Effective methods for treating osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is called degenerative changes in articular cartilage. If we present this process in a few words, the soft "spacer" between the bones becomes thinner and does not perform the damping functions assigned to it. Pinching of nerve endings results in pain and impaired mobility. The process extends to the surrounding muscles, affecting the internal organs.

Home therapy for osteochondrosis is aimed at alleviating the patient's condition and returning to an active life. Let’s take a look at popular and available methods to help get rid of an attack and avoid repetition.

Causes of the disease

Doctors are joking that spinal deformity is the price of humanity to pay for the ability to walk vertically. There is, of course, some truth in this ironic statement, but most often the patient himself is the real culprit. The most common causes of osteochondrosis: sedentary lifestyle, overweight, stress.

Alcoholic beverages and the hobby of smoking also contribute. Nicotine makes bones fragile, inhibits the synthesis of collagen, which is responsible for the elasticity of cartilage tissue. Alcohol causes the tissues to dry out, helping to wash out calcium. No less harmful is a passion for strict diets that limit the intake of minerals and vitamins.

Inheritance factor and age-related changes play a significant role in the development of osteochondrosis. In addition, flat feet, in high-heeled shoes, contribute to the development of pathology.

Those whose work is stressful are at risk of developing the disease. These are builders, waiters, movers. However, people in sedentary occupations suffer from osteochondrosis no less frequently.

Medication

Osteochondrosis of the spine often worsens after housework or gardening, increased physical exertion, hypothermia. In such cases, the priority is to get rid of the strong pain sensation that interferes with normal movement.

One way to stop a seizure quickly is to take medications (painkillers) or injections to relieve the pain. Other methods can be used to treat osteochondrosis of the spine after recurrence of acute pain. Home therapy includes:

• taking medications for different groups;
• warming up and rubbing;
• practice;
• massage and self-massage.

Home treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine is performed using a variety of gels and ointments. The procedure improves blood circulation, relaxes tense muscles and relieves inflammation. There are a number of specialty drugs on the market that can be used to relieve the symptoms of osteochondrosis pain.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relieve primary symptoms. Chondroprotectors should be used to repair worn vertebral discs.

The purpose of chondroprotectors is to stimulate the formation of fluid between the joints and to restore the structure of cartilage.

Alternative Medicine

Treating osteochondrosis on your own at home can be quite effective.

However, you should not seek advice without consulting a professional. It is also necessary to perform a test to confirm the correct diagnosis.

As a general rule, folk 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 medicated compresses, tinctures or ointments.

Abrasive Compound

Easy to make at home, the solution helps stop pain relief when osteochondrosis gets worse. To create it, you need:

• 1, 5 cups of alcohol or vodka.
• Iodine solution 2 tbsp.
• Camphor 2 tbsp. channels.

Mix the liquid components, shake. Use as needed, but no more than twice a day. After rubbing, it is important that the lower back is warm.

Spas

Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies also includes aquatic procedures. Coniferous baths help relieve muscle tension and calm the nervous system. Medicinal raw materials can be prepared independently or a finished extract can be purchased. For the first method, you will need cones and pine, fir, or pine branches, which are first cooked for half an hour and then adhered to for a day. To prepare the bath, add a glass of infusion or 50 grams of ready-made dry extract to water at 37-39 degrees.

Turpentine emulsion is often used in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system at home. The composition contains the following ingredients:

• white emulsion 550 grams;
• 0, 5 liters of purified water;
75 g salicylic acid;
• soap chips 30 grams.

Bring the water to a boil, dissolve the soap in it, add the salicylic acid and mix with turpentine. The prepared mixture is stirred for approx. Pour into a bath at 40 ° C.

The procedure takes about half an hour. The temperature should be constant by regularly adding hot water to the bath. The duration of treatment is 5-7 days. Doctors do not recommend bathing during the worsening of osteochondrosis accompanied by severe pain.

Home osteochondrosis can also be treated with dry heat. For such a process, buckwheat or salt is used, and the products are preheated in a pan. After laying the hot mass on a clean piece of clothing, the application is applied to the lower back, insulated with a blanket and allowed to cool. Warm-up is performed in two or three steps in about 45 minutes.

Although all folk remedies are based on natural ingredients, they cannot be called completely safe. Let’s not forget about individual intolerance. Obviously, turpentine or kerosene is not suitable for people with sensitive skin.

Herbal preparations

Non-home treatment of osteochondrosis is not complete without herbal prescriptions. And these are:

1. You can use a mixture of herbs consisting of St. John's wort, dandelion root and burdock leaves to compress. The dried, crushed raw materials (20 grams each) are poured with boiling water, adhered to them in a closed vessel, and the fabric folded in several layers is impregnated with a cold solution. Place the compress on 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 twice a day for half a glass or used to localize osteochondrosis in the form of a compress. To prepare, take 3 tablespoons of crushed raw material per liter.
3. The flowers of the mother and stepmother are poured with 4% ammonia and adhered to it in the dark for 30 days. It is used as an abrasion to relieve pain and swelling during the worsening of osteochondrosis.

Massage and self-massage

The traditional method of treatment - massage - helps to 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 properly performed massage helps relieve pain and improve metabolic processes. However, the patient's blood pressure also returns to normal.

Treating osteochondrosis at home in this way is only possible if you have a good masseuse who knows all the subtleties of the procedure. But self-massage can be a good substitute. The methodology of implementation is quite simple to study and master. In order not to harm yourself, you need to know a few simple rules:

1. Proper self-massage of osteochondrosis should only be performed with the fingers of the hand. In this case, you need to start moving your fingers from the spine to the periphery.
2. Movements should be smooth and light, without force. It is very important not to make sudden movements or rush.

An example of a classic self-massage might look like this:

1. Warm the skin with rubbing and smoothing movements.
2. Thereafter, in a sitting position, you should caress your hand smoothly in the area affected by osteochondrosis.
3. Apply light finger movement and stroking for 3 minutes.

These procedures should be performed daily throughout the osteochondrosis treatment process. If possible, a family member can perform the massage, but it is very important to use the minimum force of the movements.

Physiotherapy exercises

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

Important!All exercises should be performed at a slow pace, otherwise exercise therapy can be detrimental.

Slow lateral rotation of the head is most effective in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis. Depending on the area involved, exercises can be used to strengthen the muscles of the upper and lower limbs. With hand movements in the shoulder joint, the tension in the neck muscles is noticeably reduced.

You should consult a professional to properly compile a set of exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis. Choose a complex to tell and show which exercise will be most effective in each case because depending on the area involved, certain muscle groups need to be involved. It is very important that you follow your doctor's instructions so that the treatment is beneficial and not harmful. In case of painful feelings during the exercise of the exercise, the exercises should be stopped and the practitioner should be told to correct the set of exercises. To achieve maximum effect, regardless of the complexity of the case, you should use an applicator, self-massage, and medications to treat osteochondrosis in addition to gymnastics.

Helpful Hints

When diagnosing osteochondrosis, a neurologist prescribes complex therapy. Home treatment alternates between physiotherapy, massage, injection and medication. Exercise therapists strongly recommend that they not limit themselves to bed rest even at the time of worsening osteochondrosis. Moreover, they ensure that certain exercises in addition to medications can also relieve pain.

It should be noted that the modern approach to the treatment of osteochondrosis differs from the methods used for decades. Patients perform relaxation and meditation exercises to relieve stress. The disease is treated not only by a neurologist but also by a psychotherapist.

Here are some tips for relieving osteochondrosis:

1. It is worth strengthening your back and abdominal muscles, they create a kind of supporting frame. To do this, you need to perform daily stretching and bending exercises. It is important to monitor posture while working or walking.
2. Everyone should choose the right sleeping position to relax their spine as much as possible. If a person is sleeping on their back, it is helpful to put an extra pillow under their foot in the knee area. Squeeze between your thighs while lying on your side.
3. Therapy alone is not enough to relieve osteochondrosis. Doctors recommend stopping smoking and alcohol, which destroy joint tissue. It is also worth maintaining a healthy weight.