Many often 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 vertebral tissues, further deformation of the discs between the vertebrae, as well as adjacent ligaments of the spinal apparatus.
As a rule, pathology negatively affects ligaments first, then bones and other tissues. Patients go to the doctor already when they begin to feel regular pain.
Statistics show that osteochondrosis of the spine has from 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 onset 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 type ring. The initial stage is characterized by the development of symptoms within the vertebral disc. Signs of osteochondrosis are not pronounced. Treatment of osteochondrosis at this stage can be carried out with the help of exercise therapy and massage;
- at stage 2after a change in the height of the disc 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 vertebral region. This, in turn, can cause the process of displacement of the vertebrae;
- at stage 3signs of osteochondrosis become the most pronounced, since the patient may experience protrusion of the intervertebral discs or even prolapse. Also, due to changes in bones and muscles, 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 makes attempts to immobilize the spine as much as possible in order to preserve its protective, as well as musculoskeletal function. 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 the nerve endings. The result is their immuring.
Causes of the disease
Signs of osteochondrosis may occur due to such reasons:
- spinal 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 - relevant for several professions, for example, drivers of large trucks;
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of osteochondrosis may not appear immediately. The main symptoms include discomfort in the back, as well as pain. Symptoms of osteochondrosis most often appear when the patient exposes the body to great physical exertion. Also a symptom of the disease is a feeling of numbness in the limbs. When at least one of these signs appears, you need to pay attention to their nature and intensity - pain in the leg or arm can manifest itself in different ways. Additional signs of osteochondrosis are a herniated disc, as well as protrusion 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 region of the sternum;
- in the lumbosacral region.
Treatment of the disease
Treatment of osteochondrosis involves a combination of the following methods:
- therapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis or exercises;
- physiotherapy procedures (acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, electrical stimulation);
- diet for osteochondrosis;
- traction of the spine;
- massage for osteochondrosis.
Treatment of osteochondrosis should be started as early as possible, but even in the last stages there are great chances to overcome 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 carry out gymnastics daily to achieve the effect after a few 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 a quick recovery, but is also able to prevent the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease. You can do exercise therapy for osteochondrosis instead of morning exercises.
Charging with osteochondrosis should align the uneven column of the spine, strengthen the corset of the back muscles, improve metabolism and blood circulation in the tissues. Proper exercise in osteochondrosis improves the blood supply to the brain and helps to expand the gap between the vertebrae, which allows you to release previously pinched nerve endings. For a patient, doing exercises for osteochondrosis can take only a few minutes every day, but even this can lead to a noticeable decrease in the manifestations of the disease in a few weeks. And in the early stages, exercise with osteochondrosis is not at all the main treatment method.
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 maybe in the clinic on special simulators. It should be noted that with high-quality and proper exercise, 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. The diet for osteochondrosis provides for frequent eating (5-6 times a day). At the last meal of the day, you need to take a glass of fermented milk products.
The diet for osteochondrosis sharply limits the intake of legumes, grapes and products from it, muffins, spices, and various refined products. When the doctor draws up his nutrition plan for osteochondrosis for the patient, he will also include bakery products containing bran, fruits, vegetables and berries (in particular, sea buckthorn).
Nutrition in osteochondrosis performs a restorative function of the body, supplying cells with building material. It is important to remember that a diet for osteochondrosis (as, indeed, for the prevention of various other ailments) involves careful chewing of food. The process of eating food at the same time lasts at least 15 minutes. The more saliva and gastric juice are secreted, the greater the effect of a rational and balanced diet in osteochondrosis.
Treatment of osteochondrosis is also performed with the help of massage. Massage for osteochondrosis is performed when the patient does not feel pain when touched. Therapeutic massage for osteochondrosis reflexively affects painful areas by stimulating areas of the body that are not susceptible to disease. At the same time, massage for osteochondrosis should begin in a very gentle mode, so as not to cause discomfort in the form of muscle tension.
The technique according to which massage is performed for osteochondrosis suggests that the patient lies on his stomach in the most relaxed position during the session. The general goals pursued by massage for osteochondrosis are as follows:
- elimination of pain;
- improvement of metabolism in the zone of occurrence of the disease;
- muscle relaxation;
- suppression of inflammatory processes in the area of the intervertebral disc.
Also, disputes about how to cure osteochondrosis at home do 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 the symptoms of the disease, and then completely overcome it.