What is osteochondrosis and how to treat it is the scope of the multi-purpose approach of the vertebrologist. Among the complexes and methods of treatment is recognized the effect of physiotherapy, the use of manual and reflexotherapy techniques. Bernard currents, pulse currents are useful. All this is aimed at improving the patient's condition, relieving pain and restoring health.
Review of treatment approaches
Osteochondrosis - is presented as a special complex of dystrophic disorders in the spinal joints, muscles, nerve endings, which are subject to change, leading to dorsopathy, intervertebral hernia, innervation disorders 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 appearance of the disease, and modern medicine has a wide range of treatment approaches. There are conservative methods of treatment in the form of medication, physiotherapy, such as Bernard's currents, as well as surgical, in which surgery is performed.
All experts recognize the fact that treatment should be comprehensive. Among the drugs used are those that are aimed at eliminating the inflammatory process, the process of relieving pain, muscle relaxation and recovery of cartilage tissue.
Non-drug treatments
Treatment of osteochondrosis, along with drugs, is carried out in a conservative manner. Observance of the regime of rest, wearing orthoses, stretching, reflexology, manual therapy, laser therapy, physiotherapy, physiotherapy and many other methods are supposed to alleviate the pain. It all depends on the degree of damage from the disease, the localization of osteochondrosis.
Treatment of osteochondrosis should be comprehensive. Along with medication, the patient is prescribed physiotherapy and methods related to pulsed and electric currents.
Osteochondrosis reflexology is a reliable method of helping the patient, thanks to which you can successfully anesthetize the affected area, restore the function of nerve endings, relax muscles and increase blood supply. The treatment is carried out by acting on a combination of prescribed points for each segment of the spine and a healing factor - a reflex response to irritation.
Manual therapy for osteochondrosis
A fashion trend is manual therapy for osteochondrosis. Many centers and clinics offer to get rid of pain, hold 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 will be useful. Manual therapy for cervical osteochondrosis is especially popular among those who are professionally associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
Restrictions on manual therapy are introduced if the patient has compression, disc herniation. In this case, this type of treatment can only cause additional harm. 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, no protrusions and hernias.
Restrictions on manual therapy are introduced if the patient has compression, disc herniation. In this case, this type of treatment can only cause additional harm. 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, no protrusions and hernias.
Characteristics of hardware physiotherapy and Bernard currents
Physiotherapy includes exposure to ultraviolet rays, UHF treatment, induction, magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, and diadynamic currents (DDT, Bernard currents). The latter method is widely used in the treatment not only of diseases of the spine, but also in the treatment of nervous and skin diseases. Electrical pulses with a power of 50, 100 Hz are used. The current pulses follow separately or continuously, short and long, while maintaining sensitivity to the effects of electrotherapy. The patient experiences a burning sensation and slight tingling due to the influence of Bernard's current through the electrodes. As a result, blood flow increases, nerve and muscle fibers are excited and pain is reduced. The most important advantage of such treatment is the lack of contraindications. For example, it is not recommended to do magnetic therapy for those who have already undergone surgery and a titanium structure or titanium plate is installed. Magnets can increase pain. Electrophoresis is useful for everyone, but it does not have the principle of pulsed current. Therefore, to recover, relieve pain, increase 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 modes. The laser is aimed at the lesion and surrounding tissues, directly at the surface of the spine, where osteochondrosis is detected. Laser therapy for osteochondrosis can be supplemented with laser puncture - the impact on certain hot spots.
It should be remembered that osteochondrosis can become a chronic disease and its treatment should be carried out regularly, using a complex of different tools, approaches and methods.