There are probably few people who, after 30-35 years, do not periodically complain of a feeling of discomfort and pain in different areas of the back, temporary numbness of the legs or arms.Such manifestations may indicate the possibility of developing osteochondrosis.
This disease is quite common and occurs when, under the influence of a variety of reasons, the cartilage tissue of the spine begins to change, losing its mobility and flexibility.
This disease can develop in any part of the spinal column, but usually affects the discs between the vertebrae.If you move little or sit at work for a long time, then the likelihood of you developing osteochondrosis is very high.
What to do with osteochondrosis?- Treat, because if osteochondrosis is detected in the early stages, then you can completely get rid of it.
When answering the question of how to treat osteochondrosis, one should immediately say that the treatment of this pathology of degenerative-dystrophic genesis should be comprehensive, simultaneously alleviating the patient’s condition and preventing the progression of the disease.
In the full treatment of spinal osteochondrosis, two methods are used: complex therapy (conservative) and surgical intervention.
Drug treatment of osteochondrosis
The main objectives that drug therapy solves are the following:
- pain relief;
- relief of inflammation of the nerve roots;
- relaxation of spasming muscles;
- restoration of damaged cartilage tissue;
- improvement of local blood circulation.
The main ways of using drugs in the treatment of osteochondrosis are:
- oral (inside);
- parenteral (injections);
- local (compresses and rubbing).
Oral agents
Osteochondrosis of the back requires taking tablets and capsules such as painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
But with the help of these means it is possible to fight only the manifestations of the disease, and not its causes, to combat which chondroprotectors are also taken internally in the form of capsules to restore cartilage and prevent its further degeneration.Vitamin complexes are also taken in tablets or capsules, as well as tablet forms of immunomodulators.
In cases where the pathology is caused by hormonal changes in women during menopause, drugs containing calcium and drugs used to correct hormonal imbalances are also prescribed orally.
Products for topical use
Ointments, gels and creams are widely used externally in the treatment of osteochondrosis.You can combine the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors with their external application.
When they are applied locally in the projection of the pathological focus, the active substance enters directly into the tissues of the affected area.
Ointments containing substances with irritating effects are also used, which have a distracting effect and improve local blood circulation.
In some cases, gels containing steroid hormones are prescribed.
They relieve inflammation better than non-steroidal drugs, but have a wider range of side effects, so they are recommended only if other drugs are insufficiently effective in the acute period.Combination gels are also effective, as are anti-inflammatory, analgesic and distracting patches.
Injections
All of the above medications can also be administered intramuscularly.Agents that improve blood microcirculation are administered intravenously by drip, having previously dissolved them in crystalloid solutions for drip infusions.
Injectable forms of medications are also administered topically.For osteochondrosis, paravertebral blockades are made in this way, for which a local anesthetic, often with one of the corticosteroids and an antibiotic, is administered at the exit sites of the spinal nerve roots.As a result, the injected active substance enters directly into the nerve fiber.
Drug treatment must be carried out as prescribed by a doctor and under his supervision, since each drug has contraindications and side effects.
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home
If a patient with osteochondrosis has received drug treatment prescribed by a doctor, then in most cases it produces results and the pain syndrome is relieved.But if he doesn’t change anything in his life, relapse is inevitable.
This pathology is insidious and has a tendency to progress.Therefore, it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment under the supervision of a doctor and continue therapy at home after the acute period.
Lifestyle
This pathology progresses with a sedentary lifestyle, improper distribution of loads, and frequent microtraumas.
Such a patient needs to sleep only on a hard bed and forget about large and soft pillows.They should be replaced with a medium-hard roller.During work, when walking and resting, you need to monitor your posture; you also cannot remain in one static position for a long time.Don't neglect walking and morning exercises.
A very effective method of treating and preventing osteochondrosis is swimming, which helps relax the back muscles without additional effort.
A visit to a bathhouse or sauna is useful.In winter, go skiing.
Nutrition
You should stay away from fatty, fried, smoked and overly spicy foods, as well as from carbohydrates that contribute to obesity.After all, excess weight is an additional load on the spine.It is also necessary to limit the consumption of coffee and alcohol.
Therapeutic gymnastics
Exercises must be started together with an instructor.They should be painless and in most cases are done in a lying position.Therapeutic gymnastics in the pool has a good effect.
Self-massage
Cupping massage is effective.Medical jars sold in pharmacies improve blood circulation and have a distracting effect.The technique for performing this procedure is quite simple: the back is smeared with Vaseline, the burning wick is placed in a jar and quickly applied to the body.
As a result, a vacuum is created in the jar, due to which it sticks to the skin.After this, make slow massaging movements for 5-7 minutes along the spine.
They also perform self-massage with their fingers, moving them lightly in the back area from top to bottom and from the center to the sides.
Physiotherapy
Good effect of magnetic therapy using various devices for independent use.It is only important to make sure that the device is certified and will not cause harm.In recent years, massage beds with jade rolls and thermal infrared radiation have become widespread.
Folk remedies
At home, you can make compresses and rubs with herbal products.For example, rubbing with apple cider vinegar or a compress of cabbage leaves.Black radish gruel, horseradish juice and some other remedies are also used.All these drugs have a mainly distracting effect, so in the acute period you should not treat them yourself without consulting a doctor.
Surgical treatment
If all possible methods of conservative treatment have already been carried out, but the required effect has not been achieved, the question is raised about the advisability of the operation.Surgery is absolutely indicated for compression of spinal structures or blood vessels due to displacement of the intervertebral disc or proliferation of osteophytes.
The operation consists of removing part of the disc, in some cases, followed by fixation of the vertebrae with a metal structure.Persistent pain is a relative indication, since surgery does not always cure a patient with osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis is a pathology of a multifactorial nature, in which the entire spine is involved in the painful process.As a result, in some cases, surgical intervention on one segment provokes the development of osteochondrosis and destabilization of the remaining parts of the spinal column.Therefore, the operation is performed only when absolutely necessary.