Effective methods of 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 at a young age (20-25 years), gradually becoming complicated with new manifestations. In general, lumbar, thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis are distinguished.

Symptoms of the disease

Osteochondrotic lesions of the cervical spine are characterized by:

• Dull 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 causes symptoms such as strange sounds in the ears, dizziness and visual disturbances, paroxysmal painful headaches;
• Heart pain radiating to the scapula and neck, similar to the pain of angina pectoris.

Lumbar osteochondrosis is characterized by symptoms:

• Severe pain resulting from compression of the spinal nerve root, as well as venous-arterial highways that supply nutrition to the spinal cord;
• When the lower lumbar roots are affected, the disease is accompanied by a shooting pain along the outside of the legs, which translates into reduced sensitivity of this area;
• Often, lumbar osteochondrosis is manifested by a shooting 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, reduced muscle tone and sensitivity of the legs, weakness of the leg muscles (paresis) appear.

Manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis:

• In upper lesions, pain is observed in the abdomen, chest, shoulder and scapula;
• Lower lesions are accompanied by reduced sensitivity of the lower thoracic vertebrae, accompanied by dysfunction of the pelvic organs. When moving or sneezing, the pain increases;
• In rare cases, thoracic osteochondrosis causes compression of the spine, which is characterized by local girdling pains radiating to the intercostal space, abdomen, groin or lower extremities, weakness and numbness in the legs, and disorders of the pelvic organs.

Treatment options

A whole series of therapeutic techniques are used in the treatment of osteochondrosis:

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

How to treat cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis at home

Each of the methods of therapy against osteochondrosis is aimed at alleviating pain with its subsequent elimination, normalizing the course of structural processes of the spine 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. In addition to 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. Antidepressant treatment is used to alleviate anxiety and depressive states, which often occur in patients against the background of limited movement and pain of osteochondrosis origin.
6. Therapy with herbal preparations often helps significantly alleviate the condition of patients, because such drugs restore immune defense, sleep and body strength, and prevent depression.

Physiotherapy activities

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

• Help in eliminating pain syndrome;
• Increase the amplitude of motor skills;
• Improve and facilitate the flow of immune processes;
• Normalize blood circulation;
• Normalization of metabolic processes;
• Ensure reduction of therapeutic doses of anti-inflammatory non-steroidal and analgesics.

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

1. Electrotherapy includes carrying out procedures related to the influence of electric current, such as electrophoresis, galvanization, electrosleep, darsonvalization and others using special devices;
2. Shock wave therapy is carried out 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, relieves pain and swelling;
3. Balneotherapy involves the use of mineral waters and mud, after exposure to which blood supply improves, pain is alleviated 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 on the affected areas of the vertebrae;
5. Laser therapy is based on the use of special lasers, which act on the affected tissues and contribute to their restoration.

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

Diet

As therapy against osteochondrosis is complex, a rationally balanced diet is required.

For those suffering from this disease, it is extremely important to limit the intake of liquids, salt and simple carbohydrates. They must exclude from the diet:

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

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

For such patients, meat jelly or soup made from boiled beef or pork leg bones is particularly useful. This soup is rich in collagens, which give bone and cartilage tissue additional 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 in the fight against the destruction of bone and cartilage cells, helps strengthen muscle and joint tissue, ensures mobility of the spine and helps restore damaged tissues.

When performing physical therapy exercises, a few simple conditions should be observed:

1. The movements should not cause strong attacks of pain or any discomfort, if such an effect occurs, it is necessary to discuss the situation with the doctor;
2. You cannot perform exercises during the period of exacerbation of the disease, otherwise the pain symptom may increase or complications may develop;
3. You must perform the exercises smoothly, avoiding sudden movements.

The set 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 starts with light caressing, 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 the affected tissues due to improved blood and lymph flow. No less therapeutic effect has acupressure, which involves influencing the active points of the spine.

ethnoscience

Traditional medicine can also help in the treatment of osteochondrosis, which has many recipes for various rubs and compresses. 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. );
• Rendered lard;
• Camphor alcohol;
• badger fat;
• Honey;
• Bee, snake venom;
• Medicinal roots and herbs such as aloe, birch or horseradish leaves, garlic, ginger, red pepper.

They are combined with alcohol, iodine and turpentine, which leads to 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 the home treatment of osteochondrosis would be the use of orthopedic accessories that ensure complete relaxation of the spine during night rest.

Therefore, while sleeping, you must take a proper and comfortable body position.

High-quality mattresses and orthopedic pillows can help with this. Thanks to the use of such devices, the spine will be completely relaxed during the 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, consistency, complexity of procedures and coordinate all actions with a specialist.