Effective methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is called degenerative changes of the articular cartilage. If we present this process in a nutshell, then the soft "spacer" between the bones thins and ceases to fully perform the functions of a shock absorber assigned to it. As a result of pinching the nerve endings, pain occurs, mobility is impaired. The process extends to the surrounding muscles, affects the internal organs.

Therapeutic treatment of osteochondrosis at home is aimed at relieving the patient's condition and returning him to an active life. Let's take a look at popular and available methods to help you get rid of the attack and avoid its recurrence.

Causes of the disease

Doctors joke that spinal deformity is the price to pay for humanity for the ability to walk upright. There is, of course, some truth in this ironic statement, but more often than not the real culprit is the patient himself. The most common causes of osteochondrosis are a sedentary lifestyle, excess weight, stress.

The hobby of alcoholic beverages and smoking also contributes. Nicotine makes bones fragile, inhibits the synthesis of collagen, which is responsible for the elasticity of cartilage tissue. Alcohol causes dehydration of the tissues, favors the leaching of calcium. No less harmful is the passion for strict diets that limit the intake of minerals and vitamins.

The heredity factor and age-related changes play a significant role in the development of osteochondrosis. In addition, flat feet, wearing high-heeled shoes, contribute to the development of the pathology.

Those whose jobs are stressful are at risk of developing the disease. These are builders, waiters, movers. However, representatives of sedentary professions suffer from osteochondrosis no less often.

Medication

Often, osteochondrosis of the spine worsens after doing housework or in the garden, increased physical exertion, hypothermia. In these cases, the first priority is to get rid of severe pain sensations that interfere with normal movement.

One way to quickly stop an attack is to take drugs (analgesics) or injections to relieve pain. After the acute pain subsides, other methods can be used to treat osteochondrosis of the spine. Home therapy includes:

• taking drugs of various groups;
• heating and rubbing;
• exercise;
• massage and self-massage.

Medical treatment of spinal osteochondrosis at home is carried out using various gels and ointments. The procedure improves blood circulation, relaxes tense muscles, and relieves inflammation. There are a number of special drugs on the pharmaceutical market that can be used to relieve pain symptoms in osteochondrosis.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relieve primary symptoms. To restore worn intervertebral discs, it is necessary to use chondroprotectors.

Chondroprotectors are intended to stimulate the formation of interarticular fluid and restore the structure of the cartilage.

Alternative Medicine

Treating osteochondrosis on your own at home can be quite effective.

However, you should not use the advice without consulting a specialized specialist. It is also necessary to conduct an examination to confirm the correct diagnosis.

As a rule, folk methods of treating osteochondrosis are based on the use of plant or animal raw materials, bee products and chemicals. The latter include ethyl alcohol, kerosene, turpentine. These liquids are used to make medicated compresses, tinctures, or ointments.

Abrasive paste

Easy to prepare at home, the solution helps stop pain attacks during an exacerbation of osteochondrosis. To prepare it you need:

• Alcohol or vodka 1, 5 cups.
• Iodine solution 2 tsp.
• Camphor 2 tbsp. spoons.

Stir the liquid components, shake. Use as needed, but no more than twice a day. It is important to keep the lower back warm after rubbing.

Healing baths

Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies also includes water procedures. Coniferous baths will help relieve muscle tension and calm the nervous system. Medicinal raw materials can be prepared independently or you can buy a ready-made extract. For the first method, you will need cones and branches of spruce, pine or fir, which are first boiled for half an hour and then insisted for a day. To prepare a bath, you need to add a glass of infusion or 50 grams of ready-made dry extract to the water at a temperature of 37-39 degrees.

In the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system at home, turpentine emulsion is often used. The composition includes the following ingredients:

• white emulsion 550 grams;
• purified water 0, 5 liters;
• salicylic acid 75 grams;
• soap shavings 30 grams.

Heat the water to a boil, dissolve the soap in it, add the salicylic acid and mix with the turpentine. Pour the prepared mixture into a bath at a temperature of about 40 ° C.

The procedure takes about half an hour. The temperature must be constant, for this it is necessary to periodically add hot water to the bath. The duration of treatment is 5-7 days. Doctors do not recommend bathing during an exacerbation of osteochondrosis, accompanied by severe pain.

You can also treat osteochondrosis at home with dry heat. For such a procedure, buckwheat or salt is used, the products are preheated in a pan. After spreading the warm mass on a clean cloth, the application is applied to the lower back, insulated with a blanket and left to cool. The warm-up is done in two or three stages, about 45 minutes.

Despite the fact that all folk remedies are based on natural ingredients, they cannot be called absolutely safe. Don't forget individual intolerance. Of course, turpentine or kerosene are not suitable for people with sensitive skin.

Herbal preparations

Non-traditional treatment of osteochondrosis at home is not complete without prescriptions for herbal medicine. And they are the following:

1. For wraps, you can use a herbal blend consisting of St. John's wort, dandelion roots and burdock leaves. Dried and crushed raw materials (20 grams each) are poured with boiling water, insist in a closed container, and a piece of fabric folded in several layers is impregnated with a cold solution. Apply the compress to the sore spot for 20-30 minutes.
2. Mint and sage in equal proportions, pour over the water and boil for 10 minutes. The broth is taken orally twice a day for half a glass or applied to the site of localization of osteochondrosis in the form of a compress. For preparation, take 3 tablespoons of chopped raw materials per liter of water.
3. Mother's and stepmother's flowers are poured with 4% ammonia, insisted for 30 days in the dark. It is used as a rub to relieve pain and swelling during the exacerbation of osteochondrosis.

Massage and self-massage

The traditional way of treatment - massage - will help get rid of osteochondrosis. Thanks to this procedure, the neck muscles and the entire shoulder girdle are completely relaxed. It is also important that a correctly performed massage helps to eliminate pain and improve metabolic processes. At the same time, the patient's blood pressure also returns to normal.

It is possible to treat osteochondrosis at home in this way only if there is a good massage therapist who knows all the subtleties of this procedure. But self-massage can be a good substitute. The methodology for its implementation is studied and mastered quite simply. In order not to hurt yourself, you need to know a few simple rules:

1. Proper self-massage for osteochondrosis should only be done with the fingers. In this case, the movement of the fingers must be initiated from the spine to the periphery.
2. The movements should be smooth and light, without force. It is very important not to make sudden movements and not to rush.

An example of a classic self-massage might look like this:

1. Warms the skin with rubbing and stroking movements.
2. After that, while in a sitting position, it is necessary to perform a gentle caress with the hands in the area affected by osteochondrosis.
3. Light finger movements and stroking should be done for 3 minutes.

These procedures should be performed daily throughout the entire course of osteochondrosis treatment. If possible, a family member can do the massage, but it is very important that minimal force of movement is applied.

Physiotherapy exercises

Another method of treating osteochondrosis is remedial gymnastics. This procedure is mandatory for home treatment as it helps strengthen the muscles of the problem areas. By performing exercises, the patient's muscles contract and relax, creating the necessary load on problem areas.

Important!All exercises should be performed at a slow pace, otherwise physical therapy can be harmful.

Slow turns of the head to the sides are most effective for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. Depending on the affected area, exercises can be used to strengthen the muscles of the upper and lower limbs. And with the help of hand movements in the shoulder joint, the tension of the cervical muscles is greatly reduced.

For the correct compilation of a set of exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis, it is necessary to consult a specialist. He will choose a complex to tell and show which of the exercises will be the most effective for each individual case, because depending on the affected area certain muscle groups must be involved. It is very important to follow the doctor's instructions so that the treatment is beneficial and not harmful to health. In case of painful sensations when performing gymnastics, the exercises should be stopped and the specialist should be told to correct the set of exercises. To achieve maximum effect, regardless of the complexity of the case, in addition to gymnastics, you need to use an applicator, do self-massage and use drugs for the treatment of osteochondrosis.

Useful hints

When osteochondrosis is diagnosed, a neurologist prescribes complex therapy. Physiotherapy, massage, injections and drugs alternate with home treatment. Physical therapy specialists strongly recommend not limiting yourself to bed rest, even during periods of exacerbation of osteochondrosis. Additionally, they claim that a little exercise can help relieve pain and drugs.

It should be noted that the modern approach to the treatment of osteochondrosis differs from the methods used several decades ago. Patients practice relaxation and meditation practices to relieve stress. The disease is treated not only by a neurologist, but also by a psychotherapist.

Here are some tips to alleviate the course of osteochondrosis:

1. It is worth strengthening the muscles of the back and abdominals, they will create a kind of support frame. This requires daily stretching and flexibility exercises. It is also important to monitor your posture while working or walking.
2. Everyone should choose the correct sleeping position, where the spine will be as relaxed as possible. If a person sleeps on their back, it is helpful to put an additional pillow under their feet in the knee area. Lying on your side, squeeze it between your thighs.
3. To get rid of osteochondrosis, therapy alone is not enough. Doctors recommend quitting smoking and alcohol, which destroy joint tissue. A healthy weight is also worth maintaining.