Walking upright freed up a person's hands to perform work operations - that's a definite plus. At the same time, the load on the spine increased, which leads to the development of serious diseases, which is a colossal disadvantage. Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies of the spine. It affects 60% of the world's inhabitants aged 35 and over. Surgical intervention is one of the methods of treatment, but an alternative is possible in the early stages of the development of the disease. You can treat osteochondrosis at home. The range of effective therapeutic measures is wide and affordable.
What is osteochondrosis
The dysfunction and destruction of intervertebral discs, vertebral tissues is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, 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, the muscles atrophy, the conduction of nerve impulses is disturbed, physiological systems and individual internal organs malfunction. The first sign of the disease is the appearance of pain in the back and neck. Depending on the location of the focus of the lesion, osteochondrosis is:
- Cervical. The main symptoms are: pain in the shoulders, arms, neck; dizziness, tinnitus, spots in front of the eyes.
- Chest. It is characterized by a dull ache or lumbago in the chest area.
- Lumbosacral. There is pain in the hip joints, lower back, sacrum. The functionality of the lower limbs is limited.
- It develops in several parts of the spine at the same time. It is accompanied by severe pain.
Effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home is possible with timely diagnosis of the disease. It goes through 4 degrees (or stages):
- The pathological process begins with the dehydration of the central part of the intervertebral disc (nucleus pulposus). As a result, the structure sags, cracks appear in the outer part of the disc (annulus fibrosus). This step is almost invisible to the patient. Mild discomfort manifests itself in an awkward position or during active physical activity.
- The distance between adjacent vertebrae decreases due to sagging intervertebral disc. Ligaments and muscles sag. The vertebrae acquire additional mobility. For this reason, they are moved. This condition is called spondylolisthesis. With a strong load, the patient feels discomfort, sometimes pain in the localization of the pathology.
- The formation of prolapse (hernias), protuberances (uneven protrusions) of discs, subluxations and osteoarthritis of the intervertebral joints are the main pathological changes in the third stage of the disease. The movements of the patient are constrained, numbness, tingling in the limbs occurs. Pains are present, their localization depends on the location of the focus of the disease.
- To eliminate excessive mobility of the vertebrae, the body forms neoplasms of bone tissue (osteophytes) in the spine. Their formation occurs chaotically, depending on the location they can injure the nerve endings of the spinal cord, adjacent vertebrae. The processes of pronounced structural changes (fibrous ankylosis) begin in the intervertebral joints. The vertebral-motor segment looks like "walled". 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. This is due to a decrease in the level of metabolic processes, physical activity, chronic diseases and other reasons. The risk group is made up of young people between the ages of 20 and 30 who lead sedentary lives, are overweight and have weak muscular systems. There is a direct link between pathological changes in the spine and the functionality of the body.
Reasons
Medicine has not determined the exact cause of the disease. Walking standing up, poor load distribution during work operations, physical exercises, static body positions (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;
- posture problems;
- flat feet;
- toxic damage to the body;
- infectious diseases;
- trauma, bruising of the spine and the musculoskeletal system in general;
- pregnancy;
- age-related changes;
- harmful working conditions;
- overweight;
- inappropriate nutrition;
- poorly organized sleeping place;
- bad habits;
- frequent stress.
Processing methods
Treating osteochondrosis is a long process. It includes a set of activities that last from 1 to 3 months. At this point, you need to add a period of rehabilitation, its duration is about 1 year. The success of the treatment largely depends on the patient himself. He must strictly follow the doctor's recommendations. With partial compliance, the prognosis for recovery is minimal.
Self-medication complicates the treatment of osteochondrosis. The clinical picture of the disease is not clear, the patient begins to independently select drugs to relieve the disease. 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 appear, it is necessary to consult a doctor, conduct an examination, clarify the diagnosis and begin therapeutic measures.
Treatment of osteochondrosis is carried out by two methods: conservative and surgical treatment. The general recommendations in both cases are dietetic nutrition and rehabilitation. Conservative treatment is aimed at eliminating pain, restoring the functionality of the spine and preventing structural changes in the intervertebral joints. The set of activities includes:
- drug treatment
- ; physiotherapy
- ;
- physiotherapy exercises; massage
- (paravertebral); Manual therapy
- ;
- using a needle applicator;
- spinal traction.
The decision on the surgical treatment of the disease is taken by a medical council in the absence of the result of conservative therapy or in case of severe damage to the joint structures of the spine. It is important to see a doctor in a timely manner and not to trigger the disease. Effective treatment is possible at home. This is confirmed by the practice of long-term treatment of the disease.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home
Taking into account the peculiarities of the disease and the duration of healing, the question of effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home is relevant for most patients. It is important to consider that this is an unusual disease, and it is impossible to achieve a positive result only with the help of drugs. It is necessary to regularly use a set of measures that can be taken as directed by a home doctor.
Drugs
Medicines are prescribed in the acute form of the disease. Osteochondrosis is a systemic disease. Its negative consequences affect the state of the body as a whole, which is why drug therapy solves a set of tasks:
- pain relief;
- relieve inflammation;
- restore metabolic reactions;
- improve blood circulation to affected areas;
- restore cartilage tissue;
- to restore joint mobility;
- eliminate depression caused by severe pain.
Pharmacotherapy includes several groups of drugs.
Group |
Action |
Pharmacological forms |
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug |
Relief of inflammation and pain (inhibits prostaglandins) |
Capsules, tablets, gels, ointments, patches, injections |
Analgesics, anesthetics |
Pain relief |
Pills, injection |
Vasodilators |
Improving the nutrition of damaged tissues, accelerating their regeneration |
Injections, tablets (dragees), gels, creams, ointments |
Glucocorticosteroid |
Heavy artillery, powerful anti-inflammatory |
Tablets, injections, ointments |
Muscle relaxants (muscle relaxants) |
Relaxing and calming effect on the muscles |
Pills, injection |
Chondroprotectors (glucosamine, chondroitin) |
Stabilize the process, avoid further destruction |
Capsules, tablets, gels, ointments, injections |
Sedatives |
Eliminate depression, increase resistance to stress, improve sleep quality, stabilize emotional state |
Tinctures, tablets |
Vitamins (antioxidants) |
Restoration of sensitivity of affected nerve endings, pain reduction |
Pills, injection |
Vitamin and mineral complexes |
General strengthening of the body |
Pills |
Exercise
A sedentary lifestyle has an adverse effect on the condition of the body. Effective home treatment of the spine involves special exercises. There are author's physiotherapy exercise complexes, you can use the recommendations and develop an individual training program.
Physical education is the main cure for osteochondrosis. Bending, twisting, twisting, swinging on the back are recommended exercises. It is useful to perform a suspension on the bar, use yoga exercises to stretch the spine. Sufficient attention should be paid to strengthening the muscles of the back - pulling up, doing push-ups. There are a number of rules that you should take into account in order not to harm your health:
- The remedial gymnastics must begin with a warm-up; The
- torsion should not be performed in case of acute pain in the lumbar spine;
- jumping, running are not desirable, it is better to replace them with walking, swimming, cycling or skiing;
- For cervical osteochondrosis, circular rotation of the head is not always recommended.
When choosing gymnastics, one should take into account age, difficulty of exercises, physical condition. It is necessary to practice physiotherapy exercises at least 3 times a week. The proposed complex will help you cure cervical osteochondrosis at home (all exercises are performed 10 times):
- Sit on a chair, straighten your back, perform gentle head turns alternately to the right and to the 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 other direction.
- Sit up straight, tie your hands to the back of your head, gently lean forward. Press the back of the head with your hands, 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, slowly lower your head back, spread your shoulder blades, return to the starting position.
- Lift your shoulders, try to reach your ears with them, lower your shoulders.
Pain in the lower back is predominant. Simple regular gymnastics for lumbar osteochondrosis will bring more benefits than constant use of pain relievers (repeat exercises 5-10 times):
- Stretch back muscles- lie on your back, raise your arms, stretch your toes.
- Raising the pelvis- lie on your back, bend your legs, arms to the sides, lift your pelvis (inhale), lower (exhale).
- Embryo pose- lie on your back, pull your knees to your chest, squeeze them with your arms (inhale), put your head on your knees (exhale).
- Cat pose- get on all fours, exhaling, around the back, inhaling, bending over, raising your head.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies
Folk remedies for osteochondrosis have been proven to work. They are effective and safe. There are many recipes for the preparation of medicinal tinctures, ointments, rubs, decoctions. You can cook them yourself if you want. Herbal medicine eliminates the causes of the disease, herbs contain a large amount of nutrients and have a general strengthening effect. Herbal remedies are affordable. There are known methods of treating diseases with bee stings and bee products.
Compresses
Compresses help reduce pain, relieve swelling and inflammation. Home treatment of the back and spine will be effective if the rewarming procedures are used for two weeks. They improve blood circulation, relieve pain, relieve muscle spasms. Easy to make a compress of horseradish and apple:
- 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;
- lightly squeeze the juice;
- make a cake;
- put on the inflamed area;
- polyethylene cover, towel;
- wrap with a warm cloth;
- put overnight every day until the severe pain subsided.
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 the inside. 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 tissue. 
Dye Recipe:
- Combine 200 g of chopped cinquefoil root and 100 g of erect Potentilla;
- Pour the mixture of vegetables into 1 liter of vodka;
- insist for 3 weeks; strain
- ;
- take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day before meals;
- The duration of treatment is 1 month.
Applications
Warm-up procedures include applications. Such treatment of the spine with folk remedies helps restore the functionality of neuromuscular elements in the affected joints of the spine. For application, a gauze towel 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. Technique of applying honey with aloe vera:
- 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 fabric with dye;
- applies to the inflamed area;
- put polyethylene and a towel on top;
- wrap with a woolen scarf;
- perform the procedure twice a day.
Friction
For effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home, you can prepare rubs and ointments. The rubbing procedure is similar to massage, performed 2-3 times a day. It stimulates blood circulation, relieves inflammation, pain. For the preparation of medicinal rubbing is used turpentine, kerosene, badger fat, inner lard, medicinal plants (plantain, sage, juniper).
Laurel juniper ointment recipe:
- 1 teaspoon of juniper needles, 6 teaspoons of chopped bay leaves, 12 teaspoons of melted butter, mix well;
- apply the mixture to the site of inflammation;
- rub into the ointment with light movements;
- wrap your back with a warm woolen sheet;
- rub in the afternoon and before bedtime.
Healing baths
Baths with herbal decoctions are effective during rehabilitation. In acute conditions, this procedure is not recommended. Therapeutic baths dilate blood vessels, relax muscles and have a beneficial effect on the joint structures of the spine. For the preparation of decoctions, chamomile, lemon balm, string, thyme, horsetail, thyme and other plants are used. Medicinal raw materials can be prepared independently or purchased at a pharmacy.
Medicinal bath decoction is prepared as follows:
- take 250-300 g of dry plant material or prepare a mixture of medicinal herbs;
- boil in 5 liters of water for 20 minutes;
- filter and add to the prepared hot water;
- Take a bath 10 to 15 minutes before bedtime.