This disease usually means systemic dystrophic disorders of the articular cartilage, manifested in the area between the vertebrae. According to the local arrangement of this problem, the cervical, chest and lumbar types of the disease are distinguished.
What is osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a complex problem, it cannot be cured quickly. The cause of the problem is a sedentary lifestyle that contributes to the start of negative processes in the cartilage of the joints. Remind you that as the human body grows, a powerful vascular channel with diffuse nutrition is formed in the intervertebral discs. Any negative states and processes worsen the nutrition of the vascular direction and form a number of factors aggravating the development of pathology.
Of the physiological factors contributing to the formation of osteochondrosis, one can note poor nutrition, increased loads on the back and its injuries, constant unusual poses, flat feet, obesity.
Symptoms
Symptoms of osteochondrosis look like this:
- Lomota and numbness of the legs/arms, severe back pain.
- Significant increase in pain in physical exertion and even cough.
- The antispasmodic state of the muscles of the knitting needle, a decrease in the activity of movement.
- Other systemic manifestations characteristic in case of damage to a certain area of the spine.
The main reasons
- Age -related degenerative changes.
- Genetic and hereditary predispositions.
- Light weight.
- Poor nutrition.
- Infectious and intoxication lesions.
- Metabolic imbalance.
- A sedentary lifestyle.
- Traumatic syndromes in the spine.
- Overloading the spinal system due to active training, weight lifting, improper posture, pregnancy, wearing uncomfortable shoes.
- Strong stresses, neuralgic overstrain, smoking.
- Poor environmental conditions of permanent residence.
- The instability of the bone skeleton, flat feet.
Basic species
The main types of osteochondrosis include:
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
Pathological transformations in the disks between the vertebrae in the cervical spine, or rather its upper third. Most often caused by improper posture, metabolic disorders, weak muscle skeleton, the wrong way of life in general. The patient feels pain in the shoulders and hands, periodically suffers from migraine. Almost always, the so -called "vertebral artery syndrome" caused by its spasmodic compression reactions - a pulsating headache, dizziness, flickering of optical defects before his eyes, and his hands are numbered.
Thoracic osteochondrosis
The pathological condition with localization in the second third of the spine. Practical is always accompanied by concomitant syndromes-lubricated pain and discomfort in the thoracic spine, intensifying during the tilt of the body or deep breath, as well as sharp attacks in the affected spine, a strong deterioration in breathing quality due to pain, as well as its return in the chest, neck and lower back. Often this problem induces pathologies to other organs - the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas. Read more about breast osteochondrosis.
Lumbosacral osteochondrosis
In this case, the pain syndrome is observed in the specified area with the "bastards" in the concomitant departments, numbness of the legs, negative manifestations in the vascular system, and calves. Symptoms are enhanced in a vertical position, inclinations, a strong cough. This type of osteochondrosis causes muscle weakness, painful sensations and pathologies of the pelvic organs, severe inflammation of the sacrum and lower back.
Prevention
Prevention of osteochondrosis is desirable from an early age, especially if a person has a hereditary predisposition to this disease.
Basic theses:
- Medical physical education.
- Swimming.
- Self -massage of the potentially problem area.
- Compliance with recommendations for normalizing posture.
- Voltage removal in the area.
- Morning gymnastics.
- Normalization of weight and proper nutrition.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
Treatment of osteochondrosis, regardless of its stage, is complex.
Drug treatment
The main direction of drug therapy is to eliminate unpleasant symptoms of the problem and increase the positive effect of other procedures. Preparations of local and systemic use not only eliminate pain, but also improve blood circulation, relieve inflammation, partially restore the problematic cartilage, relax muscle complexes.
- Pills. Analgesic drugs in the form of analgesics and NSAIDs. Preparations that restore cartilage tissue are also prescribed.
- Local external funds. Most often these are ointments and creams. The most in demand with osteochondrosis are steroid hormonal drugs based on prednisolone or hydrocortisone, complex gels.
- Injections. Injections for osteochondrosis are usually used in the acute stage of the disease, when classic tablet and local forms of dosage do not have the proper effect on the body. The vast majority of injections are aimed at eliminating very severe pain syndromes. The classic use scheme is a special blockade with the introduction of anesthetic subcutaneously and then intramuscularly in the area of the spinal nerves. Such injections can be carried out only in a hospital.
Exercises (LFK)
Therapeutic gymnastics is an important stage in the fight against osteochondrosis. An exercise therapy is prescribed by a purely treating doctor taking into account the specifics of the disease and the current condition of the patient, as a rule, in the remission stage of the problem.
The main objective of such exercises is the strengthening of the back muscles and the development of damaged cartilage components of the joints. Exercise therapy uses various methods, but one of the most popular, is considered a scheme of two dozen exercises according to the known therapist known in the past. The complex usually includes general strengthening classes, measures on aimed treatment for problem areas, as well as "lighthouses" exercises that allow you to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. The exact list of actions, their sequence, quantity and other initial data, gives the attending physician personally for the patient!
Massage for osteochondrosis
Massage procedures for osteochondrosis greatly facilitate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease and at the same time help to overcome the problem in combination with other measures.
Separate elements of massage and approaches in its implementation may differ depending on the localization of osteochondrosis, its course, the presence of a patient in chronic diseases, etc. , i. e. It is appointed individually based on the current clinical picture.
Most often, classic therapeutic, point, connecting, hardware and can massages is used. The above measures are aimed at improving the circulation of lymph/blood, normalizing the power of vertebrates, removing pain syndromes, launching special fibers, relaxation of muscle mass, restoration of soft tissue nutrition, etc.
The use of massage for osteochondrosis should be refused if the patient has aneurysms, tumors, thrombosis, osteomyelitis, blood diseases, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, problems with the pelvic organs with osteochondrosis, various skin manifestations of mass nature in the form of warts, herpetic lesions.
Traditional medicine
Folk medicine has effectively treats osteochondrosis for centuries, as a rule, with the help of compresses and tinctures inside.
The most popular recipes:
- Mix grated raw potatoes and honey in a proportion of 1 to 1. Apply to the problem area for two hours in the form of a compress.
- Brew a tablespoon of chopped strawberries in a glass of boiling water, insist for twenty minutes, and then use on an empty stomach. Take for three months.
- Dissolve 300 grams of watermelon pulp, 200 grams of soda in a warm bath and take it for half an hour. The course is designed for 20 procedures.
- Pour ten grams of thyme with boiling water and take half a glass 2 times a day.