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 change shape and can no longer withstand the load, and eventually collapses completely, where the only way out is prosthetics. Therefore, whether osteochondrosis is treated depends on the stage of the disease, at which early stage, a person can still be saved. So how is the treatment of osteochondrosis - we will talk about this.
Characteristics 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 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, which leads 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.
Until now, the cause of the appearance has not been precisely identified, but experts note, as the disease can begin and develop:
- injury;
- hereditary factors;
- curvature of the spine, legs and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- obesity, which increases the load on the spine;
- age;
- passive lifestyle;
- professional sports without due regard for safety;
- psychological, stress and nervous factors.
To begin effective treatment, it is important to neutralize the cause. Start 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.
Disease symptoms
In the treatment of the disease, first of all, a comprehensive examination is carried out, they are sent for x-rays and MRI images to know exactly the condition of the spine. After all, the symptoms and treatment of the disease can differ depending on the stage of diagnosis:
- In the first stage, there are usually no symptoms. There may be some discomfort during movement. The intervertebral disc is only slightly shifted to the side.
- Osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree already reports itself to the patient in the form of back pain. Disc highlighting begins. In addition to pain, the patient constantly experiences fatigue. For treatment, conservative methods are sufficient.
- The third stage is disc rupture. This process is considered irreversible and it is impossible to completely cure this disease. Often there is a hernia. Deformed discs press on nerves and blood vessels, which, depending on the location, can cause headaches, discomfort in the limbs, and internal organs also suffer.
- In the final stage, the intervertebral disc has been destroyed and the destruction of blood vessels and spinal cord continues. The patient is given a disability, there are severe limitations in movement.
How is the treatment carried out?
Many do not know which doctor treats osteochondrosis of the spine and determines the effective method for each specific case. This is a vertebrologist who studies in detail the spine and the musculoskeletal system as a whole, dealing with all related diagnoses. Now everyone knows about who treats osteochondrosis. In addition, this specialist correctly selects treatment and highlights possible contraindications for the diagnosis of osteochondrosis:
- This is mainly the use of certain foods, especially if you are overweight. The diet should be strictly followed. 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 at the initial stage. 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 the patient has 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 method
There are many options for what to do with osteochondrosis. Modern techniques include various back procedures, surgery 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 spinal osteochondrosis, which includes:
- Medication, it can be tablets, injections or droppers for osteochondrosis.
- Physiotherapy course. In particular, Bernard's current.
- Strict adherence to diet.
- Certain physical therapy.
The composition of the dropper includes anti-inflammatory pain relievers. They also take muscle relaxants, which relax the muscles and help them overcome excessive fatigue. Also, be sure to include chondroprotectors that can stop the destruction of cartilage tissue. This course of drugs provides effective treatment for back osteochondrosis. Help begins with the removal of pain, and only after the removal of the acute syndrome, they begin the main treatment.
The second thing that needs to be explained to know how to treat back osteochondrosis is the causes of the onset of the disease. It is important to neutralize them by starting to live a healthy lifestyle (proper nutrition, diet), choosing vitamins for the general strengthening of the body. Physiotherapy also helps tissues recover faster, promoting normal circulation and healing. It works great together with physiotherapy exercises, which strengthen the back muscles. Most often, Bernard's current is used, which brings excellent results.
Unfortunately, conservative advice on the treatment of osteochondrosis only helps in the first two stages of the disease.
Surgically
Surgery helps to overcome any serious diagnosis. Even in cases where one vertebra has progressed 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 relatively simple intervention. The incision is made no more than one centimeter. The patient was able to move freely on the second day and quickly recovered.
- Surgical treatment of last-stage osteochondrosis consists only of complete removal of the intervertebral disc. In its place, a new special prosthesis is installed, which provides separation and cushioning of the vertebrae.
Patients do not need to 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 the load on the musculoskeletal system. This is a relatively new technique in the treatment of osteochondrosis, but it has almost 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 the hospital on a one-day stay includes Bernard's current. A special tool of diadynamic current is suitable for determining how to defeat osteochondrosis. This procedure is completely safe and has almost no contraindications.
The treatment regimen is used when the acute stage passes. Therefore, the best physiotherapy method in this situation is Bernard's current. In addition, sequences can be applied to it. Mandatory part of the treatment of osteochondrosis at home is physiotherapy. You learn various exercises under the guidance of a doctor, and then often repeat them at home.
An important part of solving 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 some 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 put in a warm place. After that, you can rub the mixture on the affected area on the back.
- Honey, carrot juice and vodka are mixed with each other in a ratio of 1: 1. 5: 0. 1, the application is similar.
- The last recipe is quite spring: a glass of purple 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? Fighting this disease can be 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.
Recovery and prevention
Rehabilitation is a set of steps after which a person who has overcome osteochondrosis can return to a full normal life. Elderly people can regain mobility only with the help of long-term rehabilitation procedures. The treating doctor carefully chooses a complex, where there must be exercises, a certain daily routine, a certain nutritional system. Rehabilitation for osteochondrosis of the spine includes continuous treatment, as well as methods to prevent the disease.
The first symptom of this disease is pain. Therefore, if there is some discomfort in the back or there is a hereditary tendency, 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 disease, it is necessary:
- maintain proper 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, as it is the basis of the entire musculoskeletal system.