The treatment of osteochondrosis (rickets, intervertebral hernia) today is not very difficult, it is only important to correctly determine the cause of the pathology and the presence of concomitant diseases. However, any practitioner who specializes in the treatment of diseases of the back or spine as a whole, in the course of practice, has crystallized his own, quickly helping techniques that are best 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 inappropriate to use only one method for the treatment of osteochondrosis, as a rule, polyclinic therapists "sin" with it, prescribing analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs to patients that eliminate the unpleasant symptoms and lead to the problem with the spine without deepaffect the cause. As a result, a person, without feeling pain, continues to load the damaged vertebrae, the pathology worsens and after a while, with the next strong attack, a bouquet of problems "emerges" that can not be eliminated.
The root of the problem and some criticism
Before starting treatment, it would 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", as well as two concepts that 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 the patient with osteochondrosis. In addition, back pain is just a symptom and not a disease.
Osteochondrosis treatment methods have remained established for decades, but with the availability of modern methods of examining the patient in the "old" techniques, more and more "cracks and chips" are revealed. Most of the methods aim to eliminate the clinical symptoms andcauses of pathology.
The use of drugs
Unfortunately, this is a method that aims to ensure that the patient "left quickly healthy". In addition, the patients themselves turn to a specialist and begin to treat the disease even when the pathological process blooms with great force and the pain tears everything around, preventing normal movement. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs remove all the negative symptoms, making healing elusive and the cause of the disease remains intact. In clinics, this procedure is placed on a 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 in the vertebrae intensifies as the person, without feeling pain, begins to fully load the back.
- NSAIDs disrupt the function 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 most often supported by old-school doctors, who believe that if you put the damaged vertebrae in place, the problem will disappear. The "all diseases of the spine" constitution is not entirely true, because the spine adapts to the circumstances, it is not in vain that it is so flexible. However, proper nutrition of the intervertebral discs and vertebrae is only possible when standing. However, the erect vertebrae, if a person continues to sit crooked or there is severe inflammation of the intervertebral discs, over time will "slip" again, returning all the marks. Also, do not confuse manual therapy with osteopathy.
Massage, classic items
This method consists in the influence of the patient's muscles and connective tissue, is able to relieve the symptoms of the disease and relieve the patient for several months. The effectiveness of such a treatment for osteochondrosis depends directly on the qualifications of the person doing the massage. But in 95% of cases, it is not possible to remove the cause of osteochondrosis by hand, as well as to cure the disease if the specialist works only with the area of pain and inflammation.
Osteopathy
This method of treating osteochondrosis is delicate and gentle, but a good osteopath should have sensitive hands, a research mind and a calm mind. He, taking the patient by the hand, can feel all the processes that take place in the body. Not every doctor is able to have a sense of hypersensitivity, so good osteopaths deserve their weight in gold. Ideally, osteopaths should treat all the problems that the patient has, but in reality they only eliminate the pain. Patients themselves are partly to blame for this, only demanding that they be relieved of the pain, as an osteopath session costs about three times as much as a massage therapist. By saving money, they remove the symptoms, but deprive themselves of the opportunity to be treated as fully as possible. Due to its softness, osteopathy is suitable even for children.
Osteopathy is a gentle and gentle method that is suitable even for children.
Chinese medicine
The pitfalls here are in the absence of pre-medical diagnosis of the patient, all manipulations, as a rule, are based on the assumptions of the doctor, which are not always accurate. Before performing a high quality acupuncture procedure, you must:
- Diagnostic electroporation.
- Pulse diagnostics.
- Diagnostics according to the Akabane method.
A patient who has back pain receives many needles, the pain will be relieved, the symptoms will disappear, but they will return in a few hours. Repeated acupuncture, relief - and the cycle is closed. A good specialist does not insert needles, based only on the patient's external examination and history. It works with only 1-4 needles in deep levels, trying to eliminate the root cause of osteochondrosis, and not just the symptoms.
Visceral therapy
The treatment for osteochondrosis here is to work with the internal organs. This is due to the fact that often the cause of the pathological condition of the spine is either a wrong arrangement of organs, or a violation of 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 studied 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 to stick to the old directions of treatment of osteochondrosis. And, of course, it is important to find a specialist, you should not contact those who have learned some difficult moves and "opened their own office".
Today, these techniques are the most progressive, in many ways helping people get rid of the problems associated with osteochondrosis. But it is important to remember about the psychological side: the disease will not disappear if a person stubbornly ignores the reason why osteochondrosis has developed, does not want to change his lifestyle and thinking. You should not blame the health problems only on the doctor, without helping him in the treatment.
Exercise, yoga, qigong - aim to work with the body and help eliminate problems with the spine.
The main stages of treatment
How is osteochondrosis treated? There are many options for treatment: reflexology, magnetic stimulation, water procedures, physiotherapy methods. The specialist must decide which option is appropriate for the patient, based on the results of the history and examination. Home treatment is possible, for example, physiotherapy exercises, it is able to perfectly restore the mobility of the spine, eliminate the symptoms and prevent the rapid development of the disease.
Great! If the treatment is carried out at home, then you must be especially careful with any medications prescribed exclusively by your doctor. This is explained by the fact that with the drug treatment of osteochondrosis, there is a burden on other organs and such a treatment can be fraught with unpleasant complications or exacerbations of chronic diseases.
We take medication
The basis of drug therapy is the administration of vasodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs. Such a treatment perfectly relieves the symptoms and is designed to solve the following problems:
- Stop inflammatory processes.
- Relieve pain and muscle spasm.
- Stimulate the regeneration of cartilage tissue.
It is safer to use topical products (creams, ointments or gels) during home treatment. This treatment is carried out without side effects, it is only necessary to coordinate it with the doctor and strictly follow the instructions.
Folk remedies
Often, "grandma's recipes" are more effective in treating osteochondrosis than all modern and newer methods. Traditional home remedies include: warming a sore spot with sand or river salt, using ointments based on chicken eggs, vinegar or using herbal compresses.
- Bottle massage. Fill the "one and a half" with warm water and roll all the back muscles for 15 minutes, especially stopping in the problem area.
- Massage with a tennis ball. At home, you can use a tennis ball to massage your back, so you just have to lie on it and "drive". Repeated daily.
Medication in combination therapy relieves pain, relieves spasms.
Physiotherapy
The most popular today is the author's healing technique, which can be used at home. This treatment is based on the fact that the spinal cord cells are not allowed 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, restoring lost motor functions and relieving unpleasant symptoms.
Drug-free treatment options
Sanatorium treatment, perhaps, can be called the most complete in the process of treating a disease, based on the effect on the cause of the disease. During your stay at the sanatorium, you can receive the following procedures:
- Acupuncture.
- Therapeutic showers.
- Ultrasound and electrotherapy.
- Nutritional therapy and massage.
- Treatment with bath therapy and mud.
- Bee therapy and salt caves.
Of course, this treatment option is not available at home. For each patient suffering from osteochondrosis, the sanatorium doctors will develop an individual treatment plan that will allow not only to restore motor functions, but also to forget the exacerbations for a long time.
Point effect
Electrophoresis treatment is indicated at any stage of osteochondrosis, except acute. Exposure to a point current has its advantages: the effect of a drug administered 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 goes well with other treatment options for osteochondrosis, when done properly by a specialist, shows high efficiency and has minimal side effects:
- Massage. Improves blood circulation and lymph flow, relieves pain and swelling, strengthens muscles. Appears in courses of 10-15 procedures, 2-3 times a year.
- Manual therapy.
- Spinal traction.
- Reflexology.
How to treat osteochondrosis to avoid complications? First, you need to find out why the pathology has developed, how much damage the vertebrae are. You should have a full examination and only then start treatment. In addition, the right daily routine, healthy lifestyle are important, you need to stop exercising, try not to get cold and maintain the right posture. If possible, any stress at home and at work should be eliminated, as negative emotions lead to an uncontrollable muscle spasm, which further aggravates the problem.
Osteochondrosis is a long-term current disease, which is based on many reasons, therefore, during treatment, one can not stop with any method. Much depends on the patient himself, you do not have to wait for a "magic pill" to end the problem immediately, to break up with osteochondrosis you have to concentrate all your will in one fist, to be persistent in the desire to become healthyforever . This is the only way to restore the flexibility and mobility of the spine for many years.