Osteochondrosis of the back: treatment, symptoms, full description of the disease

CT scan of the lumbar spine in normal conditions and with osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the back occurs not only in elderly, but also in young patients. The reasons for the development of the disease are fraught with heavy loads or the development of infections that affect various segments of the body and lead to the formation of pathological changes. What to do if you experience discomfort and other signsIf back pain occurs during physical exertion, it is necessary to stop exercising and consult a doctor to find the causes and choose methods of treatment.

Symptoms of pathology

Symptoms of the development of osteochondrosis are characterized by various manifestations. In most cases, patients have back pain, but the presence of a symptom does not yet indicate the occurrence of osteochondrosis. The type of pain syndrome is different, which is associated with the individual characteristics of patients. In addition, signs do not always appear, especially in the early stages of development.

Sudden movements are not recommended if your back is sore, as this will increase the discomfort. Often times it is the neglect of this rule that leads to increased symptoms. Painful sensations can be sharp or painful. Adjacent areas may also be painful during the exacerbation period.

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

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

Thoracic department

If the chest area is affected, pain occurs with physical exertion. The symptom spreads to the arm or the area between the shoulder blades. Often, patients confuse the manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis with cardiovascular diseases, since back pain is given to the sternum.

Thoracic spine pain with osteochondrosis

The patient's condition is characterized by convulsions that occur when inhaling or exhaling. Symptoms associated with an uncomfortable posture while sleeping are particularly common at night. Treatment must be started in a timely manner, otherwise complications will arise.

Cervical

With the defeat of the cervical spine, osteochondrosis has its own characteristics:

  1. The presence of noises and ringing in the ears and head.
  2. Decrease in the abilities of the organs of vision 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 pain syndrome spreads in the area of the shoulders, shoulder blades and arms.
Neck pain with osteochondrosis

Lumbar spine

The development of a degenerative process in the lumbar area is accompanied by pain and discomfort. The symptom often radiates above the site of inflammation. Mobility decreases as every movement causes a lot of unpleasant sensations. These include the following manifestations:

  1. Increased sweating.
  2. Cold can be felt in the lower extremities.
  3. Weakened muscle tissue.
  4. Decreased physical activity.
  5. Problems with the work of the internal organs that are a result of pinching the sciatic nerve.
Lower back pain with osteochondrosis

The symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are acute or painful pain in the lumbar area, numbness and tingling. When staying in one position for a long time, the discomfort increases. In case of acute symptoms, the patient is advised to remain calm and avoid exertion.

Treatment methods

The appearance of the first symptoms should be a good reason to go to a medical facility and begin treatment. A lack of intervention can lead to the development of osteochondrosis, which leads to the appearance of other symptoms of the lesion and worsens the patient's condition.

Popular therapies are:

  1. Tactics of the drugs.
  2. Physical therapy.
  3. Physiotherapy and gymnastics.
  4. Massage.
  5. Manual therapy.

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

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • Painkiller;
  • Chondroprotectors;
  • Complexes of vitamins and minerals.

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 techniques, it is recommended to consult and consult with a doctor.

Drug tactics

The most common way to get rid of osteochondrosis and its symptoms is drug treatment. What is forbidden? The patient should not choose drugs himself, since before starting therapy it is necessary to conduct diagnostics to identify the causes of the occurrence of back osteochondrosis. In addition, it is necessary to identify the characteristics of the disease. The patient cannot cope with this task alone, this also applies to the selection of drug groups, their dosage.

The doctor prescribes drugs to treat osteochondrosis

Injection treatment is used for severe pain. Unpleasant signs are quickly eliminated, which brings relief to the patient. Comprehensive treatment involves the appointment of several groups of funds:

  1. NSAIDs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
  2. Medication to relieve pain.
  3. Chondroprotectors.
  4. Muscle relaxants for osteochondrosis.
  5. Complexes with vitamin B.

NSAIDs are important for relieving pain and reducing inflammation. The injection method of administration allows you to get a positive result in a short time. It is not always possible to cope with back pain with osteochondrosis, so they resort to pain medication in addition.

Group B vitamins are used to relieve pain and improve general condition. If uncomfortable symptoms are associated with muscle spasms, then you can not do without muscle relaxants. Chondroprotectors have a long-term effect. In addition, they activate the regeneration of damaged tissue.

In addition to injections, tablets are used in the form of drugs. To cure osteochondrosis, the following drugs are used:

  • Combined pain relievers;
  • Muscle relaxants;
  • NSAIDs.

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

  1. Complex tools.
  2. Nonsteroidal drugs.
  3. Massage products: Comfrey ointment.
  4. Compositions based on natural ingredients 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 gives positive results, but only if the rules and dosages are observed. It is also necessary to remember the presence of side effects. Therefore, before the procedure, it is necessary to consult a doctor and exclude the presence of allergic reactions.

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

To treat osteochondrosis, the following methods are used:

  1. Rub.
  2. Compressed.
  3. Herbal baths.

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

This recipe calls for pork fat and hops.. . .The fat is inevitably melted, its temperature must correspond to the 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 1 tbsp. l. A back treatment is necessary in the evening or before going to bed. After rubbing in, it is advisable to wrap the affected area with a warm cloth: a scarf, a blanket or a woolen scarf.

Hops and pork fat for making a medicated ointment for osteochondrosis

An effective composition is horseradish with vodka. It is recommended to do 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 on the back.

Laurel and juniper medicine is an indispensable remedy. To prepare the composition you will need the following ingredients:

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

The components are mixed until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Rub the back with the help of the ointment several times a day. If you do everything right, the result will not be long in coming. The pain decreases, the condition improves significantly and movements are less restricted.

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

Additional techniques

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

  • Coffee;
  • strong tea;
  • greasy food;
  • high cholesterol meals.

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

Burdock leaf for pain relief compress for osteochondrosis of the back

The combination of honey and potatoes is an excellent drug 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 completing this action, the application site is covered with polyethylene and wrapped in a cloth. The duration of treatment for back pain is 2 hours.

Herbal baths can reduce signs of inflammation and increase well-being. The duration of treatment should not exceed 30 minutes and the collection must be carried out carefully, following the instructions given.

Osteochondrosis is often treated with horse chestnut. The fruits of the plant are crushed and then poured over with water. The component should be boiled for about 20 minutes. The prepared composition is filtered and poured into a bath. You can also use a chestnut tincture with vodka.

Chamomile flowers are known for their medicinal properties. For the treatment and elimination of back pain, dried flowers are needed, pour boiling water over them and insist on it for half an hour. After filtering it through a cheesecloth or other device, you can put it in the bath. In a similar way, a medicine is made from birch leaves.

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