Effective methods of treating osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is called degenerative changes in the articular cartilage. If we present this process in a few words, then the flexible “spacer” between the bones thins and ceases to fully perform the functions of shock absorbers assigned to it. Due to the pinching of nerve endings, pain occurs, mobility is reduced. The process spreads to surrounding muscles, affects 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 the popular and available methods to help you get rid of the attack and prevent its recurrence.

Causes of the disease

Doctors joke that the deformity of the spine is the price humanity has to pay to be able to walk upright. There is, of course, some truth to this ironic statement, but more often than not the patient himself is the real culprit. The most common causes of osteochondrosis: sedentary lifestyle, overweight, stress.

The hobby of alcoholic drinks and smoking also contributes to this. Nicotine weakens the bones, inhibits the synthesis of collagen, responsible for the elasticity of cartilage tissue. Alcohol causes tissue dehydration, promotes leaching of calcium. No less harmful is the passion for strict diets that limit the intake of minerals and vitamins.

The hereditary factor and age-related changes play an important role in the development of osteochondrosis. In addition, flat feet, wearing high-heeled shoes, contributes to the development of pathology.

Those whose work is stressful are at risk of developing the disease. They are builders, servers, movers. However, representatives of sedentary professions no less often suffer from osteochondrosis.

Drugs

Osteochondrosis of the spine often gets worse after housework or gardening, increased physical exertion, hypothermia. In such cases, the first priority is to get rid of the strong sensations of pain that interfere with normal movement.

One way to stop a seizure quickly is to take pain relieving drugs (pain relievers) or injections. After the acute pain subsides, other methods of treating osteochondrosis of the spine can be applied. Home therapy includes:

• take medicines from various groups;
• heating and friction;
• exercise;
Massage
• and self-massage.

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

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

Chondroprotectors aim to stimulate the formation of inter-articular fluid and restore the structure of cartilage.

Alternative medicine

Treating osteochondrosis alone at home can be very effective.

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

As a rule, traditional 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 prepare medicated compresses, tinctures or ointments.

Abrasive paste

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

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

Mix 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 a ready-made extract can be purchased. 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 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 salicylic acid and mix with turpentine. Pour the prepared mixture into a bath at around 40 ° C.

The duration of the procedure is approximately half an hour. The temperature must be constant; for this, hot water should be periodically added to the bath. The duration of treatment is 5-7 days. Doctors do not recommend taking baths during exacerbation of osteochondrosis, which is 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 saucepan. Having laid out the hot mass on a clean piece of cloth, the application is applied to the lower back, isolated with a blanket and left to cool. The warm-up is done in two or three stages, approximately 45 minutes.

Despite the fact that all folk remedies are based on natural ingredients, they cannot be called absolutely safe. Do not forget about individual intolerance. Obviously, turpentine or kerosene is not suitable for people with sensitive skin.

Herbal preparations

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

1. For compresses, you can use an herbal mixture consisting of St. John's Wort, dandelion roots and burdock leaves. Dried and crushed raw materials (20 grams each) are poured with boiling water, insisted in a closed container, and a piece of cloth folded in several layers is impregnated with a cold solution. Apply the compress to the sore spot for 20 to 30 minutes.
2. Mint and sage in equal proportions, pour over 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 the preparation take 3 tablespoons of crushed raw materials per liter of water.
3. Mother and stepmother 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 exacerbation of osteochondrosis.

Massage and self-massage

The traditional method of treatment - massage - will help get rid of osteochondrosis. Thanks to this procedure, the muscles of the neck 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 only possible to treat osteochondrosis at home in this way if there is a good masseur who knows all the intricacies of this procedure. But self-massage can be a good substitute. The methodology of its implementation is studied and mastered quite simply. In order not to hurt yourself, you need to know a few simple rules:

1. Appropriate self-massage for osteochondrosis should be performed exclusively with the fingers of the hands. In this case, the movement of the fingers should be initiated from the spine to the periphery.
2. 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. Warm the skin by rubbing and stroking.
2. After that, being in a sitting position, you need to gently caress with your hands in the area affected by osteochondrosis.
3. Light movements of the fingers and stroking should be done for 3 minutes.

These procedures should be performed daily for the duration of treatment for osteochondrosis. If possible, a family member can do the massage, but it is very important that the minimum 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 muscles in problem areas. While performing exercises, the patient's muscles contract and relax, creating the necessary load on the problem areas.

Important!All exercise should be done at a slow pace, otherwise exercise therapy can be harmful.

Slow turns of the head to the sides are most effective in 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 noticeably reduced.

For the correct compilation of a set of exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis, you need to contact a specialist. He will select 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 should be involved. It is very important to follow your doctor's instructions so that the treatment is beneficial and not harmful to your health. If painful sensations appear during gymnastics, the exercises should be stopped and the specialist should be asked to correct the set of exercises. To achieve the maximum effect, regardless of the complexity of the case, in addition to gymnastics, you need to use an applicator, self-massage and use drugs for the treatment of osteochondrosis.

Useful tips

When osteochondrosis is diagnosed, a neurologist prescribes complex therapy. Home treatment alternates with physiotherapy, massage, injection and medication. Specialists in exercise therapy strongly recommend not to limit yourself to bed rest, even during periods of exacerbation of osteochondrosis. Additionally, they claim that certain exercises can help with pain relief as well as medication.

It should be noted that the modern approach to the treatment of osteochondrosis differs from the methods used 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 help relieve osteochondrosis:

1. It is worth strengthening the back and abdominal muscles, they will create a kind of support frame. To do this, you need to do daily stretching and flexibility exercises. It is also important to watch your posture when you work or walk.
2. Everyone should choose the right sleeping position to relax the spine as much as possible. If a person sleeps on their back, it is helpful to put an extra 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 that you stop smoking and drinking alcohol, which destroys joint tissue. It also pays to maintain a healthy weight.