The spine is the support of a person.It bears the load while walking.Wear and tear occurs faster than other parts of the body.A sedentary lifestyle aggravates the situation.The causes are unknown;there is a group of risk factors.
Before treating osteochondrosis, you should consult a doctor who will conduct an examination and make a diagnosis.If you follow the doctor's instructions, a positive result is guaranteed.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a lesion of the intervertebral discs, characterized by destruction.The disease affects one or more discs.Symptoms and treatment are related.Based on the symptoms, the types of the disease are distinguished:
- Pain in the arms, shoulders, headache with the appearance of tinnitus, dizziness, colored spots, goosebumps before the eyes with cervical osteochondrosis.It occurs in 25% of cases.
- Chest pain, numbness, pain in the heart, stomach and other organs are signs of damage to the chest region.It was diagnosed in 13% of cases.
- Pain in the lower back, legs, groin, impaired sensitivity of the lower limbs, pelvic organs - osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region.Common type - 50% of cases.
- Pain in several parts of the spine is common in osteochondrosis.
Pain is the determining factor;there is a feeling of numbness, pain and tingling in the limbs.Its unpleasant manifestations are muscle spasms, stiffness of movement, pain occurring with sudden movements, sneezing, coughing.
Based on the symptoms, the doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis and prescribes special procedures for hardware examination - X-ray, tomography, MRI.These methods are used to establish an accurate diagnosis and determine the presence of concomitant diseases - protrusion, intervertebral hernia.
Symptoms often indicate a late stage of the disease, when surgical intervention is necessary.The goal of treatment is to eliminate pain and stop the progression of the disease.
Conservative treatment
The treatment of the patient is prescribed by the attending physician or, in difficult cases, by the advice of doctors.Conservative treatment is widespread - treatment methods from various fields of medicine.Conservative treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine includes health measures:
- Therapeutic exercise - restores the mobility of the spine and prevents diseases.
- Manual therapy is a way to relieve muscle spasms, improve blood circulation and metabolic processes.
- Reflexology is a way of relieving muscle spasms and stimulating the production of substances that inhibit inflammatory processes.
- Underwater hydromassage.Water sports relieve stress on the spine and improve health.
- Traction therapy is a combination of techniques that stretch the spine, reducing pressure on the discs and nerve endings.
- Ultrasound, laser therapy, electric, magnetic, vibration stimulation are hardware treatments that relieve muscle spasms and improve microcirculation.
- Therapeutic diet.The diet is chosen so that the body receives the necessary vitamins and microelements.
- Psychotherapy.It promotes a person's belief in recovery and activates the body's internal resources.
- Drug therapy.Taking medicines.
It is better to treat osteochondrosis of the spine in a sanatorium.At home, people face the problem of time management.Not enough time to follow instructions;it is impossible to create and stick to a diet alone.Inpatient treatment is also not perfect - the hospital lacks orthopedic products, equipment and doctors.
Treatment in special centers and sanatoriums is fully provided.The duration of the treatment cannot be determined.It takes a week to a month for severe symptoms to disappear.Rehabilitation and disc recovery will take more than 3 months.
Many doctors prescribe medication and hardware as part of a series of procedures.Medicines for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine help to cope with the aggravation of the disease.Taking pain-relieving anti-inflammatories, antispasmodics, and antioxidants that stimulate microcirculation and promote the restoration of nerve and cartilage tissue is justified.
If they only do drug treatment, they forget about the internal capabilities of the body and treat the patient without it.It's a mistake, a lack of medicine.Conservative methods can improve the patient's condition.
How to treat osteochondrosis?
If conservative treatment is not sufficient, surgery is prescribed.Sometimes only surgery alleviates the condition.Doctors remove the hernias and insert new discs to replace the worn ones.The rehabilitation period takes place according to the usual treatment.
The cost of treating osteochondrosis is compared to cardiovascular disease and the flu.In order to make it cheaper, alternative treatment options are being considered.For the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine, it is worth buying a device that relieves pain.The procedures can be performed at home, independently, with the help of loved ones.
Another option is traditional medicine.There are many recipes for ointments and herbal decoctions that are taken orally as poultices.There are many recipes for different stages and types of diseases.
Self-medication worsens the patient's condition, so consult your doctor before taking the medicine.One option for self-healing is to believe in healing and follow the doctor's instructions.
Disease prevention
It is better not to look for a way to treat osteochondrosis of the spine, but to prevent its occurrence.It is worth developing useful habits in relation to the daily routine and nutrition.Preventive measures:
- Morning back and limb massage - rubbing, kneading, performed independently.
- Gymnastics, exercises.It is worth including swinging movements, turns, turns, jumping in place, pull-ups.
- Workplace training.If your job requires you to stay in a certain position for a long time, take a five-minute break every hour or two and do some exercises.
- Swimming is a sport that helps to solve spinal problems.
If the disease has already developed, the prevention and treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine must be combined and complement each other.
Maintaining proper nutrition is an important aspect.It should include vegetarian dishes, steamed dishes, baked in the oven.The diet should contain a lot of protein, not mushrooms.Herbs and spices are welcome, salt and pickles are excluded.It is not recommended to drink strong tea, coffee, alcohol, or abuse sweets and flour.You should eat 5-7 times a day.Eat no more than 2 kg of food and one liter of water per day.If there is a vitamin deficiency, it is prescribed separately.
An active lifestyle and proper nutrition are the keys to a healthy spine and body.The treatment is complex, but it helps to eliminate unpleasant pain.If you are diagnosed with osteochondrosis, you will have to change your lifestyle forever.
The article was written for general educational development.Be sure to consult a doctor to establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment.