Osteochondrosis - damage to the discs and cartilage of the spine. Unfortunately, the problem is widespread - almost every second person over the age of 40 is diagnosed with the disease. But the good news is that musculoskeletal disorders can be remedied if they are detected early. The following describes the treatment of spinal osteochondrosis in adults, the symptoms, and preventive measures.
Causes of occurrence
People over the age of 40 are at risk. But some factors influence the appearance of the problem in adolescence. The list of causes of the disease includes:
- obesity;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- delayed spinal injuries with displacement;
- scoliosis and flat feet;
- pregnancy;
- constant load on the spine.
Congenital disorders of the spine, oncology in this area, and prolonged stress contribute to the development of the disease. Regardless of the factor, our clinic specialists select the optimal treatment plan for spinal osteochondrosis and help get rid of the disease.
Stages of development
Initially, changes in the spine do not cause problems, but over time, all body systems malfunction. The disease has 4 stages:
- The height of the patient's intervertebral disc decreases. Fibrous ring cracks appear. The pathology does not go beyond one of the components.
- The muscles and ligaments attached to the plate move closer together. They lose their voice and sag. The defect affects adjacent vertebrae. They gain extra mobility. The vertebral segment is becoming less and less stable. Vertebrae can move, slide down, causing spondylolisthesis.
- There is an unnatural protrusion, arthrosis, and the formation of dislocations in the intervertebral discs.
- The affected parts try to adapt to the new conditions, get rid of excessive mobility at the expense of the forces of the body and protect the spine. As a result, osteophytes are formed - bone growths. They injure the nerve roots of the spinal cord.
The final stage, in the absence of treatment for spinal osteochondrosis, manifests itself in the form of severe painful pain in the problem area, but then the pathology takes a latent form. And the patient no longer feels discomfort. A bony shell is formed on the vertebrae, which "walled" the entire engine segment.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis
Degenerative-dystrophic tissue damage results in wear on the vertebrae, joint surfaces, and intervertebral discs. The disease manifests as back pain, but can spread to other parts of the body. There are discomfort in the legs, numbness in the fingers and hands, pain in the genital area, in the head, in the heart.
In women, the disease is more often manifested by pain in the lumbar region. But they often diagnose a problem in the neck, chest, or multiple areas at once. Activity decreases and fatigue increases - both mental and physical. Sensitivity of the upper and lower limbs is impaired.
The most common symptoms in cervical spine pathology are headache, sharp decrease in vision, and eye fatigue. Loss of the lumbosacral region threatens with dysfunction of the reproductive system.
Effects
Lack of proper consideration of the problem in the early stages threatens severe disorders in all systems of the body. The patient experiences severe pain, heart attack, dizziness, nausea, and chills. In advanced cases, spinal cord stroke, brain damage, and the development of vascular and heart disease are possible.
For the first symptoms of osteochondrosis, you should see a doctor without medication. Uncontrolled intake of painkillers only makes the situation worse.
Prevention of osteochondrosis
Preventive measures include an active lifestyle, proper nutrition and weight control. Yoga and Pilates classes are suitable for strengthening the muscle band. Courses on special decompression simulators - ideal for kinesitherapy. These simulators are specifically designed for atraumatic repair of the spine and joints. An orthopedic mattress is chosen for sleep. High or flat pillows are not used.
Diagnostics
A medical history is taken to identify the problem and prescribe the most effective method of treating osteochondrosis. All patient complaints are considered. They perform a visual inspection. Includes:
- posture assessment;
- examination of the skin;
- palpation and tapping of areas where the patient complains of pain;
- determination of skin sensitivity.
In addition, the study of the spine most affected is assigned. The patient is referred for x-ray, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The procedures reveal the extent of the damage to the posterior area, the nerve processes and the condition of the blood vessels.
The Medical Innovation Center also diagnoses problems with ultrasound. Ultrasound is an informative, safe, and less expensive way to detect pathology.
Osteochondrosis treatment methods
An integrated approach is needed to completely eradicate the disease. The way to eliminate this depends on the etiology of the disease, the age of the patient, the degree of damage to a part of the body. The following methods are used in our center for the treatment of osteochondrosis.
The clinic for the treatment of osteochondrosis offers a comprehensive diagnosis, an individual approach and a high standard of disease prevention. The clinic employs excellent professionals with excellent experience, including doctors and medical candidates. Many doctors have received the highest qualification category. The staff of our center for the treatment of osteochondrosis is able to use their experience, knowledge and skills to provide effective help in getting rid of the pathology of adults.
At the Innovative Medical Center, professionals ’attention is directed to finding and eliminating the causes of pain syndrome, as well as further rehabilitation. To relieve pain, the patient prescribes blockages, acupuncture courses, shock wave therapy (shock wave), or Khivamat therapy. Then comes the restoration of damaged spinal functions, using the following modern and effective methods to treat osteochondrosis:
Physiotherapy
The patient is assigned a number of exercises, which he performs on special simulators and additional equipment: rollers, balls. During the tasks, the load is removed from the spine, the muscles are trained, and the joints are restored. Strengthening the ligament is a guarantee that the disease will return after a certain period of time. The method has a minimal list of contraindications and is suitable for patients of any age.
Mass therapy
It is prescribed only after removal of the exacerbation. The minimum course is 10 sessions. It helps eliminate swelling, relieves pain and improves blood circulation. The technique and goals of the procedure depend on the exact diagnosis. For example, in the case of cervical spine problems, the work is done with the cervical-collar zone. The specialist performs rubbing, stroking and kneading to relieve pain and invigorate. But the therapist may also prescribe treatment for osteochondrosis with acupressure massage. During this procedure, pain and acupuncture points are involved.
Acupuncture
The main function of acupuncture is 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 skin being treated. 10-15 procedures are prescribed as a standard. In complex treatment, the number of procedures may be less due to the complementary effect of other procedures. The manipulations are virtually painless. The effect of needles is similar to mosquito bites. Although it all depends on the patient’s pain threshold.
At the Innovative Medical Center, this modern method is used to treat osteochondrosis by doctors of medicine. Experienced professionals perform the manipulations competently, so you don’t 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 - herniated disc and other pathologies of the spine. The principle of shock wave therapy is that it affects the affected area with a shock wave. This causes the destruction of salts and salt deposits and improves blood circulation.
The duration of the procedure is about 5 minutes. A separate system 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. After 2-3 times, a positive trend can be observed.
Sweeping
The therapist uses tape, a flexible patch to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Gently fix it on the affected area of the body, slightly lifting the top layer of skin. The physiological mobility of the patient is not restricted.
Kinesapming is prescribed in conjunction with physiotherapy practices. Because of its elasticity, which is compared to the elasticity of the skin, the tape affects the inflamed area from day one. By default, 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 physiological and anatomical knowledge is required to apply the tape. At our center, this procedure is performed by experienced chiropractors.
PRP therapy
Plasma therapy - injections of the patient's own plasma. To implement it, special equipment is used to extract platelets from the blood. Plasma is mixed with blood cells and injected into the patient. The procedure allows the tissue to be regenerated quickly and the inflammation to be stopped. As a result, joint fluid is restored and joint mobility is improved. Blood circulation is improved in damaged tissues.
The process takes about 20 minutes. The duration of the course depends on the stage of the disease. On average, 2-6 procedures are prescribed.
Each consists of 3 sections:
- They perform a blood sample.
- Plasma is being made.
- Autoplasma is injected into the affected area.
Plasma administration does not cause pain. The patient feels only mild discomfort.
The method eliminates not only the symptoms but also the cause of the disease. Provides a long-term effect.
At the Innovative Medical Center, you can get detailed advice from a traumatologist, neurologist or physiotherapist. After diagnosis, a package of measures is prescribed to get rid of back disease without pills. We have state-of-the-art equipment and offer effective methods to treat osteochondrosis in women and men of any age.