Walking upright freed a person's hands to perform labor operations - this is an undoubted plus. Along with this, the load on the spine has 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 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 treatment measures is wide and affordable.
What is osteochondrosis
Dysfunction and destruction of intervertebral discs, vertebral tissues 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, muscles atrophy, nerve impulse conduction is disrupted, physiological systems and individual internal organs malfunction. 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:
- Cervical. The main symptoms are: pain in the shoulders, arms, neck; dizziness, tinnitus, spots before the eyes.
- Chest. It is characterized by dull pain or lumbago in the chest area.
- Lumbosacral. There are pains in the hip joints, lower back, sacrum. The functionality of the lower extremities 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. It 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 subsides, cracks appear in the outer part of the disc (annulus fibrosus). This stage is almost invisible to the patient. Slight discomfort manifests itself in an uncomfortable posture or during active physical activity.
- The distance between adjacent vertebrae decreases due to subsidence of the intervertebral disc. Ligaments and muscles sag. The vertebrae acquire additional mobility. For this reason, they are 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), protrusions (uneven protrusions) of 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 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. Processes of pronounced structural changes (fibrous ankylosis) begin in the intervertebral joints. The vertebral-motor segment looks like "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 reasons. The risk group is made up of young people aged 20-30 who lead a sedentary lifestyle, are overweight and have a weak muscular system. There is a direct connection between pathological changes in the spine and the functionality of the body.
Reasons
Medicine has not determined the exact cause of the disease. Walking upright, improper distribution of the load when performing labor operations, physical exercises, static body positions (standing, sitting) increase the risk of developing osteochondrosis. According to most doctors, the occurrence 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;
- problems with posture;
- flat feet;
- toxic damage to the body;
- infectious diseases;
- trauma, bruises of the spine and the 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 set of activities that take 1-3 months. By this time, you need to add a rehabilitation period, its duration is about 1 year. The success of treatment depends largely 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 select medicines to alleviate the condition. Blocking 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, conduct an examination, clarify the diagnosis and begin therapeutic measures.
Treatment of osteochondrosis is carried out by two methods: conservative treatment and surgical. 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 on the 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 to 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
Considering the peculiarities 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 consider that this is an unusual disease and it is impossible to achieve a positive result only with the help of medicines. It is necessary to regularly use a set of measures that can be taken as directed by a doctor at home.
Medicines
Medications 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, therefore, drug treatment solves a set of tasks:
- pain relief;
- relieve inflammation;
- restore metabolic reactions;
- improve blood circulation in the affected areas;
- restore cartilage tissue;
- to restore joint mobility;
- eliminate depression caused by severe pain.
Drug therapy includes several groups of drugs.
Group |
Action |
Pharmacological forms |
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory |
Relief of inflammation and pain (inhibit prostaglandins) |
Capsules, tablets, gels, ointments, patches, injections |
Analgesics, Anesthetics |
Pain relief |
Pills, injections |
Vasodilators |
Improving 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 |
Sedatives |
Removing depression, increasing stress resistance, improving sleep quality, stabilizing the emotional state |
Tinctures, tablets |
Vitamins (antioxidants) |
Restoring the sensitivity of the affected nerve endings, reducing pain |
Pills, injection |
Vitamin and mineral complexes |
General strengthening of the body |
Pills |
Exercise
A sedentary lifestyle has a detrimental effect on the state of the body. Effective home treatment of the spine involves special exercises. There are author's complexes of physiotherapy exercises, you can use the recommendations and draw up an individual training program.
Physical education is the main remedy for osteochondrosis. Bending, twisting, twisting, swinging on 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 up, doing push-ups. There are a number of rules that you need to consider in order not to harm your health:
- Remedial gymnastics should be started with a warm-up;
- twisting should not be done for acute pain in the lumbar spine;
- jumping, running are undesirable, 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, you need to take into account age, difficulty of exercises, physical fitness. It is necessary to engage in physiotherapy exercises at least 3 times a week. The proposed complex will help to cure cervical osteochondrosis at home (all exercises are performed 10 times):
- Sit on a chair, straighten your back, perform smooth 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 opposite direction.
- Sit up straight, clasp the hands at the back of the head, gently bend forward. Press on 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 from behind, slowly lower your head back, spread your shoulder blades, return to the starting position.
- Raise your shoulders, try to reach with them to your earlobes, lower your shoulders.
Back pain is predominant. Uncomplicated regular gymnastics for lumbar osteochondrosis will bring more benefits than the constant use of pain medications (repeat exercises 5-10 times):
- Stretching the back muscles- lie on your back, raise your arms, stretch your toes down.
- Raising the pelvis- lie on your back, bend your legs, arms to the sides, raise your pelvis (inhale), lower (exhale).
- Embryo Pose- lie on your back, pull your knees to your chest, clasping them with your arms (inhale), pull your head to your knees (exhale).
- Cat Pose- get on all fours, while exhaling, round your back, while inhaling, bend over, raise 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 cook them yourself if you wish. 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 beekeeping products.
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. Easy to make a horseradish and apple compress:
- horseradish contains mustard oil (warming 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 juice slightly;
- form a cake;
- put on the inflamed area;
- cover with polyethylene, towel;
- wrap with warm cloth;
- put on at night every day until 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 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 tissues.
Tincture recipe:
- Mix 200 g of crushed cinquefoil root and 100 g Potentilla erect;
- Pour the vegetable mixture into 1 liter of vodka;
- insist for 3 weeks;
- strain;
- take 1 tablespoon 3 times daily before meals;
- The course of treatment is 1 month.
Applications
Warming 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, a gauze napkin is moistened with a medicinal solution and applied to the affected area, held for 30-40 minutes. The procedure can be carried out several times a day. Technique for honey application 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 fabric with tincture;
- apply to the inflamed area;
- put polyethylene and a towel on top;
- wrap up with a woolen scarf;
- perform the procedure 2 times a day.
Rubbing
For effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home, you can prepare rubbing and ointments. The rubbing procedure is similar to massage, performed 2-3 times a day. It stimulates blood circulation, relieves inflammation, pain. Turpentine, kerosene, badger fat, interior lard, medicinal plants (plantain, sage, juniper) are used to prepare medicinal rubbers.
Bay leaf juniper ointment recipe:
- 1 teaspoon of juniper needles, 6 teaspoons of chopped bay leaves, 12 teaspoons of melted butter, mix thoroughly;
- apply the mixture to the site of inflammation;
- rub in the ointment with light movements;
- wrap your back with a warm woolen cloth;
- 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 articular structures of the spine. For the preparation of broths, chamomile, lemon balm, string, thyme, field horsetail, thyme and other plants are used. Medicinal raw materials can be prepared independently or purchased at a pharmacy.
The medicinal 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 prepared warm water;
- Take a bath 10-15 minutes before bedtime.