Osteochondrosis means pathology of the spine, the morphological substrate (base) of which is a violation of the structure of the intervertebral disc.However, this concept is not entirely correct, because, according to the terminology of Western medicine, this nosological form means the deterioration of the ossification center, which is only possible in childhood.At the same time, the relevance of the issue in this case does not depend on the so-called term, although domestic doctors have a traditional opinion about this disease.In this article we will talk about how to treat osteochondrosis at home, as well as the prevention and diagnosis of this disease.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
With osteochondrosis, the intervertebral foramina narrow, squeeze blood vessels and nerves, and bone tissue growth -osteophytes - appear along the edges of the vertebrae.
The morphology of this disease is quite specific.The pathology is age-related changes in the intervertebral discs, which, with aging, lose their elastic properties and become compressed.
As a result, the vertebrae move relatively close to each other, and the intervertebral foramina through which the spinal nerves exit become narrow, changing them and disrupting conduction.Due to this, unusual symptoms are observed, which consist of the manifestation of local pain in the muscles and limbs.
Symptomatically, it is similar to radiculitis, spina bifida, tumor formation of the spinal skeletal system and spinal cord membrane.Therefore, visiting a doctor is necessary to establish the diagnosis of osteochondrosis and to exclude this serious pathology.
Immediate consultation with a doctor makes sense if symptoms such as weakness in the limbs occur.If it is impossible to perform long-term operations related to arm movements, osteochondrosis is localized in the cervical region, and if the symptoms are observed for the lower part of the legs, then the lumbar region is affected.
It is quite difficult to distinguish the complaints of patients with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, because autonomic disorders associated with cardialgia, impaired external breathing, and symptoms of shortness of breath are most often observed there.
The diagnosis of this disease is based on taking anamnesis.It must include information about the place of work and working hours.Here, establishing the fact of lifting weights is very important.It is impossible to make a diagnosis using laboratory methods, because basically the process is natural and real with aging.It is also non-inflammatory.Instrumental methods include radiography of the spine in certain sections.This allows us to establish the degree of narrowing of the lumen between the bodies of two adjacent vertebrae, and, thus, confirm the pathological morphological substrate.Methods such as CT and MRI can confirm the diagnosis in more detail and do not include the same nosological forms.
Osteochondrosis treatment and prevention
Preventive measures to prevent osteochondrosis include physical exercises related to gymnastics, walking, and pulling.At the same time, heavy lifting causes the disease to worsen.Often it may appear for the first time only during this manipulation.The patient feels tingling, numbness in the limbs and in the shoulder blade area when lifting weights.
Treatment of osteochondrosis is conservative and aims to reduce the manifestation of symptoms, because it is almost impossible to eliminate the root cause.To relieve symptoms, irritants are used to reflexively increase conductivity in the nerve trunk.To treat osteochondrosis at home, you can recommend ointment with menthol, pepper patch, and mustard plaster.A heating pad can be used locally.At the same time, physiotherapy methods are good for relieving the same symptoms.In particular, in the clinic you can undergo an electric shock session.
Pharmacological treatment includes analgesic therapy and nerve conduction enhancement agents.The first group of drugs includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.This is an intramuscular or oral medication.The dosage regimen is determined by the doctor.As drugs of the second group, drugs that partially reduce the lack of nerve trophism are effective.At the same time, there is no care required for the patient, because performing daily manipulations does not cause them any particular difficulties, except for physical work, which they are not recommended to perform.
Which doctor should I contact?
Manifestations of osteochondrosis of the spine are mainly caused by compression of the spinal cord roots that appear through narrow openings between the vertebral processes.Therefore, neurologists traditionally treat this disease.In addition, it is advisable to contact a vertebrologist - a specialist in diseases of the spine, or an orthopedist.Physiotherapists, specialists in physical therapy and massage, chiropractors, osteopaths, and reflexologists will assist in treatment.