Effective methods for treating osteochondrosis at home

As is known, osteochondrosis is a chronic pathology caused by degenerative changes in the structure of the spine. Unfortunately, 8 out of 10 people among the adult population suffer from osteochondrosis.

Pathology can begin in youth (20-25 years old), being gradually complicated by new manifestations. In general, lumbar, thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis are distinguished.

Symptoms of the disease

Osteochondrotic lesions of the cervical spine are characterized by:

• Boring pain in the neck and back of the head (cervicalgia);
• If the vertebral artery is damaged, then the activity of the nerve centers responsible for the normalization of pressure indicators is disrupted, so hypertension is often a concomitant pathology of osteochondrosis;
• During the development of cervical osteochondrosis, compression of the spinal artery occurs, which provokes the appearance of symptoms such as external sounds in the ears, dizziness and visual disturbances, paroxysmal headaches;
• Pain in the heart radiating to the shoulder and neck, similar to the pain of angina pectoris.

Lumbar osteochondrosis is characterized by symptoms:

• Severe pain resulting from compression of the nerve roots of the spine, as well as the venous-arterial highways that supply the spinal cord;
• When the lower medial roots are affected, the disease is accompanied by shooting pain along the outer part of the legs, which turns into a decrease in the sensitivity of this area;
• Often, lumbar osteochondrosis is manifested by severe pain that goes from the lower back to the legs, later this symptom is replaced by a decrease in sensitivity in the lower extremities;
• With the development of complications in the form of an intervertebral hernia, manifestations such as weakness in the legs, lumbar pain, decreased muscle tone and sensitivity of the legs and weakness of the leg muscles (paresis) appear.

Manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis:

• With upper lesions, there is pain in the abdomen, chest, shoulder and scapula;
• Lower injuries are associated with reduced sensitivity of the lower thoracic vertebrae, accompanied by dysfunction of the pelvic organs. When you move or sneeze, the pain increases;
• In rare cases, thoracic osteochondrosis causes compression of the spine, which is characterized by local belt pain that radiates to the intercostal space, abdomen, groin or lower extremities, weakness and numbness in the legs and disturbances in the activity of the pelvic organs.

Treatment options

In the treatment of osteochondrosis, a number of therapeutic techniques are used:

1. Drug therapy;
2. Physiotherapy (massage procedures, physical therapy, etc. );
3. Diet therapy;
4. Corrective therapy;
5. Ethnoscience;
6. Surgery.

How to treat cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis at home

Each of the methods of anti-osteochondrosis therapy is aimed at relieving pain with its subsequent elimination, normalizing the course of vertebral structural processes and restoring the radicular activity of the spine.

Drug therapy

Drug therapy for osteochondrosis is based on several areas:

1. Symptomatic therapy is aimed at eliminating pain and includes taking anti-inflammatory drugs. Along with anti-inflammatory drugs, patients are prescribed muscle relaxants from the group of muscle relaxants;
2. Treatment aimed at normalizing blood circulation includes the use of vasodilators;
3. Cartilage tissue restorative therapy is based on the use of chondroprotective drugs;
4. Vitamin therapy is based on taking vitamin complexes;
5. Treatment with antidepressants is used to relieve anxiety and depressive states, which often appear in patients against the background of limited movement and pain of osteochondrosis origin.
6. Therapy with herbal preparations often helps to significantly alleviate the condition of patients, as such drugs restore immune protection, sleep and strength of the body and prevent depression.

Physiotherapy activities

Quite effective in the fight against osteochondrosis are physiotherapeutic measures that:

• Helps to eliminate the pain syndrome;
• Increasing the amplitude of motor skills;
• Improving and facilitating the flow of immune processes;
• normalization of blood circulation;
• normalization of metabolic processes;
• Provide a reduction in the therapeutic dose of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics.

Physiotherapy has many types. In the treatment against osteochondrosis, the following are most often used:

1. Electrotherapy involves performing procedures related to the influence of electric current, such as electrophoresis, galvanization, electrosleep, darsonvalization and others using special equipment;
2. Shock wave therapy is performed with devices that convert an electrical impulse into an ultrasound wave, which, acting on the spine affected by osteochondrosis, accelerates the healing of damaged bone and cartilage tissue, eliminates pain and swelling;
3. Balneotherapy includes the use of mineral waters and mud, after exposure to which blood supply improves, pain is relieved and material metabolism is normalized;
4. Magnetotherapy - this device is based on the use of a constant magnetic field created by special inductors that are placed in the affected vertebral areas;
5. Laser therapy is based on the use of special lasers, which, acting on the affected tissues, contribute to their restoration.

All physiotherapeutic methods provide symptomatic treatment of osteochondrosis, relieve inflammation and pain, reduce the course of treatment and the dose of drugs taken.

diets

Since therapy against osteochondrosis is complex, it requires a rationally balanced diet.

For patients with this disease, it is extremely important to limit the intake of liquids, salt and simple carbohydrates. They should remove from the diet:

• Alcohol;
• Beverages such as cocoa, coffee and strong tea;
• Pickles and spicy foods;
• Products very rich in extractive substances (mushrooms, fatty fish, poultry, meat, etc. ).

Since osteochondrosis causes the destruction of intervertebral cartilage, their restoration requires animal proteins, which are rich in dairy products, lean fish or meat.

Jellied meat or soup prepared from the boiled bones of beef or pig's feet is especially beneficial for such patients. This soup is rich in collagen, which gives bones and cartilage extra strength.

Exercises to improve health

Therapeutic exercises play an equally important role in the treatment of osteochondrosis; moreover, it is considered the most effective method to fight the destruction of bone and cartilage cells, helps to strengthen muscle and joint tissues, ensures the mobility of the spine and helps to restore damaged tissues.

When performing physical therapy exercises, some simple conditions must be observed:

1. Movements should not cause severe pain attacks or discomfort; if such an effect occurs, it is necessary to discuss the situation with a doctor;
2. You can not perform exercises during periods of aggravation of the disease, otherwise the pain symptom may increase or complications may develop;
3. You must perform the exercises smoothly, avoiding sudden movements.

The group of necessary exercises is selected by the doctor in accordance with the patient's condition and the degree of development of osteochondrosis.

Massage

Massage procedures help improve blood circulation and have a relaxing effect on the patient's muscles. The massage begins with light strokes, then moves to rubbing and kneading. Massage can be done with hands or using special objects such as jars.

Cupping massage for osteochondrosis helps relieve muscle tension and activate metabolic processes in affected tissues due to improved blood flow and lymphatic flow. Acupressure, which involves influencing the active points of the spine, has no less therapeutic effect.

ethnoscience

Traditional medicine, which has many recipes for various rubs and compresses, can also help in the treatment of osteochondrosis. Thanks to folk remedies that increase blood flow, it is possible to relieve pain and relax muscles.

These tools are based on:

• Essential oils (fir, etc. );
• Melted pork belly;
• Camphor alcohol;
• Badger fat;
• Honey;
• The poison of bees, snakes;
• Medicinal roots and plants such as aloe, birch or horseradish leaves, garlic, ginger, red pepper.

They are combined with alcohol, iodine and turpentine, which results in a local irritating effect. Mustard baths (200 grams of powder per water bath) are excellent for relieving sudden acute pain.

Orthopedic accessories

A good addition to home treatment for osteochondrosis would be the use of orthopedic accessories that ensure complete relaxation of the spine during night rest.

Therefore, during sleep, you should take a correct and comfortable position of the body.

High-quality orthopedic mattresses and pillows can help with this. Thanks to the use of such devices, the spine will be completely relaxed at night, which will eliminate the symptoms and improve the patient's condition.

Osteochondrosis can be treated independently, the main thing is to observe the regularity, stability, complexity of the procedures and coordinate all actions with a specialist.