Many patients ask the question: "is it possible to cure osteochondrosis completely? ". 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 collapses, where the only way out is prosthetics. Thus, whether osteochondrosis is treated depends on the degree of the disease, at the initial stage of which, a person can still be saved. So how is the treatment of osteochondrosis - we'll talk about this.
Features of the disease
In order to understand what osteochondrosis is and how to treat it, you first need to understand what the spine itself is. This is the basis of the skeleton, where all the vertebrae are interconnected, but remain mobile due to the presence of intervertebral discs. If osteochondrosis is not treated, then gradually they begin to break down, leading to friction between the bones, limited mobility and disability. To find out whether it is possible to cure osteochondrosis, first you need to neutralize the causes of the diagnosis.
To date, the causes of the appearance have not been accurately identified, but experts note, because of which 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 sports without due attention to safety;
- psychological factor, stress and nerves.
In order to start effective treatment, it is imperative to neutralize the causes. Start to lead a healthy lifestyle and try to get rid of excess weight by strengthening the muscles of the spine with the help of exercises for the back.
Symptoms of the disease
In the treatment of the disease, first of all, a thorough examination is carried out, they are sent for an x-ray and an MRI image in order to accurately know the condition of the spine. After all, the symptoms and treatment of the disease can be different depending on the stage of the diagnosis:
- In the first stage, there are usually no symptoms. There may be slight discomfort during movement. The intervertebral disc is only slightly shifted to the sides.
- Osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree is already reporting itself to the patient in the form of back pain. Disk protrusion begins. In addition to pain, the patient constantly experiences fatigue. For treatment, conservative methods are sufficient.
- The third degree is a disc rupture. This process is already considered irreversible and it is impossible to completely cure the disease. Often there is a hernia. The deformed disc presses on the nerves and blood vessels, which, depending on the location, may cause headaches, discomfort in the limbs, and internal organs also suffer.
- At the last stage, the intervertebral disc has already been destroyed and the destruction of blood vessels and the spinal cord continues. The patient is assigned a disability, there is a severe limitation in 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 associated with it. Now everyone knows about who treats osteochondrosis. In addition, this specialist correctly selects the treatment and highlights possible contraindications for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis:
- This is primarily the use of certain foods, especially if you are overweight. Diets should be strictly adhered to. 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 ensure 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 contact 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 how long the disease lasts and what symptoms are present, help is selected for osteochondrosis. In the first two stages, conservative treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine, which includes:
- Medicines, it can be tablets, injections or droppers for osteochondrosis.
- Physiotherapy courses. In particular, Bernard currents.
- Strict adherence to the diet.
- Certain physical therapy.
The composition of the dropper includes anti-inflammatory painkillers. They also take muscle relaxants, which relax the muscles and help them cope with overexertion. Additionally, be sure to include chondroprotectors that can stop the destruction of cartilage tissue. Courses of these medications provide effective treatment for osteochondrosis of the back. Help begins with getting rid of pain, and only after the removal of the acute syndrome, they begin the main treatment.
The second point that needs to be clarified in order to find out how to treat osteochondrosis of the back is the causes of the onset 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 tissues recover faster, promotes normal circulation and healing. It works great together with physiotherapy exercises, which strengthens the muscles of the back. Most often, Bernard currents are used, which bring excellent results.
Unfortunately, conservative advice on the treatment of osteochondrosis helps only in the first two stages of the disease.
Surgically
Surgery helps to cope with any serious diagnoses. Even in the case when one vertebra has grown to another, the disc has been seriously deformed or a hernia has appeared. Modern medical experience and the latest technology help to heal even the most difficult situations. For the treatment of osteochondrosis, two types of operations are used:
- Hernia removal. This is a fairly simple intervention. An incision is made no more than a centimeter. The patient can already move independently on the second day and quickly recovers.
- Surgical treatment of osteochondrosis of 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 cushioning of the vertebrae.
Patients should not be afraid of this technique. It is thanks to the operation that the flexibility and mobility of the spine often returns. Modern silicone prostheses easily cope with loads on the musculoskeletal system. This is a relatively new technique in the treatment of osteochondrosis, but it has practically no contraindications and no long recovery period.
Complex treatment
Comprehensive treatment of osteochondrosis includes several procedures at once. Some of them are carried out in the hospital, while others must be carried out responsibly by the patient himself. The course of treatment in a hospital on a day stay includes Bernard's currents. A special apparatus of diadynamic currents is ideal for deciding how to defeat osteochondrosis. This procedure is completely safe and has virtually no contraindications.
The treatment regimen is applied when the acute stage passes. Therefore, the best method of physiotherapy in this situation is Bernard's currents. Additionally, massage can be applied to it. An obligatory part of the treatment of osteochondrosis at home is physiotherapy exercises. You study various exercises under the guidance of a doctor, and then regularly repeat them at home on your own.
An important part of resolving the issue 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:
- A spoonful of flour, half a pack of butter, an egg and a spoonful of vinegar should be mixed until smooth, and then infused in a warm place. After that, you can rub the mixture into the affected area of \u200b\u200bthe back.
- Honey, radish juice and vodka are mixed with each other in proportions of 1: 1. 5: 0. 1, the application is similar.
- The last recipe is rather spring: a glass of lilac flowers is infused with half a liter of vodka for 10 days, and then an excellent mixture for rubbing is obtained.
How to treat osteochondrosis of the spine outside the home? The fight against the disease can be much more effective if you go on vacation to a spa treatment. So you can not only cure 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. Older people can regain 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 routine, a specific nutrition system. Rehabilitation for osteochondrosis of the spine includes continued treatment, as well as methods for 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 enough attention to prevention. If you are overweight and have other possible causes of the diagnosis, the situation is the same.
To prevent the occurrence of the disease, it is necessary:
- maintain correct posture;
- engage 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 keep your back healthy and strong at any age. Take care of the spine, because it is the basis of the entire musculoskeletal system.