The treatment of osteochondrosis is a very long and difficult recovery process that requires complex treatment. To develop a treatment regimen, the doctor must take into account a number of nuances:
- Characteristics of the organism.
- Individual intolerance to individual drug components.
The doctor can prescribe a treatment only after a complete diagnosis of the patient.
What is this?
Osteochondrosis is a disease that affects individual segments of the spine, thinning the cartilage tissue. It's 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 cartilage under the influence of this disease begins to rapidly deteriorate. The nerve fibers located near the affected cells become inflamed, causing spasms in the arteries. The inflamed blood vessels cannot pass the required amount of blood, so the human body begins to experience oxygen starvation. This condition is especially dangerous in cervical osteochondrosis, since the lack of oxygen manifests itself in the brain and this can lead to serious complications.
Diagnosis
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 set of procedures is carried out under the supervision of a vertebrologist and an orthopedist. The diagnosis of osteochondrosis is confirmed by the presence of certain symptoms, examination and history of disease progression.
Along with this disease, during the examination, the doctor checks the patient for scoliosis, as well as painful sensations with excessive muscle tension.
The following steps are taken to clarify the diagnosis:
- Tomography.
- X-rays.
- Resonance (nuclear magnetic).
Treatment
First of all, you need to understand that only timely admission to the hospital will help achieve success - self-medication can only harm your health. So, the treatment includes a wide range of measures:
- Exercise therapy.
- Operational intervention.
- Taking medication.
- Adjusted nutrition.
Also, the patient must remain in bed, but this is almost impossible. That is why doctors recommend lying on a hard surface more often, especially during sleep. If the painful sensations intensify, it is better to minimize 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
Physical therapy is helpful for acute pain in the spine. This therapy consists of the use of magnetic fields, ultrasound or laser. Physiotherapy is used in the acute form of the disease, when it is required 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 qualities of physiotherapy is the absence of side effects, which means that there are no contraindications either.
Massage
This method has the same advantages as physical therapy: it has no side effects. However, it must be said that massage cannot be performed in the acute course of the disease. It also cannot be performed for a number of diseases:
- Diseases of the blood.
- 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.
The therapeutic massage has the following effect:
- Has a positive effect on the nerves.
- Stimulates blood circulation.
- Increases immunity.
- Strengthens blood vessels.
- Normalizes metabolism.
The massage is based on the effect on the nerves. Manual massage is more effective because the massage therapist can ease the pain with touch. Hardware massage will help stretch the tissues, but it has no effect on the nerves.
Taking medication
Medicines should be taken only in the acute period of the disease, when strong painful sensations can be observed. Gels, tablets, and ointments can eliminate pain and relieve inflammation. But wearing them is constantly unhealthy - they only serve temporary relief. As soon as the painful sensations pass, it is necessary to use exercise therapy and massage.
No medicine is the solution to the problem. They will in no way help restore flexibility to the spine and provide decompression of the discs. Its main objective is to neutralize the pain. The exclusion category includes those drugs that can accumulate cartilage tissue.
The principle of action, first of all, depends on the type of drug. Various warming ointments can not only relieve severe pain, but also improve blood circulation. However, these drugs tend to turn off nerve endings. In some cases, doctors administer intramuscular injections, but, as a rule, anti-inflammatory drugs are used to treat osteochondrosis.
Manual treatment method
Manual therapy involves manual manipulation of the muscles. It will help to relieve severe pain in the joints and spine. With this method of treatment, posture is corrected.
Visceral therapy is one of the manual therapy methods that will 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 a standalone treatment method. It must be combined with exercise therapy, medications, and diet.
Home Treatment
The serious mistake in the treatment of the disease is the lack of a deep look: the superficial elimination of the symptoms does not eliminate the osteochondrosis, but only temporarily improves the patient's condition. That is why the use of painkillers in home treatment is only an auxiliary method of treatment.
Having temporarily relieved the pain in the spine and muscles, remember the main rule: it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the disease. Several reasons can include eating a large amount of food and poor body mobility. However, intervertebral disc dystrophy can appear for only one reason: lack of blood supply to the neck and back muscles. These phenomena cause cartilage starvation, which ultimately leads to its degradation.
As practice shows, specialists give patients all recommendations on the implementation of the necessary measures that will help treatment. These measures include:
- Exercise therapy.
- Adjusted diet.
- Taking medication.
- Correct selection of bedding.
- Sleep mode.
Elimination of causes
To say with certainty that the progression of the disease began precisely with improper nutrition or due to stagnation of the blood is impossible, therefore a complete program should be adjusted, which is aimed at restoring damage to the discs andblood flow.
It is also worth mentioning the ways to treat the disease at home:
- Diet.
- Restoring blood circulation to the affected area is the main method of treating the disease.
- Introduction to a healthy lifestyle.
- Mattress selection.
Elimination of severe pain
- If it has been a little more than 2 weeks since the pain started, you should take an anesthetic medicine together with NSAIDs. They are capable not only of relieving pain, but also of the inflammatory process.
- If the pain does not go away from the patient for 3 months, then antidepressants and analgesics with NSAIDs should be used, which contribute to the psychological balance of the person.
Also, the frequency of use and the dosage should be prescribed by a doctor only. Self-administration of any medication is prohibited.
Medications intended to eliminate 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. It is necessary to take drugs of this group after the recommendation of a specialist.
Traditional treatment methods
The use of tinctures and various herbs should be an auxiliary treatment method, but not the main one. It should definitely become an additional treatment method to traditional medicine. Traditional methods help relieve pain and prevent the development of the disease.
Without prior consultation with a doctor, you cannot use any of the treatment methods.
More recently, a new way of treating osteochondrosis at home has appeared: the use of a massage table.
Prevention
- Regular self-massage in the morning.
- Water treatments.
- Exercise in the workplace.
- Gymnastics of arms, legs.
Of course, it is worth noting that if the time for prevention has been wasted, then this list should be supplemented with special gymnastics, which includes exercises to stretch the spine.
Following the advice of your doctor, you can not only prevent the progression of the disease, but also restore the destruction of the intervertebral discs.