Recently, more and more people have started to suffer from osteochondrosis. In this disease there is a violation of the normal functioning of the intervertebral discs.
Recently, more and more young people over the age of eighteen have begun to suffer from back pain. First, the ligaments and bones of the spine begin to suffer. If osteochondrosis occurs, treatment should be started immediately. It is recommended to find out in advance what chondrosis is.
Causes and stages of osteochondrosis
The main cause of osteochondrosis is not observed, as long as there are many provoking factors. Experts say this may be due to the fact that calcium begins to be deposited, which is not absorbed by the bone tissue. This happens when there is a circulatory disorder, curvature of the spine.
There are the following causes of osteochondrosis:
- physical strain;
- Overweight;
- 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. Osteochondrosis of the back often occurs if a person sits incorrectly or sleeps on a very high pillow. It is difficult to determine the pathology, as the disease can occur in people of 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 in the beginning it will be difficult to find pathology. The patient does not complain that there are bright symptoms, may feel slight weakness, discomfort in the spine. In fact, such signs of chondrosis can indicate various diseases.
This pathology may not be felt and may be secret. In fact, in the first degree, osteochondrosis is often discovered completely by accident during various studies. With second-degree osteochondrosis, you may notice that your back is already starting to hurt, which means that there are changes in the cartilage tissue.
If the patient does not consult a doctor and is not provided with effective treatment, then the intervertebral fissures will begin to become smaller and the nerves or vessels will be compressed. Most often the pain is eliminated to this degree with certain medications. The disease can bring discomfort and pain, then the patient must go to the doctor.
With osteochondrosis in the third stage begins the development of lordosis, scoliosis and a hump is formed. Complex therapy can only slightly improve the spine and eliminate some defects. It is imperative to know the causes of osteochondrosis. In the fourth degree, changes are already taking place that cannot be corrected in any way. The patient has difficulty walking because even if you turn slightly, unbearable pain occurs. It will have seals in the cartilage tissue and the vertebrae will be displaced.
At this stage of the disease, patients are likely to suffer. One must know how chondrosis differs from osteochondrosis. For this it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the pathologies. Chondrosis is the initial stage of osteochondrosis. It develops in different parts of the spine. At the same time, osteochondrosis is already diagnosed with significant disorders.
Symptoms
The symptoms of chondrosis are extremely unpleasant and in the first place there is discomfort in the back. It will all depend on the degree of the patient's disease.
First, the patient is sent for diagnosis to identify the causes of osteochondrosis. The patient may constantly experience fatigue in the back, neck and chest pain. Symptoms will depend on how advanced the osteochondrosis of the spine is.
The symptoms appear as follows:
- severe pain syndrome;
- muscle spasms;
- limbs may tingle;
- strong headache;
- can shoot in the spine;
- frequent seizures and dizziness;
- points in front of the eyes;
- high blood pressure;
- unbearable neck pain.
If even minor pain occurs, it may mean not only that there is osteochondrosis of the back, but also other diseases.
Even when a person is over forty, his intervertebral discs do not accumulate fluid. Therefore, they become less flexible than before. They tend to flatten out, or the intervertebral discs may extend 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 should visit a medical facility. Then the doctor will focus primarily on the diagnosis. He will then be able to prescribe the correct and effective treatment for osteochondrosis.
Types of osteochondrosis
You should know that there are different types of osteochondrosis. It all depends on where exactly the pathology occurs. There are three types of disease and you need to know who 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 was a strong load in the neck. The thyroid gland is nearby and with osteochondrosis it cannot do its job normally. There is often pressure on the vessels that supply oxygen to the tissues. As a result, there may be shortness of breath and cell death begins.
You should know that the brain is almost entirely dependent on blood vessels. If blood flow is impaired, it can affect the respiratory and cardiac organs. In osteochondrosis there is a constant headache, impaired hearing and vision, frequent loss of consciousness. Difficulty moving the head, tingling and pain in the hands may occur. If such symptoms occur, it is urgent to begin treatment for osteochondrosis.
Chest.It is difficult for specialists to conduct research on this disease. Most often, the doctor can barely figure out whether these are just painful attacks or heart attacks. In osteochondrosis of this type there may be complications in the liver, kidneys, stomach, pancreas.
Most often the pain appears in the form of shots in the back and chest. There are sharp and strong pain sensations in osteochondrosis and failure of the respiratory system. It is also possible to have constant discomfort in the spine and this leads to the fact that it is difficult to walk.
Lumbar.Most often this department suffers, with osteochondrosis there are strong pain sensations in the back and can also go to the thighs and buttocks. The pain subsides when a 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 the symptoms occur frequently and the pain gets worse each time, then 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, the patient must be examined by a neurologist. Diagnosis is performed when a person is lying or sitting. The specialist sees how he feels on the move, as well as in a supine position. An in-depth examination of the posture can also be done, with the doctor examining the spine.
Determines the nature and intensity of pain, where exactly it bothers the patient. He also checks for muscle tension in the ridge area. After all, if a muscle spasm occurs, it may mean not only that there are signs of osteochondrosis, but also completely different diseases.
The following diagnosis is prescribed to detect the disease:
Radiography.With this procedure you can see how high the intervertebral discs are. Disorders of the vertebrae and whether there are bone growths. Diagnosis is made 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.With the help of this study you can see the vessels and nerve endings. Magnetic resonance imaging reveals osteochondrosis of the spine, as well as the exact location of the hernia or pinched nerve.
CT.This examination makes it possible to see a high-quality image of the spine. The procedure is completely painless and does not cause discomfort to the patient.
If the diagnosis is made correctly, it will help start treatment for osteochondrosis as soon as possible. At the first symptoms, it is best to see a doctor immediately. After all, if you ignore the disease, it can lead to serious consequences.
Treatment
To cure osteochondrosis, you must consult a doctor. He will find the cause of the disease and prescribe the right treatment. In severe cases, it is necessary to perform surgery, because without it it is impossible to cure the disease in an advanced form.
Treatment of osteochondrosis includes the following: use of drugs, manual treatment, therapeutic gymnastics, proper nutrition, massage.
It all depends on the stage of spinal osteochondrosis. Therapy can last up to three months and takes another year to consolidate the results of the treatment. Medical therapy or surgery is performed. Most often, people who have found symptoms of osteochondrosis 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 a disease. He knows exactly how to treat osteochondrosis of the spine and 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 full examination, only then will effective treatment of chondrosis be prescribed.
Medication treatment
The drugs help to relieve inflammation and restore the functioning of the musculoskeletal system. They also stop osteochondrosis of the spine and reduce pain. In osteochondrosis, not only medication is used, but you also need to follow a diet and do special exercises.
Medicines that help prevent disease and relieve pain:
- anti-inflammatory drugs: ibuprofen;
- antispasmodics: tizanidine;
- tablets that help improve blood circulation pentoxifylline, vitamin B;
- cartilage regeneration preparations;
- ointments to relieve symptoms: diclofenac;
You should consult your doctor before using these medicines. It is never necessary to self-medicate, this can lead to serious consequences. Before a doctor prescribes treatment for osteochondrosis of the spine, you must undergo a complete examination.
Manual treatment and massage
How to get rid of osteochondrosis with the help of manual treatment? With its help you can eliminate only severe pain and improve posture. Visceral therapy is often used. This allows for good joint function and helps to normalize blood flow. Immunity will also be strengthened and this will prevent the exacerbation of chronic diseases.
Many people think what to do with osteochondrosis, doctors recommend to include massage in the treatment. Helps relieve muscle spasms and quickly strengthens them, 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. The massage is done to relieve pain.
The session for osteochondrosis has several types: classic, segmental-reflex, point.
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 these areas and apply light pressure where it hurts the most. It is best to make circular movements with your palms.
Preventive measures and diet
Can osteochondrosis be cured with proper nutrition? Diet helps to eliminate the strain on the spine and it is important that there has been an effective treatment for chondrosis. You need to choose a balanced diet and reduce salt intake. The body must have all the nutrients to speed up recovery. The diet helps to normalize metabolism, prevent salt deposition in the spine. If there is a reduction in overweight, it will help speed up the treatment of osteochondrosis of the back.
Foods for consumption: fermented dairy products and milk, fruits, lean meat, rye bread, nuts, vegetables and herbs, buckwheat porridge, eggs, fish.
You should try to completely eliminate foods that contain sugar. The consumption of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products is prohibited. 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 should drink at least 1. 5 liters of clean water. It is recommended not to consume strong tea and coffee. Now one knows what osteochondrosis is and how to treat it.
If you stick to proper prevention, then you won't even need to know how to treat chondrosis. First of all, try not to lift weights and do small physical activities.
Stop spending a lot of time in front of the computer and TV. If a person works and leads a sedentary lifestyle, you should exercise at least several times a day.
Osteochondrosis, the symptoms are obvious. The disease can lead to back discomfort and pain. If the first signs of osteochondrosis appear, then you should see a doctor. Self-medication is not recommended as this can lead to serious complications. The specialist will send you for an examination, will be able to find the causes and prescribe the correct and effective treatment.