Osteochondrosis: symptoms, causes and methods of treatment

Osteochondrosis was a disease of old age for a long time. But a sedentary lifestyle, overeating, and bad habits have significantly rejuvenated this disease. Posture disorders and weak back muscles are also often observed in children. All of this leads to irreversible changes in the spine.

Osteochondrosis what is it?

The disease can affect the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. The pathology occurs due to a violation of physiological processes in the cells of the intervertebral discs and vertebrae. The tissue structure changes, the elasticity is lost. In the future, the distances between the vertebrae will become narrower, a certain vertebral segment will become unstable.

Osteochondrosis can cause serious complications:

• Overhang of the disc segments;
• Hernia;
• Kyphosis;
• Scoliosis;
• Paresis;
• Paralysis.

Important!Osteochondrosis is pretty difficult to diagnose. Frequent headaches, sudden pressure surges, muscle heaviness, dizziness with sudden movements can be latent manifestations of this disease.

Symptoms of the disease

The disease has 4 groups of symptoms. Let's take a look at each of them.

Statistically

These manifestations are associated with a violation of the physiological shape of the vertebrae. In this case, a violation of posture occurs, it is difficult for a person to turn his head, he cannot fully straighten his back.

Neurological

The disease is characterized by damage to nerve tissue. This violates the sensitivity of the skin, reduces the intensity of muscle contractions.

In the initial stages of the disease, pain manifests itself locally only in the affected area. However, as the pathology progresses, the pain syndrome affects distant areas. In this case, goose bumps, tingling, numbness may appear.

vessel

These symptoms can occur for the following reasons:

• Blood vessels are compressed. Most often this occurs with damage to the cervical spine. The result can be a lack of oxygen in certain areas of the brain, dizziness, often nausea;
• Changes in the sympathetic nervous system. It is characterized by persistent convulsions and chronic ischemia in the internal organs.

Important!There are also trophic symptoms of the disease - this is a symbiosis of vascular and neurological factors that lead to the appearance of skin defects and ulcers.

Causes of Osteochondrosis

Physical inactivity, bad habits, excess weight most often provoke the development of osteochondrosis.

Other factors that influence the possibility of illness include:

• genetic predisposition - people with poor inheritance must make great efforts to avoid this disease;
• wrong metabolism, poisoning, bad environmental situation;
• Spine malformation - children from childhood sit incorrectly, which leads to poor posture. Recovery can begin at any age, preferably with swimming;
• constant stress on the spine from heavy physical work;
• frequent stress and persistent nervous tension;
• sore and crooked feet.

Important!Women are more prone to this disease. The reason is the constant changes in the hormonal background caused by pregnancy or menstruation. Diets, some weight loss products, and uncomfortable shoes can all cause osteochondrosis.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

This disease is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders.

People spend more and more time in a sitting position, concentrating on one point, the neck is in a motionless state. All of this leads to the appearance of the disease. Osteochondrosis in the cervical spine is often the result of an ancient injury. This disease is very common among professional athletes.

Such osteochondrosis begins with a persistent headache that cannot be eliminated with the help of conventional pain relievers. The pain affects the occipital region and the temples. The symptoms can worsen after sleeping or prolonged sedentary work.

What else can indicate the development of cervical osteochondrosis:

• sensitivity in the shoulder girdle and arms is disturbed, in advanced cases the upper limbs can be completely paralyzed;
• the blood supply to different parts of the brain is disturbed, tinnitus occurs, and the head is often dizzy. In the future, some parts of the brain may be completely deprived of food;
• eyesight begins to decline, patients complain of the appearance of flies before their eyes;
• older people can suddenly pass out;
• if the phrenic nerve is constantly irritated, there are hiccups, shortness of breath;
• The neck loses its mobility.

Important!Cervical osteochondrosis is not completely cured. It is necessary to change the usual course of life, take preventive measures. You can also learn how to treat cervical osteochondrosis at home.

Lumbar spine osteochondrosis

The lumbar spine is characterized by increased mobility and heavy constant loads. Anyone can get this disease, lifestyle and occupation do not matter.

1. Many people have to be in a stooped position for a long time because of their ministry. This almost always leads to osteochondrosis in the lumbar spine.
2. A spinal injury can develop into osteochondrosis. You can damage your spine if you don't exercise properly.
3. With a sharp drop in loads in the intervertebral joints, degenerative processes begin. Which also leads to osteochondrosis.

Signs of an affected lumbar spine are:

• Pain and lumbago in the legs and lower back that increase after physical exertion;
• Numbness of the skin is observed in the lower extremities, paralysis and paralysis may appear;
• skin in painful areas begins to peel off;
• Pelvic function is disturbed, there are problems with erection and urination.

Lumbar osteochondrosis is the most dangerous, complications are common. Unstable vertebrae can fly away from the sacrum at any time. Which leads to damage to internal organs.

Osteocondritis of the spine

More than 70% of back pain complaints are associated with osteochondrosis. Spinal cord tissue dystrophy is inherent in every second inhabitant of the planet whose age has passed the 30-year mark.

Injuries, heavy physical exertion, work under constant vibration can provoke the manifestation of the disease.

The disease has typical symptoms:

• Pain, chronic pain leading to increased fatigue, increased discomfort occurs when lifting weights, making sudden movements, coughing and sneezing;
• the affected spine begins to numb;
• the freedom of movement decreases.

Important!Cartilage and bone tissues have the ability to renew themselves. Moderate, regular exercise will help strengthen your back muscles and increase blood flow.

Osteochondrosis of the breast

Often there are pathological changes in the cervical and thoracic vertebral segments at the same time.

The pain syndrome is practically not inherent in breast osteochondrosis. As a result, many may not even be aware of the presence of the disease. When pain occurs, sensations are manifested in the intercostal and shoulder blade area, sometimes affecting the upper abdomen.

The first symptoms of the disease are similar to a heart attack, inflammation of the gallbladder, gastritis, or a stomach ulcer. With osteochondrosis, pain increases when turning, breathing deeply, and coughing.

In the future, the disease is manifested by reflex tension in the muscles in the sternum and upper back. As the disease progresses to an advanced stage, men can develop erectile dysfunction.

Which doctor treats

Osteochondrosis has many clinical manifestations. The patient needs to visit various specialists to understand the cause of the disease. For a correct diagnosis, you should contact a neurologist and orthopedic surgeon. Private clinics offer vertebrologist services.

Attention!Find out about your doctor's appointment.

After the interview, the specialist examines the spine and the surrounding soft tissues in different positions and determines the degree of mobility of each section. Instrumental examination plays a key role in diagnosis.

Then a computed tomography, X-ray and a nuclear magnetic resonance examination are prescribed.

Important!In addition to the spine, the work of blood vessels and peripheral nerves is analyzed.

Home treatment

Treatment of this disease with folk methods is recognized as effective even by traditional medicine. The patient's discipline, the use of various techniques by him, can greatly reduce the time required to restore the tissues of the spine.

You should start by reviewing your diet. Excess cholesterol leads to circulatory disorders, blood vessels lose elasticity, this leads to the development of osteochondrosis. Therefore, fatty foods, eggs, rich broths and pork should be excluded, and the skin must be removed from the chicken.

The patient needs to get rid of addictions, reduce the consumption of beverages containing caffeine.

The most effective home treatments are:

• daily implementation of an individual complex of physiotherapeutic exercises;
• Self-massage - includes rubbing and caressing, helps well in Shiatsu;
• the use of specially designed devices and applicators;
• Exposure to a magnetic field - this helps improve blood flow to the muscles. The magnet is selected by a specialist, the method of application is easy to master;
• Massage tables have recently appeared on the market.

Important!Self-activity is very dangerous in the treatment of osteochondrosis. Therefore, when choosing home therapy, you should also listen to the doctor's recommendations.

Medication

To relieve pain and other symptoms of osteochondrosis, the doctor prescribes analgesics. Pain relieving patches are used to treat neuropathic syndromes. They contain lidocaine, which relieves painful sensations.

1. Nonsteroidal drugs are supposed to reduce inflammation, they are powerful and effective. But the side effects do not allow taking such drugs for a long time.
2. For pain relief, you can use harmless, but equally effective warming ointments.
3. If the pain persists for more than 3 months, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants. They have a calming effect, reduce the manifestation of pain.

It is important to restore intervertebral discs and cartilage during treatment. Hondoprotectors are provided for this. They should be taken for at least 4 months.

1. To improve blood circulation, a special drug is shown, which must be taken in combination with drugs that contain nicotinic acid and thioctic acid.
2. Diuretics help reduce swelling.
3. The intake of B vitamins and calcium is also mandatory during treatment.

Injections

In lumbar osteochondrosis, special blocks are made to relieve pain. The specialist uses a long needle to inject an analgesic. The procedure allows you to temporarily relieve pain, but there is no therapeutic effect.

1. Muscle relaxants are used to relieve cramps.
2. Chondroitin sulfate helps restore cartilage tissue.
3. To restore the nervous system in the affected areas, an injection of vitamin B is given.
4. To treat inflammation, modern nonsteroidal drugs are used that do not affect the functioning of the stomach and intestines.

Doctors believe that oral medication is the most effective way to treat osteochondrosis. Injections are only given in a hospital setting.

Important!To get rid of osteochondrosis, a systematic approach is required. It is impossible to partially comply with a specialist's prescriptions. Only strict adherence to the treatment regimen can guarantee a positive result.

Treatment with folk remedies

Herbalists offer several natural remedies for treating osteochondrosis.

Water process

Herbal baths help relieve pain and inflammation. Good healing effects are observed after using a nettle broom in a bath.

The following fees apply to baths:

• Mix birch leaves (270 g) with mint and lemon balm (55 g each). Pour the mixture into 7 liters of boiling water. After cooling, pour into water;
• Boil 1500 g of cones or pine cones in 5 liters of water for half an hour.

Compressed

For the preparation of compresses, porridge from black radish, horseradish root, garlic is suitable. The mass should be applied to the affected area and carefully wrapped. Hold on as long as you can.

For pain relief, you can make a compress by mixing equal proportions of chopped raw potatoes and honey. Hold on to a sore spot for at least an hour.

Decoctions and infusions

Treatment with a decoction of bay leaf is very effective. But it is necessary to strictly follow the scheme.

1. Bay leaf (4 g) must be filled with water (240 ml).
2. Cook for 4 minutes. Insist in a warm place for 3 hours.
3. The resulting drug must be drunk slowly before bedtime.
4. Repeat the process for another 2 days. The broth should always be freshly prepared.
5. Take a week off. Then repeat the treatment.

Two sessions are enough to avoid discomfort during the year.

celery

Celery infusion helps get rid of salt build-up. This drink is rich in vitamins. To prepare it, you need 4 g of crushed roots and 950 ml of slightly cooled boiling water. The mixture should be infused overnight.

After that, it should be filtered. Take 7 ml three times a day. In season, you can make fresh juice from celery roots. You can use it 3 times a day, 12 ml.

Ointments and rubs

Ginger ointment

This remedy helps with lumbago.

1. Fry the ginger powder with melted butter.
2. Grind fresh garlic into a pulp.
3. Mix the components in equal parts.
4. The ointment should be rubbed into the affected area.

Oregano rub

Put 25 g of chopped oregano in a container with 450 ml of oil. It is better to use olive or sunflower oil. Let the product mature for 8 hours. Squeeze out the grass and discard it.

Rubbing is useful in treating all types of osteochondrosis.

Exercises for osteochondrosis

Physiotherapy is an integral part of treating osteochondrosis. The complex is put together by a specialist. The diagnosis, the degree of stress and the physical fitness of the patient are taken into account.

All exercises are done for 4 minutes.

A series of exercises designed to treat pathologies of the cervical spine

1. Lie flat on your back. One hand is placed on the stomach, the other on the chest. Inhale as deeply as possible, hold your breath. When you count to 10, exhale and relax. You can do 5 approaches per day.
2. Lie on your stomach, straighten your legs. Slowly raise your head and upper chest. Go downstairs and take a half-minute break.
3. Lie on your back, bend your legs at the knee joints. Roll to the right and then to the left without changing the starting position.

Gymnastics for chest osteochondrosis

1. Lie on your stomach, focus on your straight arms. Bend back, lock your position, count to 10. Rest for 20 seconds.
2. Lie on your back, lifting your head and legs at the same time. Linger for 15 seconds. Take a break of 20 seconds between exercises.

Exercises for lesions of the lumbar spine

1. Lie on your back, pull your legs up to your chest. Roll from back to sacrum within 2 minutes. Then relax and lie down quietly.
2. Bend on all fours.
3. Make circular movements while standing and imitate the rotation of the tire.

Important!Physical education should not be practiced in the acute stage of the disease.

Massage for osteochondrosis

The classic massage is only performed by trained people in specialized rooms.

sweetheart

You can have a honey massage at home. To do this, warm honey should be applied to the affected area. Then, gently squeeze the palms of your hands and lift them away from the segment to be massaged. This procedure is best done after visiting the bathhouse. At the end of the session, the back should be covered with compress paper and wrapped carefully.

Vacuum massage

Good results are noted after the cupping vacuum massage. For this purpose, vegetable mineral oil is applied to the back. And then a special medical bench makes gliding movements along certain trajectories. This procedure helps improve blood circulation, the inflamed areas are enriched with oxygen and nutrients, and the regeneration process begins.

Disease prevention

By taking regular preventive measures, osteochondrosis can be avoided.

Important!Swimming and hardening are the best preventive measures.

1. It is also necessary to strengthen the muscle corset with special exercises.
2. Proper and balanced nutrition is also important.
3. Frequent stressful situations, hypothermia can accelerate the development of the disease.
4. Women and children should not carry weights in one hand all the time.
5. It is also contraindicated for long periods of time at the computer or near the television. Every 30 minutes you need to get up, pull yourself up, warm up.

Pain is often caused by improper lifting. This should be done by crouching slightly, not leaning forward. If you have to stand for a long time, the support leg should be changed regularly. At every opportunity, lean your back on an object to relieve tension.

Important!To prevent osteochondrosis, buy orthopedic items for sleeping.

Many people suffer from osteochondrosis. There are many methods of treatment. But it is better to carry out prophylaxis in time than to be treated for a long time.