What osteochondrosis is and how to treat it is the purpose of a vertebrologist's multi-purpose approach. Among the complexes and methods of treatment we recognize the effect of physiotherapy, the use of manual techniques and reflexotherapy. Bernard currents, impulse currents are useful. All this is aimed at improving the patient's condition, relieving pain and restoring health.
Overview of therapeutic approaches
Osteochondrosis - occurs as a special complex of dystrophic disorders in the vertebral joints, muscles, nerve endings, which are subject to changes, which lead to the appearance of dorsopathy, intervertebral hernia, disorders of innervation and disability. There are three types of osteochondrosis, depending on the location of the affected area. It can also be polysegmental, when all joints of the spine are involved in the process. There are enough reasons for the onset of the disease, and modern medicine has a wide range of approaches to treatment. There are conservative methods of treatment in the form of drugs, physiotherapy, for example, Bernard's currents, as well as surgical, in which surgery is performed.
All experts recognize the fact that the treatment should be comprehensive. Among the drugs used are those aimed at removing the inflammatory process, the pain relief process, muscle relaxation and the restoration of cartilage tissue.
Non-pharmacological treatments
Treatment of osteochondrosis, along with medications, is also carried out conservatively. To relieve pain, he should adhere to the rest regime, wearing orthoses, stretching, reflexology, manual therapy, laser therapy, physiotherapy, physiotherapy and many other methods. It all depends on the degree of damage of the disease, the localization of osteochondrosis.
Treatment of osteochondrosis must be carried out comprehensively. Along with drugs, the patient is prescribed physiotherapy and methods associated with electrical pulses and currents.
Reflexology for osteochondrosis is a reliable method of helping the patient, thanks to it it is possible to successfully anesthetize the affected area, restore the function of nerve endings, relax muscles and increase blood supply. Treatment is done by acting on a combination of prescription points for each segment of the spine and a healing factor - a reflex response to irritation.
Manual therapy for osteochondrosis
A trendy trend is manual therapy for osteochondrosis. Many centers and clinics offer to get rid of pain, to conduct sessions of such therapy at home, in offices. Before ordering such a procedure, it is necessary to carefully study the qualifications of the doctor and make sure that the therapy is beneficial. Manual therapy for cervical osteochondrosis is especially popular among those who, by occupation, are associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
Restrictions are introduced for manual therapy if the patient has a compression, a herniated disc. In this case, this type of treatment can only cause additional damage. Manual therapy for cervical osteochondrosis complicated by such pathologies can lead to circulatory disorders, headaches, dizziness. Before starting treatment, the chiropractor must be sure that the patient has osteochondrosis in the initial stage, there are no protrusions and hernias.
Restrictions are introduced for manual therapy if the patient has a compression, a herniated disc. In this case, this type of treatment can only cause additional damage. Manual therapy for osteochondrosis complicated by such pathologies can lead to circulatory disorders, headaches, dizziness. Before starting treatment, the chiropractor must be sure that the patient has osteochondrosis in the initial stage, there are no protrusions and hernias.
Features of hardware physiotherapy and Bernard currents
Physiotherapy includes exposure to ultraviolet rays, UHF treatment, induction, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis and diadynamometric currents (DDT, Bernard currents). The latter method has become widely used in the treatment not only of diseases of the spine, but also in the treatment of nerve and skin diseases. Electric pulses with a force of 50, 100 Hz are used. Current pulses follow separately or continuously, short and long, while maintaining sensitivity to the effects of the electro procedure. The patient feels a burning sensation and a slight tingling sensation due to the influence of the Bernard current through the electrodes. As a result, blood flow increases, nerve and muscle fibers are excited, and pain decreases. The most important advantage of such treatment is the absence of contraindications. For example, it is not recommended to do magnetotherapy for those who have already undergone an operation and have been installed a titanium structure or a titanium plate. Magnets can increase pain. Electrophoresis is useful to everyone, but it does not contain the principle of pulsed current. Therefore, for recovery, pain relief, increased blood flow, Bernard currents are one of the best means of hardware physiotherapy.
Laser therapy for osteochondrosis
Laser therapy for osteochondrosis is a method that uses infrared red laser radiation in different ways. The laser is directed at the lesion and surrounding tissue areas, directly on the surface of the spine, where osteochondrosis is detected. Laser therapy for osteochondrosis can be supplemented with laser puncture, the impact on certain active points.
It should be remembered that osteochondrosis can turn into a chronic disease, and its treatment should be carried out regularly, using a complex of various means, approaches and methods.