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

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 heavy loads or the development of infections that affect different segments of the body and lead to the formation of pathological changes. What to do if discomfort and other signs appear? It is necessary to stop exercising if back pain appeared during physical exertion, and visit a doctor to find the causes and choose treatment methods.

Symptoms of pathology

Symptoms of the development of osteochondrosis are characterized by various manifestations. In most cases, patients have back pain, however, the presence of a symptom does not yet indicate the appearance of osteochondrosis. The nature of the pain syndrome is different, which is associated with 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 it is the neglect of this rule that leads to increased symptoms. Painful sensations can be sharp or aching. During the exacerbation stage, adjacent areas may also hurt.

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

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

Thoracic department

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

The patient's condition is characterized by spasms that appear when inhaling or exhaling. Discomfort occurs especially often at night, which is associated with an uncomfortable posture during sleep. Treatment must be started in a timely manner, otherwise complications will appear.

Cervical

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

1. The presence of noise and ringing in the ears and head.
2. Decrease in the capabilities of the organs of sight and hearing, double vision.
3. Dizziness.
4. Pain occurs 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, shoulder blades and arms.

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 decreases, since any movement causes a lot of unpleasant sensations. These include the following manifestations:

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 the pinching of the sciatic nerve.

In addition to acute or aching pain in the lumbar region, the symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are represented by a feeling of numbness and tingling. With a prolonged stay in one position, the discomfort increases. If the symptoms are acute, then the patient is advised to be at rest and avoid exertion.

Treatment methods

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

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

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

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

Medication tactics

The most common way to eliminate osteochondrosis and its symptoms is drug treatment. What is prohibited to do? The patient should not select medications on his own, since before starting therapy, it is necessary to carry out diagnostics to identify the causes of the appearance of back osteochondrosis. In addition, it is necessary to identify the features of the disease. The patient cannot cope with this task on his own, this also applies to the choice of groups of drugs, their dosage.

For severe pain, injection treatment is used. 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. Medicines for pain relief.
3. Chondroprotectors.
4. Muscle relaxants for osteochondrosis.
5. Complexes with vitamin B.

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

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

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

• Combined pain reliever drugs;
• Muscle relaxants;
• NSAIDs.

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

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

Features of traditional medicine

You can cure osteochondrosis with the help of folk recipes. The 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 about the presence of side effects, therefore, before the procedure, it is necessary to consult a doctor and exclude the presence of allergic reactions.

For the treatment of osteochondrosis, the following methods are used:

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 traditional medicine recipes, so you can choose the appropriate method of treatment.

This recipe will require pork fat and hops.. . .The fat is necessarily melted, its temperature must correspond to room temperature. 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 in, it is recommended to wrap the affected area with a warm cloth: a scarf, blanket or woolen scarf.

An effective composition is horseradish with vodka. The procedure is advised to be carried out 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 bay leaf and juniper medicine is an irreplaceable remedy. To prepare the composition, you need the following ingredients:

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

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

Additional techniques

There are other ways to treat osteochondrosis of the back. A prerequisite for recovery and elimination of pain is the normalization of the daily regimen. 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. For back pain, avoid the following foods and dishes:

• coffee;
• strong tea;
• fatty foods;
• meals high in cholesterol.

Compresses are used to cure osteochondrosis in the back. They need to be done for 5-14 days and every day. Natural ingredients are used for the compress, which increases the effectiveness of the treatment. An example is burdock leaves, which can be used to relieve pain. You will 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.

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

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

Often, osteochondrosis is treated with horse chestnut. The fruits of the plant are crushed, after which they are poured 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, dry flowers are required, which are poured with boiling water and insisted for half an hour. After straining through cheesecloth or other device, you can add it to the bath. In a similar way, a medicine is prepared from birch leaves.

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