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 elderly population suffer from osteochondrosis.

Pathology can begin in youth (20-25 years), gradually becoming complicated by new manifestations. In general, lumbar, thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis are distinguished.

Symptoms of the disease

Osteochondrotic lesions of the cervical vertebrae 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 disturbed, so hypertension is often a concomitant pathology of osteochondrosis;
• During the development of cervical osteochondrosis, compression of the spinal artery occurs, which provokes the appearance of symptoms such as extraneous sounds in the ears, dizziness and visual disturbances, paroxysmal headaches;
• Cardiac pain radiating to scapula and neck, similar to angina pectoris pain.

Lumbar osteochondrosis is characterized by symptoms:

• Severe pain as a result of pressing the roots of the spinal nerves, as well as the venous-arterial pathways that supply food to the spinal cord;
• When the lower lumbar roots are affected, the disease is accompanied by a shooting pain on the outside of the legs, which turns into reduced sensitivity of this area;
• Lumbar osteochondrosis often manifests itself with a shooting pain, passing 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 and 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 throbbing pain radiating to the intercostal space, abdomen, groin or lower limbs, weakness and numbness in the legs and disorders of the pelvic organs.

Treatment options

In the treatment of osteochondrosis, a whole range of therapeutic techniques is used:

1. Drug therapy;
2. Physiotherapy (massage procedures, physiotherapy, etc. );
3. Diet therapy;
4. Corrective therapy;
5. Ethnology;
6. surgery.

How to treat cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis at home

Each of the methods for the treatment of osteochondrosis is aimed at alleviating pain with its subsequent elimination, normalizing the course of spinal structural processes and restoring radicular spinal activity.

Drug therapy

Drug therapy for osteochondrosis is based on several directions:

1. Symptomatic therapy is aimed at eliminating pain and includes taking anti-inflammatory drugs. Along with anti-inflammatory drugs, patients are prescribed muscle relaxants from the muscle relaxant group;
2. Treatment aimed at normalizing blood circulation includes the use of vasodilators;
3. Cartilage tissue restoration 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 that often occur in patients against the background of limited movement and pain from osteochondrosis.
6. Therapy with herbal preparations often helps to significantly alleviate the condition of patients, as such drugs restore immune defense, sleep and strength of the body and prevent depression.

Physiotherapy activities

Physiotherapy measures are quite effective in the fight against osteochondrosis, which:

• Help to eliminate the pain syndrome;
• Increase the amplitude of motor possibilities;
• They improve and facilitate the course of immune processes;
• Normalizes blood circulation;
• Normalization of metabolic processes;
• Provide a reduction in the therapeutic dose of anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal and analgesic drugs.

Physiotherapy has many varieties. In the treatment of osteochondrosis, the following is most often used:

1. Electrotherapy includes conducting procedures related to the impact of electric current, such as electrophoresis, galvanization, electrosleep, darsonvalization and others with the help of special devices;
2. Shock wave therapy is performed 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, removes pain and swelling;
3. Balneotherapy includes the use of mineral waters and mud, after exposure to which blood supply is improved, pain is relieved and metabolism is normalized;
4. Magnetotherapy - this device is based on the use of a permanent magnetic field created by special inductors that are placed on the affected spinal areas;
5. Laser therapy is based on the use of special lasers, which, by affecting the affected tissues, contribute to their recovery.

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

Diet

Since anti-osteochondrosis therapy is complex, it requires a rationally balanced diet.

For patients with this disease, it is extremely important to limit the intake of fluids, salt and simple carbohydrates. They should remove 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 cartilages, their restoration requires animal proteins that are rich in dairy products, lean fish or meat.

Especially useful for such patients is jellied meat or broth made from boiled beef or pork leg bones. This broth is rich in collagens, which provide additional strength to bone and cartilage tissue.

Exercises to improve health

Therapeutic gymnastics plays an equally important role in the treatment of osteochondrosis, in addition, it is considered the most effective method of combating the destruction of bone and cartilage cells, helps to strengthen muscle and joint tissues, ensures the mobility of the spine and helps to restoredamaged tissues.

When performing physical therapy exercises, a few simple conditions must 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 a doctor;
2. You cannot perform exercises during periods of exacerbation of the disease, otherwise the pain symptom may increase or complications may develop;
3. You should 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 stroking, then moves on to rubbing and kneading. The massage can be done with hands or with the help of 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. Acupressure, which includes impact on active spinal points, has no less therapeutic effect.

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Folk medicine, which has many recipes for various rubs and compresses, can also help in the treatment of osteochondrosis. 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;
• Poison from bees, snakes;
• 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, sharp pain.

Orthopedic accessories

A good addition to the home treatment of osteochondrosis will be the use of orthopedic accessories that ensure complete relaxation of the spine during a night's rest.

Therefore, while sleeping, you should take a correct and comfortable position of the body.

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