Osteochondrosis - damage to the discs and cartilage of the spine. Unfortunately, the problem is widespread - almost one in two people are diagnosed with the disease after the age of 40. But the good news is that musculoskeletal disorders can be corrected if caught early. Below we will describe the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine in adults, symptoms and preventive measures.
Causes of occurrence
People over 40 are at risk. But certain factors influence the onset of the problem in adolescence. The list of causes of the disease includes:
- obesity;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- delayed spine injuries with displacement;
- scoliosis and flat feet;
- pregnancy;
- constant load on the spine.
Congenital anomalies of the spine, oncology in this area and prolonged stress contribute to the development of the disease. Whatever the factor, the specialists in our clinic will select the optimal treatment plan for osteochondrosis of the spine and help get rid of the disease.
Stages of development
Initially, changes in the spine do not cause problems, but over time all systems in the body malfunction. The disease has 4 stages:
- The height of the diseased intervertebral disc is reduced. Fibrous annular cracks appear. The pathology does not go beyond one component.
- The muscles and ligaments attached to the disc come together. They lose their tone and sag. The defect affects the adjacent vertebrae. They gain additional mobility. The vertebral segment becomes less and less stable. The vertebrae can move, slide, causing spondylolisthesis.
- There is an unnatural protrusion, the development of osteoarthritis and dislocations of the intervertebral discs.
- Affected parts try to adapt to the new conditions, get rid of excess mobility at the expense of body forces and protect the spine. As a result, osteophytes are formed - bone growths. They injure the nerve roots of the spinal cord.
The last stage, in the absence of treatment for osteochondrosis of the spine, is manifested by severe aching pain in the problem area, but then the pathology takes a latent form. And the patient stops feeling discomfort. A bony shell forms on the vertebrae, which "ripens" the entire motor segment.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
With degenerative-dystrophic tissue damage, abrasion of the vertebrae themselves, joint surfaces and intervertebral discs occurs. The disease manifests as back pain, but it can spread to other parts of the body. There are uncomfortable sensations in the legs, numbness in the fingers and hands, pain in the genital area, head, heart.
More often in women, the disease is manifested by pain in the lumbar region. But often a problem is diagnosed in the neck, chest, or multiple areas at once. Activity decreases and fatigue increases - both mental and physical. The sensitivity of the upper and lower limbs is altered.
In pathology of the cervical spine, the most frequent symptoms are: headache, sudden drop in vision and eye fatigue. The defeat of the lumbosacral region threatens to dysfunction of the reproductive system.
Effects
Lack of proper attention to the problem in the early stages threatens serious disturbances in all systems of the body. The patient experiences severe pain, a feeling of heart attack, dizziness, nausea, chills. In advanced cases, stroke, brain damage and the development of vascular and heart pathologies are possible.
It is important to see a doctor at the first symptoms of osteochondrosis for treatment without medication. Uncontrollably taking pain relievers will only make it worse.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
Preventive measures include an active lifestyle, good nutrition and weight control. Yoga and Pilates classes are suitable for strengthening the muscle corset. Classes on special decompression simulators - physiotherapy are ideal. These simulators are specially designed to restore the spine and joints in an atraumatic manner. An orthopedic mattress is chosen for sleeping. High or flat pillows are not used.
Diagnostic
To identify the problem and prescribe the most effective method of treating osteochondrosis, a history is taken. All patient complaints are taken into account. A visual inspection is in progress. He understands:
- assessment of body position;
- skin examination;
- palpation and tapping of areas in which the patient complains of pain;
- determination of skin sensitivity.
In addition, a study of the most affected spine is assigned. The patient is referred for x-rays, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). With the help of procedures, the degree of damage to the back area, the state of nervous processes, blood vessels are revealed.
The Medical Innovation Center also uses ultrasound to diagnose problems. Ultrasound is informative, safe, and considered a cheaper way to detect pathology.
Osteochondrosis treatment methods
To get rid of the disease completely, an integrated approach is necessary. The choice of means to eliminate it depends on the etiology of the disease, the age of the patient, the degree of damage to one part of the body. In our osteochondrosis treatment center the following methods are used.
The Osteochondrosis Treatment Clinic offers a comprehensive diagnosis, individual approach and high-quality prevention of the disease. The clinic employs excellent specialists with extensive experience, including physicians and medical science candidates. Many doctors received the highest qualification category. Thanks to their experience, knowledge and skills, the employees of our osteochondrosis treatment center are able to provide effective help to get rid of the pathology in adults.
At the innovative medical center, the attention of specialists is directed to finding and eliminating the causes of pain syndrome and continuing rehabilitation. To eliminate the pain, the patient is prescribed blockages, acupuncture courses, shock wave therapy (shock wave) or Khivamat therapy. Then comes the period of restoration of impaired functions of the spine, during which the following modern and effective methods of treating osteochondrosis are used in classes:
Physiotherapy
The patient is assigned a number of exercises, which he performs on special simulators and with the help of additional equipment: rollers, balls. When performing tasks, the load is removed from the spine, muscles are trained, joints are restored. Strengthening the muscle corset is a guarantee that there is no risk of recurrence of the disease after a certain period. The method has a minimum list of contraindications and is suitable for patients of any age.
Massage therapy
It is prescribed only after the elimination of the exacerbation. The minimum course is 10 sessions. It helps to eliminate puffiness, relieve pain and improve blood circulation. The technique and goals of the procedure depend on the exact diagnosis. For example, in case of problems with the cervical spine, the work is done with the area of the cervical collar. The specialist performs rubbing, caressing and kneading to relieve pain, revitalize. But the therapist can also prescribe the treatment of osteochondrosis by acupressure massage. During this procedure, sore points and acupuncture points are affected.
Acupuncture
The main tasks of acupuncture are to relax the deep layers of muscles, relieve pain, and increase blood supply to affected areas of the body. The session lasts 20 to 60 minutes. The duration depends on the scale of the treated skin. 10 to 15 procedures are prescribed as standard. In complex processing, the number of procedures may be less due to the complementary action of other procedures. The manipulations are practically painless. The action of the needles is similar to mosquito bites. Although it all depends on the patient's pain threshold.
At the Innovative Medical Center, this modern method of treating osteochondrosis is used by doctors of medical science. Experienced specialists competently perform manipulations, so you do not have to worry about the result.
UHT therapy
It is prescribed to relieve pain and eliminate inflammation. The procedure is an effective way to get rid of the degenerative complication of the disease - herniated disc and other pathologies of the ridge. The principle of action of shock wave therapy is to influence the affected area with a shock wave. Due to this, the destruction of salts and salt deposits occurs, blood circulation improves.
The duration of the procedure is approximately 5 minutes. An individual treatment regimen is selected for each patient, depending on the degree of development of the pathology. The effectiveness of the therapy is compared to a deep and intensive massage. Already after 2-3 sessions a positive trend is noted.
Physiotherapy
The therapist uses duct tape, an elastic patch, to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. It is gently fixed on the affected area of the body, slightly lifting the top layer of skin. The patient is not limited in his physiological mobility.
Kinesitaping is prescribed in conjunction with physiotherapy exercises. Due to its elasticity, which is compared to the elasticity of the skin, the tape begins to affect the inflamed area from day one. As standard, the bandage is fixed for 3-5 days, then the course is repeated 2 more times until the discomfort during movement is completely eliminated.
There are few contraindications: skin diseases and high sensitivity of the epidermis. The procedure is prescribed for patients of any age and gender. Perfect knowledge of physiology and anatomy is required when applying the tape. In our center, this procedure is performed by experienced chiropractors.
PRP therapy
Plasma therapy - injections of the patient's own plasma. For its implementation, special equipment is used to extract platelets from the blood. The plasma is mixed with blood cells and injected into the patient. The procedure allows you to quickly regenerate the affected tissue, to stop inflammation. As a result, joint fluid is restored and joint mobility improves. Blood circulation improves in damaged tissue.
The process takes about 20 minutes. The duration of the course depends on the stage of the disease. On average, 2-6 procedures are prescribed.
Each consists of 3 stages:
- A blood sample is taken.
- Plasma is being prepared.
- The autoplasm is injected into the affected area.
Administration of plasma does not cause pain. The patient feels only slight discomfort.
The method not only eliminates the symptoms, it affects the cause of the disease. A long-term effect is provided.
In the Innovative Medical Center you can get detailed advice from a traumatologist, neurologist, physiotherapist. After the diagnosis, they will prescribe a set of measures aimed at getting rid of back diseases without a pill. We have modern equipment and offer effective methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis in women and men of all ages.