The explanation of back pain by the presence of osteochondrosis is so common
that patients, having heard a similar diagnosis from a doctor, immediately calm down. This disease is considered by few to be dangerous: it is now diagnosed even in preschool children. And they begin to cure the disease only when the pain becomes unbearable.
How can you notice osteochondrosis and what is it?
Currently, unfortunately, a degenerative change in the spinal discs can indeed be found even in preschool children, not to mention older people.
Symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- pain in the back, neck and chest;
- numbness of the limbs;
- violation of the fingers and hands;
- radiating pain in various areas of the abdomen.
What, in addition to the above symptoms, will help identify spinal osteochondrosis? A photo, or rather, a photograph (radiography), which most recently was one of the main ways to detect a disease, is apparently not enough. Currently, computed tomography and studies using the nuclear magnetic complex have been added to it.
During deformation of the spinal disc, pain occurs not only directly in it, but also radiates to muscles and organs. Depending on the areas in which disc integrity is impaired, the following types of disease are distinguished: osteochondrosis of the cervical , thoracic and lumbar. The latter accounts for 70% of all diseases.
Why does osteochondrosis appear?
Factors affecting the occurrence of osteochondrosis of the spine are as follows:
- complications after infections;
- hereditary predisposition;
- injuries
- sedentary lifestyle;
- metabolic disorders in the body;
- uncomfortable position in which you have to be systematically.
Paradoxically, osteochondrosis, an occupational disease in athletes, arises from excessive motor activity.
Also, changes in the spinal discs can provoke hypothermia.
The danger of this pathology is that the destruction of the vertebral discs, which at the initial stage is manifested only by pain, in advanced cases can cause paresis or paralysis.
Prevention and treatment of the disease
The treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine is selected individually in each case. Therapy depends on the location, symptoms and stage of the disease. That is why experts offer to undergo a full examination.
It is possible to stop the pathology development process and remove the painful effect only in a complex way - in the case when the patient understands the seriousness of his own condition and trusts the doctor, following his instructions.
Therapy of osteochondrosis of the spine includes taking medications that relieve pain and help relieve the inflammatory process, as well as the appointment of physiotherapy procedures and various types of massages. Acupuncture and manual therapy helps to get rid of the disease very well. In advanced cases, you have to resort to surgical intervention.
Physiotherapy exercises, including exercises in the gym and swimming, will help to quickly get rid of complications and restore muscle mobility. Without having mastered a special set of exercises for osteochondrosis of the spine, it is almost impossible to get rid of its consequences. But! All auxiliary procedures can be performed only after removing the acute condition.
In order to prevent the re-development of the disease, the regime of work and rest should be normalized.