Treatment of osteochondrosis (radiculitis, intervertebral hernia) is not particularly difficult today, it is only important to correctly determine the cause of the pathology and the presence of concomitant diseases. However, every specialist who professionally deals with the treatment of diseases of the back or spine as a whole, crystallized his own during the practice, quickly helping techniques that are optimal for most patients.
For the treatment of osteochondrosis, it is important to correctly determine the cause of the pathology and the presence of concomitant diseases.
It is incorrect to use only one method to treat osteochondrosis, as a rule, polyclinic therapists thus "make a mistake", prescribing patients painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs that eliminate unpleasant symptoms and drive the problem with the spine deep inside, without affecting the cause. As a result, the person, without feeling pain, continues to load the damaged vertebrae, the pathology worsens, and after some time, the next strong attack, "emerges" a bouquet of problems that can not be removed.
The root of the problem and some criticism
Before starting treatment, it will be helpful to remember what osteochondrosis is. In general, these are degenerative changes that affect the tissues of the spine! However, not all back problems should be called "osteochondrosis, " just as the two terms should not be confused: osteochondrosis and sciatica. In the first case, this is a disease, in the second - a process that occurs in the body of a patient with osteochondrosis. Moreover, back pain is just a symptom, not a disease.
Methods of treating osteochondrosis have remained standard for decades, but with the availability of modern methods of examining the patient in "old" techniques, more and more "cracks and chips" are being discovered. Most methods aim to eliminate clinical signs, not to influence the causes of pathology.
Use of drugs
Unfortunately, this is a method whose goal is to ensure that the patient "stays healthy quickly". In addition, the patients themselves turn to a specialist and begin to treat the disease even when the pathological process blooms strongly, and the pain tears everything around, preventing its normal movement. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs remove all negative symptoms, making healing illusory, and the cause of the disease remains intact. In clinics, this process is put on the conveyor belt, and as a result of such treatment:
- The cause, which became the starting point of osteochondrosis, has not been eliminated.
- The traumatic factor on the vertebrae intensifies as the person, not feeling pain, begins to strain the back completely.
- NSAIDs interfere with the work of the pancreas and stomach.
Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs do not cure the disease, but only alleviate the pain.
Manual therapy
This method is more often advocated by old school doctors, believing that if you place damaged vertebrae, the problem will go away. The saying "all diseases of the spine" is not entirely true, because the spinal column adapts to the circumstances, is not in vain so flexible. Although proper nutrition of intervertebral discs and vertebrae is possible only if they stand upright. However, placed vertebrae, if a person continues to sit incorrectly or there is severe inflammation of the intervertebral discs, will eventually "slip" again, returning all signs. Also, do not confuse manual therapy and osteopathy.
Massage, a classic of the genre
This method consists in affecting the muscles and connective tissue of the patient, is able to alleviate the symptoms of the disease and relieve the patient for several months. The effectiveness of such treatment of osteochondrosis directly depends on the qualifications of the person doing the massage. But in 95% of cases it is not possible to manually remove the cause of osteochondrosis, nor to cure the disease if the specialist works only with the zone of pain and inflammation.
Osteopathy
This method of treating osteochondrosis is subtle and gentle, but a good osteopath should have sensitive hands, a perceptive mind and a calm mind. He, taking the patient by the hand, can feel all the processes taking place in the body. Not every doctor is capable of possessing a sense of hypersensitivity, so good osteopaths are worth their weight in gold. Ideally, osteopaths treat all the problems the patient has, but in reality they only remove the pain. This is partly the fault of the patients themselves, who are just looking to relieve their pain, because a session with an osteopath costs about three times more than a massage. By saving money, they eliminate the symptoms, but deprive themselves of the opportunity to heal as completely as possible. Because of its softness, osteopathy is indicated even for children.
Osteopathy is a gentle and gentle method that is suitable even for children.
Chinese medicine
The pitfalls here lie in the lack of pre-medical diagnosis of the patient, all manipulations are generally based on the assumptions of the doctor, which are not always accurate. Before performing a high quality acupuncture procedure, you need to do:
- Electropuncture diagnostics.
- Pulse diagnostics.
- Diagnosis by Akabana methods.
A patient who has back pain receives a lot of needles, the pain will subside, the symptoms will disappear, but it will return in a few hours. Repeated acupuncture, relief - and the circle is closed. A good specialist does not put needles, only on the basis of an external examination of the patient and his story. It works with only 1-4 needles at deep levels, trying to eliminate the root cause of osteochondrosis, not just the symptoms.
Visceral therapy
The treatment of osteochondrosis here is to work with the internal organs. This is due to the fact that the cause of the pathological condition of the spine is often the wrong arrangement of organs or violations in their work. With this treatment, back pain disappears for a long time.
Gymnastics, yoga, qigong
Eastern techniques for treating osteochondrosis are gaining popularity. Classical yoga is a well-coordinated, deeply thought-out method of working with the body that affects the mind. This method is suitable for the home, where in a quiet environment a person can feel all the needs of the body. However, many experts advise that we stick to the old directions of osteochondrosis treatment. And, of course, it’s important to find an expert, you shouldn’t contact those who have learned a few awkward movements and "opened their own office".
Today, these techniques are the most advanced, in many ways helping people to solve the problems associated with osteochondrosis. But it is important to remember the psychological aspect: the disease will not go away if a person stubbornly ignores the reason why osteochondrosis developed, does not want to change his lifestyle and thinking. You shouldn’t blame health problems just for a doctor without helping him with treatment.
Gymnastics, yoga, qigong - aimed at working with the body and eliminating problems with the spine.
The main stages of therapy
How to treat osteochondrosis? There are many possibilities for therapy: reflexology, magnetostimulation, water procedures, physiotherapy methods. The specialist must decide which option is suitable for the patient, based on the results of the anamnesis and examination. Treatment at home is possible, for example, with physiotherapeutic exercises, it is able to perfectly restore the mobility of the spine, eliminate the symptoms and prevent the rapid development of the disease.
Bitan! If the treatment takes place at home, then you must be especially careful with any medication, which is prescribed exclusively by a doctor. This is explained by the fact that in the treatment of osteochondrosis with drugs, other organs are burdened and such treatment can be full of unpleasant complications or worsening of chronic diseases.
We're taking medicine
The basis of drug treatment is the intake of vasodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs. Such therapy perfectly alleviates the symptoms and is designed to solve the following problems:
- Stop inflammatory processes.
- Relieve muscle pain and cramps.
- Encourage cartilage tissue regeneration.
It is safer to use topical products (creams, ointments or gels) when treating yourself at home. Such treatment takes place without side effects, it is only necessary to coordinate it with the doctor and strictly follow the instructions.
Folk remedies
"Grandma's recipes" are often more effective in treating osteochondrosis than all modern and modern methods. Traditional treatment at home includes: warming the sore spot with river sand or salt, using chicken egg-based ointments, vinegar, or using herbal compresses.
- Massage bottles. Fill "one and a half" with warm water and roll all the muscles of the back for 15 minutes, especially stopping at the problem area.
- Massage with tennis ball. At home, you can use a tennis ball to massage your back, for that you just need to lie on it and "ride". Repeat daily.
Drug treatment in complex therapy relieves pain, relieves cramps.
Physiotherapy
Today, it is the most popular author's therapeutic technique that can be used at home. This treatment is based on not allowing the spinal cord cells to die and the muscle tissue to atrophy. Therapeutic gymnastics consists of a series of exercises that work all the joints and muscles of the human body, restore lost motor functions and alleviate unpleasant symptoms.
Drug-free treatment options
Sanatorium treatment, perhaps, can be called the most complete in the process of treatment of the disease, it is based on the effect on the cause of the disease. During your stay in the sanatorium you can receive the following procedures:
- Acupuncture.
- Healing showers.
- Ultrasound and electrotherapy.
- Diet therapy and massage.
- Balneotherapy and mud therapy.
- Apitherapy and salt caves.
This treatment option at home is not available. For each patient suffering from osteochondrosis, the doctors of the sanatorium will create an individual therapy plan that will enable not only the restoration of motor functions, but also long-term forgetting about the worsening.
Point impact
Electrophoresis treatment is indicated in any stage of osteochondrosis except acute. Exposure to point current has its advantages: the effect of the drug given by electrophoresis extends strictly to the area of inflammation. This allows you to quickly improve the patient's condition, relieve swelling and pain.
Physiotherapy
It agrees well with other options for the treatment of osteochondrosis, if they are well done by a professional, shows high efficiency and has the least side effects:
- Massage. Improves blood circulation and lymph flow, relieves pain and swelling, strengthens muscles. It is shown in courses of 10-15 procedures, 2-3 times a year.
- Manual therapy.
- He pulls his spine.
- Reflexology.
How to treat osteochondrosis to avoid complications? You must first find out why the pathology has developed, how much the vertebrae are damaged. You will need to undergo a thorough examination and only then begin treatment. In addition, a proper daily routine, a healthy lifestyle are important, you must give up heavy physical exertion, try not to catch a cold and maintain proper posture. If possible, any stress at home and at work should be removed, because uncontrolled muscle spasm occurs with negative emotions, which further worsens the problem.
Osteochondrosis is a long-term current disease that is based on many reasons, so it cannot be stopped by any method during treatment. Much depends on the patient, you should not wait for the "magic pill" to suddenly end the problem, to part with osteochondrosis, you will have to gather all your will in your hand, be persistent in the desire to become healthy forever. This is the only way to restore the flexibility and mobility of the spine for many years.