Despite the fact that the spine is designed to an active lifestyle, it is necessary to moderate load, as well as the excessive strain is harmful, and can lead to degenerative disc disease.
The causes of the disease
The causes of osteoarthritis may be different, both internal and external.
The endogenous (internal) causes disruption of fetal development, the spine, the genetic predisposition, the age-related changes in the cartilage.
The main external cause of the disease is considered incorrect load distribution on the spine, which leads to the degeneration of the cartilage tissue in areas of excessive pressure.
Furthermore, the disease occurs because the spinal cord injury, congenital disorders, infectious diseases, weak back muscles, stooped posture, and a lateral S-shaped scoliosis of regular heavy physical exertion associated with activities, you simply long hold uncomfortable position.
Osteochondrosis can occur not only for the people with bad posture, participating in the intellectual work, but also those who are well-trained physically, for example athletes, as well as the movers.
In addition, the disease progresses, the diseases of metabolism (basically, the lack of calcium / phosphorous), lack of minerals, vitamins(magnesium, manganese, zinc, vitamin D), problem of overweight, obesity.
So, to sum it up. The most risky factors for osteoarthritis are:
- the chemicals;
- a permanent vibration — for example, truckers, or leaders of agricultural machinery;
- flat feet;
- poor nutrition, being overweight;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- computer work, continuous leadership;
- Smoking;
- the excessive workout in the gym;
- the incorrect posture;
- hypothermia;
- wearing uncomfortable shoes (especially high heels);
- constant stress, Smoking.
Medical observations of the disease is most often exposed to the porters, weight lifters, construction workers, gymnasts. The people who are regularly under stress, constantly walking with your head down your shoulders at risk of developing osteochondrosis.
Symptoms of the disease
What happens in osteochondrosis? Depending on which area is damaged intervertebral discs, the pain can occur in neck, shoulder, arm, well, chest. Sometimes the people you suspect to be a heart problem, and, indeed, it hurts a nerve that is trapped as a result of osteochondrosis. However, the pain that people often feel the strain, and muscle stiffness. If squeezed, the blood vessels feeding the brain, headache, dizziness, tinnitus, double vision, nausea, vomiting, fainting.
The symptoms depend on which part of the spine suffers from degenerative disc disease, but the main symptom is pain.
The symptoms of lumbar osteochondrosis are the following:
- constant pain, or sharp pain in the lower back;
- the pain is worse, the exertion or movement;
- the pain radiates to the sacrum, the legs, the organs of the small pelvis;
- decreased sensitivity in the legs;
- often a person difficulties in trying to turn around, bend over, and I need to keep the position in which the least uncomfortable.
Signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:
- headache, which is aggravated by motion, and not pass the painkillers after;
- dizziness when turning the head;
- pain in the arms, shoulders, chest;
- flying and the colored spots before your eyes;
- blurred vision, your hearing, your tinnitus;
- sometimes numbness of the tongue, change in voice.
If thoracic degenerative disc disease symptoms:
- pain in the chest, between shoulder blades when lifting the arm, bending;
- the pain is stronger at night, when it's cold, you turn a strong physical exertion;
- the pain is worse with deep inspiration and expiration;
- numbness to certain areas of the skin, "goose bumps";
- itching, burning sensation, cold in the feet;
- pain between the ribs, while walking;
- the feeling as if the Breasts squeezed in the packing.
Food osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis dieticians recommend to adhere to the following rules:
The main thing– to adhere to the smaller meals (eating small meals 6 times a day).
Other principles of the diet are:
- the presence in the diet of dairy products, lean meats (beef, rabbit, poultry), mushrooms, cereal foods;
- you will have to restrict themselves to the use of grapes, legumes, peas, beans, broth;
- useful to include in the diet jelly, jelly, jelly fish. With the participant materials for the synthesis of cartilage;
- drink at least 1.5 litres of pure water a day;
- enriches the daily menu of fresh vegetables, fruits, with special emphasis on the cucumber, tomatoes, carrots, onions, beets, cabbage, peppers, broccoli, celery;
- the known procedures for preparation of prefer the boiled or steamed food.
- often eat seeds, nuts, avocado, raw spinach;
- fill salad with olive oil;
- if you allow the financial opportunities, we prepare dishes of lobster, oysters, crabs;
- try the less you use, salted, smoked foods, pastry, sugar, hot spices.
The treatment diagnosis
The appearance of the first signs characteristic of osteoarthritis, it is necessary address to the neurologist. The specialist will listen to your complaints, conducted examination of the spine, to diagnose any problems with the cerebral circulation, may be given an appointment for the x-ray, CT, or magnetic resonance tomography of the corresponding spine.
You need to be prepared for the fact that the treatment is the result of a long process that requires great willpower and free time.
Modern medicine today provides a variety of methods of dealing with degenerative disc disease. It's drugs, otherwise dietary Supplements, manual therapy, traction, acupuncture, massage, physiotherapy, etc. your doctor will select a custom course, based on the physical properties of the patient.
Coupled with the traditional techniques, possible alternative treatment to the traditional, medical massage, banks, bee venom, etc.
Prevention
The prevention of degenerative disc disease experts recommend the following:
- Timely correction of the lamp body, the spine posture disorders in the early school age.
- Actively participate in the exercise, swimming, yoga, Nordic walking, a gym, which allows you to form a muscular corset.
- Stay on the diet by foods, vitamins, calcium-magnesium (fish or other seafood, cabbage, spinach, beans, nuts, seeds, peas, wholemeal bread, fresh milk).
- The fight against excess weight.
- During the weights to ensure a uniform load on both hands, wearing backpacks instead of bags. Weight lifting using the legs and not the spine.
- Sitting at a computer or desk, keep your back straight, shoulders loose.
- Select the chair that supports the spine.
- Every 2 hours take breaks at work, walk, warm up, learn basic gymnastics office.
- If weight lifting, keep your back straight, sit down, do not make sudden jerks.
- Do not wear in front of heavy objects.
- Practice shoes with padded soles.
- Sleep on an orthopedic mattress;
- The exercises for the abdomen.