Recently, more and more people have started suffering from osteochondrosis. In this disease, there is a disturbance in the normal functioning of the intervertebral discs.
Recently, more and more young people, older than eighteen, have started to suffer from back pain. First of all, the ligaments and bones of the spine begin to suffer. If osteochondrosis occurs, treatment should be started immediately. It is preliminarily recommended to find out what chondrosis is.
Causes and stages of osteochondrosis
The main cause of osteochondrosis has not been identified, although there are many provoking factors. Experts say that this may be due to the fact that it starts the deposition of calcium, which is not absorbed by the bone tissue. This happens when there is a violation of blood circulation, curvature of the spine.
There are the following causes of osteochondrosis:
- physical overvoltage;
- extra pounds;
- strong loads in the spine;
- heredity;
- frequent hypothermia;
- stressful situations;
- irregular foot shape;
- unbalanced diet;
- inactive lifestyle.
The disease is more common in women than in men. Often osteochondrosis of the back occurs if a person sits incorrectly or sleeps on a very high pillow. It is difficult to determine the pathology, because the disease can occur in people at any age. The causes of osteochondrosis are different and not so easy to detect.
There are degrees of osteochondrosis and it is worth noting that it will be difficult to find pathology at first. The patient does not complain of having vivid symptoms, may feel mild weakness, discomfort in the spine. In fact, such signs of chondrosis can speak of various diseases.
This pathology may not be felt and continue in secret. In fact, in the first degree, osteochondrosis is often found completely by accident during various examinations. With second-degree osteochondrosis, you may notice that your back is already starting to hurt, which means that changes are taking place in the cartilage tissue.
If the patient does not consult a doctor and if he is not given effective treatment, the intervertebral fissures will begin to become smaller and the nerve or veins will constrict. Pain in this degree is usually removed with certain medications. The disease can bring discomfort and pain, and the patient must go to the doctor.
With osteochondrosis in the third stage, the development of lordosis, scoliosis begins and a hump is formed. Complex therapy can only slightly improve the spine and remove some defects. It is necessary to know the causes of osteochondrosis. In the fourth degree, changes are already happening that cannot be corrected in any way. The patient can hardly walk, because even if you turn around a little, unbearable pain occurs. It will have seals in the cartilaginous tissues and the vertebrae will be displaced.
At this stage of the disease, patients are likely to experience disability. A person should know how chondrosis differs from osteochondrosis. For that, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of pathologies. Chondrosis is the initial stage of osteochondrosis. It develops in different parts of the spine. At the same time, with significant violations, osteochondrosis has already been diagnosed.
Symptoms
The symptoms of chondrosis are extremely unpleasant, and above all there is discomfort in the back. It will all depend on the degree of the patient's illness.
First of all, the patient is sent for a diagnosis to determine the causes of osteochondrosis. The patient may constantly feel fatigue in the back, neck and chest pain. The symptoms will depend on how advanced the osteochondrosis of the spine is.
The symptoms appear as follows:
- intense pain syndrome;
- muscle cramps;
- limbs may numb;
- severe headaches;
- can shoot in the spine;
- frequent fainting and dizziness;
- spots in front of eyes;
- High blood pressure;
- unbearable neck pain.
If even minor sensations of pain appear, it can indicate not only that there is osteochondrosis of the back, but also other diseases.
Even when a person is over forty, no fluid accumulates on his intervertebral discs. Therefore, they become not as flexible as before. It is more likely that the intervertebral discs will straighten or expand beyond the spine.
Painful sensations occur due to sneezing or coughing. If the symptoms of osteochondrosis do not disappear even after a few weeks, then you need to visit a medical facility. Then the doctor will refer you first to the diagnosis. He will then be able to prescribe the correct and effective treatment for osteochondrosis.
Types of osteochondrosis
You need to know that there are different types of osteochondrosis. It all depends on where exactly the pathology occurs. There are three types of diseases and you need to know which of them can bother a person in a particular situation.
There are the following types:
Cervical.Such a disease can occur due to the fact that there is a strong load in the neck area. The thyroid gland is located nearby and with osteochondrosis it cannot do its job normally. There is often pressure on the vessels that deliver oxygen to the tissues. As a result, air may be lacking and cell death begins.
You need to know that the brain is almost entirely dependent on vessels. If blood flow is disrupted, it can affect the respiratory and cardiac organs. With osteochondrosis there are constant headaches, impaired hearing and vision, frequent loss of consciousness. Difficulty moving the head, numbness and pain in the hands may occur. If such symptoms occur, treatment of osteochondrosis should be started immediately.
Chest.It is difficult for specialists to examine this disease. Most often, the doctor finds it difficult to understand whether these are just painful attacks or heart attacks. With osteochondrosis of this type, there may be complications in the liver, kidneys, stomach, pancreas.
The pain most often occurs in the form of shots in the back and chest. There are sharp and strong feelings of pain in osteochondrosis, and there is a delay in the respiratory system. There can also be constant discomfort in the spine, and this leads to the fact that it is difficult to walk.
Lumbar.This department most often suffers, with osteochondrosis there are strong feelings of back pain, which can also go to the hips and buttocks. The pain subsides when the person lies down to rest. Discomfort may occur with sudden movements.
This pathology leads to poor blood circulation in the lower back, stiffness occurs. The muscles begin to weaken and the posture bends, making it difficult to move normally. Your doctor will tell you in detail how to deal with osteochondrosis.
If symptoms occur frequently and the pain gets worse each time, you should contact a medical facility. The specialist will be able to identify the types of osteochondrosis and prescribe a comprehensive examination and treatment.
Diagnosis
The doctor can make an accurate diagnosis of osteochondrosis after the patient undergoes a complete examination. First of all, the patient must be examined by a neurologist. Diagnosis is performed when a person is lying or sitting. The specialist looks at how he feels on the move as well as in the back position. A thorough posture examination can also be performed while the doctor examines the spine.
It determines the nature and intensity of the pain, where exactly it torments the patient. It also checks the muscle tension in the ridge area. Finally, if a muscle spasm occurs, it may indicate not only that there are signs of osteochondrosis, but also completely different diseases.
The following diagnostics are prescribed to detect the disease:
Radiography.With this procedure you can see how high the intervertebral discs are. Spinal disorders and the presence of bone growths. Diagnosis is performed in two ways, when the patient is on his back and side. The image in two positions helps to find changes in the work of the spine.
Magnetic resonance imaging.With the help of this study, you can see the vessels and nerve endings. MRI examination determines osteochondrosis of the spine, as well as the exact location of the hernia or compressed nerve.
CT.With this examination, it is possible to see a high-quality image of the spine. The procedure is completely painless and does not bring discomfort to the patient.
If the diagnosis is made correctly, it will help to start osteochondrosis treatment as soon as possible. At the first symptoms, it is best to see a doctor immediately. Finally, if you neglect the disease, it can lead to serious consequences.
Treatment
To cure osteochondrosis, you must definitely consult a doctor. They will find the cause of the disease and prescribe the correct treatment. In severe cases, it is necessary to perform surgery, because without it it is not possible to cure the disease in an advanced form.
Treatment of osteochondrosis includes the following: the use of drugs, manual treatment, corrective gymnastics, proper nutrition, massage.
It all depends on the stage of spinal osteochondrosis. Therapy can last up to three months, and it takes another year to consolidate treatment results. Medical therapy or surgery is performed. People who have discovered the symptoms of osteochondrosis usually do not know which doctor is best to go to.
A good option would be to visit a therapist first, as you cannot hesitate with such an illness. He knows exactly how to treat osteochondrosis of the spine, and he can turn to other doctors. The specialist will perform an external examination and refer you to a neurologist. The doctor will prescribe the patient to undergo a comprehensive study, only then will effective treatment of chondrosis be prescribed.
Drug treatment
Medications help alleviate inflammation and restore the functioning of the musculoskeletal system. They also stop osteochondrosis of the spine and reduce pain. In osteochondrosis, not only drug treatment is used, but you must follow a diet and do special exercises.
Medications that help prevent disease and relieve pain:
- anti-inflammatory drugs: ibuprofen;
- antispasmodics: tizanidine;
- pills that help improve blood circulation pentoxifylline, vitamin B;
- cartilage regeneration preparations;
- ointments to relieve symptoms: diclofenac;
Before using these medications, you should consult your doctor. You should never self-medicate, this can lead to serious consequences. Before a doctor prescribes treatment for osteochondrosis of the spine, you must undergo a thorough examination.
Manual treatment and massage
How to get rid of osteochondrosis by manual treatment? With it, you can remove only severe pain and improve posture. Visceral therapy is often used. It enables good work of the joints and helps to normalize the blood flow. It will also strengthen the immunity, which will prevent the worsening of chronic diseases.
Many people are thinking what to do with osteochondrosis, doctors recommend including massage in the treatment. It helps relieve muscle cramps and strengthens them quickly, and the patient will feel much better. The massage procedure is done for back pain, as well as if there is atrophy of the back muscles. Massage is done to relieve pain.
Osteochondrosis session has several types: classic, segmental-reflex, pointed.
How to treat osteochondrosis with massage procedures. Regular massage is done independently, it will help to tone the muscles and eliminate pain.
First you need to stroke the spine with light movements. Then you need to start stretching the muscles of the neck, lower back, chest. You can pinch them and press lightly where it hurts the most. It is also best to work with your palms in a circular motion.
Preventive measures and nutrition
Can osteochondrosis be cured with a proper diet? Diet helps to remove the load on the spine, and it is important that there was an effective treatment for chondrosis. You need to choose a balanced diet and reduce your salt intake. The body must have all the nutrients to speed up recovery. Diet helps to normalize metabolism, prevent salt deposition in the spine. If excess weight is reduced, it will help speed up the treatment of osteochondrosis of the back.
Edible foods: fermented dairy products and milk, fruits, lean meats, rye bread, nuts, vegetables and herbs, buckwheat porridge, eggs, fish.
You need to try to completely eliminate foods that contain sugar. It is forbidden to consume alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. You should eat about five times a day. It is best to steam or bake food. Refuse flour, spicy, greasy and salty. For the whole day you need to drink at least 1. 5 liters of clean water. It is recommended not to consume strong tea and coffee. Now a person knows what osteochondrosis is and how to treat it.
If you follow proper prevention, then you won’t even need to know how to treat chondrosis. First of all, try not to lift weights or perform small physical activities.
Stop spending a lot of time at the computer and TV. If a person works and leads a sedentary lifestyle, you should do the exercises at least a few times a day.
Osteochondrosis, the symptoms are obvious. The disease can lead to discomfort and back pain. If the first signs of osteochondrosis appear, then you need to see a doctor. Self-medication is not recommended as it can lead to serious complications. The specialist will send you for an examination, they will be able to find the reasons and prescribe accurate and effective treatment.