Osteochondrosis refers to a pathology of the spine, the morphological substrate (basis) of which is a violation of the structure of the intervertebral discs.However, this concept is not entirely correct, since, according to Western medical terminology, this nosological form means degeneration of the ossification centers, possible only in childhood.At the same time, the relevance of the issue in this case does not depend on the term by which it is called, even if domestic doctors have a traditional opinion about the disease.In this article we will talk about how to treat osteochondrosis at home, as well as prevention and diagnosis of this disease.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
With osteochondrosis, the intervertebral holes narrow, compressing blood vessels and nerves, and growths of bone tissue – osteophytes – appear along the edges of the vertebrae.
The morphology of the disease is quite specific.The pathology is an age-related change in the intervertebral discs which, with age, lose their elastic properties and become compressed.
As a result, the vertebrae move slightly closer to each other, and the intervertebral holes through which the spinal nerves exit narrow, deforming them and disrupting conductivity.For this reason, not entirely typical symptoms are noted, which consist of the manifestation of local pain in the muscles and limbs.
From a symptomatic point of view, it is similar to radiculitis, spina bifida, tumor formations of the skeletal system of the spine and membranes of the spinal cord.Therefore, a visit to the doctor is necessary both to establish a diagnosis of osteochondrosis and to exclude these serious pathologies.
Immediate consultation with a doctor makes sense if you experience symptoms such as weakness in a limb.If it is impossible to carry out long-term operations related to arm movement, osteochondrosis is localized in the cervical region, and if such symptoms are noted in the lower extremities, the lumbar region is affected.
It is relatively difficult to differentiate the complaints of patients with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, since autonomic disorders associated with cardialgia, impaired external respiration and symptoms of shortness of breath are most often observed there.
The diagnosis of the disease is based on the collection of the medical history.It must include information about the place of work and working hours.Here, establishing the fact of lifting weights is of some importance.It is impossible to make a diagnosis using laboratory methods, since essentially the process is natural and manifests itself with aging.It is also not inflammatory in nature.Instrumental methods include x-ray of the spine in a specific section.This allows you to establish the degree of narrowing of the lumen between the bodies of two adjacent vertebrae and, consequently, to confirm the morphological substrate of the pathology.Methods such as CT and MRI can confirm the diagnosis in more detail and exclude similar nosological forms.
Treatment of osteochondrosis and prevention
Preventive measures to prevent osteochondrosis include physical exercises related to gymnastics, running and chin-ups.At the same time, heavy lifting causes worsening of the disease.Often it can appear for the first time precisely during this manipulation.The patient feels tingling, numbness in the limb and in the scapula area when lifting a load.
Treatment of osteochondrosis is conservative in nature and is aimed at reducing the manifestations of symptoms, since it is almost impossible to eliminate the root cause.To relieve symptoms, irritants are used that reflexively increase conductivity in the nerve trunks.To treat osteochondrosis at home, you can recommend ointments with menthol, pepper plasters and mustard plasters.A heating pad can be applied locally.At the same time, physiotherapeutic methods are effective in relieving the corresponding symptoms.In particular, in the clinic it is possible to undergo electroshock sessions.
Pharmacological treatment includes analgesic therapy and agents that improve nerve conduction.The first group of drugs includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.These are drugs administered intramuscularly or orally.The dosage regimen is determined by the doctor.As a medicine of the second group, a drug that partially reduces the deficiency of nervous trophism is effective.At the same time, patients are not required to take any care, since performing daily manipulations does not cause them any particular difficulties, with the exception of physical work, which is not recommended to be performed.
Which doctor should I contact?
Manifestations of spinal osteochondrosis are mainly caused by compression of the roots of the spinal cord that emerge through the narrowed openings between the processes of the vertebrae.Therefore, a neurologist traditionally treats this disease.In addition, it is advisable to contact a vertebrologist, a specialist in spinal diseases or an orthopedist.A physiotherapist, physical therapy and massage specialist, chiropractor, osteopath and reflexologist will assist with the treatment.