Osteochondrosis of the back: how to treat, symptoms, a complete description of the disease

CT of the lumbar spine in normal conditions and in osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the back occurs not only in the elderly, but also in young patients. The reasons for the development of the disease are associated with a large load or the development of infections that affect different segments of the body and lead to the creation of pathological changes. What to do if discomfort and other signs appear? It is necessary to stop exercising if back pain occurs during physical exertion, and to visit a doctor to determine the causes and select treatment methods.

Symptoms of pathology

The symptoms of the development of osteochondrosis are characterized by various manifestations. In most cases, patients have back pain, however, the presence of symptoms does not yet indicate the appearance of osteochondrosis. The nature of the pain syndrome is different, which is related to the individual characteristics of the patients. In addition, signs do not always appear, especially in the early stages of development.

If your back hurts, then it is not recommended to make sudden movements, otherwise the discomfort will increase. Often ignoring this rule leads to increased symptoms. Painful feelings can be sharp or painful. During the exacerbation phase, adjacent areas can also be injured.

General manifestations of osteochondrosis of the back are represented by the following signs:

  1. Numbness of arms, legs.
  2. Reduced hand and finger performance.
  3. Painful sensations in the chest, neck and lower back.
  4. Spread of pain to adjacent areas.

Thoracic department

When the thoracic region is affected, pain occurs during physical exertion. The symptom spreads to the arm or the area between the shoulder blades. Patients often confuse the manifestations of osteochondrosis of the chest with cardiovascular diseases, because back pain is given to the sternum.

Thoracic spine pain with osteochondrosis

The patient's condition is characterized by cramps that occur when inhaling or exhaling. Discomfort is especially common at night, which is associated with uncomfortable posture during sleep. Treatment must be started on time, otherwise complications will occur.

Cervical

In addition to the defeat of the cervical spine, osteochondrosis has its own characteristics:

  1. The presence of noise and buzzing in the ears and head.
  2. Decreased ability of the organs of sight and hearing, double vision.
  3. Dizziness.
  4. There is pain in the back of the head and neck, often radiating to the back.
  5. The patient feels tired.
  6. The spread of pain syndrome occurs in the area of the shoulders, shoulders and arms.
Neck pain with osteochondrosis

Lumbar

The development of a degenerative process in the lumbar region is accompanied by pain and discomfort. The symptom often radiates above the site of inflammation. Mobility is reduced, because every movement causes a lot of unpleasant sensations. This includes the following events:

  1. Increased sweating.
  2. Coldness is felt in the lower extremities.
  3. Weakened muscle tissue.
  4. Decreased physical activity.
  5. Problems with the work of internal organs, which is a consequence of pinching of the sciatic nerve.
Lower back pain with osteochondrosis

In addition to acute or painful pain in the lumbar region, the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis represent a feeling of numbness and tingling. With a longer stay in one position, the discomfort increases. If the symptoms are acute, the patient is advised to rest and avoid exertion.

Methods of treatment

The appearance of the first symptoms should be a good reason to visit a medical facility and start treatment. Lack of intervention can lead to the development of osteochondrosis, which will lead to the appearance of other symptoms of the lesion and worsen the patient's condition.

Popular therapies include:

  1. Drug tactics.
  2. Physiotherapy.
  3. Physiotherapy and gymnastics.
  4. Massage.
  5. Manual therapy.

Drug treatment is aimed at eliminating unpleasant symptoms and resolving dystrophic processes if the disease is in the initial stage of development. In this case, the following drugs are used:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • Painkillers;
  • chondroprotectors;
  • Vitamin and mineral complexes.

As an additional method of pain relief, folk recipes can be prescribed. It is important to remember that they are of a secondary nature, so it is not recommended to use them as the main method of treatment. Before using the technique, it is recommended to consult a doctor and consult with him.

Drug tactics

The most common way to eliminate osteochondrosis and its symptoms is medication. What is forbidden to do? The patient should not choose the medication himself, because before starting therapy it is necessary to conduct a diagnosis to identify the causes of osteochondrosis of the back. In addition, it is necessary to identify the characteristics of the disease. The patient can not cope with this task alone, it also applies to the choice of groups of drugs, their dose.

The doctor prescribes a medicine for the treatment of osteochondrosis

In severe pain, an injection is used. Unpleasant signs are quickly eliminated, which brings relief to the patient. Comprehensive treatment involves naming several groups of agents:

  1. NSAIDs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
  2. Pain relievers.
  3. Chondroprotectors.
  4. Muscle relaxants for osteochondrosis.
  5. Complexes with vitamin B.

NSAIDs are necessary to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. The method of injection injection allows to achieve a positive result in a short period of time. It is not always possible to deal with back pain with osteochondrosis, so they additionally resort to the help of painkillers.

B vitamins are used to reduce pain and improve general condition. If the unpleasant symptoms are associated with muscle spasm, then you can not do without muscle relaxants. Chondroprotectors have a long-lasting effect. In addition, they activate the regeneration of damaged tissues.

In addition to injections, tablet forms of drugs are also used. The following drugs are used to treat osteochondrosis:

  • Combination painkillers;
  • Muscle relaxants;
  • NSAIDs.

Local treatment is also important during therapy. Influence on the site of inflammation leads to a quick result and facilitation of well-being. It is necessary to treat the signs of osteochondrosis with the following ointments:

  1. Complex tools.
  2. Non-steroidal drugs.
  3. Massage products: comfrey ointment.
  4. Compositions based on natural ingredients will help: leech extract, plant extracts, snake and bee venom, menthol.

Characteristics of traditional medicine

You can cure osteochondrosis with the help of folk recipes. Combination with the drugs of the main therapy leads to positive results, but only if the rules and dosages are followed. It is also necessary to remember the presence of side effects, so before the procedure it is necessary to consult a doctor and rule out the presence of allergic reactions.

The patient consults a doctor about folk remedies for the treatment of osteochondrosis

The following methods are used to treat osteochondrosis:

  1. Rubbing.
  2. Compresses.
  3. Herbal baths.

Rubbing your back can relieve pain and discomfort. The duration of therapy is 10-14 days, and activities need to be carried out every day. There are a large number of recipes of traditional medicine, so you can choose the appropriate method of treatment.

This recipe will require lard and hops.. . .The fat necessarily melts, its temperature must correspond to room values. To prepare the mixture, take 1 tbsp. l. fat and add it to the ground hops. The amount of the last component is also equal to 1 tbsp. l. Back treatment is necessary in the evening or before bedtime. After rubbing, it is recommended to wrap the affected area with a warm cloth: a scarf, blanket or woolen scarf.

Hops and lard for the preparation of medicinal ointments for osteochondrosis

An effective composition is horseradish with vodka. It is advisable to perform the procedure before bedtime. To prepare the composition, the root of the plant is thoroughly crushed, after which vodka is added. Both components are taken in equal proportions. To treat the signs, it is enough to rub the product into the back.

The remedy of bay leaf and juniper is an indispensable remedy. To prepare the composition you need the following ingredients:

  1. Butter - 12 tbsp
  2. Chopped juniper leaves - 1 tsp.
  3. Chopped bay leaf - 6 tsp

The components are mixed until a homogeneous mass is obtained. With the help of ointment, rub your back several times a day. If you do everything right, the result will not wait long. The pain will decrease, the condition will significantly improve, and the movements will become less restrained.

Juniper and bay leaf as part of the fat will help relieve pain in osteochondrosis

Additional techniques

There are other ways to treat osteochondrosis of the back. A prerequisite for recovery and pain relief is the normalization of the daily regimen. The patient must give up the addiction. It is useful to choose a special orthopedic mattress and pillow. The diet should include foods with vitamins and minerals. For back pain, avoid the following foods and meals:

  • coffee;
  • strong tea;
  • high-fat food;
  • cholesterol-rich foods.

Compresses are used to treat osteochondrosis in the back. They need to be done for 5-14 days and every day. Natural ingredients are used for dressings, which increases the effectiveness of the treatment. An example is burdock leaves, which can be used to relieve pain. You need to take a fresh leaf and steam it. Such a drug is applied to the back and covered with a warming cloth. The back should be treated for about 30 minutes.

Burdock leaf compress to relieve pain in osteochondrosis of the back

The combination of honey and potatoes is an excellent remedy for treating the signs of osteochondrosis. The potatoes are pre-chopped and honey is added to the resulting substance. The ingredients must be taken in equal proportions. The composition can be applied directly to the back. After completion of this action, the application site is covered with polyethylene and wrapped in a cloth. The duration of treatment for back pain is 2 hours.

Reducing the signs of inflammation and improving well-being is possible with the help of herbal baths. The duration of the treatment should not exceed 30 minutes, and the collection must be done carefully, carefully following the indicated instructions.

Osteochondrosis is often treated with wild chestnut. The fruits of the plant are crushed, after which they are poured over with water. The component should be cooked for about 20 minutes. The prepared composition is filtered and poured into the bath. You can also use chestnut tincture with vodka.

Chamomile flowers are known for their healing properties. To treat and eliminate back pain, you need dried flowers that are poured over boiling water and insist for half an hour. After filtering through gauze or some other device, you can add it to the tub. A remedy is prepared in a similar way from birch leaves.

Only complex measures can completely get rid of back pain and other manifestations of the disease.