The treatment of osteochondrosis is a very long and difficult recovery process that requires complex treatment. To design a treatment regimen, the doctor must consider a number of nuances:
- Characteristics of the organism.
- Individual intolerance to individual components of the medicine.
The doctor can prescribe treatment only after a complete diagnosis of the patient.
What is this?
Osteochondrosis is a disease that affects individual segments of the spine, making cartilage tissue thinner. It is very common. Today, this disease affects 3 segments of the spine:
- Neck section.
- 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. The nerve fibers located near the affected cells become inflamed, which causes spasms in the arteries. The inflamed blood vessels cannot pass the required amount of blood, so the human body begins to experience a lack of oxygen. This condition is especially dangerous in cervical osteochondrosis, since oxygen deprivation manifests itself in the brain and can lead to serious complications.
DiagnosisFor osteochondrosis treatment to be more effective, first, it is necessary to determine the cause of its progression and the extent of the lesion, which is not possible without a comprehensive diagnosis. As practice shows, a set of procedures is performed under the supervision of a vertebrologist and orthopedist. The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is confirmed by the presence of certain symptoms, physical examination and a history of disease progression.
Along with the disease, during the examination, the doctor checks the patient for scoliosis, in addition to 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 a timely hospital stay will help you succeed - self-medication can only harm your health. Therefore, treatment includes a wide range of measures:
- Exercise therapy.
- Operational intervention.
- Taking medication.
- Adjusted nutrition.
Furthermore, the patient must be kept in bed, but this is almost impossible. That's why doctors recommend lying down on a hard surface more often, especially during sleep. If the painful sensations intensify, it is best to minimize the mobility of the spine.
The main objective 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 acute pain in the spine. This therapy consists of using magnetic fields, ultrasound or laser. Physiotherapy is used in the acute form of the disease, when it is necessary to relieve pain, neutralize inflammation and halt the progression of the disease. This method increases the effectiveness of drug treatment and also allows to significantly reduce the dosage of the drug. One of the positive qualities of physical therapy is the absence of side effects, which means that there are also no contraindications.
Massage
This method has the same advantages as physical therapy: it has no side effects. However, it must be said that massage cannot be done in the acute course of the disease. It also cannot be performed for several diseases:
- Blood diseases.
- Skin diseases.
- Having open wounds.
- If there is any 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.
- Increases immunity.
- Strengthens blood vessels.
- Normalizes the metabolism.
Massage is based on the effect on the nerves. Manual massage is more effective because the massage therapist is able to relieve pain with touch. Hardware massage helps to stretch the tissues, but has no effect on the nerves.
How to take medication
Medicines should be taken only in the acute period of the disease, when strong painful sensations can be observed. Gels, pills and ointments can eliminate pain and relieve inflammation. But using them is constantly harmful to your health - they are only for temporary relief. As soon as the painful sensations are gone, it is necessary to use exercise therapy and massage.
No medication is the solution to the problem. They will in no way help to restore spinal flexibility and provide disc decompression. Its main objective is to neutralize the sensations of pain. The exclusion category includes those drugs that are able to build cartilage tissue.
The principle of action, first, depends on the type of medicine. Various warming ointments can not only relieve severe pain, but also improve blood circulation. However, these drugs tend to shut down nerve endings. In some cases, doctors give intramuscular injections, but, as a rule, anti-inflammatories are used to treat osteochondrosis.
Manual treatment method
Manual therapy involves the manual manipulation of muscles. This will help to relieve severe pain in the joints and spine. Posture is corrected with this treatment method.
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. This will help prevent complications.
Manual therapy cannot become an independent method of treatment. It should be combined with exercise therapy, medication and diet.
Home treatment
The big mistake in treating the disease is the lack of a deep look: superficial relief of symptoms does not eliminate osteochondrosis, but only temporarily improves the patient's condition. That is why the use of painkillers in home treatment is only an auxiliary treatment.
Having temporarily relieved pain in the spine and muscles, remember the main rule - it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the disease. A number of reasons can include eating a lot of food and low body mobility. However, dystrophy of the intervertebral discs can appear for only one reason: a lack of blood supply to the neck and back muscles. These phenomena cause cartilage hunger, which ends up leading to its degradation.
As practice shows, experts give patients all recommendations on implementing the necessary measures that will help with treatment. These measures include:
- Exercise therapy.
- Adjusted diet.
- Taking medication.
- Correct bed linen selection.
- Sleep mode.
Elimination of causes
To say with certainty that the progression of the disease started precisely with inadequate nutrition or due to blood stagnation is impossible, therefore, a whole program must be adjusted, which aims to restore damage to the discs and blood circulation.
In addition, mention should be made of the methods of treating the disease at home:
- Diet.
- Restoring blood circulation to the affected area is the main way to treat the disease.
- Introduction to healthy lifestyle.
- Selection of the mattress.
Elimination of severe pain
- If just over 2 weeks have passed since the pain started, you need to take an anesthetic medication along with NSAIDs. They are able to not only relieve pain, but also the inflammatory process.
- If pain does not leave the patient for 3 months, antidepressants and analgesics with NSAIDs, which contribute to the person's psychological balance, should be used.
In addition, the frequency of use and dosage should only be prescribed by a doctor. Self-administration of any medication is prohibited.
Medicines that aim to eliminate the disease
The main cause of osteochondrosis is the destruction of articular cartilage as a result of a problematic metabolism. Pharmacologists have developed chondroprotective drugs designed to regulate metabolic processes. It is necessary to take drugs from this group after expert recommendation.
Traditional methods of treatment
The use of tinctures and various herbs should be an auxiliary method of treatment, but not the main one. It should definitely become a treatment method in addition to traditional medicine. Popular methods help to relieve pain and prevent the development of the disease.
Without first consulting a doctor, you cannot use any of the treatment methods.
More recently, a new way to treat osteochondrosis at home has emerged - the use of a massage bed.
Prevention
- Regular self-massage in the morning.
- Water treatments.
- Exercise in the workplace.
- Gymnastics for arms, legs.
Of course, it is important to note that if prevention time has been lost, then this list should be supplemented with special gymnastics, which include exercises for stretching the spine.
By following your doctor's advice, you can not only prevent disease progression, but also restore destruction of the intervertebral discs.