a doctor. It is not recommended to self-medicate, as this can lead to serious complications. The specialist will send you to visit, will know how to find the reasons and prescribe the correct and effective treatment.