Nowadays, not only the elderly but also young people below the age of 45 experience severe pain in the neck and back.The cause of these unpleasant symptoms is the presence of osteochondrosis, which is detected in 26-32% of cases.
Persistent back pain can reduce performance and weaken the entire body.If spinal lesions are left untreated, the risk of disability is high.Therefore, everyone who leads a sedentary lifestyle and suffers from discomfort in the lumbar and cervical spine should know how to treat intervertebral osteochondrosis at home.But first, it is worth studying the causes and symptoms of the disease, which will help to diagnose the pathology in time and prevent surgical intervention and the development of disability.
What is osteochondrosis
The disease's name combines the Greek for "bone" and the Latin for "cartilage."Osteochondrosis is a multifactorial degenerative disease of moving spinal segments, initially affecting the intervertebral discs.As the disease progresses, the rest of the spine and nervous system become involved in the pathological process.
To understand what osteochondrosis is and how to treat it at home, it is necessary to consider the dynamics of the development of the disease, which passes through four stages:
- Initially, the degeneration process is concentrated in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc.Increased loading can cause dehydration of the nucleus pulposus, resulting in changes in disc height and cracks in the annulus fibrosus.
- In the second stage, changes in disc parameters cause ligaments, muscle tissue to sag, and the distance between vertebrae to shorten.This results in high motor activity in the latter as well as disc atrophy, which often leads to disc slippage or displacement.
- In the third stage, intervertebral disc herniation and prolapse are often accompanied by arthrosis or joint subluxation.
- In the final stages, as the body attempts to adapt to the deformation of the spine, osteophytes develop in the affected areas to provide additional support for the vertebrae.But bone formation can harm them or cause nerve compression.The result of all dystrophic changes is fibrous ankylosis.
You can prevent absolute back deformity if you know how to treat spinal osteochondrosis at home.But before using alternative medicine recipes, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the causes and clinical conditions of the disease.
Causes and symptoms
The spine is structured to withstand heavy loads.In order for it to function properly, one cannot forget about physical activity.Many factors contribute to dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system.The main cause of osteochondrosis is physical inactivity.Excessive physical activity can also cause problems in the spine.
Related to weightlifting.
Other factors that contribute to articular cartilage degeneration:
- genetics;
- aging;
- incorrect posture;
- Spinal injuries and congenital conditions;
- flatfoot;
- Infect;
- effects of chemicals;
- Metabolic disorders.
Overweight people, office workers, and drivers are more susceptible to osteochondrosis.Smoking, hypothermia, constant stress, and wearing uncomfortable shoes can increase the likelihood of developing this disease.
You can diagnose osteochondrosis at home if you pay attention to the characteristic symptoms of the pathology:
| stage | logo |
|---|---|
| preclinical | Hardly any complaints.There is sometimes mild discomfort and the back muscles tire quickly. |
| Dystrophy in the disc core | Pain occurs and worsens with strenuous and prolonged physical activity. |
| Destruction of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus | The discomfort becomes unbearable. It doesn’t go away but spreads to other parts of the ridge.There may be violations of sensitivity and stiff movements. |
| disk regeneration phase | Spinal pain radiates to the abdomen and ribs. The unpleasant sensation is exacerbated by body movement and coughing.Neuralgia, leg numbness, decreased muscle tone, and genitourinary dysfunction occur. |
Basic rules of treatment
Osteochondrosis can be treated at home when it is in stages 1 or 2 of its development.Properly chosen comprehensive therapy will help eliminate pain and prevent further progression of the pathological process.In advanced cases, disc plastic surgery is required.
For at-home treatment to relieve discomfort in the lower back and cervical spine, it is important to follow some recommendations in addition to using folk remedies.Therefore, any prescription for alternative medicine must be approved by a doctor, even if the risk of side effects is small.Sticking to your diet and daily routine is equally important..
For complete recovery, comprehensive treatment is required, including manual therapy, gymnastics, kneading, compresses, and taking medications prescribed by your doctor.It is recommended to wear a bandage or orthosis to support the spine, as well as use orthopedic mattresses and pillows.
treatment at home
When using conventional medical methods to treat spinal conditions, it is worth remembering that alternative treatments require a comprehensive approach and that the recovery process will be lengthy.But before you find out how to treat acute osteochondrosis at home, you need to see your doctor and undergo all the tests he prescribes.Your doctor will then prescribe medications, without which traditional medications for herniated discs will be ineffective.
drug
How to treat osteochondrosis at home?The main medications used to relieve the symptoms of this disease are described below.
| Drug group name | Actions and application functions |
|---|---|
| muscle relaxants | Used with diuretics to restore muscle tone and eliminate tissue swelling. |
| anti-inflammatory drugs | Nonsteroidal drugs have analgesic properties.The dosage is divided into 4 doses per day.Take the tablets with water after meals. |
| Herbal Sedatives (Tea, Tinctures), Tranquilizers (Antidepressants) | They prevent neurosis, thereby reducing the intensity of painful sensations. |
| multivitamin complex | Restore the structure of nerve fibers.The drug is taken orally for 21 days. |
physical therapy
Physical therapy procedures are considered one of the most effective and gentle ways to treat rickets at home.Natural remedies can directly target the inflamed area.After several courses of treatment, the mobility of the damaged vertebrae is restored, swelling and discomfort disappear, immunity is enhanced, and blood circulation in the affected area becomes active.
Nursing homes and clinics perform many types of physical therapy procedures.At home, therapeutic baths, physical exercise, and massage can be used.
therapeutic bath
This procedure can significantly improve the health of patients with osteochondrosis: relieve inflammation, pain, activate metabolism, dilate blood vessels, eliminate muscle spasms.For spinal diseases, it is recommended to add chamomile, birch buds and leaves, mint, chestnuts, pine needles, thyme, thyme, horsetail, knotweed, rope and lemon balm to the bath.
Treatment of spinal chondrosis with natural herbal decoctions at home is carried out according to the following protocol:
- Pour 300 grams of dry plant into five liters of boiling water.
- The broth is infused for 2 hours and added to the bath.
- The duration of the water treatment process is up to 15 minutes.
- The course of treatment is 30 days.
therapeutic exercise
Effective treatment of rickets at home is impossible without exercise therapy.Physical exercise improves blood flow and relieves muscle tension.
Gymnastics for the treatment of osteochondrosis:
- The patient lies horizontally with the back firmly against the floor.Place one palm on your chest and the other on your belly.After slowly inhaling, he raised his abdomen and chest, and when he exhaled, he slowly lowered them.Number of repetitions – 15 times.
- Sitting or standing.The patient carefully turns the head to the right, backward, left, and forward.The number of turns in each direction is 10.
- The patient sits on a chair and presses his palms alternately on the back of the head, forehead, and temples.Number of repetitions – 10 times.
Additionally, if you have osteochondrosis at home, you can perform shoulder rotation exercises, arch your back, bring your shoulder blades together, and twist your torso to the left and right.
Massage and self-massage
Manual therapy is an effective way to make treating spinal osteochondrosis at home as effective as possible.Through massage, the discs and muscles are strengthened and blood flow is improved.Classic procedures include stroking, squeezing, stretching, kneading, vibration and impact techniques.
Treatment of osteochondrosis will be more effective if honey is used for massage.Before surgery, it is recommended to take a warm bath and dry off quickly.Apply honey to the warmed parts of the body, place your palms on it, and then tear the palms apart sharply.Apply the honey massage until your hands no longer stick to your skin.After that, you need to wrap yourself in a sheet and go to bed.You should take a shower in the morning.
For osteochondrosis, self-massage at home can be helpful.The essence of the procedure is to massage the neck and head from top to bottom with your fingers.Session duration is 5 minutes on each side of the spine.
Use of ointments
Ointments available in any drugstore will help you fight osteochondrosis at home.
These means include:
- Gels with complex effects;
- Ointments to relieve pain symptoms, containing snake or bee venom and plant extracts;
- massage cream;
- Nonsteroidal medications that relieve inflammation.
How to treat rickets of the back at home using ointments made from natural ingredients?Traditional medicine recommends the use of ointments made of petroleum jelly, hops, Adam's root, bay leaves and juniper needles to treat disc deformities.Apply the natural mixture to the affected areas of the body twice a day - in the morning and before going to bed.
compression
Using a multi-layered therapeutic bandage is another effective way to answer the question: How to get rid of osteochondrosis at home?Compression is needed during exacerbations of the disease to eliminate muscle spasms, stimulate blood circulation in the discs and reduce the sensitivity of nerve endings.
The following types of applications will help treat osteochondrosis:
- Apple and horseradish.Mash the above ingredients into a cake shape and apply to the affected area.Cover the area with cellophane and wrap in a warm cloth.
- camphor.Dilute 3 ml of Japanese bay tincture in a cup of water.Add 100 ml of ethanol, 20 drops of iodine, and a little red pepper, fold the gauze into 3 layers, moisten it and apply it to the affected area.From above, everything is wrapped in polythene and warm cloth.Remove the compress when severe burning sensation occurs.
- Aloe vera and honey.Finely chop the agave leaves in a meat grinder and mix with honey (50 g) and vodka (100 ml).The product is infused for 7 days.Wet a piece of canvas, place it on your back and cover it with polythene and a scarf.
rub
Traditional medicine recommends treating osteochondrosis at home using rubbings purchased at a pharmacy or made at home.For the preparation of the product, burdock and cinquefoil, lilac and elderberry are used.Soak any ingredients in vodka or alcohol for a week.
How to treat osteochondrosis with rub at home?Apply the alcohol tincture to the affected areas and wipe the areas with a warm cloth.Continue treatment until unpleasant symptoms completely disappear.
vanilla
Medicinal plants used to prepare special mixtures will help you get rid of rickets at home.For disc dystrophy, a combination of the following types of herbs can be used:
- sweet clover;
- Knotweed;
- chamomile;
- banana;
- marigold;
- Valerian;
- Mint;
- Motherwort;
- St. John's Wort;
- Thyme;
- Elecampane;
- Verbena;
- Purple;
- Lavender;
- saint.
For back problems, treating rickets at home requires the preparation of medicinal collections from the above-mentioned plants.Place the dried herbs (20 g) in a thermos and pour boiling water (0.5 liter).Infuse 100 ml 4 times a day.
prevention
In order not to suffer from osteochondrosis of the spine, treating osteochondrosis of the spine at home is a long and laborious process, and the development of this disease should be prevented.For prevention, neurologists and chiropractors recommend giving up bad habits, strong tea, coffee, and foods rich in fat and cholesterol.
It is also important to monitor your posture and systematically perform physical exercises to strengthen your muscles.Experts recommend purchasing an orthopedic mattress, ditching uncomfortable heels and carrying heavy items.
Therefore, osteochondrosis of the spine can be treated at home.Although treatment will only be effective if all medical advice is followed, including the use of various treatment techniques.