Recently, more and more people have suffered from osteochondrosis. This disease disrupts the normal function of the intervertebral discs.
Recently, more and more young people over the age of eighteen have suffered from spinal pain. Initially, the ligaments and bones of the spine begin to suffer. If osteochondrosis occurs, treatment should be started immediately. It is recommended to find out what chondrosis is for the time being.
Causes and stages of osteochondrosis
The main cause of osteochondrosis is not observed, although there are many provoking factors. Experts say this may be due to the fact that the deposition of calcium begins, which is not absorbed by the bone tissue. This occurs when there is a violation of blood circulation and the curvature of the spine.
The causes of osteochondrosis are as follows:
- physical overvoltage;
- Obesity;
- strong loads on the spine;
- Inheritance;
- frequent hypothermia;
- stressful situations;
- irregular foot shape;
- unbalanced diet;
- an inactive lifestyle.
The disease is more common in women than men. Often times, osteochondrosis of the back occurs when a person sits incorrectly or sleeps on a very high pillow. It is difficult to determine the pathology, since the disease can appear in people at any age. The causes of osteochondrosis are different and not that easy to identify.
There are degrees of osteochondrosis, and it is worth noting that at first it will be difficult to find any pathology. The patient does not complain of vivid symptoms, he can feel slight weakness and discomfort in the spine. In fact, such signs of chondrosis can speak of various diseases.
This pathology may not be noticeable and does not go in secret. In fact, osteochondrosis in the first degree is often discovered completely by chance in various examinations. With second degree osteochondrosis, you may find that the 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 is not offered effective treatment, the intervertebral spaces become smaller and the nerve or vessels become pinched. Most often, pain is relieved to this extent with certain medications. The disease can cause discomfort and pain, in which case the patient must see a doctor.
With osteochondrosis in the third stage, lordosis, scoliosis begins to develop, and a hump is formed. Complex therapy can only slightly improve the spine and eliminate some defects. It is important to understand the causes of osteochondrosis. In the fourth degree, changes are already taking place that cannot be corrected in any way. The patient can barely walk, because even if you turn slightly, there is excruciating pain. He'll have seals in the cartilage and the vertebrae will shift.
With this level of disease, patients are likely to have a disability. A person should know how chondrosis is different from osteochondrosis. To do this, 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, if there are significant violations, osteochondrosis is already diagnosed.
Symptoms
The symptoms of chondrosis are extremely uncomfortable and, most importantly, there is back pain. It all depends on the patient's degree of illness.
First of all, the patient is sent for diagnosis to identify the causes of osteochondrosis. The patient may constantly feel tiredness in the back, pain in the neck and chest. Symptoms depend on how far the osteochondrosis of the spine has progressed.
The symptoms appear as follows:
- intense pain syndrome;
- Muscle cramps;
- Limbs can become numb;
- strong headache;
- can shoot into the spine;
- frequent fainting and dizziness;
- shows in front of the eyes;
- high blood pressure;
- unbearable neck pain.
If there is even a slight sensation of pain, it may indicate not only osteochondrosis of the back, but also other diseases.
Even when a person is over forty years of age, their intervertebral discs do not collect fluid. As a result, they are no longer as flexible as they were before. They are more likely to flatten out, or the intervertebral discs may extend past the spine.
Painful sensations occur through sneezing or coughing. If symptoms of osteochondrosis do not go away even after a few weeks, you need to see a medical facility. Then the doctor will first refer to the diagnosis. Then he can 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 the disease and you need to know which ones can bother a person in a given situation.
There are the following types:
Cervix.Such a disease can appear due to the fact that there has been a heavy load on the neck area. The thyroid gland is nearby and cannot do its job normally in osteochondrosis. Often there is pressure on the vessels that supply the tissues with oxygen. Because of this, there may be a lack of air and cell death begins.
You need to know that the brain depends almost entirely on the vessels. If the blood flow is disturbed, it can affect the respiratory and heart organs. With osteochondrosis, constant headaches, hearing and vision disorders, and frequent loss of consciousness occur. Difficulty moving your head, numbness, and pain in your arms may occur. When such symptoms appear, treatment for osteochondrosis must be started urgently.
Chest.It is difficult for specialists to conduct an examination of this disease. Most of the time, the doctor hardly understands whether it is just a painful one or a heart attack. With osteochondrosis of this type, complications of the liver, kidneys, stomach, and pancreas can occur.
The most common pain occurs in the form of blows to the back and chest. There are sharp and strong pain sensations in osteochondrosis, and there is a failure of the airways. There can also be constant discomfort in the spine, which makes walking difficult.
Lumbar spine.Most often it is this department that suffers from osteochondrosis, strong pain sensations occur in the back and can also get into the hips and buttocks. The pain subsides when the person lies down to rest. Sudden movements can cause discomfort.
This pathology leads to poor blood circulation in the lower back, stiffness develops. The muscles begin to weaken and the posture becomes flexed, making it difficult to move normally. The attending physician will explain in detail how to deal with osteochondrosis.
If symptoms are frequent and the pain gets worse each time, you need to contact a medical facility. The specialist can identify the types of osteochondrosis and prescribe a comprehensive examination and treatment.
diagnosis
The doctor can make an accurate diagnosis of osteochondrosis after a full examination. First of all, the patient must be examined by a neurologist. Diagnosis is done when a person is lying or sitting. The specialist examines how he feels when moving and in the prone position. A thorough posture exam may also be done, with the doctor examining the spine.
Determines the type and intensity of the pain exactly where it bothers the patient. It also checks for muscle tension in the crest area. After all, if a muscle spasm occurs, it may indicate not only signs of osteochondrosis, but also completely different diseases.
The following diagnoses are prescribed to help identify the disease:
Radiography.With this procedure, you can see how tall the intervertebral discs are. Disturbances in the vertebrae and whether there is bone growth. Diagnosis is made in two ways when the patient lies on his back and on his side. The image in two positions will help 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. An MRI scan will find osteochondrosis of the spine, as well as the exact location of a hernia or pinched nerve.
CT.This examination makes it possible to see a high quality picture of the spine. The procedure is completely painless and does not cause the patient any discomfort.
If the diagnosis is made correctly, it is helpful to start treatment for osteochondrosis as soon as possible. At the first symptoms, it is best to see a doctor right away. If you ignore the disease, the consequences can be serious.
treatment
To cure osteochondrosis, it is imperative to consult a doctor. He will find the cause of the disease and prescribe the correct treatment. In severe cases, surgical intervention is necessary, since without it it is impossible to cure the disease in its advanced form.
Treatment of osteochondrosis includes the following: the use of drugs, manual treatment, remedial gymnastics, proper nutrition, massage.
It all depends on the stage in which the osteochondrosis of the spine is. Therapy can last up to three months, and it also takes another year to consolidate the result of treatment. Medical therapy or surgery is performed. Most of the time, people who have discovered symptoms of osteochondrosis do not know which doctor to see.
A good option would be to see a therapist first, because with such a disease you cannot hesitate. He knows exactly how to treat osteochondrosis of the spine and can turn to other doctors. The specialist will conduct an external examination and refer you to a neurologist. The doctor will prescribe a full examination for the patient. Only then is an effective treatment for chondrosis prescribed.
Drug treatment
Medicines reduce inflammation and restore the function of the musculoskeletal system. They also stop osteochondrosis of the spine and relieve pain. For osteochondrosis, not only drug treatment is used, but you also need to follow a diet and do special exercises.
Medicines that prevent disease and relieve pain:
- anti-inflammatory drugs: ibuprofen;
- anticonvulsants: tizanidine;
- Tablets to improve blood circulation pentoxifylline, vitamin B;
- Preparations for the regeneration of cartilage tissue;
- Ointments to get rid of symptoms: diclofenac;
Before using these medicines, you should consult your doctor. You never need to self-medicate, it can have serious consequences. Before the doctor prescribes treatment for osteochondrosis of the spine, it is necessary to undergo a full examination.
Manual treatment and massage
How to get rid of osteochondrosis with manual treatment? With its help, you can only get rid of severe pain and improve posture. Visceral therapy is often used. It makes it possible to train the joints well and normalize blood circulation. Immunity will also be strengthened, and this will prevent chronic diseases from exacerbating.
Many people are thinking about what to do with osteochondrosis. Doctors recommend incorporating massage into treatment. It helps relieve muscle spasms well and strengthens them quickly, and the patient will feel much better. The massage procedure is carried out for pain in the spine, as well as atrophy of the back muscles. The massage is done to relieve pain.
A session for osteochondrosis has several types: classic, segmental reflex, point.
How to treat osteochondrosis with massage procedures. Regular massage is done on your own to tone the muscles and eliminate pain.
First you need to caress the spine with light movements. Then you need to start stretching the muscles of the neck, lower back and chest. You can pinch these areas and apply light pressure where it hurts the most. It's also best to use circular motions with your palms.
Preventive measures and diet
Can Osteochondrosis Be Cured With Proper Diet? Diet helps relieve stress on the spine and it is important that there was an effective treatment for chondrosis. You need to choose a balanced diet and reduce salt intake. All of the nutrients must be present in the body to speed recovery. The diet helps normalize metabolism and prevent salt build-up in the spine. As the excess weight decreases, it accelerates the treatment of osteochondrosis of the back.
Food: fermented dairy products and milk, fruits, lean meat, rye bread, nuts, vegetables and herbs, buckwheat porridge, eggs, fish.
You have to try to completely eliminate sugary foods. It is forbidden to consume alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. You need to eat about five times a day. It is best to steam or bake food. Refuse flour, spicy, fatty and salty. For the whole day you need to drink at least 1. 5 liters of clean water. It is advisable not to consume strong tea and coffee. Now a person knows what osteochondrosis is and how to treat it.
If you adhere to proper prevention, you don't even need to know how to treat chondrosis. First, try not to lift weights and do small physical activities.
Stop spending a lot of time on your computer and television. If a person works and leads a sedentary lifestyle, you need to do exercises at least several times a day.
Osteochondrosis, the symptoms are obvious. The disease can cause back discomfort and pain. When the first signs of osteochondrosis appear, you need to consult a doctor. Self-medication is not recommended as it can lead to serious complications. The specialist will send you for an examination, will be able to find the reasons and prescribe the correct and effective treatment.