Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease that is more common in adult patients. If treatment is not started in time, complications lead to spinal immobilization and disability. Folk remedies for osteochondrosis are an auxiliary method of treatment, they are prescribed simultaneously with medication, diet, a course of massage and a set of special exercises. Subject to medical advice, you can extend the remission period.
what is osteochondrosis
This is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, in which there is a gradual destruction of the intervertebral discs, vertebral tissues. Muscles gradually atrophy, the conduction of nerve impulses, the work of physiological systems and individual internal organs are disrupted. For a long time, the disease is asymptomatic. Then the patient complains of back and neck pain. This is the first sign of osteochondrosis. Other symptoms depend on the location of the pathological focus. General signs of the disease:
- static syndrome: impaired posture, feeling of stiffness in the spine, more frequent back pain;
- trophic syndrome: the formation of trophic ulcers on the skin due to impaired tissue oxygen supply;
- vascular syndrome: pale skin, nausea, dizziness, signs of lack of oxygen;
- neurological syndrome: decreased sensitivity of different areas of the spine, sensation of "crawling on the skin", numbness of the limbs.
In the absence of timely treatment, attacks of nausea and dizziness become more frequent, the patient may even lose consciousness. Due to atherosclerotic narrowing of the arteries, certain parts of the brain lack oxygen and die. In addition, the patient complains of a sharp drop in visual acuity, flashing "goose bumps" before the eyes.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home
Treatment is performed by a neuropathologist, vertebrologist, surgeon or neurosurgeon, chiropractor, exercise therapy physician, physical therapist. Choosing a narrow-profile specialist depends on the form and stage of the pathological process, possible health complications. The treatment of osteochondrosis is conservative or surgical. In the first case, an integrated approach is needed, which, in addition to a therapeutic diet and medication, includes:
- corrective gymnastics and physical education;
- change in usual way of life;
- reflexology;
- manual therapy;
- physiotherapy methods;
- massage course;
- traditional medicine methods.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the cervical or other spine is a long process. The main objective is to stop the pain syndrome, restore the structure and function of the vertebrae, and prolong the period of remission. The complex of therapeutic measures proposed by the specialist is designed for 1-3 months, depending on the severity of the pathological process. The rehabilitation period is 1 year. Subject to medical prescriptions, effective treatment can be performed at home.
Medicines
Taking medication is appropriate in the acute phase, when the patient suffers from acute back pain, cannot fully move and sleep. The doctor prescribes tablets for oral administration, ointments, gels for external use. With osteochondrosis, complex treatment contains drugs from several pharmacological groups:
| Pharmacological group name | The principle of action in the focus of pathology | Medication release forms |
|---|---|---|
| non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs henceforth) | blockade of prostaglandin synthesis (suppression of the inflammatory process and an acute attack of pain) | capsules, injections, tablets, gels, patches, ointments |
| vasodilator drugs | nutrition of vertebral tissues, acceleration of the process of their regeneration | creams, ointments, gels, pills, injections |
| muscle relaxants | relaxation of spasmodic muscles, reduction of pain syndrome | injections, pills |
| anesthetics, analgesics | rapid anesthesia of the pathological focus | injections, pills |
| chondroprotectors | restoration of the structure of bone and cartilaginous tissues, preventing their subsequent destruction | capsules, tablets, gels, ointments, injections |
| sedatives | improve sleep quality, achieve emotional balance | tinctures, pills |
| antidepressants | relieve anxiety and depressive conditions due to acute pain and impaired mobility of the vertebrae | pills |
| glucocorticosteroids | are prescribed in complicated clinical cases to relieve inflammation, reduce the intensity of the pain syndrome, restore the functionality of the vertebrae | ointments, injections, pills |
| phytopreparations (herbal medicines) | restoration of the protective functions of the body, normalization of sleep quality, prevention of depression | pills |
| antioxidants | improvement of local blood circulation, stimulation of metabolism at the cellular level | injections, pills |
| multivitamin complexes | strengthening the spine, increasing immunity | pills |
pills
Oral medicines are available in the form of tablets, capsules, pills and provide a complex effect on the body. In this way, you can relieve inflammation, suppress an attack of pain, restore damaged vertebrae structure, and provide vital oxygen for tissue nutrition. Symptomatic therapy of osteochondrosis, performed at home, involves oral administration:
- Ines;
- vasodilator drugs;
- muscle relaxants;
- analgesics;
- chondroprotectors;
- sedatives;
- antidepressants and tranquilizers;
- glucocorticosteroids;
- phytopreparations;
- antioxidants;
- multivitamin complexes.
After taking these drugs, the movement of the vertebrae is restored orally, an attack of sharp pain disappears:
Ointment
Means for local external use have analgesic, irritating and disturbing properties, they are intended for external use - directly at the focus of pathology. With local exposure, the risk of contraindications and side effects is minimal, the therapeutic effect is noticeable 15-20 minutes after applying a single dose of the selected drug:
- ointments to relieve pain;
- Ines;
- chondroprotectors;
- homeopathic ointments.
These drugs can cause local and allergic skin reactions, so before using them at home, it is necessary to consult a specialist.
injections
The main purpose of performing injections is to relieve spasm, reduce the increase in excitability of nerve endings, suppress an attack of pain, which deprives the patient of sleep and rest. For successful treatment of osteochondrosis, preparations of various pharmacological groups are suitable for intramuscular administration:
- Ines;
- analgesics;
- chondroprotectors;
- muscle relaxants;
- paravertebral block.
Most of these injections are for intramuscular administration. You can give injections at home.
Diet
Effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home necessarily includes a healthy diet, so the patient needs to make some adjustments to his usual daily diet. A prerequisite is to reduce the total calorie content of meals and the amount of food ingredients that raise blood cholesterol. It is recommended to adhere to a balanced diet, eat more fermented milk and plant products, control the water regime, intake of natural vitamins and antioxidants.
| Healthy food | forbidden food |
|---|---|
| dairy and sour dairy products | fast food |
| Fish and seafood | semi-finished products, preservatives |
| Red meat | confectionery, sweets |
| eggs, hard cheeses, butter | sweet carbonated drinks |
| liver steak | alcohol in any form |
| vegetables (potatoes, carrots, cabbage of all kinds) | table salt, spices |
| fruit (peaches, apricots, citrus) | sausages, smoked meats |
Charger
With osteochondrosis, the morning should start with exercise. Patients are engaged in therapeutic exercises at any time of day. In this way, it is possible to improve blood circulation, slow down the degenerative-dystrophic processes of the spine, strengthen the muscular corset and prolong the period of remission of the underlying disease. Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis at home helps to relax tense muscles in the back and neck, expand the intervertebral clefts and release pinched spinal nerves. General expert recommendations:
- It is necessary to start the therapeutic gymnast with a warm-up.
- If an acute pain syndrome is felt in the lower back, twisting is contraindicated.
- With cervical osteochondrosis, it is advisable to abandon the sharp curves of the head.
- It is recommended to replace running and jumping with walking, swimming, frequent walks in the fresh air.
- All movements should be smooth and slow, you need to do them daily.
- It is necessary to monitor breathing (it should be uniform) and pulse, to control the physical load on the body.
If you regularly perform simple exercises for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine or other spine, then you can forget about the unbearable pain for a long time. Training complex available at home:
- Sit on a chair, clasp your hands in a lock at the back of your head, lean your body forward. Press your hands to the back of the head so that the head gently lowers, the chin touches the thoracic region. Hold this position for a few seconds, feel the maximum muscle tension.
- While sitting, touch your right cheek with your right palm and slowly tilt your head first to the left, then shift your hand to the right. It is recommended to complete 15-20 approaches on each side.
- Sit on a chair so you can grab the edge of it with your hands. Then slowly lower your head back, open your shoulder blades and shoulders. Then return to the starting position and repeat the same movement 15 to 20 more times.
- In a sitting position on the floor with your legs stretched out, lean forward so that, without bending your knees, you reach your toes. Freeze in this position for a few moments, then exhale and relax.
- Lie on your back with your legs bent at the knees. Slowly invert the bridge, lifting your pelvis off the floor. Freeze at the highest point for 5-10 seconds. Such an exercise for osteochondrosis as part of the developed training complex is advised by the famous specialist S. M. Bubnovsky.
Massage
To quickly relieve muscle spasm, increase microcirculation, strengthen the back and improve the patient's general condition, doctors with osteochondrosis recommend a massage course. You can perform each procedure yourself at home. The main condition is to work intensively the cervical and lumbar spine to activate local blood circulation. The technique doesn't really matter, you can choose to knead the skin, rub, press:
- To warm up the muscles, start the massage with light movements.
- Then move on to rubbing, kneading. Take a fold of skin and move it slowly from bottom to top.
- Press with your fingertips in the area of the longitudinal muscles of the back, make circular movements.
- Stretch the muscles of the chest, thighs, shoulder girdle, avoid increasing pressure on the spine.
- Finish the procedure by tapping, vibrating, tapping. Perform such manipulations with the fingertips, an edge or the entire palm, depending on the severity of the disease.
Massager for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
To get rid of an unbearable attack of pain in the neck region at home, relax the muscle fibers and quickly relieve general well-being, the patient is advised to use a special massager. It will help stop the pain syndrome even in advanced cases.
healing baths
In the exacerbation phase, water procedures are contraindicated. During rehabilitation, these at-home sessions have become indispensable as they dilate blood vessels, relax muscles and have a beneficial effect on spinal joints. To enhance the desired effect, it is recommended to add a decoction of chamomile, lemon balm, string, thyme, horsetail, thyme to warm water. General expert recommendations:
- Pour 250-300 g of dry plant material or mix with 5 liters of boiling water.
- Cook over moderate heat for 20 minutes.
- After insisting under the lid, strain the broth, add to the collected bath.
- Perform the procedure before bed for 15-20 minutes.
compresses
These home procedures help to remove edema and an acute attack of pain in osteochondrosis. In addition, they improve blood circulation, relieve pain, relieve muscle spasms. When treating osteochondrosis at home, it is necessary to go through a two-week course, put heating compresses in the focus of pathologists 1-2 times a day. Recipes for medicinal compositions:
- Grind horseradish root and apple on a fine grater, mix the composition. Squeeze out the juice, form a cake with the resulting porridge. Place on the inflamed area and wrap with a bandage. Repeat the procedure daily until the pain subsides.
- Melt 1 g of propolis in a water bath, and at this time get 50 g of fresh aloe juice from fresh leaves. Combine the ingredients, add 50 g of mustard powder, 400 ml of vodka to the mixture, mix. Apply the composition on several layers of gauze, attach to the focus of pathology. Do not remove until the cloth is completely dry. Perform a procedure at home daily before bed.
forms
If such warming procedures are used for osteochondrosis, it is possible to restore normal spinal motor activity. Applications act reflexively on biologically active points and zones, normalizing the body's energy balance. It is necessary to moisten the gauze with a medicinal composition, apply to the focus of the pathology. Do not take it off for 30-40 minutes, repeat the procedures at home several times a day. When choosing a medicinal composition, you need to ensure that there are no allergic reactions. Effective application recipes:
- Pass 50 g of fresh aloe leaves through a meat grinder, add 100 g of honey and mix. Pour the mixture with 100 ml of vodka, leave in a dark place for a week. After that, moisten the gauze with the drug, apply it to the focus of pathology. Secure first with cling film and then with a warm tissue. Do not shoot for 30 minutes. Repeat the procedure twice a day.
- Mix a glass of medicinal turpentine and the same amount of crushed aloe leaf, add 100 g of inner fat, 5-10 drops of iodine. Insist on the composition for 5 days in a dark place, then rub the sore spots overnight, covering with plastic wrap, a warm scarf.
Friction
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home is not complete without rubbing. Such procedures, like massage, quickly relieve inflammation, suppress an attack of pain, and stimulate blood circulation in the affected area. Scrubbing is recommended up to 2-3 times a day. Turpentine, badger fat, kerosene, nutria fat can be used as medicinal compounds. Of medicinal plants, doctors recommend paying attention to the beneficial properties of juniper, banana, sage. Time-tested recipes:
- Mix 1 teaspoon in a container. juniper needles, 6 tsp. pre-chopped bay leaf, 6 tbsp. I. butter. Apply an even composition to the sore spot. Rub the ointment prepared for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine into the skin with light movements. Perform the procedure several times a day, avoid drafts. The course is selected individually.
- Add 2 tbsp. I. sage and pre-chopped banana, add to the mixture 40 g of Vaseline, 50 ml of vegetable oil. Mix the composition well, apply to the pathological focus and rub. To enhance the healing effect, wrap the treated area of skin with a warm scarf on top. Do not wash off the ointment for 30-40 minutes.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies
Alternative medicine methods for osteochondrosis are no weaker than official medicines. The main thing is to choose the right recipe. The following are time-tested remedies that bring back the joy of movement to the patient:
- Chop the raw, pre-peeled potatoes on a fine grater. Add 50 g of honey to the resulting porridge, mix, form a cake, apply it to the center of the pathology, do not remove for 30 minutes.
- Grind dry cinquefoil root. Then 2 tbsp. I. pour 400 ml of boiling water over the raw materials, cook on the fire for 5-7 minutes. After insisting, strain, use as compresses up to 3-4 times a day for a course of up to 2 weeks. The remedy relieves inflammation, removes pain.
- Stir 200 g of chopped cinquefoil root and 100 g of Potentilla, pour 1 liter of vodka. Insist 3 weeks, then strain. Take orally 1 tbsp. I. 3 times a day before meals for a month.
- Chop the blueberry leaves. 1 Tablespoon. I. fill the finished raw material with 1 tbsp. boiling water and leave for 1 hour under the lid. Divide the final dose into 2 doses - drink in the morning and in the evening. Prepare a new dose of medication daily.