Osteochondrosis is a more common chronic disease in adult patients. If treatment is not started on time, complications lead to spinal immobilization and disability. Folk remedies for osteochondrosis are additional methods of treatment, they are prescribed simultaneously with medications, diet, massage courses and a set of special exercises. Subject to medical recommendations, you can extend the remission period.
What is osteochondrosis
This is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, in which there is a gradual destruction of the intervertebral disc, vertebral tissue. Muscles gradually atrophy, the conduction of nerve impulses, the work of physiological systems and internal organs of the individual is disrupted. For a long time, the disease was asymptomatic. Then the patient complained of pain in the back and neck. This is the first sign of osteochondrosis. Other symptoms depend on the location of the pathological focus. Common signs of the disease:
- static syndrome: impaired posture, feeling of stiffness in the spine, more frequent back pain;
- trophic syndrome: the formation of trophic ulcers on the skin due to impaired tissue oxygen supply;
- vascular syndrome: pale skin, nausea, dizziness, signs of oxygen starvation;
- neurological syndrome: decreased sensitivity of different zones of the spine, a feeling of "creeping on the skin", numbness of the limbs.
If there is no timely treatment, nausea and dizziness attacks become more frequent, the patient may lose consciousness. Due to atherosclerotic narrowing of the arteries, certain parts of the brain experience oxygen starvation and die. In addition, patients complain of a sharp decrease in visual acuity, flashing "goose bumps" in front of the eyes.
How to treat osteochondrosis at home
Treatment is carried out by neuropathologists, vertebrologists, surgeons or neurosurgeons, chiropractors, exercise therapists, physiotherapists. The choice of a narrow -profile specialist depends on the form and stage of the pathological process, the possibility of health complications. Treatment of osteochondrosis is conservative or surgical. In the first case, an integrated approach is required, which, in addition to therapeutic diet and medication, includes:
- rehabilitative gymnastics and physical education;
- changes in normal way of life;
- reflexology;
- manual therapy;
- physiotherapy methods;
- massage courses;
- traditional medical methods.
Treatment of cervical or other spinal osteochondrosis is a lengthy process. The main goal is to stop the pain syndrome, restore vertebral structure and function, and prolong the remission period. The complex of therapeutic measures recommended by specialists is designed for 1-3 months, depending on the severity of the pathological process. The recovery period is 1 year. Subject to medical prescription, effective treatment can be carried out at home.
Medications
Medication is appropriate in the acute stage, when the patient experiences acute pain in the spine, can not move fully and sleep. Doctors prescribe tablets for oral administration, ointments, gels for external use. With osteochondrosis, complex treatment contains drugs of several pharmacological groups:
| Name of pharmacological group | Principles of action on pathological focus | Form of drug release |
|---|---|---|
| nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (hereafter NSAIDs) | restriction of prostaglandin synthesis (suppression of inflammatory processes and acute attacks of pain) | capsules, injections, tablets, gels, plasters, ointments |
| vasodilator medicine | nutrition of vertebral tissues, acceleration of their regeneration process | creams, ointments, gels, tablets, injections |
| muscle relaxants | spasmodic muscle relaxation, reduction of pain syndrome | injections, tablets |
| anesthetic, analgesic | rapid anesthesia of pathological focus | injections, tablets |
| chondroprotector | restoration of bone structure and cartilaginous tissue, preventing further destruction | capsules, tablets, gels, ointments, injections |
| tranquilizer | improve sleep quality, achieve emotional balance | tincture, tablet |
| antidepressants | relieving anxiety and depressive states due to acute pain and impaired movement of the vertebrae | tablet |
| glucocorticosteroids | prescribed in complicated clinical cases to relieve inflammation, reduce the intensity of pain syndromes, restore vertebral function | ointments, injections, tablets |
| phytopreparations (herbal medicine) | restoration of the body's protective function, normalization of sleep quality, prevention of depression | tablet |
| antioxidants | increased local blood circulation, stimulation of metabolism at the cellular level | injections, tablets |
| multivitamin complex | strengthens the spine, enhances immunity | tablet |
Tablet
Oral medications are available in the form of tablets, capsules, pills, and provide complex effects on the body. In this way, you can relieve inflammation, block pain attacks, restore damaged vertebral structures, and provide tissue nutrition with essential oxygen. Symptomatic therapy of osteochondrosis, carried out at home, involves oral administration of:
- NSAIDs;
- vasodilator drugs;
- muscle relaxants;
- analgesic;
- chondroprotector;
- tranquilizer;
- antidepressants and sedatives;
- glucocorticosteroids;
- phytopparations;
- antioxidants;
- multivitamin complex.
After taking such drugs, vertebral movement is restored orally, acute pain attacks disappear:
ointment
Means for local external use have analgesic, irritating and irritating properties, intended for external use - directly on the pathological focus. With local exposure, the risk of contraindications and side effects is minimal, the therapeutic effect is significant 15-20 minutes after using a single dose of the selected drug:
- ointment relieves pain;
- NSAIDs;
- chondroprotector;
- homeopathic ointment.
These drugs can cause local and allergic reactions on the skin, therefore, before using them at home, you should consult a specialist.
Injections
The main purpose of doing injections is to relieve cramps, reduce the increased excitement at the nerve endings, suppress pain attacks, which prevent the patient from sleeping and resting. For the successful treatment of osteochondrosis, preparations of several pharmacological groups are suitable for intramuscular administration:
- NSAIDs;
- analgesic;
- chondroprotector;
- muscle relaxants;
- paravertebral block.
Most of these injections are for intramuscular administration. You can give the injection at home.
Diet
Effective treatment of osteochondrosis at home necessarily includes a healthy diet, so the patient needs to make certain adjustments to his or her normal daily diet. The prerequisite is to reduce the total caloric content of food and the amount of foods that increase blood cholesterol. It is recommended to adhere to a balanced diet, eat more fermented milk and plant products, control the water regime, intake of natural vitamins and antioxidants.
| Nutritious food | Prohibited foods |
|---|---|
| dairy and sour milk products | snacks |
| Fish and seafood | semi -finished products, preservatives |
| Red meat | candy, candy |
| eggs, hard cheese, butter | sweet carbonated drinks |
| cow's heart | alcohol in any form |
| vegetables (potatoes, carrots, all kinds of cabbage) | table salt, spices |
| fruits (peaches, apricots, citrus fruits) | sausages, smoked meats |
Charger
With osteochondrosis, the morning should begin with exercise. Patients engage in therapeutic exercises at any time throughout the day. In this way, it is possible to improve blood circulation, slow down degenerative-dystrophic processes in the spine, strengthen the muscular corset, and prolong the period of remission of the underlying disease. Gymnastics for cervical osteochondrosis at home helps relieve tense back and neck muscles, expand the intervertebral cleft, and release pinched spinal nerves. General expert recommendations:
- It is necessary to start therapeutic gymnastics by warming up.
- If acute pain syndrome is felt in the lower back, twisting is contraindicated.
- With cervical osteochondrosis, it is advisable to leave a sharp round of the head.
- It is recommended to replace running and jumping with walking, swimming, frequent walks in the fresh air.
- All movements should be smooth and slow, you need to do it every day.
- It is necessary to monitor respiration (should be even) and pulse rate, to control the physical load on the body.
If you regularly do simple exercises for osteochondrosis of the cervix or other spine, you can forget about the unbearable pain for a long time. Training complexes are available at home:
- Sit in a chair, grip your hands into the locks behind your head, tilt your body forward. Press your hands on the back of the head so that the head goes down smoothly, the chin touching the thoracic area. Hold in this position for a few seconds, feel the maximum muscle tension.
- While sitting, touch your right cheek with the palm of your right hand and gently tilt your head to the left, then switch your hands and to the right. It is recommended to complete 15-20 approaches on each side.
- Sit on a chair so you can hold its edges with your hands. Then slowly lower your head back, spread your shoulder blades and shoulders. Then return to the starting position and repeat the same movement 15-20 more times.
- In a sitting position on the floor with legs straight, bend forward so that, without bending your knees, it reaches your toes. Freeze in this position for a few seconds, then exhale and relax.
- Lie on your back with legs bent at the knees. Turn the bridge slowly, lifting the pelvis off the ground. Freeze at maximum top point for 5-10 seconds. Such training for osteochondrosis as part of the developed training complex was advised by renowned expert S. M. Bubnovsky.
massage
To quickly relieve muscle spasms, improve microcirculation, strengthen the back and improve the general condition of the patient, doctors with osteochondrosis recommend a course of massage. You can perform each procedure yourself at home. The main condition is to train the cervical and lumbar spine intensively to activate local blood circulation. This technique is not so important, you can choose to knead the skin, rub, press:
- To warm up your muscles, start the massage with a light stroke.
- Then continue rubbing, kneading. Take a fold of skin and move it slowly from the bottom up.
- Press with your fingertips on the longitudinal muscle area of the back, doing a circular motion.
- Stretch the chest muscles, thighs, shoulder girdle, avoid increased pressure on the spine.
- Complete the procedure by tapping, vibrating, hitting. Perform such manipulations with finger pads, edges, or the entire palm of the hand, depending on the severity of the disease.
Massage for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine
To get rid of unbearable attacks of pain in the neck area at home, relax muscle fibers and quickly relieve general well -being, patients are advised to use a special masseur. It will help stop the pain syndrome even in advanced cases.
Healing bath
In the exacerbation stage, water procedures are contraindicated. During recovery, such home sessions have become indispensable, as they dilate blood vessels, relax muscles, and have a beneficial effect on spinal joints. To enhance the desired effect, it is recommended to add a decoction of chamomile, lemon balm, string, thyme, horsetail, thyme to warm water. General expert recommendations:
- Pour 250-300 g of dried plant material or mix with 5 liters of boiling water.
- Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes.
- After insisting under the lid, strain the broth, add to the collected bath.
- Perform the procedure before bed for 15-20 minutes.
Compressing
Such home procedures help eliminate edema and acute attacks of pain in osteochondrosis. In addition, they improve blood circulation, relieve pain, relieve muscle spasms. When treating osteochondrosis at home, it is necessary to undergo a course of two weeks, placing warming compresses on the focus of the pathologist 1-2 times a day. Recipe for the composition of the drug:
- Grind radish and apple roots on a fine grater, mix the composition. Squeeze the juice, form a cake from the resulting gruel. Place on the inflamed area and wrap with a bandage. Repeat the procedure daily until the pain subsides.
- Dilute 1 g of propolis in a water bath, and at this time get 50 g of fresh aloe juice from fresh leaves. Mix the ingredients, add 50 g of mustard powder, 400 ml of vodka into the mixture, mix. Apply the composition to several layers of gauze, apply on the pathological focus. Do not remove until the fabric is completely dry. Perform the procedure at home every day before bed.
Applications
If such a warm -up procedure is used for osteochondrosis, it is possible to restore normal motor activity of the spine. The application acts reflexively on biologically active points and zones, normalizing the energy balance in the body. It is necessary to moisten the gauze with a medicinal composition, applying it to the pathological focus. Do not leave for 30-40 minutes, repeat the procedure at home several times a day. When choosing the composition of the drug, you need to make sure that there are no allergic reactions. Recipes for effective applications:
- Pass 50 g of fresh aloe leaves through a meat grinder, add 100 g of honey and mix. Pour the mixture with 100 ml of vodka, leave in a dark place for a week. After that, moisten the gauze with the drug, apply on the pathological focus. Congratulations first with a cling film, then with a warm scarf. Do not shoot for 30 minutes. Repeat the procedure twice a day.
- Mix a glass of medicinal turpentine and the same amount of crushed aloe leaves, add 100 g of internal fat, 5-10 drops of iodine. Insist the composition for 5 days in a dark place, then rub the sore spots overnight, cover with cling film, warm scarf.
Rubbing
Treatment of osteochondrosis at home is not complete without rubbing. Such procedures, such as massage, relieve inflammation quickly, block pain attacks, and stimulate blood circulation in the affected area. Rubbing is recommended up to 2-3 times a day. Turpentine, badger fat, kerosene, nutria fat can be used as medicinal compounds. Instead of medicinal plants, doctors recommend paying attention to the beneficial properties of juniper, plantain, sage. Time -tested recipes:
- Mix 1 teaspoon in one container. juniper needles, 6 tsp. pre-chopped bay leaves, 6 tbsp. l. butter. Apply a uniform composition to the sore spot. Rub the ointment prepared for osteochondrosis of the cervical spine into the skin with light movements. Perform the procedure several times a day, avoid drafts. Courses are selected individually.
- Combine 2 tbsp. l. sage and pre-chopped king bananas, add to the mixture 40 g of petroleum jelly, 50 ml of vegetable oil. Mix the composition thoroughly, apply on the pathological focus and rub. To enhance the healing effect, wrap the treated skin area with a warm scarf over it. Do not wash the ointment for 30-40 minutes.
Treatment of osteochondrosis with folk remedies
Alternative medical methods for osteochondrosis are no weaker than official medicine. The main thing is to choose the right recipe. Here are time -tested remedies that restore the joy of movement to patients:
- Cut the pre -peeled raw potatoes on a fine grater. Add 50 g of honey to the resulting gruel, mix, form a cake, apply to the pathological center, do not remove for 30 minutes.
- Grind dried cinquefoil roots. Then 2 tbsp. l. pour 400 ml of boiling water over the raw material, simmer on fire for 5-7 minutes. After insisting, strain, use as a compress up to 3-4 times a day for a course of up to 2 weeks. The drug relieves inflammation, relieves pain.
- Stir in 200 g of chopped cinquefoil root and 100 g of Potentilla, pour 1 liter of vodka. Insist 3 weeks, then strain. Take orally 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day before meals for a month.
- Cut lingonberry leaves. 1 tbsp. l. fill the prepared raw material with 1 tbsp. water to a boil and leave for 1 hour under the lid. Divide the finished dose into 2 doses - drink in the morning and evening. Prepare a dose of fresh medicine every day.