Just imagine, in the 21st century, osteochondrosis is diagnosed in 50-80% of the world's population. The numbers are not small and the most important thing is that the disease is "getting younger". If earlier the first symptoms appeared not earlier than 35 years, now the first signs are diagnosed in adolescents. observed predisposition to osteochondrosis in people with uneven loading of the spine. This can be improper posture, the habit of carrying a bag on one shoulder, long sitting in one position, injury, excessive sports load and, of course, age-related changes.
"Most people have definitely heard of osteochondrosis, but not everyone knows what it is. "
What is osteochondrosis?
Osteochondrosis is a pathology of the spine, expressed by degenerative damage to the intervertebral discs and adjacent bone tissue, which leads to the deletion of the vertebral bodies and joint surfaces.
Unfortunately, when the first back pain appears, almost no one goes to the doctor, which leads to the fact that the disease is already detected in serious stages. Early-stage disease is treated quite effectively, as changes in the spine are not critical, but over time the process becomes irreversible.
The main sign that you may already be developing osteochondrosis is pain in your neck, back or lower back. In a more advanced form, the pain "radiates" to the chest, arms, shoulders, legs and other parts of the body.
Depending on the location, osteochondrosis is divided into several types:
- Cervical osteochondrosis.
- Osteochondrosis of the chest.
- Lumbar osteochondrosis.
Symptoms and signs of osteochondrosis
Clinical manifestations arise from damage to nerve tissues and blood vessels located near the affected area.
- Back pains.
- Feeling of "lumbago" after exercise.
- Poor posture and as a result scoliosis.
- Impaired skin sensitivity in certain areas of the body.
- Numbness.
- Dizziness and nausea due to impaired blood supply.
- Headache.
Osteochondrosis can have different symptoms and signs, which is why it is not always easy to detect at the first signs. Go through periodic checkups and do not delay going to the doctor at the first suspicion of osteochondrosis.
Causes of osteochondrosis
There can be many reasons for the development of osteochondrosis. As a rule, the lack of proper respect for the spine leads to this disease, if not at a young age, then to 50 years of age for sure.
Think about how you sit every day, how you sleep, whether you have a comfortable pillow and whether you always carry weights in one hand, whether you exercise properly when exercising, as all this can lead to irreversible consequences in your spine. . .
The reasons for the development of osteochondrosis can be:
- Genetic predisposition.
- Nervous exhaustion of the body.
- Poor posture during active growth.
- Wearing uncomfortable shoes.
- Wearing heels at an early age.
- Physical strain on the body.
- Overweight.
- Sedentary and sedentary lifestyle.
- Improper weight bearing.
- Frequent lifting of loads.
- Vibration loads on the body.
- Dehydration of the body.
- Hypothermia of the body.
"Note that being overweight and stuck will lead to back problems over time! "
In danger:
- Drivers.
- Office staff.
- Movers.
- Pregnant women.
- Obesity.
- Professional athletes.
Take care of your health and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Stages of development of osteochondrosis
None of the diseases starts suddenly and immediately. Osteochondrosis is no exception. There are 4 main stages in the development of osteochondrosis.
- Primary dystrophic changes in the intervertebral cartilage. Disc dehydration, microcracks, loss of elasticity - all this is already happening in your spine, while you practically do not feel any changes, but they are still there and you can notice them. If you start to notice back discomfort during prolonged sitting or slight pain after exercise, do not waste time, make an appointment with a doctor.
- Contraction of the intervertebral space and pinching of nerve endings and the appearance of pain in certain areas of the back. The pain syndrome will appear every time with sharp turns and tilts. This stage is hard to miss and certainly should not be overlooked.
- Erasure of intervertebral cartilage tissue. Pain symptoms are pronounced and can lead to tingling in the extremities. It is impossible to relieve pain without medication. At this stage, serious treatment with adherence to the regimen and medication is required.
- The last and most serious stage. Osteochondrosis on it is now irreversible, as the intervertebral cartilage is completely destroyed. In such cases, surgery is usually required.
Advanced cases of osteochondrosis can lead to partial or complete paralysis. In order not to make the situation critical, it is required to start treatment in time in the early stages of osteochondrosis.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine requires an individual approach to each patient. There is no standard and unified method of treatment. The age of the patient, his physical condition, the causes of osteochondrosis and many other factors are taken into account. But of course, each of the treatments has common features:
Drugs for osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis cannot be cured by medication alone, but they play a key role in reducing the severity of the symptoms of the disease, improving blood supply and tissue regeneration. To completely eliminate the disease requires an integrated approach and maintaining the condition of the body in proper condition for the rest of your life. The cure for osteochondrosis consists of taking several groups of drugs.
- In the first place, pain relief that interferes with a normal lifestyle is required. NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are used for this purpose. (Ketoprofen, Ibuprofen, Ketorolac).
- After relieving the symptoms of pain, chondroprotectors and vitamins are prescribed to restore the cartilage tissue. Such drugs prevent further destruction of the intervertebral discs and reduce inflammation. Such drugs include glucosamine, which, unlike analogues, should not be injected. It is enough to dissolve a sachet of powder in a glass of water and take it by mouth. This method of administration promotes better absorption of the drug and relieves the discomfort that occurs during injections.
- Drugs that stimulate blood microcirculation.
- Local analgesics.
Physiotherapy for osteochondrosis
Treatment of osteochondrosis with physiotherapy is quite an effective measure and most importantly, it is painless and has virtually no contraindications. Such procedures help relieve inflammation, eliminate spasms and eliminate pinching of nerve endings. Physiotherapy includes procedures such as:
- Electrophoresis.
- Magnetic therapy.
- Phototherapy.
- Shock wave therapy.
- Mud treatment.
It is worth noting that some physiotherapy procedures cannot be used during periods of exacerbation. Treatment of osteochondrosis with physiotherapy is prescribed exclusively by a doctor and in combination with medication.
Physiotherapy and massage for osteochondrosis
Physiotherapy exercises for osteochondrosis help to form a muscular corset that will help maintain the diseased spine. The set of exercises is selected individually for each patient individually. For stage 3, the exercises are performed only in a supine position, smoothly and preferably under supervision.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with massage is also a common practice. The main thing is that the massage is done by a professional who will not harm your spine. After the session you should feel muscle relaxation, release of braces and general relief. Hand massage improves blood circulation. In acute periods of the disease it is better to refuse this method of treatment.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis
In osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the patient feels severe pain in the head, neck, arms and shoulder girdle. There may be flickering, noise in the ears and spots in front of the eyes. As a rule, in the early stages the patient goes to examine the head and does not suspect that the issue is completely different. With cervical osteochondrosis are prescribed.
- Agnioprotectors against vertigo, which most often occurs in the morning (Pentoxifylline).
- Chondroprotectors, which prevent further destruction of cartilage tissue, reduce inflammation, relieve pain and restore joint mobility (Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate).
- Antidepressants, which sometimes have to be resorted to by patients due to the fact that constant pain has a detrimental effect on the psyche and contributes to the development of insomnia, depression (Doxylamine).
- Vitamins that will improve the general condition of the body.
- Headache anticolvusants that interfere with the full life of patients.
- NSAIDs are prescribed in the acute period to relieve pain.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the chest
In thoracic osteochondrosis, there is sharp pain in the front of the chest and breathing can become frequent and severe. There may be sharp pain when turning and bending in the shoulder blades. It is difficult to diagnose thoracic osteochondrosis because the pain is not felt directly in the spine and the symptoms are more similar to heart, lung or kidney disease. Fortunately, this type of osteochondrosis is very rare and the reason for its appearance in most cases is scoliosis.
Lumbar treatment of osteochondrosis
Lumbar osteochondrosis is the most common type at the moment. This is due to the fact that this particular part of the spine is under the greatest stress. First there is dull pain in the lumbar region, then the pain begins to radiate to the legs and can lead to tingling in the lower extremities. Problems with flexion and extension occur. In such cases, the main thing is to start timely treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis and apply complex measures. Several rules must be followed:
- Limit physical activity.
- Take all prescribed medications.
- Undertake the prescribed physiotherapy.
- Take a course of special massages.
- Get rid of excess weight if necessary.
Improper treatment and non-compliance with the recommendations may require surgery for the last lumbar osteochondrosis.
Which doctor treats osteochondrosis?
If you feel pain in the spine and suspect that you have osteochondrosis, then you should first make an appointment with a therapist who, based on your complaints, will refer you to a neurologist, vertebrologist, orthopedist and surgeon.
How long is osteochondrosis treated?
Many patients are interested in how long it will take to treat osteochondrosis? No one will give you an accurate answer, but the main signs of the disease disappear, as a rule, within 1-3 months, additional maintenance of the condition is required.
Is It Possible To Get Rid Of Osteochondrosis Forever?
It all depends on the stage at which it was discovered. If the patient turns in 1-2 stages, then with proper treatment and following all the rules, you can get rid of osteochondrosis forever. At later stages, unfortunately, it will not be possible to completely get rid of the disease.
Orthopedic pillow
An orthopedic pillow may be needed if you are diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis. This pillow will improve the quality of your sleep and will not continue to deform your spine. You can contact a specialty store where consultants will show you all the pillow options and advise you on pricing.