Walking in an upright position frees a person's hands to perform labor operations - this is a definite plus. At the same time, the load on the spine has increased, which leads to the development of serious diseases, and this is a colossal disadvantage. Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies of the spine. It affects 60% of the world's population over the age of 35. Surgery is one of the methods of treatment, but an alternative is possible in the early stages of the disease. You can treat osteochondrosis at home. The range of effective treatment measures is wide and accessible.
What is osteochondrosis
Dysfunction and destruction of the intervertebral discs, spinal 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, the muscles atrophy, the conduction of nerve impulses is disturbed, the physiological systems and the individual internal organs do not function. The appearance of back and neck pain is the first sign of the disease. Depending on the location 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 dull pain or lumbago in the chest area.
- Lumbosacral. There is pain in the hips, lower back, sacrum. The functionality of the lower limbs is limited.
- It develops in several parts of the spine at once. It is accompanied by severe pain.
Effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home is possible with timely 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 weakens, cracks appear in the outer part of the disc (annular fibrosis). This stage is almost invisible to the patient. Mild discomfort occurs in an awkward position or during active physical activity.
- The distance between adjacent vertebrae decreases due to sagging of the intervertebral disc. Ligaments and muscles sag. The vertebrae acquire additional mobility. For this reason, they have been displaced. This condition is called spondylolisthesis. Under heavy load, the patient experiences discomfort, sometimes pain in the localization of the pathology.
- The formation of prolapses (hernias), bulges (uneven bulges) of the discs, subluxations and arthrosis of the intervertebral joints are the main pathological changes in the third stage of the disease. The patient's movements are limited, there is tingling, tingling in the limbs. The pain is present, their location depends on the location of the focus of the disease.
- To eliminate the excessive mobility of the vertebrae, the body forms new growths 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. Processes of pronounced structural changes (fibrous ankylosis) begin in the intervertebral joints. The vertebromotor segment looks like a "walled up". 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 causes. 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 the functionality of the body.
Causes
Medicine has not determined the exact cause of the disease. Walking upright, improper distribution of the load when performing labor operations, exercise, 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;
- flatfoot;
- toxic damage to the body;
- infectious diseases;
- trauma, bruises on the spine and musculoskeletal system in general;
- pregnancy;
- age-related changes;
- harmful working conditions;
- overweight;
- poor nutrition;
- improperly organized sleeping area;
- bad habits;
- frequent stress.
Treatment Methods
Osteochondrosis therapy is a long process. It includes a set of activities that take 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 compliance, 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 choose drugs to relieve the condition. By blocking the painful sensations, he continues to lead a normal life and at this point the disease progresses. 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.
The 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 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 therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- massage (paravertebral);
- manual therapy;
- using a needle applicator;
- spinal traction.
The decision to surgically treat the disease is made by a doctor in the absence of a result of conservative treatment or in severe lesions of the articular structures of the spine. It is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner and not to start the disease. Effective treatment at home is possible. This is confirmed by many years of practice in the treatment of the disease.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home
Given the specifics of the disease and the duration of recovery, the question of effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home is relevant for most patients. It is important to keep in mind 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 according to the instructions of a doctor at home.
Medicines
Medications are prescribed for the acute form of the disease. Osteochondrosis is a systemic disease. Its negative effects affect the state of the body as a whole, therefore, drug treatment solves a set of tasks:
- pain relief;
- relieving inflammation;
- restore metabolic reactions;
- improve blood circulation in the affected areas;
- cartilage tissue repair;
- to restore joint mobility;
- Eliminate depression caused by severe pain.
Drug therapy includes several groups of drugs.
Grouping |
Action |
Pharmacological forms |
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs |
Relieve inflammation and pain (inhibit prostaglandins) |
Capsules, tablets, gels, ointments, patches, injections |
Analgesics, anesthetics |
Pain relief |
Pills, injections |
Vasodilators |
Improving the nutrition of damaged tissues, accelerating their regeneration |
Injections, tablets (dragees), gels, creams, ointments |
Glucocorticosteroid |
Heavy artillery, powerful anti-inflammatory |
Pills, injections, ointments |
Muscle relaxants (muscle relaxants) |
Relaxing, calming effect on muscles |
Pills, injections |
Chondroprotectors (glucosamine, chondroitin) |
Stabilize the process, prevent further destruction |
Capsules, tablets, gels, ointments, injections |
Soothing |
Eliminate depression, increase stress resistance, improve sleep quality, stabilize emotional state |
Tinctures, tablets |
Vitamins (antioxidants) |
Restoration of sensitivity of the affected nerve endings, reduction of pain |
Pills, injections |
Vitamin and mineral complexes |
General body strengthening |
Pills |
Exercise
Sedentary lifestyle has a detrimental effect on the condition of the body. Effective home treatment of the spine includes special exercises. There are author's complexes of physiotherapeutic exercises, you can use the recommendations and prepare an individual training program.
Physical education is the mainstay of treatment for osteochondrosis. Bending, twisting, twisting, swinging the back are recommended exercises. It is useful to perform hanging on the bar, use yoga exercises to stretch the spine. Sufficient attention should be paid to strengthening the muscles of the back - pulling, doing push-ups. There are a number of rules you need to keep in mind to avoid harming your health:
- Therapeutic gymnastics should start with a warm-up;
- torsion should not be done in acute lumbar spine pain;
- jumping, running are undesirable, it is better to replace them with walking, swimming, cycling or skiing;
- In cervical osteochondrosis, circular rotation of the head is not always recommended.
- Sit in a chair, straighten your back, perform smooth turns of the head successively to the right and left.
- The starting position is the same. Place your right palm on your right cheek and tilt your head slightly to the left. Repeat the exercise in the opposite direction.
- Sit up straight, squeeze your hands at the back of your head, lean forward slightly. Press with the back of your head with your hands, lower your head slightly, 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, open your shoulders, return to the starting position.
- Raise your shoulders, try to reach your ears with them, lower your shoulders.
Lower back pain is predominant. Simple regular exercise with lumbar osteochondrosis will bring more benefits from the constant use of painkillers (repeat the exercises 5-10 times):
- Stretching the muscles of the back- lie on your back, raise your arms, stretch your fingers down.
- Lifting the pelvis- lie on your back, bend your legs, arms to the side, raise your pelvis (inhale), lower (exhale).
- Embryo Posture- Lie on your back, pull your knees to your chest, squeezing them with your hands (inhale), 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, ointments, rubbing, decoctions. You can prepare them yourself if you want. Herbal treatment eliminates the causes of the disease, herbs contain a large amount of nutrients and have a general strengthening effect. Herbal remedies are available. Methods for treating diseases with bee stings and bee products are known.
Compresses
Compresses help reduce pain, relieve swelling and inflammation. Home treatment of the back and spine will be effective if warming procedures are used for two weeks. They improve blood circulation, relieve pain, relieve muscle spasms. Horseradish and apple compress is easy to make:
- Horseradish contains mustard oil (warming effect), apples have a lot of organic acids (anti-inflammatory, analgesic effect);
- on a fine grater, grate a small root of horseradish and apple;
- squeeze the juice lightly;
- shape the cake;
- place on the inflamed area;
- polyethylene coating, towel;
- wrap with a warm towel;
- 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. Medicinal infusions and decoctions are used for this purpose. They relieve pain, inflammation and calm the nervous system. In folk medicine, infusions of parsley leaves and seeds, a decoction of cones are used to treat the spine. Cinquefoil is effective, has an analgesic effect, repairs damaged tissues.
Tincture recipe:
- Mix 200 g of chopped cinquefoil root and 100 g of Potentilla upright;
- 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
Warm-up procedures include applications. Such treatment of the spine with folk remedies helps to restore the functionality of the neuromuscular elements in the affected joints of the spine. For application, the gauze napkin is moistened with a healing solution and applied to the affected area, holding for 30-40 minutes. The procedure can be performed several times a day. Technique for application of honey with aloe:
- natural honey has a unique healing composition, aloe is a natural antibiotic, biological stimulant;
- prepare a tincture of 100 g of honey, 50 g of aloe leaves (they should be passed through a meat grinder) and 100 ml of vodka;
- insist 1 week;
- moisten a piece of natural cloth with tincture;
- applies to the inflamed area;
- put polyethylene and a towel on top;
- wrap with a woolen scarf;
- perform the procedure 2 times a day.
friction
For effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home, you can prepare rubbing and ointments. The rubbing procedure is similar to a massage, performed 2-3 times a day. It stimulates blood circulation, relieves inflammation, pain. Turpentine, kerosene, badger fat, domestic lard, medicinal plants (plantain, sage, juniper) are used to prepare medicinal rubbers.
Recipe for bay leaf juniper ointment:
- 1 teaspoon conifer needles, 6 teaspoons chopped bay leaf, 12 teaspoons melted butter, mix well;
- apply the mixture to the site of inflammation;
- rub the ointment with light movements;
- wrap your back with a warm woolen towel;
- rub in the afternoon and at 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 articular structures of the spine. Chamomile, lemon balm, string, thyme, horsetail, thyme and other plants are used to prepare broths. Medicinal raw materials can be prepared independently or purchased at a pharmacy.
The healing bath decoction is prepared as follows:
- take 250-300 g of dry plant materials or prepare a mixture of medicinal herbs;
- boil in 5 liters of water for 20 minutes;
- strain and add to the prepared warm water;
- Take a bath 10-15 minutes before bed.