Effective methods of treating osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is called a degenerative change in the articular cartilage. If we present this process in a few words, then the soft "separator" between the bones becomes thinner and ceases to fully fulfill the functions of a shock absorber assigned to it. As a result of pinching the nerve endings, pain occurs, mobility is impaired. The process extends to the surrounding muscles, affecting the internal organs.

Therapeutic treatment of osteochondrosis at home aims to alleviate the patient's condition and return him to an active life. Let’s take a look at popular and available methods to help you get rid of the attack and avoid recurrence.

Causes of the disease

Doctors joke that spinal deformity is the price of humanity to pay for the ability to walk. In this ironic statement, of course, there is a truth, but more often than not the patient himself is the real culprit. The most common causes of osteochondrosis are: sedentary lifestyle, overweight, stress.

Also contributes to the hobbies for alcoholic beverages and smoking. Nicotine makes bones fragile, inhibits the synthesis of collagen, which is responsible for the elasticity of cartilage tissue. Alcohol causes tissue dehydration, promotes calcium drainage. No less harmful is the passion for strict diets that limit the intake of minerals and vitamins.

Heredity factor and age-related changes play an important role in the development of osteochondrosis. In addition, flat feet, worn with high-heeled shoes, contribute to the development of pathology.

Those who have stressful jobs are at risk of developing the disease. These are builders, waiters, movers. However, representatives of sedentary professions suffer from osteochondrosis not less often.

Medications

Often, osteochondrosis of the spine worsens after doing housework or in the garden, increasing physical exertion, hypothermia. In such cases, the first priority is to get rid of strong pain sensations that interfere with normal movement.

One way to quickly stop an attack is to take medication (analgesics) or injections to relieve the pain. After withdrawal of acute pain, you can use other methods of treating osteochondrosis of the spine. Home therapy includes:

• taking medicines of different groups;
• heating and friction;
• exercise;
• massage and self-massage.

Medical treatment of spinal osteochondrosis at home is performed with the use of various gels and oils. The procedure improves blood circulation, relaxes tense muscles and relieves inflammation. There are a number of specific medications on the pharmaceutical market that can be used to relieve pain symptoms in osteochondrosis.

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

Chondroprotectors are intended to stimulate the formation of interstitial fluid and restore cartilage structure.

Alternative Medicine

Treating osteochondrosis yourself at home can be quite effective.

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

As a rule, popular 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 make medical compresses, tinctures or oils.

Grinding ingredient

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 glasses.
• Iodine solution 2 tsp.
• Camphor 2 tbsp. spoon

Mix the liquid ingredients, shake. Use as needed, but no more than twice a day. Importers 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 spruce, pine or fir branches, which are first boiled for half an hour and then insist for a day. To prepare a bath, you need to add a glass of infusion or 50 grams of dry extract ready in 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 water to a boil, dissolve soap in it, add salicylic acid and mix with turpentine. Pour the prepared mixture into a bath at about 40 ° C.

The duration of the procedure is about half an hour. The temperature should be constant; for this, hot water should be added periodically to the bath. The duration of treatment is 5-7 days. Doctors do not recommend taking baths during a worsening of osteochondrosis, 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 pre-heated in a pan. Once you have spread the hot mass on a clean cloth, the application is applied to the lower back, insulated with a blanket and left to cool. Heating is performed in two or three steps, about 45 minutes.

Despite the fact that all folk remedies are based on natural ingredients, they can not 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 treatment of osteochondrosis at home is not complete without prescriptions for herbal medicine. And they are as follows:

1. For compresses, you can use a herbal blend of cantaridae, dandelion root and burdock leaves. The dried, crushed raw materials (20 grams each) are poured with boiling water, insist 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 20-30 minutes.
2. Mint and sage in equal proportions, add water and boil for 10 minutes. The broth is taken orally twice a day for half a glass or applied to the localization of osteochondrosis in the form of a compress. For preparation, take 3 tablespoons of crushed raw material per liter of water.
3. Mother and stepmother flowers poured with 4% ammonia, insisted for 30 days in the dark. Used as a rub to relieve pain and swelling during the worsening of osteochondrosis.

Massage and self-massage

The traditional way of treatment - massage - will help to get rid of osteochondrosis. Thanks to this procedure, the neck muscles and the entire shoulder girdle are completely relaxed. It is also important that a properly done massage helps 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 this way only if there is a good masseur who knows all the details of this procedure. But self-massage can be a good substitute. The methodology for its implementation is studied and mastered quite simply. In order not to hurt yourself, you need to know a few simple rules:

1. Proper self-massage for osteochondrosis should be performed exclusively with the fingers. In this case, the movement of the fingers should start from the spine to the periphery.
2. Movements should be light 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 with rubbing and stroking.
2. After that, being in a sitting position, you should perform gentle strokes with your hands on the wound area with osteochondrosis.
3. Slight finger movements and stroking should be done for 3 minutes.

These procedures should be performed daily throughout the course of osteochondrosis treatment. If possible, a family member can do the massage, but it is very important to apply the minimum force of movement.

Physiotherapy exercises

Another method of treating osteochondrosis is remedial gymnastics. This procedure is mandatory for home treatment as it helps strengthen the muscles of the problem areas. Performing the exercises, the patient's muscles tense and relax, creating the necessary load on the problem areas.

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

Slow turns of the head to the sides are more effective in treating cervical osteochondrosis. Depending on the affected area, exercises can be used to strengthen the muscles of the upper and lower extremities. And with the help of hand movements at the shoulder joint, the tension of the cervical muscles is significantly reduced.

To accurately compile a set of exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis, you should contact a specialist. He will choose a complex to show and indicate which of the exercises will be most effective for each individual case, because depending on the affected area, certain muscle groups must be involved. It is very important to follow the doctor's instructions so that the treatment is beneficial and not harmful to your health. In case of painful sensations during gymnastics, you should stop the exercises and inform the specialist in order to correct the set of exercises. To get the maximum effect, regardless of the complexity of the case, in addition to gymnastics, you should use an applicator, do self-massage and use medication to treat osteochondrosis.

Helpful tips

When osteochondrosis is diagnosed, a neurologist prescribes complex therapy. Home treatment alternates with physiotherapy, massage, injection and medication. Exercise therapy specialists strongly recommend not to limit yourself to bed rest even during periods of worsening osteochondrosis. Moreover, they claim that some exercises can help relieve pain as well as medication.

It should be noted that the modern approach to treating osteochondrosis differs from the methods used several 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 ease the flow of osteochondrosis:

1. It is worth strengthening the muscles of the back and abs, they will create a kind of supporting frame. This requires daily stretching and flexibility exercises. It is also important to monitor your behavior while working or walking.
2. Everyone should choose the right sleeping position in which the back is as relaxed as possible. If a person sleeps on his back, then it is helpful to place an extra pillow under his 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 giving up smoking and alcohol, which destroy joint tissue. It is also worth maintaining a healthy weight.