Very often they hear, but do not know exactly what osteochondrosis is. In fact, this disease is not so rare. This disease is characterized by dystrophic-degenerative lesions of the spinal tissues, additional deformation of the discs between the vertebrae, as well as the adjacent connections of the spinal apparatus.
As a rule, the pathology first affects the ligaments, then the bones and other tissues. Patients go to the doctor as soon as they start experiencing regular pain.
Statistics show that osteochondrosis of the spine is present in 50 to 90% of the world's population. Often the symptoms of osteochondrosis appear in people who have crossed the threshold of 30 years, but there is a risk of manifestations even in adolescents.
Stages of disease development
In medicine, there are several stages of the course of the disease:
- at stage 1dehydration of the nucleus pulposus is observed, which in turn leads to the appearance of deformations in the fibrous ring type. The initial stage is characterized by the development of symptoms in the spinal disc. The signs of osteochondrosis are not clearly expressed. The treatment of osteochondrosis at this stage can be carried out with the help of exercise therapy and massage;
- at stage 2after a change in disc height and after dehydration of the ligament, the muscles begin to converge. This causes them to sag. Signs of osteochondrosis also include excessive mobility in the spinal region. This, in turn, can trigger the process of displacement of the vertebrae;
- at stage 3the signs of osteochondrosis become most pronounced, as the patient may experience a protrusion of the intervertebral discs or even a prolapse. Also, due to changes in the bones and muscles, the joints begin to suffer, which causes the formation of arthrosis;
- at stage 4the patient's spine is already adapting to the changes that have occurred. The body tries to immobilize the spine as much as possible to keep it protective as well as the musculoskeletal system. At the same time, osteophytes begin to spread in the intervertebral discs - bone growths that form on nearby vertebrae. The resulting osteophytes can cause injury to nerve endings. The result is their bricking.
Causes of the disease
Signs of osteochondrosis can occur for the following reasons:
- spinal cord injury;
- predisposition to diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- natural aging process;
- the presence of constant physical overload;
- obesity;
- incorrect posture;
- the presence of constant vibration - suitable for several professions, for example, drivers of large trucks;
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of osteochondrosis may not appear immediately. The main symptoms include back discomfort as well as pain. The symptoms of osteochondrosis most often appear when the patient exposes the body to heavy physical loads. Also a symptom of the disease is a feeling of numbness in the limbs. When at least one of these signs appears, you should pay attention to their nature and intensity - pain in the leg or arm can manifest itself in different ways. Additional signs of osteochondrosis are disc herniation, as well as bulging or pinching of the nerve ending.
Osteochondrosis of the spine is of the following types depending on the location:
- in the cervical region;
- in the area of the sternum;
- in the lumbosacral region.
Treatment of the disease
Treatment of osteochondrosis includes a combination of the following methods:
- therapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis or exercises;
- physiotherapy procedures (acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, electrostimulation);
- diet for osteochondrosis;
- spinal traction;
- massage for osteochondrosis.
Treatment of osteochondrosis should begin as early as possible, but even in the last stages there are great chances of overcoming the disease.
Gymnastics for osteochondrosis is one of the most effective methods of preventing and stopping the manifestations of the disease. Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis includes such exercises that can strengthen the muscles of the back and the whole body. It is necessary to do gymnastics daily to achieve an effect after several sessions. Gymnastics for osteochondrosis includes popular exercises that are probably familiar to many, as they are used in the complex of morning exercises.
Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis not only contributes to rapid recovery, but is also able to prevent the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease. You can do exercises for osteochondrosis instead of morning exercises.
Charging with osteochondrosis should straighten the uneven column of the spine, strengthen the corset of the back muscles, improve metabolism and blood circulation in the tissues. Correct exercise in osteochondrosis improves blood supply to the brain and helps widen the gap between the vertebrae, which allows you to release previously compressed nerve endings. For a patient, performing exercises for osteochondrosis may take only a few minutes every day, but even this can lead to a noticeable reduction in the manifestations of the disease after a few weeks. And in the early stages, exercises with osteochondrosis are not the main method of treatment at all.
Another advantage of exercise therapy for osteochondrosis is that the complex is designed for people of all ages, as it takes into account the age characteristics and capabilities of the body. Exercises for osteochondrosis can be done at home or perhaps in the clinic on special simulators. It should be noted that with high-quality and correct exercises, the treatment of osteochondrosis at home brings the same effective results as performing therapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis in the clinic.
Nutrition for osteochondrosis should include lean meat, dairy products, vegetables and fruits. Diet for osteochondrosis includes frequent meals (5-6 times a day). At the last meal of the day, you should take a glass of fermented milk products.
The diet for osteochondrosis sharply limits the intake of legumes, grapes and its products, buns, spices and various refined products. When the doctor prepares his nutritional plan for osteochondrosis for the patient, he will also include bread products containing bran, fruits, vegetables and berries (especially sea buckthorn).
Nutrition in osteochondrosis performs a restorative function of the body, supplying the cells with building material. It is important to remember that the diet for osteochondrosis (as well as for the prevention of various other diseases) includes careful chewing of food. The process of simultaneous food intake lasts at least 15 minutes. The more saliva and gastric juice are released, the greater the effect of rational and balanced nutrition in osteochondrosis.
The treatment of osteochondrosis is also carried out with the help of massage. Massage for osteochondrosis is performed when the patient does not feel pain when touched. Therapeutic massage for osteochondrosis has a reflex effect on painful areas, stimulating areas of the body that are not susceptible to disease. At the same time, massage for osteochondrosis should be started in a very gentle mode so as not to cause discomfort in the form of muscle tension.
The technique according to which massage for osteochondrosis is performed assumes that the patient lies on his stomach in the most relaxed position during the session. The general goals pursued by massage for osteochondrosis are the following:
- eliminate pain;
- improvement of metabolism in the area where the disease occurs;
- muscle relaxation;
- suppression of inflammatory processes in the area of the intervertebral disc.
In addition, the debate about how to treat osteochondrosis at home does not subside. There are many alternative methods, but their use must be agreed with the attending physician. Now all doctors unanimously say that massage and exercises for osteochondrosis are the right ways to first reduce all symptoms of the disease, and then completely overcome it.