Recently, more and more people are starting to suffer from osteochondrosis. With this disease, there is a disturbance in 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 of all, the ligaments and bones of the spine begin to suffer. If osteochondrosis occurs, treatment should be started immediately. It is recommended to know in advance what chondrocytes are.
Causes and stages of osteochondrosis
The main cause of osteochondrosis is not observed, while there are many factors that cause it. Experts say this may be due to the fact that calcium deposition begins, which is not absorbed by the bone tissue. This occurs when there is a violation of blood circulation, curvature of the spine.
There are the following causes of osteochondrosis:
- physical hypertension
- overweight?
- strong loads on the spine
- heredity;
- frequent hypothermia
- stressful situations
- irregular foot shape
- unbalanced diet
- an 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, because the disease can occur in people of any age. The causes of osteochondrosis are different and it is not so easy to identify them.
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 he has severe symptoms, he may feel slight weakness, discomfort in the spine. Indeed, such signs of chondrosis can speak of various diseases.
This pathology may not be felt and may proceed covertly. In fact, in the first degree, osteochondrosis is often detected by chance during various examinations. With second-degree osteochondrosis, you may notice that your back is already sore, which means that changes are taking place in the cartilage tissue.
If the patient does not consult a doctor and is not given effective treatment, then the intervertebral fissures will begin to become smaller and the nerve or blood vessels will sting. Most of the time, the pain goes away to this degree with some medication. The disease can bring discomfort and pain, the patient must then go to see a doctor.
With osteochondrosis in the third stage, the development of lordosis, scoliosis begins and a hollow is formed. Combination therapy can 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 slightly, unbearable pain appears. It will have seals in the cartilage tissues and the vertebrae will be displaced.
At this stage of the disease, patients are likely to develop a disability. A person needs to know how cartilage differs from osteochondrosis. For this, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of pathologies. Chondrosis is the initial stage of osteochondrosis. It grows in various 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 back. It will all depend on the patient's degree of illness.
First of all, the patient is sent for diagnosis in order to identify the causes of osteochondrosis. The patient may experience constant fatigue in the back, neck and chest pain. The symptoms will depend on how advanced the osteochondrosis of the spine is.
The symptoms appear as follows:
- severe pain syndrome
- muscle spasms?
- the extremities may go numb.
- severe headaches
- can shoot in the spine;
- frequent fainting and dizziness
- points in front of the eyes;
- high blood pressure?
- unbearable neck pain.
If even small sensations of pain occur, this may indicate not only that there is osteochondrosis of the back, but also for other diseases.
Even when a person is over forty, his intervertebral discs do not accumulate fluid. Therefore, they do not become as flexible as before. They tend to be more likely to straighten, 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 unit. The doctor will then refer to the diagnosis first. He will then be able to prescribe the right and effective treatment for osteochondrosis.
Types of osteochondrosis
Be aware 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 area. The thyroid gland is close by, and with osteochondrosis it cannot do its job normally. There is often pressure on the vessels that supply oxygen to the tissues. Because of this, there may be shortness of breath and cell death begins.
Be aware that the brain is almost entirely dependent on blood vessels. If blood flow is disturbed, then this can affect the respiratory and cardiac organs. With osteochondrosis, there are constant headaches, impaired hearing and vision, frequent loss of consciousness. Difficulty moving the head, numbness and pain in the hands may occur. If such symptoms occur, it is necessary to urgently begin treatment for osteochondrosis.
Bosom.It is difficult for specialists to examine this disease. Most of the time, the doctor fails to understand if these are just painful or heart attacks. With this type of osteochondrosis, there may be complications in the liver, kidneys, stomach, pancreas.
Most often, the pain occurs in the form of shots in the back and chest. There are intense and intense sensations of pain with osteochondrosis and a failure occurs in the respiratory system. There can also be constant discomfort in the spine, and this leads to the fact that it is difficult to walk.
Lumbar area.Most often, this part suffers, with osteochondrosis, intense sensations of back pain and can also go to the hips and buttocks. The pain subsides when the person lies down to rest. Discomfort can be caused by sudden movements.
This pathology leads to poor blood circulation in the lower back, stiffness occurs. The muscles begin to weaken and the posture bends, so it is difficult to move normally. Your doctor will tell you in detail how to treat osteochondrosis.
If the symptoms occur frequently and the pain becomes more severe, 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.
Diagnostics
The doctor can make an accurate diagnosis of osteochondrosis after the patient undergoes a complete examination. First of all, the patient must be examined by a neurologist. Diagnostics are performed when a person is lying down or sitting. The specialist examines how he feels in motion, as well as in a prone position. A thorough posture examination can also be done, with the doctor examining the spine.
It determines the nature and intensity of the pain, where exactly it bothers the patient. It also controls muscle tension in the ridge area. After all, if a muscle spasm occurs, it may indicate not only that there are signs of osteochondrosis, but also completely other diseases.
The following diagnostics are prescribed to detect the disease:
X-ray.With this procedure, you can see how high the intervertebral discs are. Vertebral disorders and if there is bone growth. The diagnosis is made in two ways, when the patient is on his back and side. The two-position image 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 detects osteochondrosis of the spine, as well as the exact location of a hernia or nerve sting.
CT.This test makes it possible to view a high quality image of the spine. The procedure is completely painless and does not cause discomfort to the patient.
If diagnosed correctly, it will help you 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, then it can lead to serious consequences.
Treatment
To treat osteochondrosis, you should definitely 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, since without it it is impossible to cure the disease in an advanced form.
Treatment of osteochondrosis includes the following: drug use, manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, proper nutrition, massage.
It all depends on the stage at which the osteochondrosis of the spine is. The treatment can last up to three months and it takes another year to consolidate the effect of the treatment. Medical treatment or surgery is performed. Most of the time, 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 turn to other doctors. The specialist will perform an external examination and will refer you to a neurologist. The doctor will prescribe the patient to undergo a complete study, only then will he prescribe effective treatment of the cartilage.
Drug treatment
Medications help relieve inflammation and restore musculoskeletal function. They also stop osteochondrosis of the spine and reduce pain. With osteochondrosis, not only is medication 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;
- anticonvulsants: tizanidine;
- tablets that help improve blood circulation pentoxyphylline, vitamin B.
- cartilage tissue regeneration preparations;
- ointments to eliminate the symptoms: diclofenac;
Before using these medicines, you should consult your doctor. You never need to self-medicate, this can lead to serious consequences. Before your doctor prescribes treatment for osteochondrosis of the spine, you must undergo a thorough examination.
Manual therapy and massage
How To Get Rid Of Osteochondrosis Using Manual Therapy? With its help, you can only remove severe pain and improve posture. Visceral therapy is often used. It enables the proper functioning of the joints and the normalization of blood flow. Immunity will also be strengthened, and this will prevent the worsening of chronic diseases.
Many people believe what to do with osteochondrosis, doctors recommend that massage be included in the treatment. It helps to relieve muscle spasms and strengthens them quickly 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. The massage is done to relieve pain.
An osteochondrosis session has several types: classic, segmental-reflex, point.
How to treat osteochondrosis with massage procedures. A regular massage done by yourself, will help you tone the muscles and remove the 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 pinch these parts and apply light pressure where it hurts the most. It is also best to make circular motions with your palms.
Precautionary measures and diet
Can osteochondrosis be cured with proper nutrition? The diet helps to remove the load on the spine and it is important that there was an effective treatment for the cartilage. You need to choose a balanced diet and reduce your salt intake. There must be all the nutrients in the body to speed recovery. The diet helps to normalize the metabolism, to prevent salt deposition in the spine. If there is a reduction in excess weight, then this will help speed up the treatment of osteochondrosis of the back.
Foods: fermented milk and milk products, fruits, lean meats, rye bread, nuts, vegetables, 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 better to steam or cook food. Discard the 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 a person knows what osteochondrosis is and how to treat it.
If you follow the right prevention, then you will not even need to learn how to deal with cartilage. First of all, try not to lift weights and do small physical activities.
Stop spending too much time on your 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 reasons and prescribe the correct and effective treatment.