Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease in which the nucleus of the intervertebral disc is affected. On the other hand, the focus of the wound involves the tissues around the vessels and the nervous system in the process. This is the reason for the changes in the musculoskeletal system, in the bone and muscle tissues.
Young people often ignore the first symptoms of osteochondrosis, which occur en masse at the age of 25 and earlier. This often happens among students whose profession involves a sedentary lifestyle. For this reason, older people often turn to medical care when chronic osteochondrosis is already observed, the treatment of which can be difficult.
Dystrophic phenomena in the spine can have a pathological effect on internal organs. In medical practice, the relationship between the health of the internal organs and the spine has been confirmed.
Effective treatment of osteochondrosis
If the diagnosis of osteochondrosis was confirmed, it means that a long procedure for its treatment is ahead, despite the frivolous attitude towards this disease that exists in society.
The best treatment for osteochondrosis involves an integrated approach. The course consists of several stages, each of which aims to achieve a specific result.
The first phase
Feelings of pain are eliminated. Your doctor may suggest that you wear a device that supports your neck and back in the most physiologically correct position. Together, they are prescribing pain relievers and physiotherapy procedures, as well as traditional medicine methods, for example, acupuncture, which is confirmed in official sources and constitutes the range of services of medical health institutions approved by the Ministry of Health.
Second phase
The task is to restore the discs of the spine and prevent changes in the dystrophic nature.
Treatment includes diet adjustment, physical therapy, manual therapy, massage, acupuncture. This complex improves blood circulation to the intervertebral discs and surrounding tissues.
With symptoms of a neurological nature, a neurologist may perform novocaine blockade or use more serious medications to relieve muscle spasms. They may return after a while, but prolonged work on the joints and tendons restores their healthy functioning.
It should be noted that in the initial stage, treatment is possible without the use of medication. In the complex of therapeutic measures, it is enough to introduce exercise therapy, reduce heavy physical exertion, use applicators, physiotherapy procedures.
Drug therapy
Medications begin to be used as the disease progresses and when the patient has already started osteochondrosis of the spine. Medication treatment can affect not only the symptoms but also the causes of the disease and its consequences.
Medications allow you to choose the following tasks:
- pain syndrome relief;
- reduction of tissue inflammation and edema;
- strengthening biologically active processes and blood circulation in the affected areas;
- cartilage tissue restoration; return of motor activity to the joints;
- eliminating a depressive state from persistent pain and concerns about their health.
Drugs prescribed by a neurologist for osteochondrosis:
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Relieve tissue pain and swelling, can be used in the form of injections, oils and gels, tablets and capsules. Among them: diclofenac, meloxicam, ibuprofen, nimesulide, ketoprofen. Vasodilators (vasodilators). Vessels are capable of narrowing by chronic pain syndrome. To ensure normal tone, the doctor prescribes: pentoxifylline (to reduce tonevascular), thioctic acid, (for better healing). (muscle relaxants) and pain relievers. Treatment lasts longer without these medications. By providing a relaxing effect, joint mobility is increased, blood flow is normalized and pain processes disappear. Drugs from this group: baclofen, tetrazepam. Chondroprotectors (symptomatic drugs with delayed action). They contain easily soluble forms of collagen fibers that can relieve inflammation, slow down and reverse degenerative phenomena in cartilage and bone tissue. The effect of the drug occurs after prolonged use (at least 6 months). Among the drugs in this group: chondroitin, a bioactive concentrate of 4 species of marine fish, glucosamine, glucosamine + chondroitin, pentoxifylline, hyaluronic acid. Soothing (soothing). They relieve stress and depression on the background of illness. It has synthetic and natural origins. These include: mother tincture, valerian; antidepressants, maprotiline), hypnotics (antihistamines, barbiturates and benzodiazepines). Vitamin and mineral complexes. Preference is given to preparations containing vitamin "B", which is able to have a regenerative effect on the affected nerve areas and relieve pain.
Osteochondrosis and massage
Today, when choosing one of the methods for treating osteochondrosis with massage, doctors recommend listening to the prescriptions of the attending neurologist or therapist.
Any type of therapeutic massage is prescribed only in case of remission of the disease. If a deterioration has occurred, it is not recommended to use, so as not to aggravate the situation.
Among the types of massages used to treat osteochondrosis are:
- classic;
- self-massage;
- points;
- Thai;
- segmental reflex;
- vacuum;
- periostal.
The duration of the procedure is 20-45 minutes. This is enough to achieve a healing effect and the ability to feel relief already in the first sessions.
To achieve a permanent effect, the duration of the course is 10-15 procedures. This is followed by a break for a few months, after which the course of therapeutic massage is repeated again, and for as long as required at the discretion of the attending physician.
Third degree osteochondrosis, treatment
At this stage, the fibrous ring of connective tissue undergoes destruction. This, in turn, causes elongation and herniation of the intervertebral disc. In this case, the painful sensations are not expressed, but continue due to the possibility of pinching the roots of the nerve endings.
It can manifest as numbness of the extremities, loss of control over the functions of the pelvic organs, decreased muscle tone, impaired sense of coordination and balance. Really confirm the diagnosis of grade 3 osteochondrosis is possible only with the help of radiography, which will show defragmentation (appearance of cracks) and deformation of the spinal joints and the formation of osteophytes (bone protrusions).
During magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, hernias and herniated discs and tightening of nerve endings are evident, these complications often accompany stage 3.
Treatment of spinal osteochondrosis in patients at this stage does not always have a favorable prognosis. Most can not completely get rid of the manifestations of the disease.
The therapeutic effect is achieved in the complex therapy of conservative and surgical methods.
Conservative method
It consists of medication, massage treatment, exercise therapy, maintaining a healthy lifestyle (avoiding heavy lifting, sharp turns of the spine, giving up bad habits).
Treatment of injectable drugs
They perform novocaine blockade, joint facial blockade, epidural and paravertebral blockade, use corticosteroid medications (dexamethasone, prednisolone) to relieve inflammation.
When treated with injections, the active substance enters immediately into the paravertebral region, or directly into the vertebrae, which provides the fastest therapeutic effect.
Surgical method
It is often used due to the destruction and displacement of intervertebral discs and consists of the following operations:
- removal of the intervertebral disc, partially or completely;
- ligation (osteosynthesis) of adjacent vertebrae to protect the spinal cord.
Method of hirudotherapy
Multi-method medicine makes possible the impact on osteochondrosis. Treatment with caterpillars helps increase the activity of the joints, and the active substance (hirudin) in their saliva dilutes the blood, helps to restore and regenerate the affected tissues due to better absorption of nutrients, relieves swelling, pain, tightnessof nerves and enhances the effect of other conservative methods. The procedure is painless and in one session, which lasts 30-60 minutes, 5-7 individuals of a pharmacy, or medicinal caterpillars are used.
The course of treatment consists of 8-10 procedures with periods of 5 days between them.
Due to the fact that the vast majority of people have osteochondrosis of the spine of varying severity and the disease is underestimated in its consequences, it makes sense to contact the clinic as soon as possible for medical help from our generalists and do the treatment ofproper, preliminary diagnosis of the disease. . .