How to treat osteochondrosis: causes and symptoms

how to treat osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a common disease of the musculoskeletal system. It is manifested by mild discomfort and severe pain, limiting a person's activity. In advanced cases, the pathology may require surgery and even disability. Prevention and prevention of the disease reduce the risk of its occurrence or help to achieve positive results from treatment.

causes

Osteochondrosis is a pathology that occurs as a result of a combination of factors such as genetic predisposition, human lifestyle, environmental conditions.

The disease is characterized by damage to the articular cartilage, as well as the underlying bone tissue. Normally, it is the cartilages that ensure the flexibility and mobility of the spine, but they can wear out, lose their properties, their elasticity and become deformed under the pressure of other vertebrae.

The most common causes of the development of pathology are:

  • hereditary predisposition.
  • Muscle corset weakness.
  • Postural disorders and scoliosis.
  • Mechanical injury of the spine.
  • Excessive physical activity.
  • Neuro-emotional stress.
  • Passive lifestyle.
  • Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Tight uncomfortable shoes, high heels.
  • General dehydration.
  • Lack of important nutrients, beriberi.

Types of osteochondrosis

Cervical

This disease is included in the list of the most frequent complaints of patients of working age who spend up to 8-10 hours a day in front of the computer. Often patients do not attach importance to pain, which leads to the development of complications. If you do not want to feel constant pain in the neck, head, shoulders, it is important to do prevention as soon as possible, and if necessary, to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

thoracic

The disease can be asymptomatic. Often it is accompanied by pain in the back, neck, forearm. In the advanced stage, thoracic osteochondrosis is characterized by symptoms that are manifested by a painful condition of the arms and legs, tinnitus. Also, chest chondrosis can be accompanied by nausea, headache in the morning, pain and flickering in the eyes, sweating. For the treatment of the disease, taking medication and therapeutic exercises are sufficient measures.

Lumbar

The lumbar spine is very vulnerable. If you're not committed to strengthening your back muscles and watching your posture, you risk developing unpleasant symptoms. Chondrosis is characterized by waist pain in the lower back, pain in the hip area and what is called back pain.

Take your precautions. Keep your lower back warm, try not to cool it too much. Do not carry or lift objects weighing more than 10 kg. If you are lifting something heavy, don't jerk or jerk. Refuse any physical work in an inclined position. If you are going to mop the floor, use a mop or crouch down.

Stages and symptoms of development of osteochondrosis

The disease goes through 4 stages, accompanied by various symptoms. At the initial stage, the pathology occurs in the region of the pulp nucleus of the intervertebral disc. Excessive loading causes a decrease in the height of the disc and the appearance of cracks in the fibrous annulus. A person may experience some discomfort when in a prolonged static position or, conversely, when moving too actively.

In the 2nd stage, the distance between the vertebrae continues to decrease, the vertebral muscles and ligaments lose their tone and sag. This leads to increased mobility of the vertebrae with impacted discs, the risk of displacement or subluxations. In the second stage, discomfort and pain appear, especially with certain types of loads or in certain positions.

With osteochondrosis of the 3rd degree, prolapses and protrusions of the intervertebral discs are formed, the development of arthrosis of the intervertebral joints is possible. A person experiences stiffness, becomes inactive. At this stage of the pathology, the pain is clearly felt depending on the location of the lesion.

In the 4th stage, the body tries to adapt to the functional disorders of the spine. It can be expressed in bone neoplasms - osteophytes. They act as a spinal fixator. But it can cause pinched nerves and other injuries.

Diagnostic

When examining a patient and taking an anamnesis, a specialist makes a primary diagnosis, suggesting the presence of a disease by a visually detectable curvature observed in the transverse or longitudinal plane of the spine. After the initial consultation, the surgeon or neurologist may prescribe additional examinations. After determining the localization of the disease and its stages, treatment can begin, the purpose of which is to get rid of the causes of pain.

The most common diagnostic methods:

  • x-ray;
  • CT;
  • MRI;
  • Doppler ultrasound.

Methods of treatment of osteochondrosis

Treatment only brings good results if it is regular, consistent and systematic. The therapeutic strategy of the first stage is aimed at neutralizing pain, the second stage is to activate blood supply and metabolic processes in the affected areas of the spine, and the third stage shows physiotherapy and manual procedures.

With osteochondrosis of any department in the acute stage, accompanied by severe pain, the doctor can prescribe paravertebral blockade by administering novocaine, lidocaine and other drugs to relieve muscle tension in the movement segmentof the spine, reducing swelling and muscle tension.

Combinations of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics, analgesics and vitamin complexes (group D, nicotinic acid) are considered effective. As local therapy, ointments are prescribed - chondroprotectors and agents containing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory components.

It is important to remember that medication only helps to cope with severe pain at the time. Physiotherapy treatment helps to get rid of unpleasant manifestations of the disease in the longer term.

The most commonly used therapies include:

  • reflexology;
  • acupuncture;
  • electrophoresis;
  • manual therapy;
  • massage;
  • physiotherapy.

What does the absence of treatment lead to?

Osteochondrosis is best corrected at the initial stage of formation before the appearance of syndromes of vertebral pathologies, accompanied by chronic headaches and pain in the shoulder blades, heart and lower back. Over time, the disease leads to a change in the overall structure of the spine due to the active compensatory expansion of connective, fibrillar and bone tissues.

The clinical picture of the disease depends on the localization of the pathology, the degree of development of the process and the individual characteristics of the patients. Displacement of intervertebral discs, protrusions and hernias leads to unpleasant consequences.

Common manifestations:

  • violation of blood circulation in the tissues;
  • pinched nerves;
  • spinal canal dysfunction;
  • edema and tissue fibrosis.

Therefore, the treatment of osteochondrosis should be started as early as possible and carried out in a complex way, focusing on the neutralization of inflammation and the elimination of pain. If the disease persists for years, is in an advanced stage, and a spinal disc herniation is diagnosed, surgery may be required.

Prevention

The prevention of osteochondrosis and its treatment are inextricably linked. Their goal is to improve the patient's quality of life. If you have a sedentary job, take regular breaks. Get up every hour and a half and do simple exercises that relieve tension in your neck and back muscles. Try to sit correctly at the table: your back is straight, your shoulders are relaxed. Choose such chairs, the back of which can provide maximum support for the spine: thus, it will not be overstretched.

To prevent the onset of the disease, it is good to periodically take a massage course. Massage can improve blood circulation and lymphatic flow, improve metabolic processes in muscle tissues and stop stagnant processes. As a result, there is an improvement in general well-being, increased vitality and some painful symptoms disappear.

Recommendations for the prevention and prevention of the development of osteochondrosis:

  • Limit yourself when lifting weights. Weight allowed up to 10 kg.
  • Wear the weights evenly on both hands.
  • Systematically do simple exercises aimed at strengthening the spine, muscles, ligaments and joints.
  • Go swimming if possible.
  • Try not to sit in one position for long.
  • Take dietary supplements containing mucopolysaccharides - elements that make up cartilage.

Prevention of osteochondrosis of the spine is a less difficult task than its further treatment. Think about your health and start taking care of it before it reminds you of itself.