Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease in which the nucleus of the intervertebral disc is affected. In turn, the focus on the injury involves the surrounding tissues of the vessels and the nervous system in the process. This is the reason for the changes in the musculoskeletal system, bones and muscle tissues.
Young people often ignore the early symptoms of osteochondrosis, which occur en masse at the age of 25 and earlier. This is often the case among students whose employment involves a sedentary lifestyle, so older people often seek medical attention when chronic osteochondrosis is already present, which can be difficult to treat.
Dystrophic phenomena in the spine can have a pathological effect on internal organs. In medical practice, the relationship between the health of internal organs and the spine has been confirmed.
Effective treatment of osteochondrosis
If the diagnosis of osteochondrosis has been confirmed, this means that a long procedure is ahead for its treatment, 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 phases, each of which is aimed at achieving a specific result.
First stage
Pain sensations are eliminated. Your doctor may suggest wearing a device that supports your neck and back in the most physiologically correct position. Together, they prescribe painkillers and physiotherapeutic procedures, as well as methods of traditional medicine, for example, acupuncture, which is confirmed by official sources and constitutes the range of services of health medical 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 in the intervertebral discs and surrounding tissues.
With symptoms of a neurological nature, a neurologist may perform novocaine blockade or use more severe medications to relieve muscle spasms. They may return after a while, but prolonged work on the joints and tendons restores their healthy function.
It should be noted that at the initial stage, treatment is possible without the use of drugs. In the complex of therapeutic measures, it is enough to introduce physical therapy, reduce heavy physical exertion, use applicators, physiotherapy procedures.
Pharmacological therapy
Drugs begin to be used with the progression of the disease and when the patient has already started osteochondrosis of the back. Drug treatment can affect not only the symptoms, but also the causes of the disease and its consequences.
Drugs allow you to solve the following tasks:
- relief from pain syndrome;
- reduction of tissue inflammation and edema;
- strengthening of biologically active processes and blood circulation in the affected areas;
- restoration of cartilage tissue; return of motor activity to the joints;
- elimination of a depressive state from constant pain and worries about one's health.
Drugs prescribed by a neurologist for osteochondrosis:
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Relieves pain and swelling of tissues, can be used in the form of injections, ointments and gels, tablets and capsules. Among them: diclofenac, meloxicam, ibuprofen, nimesulide, ketoprofen Vasodilators (vasodilators). The vessels are capable of constricting from chronic pain syndrome. To ensure anormal tone, the doctor prescribes: pentoxifylline (to reduce vascular tone), thioptic acid (for better recovery). (muscle relaxants) and analgesics. Treatment takes longer without these drugs. Providing a relaxing effect, the mobility of the joints increases, the blood flow normalizes, and the pain processes disappear. Drugs of this group: baclofen, tetrazepam Chondroprotectors (delayed-acting symptomatic drugs). They contain easily digestible forms of collagen fibers that can relieve inflammation, slow down and reverse the degenerative phenomena of cartilage and bone tissues. The effect of drugs occurs after prolonged use (at least 6 months). Among the drugs of this group: chondroitin, a bioactive concentrate of 4 species of marine fish, glucosamine, glucosamine + chondroitin, pentoxifylline, hyaluronic acid Sedatives (sedatives). Relieves stress and depression against the background of the disease. There are synthetic and natural origin. These include: motherwort tincture, valerian; antidepressants, maprotiline), hypnotics (antihistamines, derivatives of barbiturates and benzodiazepines) Vitamin and mineral complexes. Preparations containing vitamin "B" are preferred, able to have a regenerating effect on the affected nervous 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 treating neurologist or therapist.
Any type of therapeutic massage is prescribed only in case of remission of the disease. If an exacerbation has occurred, it is not recommended to use it, so as not to aggravate the situation.
Among the types of massage used to treat osteochondrosis are:
- classic;
- self-massage;
- point;
- Thai;
- segmental reflex;
- empty;
- periosteal.
The duration of the procedure is 20-45 minutes. This is enough to obtain 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. A break of several months follows, after which the course of the therapeutic massage is repeated again and for the time necessary at the discretion of the treating doctor.
Third degree osteochondrosis, treatment
At this stage, the fibrous ring of the connective tissue undergoes destruction. This, in turn, causes protrusion and herniated intervertebral disc. In this case, painful sensations are not expressed, but persist due to the possibility of pinching the roots of the nerve endings.
It can manifest as numbness in the extremities, loss of control over the functions of the pelvic organs, decreased muscle tone, impaired sense of coordination and balance. Really confirming 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 joints of the spine and the formation of osteophytes (bone growths).
On MRI and computed tomography examination, hernias and displacements with sheath ruptures and pinching of nerve endings are visible, these complications often accompany stage 3.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine 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 drug treatment, massage, physical therapy, maintaining a healthy lifestyle (avoiding heavy lifting, tight bends of the spine, giving up bad habits).
Drug treatment by injection
They perform novocaine block, facet joint block, epidural and paravertebral block, use corticosteroid drugs (dexamethasone, prednisolone) to relieve inflammation.
During treatment with injections, the active substance immediately enters the paravertebral region or directly into the vertebra, which guarantees the fastest therapeutic effect.
Surgical method
It is often used due to the destruction and displacement of the intervertebral discs and consists of the following operations:
- removal of the intervertebral disc, partially or completely;
- connection (osteosynthesis) of adjacent vertebrae to protect the spinal cord.
Hirudotherapy method
Medicine with many methods allows to influence osteochondrosis. Treatment with leeches helps to increase the activity of the joints and the active ingredient (hirudin) in their saliva thins the blood, helps restore and regenerate the affected tissues thanks to a better absorption of nutrients, relieves swelling, pain, pinchingnerves and increases the effect of other conservative methods. The procedure is painless, and in one session, which lasts 30-60 minutes, 5-7 individuals of a drugstore or medicinal leech are used.
The course of treatment consists of 8-10 procedures with 5-day periods between them.
Due to the fact that the vast majority of people suffer from 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 assistance from our general practitioners and to conduct appropriate treatment, preliminary diagnosis of the disease. . .