Many patients ask the question: "is it possible to completely cure osteochondrosis? ". In fact, this is almost impossible if the disease has reached a serious stage. With this diagnosis, the intervertebral disc gradually begins to deform and can no longer withstand the load and eventually completely disintegrates, where the only way out is prosthetics. Thus, whether osteochondrosis is treated depends on the degree of the disease, in the initial stage of which a person can still be saved. So, how is the treatment of osteochondrosis - we will talk about it.
Features of the disease
To understand what osteochondrosis is and how to treat it, you must first understand what the spine itself is. It is the base of the skeleton where all the vertebrae are connected to each other but remain mobile due to the presence of intervertebral discs. If osteochondrosis is not treated, they gradually begin to break down, which leads to friction between the bones, limited mobility and disability. To find out if it is possible to cure osteochondrosis, you must first neutralize the causes of the diagnosis.
To date, the causes of the appearance have not been precisely identified, but experts note why the disease can begin and progress:
- injury;
- hereditary factor;
- curvature of the spine, foot and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- obesity, which increases the load on the spine;
- age;
- passive lifestyle;
- professional sport without the necessary attention to safety;
- psychological factor, stress and nerves.
In order to begin effective treatment, it is imperative to neutralize the causes. Start leading a healthy lifestyle and try to get rid of excess weight by strengthening the muscles of the spine with the help of back exercises.
Symptoms of the disease
In the treatment of the disease, first of all, a thorough examination is carried out, they are sent for X-ray and nuclear magnetic resonance to know exactly the condition of the spine. After all, the symptoms and treatment of the disease can be different depending on the stage of diagnosis:
- In the first stage, there are usually no symptoms. There may be slight discomfort during movement. The intervertebral disc is only slightly displaced to the side.
- Osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree already manifests itself in the patient in the form of back pain. Disc bulging begins. In addition to pain, the patient constantly experiences fatigue. Conservative methods are sufficient for treatment.
- The third degree is a ruptured disc. This process is now considered irreversible and it is impossible to completely cure the disease. There is often a hernia. The deformed disc presses on the nerves and blood vessels, which, depending on the location, can cause headaches, discomfort in the limbs, and internal organs suffer.
- In the final stage, the intervertebral disc is already destroyed and the destruction of blood vessels and the spinal cord continues. The patient is diagnosed with a disability, there is a severe limitation of movement.
How is the treatment carried out?
Many do not even know which doctor treats osteochondrosis of the spine and determines the effective methods for each specific case. This is a vertebrologist who studies in detail the spine and the musculoskeletal system as a whole, deals with all the diagnoses related to it. Now everyone knows who treats osteochondrosis. In addition, this specialist correctly selects the treatment and highlights possible contraindications for diagnosing osteochondrosis:
- This is primarily the use of certain foods, especially if you are overweight. Diets must be followed strictly. Therefore, if you want to know how to get rid of osteochondrosis, proper nutrition is your best medicine.
- The second point is the load. It is not necessary to provide complete rest in the initial stages. However, in order to determine how to cure osteochondrosis, it is necessary to identify its stage and prescribe specific exercises. Professional sports are a clear contraindication.
After patients have decided which doctor to turn to for osteochondrosis, they should visit this specialist as soon as possible. After a complete examination, he prescribes treatment: either conservative methods or surgical intervention.
Conservative methods
There are many options for what to do with osteochondrosis. Modern techniques include various back procedures, surgeries, and medications. Depending on the duration of the disease and what symptoms there are, help for osteochondrosis is selected. In the first two stages, conservative treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine, which includes:
- Medicines can be tablets, injections or droppers for osteochondrosis.
- Physiotherapy courses. In particular the Bernard currents.
- Strict adherence to diet.
- Certain physical therapy.
The composition of the dropper includes anti-inflammatory pain relievers. They also take muscle relaxants, which relax the muscles and help them deal with overexertion. In addition, do not forget to include chondroprotectors, which can stop the destruction of cartilage tissue. Courses of these drugs provide effective treatment of osteochondrosis of the back. Help begins with the removal of pain, and only after the removal of the acute syndrome, the main treatment begins.
The second point that must be clarified in order to understand how to treat osteochondrosis of the back is the causes of the appearance of the disease. It is important to neutralize them by starting to lead a healthy lifestyle (proper nutrition, diet), choosing vitamins for general strengthening of the body. Physiotherapy also helps tissue repair faster, promotes normal blood circulation and healing. It works great in combination with physical therapy exercises that strengthen the back muscles. Most often, Bernard currents are used, which give excellent results.
Unfortunately, conservative advice for the treatment of osteochondrosis helps only in the first two stages of the disease.
Surgically
Surgery helps to deal with any serious diagnoses. Even if one vertebra has grown with another, the disc is severely deformed or herniated. Modern medical experience and the latest technologies help to cure even the most difficult situations. Two types of operations are used to treat osteochondrosis:
- Hernia removal. This is a fairly simple intervention. An incision of no more than a centimeter is made. The patient can already move independently on the second day and recovers quickly.
- Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis at the last stage consists only in the complete removal of the intervertebral disc. In its place, a new special prosthesis is installed, which provides separation and softening of the vertebrae.
Patients should not be afraid of this technique. Thanks to the operation, the flexibility and mobility of the spine is often returned. Modern silicone prostheses easily cope with the load on the musculoskeletal system. This is a relatively new technique for the treatment of osteochondrosis, but there are practically no contraindications and a long recovery period.
Complex treatment
Comprehensive treatment of osteochondrosis includes several procedures at once. Some of them are performed in the hospital, and others must be performed responsibly by the patient himself. The course of treatment in a hospital with a one-day stay includes Bernard current. A special apparatus of diadynamic currents is ideal for solving how to defeat osteochondrosis. This procedure is completely safe and has practically no contraindications.
The treatment regimen is applied after passing the acute stage. Therefore, the best method of physiotherapy in this situation is Bernard currents. In addition, a massage can be applied on it. Physiotherapy exercises are a mandatory part of the treatment of osteochondrosis at home. You learn different exercises under the guidance of a doctor and then regularly repeat them yourself at home.
An important part of solving the question of how to deal with osteochondrosis is self-treatment at home. Here, in addition to exercise therapy, you can turn to traditional medicine, but again under the supervision of a doctor. Consider several recipes for folk remedies that can be used as ointments:
- One tablespoon of flour, half a package of butter, one egg and one tablespoon of vinegar should be mixed until smooth and then poured in a warm place. You can then rub the mixture on the affected area of the back.
- Honey, radish juice and vodka are mixed with each other in proportions 1: 1, 5: 0. 1, the application is similar.
- The last recipe is more spring: a glass of lilac flowers is infused in half a liter of vodka for 10 days, and then an excellent rubbing mixture is obtained.
How to treat osteochondrosis of the spine outside the home? Fighting the disease can be much more effective if you go on a spa vacation. So you can not only heal your back, but also restore the body after a long illness.
Rehabilitation and prevention
Rehabilitation is a set of measures after which a person who has overcome osteochondrosis can return to a normal full life. Elderly people can regain their mobility only with the help of long-term rehabilitation procedures. The attending physician carefully selects a complex in which there must be exercises, a certain daily regime, a specific food system. Rehabilitation for osteochondrosis of the spine includes long-term treatment, as well as methods of preventing the disease.
The first symptom of the disease is pain. Therefore, in the event that there is the slightest discomfort in the back or there is a hereditary predisposition, it is necessary to pay sufficient attention to prevention. If you are overweight and other possible reasons for the diagnosis, the situation is the same.
To prevent the occurrence of the disease, it is necessary:
- maintain proper posture;
- participate in special exercises to strengthen the back;
- monitor nutrition;
- avoid obesity;
- get a corset if there is a curvature of the back
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, all these measures together will help you keep your back healthy and strong at any age. Take care of the spine, because it is the basis of the entire musculoskeletal system.