Effective methods of treating osteochondrosis.

Osteochondrosis is called degenerative changes in articular cartilage. If we present this process in a nutshell, then the soft "spacer" between the bones becomes thinner and no longer fully fulfills the functions of an assigned buffer. As a result of the pinching of the nerve endings, pain occurs and mobility is impaired. The process spreads to the surrounding muscles, affects the internal organs.

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

Causes of the disease

Doctors joke that spinal deformity is the price humanity must pay for the ability to walk upright. Of course, there is some truth to this ironic statement, but most of the time the patient himself is the real culprit. The most common causes of osteochondrosis: sedentary lifestyle, excess weight, stress.

The fondness for alcoholic beverages and smoking also contributes. Nicotine makes bones brittle and inhibits collagen synthesis, responsible for the elasticity of cartilage tissue. Alcohol causes dehydration of tissues, promotes the leaching of calcium. No less harmful is the passion for strict diets that limit the intake of minerals and vitamins.

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

Those whose work is stressful run the risk of developing the disease. These are builders, waiters, movers. However, representatives of sedentary professions suffer from osteochondrosis at least as often.

Medications

Osteochondrosis of the spine usually worsens after doing housework or in the garden, increased 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 by taking medicine (pain relievers) or injections to relieve pain. Once the acute pain has subsided, other methods can be applied to treat osteochondrosis of the spine. Home therapy includes:

• taking medications from various groups;
• heat and rub;
• exercise;
• massage and self-massage.

Medical treatment of spinal osteochondrosis at home is carried out using various gels and ointments. The procedure improves blood circulation, relaxes tight muscles, and relieves inflammation. There are several special drugs on the pharmaceutical market that can be used to relieve pain symptoms in osteochondrosis.

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

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

Alternative Medicine

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

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

As a general rule, popular methods of treating osteochondrosis are based on the use of vegetable or animal raw materials, bee products and chemicals. The latter include ethyl alcohol, kerosene, turpentine. These liquids are used to make medicinal compresses, tinctures, or ointments.

Grinding compound

Easy to prepare at home, the solution helps stop pain attacks during an exacerbation of osteochondrosis. To prepare it you need:

• Alcohol or vodka 1, 5 cups.
• Iodine solution 2 tsp.
• Camphor 2 tablespoons. spoons

Mix liquid components, shake. Use it as needed, but no more than twice a day. It is important to keep your 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 branches of fir, pine or fir, which are first boiled for half an hour, and then insisted for a day. To prepare a bath, you need to add a glass of infusion or 50 grams of ready-to-use dry extract to water at a temperature of 37 to 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 the water to a boil, dissolve the soap, add salicylic acid, and mix with turpentine. Pour the prepared mixture into a bath at about 40 ° C.

The duration of the procedure is approximately half an hour. The temperature must be constant, for this you must periodically add hot water to the bath. The duration of treatment is 5-7 days. Doctors do not recommend taking baths during an exacerbation 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 preheated in a pan. Having spread the hot mass on a clean cloth, the application is applied to the lumbar area, isolated with a blanket and allowed to cool. Heating is done in two or three steps, about 45 minutes.

Even though all home remedies are based on natural ingredients, they cannot be considered absolutely safe. Do not forget about individual intolerance. Turpentine or kerosene are obviously not suitable for people with sensitive skin.

Herbal preparations

Non-traditional treatment of osteochondrosis at home is not complete without herbal drug prescriptions. And they are the following:

1. For compresses, you can use an herbal mixture of St. John's wort, dandelion roots, and burdock leaves. Dried and crushed raw materials (20 grams each) are poured with boiling water, pressed into 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, pour over water and boil for 10 minutes. The broth is taken orally twice a day for half a glass or applied to the site of 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 are poured with 4% ammonia, insisted for 30 days in the dark. It is used as a massage to relieve pain and swelling during exacerbation of osteochondrosis.

Massage and self-massage

The traditional form of treatment, massage, will help to eliminate osteochondrosis. Thanks to this procedure, the muscles of the neck and the entire shoulder girdle are completely relaxed. It is also important that a well-done massage helps eliminate pain and improve metabolic processes. At the same time, the patient's blood pressure also returns to normal.

It is possible to treat osteochondrosis at home in this way only if there is a good masseur who knows all the subtleties 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 of the hands. In this case, the movement of the fingers should start from the spine towards the periphery.
2. The movements should be smooth 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. Warms the skin by rubbing and stroking.
2. After that, being in a sitting position, you need to gently caress the area affected by osteochondrosis with your hands.
3. Make light strokes and strokes with your fingers 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 that minimal force of movement is applied.

Physiotherapy exercises

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

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

Slow turns of the head to the side are most 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 in the shoulder joint, the tension of the cervical muscles is noticeably reduced.

For the correct compilation of a set of exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis, you should consult a specialist. You will select a complex to count and show which of the exercises will be the most effective for each individual case, because depending on the affected area, certain muscle groups must be involved. It is very important to follow your doctor's instructions so that the treatment is beneficial and not harmful to your health. In the case of painful sensations during gymnastics, you need to stop the exercises and report to the specialist to correct the set of exercises. For maximum effect, regardless of the complexity of the case, in addition to gymnastics, you need to use an applicator, self-massage, and use drugs for the treatment of osteochondrosis.

Helpful Hints

When osteochondrosis is diagnosed, a neurologist prescribes complex therapy. Home treatment alternates with physical therapy, massages, injections, and medication. Exercise therapy specialists strongly recommend not limiting yourself to bed rest, even during periods of exacerbation of osteochondrosis. What's more, they claim that some exercise can help relieve pain as can medications.

It should be noted that the modern approach to the treatment of 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 relieve osteochondrosis:

1. It is worth strengthening the muscles of the back and abdominals, they will create a kind of support structure. This requires daily stretching and flexibility exercises. It is also important to monitor your posture while working or walking.
2. Everyone should choose the correct sleeping position in which the spine is as relaxed as possible. If a person sleeps on their back, it is helpful to place an additional pillow under the 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 quitting smoking and alcohol, which destroy joint tissue. It is also worth maintaining a healthy weight.