Such a disease of the musculoskeletal system as osteochondrosis is practically impossible to fully treat today.
However, doctors have enough tools in their inventory that can effectively help alleviate the symptoms of the disease and stop its further development.
Many of these methods require inpatient treatment, which people do not always have time for due to the modern rhythm of life.How to get rid of osteochondrosis in this case?
There is only one answer - home treatment of osteochondrosis.Consider the methods of home treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies.
Pathogenesis of the disease
According to statistics, every third person under the age of 45 complains of back pain.In most cases, this is caused by osteochondrosis of the spine.
The pathology is primarily characterized by damage to cartilage and bone tissue, and as it progresses, it begins to affect the patient's nervous system.
The disease is rapidly "rejuvenating", as the physical activity of the population is decreasing due to the development of computer technology and the developing transport infrastructure.
But in addition to a sedentary lifestyle, experts name other reasons for the development of pathology:
- Ecology;
- Violation of the diet;
- Irrational distribution of physical load on the back;
- Injuries;
- Weakness of the skeletal muscles;
- Reduced immunity due to the development of chronic diseases;
- Viral and bacterial pathologies, etc.
With the modern dynamics of a person's life, he simply does not have enough time to take care of his health.There will always be a dozen other reasons not to do it: work, family, children, etc.
Then you wonder for a long time: why did you get osteochondrosis at the age of 25-30?- a disease usually characteristic of older people.
Many people consider going to the clinic a waste of time, and a logical question arises: how to treat osteochondrosis at home?
To answer this question, it is necessary to consider what therapeutic methods are used by specialists in the treatment of this pathology.
Only then can we consider the treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies and understand how effective traditional treatment methods are in general.
Treatment of osteochondrosis
The therapy of this pathology has no standards and depends on the individual diagnosis of the patient.
This suggests that before starting home treatment for osteochondrosis, you still need to visit your doctor for a diagnosis.
This should be done in order not to cause even more damage to the body.The complications of this pathology lead to protrusion and herniation of the intervertebral discs, which can lead to headaches, loss of sensation in the limbs, and even paralysis.
During the post-diagnosis inpatient treatment, specialists primarily solve three main problems:
- Pain relief;
- Reducing inflammation and swelling.These symptoms are almost always present during the development of the pathology;
- The main goal of physiotherapy procedures aimed at restoring damaged tissues is to achieve a long and lasting remission.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine with traditional methods cannot replace full-fledged therapy.
However, alternative treatment against osteochondrosis can help reduce pain symptoms and improve the patient's general health.
What medicines can be used at home
Many drugs used to treat osteochondrosis have many serious side effects, so they should only be taken with the permission of the attending physician.
But what should we do if we have back pain and there is no way to go to the clinic?How to cure osteochondrosis at home with the medicines available in the home medicine cabinet?
The first thing that is recommended to be taken in case of acute pain are drugs belonging to the group of pain relievers.
In addition to its mild pain-relieving effect, aspirin has blood-thinning properties, which promotes better blood circulation and has a fever-reducing effect.
This helps relieve the inflammation and swelling of tissues that compress the nerve endings and thus cause pain.
It is advisable to use pain-relieving patches.Most often, they contain lidocaine, which quickly relieves pain.
Reviews of pain-relieving ointments with a cooling effect, usually containing menthol and camphor, are also excellent.
If you are sure that the acute phase of the disease has passed and there are no inflammatory symptoms, it is recommended to use gels with a warming effect: turpentine ointment.
Ointments should be applied directly to the source of pain, gently rubbing into the skin.There is no point in touching non-affected areas.
Cold effect gels can be applied at any time.It is recommended to use ointments with a warming effect at night, and the affected area should also be wrapped with a woolen cloth.
Gymnastics at home
Exercise therapy of osteochondrosis is one of the main and effective methods in the treatment of this pathology.A common reason for the development of osteochondrosis is a weak skeletal system that cannot cope with physical activity.
Thus, the entire load falls on the intervertebral discs, as a result of which their degenerative changes occur.
The discs between the vertebrae thin out, or as they say, dry out and lose their functionality.Gymnastics makes it possible to increase muscle tone, improve their flexibility and blood circulation.
Depending on the location of tissue damage and pain syndrome, osteochondrosis can be cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral.
There are also exercises for different parts, but it is recommended to train not only the most affected area, which causes discomfort, but all parts of the spine.
Attention!If pain occurs while performing therapeutic exercises, training should be stopped immediately and performed only under the supervision of a specialist.
- The first two exercises perfectly stimulate the intervertebral discs in the neck region, promote better fluid circulation and their thickening.To perform these, you must assume a sitting or standing position.We bend our head forward and backward with small movements.The gestures should remind you that you are talking to the person and agree with them by saying yes.
- The next exercise is similar to the first, only now you have to turn your head left and right as if to say no.The movements should not be performed with a large amplitude;it should be about 30% of the maximum possible tilt or rotation of the head.Several times a day, at appropriate times, for 2-3 minutes each.
- The following exercise for treating the spine at home strengthens the neck and shoulder muscles.Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, arms down on your body.We make circular movements with our shoulders forward and backward.It is performed several times a day in several approaches, 15-20 times in each direction.
- To train the lumbar region, it is recommended to do an exercise that is more like belly dancing.Starting position, standing with feet shoulder-width apart.We make circular movements with the pool, first in one direction and then in the other direction.At the same time, we make sure that the chest and shoulder girdle remain as still as possible.Two or three times in different directions is enough for 20-25 turns.
- The next exercise is aimed at strengthening the latissimus and trapezius muscles.Body position: lying on your stomach with your arms extended forward.Raise your arms, shoulders and head, hold for one second and lower to the starting position.The exercise is performed 10-15 times.
In addition to strengthening the back muscles, we must not forget the abdominal muscles, which are involved not only in deep breathing, but also in correct posture.Weak abdominal muscles contribute to lumbar lordosis.
Attention!Exercise is only good for the body if it is done regularly.
Gymnastics is a good remedy for osteochondrosis.The therapeutic effect is achieved by strengthening the muscles and improving blood circulation in them, which prevents the development of the inflammatory process and swelling around the cartilage tissue.
Physiotherapy at home
The folk remedies used in the treatment of osteochondrosis are often taken from the life experience of entire generations and are successfully used in traditional medicine as physiotherapy procedures.
Some of these can be done at home.
Contrast shower
The first folk remedy with which you can treat osteochondrosis at home is the contrast shower.
Many people associate this procedure only with hardening, and not everyone understands how this procedure helps in the fight against pathology.
The explanation here is quite simple - a sharp redirection of blood flow in the muscles, near the cartilage tissue and the skin.
This promotes the outflow of excess fluid from inflamed and swollen areas, as well as the influx of necessary microelements into damaged tissues.
The moment a person is under a jet of hot water, protective mechanisms are activated in the body to protect him from overheating.
This is achieved by allowing blood to flow from the internal organs to the muscles and skin.The blood vessels dilate, the amount of blood increases, and excess heat escapes from the outside.
When you suddenly stand in a stream of cold water, a reverse reaction occurs - the outflow of blood from the muscles and skin to the internal organs.
This is how the process of body temperature regulation takes place, and at the same time blood circulation in the damaged tissues is normalized, which contributes to the improvement of the condition as a whole.
The procedure is quite simple.You must stand under tolerable, non-scalding hot water for 20-30 seconds.
Then switch the water to cold for 10-20 seconds.The procedure should be carried out 3-5 times, closed with cool but comfortable water temperature.
Despite the obvious advantages of the procedure, it still has contraindications:
- It is forbidden to perform this procedure if the patient has symptoms of a cold or acute respiratory infection;
- Cardiovascular diseases;
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs, etc.
The amount of blood from the internal organs to the muscles and back is quite large and can cause a heart attack, stroke or internal bleeding.Therefore, this complex should be performed with a gradual increase in duration under cold or warm water.
At first, spend no more than 5-7 seconds under running water and gradually increase these values to 30 seconds over several weeks.
Salt baths
Another folk remedy for the treatment of osteochondrosis is the salt bath.They are a great help if back pain is caused by muscle strain.
To prepare the bath, you will need sea or traditional table salt.Fine and steam-cleaned will be less effective in this case.
The volume of a standard bath varies between 170 and 195 liters;this amount of water will require about 5 kg of salt.
The water temperature is 36-38°C.You can use any essential oil for best results.After the procedure, it is recommended to stand under slightly warm running water for a few minutes.
Osteochondrosis is practically incurable, but it can still be stopped and thus overcome by treatment with traditional methods as an additional therapy to the main treatment.