Osteochondrosis - damage to the discs and cartilage of the spine. Unfortunately, the problem is widespread - almost every second person is diagnosed with the disease over the age of 40. But the good news is that musculoskeletal disorders can be removed if detected early. We will describe the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine in adults, symptoms and preventive measures below.
Causes
People over the age of 40 are at risk. But some factors affect the onset of the problem in adolescence. The list of causes of the disease includes:
- obesity;
- sedentary way of life;
- delayed spinal 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. Regardless of the factor, the specialists from our clinic will choose the optimal plan for the treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine and will help get rid of the disease.
Stages of development
Initially, changes in the spine do not cause problems, but over time, all body systems are damaged. The disease has 4 stages:
- The height of the diseased intervertebral disc decreases. Fibrous annular cracks appear. The pathology does not exceed one component.
- The muscles and ligaments attached to the disc move closer. They lose their tone and sag. The defect affects the adjacent vertebrae. They acquire additional mobility. The vertebral segment becomes less and less stable. The vertebrae can move, slide, causing spondylolisthesis.
- There is unnatural protrusion, development of osteoarthritis and dislocations in the intervertebral discs.
- Affected parts try to adapt to new conditions, get rid of excess mobility at the expense of body forces and protect the spine. As a result, osteophytes - bone growths - are formed. They injure the nerve roots of the spinal cord.
The last stage, in the absence of treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine, manifests itself in the form of severe pain in the problem area, but then the pathology takes a latent form. And the patient stops feeling discomfort. A bone sheath forms on the vertebrae, which "walls" the entire motor segment.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
In degenerative-dystrophic tissue injuries, abrasion of the vertebrae, joint surfaces and intervertebral discs occurs. The disease manifests itself as back pain, but can also spread to other parts of the body. There is discomfort in the legs, tingling in the fingers and hands, pain in the genitals, 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 several areas at once. Activity decreases and fatigue increases - both mental and physical. The sensitivity of the upper and lower limbs is impaired.
In pathology of the cervical spine, the most common symptoms are: headache, a sharp decrease in vision and eye fatigue. Defeat of the lumbosacral region threatens with dysfunction of the reproductive system.
Effects
Lack of proper attention to the problem in the early stages threatens with serious disorders in all body systems. The patient experiences severe pain, feeling of heart attack, dizziness, nausea, chills. In advanced cases, spinal stroke, brain damage and the development of vascular and cardiac pathologies are possible.
It is important to consult a doctor at the first symptoms of osteochondrosis for drug-free treatment. Uncontrolled intake of painkillers will only make the situation worse.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
Preventive measures include an active lifestyle, good nutrition and weight control. Yoga and Pilates classes are suitable for strengthening the muscular corset. Classes in special decompression simulators - kinesitherapy are ideal. These simulators are specially designed to restore the spine and joints in an atraumatic way. An orthopedic mattress was chosen for sleeping. High or flat pillows are not used.
Diagnosis
A history is taken to identify the problem and prescribe the most effective method of treating osteochondrosis. All patient complaints are taken into account. A visual inspection is performed. Includes:
- assessment of body position;
- skin examination;
- palpation and patting of areas where the patient complains of pain;
- determination of skin sensitivity.
In addition, an examination 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 condition of the nervous processes, the blood vessels is revealed.
The Center for Medical Innovation also uses ultrasound to diagnose problems. Ultrasound is informative, safe and is considered a cheaper way to detect pathology.
Methods of treatment of osteochondrosis
An integrated approach is needed to get rid of the disease completely. The choice of ways to remove it depends on the etiology of the disease, the patient's age, the degree of damage to a part of the body. The following methods are used in our osteochondrosis treatment center.
The clinic for treatment of osteochondrosis offers comprehensive diagnosis, individual approach and high quality prevention of the disease. The clinic employs excellent specialists with extensive experience, including doctors and candidates for medical sciences. Many doctors are awarded the highest qualification category. Using their experience, knowledge and skills, the staff of our osteochondrosis treatment center are able to provide effective help to get rid of pathology in adults.
At the Innovation Medical Center, the attention of specialists is focused on finding and eliminating the causes of the pain syndrome and further rehabilitation. To relieve the pain, the patient is prescribed blockades, acupuncture courses, shock wave therapy (shock wave) or Khivamat therapy. Then comes the period of recovery of impaired spinal functions, during which the following modern and effective methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis are used:
Kinesitherapy
The patient is assigned a number of exercises, which he performs on special simulators and using additional equipment: rollers, balls. When performing tasks, the load is removed from the spine, muscles are trained, joints are restored. Strengthening the muscular corset is a guarantee that there is no risk of recurrence of the disease after a certain period. The method has a minimal list of contraindications and is suitable for patients of all ages.
Mass therapy
It is prescribed only after the exacerbation has been removed. The minimum course is 10 sessions. Helps 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, work with the cervical collar is performed. The specialist performs rubbing, stroking and kneading to relieve pain, revive. But the therapist can also prescribe treatment for osteochondrosis with acupressure massage. During this procedure, sore spots and acupuncture points are affected.
Acupuncture
The main tasks of acupuncture are to relax the deep layers of the muscles, relieve pain and increase the blood supply to the affected areas of the body. The session lasts 20-60 minutes. The duration depends on the size of the treated skin. 10-15 procedures are prescribed as standard. With a complex course of treatment, the number of procedures may be smaller due to the additional effect of other procedures. The manipulations are practically painless. The action of the needles is similar to a mosquito bite. 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 sciences. Experienced professionals 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 - disc herniation and other pathologies of the ridge. The principle of action of shock wave therapy is to act on the affected area with shock wave. Therefore, the destruction of salts and salt deposits occurs, blood circulation improves.
The duration of the procedure is about 5 minutes. An individual regimen is chosen for each patient, depending on the degree of development of the pathology. The effectiveness of the therapy is compared to a deep, intense massage. Already after 2-3 sessions a positive trend is noticed.
Kinesittaping
The therapist uses a band-aid, an elastic band-aid, to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Carefully fix it on the affected area of the body, slightly lifting the top layer of skin. The patient is not limited in physiological mobility.
Kinesitaping is prescribed along 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 a rule, the plaster is fixed for 3-5 days and 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 to patients of all ages and genders. 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. To perform it, special equipment is used, which extracts platelets from the blood. Plasma is mixed with blood cells and injected into the patient. The procedure allows you to quickly regenerate the affected tissue, to stop the inflammation. As a result, joint fluid is restored and joint mobility is improved. Improves blood circulation in damaged tissues.
The process takes about 20 minutes. The duration of the course depends on the stage of the disease. On average, 2 to 6 procedures are prescribed.
Each of them consists of 3 stages:
- Blood sampling is performed.
- Plasma is being prepared.
- The autoplasma is injected into the affected area.
Plasma administration 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 ensured.
At the Innovative Medical Center you can get detailed advice from a traumatologist, neurologist, physiotherapist. Once diagnosed, they will prescribe a set of measures aimed at getting rid of back diseases without pills. We have modern equipment and offer effective methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis in women and men of all ages.