Treatment of osteochondrosis in a sanatorium

Spinal Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a spinal disease that arises due to degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs. The cause of the disease lies in impaired nutrition of the intervertebral discs and the appearance of cracks in the fibrous ring of the discs. On X-ray, a reduced disc height and multiple bony spurs are observed.

Causes of Osteochondrosis

Congenital factors – developmental abnormalities of the spine. Due to these causes, it is practically impossible to avoid the disease.
Hereditary predisposition – occurrence of osteochondrosis in individuals with family history.
Hormonal imbalances – lead to impaired nutrition of the spine and the body as a whole; more common in women due to hormonal changes during pregnancy or menopause.
Excessive physical strain and injuries.
Impaired blood circulation in the spine or its segments.

In most cases, the disease develops from a combination of several factors.

Symptoms of Osteochondrosis

In the early stages, the disease progresses gradually, with only minor numbness or discomfort in the back indicating its presence.

Cervical osteochondrosis – headaches may be accompanied by dizziness, slight hearing and vision impairment, and a "crackling" sound may appear when moving the neck.

Dorsal (thoracic) osteochondrosis – initially causes mild numbness in the arms, later progressing to severe numbness. Pain appears when moving the arms, along with localized pain in the affected area.

Lumbar osteochondrosis – symptoms include pain during walking and bending, sometimes radiating to the sacrum and legs.

Osteochondrosis – Diagnosis

Diagnosis involves collecting complaints and carefully clarifying the history and progression of the disease, since neurological, trophic, and vascular disorders can mimic diseases of the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and other systems. Therefore, careful analysis is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

The diagnostic method is primarily radiological, but the most informative method for diagnosing osteochondrosis is MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

A full assessment requires consultation with a vertebrologist and a neurologist to clarify the presence of neurological impairments.

Cervical Osteochondrosis

Common symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis include headache, mild dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Pain occurs at the back of the head and on the sides of the neck, and may radiate to the arm, causing numbness of hands and fingers, paleness, and swelling of the skin. Pain intensifies with head movements, visual disturbances occur, tinnitus and increased skin sensitivity (hyperesthesia) are present. Blood pressure often rises and rarely drops.

Thoracic Osteochondrosis

Thoracic osteochondrosis is divided into upper and lower thoracic types. In upper thoracic osteochondrosis, chest pain mimics ischemic heart disease. The difference is that in ischemic conditions, pain has an episodic nature, triggered by stress or physical exertion, whereas osteochondrosis-related pain appears after prolonged sitting in an uncomfortable position. The pain is accompanied by limited mobility in the affected area, ribcage pain on the left side, chest tightness, and heart area pain. This pain does not subside after taking cardiac medications.

In lower thoracic osteochondrosis, symptoms resemble gastritis, peptic ulcer of the duodenum, and liver diseases.

Lumbosacral Osteochondrosis

This is the most common type of osteochondrosis. It presents with constant, increasing lower back pain that radiates to the leg and may be accompanied by numbness. Pain increases with bending and lifting heavy objects. Eventually, weakness in the lower limbs develops.

Treatment of Osteochondrosis

Radon baths, dry carbonic acid baths, turpentine baths, bischofite baths, and others.
Magnetotherapy.
Heat therapy: galvanogly mud and paraffin-ozokerite applications.
Electrotherapy (electrophoresis, amplitopulse therapy, interferential currents, diadynamic therapy).
Ultrasound with therapeutic agents.
Light therapy using magnet-infrared laser, Bioptron, Korobov's photonic polychromatic matrix.
Manual or vacuum massage.
Therapeutic exercise in traction-training mode. Strengthening of the back extensor muscles.
Exercises with an instructor using the Yevminov trainer.
Computerized traction of lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine sections, with fixation using a belt and Schanz collar.
In case of disc herniation – electrophoresis with CARIPAIN Plus, phonophoresis with CARIPAIN cream, topical application of CARIPAIN gel.
Heel pharmaceuticals – Zeel T, Traumeel S, Reconstructor Pro injections, Discus Compositum, Ubichinon, Lymphomyosot.
Manual therapy (post-isometric relaxation).
Shockwave therapy for sacroiliac joint arthritis and myofascial syndromes.
Blockades with Mydocalm for myofascial syndrome and piriformis muscle syndrome.
CO₂ gas injections.
Intratissue electrostimulation according to Gerasimov’s method in complex cases of nerve damage and pain syndrome.
Anti-osteoporotic therapy if necessary.
Chondroprotective therapy.