Osteochondrosis of the spine is a chronic pathology characterized by destructive and degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs. This disease can develop quickly, causing the development of a hernia that is difficult to treat. Damage to bone and cartilage tissue is rarely diagnosed throughout the spine. Usually, osteochondrosis is detected in one of its parts - cervical, thoracic, lumbar.
Pathological therapy requires an integrated approach, combining the use of drugs, physical therapy, and massage. Before you start treating osteochondrosis, you need to undergo an examination by a vertebrologist or neurologist to determine the cause of the degenerative disorder.
Basic principles of treatment
The danger of osteochondrosis lies in its asymptomatic development in the early stages. This makes it possible to diagnose the disease when the intervertebral disc has undergone irreversible changes. Therefore, even with rare pain in the neck or lower back, dizziness and sudden stiffness of movement, you should see a doctor. Pathologies detected at an early stage can be successfully cured without the use of drugs - the patient is recommended only a set of special exercises.
Since the lack of medical intervention leads to the development of severe complications, a serious approach is taken to the treatment of osteochondrosis. Just following all medical recommendations will help you get rid of pain and stop the destruction of intervertebral discs:
- balanced diet.The dominance of fatty, fried, smoked foods in the diet leads to the accumulation of dangerous cholesterol in the blood vessels located in the spinal column. The narrowing of their lumen prevents the full supply of bones and cartilage with oxygen, nutrients and biologically active substances. The attending physician always advises the patient to give preference to cereal porridge, fresh or roasted vegetables and fruits, lean meat and fish;
- drinking regime.Lack of sufficient fluid in the body triggers the development of water and electrolyte imbalance. In the structure of the vertebrae there is a lack of mineral compounds necessary for their active function. Lack of fluid also leads to the accumulation of waste and toxic compounds that have a negative effect on the regeneration process of cartilage and bone. Daily use 2-2. 5 liters of clean water, tea from chamomile flowers and (or) rose hips will help eliminate the resulting imbalance;
- bad habits.Nicotine and tobacco tar have a negative effect on the condition of the blood vessels that supply all parts of the spine. And when ethyl alcohol is metabolized in the liver, intermediate products are formed that are toxic to the human body. By affecting the peripheral and central nervous system, they interfere with conservation and contribute to the development of inflammation and swelling;
- orthopedic bedding.If a person prefers to sleep on mattresses and pillows that are too hard or soft, then osteochondrosis will not be long. During sleep, blood vessels are compressed, and bone tissue is not fully supplied with the necessary substances and oxygen. If it is not possible to buy an orthopedic device, you should choose bedding with medium hardness.
A person prone to the development of osteochondrosis or already undergoing treatment should avoid heavy lifting or engaging in active sports. During such exercises, all parts of the spine experience significant stress, which can trigger degenerative disorders. But an inactive lifestyle is almost always the cause of the development of osteochondrosis. Neurologists recommend choosing the "golden mean" - long walks in the fresh air, swimming, physical therapy and gymnastics, and yoga.
Treatment with pharmacological drugs
To cure osteochondrosis of the spine, drugs are used for internal and external use. The therapeutic regimen provided by the neurologist should solve the following problems:
- etiotropic treatment aimed at eliminating the cause of the development of degenerative-destructive changes;
- symptomatic therapy is carried out to reduce the severity of the inflammatory process and relieve pain;
- pathogenetic treatment makes it possible to stop the progression of the disease to other parts of the spine and prevent the occurrence of unwanted consequences.
In the treatment of osteochondrosis detected at a moderate or severe stage of pathology, drugs for intravenous, intramuscular or intra-articular administration are used. After relieving acute muscle spasms and restoring blood circulation in the damaged area, the patient is prescribed a course of these drugs in tablets, dragees or capsules.
To treat osteochondrosis, drugs are used that have a large list of contraindications and side effects. Therefore, when prescribing it, the doctor takes into account the general health of the person and the presence of other diseases in the anamnesis. Certain difficulties arise when making a therapeutic regimen for elderly patients and the elderly, because most of them have pathologies of the liver or organs of the urinary system.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
NSAIDs are the drug of first choice in the treatment of osteochondrosis. The disease is often accompanied by acute or low-grade inflammation, causing pain and tissue swelling, gradually spreading to healthy areas of the spine. NSAIDs help to quickly eliminate pathological symptoms.
Parenteral administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs quickly and effectively relieves inflammation and pain. After a few days, the positive results of its use are confirmed by a course of capsules or tablets. NSAIDs are not prescribed to patients with ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. One of the side effects of the treatment is deep damage to the mucous membrane. To prevent ulcers, patients are recommended to take proton pump inhibitors simultaneously with NSAIDs.
Along with the oral administration of NSAIDs, they are used in the form of ointments, creams or gels. An external agent is applied to the damaged area of the spine several times during the day. The active ingredient of the ointment penetrates the inflamed tissue and stops the development of the pathological process, while relieving pain and stiffness of movement.
Glucocorticosteroids and anesthetics
Osteochondrosis is often accompanied by sharp painful spasms that limit freedom of movement. In such cases, the use of paravertebral blockade, which uses anesthetic and hormonal drugs, is practiced.
Local neuromuscular blockade allows not only to quickly eliminate severe pain, but also to completely stop the spread of inflammation due to the presence of glucocorticosteroids. But neurologists use the help of hormonal drugs in extreme cases, when NSAIDs are ineffective. Hormonal drugs can have serious side effects, one of which is a sudden decrease in immunity.
Painkillers and antispasmodics
To reduce the severity of pain, drugs with analgesic and antispasmodic activity are used. They affect smooth muscle fibers, weakening their tone. Capsules and tablets have a long-lasting effect, which allows them to be used as a prophylactic agent for pathological recurrence.
In cases complicated by severe inflammation, it is advisable to combine antispasmodics and painkillers to enhance the pharmacological effect. The use of this combination is most relevant in the treatment of patients in whom the pathological process has caused an increase in temperature and symptoms of general intoxication.
Relax the muscles
Relaxing the muscles will help reduce the severity or completely eliminate the muscle spasms that often occur with osteochondrosis. Doctors prefer to combine its use with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain. This allows you to significantly reduce the dose of NSAIDs, at the same time achieve a wider spectrum of therapeutic activity and minimize the possibility of damage to the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.
Osteochondrosis of the neck and back can be treated with the following muscle relaxants:
- Intramuscular administration of anticholinergics helps dilate the blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients to the vertebral structures. At the same time, muscle relaxants have an analgesic effect;
- the use of GABAb stimulants helps to quickly relieve painful muscle spasms. The patient regains the ability to move without experiencing discomfort;
- with the help of a2-adrenergic receptor agonists, the natural mobility of the intervertebral disc that has lost its ability to absorb shock is restored. A single dose of the drug effectively eliminates even the worst pain.
Muscle relaxants successfully cope with the treatment of osteochondrosis, but when prescribing it, neurologists warn patients not to exceed the dose. Some drugs cause mental and physical addiction. Muscle relaxants are not recommended for people with urinary organ pathology due to the possibility of accumulation of active substances in the tissues.
Chondroprotectors and vitamins
These drugs are used in the treatment of osteochondrosis to strengthen and restore damaged intervertebral discs. Chondroprotectors are first given parenterally, and after a few days the patient takes this medicine in capsules or tablets. The duration of the treatment course is from several months to a year. Thanks to the presence of glucosamine and chondroitin as active ingredients, chondroprotectors gradually regenerate damaged bones, cartilage and joint tissue, normalizing their functional activity.
B vitamins are used to improve the regeneration in damaged intervertebral discs. Before starting to treat osteochondrosis, the cause of the pain syndrome is established. It usually occurs when a nerve located in the spine is pinched. A course of vitamin B intake normalizes the conduction of nerve impulses.
Physiotherapy procedures
Various physiotherapeutic techniques are used to treat osteochondrosis of any part of the spine. Neurologists usually choose one of them, which is most suitable for a particular patient. However, if the pathology occurs against the background of severe inflammation, the use of several physiotherapy methods is practiced. The most effective methods include:
- ultraviolet irradiation;
- electrotherapy;
- balneotherapy;
- magnetic therapy;
- shock wave therapy;
- detensor therapy;
- point or zone vibration effects.
Doctors often combine the above methods with electrophoresis to speed up the patient's recovery.
Before the procedure, tissue tampons soaked in a solution of antispasmodics, anesthetics, and chondroprotectors are applied to the damaged area of the spine. Above is a metal plate through which a weak electric current discharges. This ensures the delivery of the drug directly to the damaged intervertebral disc.
Therapeutic massage and gymnastics
You can get rid of osteochondrosis with the help of classical or oriental massage, but on condition that there is no acute or chronic inflammatory process in the spine. Pain syndrome is also important. This procedure is carried out only in the complete absence of strong discomfort. Indications for massage are stiffness of movement, excessive muscle tension, poor circulation. Therapeutic manipulation is carried out by a specialist, and after feeling better, the patient can carry out the procedure at home using a rolled towel or a piece of dense cloth.
After several sessions, the symptoms of osteochondrosis weaken due to the multifaceted therapeutic effect:
- blood circulation is restored in the damaged area;
- delivery of nutrients and molecular oxygen continues;
- conservation of all parts of the spine is normalized.
Therapeutic gymnastics classes are also initially conducted under the supervision of a trainer, who selects a set of exercises individually for each patient. In the early stages of the pathology, this will help you forget about painful spasms forever, even without using pharmacological drugs. After recovery, doing a set of exercises serves as an excellent prevention against any spinal disease.
Recipes from traditional medicine practitioners
Cervical or thoracic osteochondrosis can be treated with folk remedies only after primary treatment. It is advisable to use medicinal herbs, mumiyo, ethyl alcohol or honey during the recovery period or at the remission stage to avoid pathological recurrence. What traditional medicine experts recommend:
- Brew a liter of boiling water 3 tablespoons. spoon of St. wortJohn and 7 tbsp. spoon of elecampane. Leave for 2 hours, filter. Drink 0. 5 cups after each meal;
- take a warm bath every day, add 10-15 drops of essential oil of thuja, eucalyptus, fir, sage, palmarosa to the water;
- apply a compress in the form of a linen cloth soaked in a mixture of equal parts honey and 40% ethyl alcohol for 1-2 hours.
Folk remedies are used only with the approval of the attending physician. Many of them have heating properties, so they are not acceptable to use in cases of severe inflammation due to the possibility of the pathological process spreading to healthy areas of the spine.
All patients of neurologists wonder if it is possible to cure osteochondrosis without the intervention of a surgeon. In most cases, the use of pharmacological drugs and physiotherapeutic procedures are sufficient to fully restore the intervertebral disc. If the doctor insists on surgical intervention, then you cannot refuse. Modern methods are very effective and safe, and do not imply a long recovery period.