Osteophytes: treatment, causes and prevention

Before you start treating any disease, you need to identify its cause. Osteophytes (Greek osteon bone + phyton something that grows up) are specific bone processes that can appear in the form of an elevation, a tubercle and even an acute spine, often hurting when moving. Most often they are in the cervical spine or in the spine.

If there is a suspicion of osteophytes, the treatment is recommended as follows: with mild disease or at an initial stage, special medical procedures are performed (physiotherapy, massage, therapeutic gymnastics, etc.). In some cases, you will need to take anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen, ketoprofen, ibuprofen, or aspirin, which reduce inflammation and swelling in the tendons. Severe forms of spondylosis (also called osteophytes) give in to treatment is very difficult. In this case, drug treatment or surgery is recommended.

What are the causes of osteophytes? The following options are revealed:

• heredity;
• Passive way of life (rest at the TV, sedentary work);
• Body overload (sports, household, professional, etc.);
• Various kinds of trauma and congestion of the spine and neck;
• Violation of posture;
• Flat feet;
• Osteochondrosis;
• General aging of the body;
• Metabolic disorders and excess weight.

It is believed that the main physiological cause of osteophyte formation is irritation of the periosteum. In other words, joints without cartilaginous coating touch, rub against each other, which leads to the formation of specific bone processes. Thus, in some ways, osteophytes even protect joints from damage.

Spondylosis occurs due to the general aging of the body, so most often observed in the elderly. It is not always accompanied by painful sensations, and therefore can be asymptomatic. But sometimes these bony processes cause compression of the nerve formations, which leads to more serious consequences. Therefore, any disease is better to prevent than to treat later.

To prevent osteophytes, it is recommended to lead an active lifestyle. People with prolonged sedentary work need at least once an hour to do exercises for warming up the neck, back and other parts of the body. The main thing is to follow the posture: it is necessary that the neck does not protrude forward, and the back is level. A huge importance in the prevention of spondylosis is therapeutic massage. To prevent osteophytes, it is recommended to eat foods rich in calcium, magnesium (fish and seafood, nuts, seeds, spinach, beans, peas, cheeses, dairy products, bread) and vitamins. It is necessary to monitor the change in weight.

If osteophytes are found in the cervical region, treatment should be comprehensive.

It is proved that the cervical section is the most sensitive part of the spine, since it has a special structure. Therefore, even with the slightest load on it, the vertebrae are displaced, and the vessels and nerves are squeezed, which adversely affects the blood supply to the brain. This is very dangerous, therefore it is necessary to do everything possible to avoid more serious consequences.

We can distinguish the following signs of cervical spondylosis: pain in the nape, giving up in hands, dizziness, restriction or pain when turning the head in standing position, ringing in the ears, impaired vision, etc. If a headache attack can not be tolerated, nausea and vomiting have arisen, so the arteries and veins in the intervertebral foramens are pinched, and intracranial pressure increased. What to do in this case? Of course, you need to see a doctor.

Osteophytes: treatment

Therapy will become more effective if it is carried out in a complex way, i.e. With the simultaneous use of medicines and medical procedures.

Preparations "Diclofenac", "Naise", "Voltaren", "Ibuprofen", etc. Relieve pain and inflammation. B vitamins, nicotinic acid, calcium, phosphorus, manganese and magnesium preparations are taken to relax the muscles. Modern promising dietary supplements, according to doctors, are useless.

If osteophytes are found, the treatment for severe unbearable pain is as follows: doctors admit the use of such drugs as "Analgin", "Baralgin", "Tempalgin", although they warn about their negative impact on the gastrointestinal tract and insist on the subsequent mandatory treatment of a specialist . You can also use anti-inflammatory painkillers (Diclofenac, Butadion) or warming ointments (Finalingon, Kapsikam, Viprosal, Virapin, Apizartron), which doctors say are not treated so much, How much they distract from pain.

In addition, if you are concerned about osteophytes, treatment can be carried out using a very effective medical procedure - physiotherapy, relieving pain and restoring body function. Therapeutic exercises also have a beneficial effect on the muscles, strengthening them, and the massage relieves their spasm. Experts agree that exercises can not be done during a period of exacerbation of the disease or at the time of acute pain.

It is very important to approach each person's disease individually. Depending on the stage and characteristics of osteophytes, acupuncture procedures can be prescribed to relieve hypertension in muscles, hirudotherapy (medical leeches treatment) for the speedy removal of edema and many other non-medicamentous medical manipulations.

If there is a suspicion of osteophytes of the spine, the treatment here will also be specific.

Signs of spondylosis in the spine are stiffness, limited movement and pain in the back, as well as weakness and numbness of the extremities, which is explained by nervous irritation and inflammatory edema. To avoid the development of subsequent stages, where it will be impossible to do without surgical intervention, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Naturally, in the initial stages spondylosis of the spine is well treatable. If the patient has such osteophytes, the treatment is carried out in much the same way as in the cervical department. A great positive value has therapeutic physical training, a complex of physiotherapy procedures, as well as orthopedic correction (wearing a medical collar or corset). In some cases, prescribe medication. After the pain has gone and the course of treatment is over, to consolidate the positive result it is necessary to continue to lead an active lifestyle, which, undoubtedly, will improve blood circulation and support the muscles at the proper level. The main thing is not to overdo it!

It is better to prevent any illness than to suffer and treat. This is a confirmed truth. But if the disease has overtaken you, do not forget about the need for a doctor.