In modern conditions, young people often suffer from osteochondrosis.This is due to a sedentary lifestyle, because even in our free time we often spend in front of the computer, of course, sitting.Osteochondrosis can cause a lot of discomfort and significantly reduce the quality of life.Fortunately, the disease can be treated symptomatically: today there are many therapeutic solutions for it.
Symptoms and causes of osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis is a degenerative lesion of the intervertebral discs and adjacent bone tissue.It can be cervical, thoracic and lumbar;It all depends on the area of the spine in which the pathological changes began.In osteochondrosis, the intervertebral disc is mainly affected.Due to metabolic disorders, it becomes deformed and loses elasticity, which causes the distance between the vertebrae to decrease and the nerves extending from the spinal cord to become pinched.The result is severe pain, limited mobility, rapid fatigue and changes in posture, which makes the situation even worse.
The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis is excessive, unbalanced load on the spine, which occurs, for example, in the presence of excess weight, during sedentary work or other need to be in an uncomfortable position for a long time.Osteochondrosis can be caused by flat feet or daily wearing shoes with too high heels, sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress, and weakness of the muscle corset.Pregnant women are also at risk.
However, osteochondrosis is not always the result of direct stress on the vertebrae.Often this disease is caused by metabolic disorders, chronic intoxication, hormonal and autoimmune diseases, deficiency of certain vitamins (in particular, vitamins D, C and B), injuries and, finally, age-related changes.
Unfortunately, neurologists often diagnose “osteochondrosis” for any structural change in the body.For example, when an x-ray shows changes in the spine, such as tilts, growths, scoliosis, sprains, the patient is most likely treated for osteochondrosis.If there are no spinal abnormalities, a diagnosis of "psychogenic pain" can be made.Meanwhile, the cause of back pain remains unrevealed.
Chinese medicine considers the human body as a whole.Therefore, when a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctor makes a diagnosis, he gets to the root of the problem, which he identifies through its symptoms.Eliminating the "root" of the disease also alleviates its manifestations, even helping to eliminate back pain.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis largely depend on the location of the source of the disease.With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the disease begins with pain in the neck and arms, headaches and numbness of the fingers.Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is characterized by the following symptoms: acute back pain, tingling in the chest, shortness of breath.Osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is accompanied by pain in the lower back and legs, numbness of the feet, and genitourinary disorders are also observed: urination disorders, sexual dysfunction in men, problems with the ovaries in women.
From the point of view of traditional Chinese medicine, the list of manifestations of the disease is complemented by the following symptoms:
- pain that radiates to the buttocks or legs;
- muscle heaviness and stiffness;
- feeling of coldness on the back;
- night sweats;
- heat in palms and soles;
- tinnitus;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- coldness in the extremities and lack of energy;
- sharp pain anywhere;
- increased body temperature;
- swelling in the extremities.
The pulse can be different: from deep, threadlike and slow, to vibrant and frequent.Symptoms, such as the nature of the pulse, may depend on the underlying cause of the disease.
Most often, people notice the first signs of osteochondrosis around the age of 25, but ignore them for a long time.Therefore, patients usually go to the doctor between the ages of 30 and 35 and many of them suffer from osteochondrosis in an advanced form.
How is osteochondrosis treated?
If your doctor has diagnosed you with osteochondrosis, be patient: the treatment will be long.An integrated approach significantly accelerates the healing process, but in any case, curing osteochondrosis in a month is impossible.
The course of treatment for osteochondrosis should be divided into several stages, each of which pursues specific goals.
The first step is to eliminate the pain.You may be recommended to wear a special corset that holds your back and neck in a physiologically correct position.Pain relievers and various procedures are prescribed: both from the arsenal of physiotherapy and those related to traditional medicine, for example acupuncture, which has long been officially recognized and included in the Nomenclature of Medical Services.
The second stage of treatment for osteochondrosis is the restoration of intervertebral discs and the prevention of degenerative changes.As a rule, physiotherapy, massage, manual therapy, acupuncture, dietary correction and physiotherapy procedures aimed at improving blood circulation and normalizing metabolic processes are indicated.
A neurologist can prescribe pain relievers and anti-inflammatories.If necessary, a novocaine block or a more serious treatment aimed at relieving the spasm is used.However, the source of the disease remaining in the body causes the disease to reappear after some time.
Traditional Chinese medicine doctors often prove in practice that the diagnosis of "osteochondrosis" is made incorrectly in many situations.In cases where this conclusion is confirmed, the TCM doctor relieves the patient's swelling and begins the restoration of tendons and muscles.Spasms of the longitudinal and oblique muscles are gradually eliminated and the ability to move in its full range returns to the joint.This treatment in most cases favors recovery.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, the patient will also have to reconsider his habits: for the treatment to give the desired results, it is necessary to dose the loads, alternating walks with rest, sometimes it is advisable to walk with a cane for a while.Pharmacological treatment consists of taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, relaxants, group B vitamins and glucocorticoids.
In addition to classic medical massage, acupressure, acupuncture and leech treatment, physiotherapy and phytotherapy are used to treat this type of osteochondrosis.All of these procedures can be performed in a regular clinic or an authorized oriental medicine center.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Cervical osteochondrosis is extremely common, even among young people;Sometimes it is even diagnosed in schoolchildren and students who spend too much time in front of textbooks and computers.This type of osteochondrosis is dangerous because it can cause complications such as blurred vision or increased intracranial pressure, which manifests itself in severe headaches.
To treat osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants are used, as well as a course of vitamin B injections.
Massages in the collar area, ultrasound and electrophoresis may also be prescribed.It is extremely important to lead an active lifestyle, develop correct posture, train yourself to take breaks at work and do a little warm-up in the middle of the work day.
Among the means of traditional medicine (including oriental) in the treatment of this type of osteochondrosis, the following are widely used: acupuncture, acupressure and herbal remedies: phytotherapeutic agents improve the metabolism and functioning of small vessels, relieve inflammation, which has a beneficial effect on health in general and the musculoskeletal system in particular.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine.
During the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, the habit of dosing loads plays an important role: you should not spend too much time standing and sitting, you should rest more often in a lying position.Additionally, you will have to wear a corset for a while to improve your posture.
As with cervical osteochondrosis, for lumbar osteochondrosis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants, B vitamins, often glucocorticosteroids, enzymes and ointments are prescribed that improve blood circulation and relieve pain.
Massages, exposure to therapeutic mud and electrophoresis with analgesics, warming, including hot stones, are indicated - this is stone therapy, which has been popular in recent years.
Treatment of osteochondrosis using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) methods
The approach to the treatment of various types of osteochondrosis, practiced in traditional Chinese medicine, deserves special attention.From the perspective of thousands of years of experience of Chinese doctors, the key method of treating osteochondrosis is acupuncture, also called acupuncture.First of all, the doctor specializing in traditional Chinese medicine determines the priority hypersensitive points (acupuncture) for each patient.It acts on them with the finest needles.This triggers a response from the body that helps restore damaged cartilage and bones and restore joint mobility.
After therapy, to consolidate the therapeutic effect and keep the body in shape, it is recommended to repeat acupuncture courses with a certain frequency in the future, but for preventive purposes.
The needle placement technique and the duration of the acupuncture session are influenced by the diagnosis and condition of the patient.As a general rule, acupuncture sessions are well tolerated by all patients, although the sensations of the procedure differ between patients.For some, the introduction of needles goes unnoticed;Others may experience a stinging sensation, slight pressure, and others may even fall asleep.
It cannot be said that the appearance of osteochondrosis occurs due to a single factor;In most cases, the cause of the development of the disease is a general inadequate lifestyle.Therefore, the treatment must be comprehensive.A diet rich in vitamins, including avoidance of fatty foods, alcohol and smoking, and precisely calculated physical activity in combination with therapeutic and medicinal methods, allows you to achieve better results than simply taking pills.