Everyone has experienced back pain, many live with such pain all the time. In 2/3 of the cases, the cause of the back problem is osteochondrosis of the spine. In osteochondrosis, the bone, cartilaginous tissue of the spine is destroyed - cervical, thoracic, lumbar. As the risk of tissue wear increases with age, every other inhabitant of the planet over the age of 30 has signs of osteochondrosis.
Spinal diseases cause back injuries, constant stress during hard physical work. Genetic predisposition, intense training, improper diet, sedentary lifestyle play a role - most urban dwellers are at risk.
How to recognize osteochondrosis
In osteochondrosis, the symptoms are general, specific, characteristic of degenerative changes in the articular cartilage, discs, spine tissue.
Osteochondrosis will be manifested by constant painful back pain, numbness of the affected vertebrae, restricted movement, increased pain with sudden movements, lifting weights.
Specific signs of osteochondrosis:
- the cervical type leads to disturbances in blood circulation, causes headaches, tinnitus, "flies" in front of the eyes. There are problems with brain nutrition, which leads to constant stress;
- in osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, intercostal neuralgia develops, chest and rib pains appear;
- lumbar spine disease causes disease progression - lumbago, sciatica (sciatica), lumbar sciatica.
In sciatica, the sciatic nerve is affected. Symptoms include buttock pain, leaf hypotension, gluteal muscles.
Lumbago is recognized by sharp pain in the lower back caused by vertebral displacement, spinal disc prolapse.
In sciatica, lumbar pain occurs in the gluteal region, which is given to the back of the thigh, lower leg, foot, popliteal fossa.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
The clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis of the spine are different, sometimes you have to visit different doctors to understand the cause of the disease. The correct diagnosis will be made by a neurologist, orthopedist, in some private clinics - vertebrologist, vertebroneurologist, doctors who deal with spinal diseases.
The doctor will inform the primary diagnosis at the first examination, when they feel the patient's back. After X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, treatment was prescribed.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine aims to eliminate pain, prevent further tissue destruction, spinal deformities.
Vertebral osteochondrosis is a chronic disease, there are stages of exacerbation, remission. Treatment of spinal diseases during exacerbation includes resting in bed for 1-2 weeks, and in case of severe pain, painkillers are taken.
In cervical osteochondrosis, it is recommended to wear a special restraining collar during exacerbation. If the thoracic and lumbar regions are affected, a corset for the spine will help with exacerbations. Types of corsets:
- for the thoracic part - a bandage resembling a vest. Used to straighten the spine;
- for spinal fractures - plaster, extension corset;
- a rigid corset is worn after spinal surgery, injury. Helps support internal organs when muscles are weakened;
- a corset in the shape of a wide belt for the lumbar spine. Recommended for hernias, shifts.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine should be comprehensive: drug treatment, exercise therapy, manual therapy, diet - conservative treatment. Sometimes surgery.
Drug treatment
Your doctor will prescribe medication for osteochondrosis. Drug groups have different treatment goals.
In the early stages, anti-inflammatory drugs are taken. If the back pain lasts longer than 2 weeks, but shorter than 3 months, additional painkillers are taken. If the back pain is older than 3 months, antidepressants are added.
Medications, the dose is determined by the doctor, self-activity is destructive - medications have side effects.
Treatment with folk remedies
Treatment of the disease with folk remedies is carried out in addition to the main, does not replace the tablets. In osteochondrosis of the spine, home treatment methods will reduce pain, reduce inflammation.
Recipes:
- A teaspoon of dried burdock leaves in a glass of boiling water. The compress is placed on the sore spot, hold for 20-30 minutes. The sore spot is then wrapped in a warm scarf.
- Three teaspoons of crushed marshmallow root are poured over a glass of cold boiled water. Insist 8 hours, make compresses.
During the period of remission, infusions of medicinal herbs are taken orally - they provide prevention of exacerbations of osteochondrosis.
Manual therapeutic treatment
An effective means of conservative treatment of the disease is manual therapy of osteochondrosis of the spine. It is worth finding a highly qualified professional. A good chiropractor will alleviate the pain syndrome, eliminate muscle spasm and improve the mobility of the intervertebral joints. An insufficiently qualified therapist will cause irreparable damage to the spine.
In order for manual therapy to help with dystrophic changes, it is important to follow the rules. Before the massage it is worth warming up the tense muscles, smoothly stretch the muscles so that the patient does not feel pain. Then the muscle relaxes, after half a minute, with a deep breath, the patient stretches as much as possible until mild pain appears. The muscle is fixed in this state for half a minute and then relaxed. Due to the irritation of the nerve endings, a therapeutic effect occurs.
Exercise treatment
Exercises for the spine in osteochondrosis, among other methods, improve metabolism, mobility of the spine, strengthen muscles, restore damaged intervertebral discs.
Morning exercises for osteochondrosis of the spine include exercises:
For the cervical spine:
- keep your head and shoulders upright. Slowly turn your head all the way to the right, to the left;
- we throw our head back, with our right ear trying to reach our left shoulder. We repeat to the left.
For the chest:
- we sit on a chair, hands between our knees. When we inhale, we lean to the side, while we exhale, we straighten up. We repeat in the other direction;
- we sit on a chair with a low back so that the shoulder blades rest on it. Slowly bend back to see the back wall.
For the lumbar spine:
- We lie on our backs, bend our knees, press them to our chests. We swing back and forth - from back to sacrum, 1, 5-2 minutes. Let's stretch out, lie still.
Complex exercises for exercise therapy for osteochondrosis of the spine, treatment complexes should be found on the Internet, ask an orthopedist.