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

CT scan of the lumbar spine under normal conditions and with 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 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 appears during physical exertion and to visit a doctor to find the causes and choose the methods of treatment.

Pathology symptoms

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 patients. Also, the signs don't always appear, especially in the early stages of development.

If your back hurts, it is not recommended to make sudden movements, otherwise the discomfort will increase. It is often the abandonment of this rule that leads to an increase in symptoms. Painful sensations can be sharp or aching. During the exacerbation phase, adjacent areas can also hurt.

The general manifestations of posterior 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. Spread the pain to adjacent areas.

Thoracic department

When the thoracic region is affected, pain appears during physical exertion. The symptom spreads to the arm or to 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.

Pain in the thoracic spine with osteochondrosis

The patient's condition is characterized by spasms that appear during inhalation or exhalation. Discomfort occurs mostly at night, which is associated with an uncomfortable sleeping posture. 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 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 spread of pain syndrome occurs in the area of the shoulders, shoulder blades 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 decreases, as any movement causes a lot of unpleasant sensations. These include the following manifestations:

  1. Increased sweating.
  2. The cold is felt in the lower limbs.
  3. Weakened muscle tissue.
  4. Reduced physical activity.
  5. Problems with the work of the internal organs, which is a consequence of pinching the sciatic nerve.
Low back pain with osteochondrosis

In addition to sharp 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 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. Pharmacological tactics.
  2. Physiotherapy.
  3. Physiotherapy and gymnastics.
  4. Massage.
  5. Manual therapy.

Drug treatment is aimed at eliminating unpleasant symptoms and eliminating 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;
  • Chondroprotector;
  • 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 secondary in nature, therefore it is not recommended to use them as the main treatment method. Before using the techniques, it is recommended that you consult a doctor and consult with him.

drug tactics

The most common way to eliminate osteochondrosis and its symptoms is drug treatment. What is forbidden to do? The patient does not have to select drugs on his own, since before starting therapy, diagnostics should be carried out to identify the causes of the appearance of posterior 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 choice of drug groups, their dosage.

The doctor prescribes medicine for the treatment of osteochondrosis

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

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

NSAIDs are essential for relieving pain and reducing inflammation. The method of administering the injection allows you to get a positive result in a short period of time. It is not always possible to cope with back pain with osteochondrosis, so they also 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 spasm of muscle tissue, 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, tablet forms of drugs are used. To treat osteochondrosis, the following drugs are used:

  • Combined pain medications;
  • muscle relaxants;
  • NSAIDs.

Local treatment is also important during therapy. The impact on the site of inflammation leads to a quick result and relief from 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.

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.

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

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

  1. Rubbing.
  2. Tablets.
  3. Herbal baths.

Scrubbing your back can relieve pain and discomfort. The duration of therapy is 10-14 days, and the activities must be performed every day. There are many recipes of traditional medicine, so you can choose the appropriate method of treatment.

This recipe calls for pork fat and hops.. . .The fat is necessarily melted, its temperature must correspond to the values of the environment. 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 tablespoon. L. Back treatment is needed in the evening or before bedtime. After rubbing, it is recommended to wrap the affected area with a warm cloth - a woolen scarf, blanket or scarf.

Hops and pork fat for the preparation of medicinal ointments for osteochondrosis

An effective composition is horseradish with vodka. It is recommended to carry out the procedure before bedtime. To prepare the composition, the root of the plant is carefully crushed, after which vodka is added. Both components are taken in equal proportions. To treat the marks, simply rub the product on the back.

Bay and juniper medicine is an indispensable remedy. To prepare the composition, the following ingredients are needed:

  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. With the help of the ointment, rub your back several times a day. If you do everything right, the result will not be long in coming. The pain will lessen, the condition will noticeably improve and the movements will become less constrained.

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

Additional techniques

There are other ways to treat osteochondrosis of the back. A prerequisite for the 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;
  • fat food;
  • meals rich in cholesterol.

Compresses are used to treat osteochondrosis in the back. They need to be performed for 5-14 days and every day. For the compress, natural ingredients are used, which increase the effectiveness of the treatment. An example is burdock leaves, which can be used for pain relief. 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.

Burdock leaf for pain relieving pack for osteochondrosis of the back

The combination of honey and potatoes is a great medicine for treating the signs of osteochondrosis. Potatoes are pre-cut and honey is added to the resulting substance. The ingredients must be taken in equal proportions. The composition can be applied directly on the back. After the 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 are possible with herbal baths. The duration of the treatment must not exceed 30 minutes, and the collection must be carried out carefully, strictly following the instructions indicated.

Often, osteochondrosis is treated with horse chestnut. The fruits of the plant are crushed, after which they are poured with water. The component must be boiled for about 20 minutes. The prepared composition is filtered and poured into a bath. You can also use chestnut tincture with vodka.

Chamomile flowers are known for their medicinal properties. For the treatment and elimination of back pain, dried flowers are needed, which are poured with boiling water and insist for half an hour. After filtering through cheesecloth or other device, you can add it to the bath. Similarly, a medicine is prepared from birch leaves.

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