Today, the treatment of osteochondrosis (radiculitis, intervertebral hernia) is not particularly difficult, it is important to correctly determine the cause of the pathology and the presence of co-morbidities. However, virtually every specialist who specializes in the treatment of back or spinal diseases can help quickly with methods that are optimal for most patients.
For the treatment of osteochondrosis, it is important to correctly establish the cause of the pathology and the presence of associated diseases.
It is not correct to use only one method for the treatment of osteochondrosis, as a rule, outpatient therapists "do wrong" by prescribing painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs to patients who have unpleasant symptoms and problems with the spine. reason. As a result, a person, without experiencing pain, continues to load on the damaged vertebrae, the pathology worsens, and after a while, with the next strong attack, a bouquet of problems that can not be eliminated "emerges. "
The root of the problem and some criticism
It is helpful to remember what osteochondrosis is before starting treatment. In general, these are degenerative changes that affect the tissues of the spine! However, not all back problems should be called "osteochondrosis, " as the two concepts should not be confused: osteochondrosis and sciatica. In the first case, it is a disease, in the second - a process that occurs in the patient's body with osteochondrosis. Moreover, back pain is not a disease, but just a symptom.
Treatments for osteochondrosis have remained standard for decades, but with the availability of modern methods to examine the patient with "old" methods, more and more "cracks and chips" appear. Most methods are aimed at eliminating the clinical symptoms, not to affect the pathological causes.
Use of drugs
Unfortunately, this is a way to ensure that the patient "survives quickly. "In addition, sufferers themselves turn to a specialist and begin to treat the disease, even when the pathological process blooms vigorously and thoroughly, and the pain breaks down everything around and prevents it from moving normally. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs eliminate all the negative symptoms and make the treatment imaginary, and the cause of the disease remains unchanged. In clinics, this process is put on a conveyor belt, and as a result of such treatment:
- The cause of osteochondrosis, the starting point, has not been eliminated.
- The traumatic factor in the vertebrae increases, as the person begins to fully load the back without feeling pain.
- NSAIDs disrupt the function of the pancreas and stomach.
Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs do not cure the disease, but they do relieve the pain.
Manual therapy
This method is more popular with old-school doctors, who believe that if you replace the damaged spine, the problem will go away. "All diseases of the spine" is not entirely true, because the spine adapts to the conditions, it is not in vain to be so flexible. However, proper nutrition of the intervertebral discs and vertebrae is only possible when they are in an upright position. However, if the built-up vertebra continues to sit crookedly, or if there is a strong inflammation of the intervertebral discs, it will "slip" again over time, returning all the marks. Do not confuse manual therapy and osteopathy.
Massage, classics of the genre
This method involves affecting the patient's muscles and connective tissue, eliminating the symptoms of the disease and bringing relief to the patient for several months. The effectiveness of such treatment for osteochondrosis directly depends on the characteristics of the person massaging. However, in 95% of cases, it is not possible to eliminate the cause of osteochondrosis manually and treat the disease only if the specialist works with the area of pain and inflammation.
Osteopathy
This method of treating osteochondrosis is subtle and subtle, but a good osteopath must have sensitive hands, research mind, and calm thinking. He can feel all the processes taking place in the body by holding the patient's hand. Not every doctor can have a high sensitivity, so good osteopaths are golden weights. Ideally, osteopaths should treat all of the patient's problems, but in reality they only relieve the pain. Patients themselves are to blame and only demand pain relief because a session with an osteopath is about three times more expensive than a massage therapist. They save money and eliminate the symptoms, but deprive themselves of the opportunity to completely cure themselves as much as possible. Osteopathy is indicated even for children due to its softness.
Osteopathy is a delicate and delicate method that is suitable even for children.
Chinese medicine
The pitfalls here are due to the lack of prior medical diagnosis of the patient, all manipulations are, as a rule, based on the doctor's assumptions, which are not always accurate. Before performing a high-quality acupuncture procedure, you should:
- Electropuncture diagnostics.
- Pulse diagnostics.
- Diagnosis according to the Akabane method.
A patient with low back pain receives a large number of injections, the pain will disappear, the symptoms will disappear, but will return after a few hours. Repeated acupuncture, relaxation - and the circle closes. A good specialist does not inject needles based solely on the patient's external examination and story. Works with only 1-4 needles at a deep level, trying to eliminate not only the symptoms but also the root cause of osteochondrosis.
Visceral therapy
The treatment for osteochondrosis here is to work with the internal organs. This is due to the fact that the pathological condition of the spine is either due to improper structure of the organs or dysfunction. With this treatment, back pain disappears for a long time.
Gymnastics, yoga, qigong
Oriental methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis are gaining popularity. Classical yoga is a well-coordinated, well-thought-out method of working with the body that affects the mind. This method is suitable for a home where a person's body can feel all the needs in a quiet environment. However, many experts recommend focusing on the old treatment options for osteochondrosis. Of course, it is important to find a specialist, you should not contact those who have learned a few difficult moves and "opened their own office. "
Today, this technique is the most advanced, in many ways helping people to get rid of the problems associated with osteochondrosis. But it is important to remember psychologically: if a person stubbornly ignores the cause of osteochondrosis and does not want to change his lifestyle and thinking, the disease will not pass. You should not just blame your doctor for treating your health problems.
Gymnastics, yoga, qigong - is to work with the body and help to overcome the problems of the spine.
The main stages of therapy
How to treat osteochondrosis? There are many options for therapy: reflexology, magnetostimulation, water procedures, physiotherapy. The specialist must decide which option is right for the patient based on the history and results of the examination. Treatment at home is possible, for example, physiotherapy exercises can perfectly restore the mobility of the spine, relieve symptoms and prevent the rapid development of the disease.
It is important! If the treatment is carried out at home, you should be especially careful with any medication, which is prescribed only by a doctor. This is due to the fact that osteochondrosis is a burden on other organs with drug treatment, and such treatment can result in unpleasant complications or exacerbation of chronic diseases.
We take medication
The basis of drug treatment is the use of vasodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs. Such therapy perfectly eliminates the symptoms and is designed to solve the following problems:
- Stop inflammatory processes.
- Eliminate pain and muscle spasms.
- Stimulate cartilage tissue regeneration.
It is safer to use local products (creams, ointments or gels) when treating at home. Such treatment occurs without side effects, you only need to contact a doctor and strictly follow the instructions.
Folk remedies
Often, "grandmother's recipes" are more effective than all modern and new methods in the treatment of osteochondrosis. Traditional treatments at home include: warming the wound with tea sand or salt, using chicken eggs, vinegar-based ointment, or herbal compresses.
- Glass massage. Fill "one corner" with warm water and roll all the muscles of the back for 15 minutes, especially in the problem area.
- Tennis ball massage. At home, you can use a tennis ball to massage your back, you need to lie down and "ride" on it. Repeat daily.
Drug treatment in complex therapy eliminates pain and spasms.
Physiotherapy
Today, the most popular is the author's therapeutic technique that can be used at home. This treatment is based on preventing the death of spinal cord cells and atrophy of muscle tissue. Therapeutic gymnastics consists of a series of exercises that work all the joints and muscles of the human body, restore lost motor function and eliminate unpleasant symptoms.
Non-drug treatment options
Sanatorium treatment, perhaps the most perfect in the process of treating a disease, is based on the effect of the cause of the disease. During your stay in the sanatorium, you can perform the following procedures:
- Acupuncture.
- Healing showers.
- Ultrasonic and electrotherapy.
- Diet therapy and massage.
- Balneotherapy and mud therapy.
- Apitherapy and salt caves.
Of course, this treatment option is not available at home. For each patient suffering from osteochondrosis, sanatorium doctors will develop an individual therapy plan that will allow not only to restore motor function, but also to forget about the inflammation for a long time.
The effect of the point
Treatment with electrophoresis is indicated at any stage of osteochondrosis, except acute. There are advantages to exposure to point currents: the effect of a drug applied by electrophoresis extends significantly to the area of inflammation. This allows you to quickly improve the patient's condition, eliminate swelling and pain.
Physiotherapy
It works well with other treatment options for osteochondrosis, when performed correctly by a knowledgeable specialist, is highly effective and has minimal side effects:
- Massage. Improves blood circulation and lymph flow, relieves pain and swelling, strengthens muscles. It is shown 2-3 times a year in 10-15 course courses.
- Manual therapy.
- Spinal traction.
- Reflexology.
How to treat osteochondrosis to prevent complications? First of all, you need to find out why the pathology develops and how much damage is done to the spine. You should undergo a thorough examination and only then begin treatment. In addition, it is important to have a proper daily routine, a healthy lifestyle, to give up heavy physical force, not to catch a cold and to maintain the correct posture. If possible, any stress at home and at work should be eliminated, because an uncontrolled muscle spasm occurs, which aggravates the problem with negative emotions.
Osteochondrosis is a long-term disease based on many causes, so there is no way to stop it during treatment. Much depends on the patient, you should not wait for a "magic pill" to end the problem once and for all, you should gather all your will in one fist to leave osteochondrosis, you should insist on the desire to be healthy forever. . This is the only way to restore the elasticity and mobility of the spine for many years.