Treating osteochondrosis is a very long and difficult recovery process that requires complex treatment. To put together a treatment regimen, the doctor must consider a number of nuances:
- Properties of the organism.
- Individual intolerance to certain components of the drug.
The doctor can prescribe treatment only after a thorough diagnosis of the patient.
What is this?
Osteochondrosis is a disease that affects certain segments of the spine, thinning the cartilage tissue. This is very common. Today, this disease affects 3 segments of the spine:
- Neck compartment.
- Chest.
- Lumbosacral region.
Each of these species is characterized by its own symptoms and treatment.
Osteochondrosis affects the tissue located between the vertebrae. The tissue between the cartilages under the influence of this disease begins to deteriorate rapidly. Nerve fibers that are located near the affected cells become inflamed, which causes spasms in the arteries. Inflamed blood vessels cannot pass the required amount of blood, so the human body begins to feel hungry for oxygen. This condition is especially dangerous in cervical osteochondrosis, because a lack of oxygen manifests itself in the brain, and this can lead to serious complications.
Diagnostics
In order for the treatment of osteochondrosis to be more effective, first of all, it is necessary to determine the cause of its progression and the degree of damage, which is not possible without a comprehensive diagnosis. As practice shows, a number of procedures are performed under the supervision of a vertebrologist and orthopedist. The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is confirmed by the presence of certain symptoms, examination and history of disease progression.
With this disease, during the examination, the doctor checks for the presence of scoliosis in the patient, as well as painful sensations with excessive muscle tension.
The following measures are taken to clarify the diagnosis:
- Tomography. X-rays.
- Resonance (nuclear magnetic).
Treatment
First of all, you should understand that only timely admission to the hospital will help you achieve success - self-medication can only harm your health. Thus, treatment includes a number of measures:
- exercise therapy.
- Operational intervention.
- Taking medication.
- Custom diet.
In addition, the patient should be kept in bed, but this is almost impossible. Therefore, doctors recommend more frequent lying on a hard surface, especially during sleep. If the painful feelings intensify, then it is best to reduce the mobility of the spine.
The main goal of conservative treatment is to stop the progression of the disease and return the spine to the correct position.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a great help for severe pain in the spine. This therapy consists of the use of magnetic fields, ultrasound or lasers. Physiotherapy is used in the acute form of the disease, when it is needed to relieve pain, neutralize inflammation and stop the progression of the disease. This method increases the effectiveness of drug treatment, and also allows you to significantly reduce the dose of the drug. One of the positive features of physiotherapy is the absence of any side effects, which means that there are no contraindications.
Massage
This method has the same advantages as physiotherapy: no side effects. However, it should be said that massage cannot be done in the acute course of the disease. It also cannot be performed for a number of diseases:
- Blood diseases.
- Skin diseases.
- Open wounds.
- If there is inflammation.
Massage cannot be included in the treatment if there is an acute period of osteochondrosis.
Therapeutic massage has the following effect:
- It has a positive effect on the nerves.
- Stimulates blood circulation.
- Strengthens immunity.
- Strengthens blood vessels.
- Normalizes metabolism.
Massage is based on the effect on the nerves. Hand massage is the most effective because a massage therapist can relieve pain by touch. A hardware massage will help stretch the tissue, but has no effect on the nerves.
Taking medication
Medications should be taken only in the acute period of the disease, when strong painful sensations can be noticed. Gels, tablets and ointments can eliminate pain and relieve inflammation. But their use is constantly unhealthy - they only serve for temporary relief. As soon as the painful feelings pass, it is necessary to use exercise therapy and massage.
No cure is the solution. In no way will it help restore flexibility to the spine and allow the discs to decompress. Their main purpose is to neutralize feelings of pain. The exemption category includes those drugs that are capable of building cartilage tissue.
The principle of action, above all, depends on the type of drug. Various heating ointments can not only alleviate severe pain, but also improve blood circulation. However, these drugs usually exclude nerve endings. In some cases, doctors give intramuscular injections, but, as a rule, anti-inflammatory drugs are used to treat osteochondrosis.
Manual method of treatment
Manual therapy involves manual manipulation of the muscles. It will help relieve severe pain in the joints and spine. This method of treatment corrects posture.
Visceral therapy is one of the methods of manual therapy that can help restore joint health and improve immunity. This method is used in the treatment of chronic diseases. It will help prevent complications.
Manual therapy cannot become an independent method of treatment. It must be combined with exercise therapy, medication and diet.
Home treatment
A gross mistake in the treatment of the disease is the lack of a deep look: superficial removal of symptoms does not eliminate osteochondrosis, but only temporarily improves the patient's condition. Therefore, the use of pain medications in home treatment is only an ancillary treatment.
After temporarily relieving pain in the spine and muscles, remember the main rule - it is necessary to remove the cause of the disease. A number of reasons can include eating large amounts of food and poor body mobility. However, intervertebral disc dystrophy can occur for only one reason: a lack of blood supply to the neck and back muscles. These phenomena cause cartilage starvation, which ultimately leads to their degradation.
As practice shows, specialists give patients all the recommendations on the implementation of the necessary measures to help with treatment. These measures include:
- exercise therapy.
- Custom diet.
- Taking medication.
- The right choice of bedding.
- Rest mode.
Troubleshoot
It is impossible to say for sure that the progression of the disease started with an improper diet or due to blood stagnation, so the entire program must be adjusted, which aims to restore damage to the discs and blood circulation.
It is worth mentioning the ways of treating the disease at home:
- Diet.
- Restoration of blood circulation in the affected area is the main way to treat the disease.
- Introducing a healthy lifestyle.
- Mattress selection.
Removal of severe pain
- If more than 2 weeks have passed since the onset of pain, you must take an anesthetic together with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are able to not only relieve pain, but also the inflammatory process.
- If the pain does not leave the patient for 3 months, then with NSAIDs should be used antidepressants and analgesics that contribute to the psychological balance of the person.
In addition, the frequency of use and dosage should be prescribed only by a physician. Self-administration of any medication is prohibited.
Medicines aimed at eliminating the disease
The main cause of osteochondrosis is the destruction of articular cartilage as a result of problematic metabolism. Pharmacologists have developed chondroprotective drugs aimed at regulating metabolic processes. Medicines of this group should be taken on the recommendation of an expert.
Traditional methods of treatment
The use of tinctures and various herbs should be an ancillary method of treatment, but not the main one. It should definitely become an additional method of treatment to traditional medicine. Traditional methods help relieve pain and prevent the development of the disease.
You cannot use any of the treatment methods without first consulting your doctor.
Recently, a new way of treating osteochondrosis at home has appeared - the use of a massage bed.
Prevention
- Usual self-massage in the morning.
- Water treatments.
- Practice in the workplace.
- Gymnastics of arms, legs.
Of course, it is worth noting that if time for prevention is lost, this list should be supplemented with special gymnastics, which includes exercises for stretching the spine.
By following your doctor's advice, you can not only prevent the disease from progressing, but also restore the destruction of the intervertebral discs.