Recently, more and more people started suffering from osteochondrosis. With this disease, there is a disruption in the normal functioning of the intervertebral discs.
Recently, more and more young people, over the age of eighteen, began to suffer from back pain. First of all, the ligaments and bones of the spine begin to suffer. If osteochondrosis occurs, treatment should begin 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, while there are many provocative factors. Experts say this may be due to the fact that calcium deposition begins, which is not absorbed by bone tissue. This occurs when there are violations of blood circulation, curvature of the spine.
There are the following causes of osteochondrosis:
- physical hypertension;
- excess weight;
- heavy loads on the back;
- inheritance;
- frequent hypothermia;
- stressful situations;
- irregular foot shape;
- unbalanced diet;
- an inactive lifestyle.
The disease is more common in women than in men. Often, osteochondrosis of the back arises if a person sits incorrectly or sleeps on a very high pillow. Difficultly it is difficult to determine the pathology because 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 at first it will be difficult to find pathology. The patient does not complain that there are vivid symptoms, he may feel slight weakness, discomfort in the back. Indeed, in fact, such signs of chondrosis may speak of various diseases.
This pathology may not make itself felt and continue secretly. In fact, in the first degree, osteochondrosis is often found completely accidental during various examinations. With second degree osteochondrosis, you may notice that the spine has already started 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, then the intervertebral fissures will begin to become smaller, and the nerve or vessels will be compressed. Most often, the pain is removed to this degree with certain medications. The disease can cause discomfort and pain, the patient then has to go to see a doctor.
With osteochondrosis in the third stage, the development of lordosis, scoliosis begins and a lump forms. Complex therapy can only slightly improve the spine and remove some defects. It is imperative to know the causes of osteochondrosis. In the fourth degree, changes are already taking place that can not be corrected in any way. The patient can hardly walk, because even if you turn easily, unbearable pain occurs. He will have seals in the cartilage tissue and the vertebrae will be displaced.
At this stage of the disease, patients are likely to experience disability. A person needs to know how chondrosis differs from osteochondrosis. For this, it is necessary to take into account the features of pathologies. Chondrosis is the initial stage of osteochondrosis. It develops in different parts of the spine. At the same time, with significant violations, osteochondrosis has already been diagnosed.
Symptoms
The symptoms of chondrosis are extremely unpleasant, and first of all, there is discomfort in the spine. Everything will depend on the degree of the patient's disease.
First of all, the patient is sent for diagnosis in order to identify the causes of osteochondrosis. The patient may feel constant fatigue in the back, neck and chest pain. Symptoms will depend on how advanced osteochondrosis of the spine is.
Symptoms appear as follows:
- intense pain syndrome;
- muscle spasms;
- limbs may numb;
- severe headaches;
- can shoot in the back;
- fainting and frequent dizziness;
- eye drops;
- high blood pressure;
- unbearable neck pain.
If even small sensations of pain arise, this may indicate not only that there is osteochondrosis of the spine, but also for other diseases.
Already when a person is over forty, his intervertebral discs do not accumulate fluid. Therefore, they become not as flexible as they used to be. They tend to be more likely to flatten, or the intervertebral discs may extend beyond the back.
Painful sensations occur due to sneezing or coughing. If the symptoms of osteochondrosis do not go away even after a few weeks, then you should visit a medical institution. The doctor will then refer you first to 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 illness and you need to know which one can bother a person in a particular situation.
There are the following types:
Cervix.Such a disease can occur due to the fact that there was a strong load on the neck area. The thyroid gland is located nearby, and with osteochondrosis can not do its job normally. There is often pressure on the vessels that provide oxygen to the tissues. Because of this, there may be shortness of breath and cell death begins.
You should know that the brain depends almost entirely on the vessels. If blood flow is disturbed, then it can affect the respiratory and heart organs. With osteochondrosis, there are persistent headaches, impaired hearing and vision, frequent loss of consciousness. Difficulty moving the head, numbness and pain in the arms may occur. If such symptoms appear, it is necessary to urgently begin treatment of osteochondrosis.
breastSpecialist It is difficult for specialists to perform an examination of this disease. Most often, the doctor hardly manages to figure out if these are just painful attacks or heart attacks. With osteochondrosis of this type, there may be complications in the liver, kidneys, stomach, pancreas.
Most often, the pain occurs in the form of shootings in the back and chest. There are sharp and strong pain sensations with osteochondrosis, and a failure in the respiratory system occurs. There may also be constant discomfort in the back, and this leads to the fact that it is difficult to walk.
Mesit.Most often, it is this department that suffers, with osteochondrosis, strong back pain sensations appear, and can also go to the groin and buttocks. The pain subsides when the person lies down to rest. Discomfort can occur with sudden movements.
This pathology leads to poor blood circulation in the lower back, hardening occurs. The muscles start to weaken and the posture becomes bent, so it is difficult to move normally. The attending physician will tell you in detail how to deal with osteochondrosis.
If symptoms occur frequently, and the pain becomes stronger each time, then you should contact a medical institution. The specialist will be able to identify the types of osteochondrosis and prescribe a comprehensive examination and treatment.
Diagnosing
The doctor can make an accurate diagnosis of osteochondrosis after the patient undergoes a thorough examination. First of all, the patient should be examined by a neurologist. Diagnosis is performed when a person is lying down or sitting. The specialist looks at how it feels to move as well as in a prone position. A thorough behavioral examination can also be done, with the doctor examining the spine.
Determines the nature and intensity of pain, where exactly it bothers the patient. It also checks for muscle tension in the ridge area. After all, if a muscle spasm occurs, then it may indicate not only that there are signs of osteochondrosis, but also completely different diseases.
The following diagnoses are prescribed to detect the disease:
Radiography.With this procedure, you can see how high the intervertebral discs are. Vertebral disorders and whether there is bone growth. Diagnosis is made in two ways, when the patient is on his back and arm. The image in two positions helps to 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 finds the spinal osteochondrosis as well as the exact location of a hernia or crushed nerve.
c TThis examination makes it possible to view a high quality spinal image. The procedure is completely painless and brings no inconvenience to the patient.
If the diagnosis is placed correctly, it will help to start treating osteochondrosis as soon as possible. At the first symptoms, it is best to see a doctor right away. After all, if you ignore the disease, then it can lead to serious consequences.
treatment
To cure osteochondrosis, you should definitely consult your doctor. He will find the cause of the disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment. In severe cases, it is necessary to perform surgical intervention, as without it it is impossible to cure the disease in its advanced form.
Treatment of osteochondrosis includes the following: use of medication, manual treatment, remedial gymnastics, proper nutrition, massage.
It all depends on the stage in which the spinal osteochondrosis is. Therapy can last up to three months, and it also takes another year to consolidate the treatment outcome. Medical therapy or surgery is being performed. Most often, people who have discovered 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 can not hesitate with such an illness. He knows exactly how to treat osteochondrosis of the spine, and can also refer 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 thorough study, only then will the effective treatment of chondrosis be prescribed.
Medication treatment
Medications help relieve inflammation and restore the functioning of the musculoskeletal system. They also prevent osteochondrosis of the spine and reduce pain. With osteochondrosis, not only is medication treatment used, but you also need to follow a diet and do special exercises.
Drugs that help prevent disease and relieve pain:
- anti-inflammatory drugs: ibuprofen;
- antispasmodics: tizanidine;
- tablets that help improve blood circulation pentoxifylline, vitamin B;
- preparations for cartilage tissue regeneration;
- oils to eliminate symptoms: diclofenac;
Before using these medicines, you should consult your doctor. You never need to treat yourself, this can lead to serious consequences. Before your doctor prescribes treatment for osteochondrosis of the spine, you should undergo a thorough examination.
Manual treatment and massage
How to get rid of osteochondrosis using manual treatment? With its help, you can only remove the strong pain and improve behavior. Visceral therapy is often used. This makes it possible for the joints to work well and help to normalize blood flow. Immunity will also be strengthened and this will prevent the worsening of chronic diseases.
Many people think what to do with osteochondrosis, doctors recommend the inclusion of massage in the treatment. Helps relieve muscle spasms well and quickly strengthens them, and the patient will feel much better. The massage procedure is done for pain in the spine, as well as if there is atrophy of the back muscles. Massage is done to relieve pain.
A session for osteochondrosis has several types: classic, segmental-point reflex.
How to treat osteochondrosis with massage procedures. A regular massage is done yourself, it will help tone the muscles and relieve pain.
First you need to hit the spine with light movements. Then you need to start stretching the muscles of the neck, lower back, chest. You can grip these places and apply light pressure where it hurts the most. It is also better to make circular motions with your palms.
Preventive measures and diet
Can osteochondrosis be cured with proper nutrition? Diet helps relieve strain on the spine, and it is important to have an effective treatment for chondrosis. You need to choose a balanced diet and reduce your salt intake. It must have all the nutrients in the body in order to speed up healing. Diet helps to normalize metabolism, to prevent salt deposition in the spine. If there is a decrease in excess weight, then this will help speed up the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine.
Foods to eat: fermented milk and milk products, fruits, lean meats, rye bread, nuts, vegetables and herbs, buckwheat porridge, eggs, fish.
You should try to completely eliminate foods that contain sugar. Consumption of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products is prohibited. You should eat about five times a day. It is best to steam or cook food. Discard flour, spices, fats and salt. For the whole day, you should drink at least 1. 5 liters of clean water. It is advised not to consume strong tea and coffee. Now a person knows what osteochondrosis is and how to treat it.
If you adhere to the correct prevention, then you will not 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 on the computer and TV. If a person works and leads a sedentary lifestyle, you should exercise at least a few times a day.
Osteochondrosis, the symptoms are obvious. The disease can lead to discomfort and back pain. If the first signs of osteochondrosis appear, then you should see a doctor. It is not recommended to treat yourself, as this can lead to serious complications. The specialist will send you for examination, will be able to find the reasons and prescribe the correct and effective treatment.