Osteochondrosis of the spine: symptoms, treatment, prevention

Not everyone will say that he did not have to experience pain in the back. This extremely unpleasant problem overtakes everyone. It’s not scary if the pain is caused by hypothermia or stretched muscles. It is much worse if the pain is a symptom of a back disease. That's why I will consider the symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic, cervical and lumbar spine at home.

What is osteochondrosis of the spine

Osteochondrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic disease of the spine that affects the intervertebral discs. Without treatment, it extends to the bone structure and ligamentous apparatus.

The cartilaginous tissue underlying the intervertebral discs is slowly being restored. Therefore, disks affected by the disease are doomed to destruction. At the same time, it is almost impossible to reverse the disease. If the disease manifests itself, it is only possible to stop further development.

Osteochondrosis is believed to be humanity's fee for walking ability. As practice shows, four-legged animals do not suffer from the disease. It is difficult to say why the disease appears. Doctors say that the development is facilitated by the incorrect distribution of the level of load on the spine with a weak ligamentous apparatus and muscle corset.

This point of view is confirmed by the methods of treatment of osteochondrosis, which are based on bringing the ligaments and muscles to normal. Therapy involves muscle training.

Based on the facts related to the development of the disease, doctors compiled a list of causes and factors provoking the development of the disease.

• A sedentary and sedentary lifestyle, contributing to the weakening of the muscular corset of the back.
• Physical exercise.
• Back injuries.
• Overweight.
• Hereditary predisposition.
• Improper posture and prolonged being in an uncomfortable position.
• Impaired metabolism.
• Lack of vitamins, minerals and nutrients in the body.

I will draw your attention to the last point. Even if you lead a healthy lifestyle and choose an active vacation, the likelihood of osteochondrosis will remain high due to a deficiency of nutrients. The problem is key because not all people eat right. They prefer hot dogs and goodies, from which the body is not able to extract something useful. The problem is exacerbated by a sedentary lifestyle.

Video Description

We focus on the symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis at home, depending on which part of the spine is affected.

How to treat osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

Thoracic osteochondrosis causes huge damage to organs associated with the spinal cord located at the level of the affected thoracic region. Disturbed work of the spine adversely affects the mobility of the limbs and trunk, negatively affects the work of the respiratory muscles and pelvic organs.

Thoracic osteochondrosis is more common in people who move a little. As a result, the spine does not receive dosed loads, which disrupts the recovery process of disks. If you stoop or suffer from computer addiction, this contributes to the development of the disease. So do regular gymnastics.

Symptoms

1. Thoracic osteochondrosis is accompanied by burning and aching pains. There is a feeling that the chest is compressing. Feeling the processes of the vertebrae, a person experiences local pain, aggravated by turns of the body, deep breaths and axial loads on the spine.
2. In some people, the development of the disease is accompanied by pain in the shoulder blades and lower chest. The appearance of the symptom contributes to the displacement of the ribs. When the body turns, the pain intensifies.
3. As for the internal organs, functions are impaired by compression of the nerve roots. In the thoracic region are structures that are responsible for the innervation of the kidneys, heart, liver and other organs. For this reason, there are no characteristic symptoms of breast osteochondrosis.

Now we’ll talk about diagnostics. Of great importance in this matter is the X-ray examination. In the chest picture, a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs is easily recognized. This helps to detect osteophytes and sclerosis of the end plates.

Using computed tomography, the condition of the vertebrae is clarified, the size and localization of the hernial protrusion is determined, and the sizes of the spinal canal are established. As part of the differential diagnosis, an anamnesis is collected and the clinical signs of the disease are compared with the symptoms of the disease.

Treatment

• Treatment of breast osteochondrosis is conservative. The reason for the treatment are visceral syndromes with neurological disorders. Orthopedic treatment comes down to stretching the spine.
• Drug treatment involves the implementation of paravertebral blockades through a solution of novocaine. If the disease worsens, sedatives and analgesics are used. In the case of unexpressed pain, the patient uses anti-inflammatory drugs and ointments.
• After elimination of acute phenomena, the back and lower limbs are subjected to massage. Manual therapy is considered appropriate in the first three degrees of osteochondrosis. However, it provides a rough and soft effect on the spinal muscles.
• With the help of physiotherapy exercises at home, metered loads are placed on the spine, which accelerates the recovery process. Vertical loads are contraindicated. As part of the sanatorium phase, hydromassage and traction are used underwater. Ultrasound, inductothermy and salt baths help to achieve results.

Exercise video

Surgical treatment, involving surgical intervention, is carried out in cases where a fallen disc fragment compresses the spinal cord.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

The disease is characterized by degeneration of the intervertebral discs, accompanied by a decrease in height, rapid growth of the marginal osteophyte and the appearance of seals.

The cervical vertebrae are closely adjacent to each other, and the muscular frame is poorly developed. Therefore, muscle osteochondrosis, even with minor loads, becomes the cause of the displacement of the vertebral discs, which compress the nerves and blood vessels.

The cartilage tissue affected by the disease becomes a bone formation. As a result, the disk hardens, and its size decreases. The result - spinal discs lose their cushioning properties, which leads to pressure on the nerves and contributes to the appearance of pain.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

1. Headache and dizziness. The main symptom of the disease is a headache. This is due to the pressure that is exerted on the vessels of the head and cervical region. Pain syndrome brings discomfort and reduces performance. Dizziness appears with sharp turns of the head.
2. Pain in the chest and upper limbs. It has a pressing and burning character. In the upper extremities, pain is accompanied by numbness and tingling.
3. Numbness of the tongue. The symptom is due to the limited mobility of the tongue. Therefore, many people with osteochondrosis complain that the tonality of the vocal cords changes, as does speech.

Diagnosis of the disease is carried out by doctors, including an orthopedist and a neurosurgeon. Doctors examine the patient, carefully examining the vertebra in various positions. To determine the level of damage, a special scheme is used.

The localization and degree of pain is determined by feeling the spine. In this case, bending, bending and turning the body help to know the amplitude of movement. Further diagnostics include x-rays, computed tomography and MRI.

How to treat

• It is customary to treat the disease with conservative methods aimed at eliminating pain, restoring normal functioning of the spinal roots and preventing dystrophic changes in the spine.
• If conservative therapy is ineffective, surgical treatment is carried out on the basis of the indications, depending on the manifestation of the disease and the level of damage.
• Treatment depends on the severity of osteochondrosis. Most often, the initial stage of therapy is accompanied by increased pain in the neck, but subsequently it is stopped by medications, physiotherapeutic procedures and therapeutic massage.
• Gymnastics and exercises help to muffle pain. Exercise therapy strengthens the muscles of the neck, as a result of which the probability of relapse is reduced.
• Let me give you a simple exercise as an example. Gently turn the head to the side, freeze for a moment, make a turn in the opposite direction. When doing the exercise, look in front of you.
• Massage helps reduce discomfort. The procedure lengthens the spine and stretches the muscles. After the massage, be sure to lubricate the neck with special oil, which includes drugs that dull the pain.

This disease is not a sentence. With the help of medication, gymnastics and massage, you can improve your well-being.

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

The disease is common and it affects everyone regardless of gender. Everyone felt unpleasant pain in the legs, lower back and sacrum, which brings discomfort and discomfort.

The symptomatology of the disease is extremely extensive. Some symptoms are not related to the spine at all. This is numbness of the limbs, abdominal pain, impaired functioning of the genitourinary system.

Treatment of these symptoms without a preliminary check of the spine contributes to the development of the disease. For this reason, it is recommended to take into account all the symptoms, consult a specialist and forget about self-treatment. This is not a fight against the common cold. It is about the mobility of the body.

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the lumbar

1. The list of main signs of lumbar osteochondrosis is small. It includes: numbness of the extremities, leg pain, periodic pain in the lower back after a fall or physical exertion.
2. The symptoms that I have listed are often manifested to a small extent, while the disease progresses. Health should be treated as carefully as possible and, if necessary, consult a doctor.
3. Lumbar osteochondrosis requires a comprehensive, intensive and long-term treatment, especially when it comes to a neglected case, accompanied by intervertebral hernias.

Modern reflex methods allow effective therapy of lumbar osteochondrosis without complications and with great benefit. You just need to remember that quickly solving a serious problem is unrealistic, and only an individual approach will help to achieve the result.

Home treatment

The treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis at home is based on manual therapy, acupuncture and vacuum therapy. Procedures help restore blood circulation and eliminate stagnation in the spine. As a result, the process of tissue regeneration is accelerated.

The use of these procedures during the fight against osteochondrosis is combined with the use of drugs that improve the balance of intervention and metabolic processes. It is impossible to achieve the goal without an active lifestyle and proper nutrition.

Particular attention is paid to the fight against obesity, if there is a problem. Excess pounds load the spine and contribute to the development of the disease.

For many years of practice, doctors have accumulated decent experience in the fight against misfortune. As a result, in most cases, therapy provides an effect without surgical intervention and helps to improve the lower back.

How to prevent osteochondrosis?

In conclusion, I will share ways to prevent and prevent osteochondrosis. If you already have a disease, I do not recommend lifting weights weighing more than ten kilograms.

1. If you have to work hard, drink fluids before starting physical work. Even tea or coffee will do. A dehydrated organism cannot provide the intervertebral discs with enough water.
2. Periodically massage your back with simple movements. This technique will accelerate blood and speed up metabolic processes. If you are going to lift weights, use a weightlifter belt or belt.
3. Do not hold heavy things on your outstretched arm as the load on the spine increases. To raise an object, squat down and rise with it, holding the spine in a straight position.
4. If during work the spine received a load, at the end hang a little on the horizontal bar so that it stretches out. With prolonged work, use this technique periodically. If this is not possible, stretch yourself well.
5. Always distribute the load evenly. Carry bags in both hands, and large objects in front of you, holding close to the body. If you are going to transfer a little thing to another person, do not do this on outstretched arms. Even if you have a full kettle in your hand, I do not advise you to neglect this rule.
6. If you have to move the weight over a long distance, use a backpack, a small cart, a suitcase on wheels or a bag.

I hope that thanks to this information you will save your back and avoid trouble. Good luck

Watch the video: What are the symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease? (November 2024).