Walking freed a person's hands to perform work operations - this is an undoubted plus. Along with this, the load on the spine is increased, which leads to the development of serious diseases, and this is a colossal minus. Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies of the spine. It affects 60% of the world's population aged 35 and over. Surgical intervention is one of the methods of treatment, but in the early stages of disease development, an alternative is possible. You can treat osteochondrosis at home. The range of effective therapeutic measures is wide and affordable.
What is osteochondrosis
Dysfunction and destruction of intervertebral discs, vertebral tissue is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, which is called osteochondrosis. Osteocytes are bone cells, and chondrocytes are cartilage cells. Based on these names, the origin of the term "osteochondrosis" is clear. Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine negatively affect the general condition of the body.
As the disease progresses, muscle atrophy, nerve impulse breakdown breaks down, individual physiological systems and internal organs do not function well. The appearance of pain in the back and neck is the first sign of the disease. Depending on the location of the lesion focus, osteochondrosis is:
- Cervix. The main symptoms are: pain in the shoulders, arms, neck; dizziness, tinnitus, spots before the eyes.
- Chest. It is characterized by dull or lumbago pain in the chest area.
- Lumbosakral. There is pain in the hip joints, lower back, sacrum. The functionality of the lower extremities is limited.
- It develops in several parts of the spine at the same time. Accompanied by severe pain.
Effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home is possible with early diagnosis of the disease. Goes through 4 degrees (or stages):
- The pathological process begins with dehydration of the central part of the intervertebral disc (nucleus pulposus). As a result, the structure decreases, cracks appear on the outside of the disc (anulus fibrosus). This stage is almost invisible to the patient. Mild discomfort manifests itself in an uncomfortable behavior or during active physical activity.
- The distance between adjacent vertebrae decreases due to the collapse of the intervertebral disc. Ties and muscles fall off. The beads gain extra mobility. For this reason, they have been displaced. This condition is called spondylolisthesis. With a strong load, the patient feels discomfort, sometimes pain in the localization of the pathology.
- The formation of prolapses (hernias), discs (uneven extensions) of the discs, subluxations and osteoarthritis of the intervertebral joints are the main pathological changes in the third stage of the disease. The patient's movements are limited, numbness occurs, tingling sensation in the limbs. Pain is present, their localization depends on the location of the focus of the disease.
- To eliminate excessive vertebral motility, the body forms bone tissue neoplasms (osteophytes) in the spine. Their formation occurs chaotically, depending on the location, they can damage the nerve endings of the spinal cord, neighboring vertebrae. Processes of pronounced structural changes (fibrous ankylosis) begin in the intervertebral joints. The vertebral-motor segment looks like "walled". The signs of osteochondrosis at this stage are practically not felt.
The risk of developing the disease increases with age. After 40 years, irreversible changes begin in the body. Osteochondrosis affects 80% of people who have reached the age of 60 years. This is due to a decrease in the level of metabolic processes, physical activity, chronic diseases and other reasons. The risk group consists of young people aged 20-30 who lead a sedentary lifestyle, are overweight and have a weak muscular system. There is a direct link between pathological changes in the spine and body functionality.
Reasons
Medicine has not determined the exact cause of the disease. Walking, improper load distribution when performing work operations, physical exercises, static body position (standing, sitting) increase the risk of developing osteochondrosis. According to most doctors, the appearance of pathological processes in the spine is provoked by a group of factors:
- violation of metabolic processes;
- dehydration of the body;
- genetic predisposition;
- hormonal failure;
- insufficient physical development;
- degenerative processes of the muscular system;
- behavioral problems;
- flat feet;
- toxic bodily harm;
- infectious diseases;
- trauma, bruising of the spine and musculoskeletal system in general;
- pregnancy;
- age-related changes;
- harmful working conditions;
- overweight;
- poor nutrition;
- incorrectly organized sleeping place;
- bad habits;
- frequent stress.
Treatment methods
Osteochondrosis therapy is a long process. It includes a range of activities lasting 1-3 months. At this time, you need to add a rehabilitation period, its duration is about 1 year. The success of treatment largely depends on the patient himself. He must strictly follow the doctor's recommendations. With partial observance, the prognosis for recovery is minimal.
Self-medication complicates the treatment of osteochondrosis. The clinical picture of the disease is unclear, the patient begins to independently choose medication to alleviate the condition. By blocking the painful sensations, he continues to lead a normal life and the disease progresses at this time. When the first symptoms of the disease occur, it is necessary to consult a doctor, make an examination, clarify the diagnosis and begin therapeutic measures.
Treatment of osteochondrosis is performed by two methods: conservative treatment and surgery. The general recommendations in both cases are dietary nutrition and rehabilitation. Conservative treatment aims to eliminate pain, restore spinal function and prevent structural changes in the intervertebral joints. The set of activities includes:
- drug therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- massage (paravertebral);
- manual therapy;
- using a needle applicator;
- spinal traction.
The decision for surgical treatment of the disease is made by a council of doctors in the absence of a result of conservative treatment or in case of severe lesions of the articular structures of the spine. It is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner and not start the disease. Effective treatment is possible at home. This is confirmed by the long-term practice of treating the disease.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home
Given the specifics of the disease and the duration of recovery, the issue of effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home is important to most patients. Importers it is important to take into account that this is an unusual disease and it is impossible to achieve a positive result only with the help of medication. It is necessary to regularly use a set of measures that can be taken according to the instructions of a doctor at home.
Medications
Medications are prescribed in the acute form of the disease. Osteochondrosis is a systemic disease. Its negative consequences affect the condition of the body as a whole, therefore, drug treatment solves a number of tasks:
- pain relief;
- relieves inflammation;
- restore metabolic reactions;
- improve blood circulation to the affected areas;
- restore cartilage tissue;
- to restore joint movement;
- eliminate depression caused by severe pain.
Medication therapy involves several groups of drugs.
Group |
Action |
Pharmacological forms |
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs |
Relieves inflammation and pain (inhibits prostaglandins) |
Capsules, tablets, gels, oils, patches, injections |
Analgesics, anesthetics |
Pain relief |
Tablets, injection |
Vasodilators |
Improving the nutrition of damaged tissues, accelerating their regeneration |
Injections, tablets (dragees), gels, creams, oils |
Glucocorticosteroids |
Heavy, powerful anti-inflammatory artillery |
Tablets, injections, oils |
Muscle relaxants (muscle relaxants) |
Relaxing, calming effect on muscles |
Tablets, injection |
Chondroprotectors (glucosamine, chondroitin) |
Stabilize the process, prevent further destruction |
Capsules, tablets, gels, oils, injections |
Soothing sedatives |
Relieving depression, increasing resistance to stress, improving sleep quality, stabilizing emotional state |
Tincture, tablets |
Vitamins (antioxidants) |
Restore sensitivity of affected nerve endings, reduce pain |
Tablets, injection |
Vitamin and mineral complexes |
Overall body strengthening |
Tablet |
Exercise
A sedentary lifestyle has a detrimental effect on the condition of the body. Effective home treatment of the spine involves special exercises. There are complexes of authors of physiotherapy exercises, you can use the recommendations and design an individual training program.
Physical education is the main medicine for osteochondrosis. Bending, twisting, twisting, spinning are recommended exercises. Useful It is useful to perform hanging on the bar, use yoga exercises to stretch the spine. Sufficient attention should be paid to strengthening the back muscles - pulling up, doing push-ups. There are a number of rules you need to follow to avoid damaging your health:
- Healing gymnastics should start with a warm-up;
- twisting should not be done for acute lower back pain;
- jumping, running are undesirable, it is better to replace them with walking, swimming, cycling or skiing;
- For cervical osteochondrosis, circular head rotations are not always recommended.
When choosing gymnastics, age, difficulty of exercise, physical fitness should be taken into account. It is necessary to engage in physiotherapy exercises at least 3 times a week. The proposed complex will help to cure osteochondrosis of the cervix at home (all exercises are performed 10 times):
- Sit in a chair, straighten your back, make gentle head turns alternately to the right and left.
- The starting position is the same. Place your right palm on your right cheek and gently tilt your head to the left. Repeat the exercise in the opposite direction.
- Sit up straight, shake hands at the back of the head, gently bend forward. Press your hands to the back of your head, gently lower your head, touch your chest with your chin, feel the muscle tension.
- Sit down, grab the edge of the chair with your hands behind your back, slowly lower your head back, stretch your shoulders, return to the starting position.
- Raise your shoulders, try to reach with them to the earlobes, lower your shoulders.
Back pain is predominant. Regular uncomplicated gymnastics with lumbar osteochondrosis will bring more benefits than continued use of pain relievers (repeat exercises 5-10 times):
- Stretching the back muscles- lie on your back, raise your arms, stretch your fingers down.
- Raise the pelvis- lie on your back, bend your legs, arms sideways, raise your pelvis (inhale), lower (exhale).
- Embryonic pose- lie on your back, pull your knees to your chest, grasp them with your arms (suck), pull your head to your knees (exhale).
- Cat pose- get on all fours as you exhale, round your back as you inhale, bend over, lift your head up.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies
Folk remedies for osteochondrosis have proven themselves well. They are effective and safe. There are many recipes for the preparation of medicinal tinctures, oils, rubs, decoctions. You can cook them yourself if you want. Herbal medicine eliminates the causes of disease, herbs contain a large amount of nutrients and have an overall strengthening effect. Herbal remedies are affordable. There are well-known methods of treating diseases with bee stings and beekeeping products.
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Compresses help reduce pain, relieve swelling and inflammation. Home treatment of back and spine will be effective if heating procedures are used for two weeks. They improve blood circulation, relieve pain, relieve muscle spasms. Easy to make horseradish and apple compress:
- horseradish contains mustard oil (heating effect), apples have a lot of organic acids (anti-inflammatory, analgesic effect);
- on a fine grater, grate a small horseradish root and an apple;
- squeeze the liquid a little;
- form a cake;
- place the inflamed area;
- polyethylene cover, towels;
- wrap in warm cloth;
- apply at night every day until the severe pain disappears.
Infusions and decoctions
Effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home involves not only the use of external agents, but also an effect on the body from within. For this purpose, medicinal infusions and decoctions are used. They relieve pain, inflammation and calm the nervous system. In folk medicine, infusions of parsley leaves and seeds, a decoction of pine cones are used to treat the spine. Cinquefoil is effective, it acts as an analgesic, restores damaged tissues.
Tincture recipe:
- Mix 200 g chopped root and 100 g raised Potentilla;
- Pour the vegetable mixture into 1 liter of vodka;
- to insist 3 weeks;
- strain;
- take 1 tablespoon 3 times daily before meals;
- The course of treatment is 1 month.
Applications
Heating procedures involve applications. Such a treatment of the spine with folk remedies helps to restore the functionality of neuromuscular elements in the affected joints of the spine. For application, a gauze napkin is moistened with a medicinal solution and applied to the affected area, held for 30-40 minutes. The procedure can be performed several times a day. Techniques for applying honey with aloe:
- natural honey has a unique medicinal composition, aloe is a natural antibiotic, a biological stimulant;
- prepare a tincture of 100 g of honey, 50 g of aloe leaves (they must be passed through a meat grinder) and 100 ml of vodka;
- insist 1 week;
- moisten a piece of natural cloth with tincture;
- apply to the inflamed area;
- place polyethylene and a towel on top;
- wrap in a woolen scarf;
- Perform the procedure 2 times a day.
Friction
For effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home, you can prepare rubs and oils. The rubbing procedure is similar to massage, performed 2-3 times a day. Stimulates blood circulation, relieves inflammation, pain. For the preparation of medicinal friction are used turpentine, kerosene, badger fat, pork fat, medicinal plants (plantain, sage, juniper).
Recipe of juniper leaf oil:
- 1 teaspoon juniper needles, 6 teaspoons chopped bay leaves, 12 teaspoons melted butter, mix thoroughly;
- place the mixture on the site of inflammation;
- rub the oil with light movements;
- wrap your back with a warm woolen cloth;
- wipe in the afternoon and at bedtime.
Healing baths
Herbal baths are effective in rehabilitation. In acute conditions, this procedure is not recommended. Therapeutic baths dilate blood vessels, relax muscles and have a beneficial effect on the articular structures of the back. Chamomile, lemon balm, fiber, thyme, horsetail, thyme and other herbs are used to make juices. Medicinal raw materials can be prepared independently or purchased at a pharmacy.
Medicinal bath decoction is prepared as follows:
- take 250-300 g of dried herbal ingredients or prepare a mixture of medicinal herbs;
- boil in 5 liters of water for 20 minutes;
- drain and add to the prepared warm water;
- Take a bath 10-15 minutes before bed.