Many patients ask the question: "Is it possible to completely cure osteochondrosis? ". Indeed, this is almost impossible if the disease has reached a severe stage. With this diagnosis, the intervertebral disc gradually begins to deform and can no longer bear the load, and eventually completely collapses, where the only way out is the prosthesis. Therefore, the treatment of osteochondrosis 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 it.
Features of the disease
To understand what osteochondrosis is and how to treat it, you first need to understand what the spine itself is. This is the base of the skeleton, where all the vertebrae are interconnected, but remain mobile due to the presence of the intervertebral discs. If osteochondrosis is left untreated, they gradually begin to break down, causing friction between the bones, limited mobility, and disability. To find out whether it is possible to cure osteochondrosis, it is first necessary to neutralize the causes of the diagnosis.
To date, the causes of the appearance have not been accurately identified, but experts note, due to which the disease can begin and progress:
- wound;
- 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.
To begin effective treatment, it is essential to neutralize the causes. Start leading a healthy lifestyle and try to get rid of excess weight by strengthening the spinal muscles 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, an X-ray and an MRI image are sent 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 diagnosis:
- In the first stage, there are usually no symptoms. There may be slight discomfort when moving. The intervertebral disc is only slightly displaced to the sides.
- 2nd degree osteochondrosis is already signaling to the patient in the form of back pain. Disc protrusion begins. In addition to pain, the patient constantly experiences fatigue. For treatment, conservative methods are sufficient.
- The third degree is a rupture of the disc. 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, can cause headaches, discomfort in the limbs and even internal organs.
- In 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 movements.
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 who treats osteochondrosis. In addition, this specialist correctly selects the treatment and highlights possible contraindications for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis:
- This is mainly 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, 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 comprehensive examination, he prescribes treatment: 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 the symptoms present, 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 the diet.
- Some 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. Also, be sure to include chondroprotectors that can stop the destruction of cartilage tissue. The courses of these drugs provide effective treatment for osteochondrosis of the back. Help begins with the elimination of pain, and only after the removal of the acute syndrome begin the main treatment.
The second point that needs to be clarified in order to find out how to treat osteochondrosis of the back are 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 the general strengthening of the body. Physiotherapy also helps the tissues recover faster, promotes normal circulation and healing. It works great in conjunction with physiotherapy exercises, which strengthen the back muscles. Very often Bernard currents are used, which bring excellent results.
Unfortunately, conservative advice on the treatment of osteochondrosis only helps in the first two stages of the disease.
Surgically
Surgery helps to cope with any serious diagnosis. Even if one vertebra has grown into another, the disc has been severely deformed or a hernia has appeared. Modern medical expertise and the latest technologies help heal even the most difficult situations. For the treatment of osteochondrosis, two types of operations are used:
- Removal of the hernia. This is a fairly simple intervention. An incision is made no more than one centimeter. The patient can already move independently on the second day and recover quickly.
- 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 shouldn't be afraid of this technique. It is thanks to the operation that the flexibility and mobility of the spine often returns. Modern silicone implants 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 done in the hospital, while others have to be done responsibly by the patient himself. The course of treatment in a hospital in a day hospital includes Bernard currents. A special apparatus of diadynamic currents is ideal for deciding how to defeat osteochondrosis. This procedure is completely safe and has practically no contraindications.
The treatment regimen is applied to the overcoming of the acute stage. Therefore, the best method of physiotherapy in this situation is Bernard's currents. In addition, it is possible to apply a massage. 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 repeat them regularly at home alone.
An important part of solving the problem of how to deal with osteochondrosis is self-treatment at home. Here, in addition to physical therapy, you can turn to traditional medicine, but still, under the supervision of a doctor. Consider several recipes for folk remedies that can be used as ointments:
- A tablespoon of flour, half a pack of butter, an egg and a tablespoon of vinegar should be mixed until smooth, then infused in a warm place. After that, you can rub the mixture into the affected area of the back.
- Honey, radish juice and vodka mix with each other in proportions of 1: 1, 5: 0, 1, the application is similar.
- The last recipe is quite spring-like: a glass of lilac flowers is infused with half a liter of vodka for 10 days, then a great blend for rubbing is obtained.
How to treat osteochondrosis of the spine outside the home? Fighting the disease can be much more effective if you go on vacation to a spa treatment. 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 and full life. Older people can only regain mobility 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 nutritional system. Rehabilitation for osteochondrosis of the spine includes ongoing treatment and methods to prevent 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 have other possible causes of the diagnosis, the situation is the same.
To prevent the onset of the disease, it is necessary:
- maintaining correct posture;
- engage in special exercises to strengthen the back;
- monitor nutrition;
- avoid obesity;
- take a corset if there is a curvature of the back
In the treatment of osteochondrosis, all these measures together will help keep the back healthy and strong at any age. Take care of the spine, because it is the basis of the entire musculoskeletal system.